Buyers Center

Finding and buying a home in Portland –it’s a big project. Once you receive those keys to your new home, you’ll be smiling. But in the meantime there’s so much to do and think about.

How much home can you afford? Check out the mortgage calculator at the lower right. For the financial part you’ll need a great loan officer. I can suggest a few names for you.

For the process of home buying I have lots of information to share with you. I’ve gathered it in over 20 years of helping Portland real estate buyers achieve their home ownership goal. Below is a start on your home buying education. Be sure to also play around with the Home Finder Service (the property search functions) on this site. You’ll be able to see what’s for sale in different prices and neighborhoods.

Get a grasp on the current Portland real estate market conditions. Each month I blog about the previous month’s real estate statistics from the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS).  Follow these blogs for a few months. For more precise information email me a request for Portland real estate stats for a couple of zip codes.

Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood–The neighborhood you choose can have a big impact on your lifestyle—safety, available amenities, and convenience all play their part.

1. Make a list of the activities—movies, health club, church—you engage in regularly and stores you visit frequently. See how far you would have to travel from each neighborhood you’re considering to engaging in your most common activities.

2. Check out the school district. The Oregon Department of Education can  provide information on test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend college, and special enrichment programs. If you have school-age children, also consider paying a visit to schools in the neighborhoods you’re considering. Even if you don’t have children, a house in a good school district will be easier to sell in the future.

3. Find out if the neighborhood is safe. Ask the police department for neighborhood crime statistics. (For neighborhoods in Portland use CrimeMapper and enter an address.) Consider not only the number of crimes but also the type—burglaries, armed robberies—and the trend of increasing or decreasing crime. Also, is crime centered in only one part of the neighborhood, such as near a retail area?

4. Determine if the neighborhood is economically stable. Check with your local city economic development office to see if income and property values in the neighborhood are stable or rising. What is the percentage of homes to apartments? Apartments don’t necessarily diminish value, but they do mean a more transient population. Do you see vacant businesses or homes that have been for sale for months?

5. See for yourself. Once you’ve narrowed your focus to two or three neighborhoods, go there, and walk around. Are homes tidy and well maintained? Are streets quiet? Pick a warm day if you can and chat with people working or playing outside. Are they friendly? Are their children to play with your family?

Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood reprinted  from REALTOR^® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. www.REALTOR.org/realtormag