Everything. Portland. Real Estate. Blog.

The McDonald Group gets bigger! Welcome LARRY WILLIAMS!

Kristie — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:25:20 +0000

I am soooo excited to announce a new member to our real estate team. With a strong background in sales and a sincere and keen intuitive sense to listen AND hear the client, we are excited to have him on board. He has several forte’s that will benefit our growing group but he is currently specifically assisting with: Hosting open house [...]

The McDonald Group Realtors named #7 for 2009! YAYYY! & Thank You!

Kristie — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:59:05 +0000

So… out of over 300 Coldwell Banker Real Estate agents in the Portland / Vancouver area, Scott & I ranked #7 for Gross Commission Earned and earned the status designation of International Diamond Society! (whatever that means). For volume we placed #4 (ish) in the company and hit #1 for volume production in our east side office! We are SO [...]

Nationwide OPEN HOUSE Event 4/10-11! Oregon participating, especially Estacada!

Kristie — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:02:17 +0000

April 10th & 11th is National Realtors Open House event! If you want to see what’s out there; doors will be open… all over Portland and metro areas!! I’m excited to say that these dates coincide with the Ultimate Open House event taking place April 10th-11th & April 17th & 18th! The timing of both [...]

Check out today’s Bank Owned listings! Happy Valley Deals!

Kristie — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:42:59 +0000

Here is today’s line up! There are some great deals on SE Hamilton in Happy Valley if you are okay with stairs. Ask me about the one Hamilton that’s not in this report; it’s priced even better! CLICK HERE for Today’s Bank owned! As usual we have an abundance of homes priced under $200! This [...]

Cool Link COMPLETELY Unrelated to Portland Real Estate! Check it out!

Kristie — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:20:17 +0000

Click on the link below to perform a “search by map” of newspapers around the world! VERY Cool! NEWSPAPER MAP CLICK HERE!

Condos Becoming even more difficult to finance with FHA… oh GREAT!

Kristie — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:27:42 +0000

“Lender Tu” had this to say about recent lending changes concerning condo purchases: As the mortgage industry continues to go through its 2010 metamorphosis, FHA/HUD is leading the way! As promised last year, one of many changes. FHA is following through with their New Condo Review Process. They are removing the Spot Approval process on Condos that [...]

Typical Short Sale Story- Limbo for Buyer & Seller

Kristie — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:53:21 +0000

Yep, this is a typical story. It’s amazing! I am always explaining these types of stories to buyers but it’s so hard to believe that the process is this awful! There are “some” circumstances that will allow for a smoother process but in most cases your chances of pulling off a short sale are minimal. [...]

Check out this Ryan Olsen Home in Persimmon Golf Course- 1 of my FAVORITE homes! Bank owned!!!!

Kristie — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:06:16 +0000

The link below shows the 4 foreclosures that listed today (yes, only 4 to the usual 30), but in that small list is a jewel of a find, a Ryan Olsen home! Listed at about $390k…. take a look! It’s in bumpable status which means there is another offer but that other offer is contingent [...]

TAKE ACTION NOW! IF YOU NEED TO USE FHA FINANCING…..

Kristie — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:38:26 +0000

TAKE ACTION NOW if you need to use FHA financing for your purchase or refinance! Beginning Spring of 2010 and mostly likely shortly after the extended first time and move up buyer credit expires, FHA will be increasing their fees to ensure they have continued funds in reserve to operate their low down payment and high [...]

FORBES: Portland, OR named 1 of Top Ten Cities to Go From Renting to Buying

Kristie — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:50:16 +0000

Forbes says that although Portland, Ore is not cheap for buyers, it is cheaper than normal. We keep sprawl in check which keeps home prices up and continues to keep home values protected better than other cities that have allowed too much sprawl and over build that brings home prices down. We frequently get out of [...]

A Few Articles Re: interest rates rising & FHA tightening on loan standards

Kristie — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:12:33 +0000

Clients of ours forwarded the linked articles below to us for consideration; I’m passing along to you. I do expect FHA will continue to tighten and I do think interest rates will go up. For those of you thinking you want to wait for home prices to reduce, keep in mind that an increased interest [...]

Coldwell Banker CEO on Fox News: Market “what up”

Kristie — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:42:45 +0000

Jim talks about the credit for not only the first time home buyers but the credit for the move-up buyer as well. Interest rates are expected to rise but Jim points out that even when they reach 6% they will still be better than the rates we saw in the 80’s! I love your glasses [...]

See Foreclosures/ Bank Owned Homes Just Listed Today in the Portland Area~

Kristie — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:02:34 +0000

Interesting list today. Remember I post the REO properties almost daily on my Twitter account. Anyhow, we have a home in Persimmon here (very nice neighborhood in Gresham), a few homes (although overpriced) in Happy Valley, and of course our HUGE variety of broken down homes under $200k. There are certainly plenty of first time [...]

Wow! 61 Foreclosures Listed Today in the Portland Metro Area~

Kristie — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:28:10 +0000

It must be all those REO agents coming back to work and banks wanting to move inventory because 61 is ALOT; I usually see about 30. Anyhow, great finds in here if you are looking for West Linn, Beaverton, Gresham, Portland… you name it! The majority of these are first time home buyer or rental [...]

Home Warranty – Should I have one for my new home purchase?

Kristie — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:59:00 +0000

Should I get a home warranty? Depends…. alot of agents would say no, however I am a strong believer under the right circumstances and would frequently say ”yes”. New construction no (if it’s a builder who will be staying in business long enough, the home is warrantied for 1 year already), a home passing it’s home inspection [...]

Amazing Home in Klamath Falls for Sale, 40 acres for under $500,000!

Kristie — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:00:16 +0000

I have a friend in Klamath Falls selling his home, only 15 minutes away from Klamath Falls, 40 acres, horse barn, pond…. a great find! Below are some of the details or CLICK HERE for a Zillow Link! Beautiful recently remodeled country home setting on 40 incredible hillside acres with views of Klamath Falls and Merrill. [...]

Two Realtors Singing the Client Woes for Christmas… I just had to pass along.

Kristie — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 06:15:05 +0000

It’s a bit long and drawn out but if you’re a Realtor you will find it well worth the length! Most of our clients are very faithful but occasionally you get someone you’ve been working with for a few months only to find they have been cheating with another agent or two.

Just listed Foreclosures in the Portland, OR area today! Great little find in Rhododendron!

Kristie — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:30:24 +0000

Below is a link to the lineup for today; I noticed a great little find in Rhododendron. Only about 15 minutes to Sandy and close enough to Mt. Hood to get snow, this home being in the Timberline Rim Community gives you access to a community swimming pool, access to the Sandy River, tennis courts, and more! [...]

Lents Park is Improving! (and the area could really use it!)

Kristie — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 05:24:50 +0000

The Lents part of Portland has had alot of focus this last year or two on renewal and improvements; the news about Lents Park improvements is great to hear! We received alot of calls from first time home buyers for the Lents area these last months as the PDC had grant money available to encourage positive growth. With [...]

Down Housing Market has Lead to a Falloff in Divorces

Kristie — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:38:39 +0000

Interesting little article in The Wall Street Journal. I agree with them; many couples are waiting it out. I have seen one couple that can’t make up their mind, house on the market, off the market, on the market… but overall, with no money to dispute over it’s more of who wants to take on the [...]

36 Foreclosures Listed in Portland, Oregon area today; Gresham & West Linn have some good finds!

Kristie — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:51:33 +0000

I noticed some nice ones pop up in the REO listings today; I am particularly interested in the one off of Swift Shore in West Linn! GREAT neighborhood, schools, location & potential! Listed at $475,000 just two months ago it has just popped on for $319,000! (This one will likely generate multiple offers…. don’t lowball if [...]

Look at the price on that SHORT SALE! It’s too good to be true!

Kristie — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:03:57 +0000

Yep! It probably is. Until an offer is received, the short sale process between the homeowner and the lender(s) cannot begin. In other words, the seller & listing agent need an offer, any offer, before they can turn in the initial packet required to get the process started. You are likely being used; they just want [...]

I love the Palazzo Homes! 4-Squares, Tudors & Bungalows oh My!

Kristie — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:48:05 +0000

I have been a lover of the Palazzo Custom Homes for years now and what they are doing to improve our Portland neighborhoods is fantastic! Do you hate the skinny towering infill homes as much as I do? They have a better looking alternative looking bungalow that fits right in instead and IMPROVES the neighborhood [...]

FHA down payment to increase from 3.5% to 5%? Yikes!

Kristie — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:01:19 +0000

HUD is asking Congress to increase the min. down payment to increase from 3.5% to 5% on FHA loans. This would effect ALOT of buyers. My video guys here don’t mention it in this lender video but I’m also hearing that the min. credit score requirement is likely to go up as well. This could happen just [...]

Foreclosures just listed today in Portland, Oregon area- 12/10. Alot in Hillsboro today!

Kristie — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:34:15 +0000

35 Bank owned REOs listed today! The first one on the list is a houseboat; I don’t see those too often. I only post REO listings once in a while on our Blog but I do Twitter daily with the Portland, OR bank owned listings. GOTO: twitter.com/kristiemcd For today’s REO Foreclosures just listed! CLICK HERE! Remember [...]