SkyBlue Portland Blog - SkyBlue Portland

Forget the Price of the Home. The Cost is What Matters.

Home buying activity (demand) is up, and the number of available listings (supply) is down. When demand outpaces supply, prices appreciate. That’s why firms are beginning to increase their projections for home price appreciation going forward. As an example, CoreLogic increased their 12-month projection for home values from 4.5% to 5.6% over the last few months. The reacceleration of home values will cause some to again voice concerns about affordability. Just last week, however, First American came out with a data analysis that explains how price is not … Continue reading...

This is Not 2008 All Over Again: The Mortgage Lending Factor

Some are afraid the real estate market may be looking a lot like it did prior to the housing crash in 2008. One of the factors they’re pointing at is the availability of mortgage money. Recent articles about the availability of low-down payment loans and down payment assistance programs are causing concern that we’re returning to the bad habits of a decade ago. Let’s alleviate the fears about the current mortgage market. The Mortgage Bankers’ Association releases an index several times a year titled: The Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI). According to their … Continue reading...

Thinking of Selling Your Home? The Waiting Is The Hardest Part.

Tom Petty famously penned the words, “the waiting is the hardest part” in his early 80’s hit song The Waiting, and his thought process can surprisingly also be applied to individuals considering selling their homes today. Traditional thinking would suggest it may be best to wait until the spring to sell when there is a flood of buyers in the market, but right now may in fact be an even better time to list your home. We can see the overall economy is good: wages are rising, there are near record-low unemployment rates, and mortgage interest rates are still very low too. … Continue reading...

Taking the Fear Out of the Mortgage Process

A considerable number of potential buyers shy away from the real estate market because they’re uncertain about the buying process – particularly when it comes to qualifying for a mortgage. For many, the mortgage process can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be! In order to qualify in today’s market, you’ll need a down payment (the average down payment on all loans last year was 5%, with many buyers putting down 3% or less), a stable income, and a good credit history. Once you’re ready to apply, here are 5 easy steps Freddie Macsuggests to follow: Find out your … Continue reading...

4 Reasons to Buy a Home This Fall

Here are four great reasons to consider buying a home today, instead of waiting. 1. Prices Will Continue to Rise CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Insights Report shows that home prices have appreciated by 3.6% over the last 12 months. The same report predicts prices will continue to increase at a rate of 5.8% over the next year. The bottom in home prices has come and gone. Home values will continue to appreciate for years. Waiting no longer makes sense. 2. Mortgage Interest Rates Are Projected to Increase Next Year The Primary Mortgage Market Survey from Freddie … Continue reading...

Halloween Hoopla: Portland Style

Before we moved to Portland many Halloween Moons ago, we thought Boston was the best place to be in October. Those hardy, history enchanted New Englanders know how to do Halloween right. But these days we relish the Halloween Hoopla season in Portland, Oregon and it's surrounding Metro communities. Portland Oregon Pumpkin Farms are the absolute BEST. We especially love the ones on Hauntingly Beautiful Sauvie Island. And as everyone knows, there's something in Portland water (or is it the air?) that makes its residents a bit more creative, a bit more … Continue reading...

The Impact Staging Your Home Has On Your Sale Price

Have you ever wondered what impact staging your home for sale could have on the length of time it takes to attract the right buyer and the eventual price you get for your home? Wonder no more! The National Association of Realtors surveyed their members & released the findings of their Profile of Home Staging. Here are ttheir findings: Highlights: 62% of seller’s agents say that home staging decreases the amount of time a home spends on the market. 50% of staged homes saw a 1-10% increase in dollar-value offers from buyers. … Continue reading...

To Stage or Not to Stage Your Home for Sale

To stage or not to stage your home, that’s the BIG QUESTION on the minds of many home sellers today. Seriously? There is no question. You can’t afford NOT to stage your home for sale. In fact, there is no more affordable way to boost the value of your home. But let’s be clear about what staging actually is. It’s not decorating. It’s not personal. It’s not real life. Staging is marketing. Staging is dream making. It turns YOUR home into a home that will appeal to a large number of today’s prospective buyers. It turns your home into a showroom that incites the … Continue reading...

How to Prepare Your Home for Sale

When you're ready to prepare your home for sale, remember this: Most people think that buying a home involves a rational decision. It doesn’t. Human beings rarely make purely rational decisions. We make emotional decisions, almost instantaneously—and then justify them with a bunch of mental gobbledygook that sounds logical. We can't help it, it's how we roll. So now that you have decided to prepare your home for sale, you need to look at it from the perspective of your emotional potential buyers. Today’s buyers are design savvy thanks to mega taste makers like … Continue reading...

Sellers: Now Is the Time to Buy!

Falling interest rates coupled with increasing inventory create the ideal market to find the home of your dreams. There's no time like the present to move up! Let's get together to discuss your options. … Continue reading...