PORTLAND OREGON 
REAL ESTATE

Celia Lyon
Principal Broker

503-260-6231

CeliaLyon@aol.com

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Portland Homes Values

Portland Home Improvement


Homeowners hear a lot about improvements that might add value to houses. But less attention is paid to what to avoid. Steer clear of renovations that will cost you money at resale time.

If an Portland home becomes conspicuously larger -- and more expensive -- than those around it will risk becoming hard to sell. Additions tend not to return their entire investment. The 2005 "Cost vs. Value Report" found that homeowners were able to recoup only 83% of the cost of a family-room addition and 82% of a midrange master suite.

Guidelines for Buying Portland


Let’s say everything is a GO! You have found the perfect Portland home. You know you can afford it and it is actually priced below what you expected to pay. What a bargain! Yes there are bargains to be found in Portland. At this point it is fine to put in an offer on the property but only with a well-planned contingency. Of course, it the home is going to be financed, the lender will want a Home Inspection before agreeing to lend money on the property. However, you need to protect yourself by making an offer SUBJECT TO a clean bill of health from the Home Inspector of your choice. This kind of a contingency gives you an out if the inspector finds a problem with the roof, or foundation or other structural problem that was not apparent to the seller or to your agent. This does not mean you will not buy the house but you will have a good reason to renegotiate the price with the seller.


Portland Homebuyers Quandry


First time Portland homebuyers have their issues to deal with and homeowners who want to move up, down or sideways have an entirely different set of problems. A homeowner’s first task is to counteract human nature. Humans must be genetically programmed to find their next home and then scramble to sell the one they have so they can afford the one they want. The Portland market is no exception. Of course, this is contrary to good sense but since most people will go ahead with the Buy then Sell approach.

Buying Portland Below Market


Isn’t that everyone’s dream? I hear it from prospective buyers almost every day and many of them want to find the perfect Portland home priced considerably under market. Is it possible? The answer may surprise you but often it is possible. You just need a sophisticated buying strategy.

Now the idea that you can simply decide one day to go house hunting and find just the Portland real estate you want priced way under market is pushing your luck. But if you take advantage of some of today’s Internet technology, do your homework and bide your time, you might find just what you are looking for. First let’s look at the technology.


Rent or Buy Portland


For most people, the chance to trade nondeductible rent payments for mostly deductible mortgage payments is a powerful inducement to trade a rental home into a Portland of your own. This is by far the single most important reason why people decide to buy their first Portland.

However, whether you are considering your first Portland investment or planning to move up, the number crunching necessary to figure out how much house you can afford depends on two calculations: one for actual monthly outlays, the other for the true, after tax costs.


Portland ADVANTAGE


The advantages of buying in any particular city or area depend on the buyer’s individual needs. Factors include proximity to schools, work, shopping, recreation, cultural opportunities and health care. Affordability is another important factor. So your first step in considering Portland or any other city is to determine which of your needs are met and which are not met.