A study released last week by Trulia comparing the costs associated with buying or renting comparable homes in the top 100 U.S. metropolitan areas found that it is less expensive to buy than rent in the Portland, Oregon area. Portland was rated with an 11.0 Rent vs. Buy Index. Price-to-rent ratios that are 15 and [...]

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For our Clients and Friends, For buildable lots and land to begin to sell again, we need the new construction industry to awaken. Below is an article of such an awakening and I think you will find some encouragement even as I have. There is a lot of data to peruse. I have focused on parcels from [...]

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By: John Riha for HouseLogic.com Regular home maintenance is key to preserving the value of your house and property. “It’s the little things that tend to trip up people,” says Frank Lesh, former president of the American Society of Home Inspectors and owner of Home Sweet Home Inspection Co. in Chicago. “Some cracked caulk around the windows, [...]

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Article by Matt Dornic HouseLogic.com If you’re worried about the future of home ownership in America, you have good reason. The nation’s economy is struggling. But it’s not just the rising unemployment rate (up to 9.2% in June 2011) that’s deferring home ownership for many. Some outlandish proposals on Capitol Hill are also weighing heavily on [...]

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What is a Buyer’s Agent? There are several functions in the real estate industry: Listing and marketing property for a seller Assisting a buyer to find property Property Management for investment properties Property Appraisals Appraisers have their own licensure as do property managers. One cannot do both or also be a real estate agent at [...]

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Don’t even think about not using an agent to help sell your home!   The 101 reasons listed here reflect actions, procedures and processes that a real estate agent may typically perform during a residential real estate transaction and are all things that you could avoid doing yourself! Typical Pre-Listing Research Current Properties Research Sales [...]

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Article by G.M. Filisko HouseLogic.com Understanding how appraisals work will help you achieve a quick and profitable refinance or sale. 1. An appraisal isn’t an exact science When appraisers evaluate a home’s value, they’re giving their best opinion based on how the home’s features stack up against those of similar homes recently sold nearby. One [...]

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The Advantages of FHA Loans In many regions of the US, FHA loans have only recently come back into vogue, so a lot of real estate agents and mortgage originators aren’t familiar with this great resource. The following are a just a few of the recent changes that have made FHA loans a more attractive [...]

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Published in The Real Estate Advisor June 2011 Even with the help of an experienced real estate agent, the negotiating process can be frustrating and confusing. Many of us aren’t involved in high-level business negotiations in our day-to-day lives, and even buyers who are savvy businesspersons aren’t used to having a personal stake in the outcome. Good negotiating [...]

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Article by G.M Filisko Published on HouseLogic.com By preparing for a real estate short sale, you can emerge with a great home at a favorable price. 1. Get help from a short sale expert A real estate agent experienced in short sales can identify which homes are being offered as short sales, help you determine [...]

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