Archive for the ‘Tips When Buying a Home’ Category

Southeast Portland Real Estate Guide: NEW Woodstock Neighborhood Guide

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

Check out the new Woodstock Real Estate neighborhood profile detailing the Woodstock area of Southeast Portland, filled with gorgeous parks and nature trails, authentic restaurants, classic – and affordable! – Old Portland homes, and some of the best neighborhood pride in town. The Woodstock neighborhood is full of charm and community, featuring the fantastic Woodstock School. Woodstock is located near many resources, including a lovely library branch, supermarkets, and many outstanding restaurants. Combining the best of urban accessibility and comfortable, small-town atmosphere, the Woodstock neighborhood is quintessential Southeast Portland.

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Portland Real Estate Insider: Let’s Hear it for the Trees

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

Portland Real EstateCNN’s “This Just In” blog today featured an interesting study done by the U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest and Southern Research Stations in the Portland area that found that areas with larger, taller, well-maintained trees had less neighborhood theft and overall crime than areas with smaller trees. It turns out that tall trees “can reduce crime by signaling to a potential criminal that a neighborhood is better cared for and, therefore, a criminal is more likely to be caught…Large yard trees also were associated with lower crime rates, most likely because they are less view-obstructing than smaller trees.”

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Portland Real Estate Insider: New Oregon Legislation Celebrates Local Foods

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

Portland Real EstateOne of the best things about the Portland Real Estate Market and homes for sale in Oregon is that, no matter where you are in the Portland metro area, you aren’t living very far from farmland and picturesque countryside. Even new construction of modern town homes and condos have access to mountains, parks, and rural beauty. When we at the McDonald Group Realtors are out on the road researching neighborhoods and suburban communities for clients, we’re always struck by the short distances between bustling downtown communities with all the amenities of big-town living and the pristine beauty of hillsides covered in fall trees and sprawling farmlands with horses and sheep. What’s more, if you don’t get out to the farmlands very often, the farmers come to you – every suburb and Portland neighborhood has access to amazing farmers’ markets and stores that sell local produce. Local restaurants, even local outposts of national chains, use as much local produce, meats, and products as they can. Oregon even has its own fast food chain – Burgerville – that prides itself in using the best that Oregon has to offer, from sustainably raised beef and locally produced cheeses to the best berries, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and onions for seasonal treats. Some of the best restaurants in Portland use almost exclusively local products, changing their menu weekly to accommodate changes in the harvest.

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What to Ask & Expect from your Mortgage Lender when buying a home! (a Realtor’s perspective)

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

Wow, big topic.   Lender choice is VERY important when purchasing a home as there are some REALLY bad lenders out there and  we frequently cringe when  we  see who a new client has decided to partner up with for their lending.  Below we have listed what your lender should do for you .  We can’t tell you how frquently  we  see a home purchase nearly go south because the lender didn’t do his homework, didn’t accurately reflect the numbers,  or didn’t turn in the file to underwriting correctly.  If you have questions or concerns about  your  lender in the first week you DO NOT want to find out just before closing  they did not have your best interest in mind.  In most cases  we see it coming and will suggest another lender in backup.  We have a list of lenders that we know and trust.

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Portland Realtor Guide: NEW City of Sherwood Neighborhood Guide at Your Road Map to Home

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

Check out the new Sherwood Real Estate neighborhood guide detailing the city of Sherwood, Oregon,one of the best small towns located just southwest of Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility, small-town living, and rural atmosphere, Sherwood, Oregon is the best of all worlds. If you’re looking for homes for sale or other real estate in Sherwood or other Portland Suburbs, check out our new Sherwood Real Estate neighborhood guide filled with the best restaurants in Sherwood, the best parks and green spaces, as well as city events and neighborhood resources. Relocating to a new area can be hard, but it’s a lot easier when you’ve got the best real estate agents in Portland on your side. Contact the McDonald Group realtors to find out about homes for sale in Sherwood, Oregon, today!

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What’s up with the freeze on Foreclosures? Should I buy a bank owned home?

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

Interesting times…. want the quick scoop? Watch my favorite lenders Think Big Work Small on the topic.  In a nutshell, I’m hearing that some home buyers that were supposed to close this week on a bank owned home they were purchasing are seeing the closing dates postponed, in some cases the bank has “bought the house back” (terminated the transaction) or in some cases are experiencing no difficulties at all. Honestly? This is good on many accounts… if the drama continues buyers who really need a homes will begin focusing on homes that are being sold by homeowners, not banks… good for sellers. And I have to add that this couldn’t be happening to a better batch of agents! What?  The majority of the agents representing banks are atrocious to work with. The majority of them have poor customer service, are overloaded with listings and manage the sales poorly or just simply have taken sales for granted while ignoring phone calls, not returning emails, and poorly representing their clients. :)  

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Portland Realtor Guide: Portland Ranks #3 Among National Energy Efficiency Leaders

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

Portland Real EstateEvery year, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy releases their rankings of the most energy efficient states in America, and Oregon stepped up from last year’s fourth place ranking to nab the third place slot. It’s no secret that Oregon ranks among the best in therms of Sustainable Energy technology and alternative energy resources, but it’s heartening to see that Oregonians are also topping the list of efficient use of traditional energy sources. While solar, wind, and hydro electric technologies might change the direction of energy use in the future, smart use of existing resources is an immediate and significant way to proceed and preserve what we have. Many homeowners and business owners in Oregon are responsible for scaling back energy use, a move which saves money, resources, and creates a more efficient economy. The Portland Real Estate Market is loaded with homes for sale, and the most competitive homes for sale in Portland are those with energy efficient and green upgrades.

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Check out these New Homes for sale in Happy Valley, Oregon … all new construction & custom homes!

Monday, October 4th, 2010

I mentioned new homes for sale in Happy Valley in my previous blog and thought I’d pull a listing report so you can look through all the new construction options in the Happy Valley area.  Most builders have several different plans they can work from, what you need to do first is determine your budget, look at lot options (what area you prefer), walk through a new home the builder has already built so you can sample the quality and finishes and then fine tune the details.  There is some poor construction out there so you want to make sure you are working with a reputable builder.  The builder I work with has lots available to build on in several different neighborhoods, because he builds so many he has fantastic resources at great prices and several plans to work from.  New construction homes are a great way to go! By the way, if you love the Ryan Olsen style homes we can build that too!   -Kristie McD.

Wells Fargo getting tough on foreclosures & short sale extensions!

Monday, October 4th, 2010

Take a peak at this video, these guys keep me up to date on all the mortgage lending issues pertinent to the real estate industry!  Sounds like Wells Fargo won’t be sitting on their foreclosure inventory like many of the other banks have been doing…. I agree that we need to rip the band aid off and get through this market.

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Portland Realtor Guide: UPDATED Laurelhurst Neighborhood Profile at Your Road Map to Home

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

Laurelhurst Neighborhood GuideCheck out the newly updated Laurelhurst neighborhood profile detailing the “comfortable luxury” of Southeast Portland’s most desirable neighborhoods. Located just south of Interstate-84, Laurelhurst is the best of all worlds. Check out some of the charming and quirky boutiques like Noun, grab a delicious lunch at the Laurelhurst market, catch some sun at Laurelhurst Park, or sit in your sprawling backyard enjoying your view of the natural world around you. If you’re looking for homes, apartments, or other real estate in Laurelhurst or other Portland neighborhoods, check out this Laurelhurst information page filled with the best restaurants in Laurelhurst, the top shopping, and neighborhood resources. Relocating to a new area can be hard, but it’s a lot easier when you’ve got the best real estate agents in Portland on your side.

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Portland Realtor Guide: NEW Richmond Neighborhood Profile at Your Road Map to Home

Monday, September 27th, 2010

Check out the new Richmond real estate and neighborhood guide detailing the neighborhood of Richmond in Southeast Portland, filled with quirky culture, classic Old Portland homes, and some of the best dining and shopping in town. The Richmond neighborhood is progressive and proud. Richmond includes parts of two of the most popular retail districts in town, Hawthorne and Divison Streets, complete with vintage stores, great brunch spots, and open parks.  Combining the best of urban accessibility and comfortable, small-neighborhood atmosphere, Richmond is quintessential Portland.

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Portland Real Estate Guide: Portland Fall Home and Garden Show at the Expo Center

Monday, September 27th, 2010

Portland Fall Home and Garden ShowFall is the best time to make a few home improvements and renovations to get ready for winter, and it’s also the best time to plant for Spring gardens! If you’ve ever lived in Portland, you’ll no doubt be familiar with the onslaught of bulb flowers – gorgeous irises and daffodils – that take over residential real estate and abandoned street corners all around town, filling Portland with color and Spring fever. You can contribute your own splash of floral beauty to the Spring explosion in Portland by planning some bulbs and Spring-blooming plants in your yard and garden, and if you need a bit of extra help or new idea be sure to check out the 2010 Portland Fall Home and Garden Show at the Portland Expo Center, beginning on September 30 and bringing tips, tricks, and discount supplies to the Portland metro area until October 3rd.

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Portland Real Estate Insider: 1 in 4 New Homes Sold in PDX are “Green”

Monday, September 13th, 2010

If you think Green homes are still a fringe phenomena in the Portland Real Estate market, get ready for a statistical shocker. Homes with green certification, such as the Portland-based Earth Advantage Institute U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes, the federal Department of Energy’s Energy Star program, and the National Association of Home Builders’ Green Building Standard, now make up one out of every four new homes for sale in Portland area real estate. 25% of the new home market? It’s obvious that sustainable home renovations and construction are not a passing fad – and can make the difference if you’re trying to sell a home in Portland.

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Portland Real Estate Tips: Is your house Eco-Healthy? Get a Checkup!

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Studies have shown that common pollutants in the home can lead to serious problems like asthma, allergies, and chronic disease, but it’s not hard to clean up your act and keep yourself and your family healthy. To help out, the Oregon Environmental Council, the oldest environmental group in the state, has recently put out a wonderful free Eco-Healthy Homes Checkup kit to check up on the health safety and sustainability of your home, complete with helpful tips. If you’re looking for green homes for sale in Portland, recently bought a home after navigating the Portland Real Estate market, or are trying to sell a home in Portland, you could definitely benefit from the tips and checkups in this free kit. Check out our overview of the tips in the package, and click here to receive your own copy free in the mail. It’s an informative, easy way to make a difference in the safety and value of your home – what else could be more worth your time and investment?

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Portland Realtor Guide: NEW Clinton Area Neighborhood Guide at Your Road Map to Home

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Check out the new neighborhood profile detailing the Clinton area in Southeast Portland, filled with quirky boutiques and restaurants, classic Old Portland homes, and some of the best dining and shopping in town. The Clinton neighborhood is full of charm and community, featuring the fun Clinton Street Theater. Clinton is close to several bridges, providing easy access for commuters to downtown Portland, and is also near the popular Division Street area.  Combining the best of urban accessibility and comfortable, small-neighborhood atmosphere, the Clinton District is quintessential Portland.

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