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PORTLAND
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Portland Real Estate ReportsPortland Real Estate Cycles
One problem with attempting to time your purchase to the business cycle is that even experts have problems accurately predicting the future economy. Even when they can, the Portland market does not necessarily move in tandem with the stock market or the economy as a whole. Portland is a unique situation.
When the economy is doing well, interest rates are generally higher. The result is that fewer people can afford houses, and Portland is no exception. When the economy slows down, interest rates fall, the "affordability index" moves up and more people can afford houses. The Portland market will take the lead.
Guidelines for Buying Portland
Whether you are a seasoned veteran of real estate transactions or a first time buyer, my advice is the same: Know the Market, Know Yourself and Rely on Experts to give you the whole picture of what you are buying.
Know the Portland Market. Another way of stating this is Research, Research, Research. Of course the Internet is a great way to give an overview of Portland homes or homes in any given area but may not be enough, especially if you are looking to buy a home some distance from where you currently live. If you are looking to buy locally you can drive the neighborhoods that you are focusing on to get an idea if there are any problems you need to be aware of. Does part of the development back up to a busy highway? If so and if you want to avoid looking at homes in that area, know what streets are involved so you can recognize listings that may be involved.
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.
Green Remodeling Your Portland
If you are planning to remodel your Portland, keep home resale in mind and consider going green. Green remodeling is becoming more popular as homeowners consider health issues, skyrocketing energy costs and Earth’s natural resources. And, when it comes time to sell your home, your energy efficient and Earth saving remodeling may help you sell your Portland quickly and for top dollar.
Rent or Buy Portland
In the early years of your Portland mortgage, nearly all of every monthly payment is interest. This means you are only paying off a tiny bit of the loan principal, but it is good news in terms of tax savings.
The monthly payment for a $100,000, 30-year, 8% mortgage on your Portland would be about $734. In the first year of your mortgage, $7,970 of your $8,805 payment or 91% would be deductible as mortgage interest. Even in the tenth year, almost 81% of your payments would be deductible. What this is worth to you depends on your tax bracket but this tax savings built into the home-buying equation is why you can afford to make higher mortgage payments than your current rent payments without squeezing your budget. There is no similar tax subsidy for renters.
What Makes Portland Sell?
Books have been written about this topic but to be concise, successful sale depends on six factors: Price; Terms; Location; The Home’s Condition; The Home’s Accessibility and the Marketing exposure the Portland receives.
Price is what a willing seller and a willing buyer agree on. Price is determined by the current market, which fluctuates causing home values and prices to fluctuate. Often Portland that does not sell is over-priced for the current market. Terms can vary as well. Some owners want payment in full, some are willing to carry a second.
Location is a major consideration in pricing and desirability for Portland. Has the neighborhood gone to pot or does it look like a street at Disneyland? Are there open spaces nearby or is the home located in the middle of commercial district?
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