Home prices rose 2.9 percent in the second quarter from the previous quarter. This is the first such gain in three years and an additional sign that the housing market is slowly stabilizing. The recent results of the S&P/Case Shiller index, which measures repeat home sales, are showing the same positive trends reflected in other housing market indicators. Home sales, construction activity and builder confidence have all risen in recent months. Overall, prices fell 14.9 percent in the second quarter compared with the same time period a year ago. This quarter, average home prices are near historic 2003 levels.

The S&P/Case Shiller system measures national home prices in various time ranges in all nine U.S. Census divisions. The report includes a 20-city index and a 10-city index. Offered on a monthly basis, from May to June, prices were up 1.4 percent in both indices. Putting pressure on prices nationally is the abundance of homes flooding the market and the number of foreclosures and other distressed properties, which are dragging down home prices. These are positive signs and a good reason to buy a home Eugene if your are in the market for one.

We are happy to announce the successful launch of our own new real estate blog. This is in addition to a recently added chat feature which allows customers to contact us for "Live Help" during business hours. We are using our new blog to provide consumers with more information and help them make the right choices concerning the real estate market in Eugene Oregon and our surrounding community. Just to be clear, we in no way are unhappy with our ActiveRain blogging opportunity. We will continue to seek out and use all tools which mesh with our business model.

"FSBO" is an acronym for: For Sale By Owner. In the real estate world you might hear them referred to phonetically as a "Fizbo". For Sale by Owner properties are easily found in craigslist.com under Oregon, Eugene, Real estate for Sale. Eugene's Alternative represents many buyers in FSBO's transactions every year.

Many sellers will attempt to sell their properties themselves prior to seeking professional representation. Most are open to compensating a buyer's agents if a buyer is professionally represented. (This means that there is often no cost to a buyer to seek professional representation)

Our clients are counseled to have Eugene's Alternative make the first contact with the seller to build the relationship, assess the story of the property and schedule a viewing time. Eugene's Alternative then reports back to our clients with the information and timing. Having Eugene's Alternative make the 1st contact is important because we have a high level of success negotiating buyer's agent compensation paid by the seller when Eugene's Alternative makes the 1st contact.

The sale fall-through rate without a professional representative is very high. Some of the qualities that professional representation brings to a transaction are:

Safety - All agreements are reviewed by a licensed Broker who has experience and understands the requirements of a legal real estate transaction in the state of Oregon.

Professional Perspective - There is nothing more dangerous to a transaction than two confused and emotional parties trying to work through a difficult negotiation alone. When trust between the buyer and seller is compromised the transaction's environment can become toxic. Having a smooth handed professional in the middle, listening, reacting to, or leading parties through a tough spot can make all the difference to the success of a sale. A good Realtor can take the pressure off of the individuals and bring smooth & quick resolution to issues that can otherwise progress to a danger.

Quality Team Members - Eugene's Alternative brings years of experience with quality people in the real estate community. We have developed relationships with outstanding folks in these fields and more:

Mortgage Finance
Pest and Dry Rot Inspection
Law
Surveying
Licensed Contractors of all kinds (Building, remodeling & repair)
ArchitectureTitle and Escrow
Home Inspection
Landscaping
Staging

Experience - There is no substitute for experience. Understanding the landscape of a negotiation and transaction can prevent or cut-short problems before they become a threat.


David Koester
Pricipal Broker / Owner
Eugene's Alternative
302-5999
dave@alternativerealtor.com

We field many requests for commercial real estate. The newly formed Eugene Commercial provides a starting place to meet your commercial real estate needs. They do more than just typical leasing and sales. Their staff offers a myriad of technical and practical experience in all aspects of commercial real estate analysis and research for the Eugene area. They specialize in Market Value Analysis, Highest and Best Use Analysis, Land Planning, Location Analysis, Site Selection, and Asset Management.

The members of Eugene Commercial achieve to understand your business requirements and personal taste, and translate them into the ideal business space. They believe in a long term view of business success. Although Eugene Commercials official responsibility is complete when your lease is signed or the sale is final, it is their practice to continue serving you. I believe that's just one of the features that sets EC apart from the competition.

We have not seen a large amount of traffic (20-30 visitors per Mo.) coming from ActiveRain via our analytics program. This does not mean the traffic is not beneficial. In fact visitors are inherently different depending on their point of origin. It turns out that those visitors who do come to our website via ActiveRain spend 4 times longer on our website. Albeit, many of those who come are in the Eugene real estate industry. This too is good. 

This home is an excellent deal. A stunning contemporary home with deluxe features:"Soft" soaking tub & automatic skylight in master bath, two on-demand H2O heaters, maple hardwood floors w/radiant floor heat, clerestory windows, Fisher/Paykel dish-drawer dishwasher, Jenn-air range in island, surround sound in and out, 4 decks w/views, Corian in kitchen & bath, finished and insulated garage, alarm system, Hardi-plank siding.

Watch our real estate video of this home for sale.

Talk about Options! Enjoy a well valued 4 bed 2 bath single family home or separate the top and bottom into 2 separate spaces! Family size or suited to share the space with relative seclusion. What a deal for 2,500+ square feet so close to the U of O!

This listing courtesy of Eugene's Alternative Realtors in Eugene Oregon. 

 

What is the best mapping software for small real estate firms?

We are currently using IDX via the IDXbroker service and have tried others. Extra credit for mapping systems which are easy to integrate with a Realtor's current website. Also consider price as a factor for smaller offices. Set-up time is also a consideration. Please comment on the aesthetic qualities of your favorite mapping program too.

A recent article in Forbes magazine covers some of the best and worst housing markets in the U.S. Eugene falls into the best category. To summarize, the author explains that Median home prices in the Pacific NW as a group soared; in Portland, Oregon, prices jumped 8.9% and the Eugene / Springfield area increased 5.9% during the same time period. We are now witnessing is growth in regions which still have a strong economy, but didn't see the overblown prices that were seen in many other areas".

Our current median home price is $236,800 as of June, 2007. High inventory numbers have been the one thing that has slowed the growth rate to an above average 5.9 percent. This is a very reasonable gain when looking at the entire United Sates as a whole.

Below are the most common issues concerned with overpricing real estate

* Most of the activity on your home will occur in the first few weeks. Pricing a home properly and then creating immediate urgency in the minds of agents and buyers is critical. Buyers who have seen most available homes in their price range are waiting for the "right house" to come on the market. That's why a house that is priced right, will sell quickly. The buyers are there waiting for it.

* Don't start with a high price and the assumption that you can reduce it later. By the time you decide to lower the price, it may be too late, as interest will have already waned.

* A major cause for concern is appraisal problems; overpricing can lead to loan rejections and lost time.

* Even if your home is nicer than other homes in the same area, your house won't be picked for viewing if you set the price too high. Buyers and agents become aware of the long exposure period and often are hesitant to make an offer because they fear something is wrong with the property.

* Attracting the wrong buyers.

* Fewer potentially qualified buyers will respond.

* You might help sell similar homes that are priced low.

* You could lose money as a result of making extra mortgage payments while incurring taxes, insurance and unplanned maintenance costs.