Relocate to Portland

Where in the World is Hillsdale

2010-09-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

For those Portlandites who view SW Portland as a maze of suburbia I would encourage you to mosey on down the road just south of downtown PDX near Wilson High School. There you will find a vibrant community of shopping, library, parks and lovely homes a stones throw away from the city.

Each Sunday the Hillsdale Farmers Market is held in the Parking lot between Rieke Elementary and Wilson HS from 10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Meet your neighbors and find out what is happening through your local newpaper the Hillsdale News

Parks abound and provide year round resources for all, check out the many options for your recreational pleasure:
George Himes Park
Terwilliger Parkway
Hillsdale Park
DeWitt Park
Stevens Creek Nature Park

And there are many great housing options to provide your own little piece of paradise - check out for one of the best properties in the area 6469 SW Burlingame Place

Are Sellers Really Buyers

2010-04-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

I chuckled at Matthew Ferrara's tongue in cheek "Ten Simple Phrases for Talking to Homeowners". But while I was amused by his mocking commentary it was dead on right for most sellers. They really are buyers!

By the time I get the call to list a home, most sellers have been identifying online, at open houses and by driving through neighborhoods what their next home will look like. Some of them spend so much time on this hobby that they know more about what is for sale and sold then I do (often these people want to become Realtors). Sometimes this data is erroneously gleaned from casual neighborly conversations that nudge the numbers a bit or the reality of the transaction or one of the many sites offering zestimates on values. Still they have a lot of information. So what does this all mean? They really are buyers, but think they are sellers.

Hence they call their favorite Realtor and I come in and assess the situation giving them the "real news" about what their home can be reasonably sold for. No mincing of data here, but few sellers believe it . . . their home is better in so many ways then those others and surly will sell for more. This may be true, but now armed with my new found view of my sellers as buyers I can see more success by facilitating their view from the buyer perspective.

I like this new approach, rather than telling them about similar comparable homes that have sold, I am going to ask them to tell me about the homes they would have bought if they were buyers. What was attractive about those homes? Details, Prices and More. Enabling the seller to think like a buyer will give them a lot more power in setting their own destiny and really understanding how and what it takes to sell their home.

I am reminded of the sellers I meet with, provide the proverbial "to do" list to get their home on the market and salable, but who do nothing. Then comes the Stager, who provides a more structured approach of prep and sell and they still do nothing. Clearly, the new set of buyer eyes will go a long way with questions like what they have seen and would have made an offer on. Was it move-in ready or did it need to have the wallpaper taken down, new carpets installed, the yard cleaned up and more? Would they make an offer on this home? Why not? Stepping into the Buyers mindset, will put them a step ahead.

Looking at my sellers as buyers really does put everything in a whole new light. Some of my buyers are more motivated than others and some are content with the casual search. If you want to be a buyer, but have to sell first, call me and I can help you view the market with your buyer eyes to get your home sold. There are countless opportunities in the Portland Marketplace and with a skilled adviser you will reach your goal to buy/sell a home.

I also have a nifty little search application you can download to your cell phone by texting pdxrelo to 87778. Enjoy!

John Ross Condo Auction

2010-04-05T13:56:00.000-07:00

I just attended the "How to" buy a condo at the upcoming auction sale of the John Ross Condominiums at the South Waterfront in Portland, Oregon. Sadly our condo market here in Portland, once one of the most robust on the west coast, is still trying to reduce some of the bulk due to an over indulgence of condo building.

Viewing the lovely model homes, it is easy to see he attraction to the simplicity of condo living. Someday the South Waterfront will offer all of the amenities that make the Pearl what it is today, meanwhile auctions like this create an incredible opportunity to get back into the market on the ground floor. Units are starting at just $110,000 and most are under $300,000.

Even better the John Ross just received valuable FHA Approval for their Condo complex. This means a first time buyer with as little as 3.5% down can likely get into a condo here. If you obtain your loan through their preferred lenders Bank of America or MetLife Home Loans you will receive an additional $3000 credit towards closing costs. Add that all up and throw in an $8000 First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit and you've hit a home run.

It is an attractive package, but one you need to be completing Due Diligence on NOW. All attendees must be registered by April 8, 2010 - that is two days from now! You would be remiss to not meet with a qualified broker to represent you during the auction process. There is no additional cost to you and having the skills of an experienced Realtor will go a long way to protecting your best interests.

Opportunity knocks, but you need to be ready to answer the door. This is big. . . so get your game face on and team in place for Auction Day. Linda Heinrichs is ready to help you every step of the way to open doors at the John Ross Auction next weekend. Call now

Are you Ready?

2010-03-14T20:46:00.001-07:00

The signs are all there . . sunshine, chirping birds, blossoms, open house signs on every corner and Realtors are busy, busy, busy. Spring is in the air. Are you ready?

No one knows for sure, if we’ve hit the bottom for home prices, but there are deals to be had for those that have done their homework and are ready to pounce. Multiple offers on Bank Owned properties is becoming common. Well-priced homes in fantastic condition and locations too.

There is pent up demand from buyers and sellers who are tired of placing their plans on hold and reacting to the media crossfire we have all been subject to over the past year. Keep in mind that whether you are a buyer or a seller you will need the skills of an experienced Realtor more than ever to help succeed with your plan in this ever changing market. Once you have contacted a Realtor you can start by asking her for a referral to a couple of Lenders to help you calculate your budget, discuss loan options, determine which mortgage is right for you and preparing a Good Faith Estimate of all the costs associated with purchasing your new home.

Next you need to start thinking about your ideal home – what are the characteristics and location. Think about the neighborhoods where you would like to live and start looking at the homes for sale in these areas. In addition to a great search site at http://www.relocatetopdx.com/ Linda Heinrichs provides a free application that can be downloaded to your phone just text pdxrelo to 87778. There are a number of ways to search, but if you are driving around it will automatically map the homes for sale around your location – very cool when you find an area you would love to live. It will also help you to discern prices for the different neighborhoods. You may love to live there, but your budget does not match up with the selling prices.

Buying a home is a fair amount of work, but the return on investment from a financial and fulfillment standpoint is huge. I have all the tools to smooth the way - call me today. Home is where the heart is . . . Are you ready?

What Do You Think About Obscene Bank Profits

2010-02-22T14:00:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but each time I read about giant bonuses and huge profit margins due to the generosity of our government I seethe as a person and professional. This LA Times article exposes yet another bail out windfall - http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-onewest20-2010feb20,0,880625.story

It has been a tough year all the way around. I don't want to begrudge anyone a profit. Even a big profit. But according to one You Tube site the FDIC offered a sweet deal to OneWest Bank which covers investor losses over $2.5 billion. The FDIC adamantly defends their position and the agreement with OneWest. http://budurl.com/p8g6

The real answer is probably somewhere in between, but I do know from my little microcosm of the real estate world here in Portland Oregon, there are real people hurting. Sellers that have lost jobs and are losing their homes. Lenders ignore pleas to modify loans and then sell the loan to another service provider for a fraction of the cost, creating confusion and chaos for the seller to try and redirect their efforts. All without a change in looming foreclosure timelines. The bank doesn’t miss a beat.

And what do you think about the special bailout of 5 states announced by the White House? Again, personally and professionally I look at Arizona, California, Florida and Nevada and think about how many investors and speculators bought rows and rows of homes in these communities that allowed unbridled building. Michigan has its own set of issues so we will leave them alone. Now we are setting up a special fund because they have been so hard hit. How can this be that our government is willing to create and additional $1.5 billion bailout for the people that took higher than normal risks. Many of these same risk takers also received higher than normal rewards before the fallout occurred. Is there anyone out there that thinks this is wrong?

Slowly we are gaining ground by doing the right things. It is a fragile perch that could topple again with the above kinds of actions. Maybe it is time to get involved and demand your representatives be held accountable for their special interest actions. I am not a political person, but I am rapidly approaching the “Mad as Hell” mode with the nonsense going on. It is hard to focus on my true passion of helping people make a move to or from a home to the next phase of their lives with all this extraneous stuff going on.

What’s on your mind? For service with integrity, passion, hard work and client focused services, call Linda Heinrichs today www.portlandmetrohomesforsale.com

Bank Owned Properties

2010-02-08T21:36:00.000-08:00

Some tips for buying foreclosures

There are a lot of great deals on the market, but buyers need to do their due diligence

Lenders are slowly unloading their foreclosed properties which provides both opportunities and stumbling blocks for bargain hunters.

Just because the price is low doesn't mean you should make a snap decisions to buy something that isn't right. The best advise I can give you, which may sound a little biased, is get a good Real Estate Broker. There are a reason some of these homes have been foreclosed and it is a not a pretty picture.

1. Don't get caught up in the frenzy

This is how the last bubble burst, everyone and I do mean everyone thought they could make money on the flip. Banks put repossessed properties back on the market at lower prices, but not necessarily the price the property is worth. True they do want a quick sale to avoid the expenses of upkeep - taxes, insurance, heat and electricity, but they are not usually giving the place away, unless it has other issues.

It is all about knowing what a home should be priced at, not what it was priced at (but did not sell) or what it sold for several years ago. If it is a good value, other serious buyers will also be looking, so you need to work quickly and understand the neighborhood. Employ a Realtor that can help you position your offer to win. Once the bank puts a property on the market, it is usually priced to sell.

Employ the three C’s: calculate what you want to spend and do not exceed that price, collect lots of data so you are prepared for the right opportunity and construct a plan for making a winning offer. With lenders there may not be a second chance.

2. Get your financing in place

Many lenders ask you to pre-approve through their bank, this can be a little daunting if you start making a lot of offers. Often they will offer incentives to do business with them, so this is in your best interest.

I suggest my buyers start with a pre-approval from the larger REO banks and then if we need to make a change we can, but it only makes sense if they have more properties that the odds will work in your favor.

3. Consider fix-ups

Most bank owned properties are sold as is. Know the condition of the house before you buy. The good news in Oregon the contract allows you to at least perform an inspection, so you know what you are getting.

In 25% of cases, homebuyers persuade lenders to fix some of the problems before the sale closes. Most of the time, banks would rather sell the house to the next available bidder -- one who doesn't ask the bank to pay for repairs.

You will need to be willing to consider a home that needs some attention to deferred maintenance from the previous owner.

IT'S A BUYERS MARKET - WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

2009-03-14T14:56:00.000-07:00

What are you waiting for? I know, prices are going down so you are going to hit the very bottom of the market and then ride the wave up. Sounds like a plan, but how do you know when we hit bottom? Consider this . . . World renowned econonomists can’t agree and often do not get it right. Savvy Wall Streettypes missed it. Bankers, Lawyers, Educators, Statisticians and more missed it.
Not to say that you will not hit the sweet spot, but think about why you want to own a home and suddenly there is more at stake. There are plenty of reasons to buy now. First, you need a place to live. Second, your government is going to pay you $8000 via a Tax Credit to buy a place to live. Third, Interest Rates are at historical lows and we know they will go up to control inflation that is looming around the corner. Fourth, home affordability has increased hugely due to price drops. Simply, it is a BUYERS MARKET!
Run the numbers for yourself. If you bought now and prices dropped another 5%, but interest rates went up just 1%, it would cost you more on a monthly basis to own that home. Think about the monthly benefit the $8000 credit means to you over the next 12 months ($666 a month) or the fact that this can cover your down payment on your home.
The benefits are big, the time is now and a good Buyers Agent will help you maneuver this important purchase of a place to call home, by protecting your best interests. Linda Heinrichs is an Accredited Buyers Agent who works with First Time Buyers in the Portland Metro Market. Call now and position yourself for the future.
www.buyersagentinportlandoregon.com

LAKE OSWEGO OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY

2009-03-05T12:57:00.000-08:00