Home Sellers Archives - 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...

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...

What You Need to Know About the Mortgage Process

Many buyers are purchasing homes with down payments as little as 3%. You may already qualify for a loan, even if you don’t have perfect credit. Your local professionals are here to help you determine how much you can afford, so take advantage of the opportunity to learn more. … Continue reading...

A Recession Does Not Equal a Housing Crisis

Recently, there's been a lot of news surrounding an impending recession. However, the same experts predicting an economic slowdown also believe it will not be caused by the housing market. If you're thinking of buying or selling a home, there's no need to panic- let's get together to address your concerns and talk about what's really happening. … Continue reading...

Does Buying or Selling a Home Have To Be Stressful?

At SkyBlue Portland, we understand that buying or selling a home can be stressful. But it doesn't have to be! Here are six actionable steps you can take to help make the process a whole lot easier. Six Easy Steps to Buying or Selling a Home Know your agent! Shopping for a home is the biggest purchase you may ever make. To avoid the common pitfalls, it makes sense to establish a relationship with a knowledgeable realtor before making an offer. Understand all the costs involved. Talk to your realtor and lender and make sure you understand all costs upfront. … Continue reading...