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2009 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Q&A
So many people have asked me how the federal $8,000 tax credit works. Basically it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy your first home and get paid by the government. Here are some highlights. What is it? It’s a gift from the federal government to all you first time home buyers. It’s goal is to help stimulate home sales and make first time home buying more affordable. Who is a first time home buyer? If neither you nor your spouse have owned a residence in the last 3 years you qualify. What kinds of properties are covered? As...
read morePortland Real Estate Market Conditions December 2011
How’s the Portland real estate market? Comparing all of 2011 with 2010, there are mixed signals in the mls numbers. The good news is that closed home sales are up 4% over 2010 and pending sales are up 6%. However the 2011 median sales price for a Portland home is down 7.9% from the previous year. And the number of new listings is down 25.4%. Theses conditions could push Portland real estate prices higher in the coming months. Here’s why. The small amount of new listings coupled with a small increase in sales means less homes for sale to...
read moreForeclosure Homes — 2012 Trends for Foreclosures in Portland
Foreclosure homes in Portland (also called bank owned properties) will continue to drive the Portland real estate market for the coming year. Here’s why you need to know what is anticipated for foreclosures in Portland. For the short term Portland home buyers and investors should see the Portland real estate market improving. Long term, home sellers may see the beginning of the end of the foreclosure homes bloating the market. (Although it may take most of 2012 to begin to see strong results. There are still a number of foreclosures in...
read moreHow Much Down Payment Do I Need to Buy a Home
It’s easier than you might think to buy a home in Portland. There has been so much news about stricter lending requirements over the past few years. Many folks who could be first time home buyers think they are unable to buy right now. Some folks think you need 10% or 20% of the sales price to buy a home now. Some think there are no loans for first time home buyers. Well I’m here to tell you that is just wrong information. You too can take advantage of historic low interest rates and low prices for Portland real estate. 3.75% ...
read morePortland Real Estate Market Conditions November 2011
How’s the Portland real estate market? There were more closed home sales in Portland in November than there were in October or in the previous November. Sold home prices are also up. A home purchased in January, 2011 would cost about $10,000 more in November. Do you want to buy a home in Portland? Can you believe these interest rates? Fixed rate FHA loans and conventional loans are still under 4%. Now if buyers just had a few more homes to choose from… (Looking for Portland homes for sale? You can search the entire Portland MLS from this...
read morePortland Real Estate Market Conditions October 2011
How’s the Portland Real Estate Market? Portland home sales this year are shaping up to be an improvement over 2010. According to the latest stats from RMLS, closed sales are up again compared with last year. For October 2011 closed sales are up 14.1% compared with October 2010. Pending sales are also up 15.1% compared with last year. Thinking of buying a home in Portland? Last week the 30 year fixed rate for an FHA loan was still 3.75%. Amazing! Who knows how long these low rates will last. Thinking of selling your home in Portland?...
read moreCould Obama’s Plan Help You Avoid Foreclosure?
Many homeowners could avoid foreclosure by refinancing their home loan to a lower interest rate. Yet refinancing to today’s low, low rates has been all but impossible for many home owners trying to avoid foreclosure. If you are trying to avoid foreclosure by making your payments more affordable, changes to the Obama administration’s Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) could help you stay in your home. The changes coming out by the end of the year are expected to help you refinance even if you owe more than then current market...
read morePortland Real Estate Market Conditions September 2011
Here’s some good news for Portland real estate. Closed sales and pending sales are up over last year this time. Comparing closed sales for the third quarter of 2010 with the third quarter of 2011 closed sales were up a whopping 21.5%. (Pending sales increased 21.6% and new listings were down 27.6% over third quarter last year.) Thinking of buying a home in Portland? Last week the 30 year fixed rate for an FHA loan was 3.75%. Amazing! Who knows how long these low rates will last. (This report is a snapshot in time. To compare September with...
read morePortland Real Estate Market Conditions August 2011
Wow, Portland real estate sales have really improved… judging by the August 2011 numbers from our local MLS. Closed sales are up dramatically (30.7% over the previous August) and pending sales are also up. Portland home buyers must really be taking advantage of the extremely low interest rates. Last week the 30 year fixed rate for an FHA loan was 3.8%. Amazing! (This report is a snapshot in time. To compare August with previous months, see my other Market Conditions Reports.) Portland Real Estate Market: Sales Closed and pending...
read more“..strongly recommend her to anyone..”
Anne Kadin provided exemplary, supportive and professional assistance in our quest to purchase a home. Anne always went above and beyond, and never made us feel that she was working for the commission – she was working for US! I have purchased several homes in my life, in two different countries, and Anne is the best I have come across. I will always use her professional services in the future and strongly recommend her to anyone who wants a non-pushy, thorough, competent, friendly Realtor. Lesley B
read more“..you rewarded my decision to use you.”
Again, thank you for your services. You can never really know when you work long distance with someone how it will go, but you rewarded my decision to use you. You were professional, courteous and prompt in all your dealings with me and I really appreciate it. Feel free to use me as a reference if it would ever be helpful. Rick V
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