Did we catch them? No, but it did stop! - 07/31/08 10:56 AM
Oh, I hate when people steal, and I hate it even worse when it is from me. But, I was on a quest; I was paying a reward for the capture of the thief. I wanted it to stop and I was pulling out everything in my bag of tricks to do it.
Recently I wrote a post entitled "Smile for the camera before you go to jail!" In this post I was out to capture whoever was knocking down my signs and / or just out right stealing them in some cases.
Well, after I put a teenager out there … (19 comments)

The Academy Theater in Portland Oregon – A step back in time - 07/30/08 08:56 AM
The Academy Theater in Portland, Oregon, is a great little theater located at 7818 SE Stark Street and it takes you back in time to the late 40's and early 50's. They have completely remodeled it back to that time and it is absolutely beautiful.
Now to give you a little history, I first went to this theater by accident because I promised my daughter if she read the book, "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe", I would take her to see it in the theater. But, the problem was when she finished it, it was already out of the … (2 comments)

You didn’t just say that to my buyers did you? - 07/28/08 11:46 PM
Have you ever had a strange experience with a listing agent? So strange that when you were done, just had that look on your face that asks, "Are you serious?"
Well, I can say I just recently had one of those experiences and even my buyer's called me afterward and asked if the agent was "Off her rocker". The sad part is, I couldn't disagree with them.
This agent was speaking for the seller and was trying to convince the buyers that they needed to sign a waiver on the home and that it was safe and didn't need permits. She … (31 comments)

First impressions – Here is a way you can save a few dollars - 07/28/08 09:48 AM
I think one of the easiest things to do to increase the curb appeal of your home is to paint it. Have you ever looked at an old car and see the paint is all chipped and primer is showing all over? What do you think of that car and the owner of the car?
Well, the same thing is being said about your home. When someone drives up to the house, in the first 30 seconds they have already decided if they are going to even go in or if they are going to buy it. Curb appeal is a … (5 comments)

West Linn, Oregon Parks - Hammerle Park - 07/27/08 11:07 PM
Hammerle Park is a 5 acre plus park located in West Linn, right off Hwy 43. This park, during the hot summer days, is great for kids as it has a wading pool that is only about a foot deep, but to a hot child, that is all they need!
This park also has swings, slides, and two different sets of playground equipment, one for older kids and one for kids under three. (Personally, I love this, as usually younger kids get run over on the bigger equipment by older and faster kids.)

Located at the north end of the … (2 comments)

Weasels Dancing in the Park - 07/27/08 12:15 AM
Weasels Dancing in the Park has a live auction, raffle, and games for ferrets and their owners with all the proceeds go to the Oregon Ferret Shelter, a 100% no kill ferret shelter located in Oregon City, Oregon.
This year's event takes place at Hammerle Park in West Linn, Oregon, on July 27th, 2008, from 10am-4pm, and as always admission to the event is free. Below is a map to Hammerle Park. If you click on it you can get point to point directions from Google.

For more information on the event you can either call the Oregon Ferret Shelter … (5 comments)

Activerain Love Story – Love has found its way 64 years later - 07/25/08 06:06 PM
I love Activerain and yesterday was just another reason to love it even more. I have a house listed that has some amazing history behind it and one of the things that was found during the remodel was some love letters written during World War II.
The Schiller Station home was an amazing home that was a stop along the Portland to Estacada rail line and the Schiller family built this home along the rail line in 1912 where they raised their five kids. In 1951, after all the kids had moved out, and even though some of the kids … (31 comments)

Washington County, Oregon home sales week in review by neighborhood (7/25/2008) - 07/25/08 05:22 PM
Today is Friday, July 25, 2008 and it is time for another breakdown of homes sales in the WashingtonCounty, Oregon market. This week the stats came out for June 2008 versus June 2007 and the numbers are pretty amazing. Despite an average drop in home sales in Washington County of 33.95% from last year at this time, the prices still rose and average of .62% from last year. This is an interesting situation, because even though we have less people buying, we also have less people selling. So what does this mean to buyers who think we are completely in a … (1 comments)

How far do your clients go to say hi? - 07/24/08 08:35 AM
Have you ever had a client say hi to you in a store, a movie theatre or maybe even a restaurant? Well, I know I have, but the other night one of my past clients scared me pretty darn good just to say hi.
It was 9:30 at night and we were driving down one of the local highways and came to a stop light. I was just looking at the light when out of the darkness came a knock on my window. It seems two cars back was one of my clients and she just wanted to say hi.
I … (6 comments)

I’m white trash…but secretly I’m green inside - 07/23/08 10:25 PM
I'm proud to be the white trash of the room. I sit there in the corner of this house and do my job. Call me what you will, but I know that my job is more important than what my outside portrays. I have two siblings on each side of me and they are white trash also, but I'm the one that is really green on the inside.
You see, every Wednesday I'm taken out with my sibling to the curb, but unlike my siblings who fill the landfill, I'm filled with recycling that can be reused. I am truly green … (7 comments)

Activerain Newbie Alert – Wow, you can’t ask for much more than that - 07/22/08 04:38 PM
Hey everyone, help me welcome Mona Makela, the owner of Heavenly Maid Cleaning Service to Activerain. I met Mona about 6 months ago when she and her crew were doing the cleaning at our condo conversion projects the day before clients were to move in.
She and her team came in and did a great job. They left the place move-in ready despite what they had to clean up after. They were left with a lot of construction dirt and debris, but they left that place spotless!
Now after talking to Mona and finding out more about her company I thought … (10 comments)

My first actual fishing trip (Guest Post) - 07/22/08 10:52 AM
My first actual fishing trip was with grandpa, dad and my grandma came too, but she read instead of fished. We started at 9:30 and ended about 12:55, but we didn't catch anything.
Grandpa was the only one to lose his bait, but I was the only one that got 3 nibbles. We saw a couple of osprey though. Here is a picture of them, taken by my grandpa.

On our way back we saw this old water wheel and on the way there and back we saw this eagles nest, we knew it's an eagle's nest because dad and … (13 comments)

Surely people wouldn’t do that? Yes they would, and don’t call me Shirley - 07/21/08 11:05 PM
Have you ever had a buyer sue you? I haven't and I'm glad for that, but more and more people are starting to sue when things don't go their way. In the last two weeks I've read of at least three cases where a person who bought a property in 2005 and 2006 were now suing their agent and the appraiser for paying too much for their homes.
There's another situation where people are suing a person who agreed to do a lease option with them because at the end of the lease they decided not to buy and now wanted … (6 comments)

Should the banks listen early to avoid costing themselves thousands? - 07/21/08 10:04 AM
Many of us have taken vitamin c when we feel a cold coming on and why do we do that? Because we know if we don't we could be missing a lot more work and money during the down time while we try to get better.
But, why don't the banks take this same approach when it comes to home owners? If a home owner who has had a good payment history calls them and says, "I'm in trouble and I'm about to go in to default." The bank tells them, "Sorry, there is nothing we can do for you until … (10 comments)

I had a very nice family stop off today at my open house, but we had a language barrier - 07/21/08 12:37 AM
Today, while doing my open house at the condo conversion project, we had an unexpected family drop by and I was glad to help them out, as always. Now, the problem was we had a language barrier and clearly they couldn't live here and I had to help them.
You see, I helped this family despite our language barrier all the way to their new home. Was I what you call steering? Well yes, I'll admit that. This type of family wasn't welcome here, they just didn't fit in and living here could have been dangerous for them.
That is my … (25 comments)

What you say may cost you when buying a home - 07/20/08 12:47 AM
When I'm working as a buyer's agent, and I take a buyer out to look at homes, I always tell them never to talk about the house too much while we are in the house. Just look around, leave, and then we will talk about it in the car.
The reason I do this is sometimes the sellers are home, and in one case a few years ago, the seller was video taping the house. In my experience, a buyer that says too much is costing themselves thousands of dollars.
No matter what you say, good or bad, it can affect … (6 comments)

Washington County, Oregon home sales week in review by neighborhood (7/18/2008) - 07/18/08 07:39 PM
Today is Friday, July 18, 2008 and it is time for another breakdown of homes sales in the WashingtonCounty, Oregon market. Summer has arrived and the good news is we are starting to see more and more families looking for homes in the 3 to 4 bedroom and between the prices of $250,000 and $350,000. I think by summers end we will have seen some good sales, but I don’t think any where near the rate we saw last summer. Prices are still staying relatively steady in Washington County, but sales over all are down since last year. I look forward … (0 comments)

Improve your neighborhood – Volunteer! - 07/17/08 10:31 AM
One of the factors that can affect home prices is the schools in an area and how they grade on the state and federal tests. A lot of families don't want to live in an area where the schools are known for not being the best in the area.
But, what if you were to volunteer once a week at one of these local schools? Join S.M.A.R.T. (Start Making a Reader Today) or come in the classroom and just ask the teachers how you can help. These little things can really help the teachers focus more on what needs to be … (7 comments)

Divorce and your home…What should you do? - 07/16/08 11:37 PM
Yesterday I got a call from a person who is friends with one of my clients. She had a question about her home and if one of the two people on the title could sign over the title to just one person.
I asked what the reason was for taking the person off the title and if they were on the loan. She said it was because she and her husband were getting a divorce and that they wanted to transfer title to the other.
I then asked to whom the title was being transferred? I told her that the title … (6 comments)

I don’t care what your buyer needs, I’m not with holding a document from title - 07/16/08 08:14 AM
Yesterday I got a call on one of my listings and they ended up spending an hour and a half in the property, measuring, looking at insulation, and checking the electrical. Clearly they were interested.
Then the buyer's agent calls me later that day and says they would like to present an offer for full asking price plus $10,000, but they want the owner to carry a 20% 2nd,  at 10% interest and pay the buyer's closing costs.
So, far it seemed like a pretty fair offer for my client since it was an investment property with no mortgage on it. … (15 comments)

Our first fishing trip of the year and we caught our limit! (Detroit Lake) - 07/15/08 10:59 AM
Detroit Lake is one of my father's and my favorite fishing spots. This year we both got to do something that we have never both done at the same time, we both left with our limit of fish, and they weren't light weights either.

Detroit Lake is just over an hour and forty five minutes from Beaverton, and I have to say well worth the drive. This year, because of the late start of the fishing season, the fish were bigger and they were very hungry.
Here is a map showing our favorite fishing spot on the lake. Just promise … (6 comments)

You hired who? The one that said…Just because they offered to do it for 1% less? - 07/14/08 10:27 AM
Recently, I met a seller that was planning to sell their property across from one of my listings. He is a very nice gentleman, but the house did need some updating and probably some staging to get the best price for the home.
But, what the other agent, who had just walked in to his house, said something that just floored me, and yet he still hired her to list his home. I asked him what he thought needed to be done for the house to get sold, and then I would give him a few more pointers just to make … (28 comments)

Family ownership maybe coming back - 07/13/08 11:05 PM
Over the past couple months I've noticed more and more families looking at homes together, not just for their opinion, but to have the whole family living in one household together. Be it to cut the costs of home ownership or to have a live in baby sitter, more and more families are choosing to live together under one roof.
I've had two listings in the last 4 months that the family was selling because they were going to move back in with their parents. They are buying homes that have mother-in-law quarters, as I call them, or even properties with … (9 comments)

Watch what you sign, it could cost you when trying to sell your home - 07/13/08 10:36 AM
Contingencies in a real estate contract are normal, but they usually only last about 10 business days, and that accounts for the inspections and the financing contingencies. But, as the seller what other things should you watch out for?
In this market more and more buyers are trying to sell their own house while trying to find another with better payments or closer to town. But, to avoid getting stuck with two mortgage payments they will put an offer in contingent upon them selling their home.
Most of the time, I advise sellers not to accept and offer like this, because … (4 comments)

After negotiating with the president of the bank on behalf of my client, now what? - 07/12/08 01:32 AM
Earlier this year, I took on a listing that was to be a short sale and two other listings for a person that weren't going to be short sales. But, my client had an 800 credit score and had never missed a payment.
The problem was he over-remodeled a property and it was now not going to be able to sell for what he owed. My client didn't want to rip off the bank and not pay them what was owed, but wanted to some how come up with an arrangement with the bank that they will get all their … (10 comments)

Washington County, Oregon home sales week in review by neighborhood (7/11/2008) - 07/11/08 03:48 PM
Today is Friday, July 4, 2008 and it is time for another breakdown of homes sales in the WashingtonCounty, Oregon market. This week we have seen a little bit of a slow down in sales and that could be due to the 4th of July weekend and no one was looking at homes. Let’s see what happens this week and hope things pick up. Summer has arrived and the good news is we are starting to see more and more families looking for homes in the 3 to 4 bedroom and between the prices of $250,000 and $350,000. I think by … (0 comments)

As the market changes, so are my clients - 07/09/08 11:58 PM
In the last couple months, I've seen an interesting thing happen in my niche market of Lease Options and Owner Financing. There are more and more agents trying to get into my niche as they realize I'm doing more and more business.
But, what happens when you get in to a niche you don't understand? You usually get yourself in trouble! I was approached a couple months ago by an agent that said he specialized in short sales and foreclosure properties and wanted me to partner with him to help him buy and sell these properties. 
But, after hearing his proposal, … (19 comments)

Beaverton Oregon: Another reason people who visit end up staying - 07/07/08 08:12 AM
What makes a place worth living in? There are many answers to this, but when I think of places I want to live, I think of livability! What is livability? To me this means when I need or want something, the ease of getting it or doing it is always at hand.
In Beaverton, Oregon, I've never felt this was an issue. If I want something to do, be it taking a walk, seeing a movie, or eating anything your heart desires, it is always within driving distance.
One of the things I love most about Beaverton is that even what … (1 comments)

The 2nd biggest 4th of July parade in Oregon was once again great! - 07/06/08 11:32 PM
The Hillsboro, Oregon, 4th of July parade was once again a great success with thousands of people showing up to see the parade that had kids, dogs, public officials, and everyone smiling.
This year we sat in front of my co-coach of my daughter's softball team who happens to have a house right on the parade route, and what awesome seats they were! Everyone brought food. A few girls had spent the night and were ready for the parade when we arrived!
This parade was better than the ones I had remembered from the past, and that may be because during … (3 comments)

Did we go to far the other way? - 07/06/08 10:45 AM
In 2005 and 2006 everyone who had a name could get a traditional mortgage, but then the economy changed, and prices started to fall. Homes are now worth less than they were when people bought them. The mortgage industry is in turmoil and things are looking more and more uncertain each and everyday.
Today we have loan guidelines changing 3 or 4 times a day and even the underwriters can't keep up with all the guideline changes. But at the same time even when a qualified buyer produces a down payment and has a good credit score, they still won't sign … (15 comments)

Hitting a home run for my clients is normal, but today she hit one for my son! - 07/05/08 10:32 PM
Today was my son's 7th Birthday and one of my preferred mortgage brokers who always seems to hit a home run for my clients, hit a grand slam for my son's birthday today. If my logo doesn't show it, I love baseball and I've passed this love on to my kids.
Janiece Struloeff despite not being an Activerain member yet (LOL) has proven to me, time and time again, that she does what it takes to get a loan done! Earlier this year she saw a picture of my son in one of his favorite shirts (the one below) and then … (16 comments)

Washington County, Oregon home sales week in review by neighborhood (7/4/2008) - 07/04/08 08:20 PM
Today is Friday, July 4, 2008 (Happy Independence Day Everyone) and it is time for another breakdown of homes sales in the Washington County, Oregon market. This week I'm starting to see a pick up of listings and also showings. Summer has arrived and the good news is we are starting to see more and more families looking for homes in the 3 to 4 bedroom and between the prices of $250,000 and $350,000. I think by summers end we will have seen some good sales, but I don’t think any where near the rate we saw last summer. Prices are … (0 comments)

Beaverton Oregon Real Estate: Lease Options and Owner Financing - 07/03/08 12:16 PM
There are many reasons people do either a lease option or owner financing, but usually the biggest is credit issues. Now, this doesn't mean that all people taking these options are in this situation.  
I've had many people do a lease option because they are hired on at a position at a company and they don't know if they will be hired on permanently. But until they are they don't want to buy a house, but they would like to buy the house they are in if they do get hired on.
Another reason is, I have many clients that … (1 comments)

Patience + Support + Humor = Love & Happiness! - 07/03/08 02:41 AM
As a lot of my regular readers know, all my posts are proof read by my wife. But, not this one, this one is going up without any help as I wanted it to be a surprise. So, please don't comment on spelling or grammar today. (LOL)
Today I write about my rock, the person who keeps me grounded, but supports me in anything and everything I have done in the past 15 years. I've been lucky to have found my soul mate in my wife and 15 years ago today when we got married, it changed me!
Until the day … (13 comments)

Ok, Todd write about me and tell others to listen to you! - 07/02/08 10:21 AM
I tell my buyers that they need to tell me everything, even if it seems small, because if I don't know, it could cost them the house they are trying to buy. Well, this client has told me, "I've read enough of your posts to know that you are going to write about me and this situation, and please do, so someone else can learn from my mistake!"
The situation is this person was trying to buy a condo that was non-warrantable, because it was a condo conversion project and they were not quite at the 50% sales mark yet. So, … (7 comments)

Activerain friends, meeting them face to face – What awesome people we have here! - 07/01/08 10:54 PM
Last Thursday I had the privilege of meeting some fellow rainers of whom their posts I've enjoyed. But, even though they were so close I had never had a chance to meet them until last Thursday when I was up their way and we decided to have lunch together.

Patty and Scott Carroll of Re/Max in Vancouver are just awesome people. I have to say meeting them was a great experience and I found out more about them than had been mentioned in their past MeMe. I think it may be time for another MeMe from each of them, because … (14 comments)

For Sale by Owner (Who the hell are you?) - 07/01/08 10:30 AM
I love talking to FSBO (For Sale by Owner) people. They are some of the most intelligent and well meaning people I've ever met. They usually are just trying to save a dollar, not realizing that they can cost themselves thousands by not using an agent.
But, this FSBO wasn't that at all. This FSBO was ignorant, abusive, and darn right rude toward me as an agent. In my career, I've only had one other situation like this. But, this time was different, he wanted me to go away and wanted me to go away fast!
Something wasn't quite right here … (23 comments)

Beaverton Oregon Real Estate: Credit Repair Secrets - 07/01/08 12:41 AM
One of the things I run in to a lot when it comes to fixing peoples credit is that they get paid only once a month. That may be on the 5th of the month, yet their credit card bills come on the 20th and are due on the 3rd of the next month. This makes their bill late every month without fail.
But, as someone who used to work for a credit card company, did you know you can call them and request the date your bill is sent out? This little known secret is often not even known by … (3 comments)

 
Helping Families Home is a blog set up to help families find that perfect home for them. I have a family and I understand how hard it can be to find a home that everyone is happy with. Let me help you find that home and help your family home.


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