Buyers Agent Portland . . . My NEW WordPress Site . . . I'm SO EXCITED I MUST SAY - 06/30/11 11:39 PM
Buyers Agent Portland. . . My NEW WordPress Site
I'm SO EXCITED!!  I'm completely mental . . . I must say.
WOW -- you have NO idea how much I've procrastinated, put off, didn't wanna do it, dragged my feet . . . and FINALLY today I did it!!
Buyers Agent Portland was a domain I picked up a few weeks ago, and because I'm on a strict advertising budget, I don't have the funds to really use Buyers Agent Portland the way I want to. 
 
With the FREE of WordPress luring me on, I decided to focus on that project today.
I felt like ED GRIMLEY … (67 comments)

Just Because I Like To Cook . . . Doesn't Mean I'm a Chef (Alternative Title: "Food for Thought") - 06/30/11 04:40 PM
Just Because I Like To Cook . . . Doesn't Mean I'm a Chef
As I was in the kitchen fricasseeing the other evening, I had a thought:  Gee, I like to cook.
What do I like about cooking:
Planning for the feast -- which includes who I'm cooking for: me, or a friend, or a group of friends, or family, or bringing a delicious side to a potluck. Organizing the ingredients- do I have enough vanilla, meat/fish/chicken, pepper, corn starch?  In order to make the perfect dish, the ingredients should be available (and fresh, if possible) Experimenting - sometimes my best … (14 comments)

Stepping Stone Cafe In Portland a GREAT Place to EAT, If They'll Let You . . . - 06/29/11 03:22 PM
Stepping Stone Cafe is a cool Portland staple.  Nestled in the Nob Hill/Uptown area of NW Portland, the Stepping Stone Cafe is "the" eatery you want to indulge when you want to "treat" yourself. 
Located on the corner of NW Quimby and NW 24th this eatery serves up some DELICIOUS breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
The Stepping Stone Cafe has a trademarked slogan: 
 "You Eat Here Because We Let You."
Breakfast is a treat for me, and when I went there last Saturday I couldn't help but gawk at all the wonderful plates arriving to diners.  They all looked so good! 
Huge biscuits covered with homemade gravey, hash browns made … (4 comments)

Hey Fred . . . Fred Armisen . . . Call ME YOUR Portland Realtor - 06/27/11 12:31 AM

Hey Fred . . . Fred Armisen . . . Call ME YOUR Portland Realtor
I know you're out there . . . Fred Armisen.  I know you're roaming around the streets of Portland filming episodes of your great show "Portlandia" 
But why haven't you called me your Portland Realtor yet?!?
Hey, I live here!  I know EXACTLY what makes Portland tick . . . and why Portlandia is such a funny take on the City of the Roses.  But you haven't called me your Portland Realtor . . .  . . . . . . . . yet.  I know you … (16 comments)

What is The Biggest Challenge You Face in Your Real Estate Business? - 06/24/11 04:37 PM
What is the biggest challenge you face in your real estate business?
What are the top three things you'd like your Realtor® Association to do for you?
Our local board, PMAR (Portland Metro Area Realtors) has a survey floating around.  I thought two of the four questions raised were interesting.  I'd love to hear what you answers might be.
Question #1 : What is the biggest challenge you face in your real estate business?
The biggest challenge is combating negatives.  Either from the media, or from buyers themselves.  The media is a plethora of generalizations which may / may not be true … (15 comments)

CHANGE ~ is it really possible OR is it just comingled with lint in your pocket and useless? - 06/24/11 03:41 PM

Colleage Lyn Sims has posted two worthy videos from the guys at Think Big, Work Small . . .
Oh brother, they make too much SENSE!!  And because of the common sense offered in these videos . . . don't hold your breath that anything will change.  The banksters are set up to work against Americans who would like to buy.  Don't kid yourself . . . but watch the videos.  They make sense!  But since when does sense and banksters go together?!?
Via Lyn Sims - Schaumburg Homes (Schaumburg Homes and the Northwest Suburbs - RE/MAX Suburban):
Think Big Work Small's … (5 comments)

How This Portland Realtor Gets Paid - 06/24/11 03:29 PM
How this Portland Realtor Gets Paid
In my post How this Beaverton Realtor Gets Paid I critique some misconceptions I noticed in an article I read on MSN Money: "A Who's Who Guide To Buying Your First Home"
I'm double-ending my posts with SEO . . . and how this Portland Realtor Gets Paid is two-fold.  A continuation of thoughts and a shameless attempt at Google Juice.
In How this Beaverton Realtor Gets Paid, I wrote about the manner in which the listing agent establishes a current market value for the sellers, bringing out a few "myths" and misconceptions.
In this post, How This Portland Realtor Gets Paid … (7 comments)

A Doctor's Advice For Purchasing A Home? - 06/24/11 12:52 PM

This is a re-blog of a post written by David Burrows (any relation to Renee??) who is an agent in the VA market.
David makes a good analogy:  A doctor's job is to diagnose.  They can't do their job if they don't examine the patient.
True with the mortgage lender's job.  They must "diagnose" the buyer's financial condition -- they're ability to purchase a home is essential, and they must examine the buyer's ability to purchase (it's called a LOAN APPLICATION!)
SEE YOUR DOCTOR MORTGAGE BROKER BEFORE YOU SELF-DIAGNOSIS YOUR FINANCIAL ABILTY TO PURCHASE!!
Via David Burrows (Classic Realty):
I have a … (5 comments)

Indecision 2011 - 06/24/11 12:45 PM

I'm re-blogging this post written by colleague Patricia Kennedy, who works in the Washington D.C. market. 
It applies here too, and the points made are valid.  Buyers are skittish now.   My attitude is that a person has two options on where they live:  they either rent, or they own.  (Unless, of course, they live in a van down by the river.) 
Pat makes points that I agree with -- it's a WHOLE LOT better to buy NOW than in 2006. 
Via Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors):
All around me, my colleagues are selling houses.  At the moment, I am not.
Over … (5 comments)

How This Realtor in Beaverton Gets Paid - 06/22/11 02:20 PM
How This Realtor in Beaverton Gets Paid
It's the same way this Realtor in Portland gets paid . . . HA HA HA
But seriously . . .
I just read an article on MSN Money: "A Who's Who Guide To Buying Your First Home" 
As a Beaverton real estate agent, working with a lot of first time buyers, I go over the "basic" steps of buying a home.  One of the topics of discussion is:  How I will get compensated when acting as the buyers Beaverton real estate agent.
The article I read makes a few statements which are not accurate, … (16 comments)

My Buyers Closed Last Week . . . Home Appraised $40,000 ABOVE LIST PRICE!! - 06/20/11 12:48 PM
Quite an Appraisal Anomaly . . . Recent Home Appraised $40,000 ABOVE LIST PRICE!!
We're read more tales about appraisals not coming in at value . . . and the angst caused as a result.
But, there is some good news . . . a home that I just sold was appraised at $40,000 above list price!  I'm not making that up.
The home is located in a great location.  The condition of the home was solid, and Venus must have aligned with Mars . . . the stats were in place!   An area where short sales, foreclosures were rare, sales strong, … (12 comments)

Why this Buyers Agent in Portland Thinks Pre-Inspections are a GOOD THING . . . - 06/19/11 03:55 PM
Why this Buyers Agent in Portland Thinks Pre-Inspections are a GOOD THING . . .
As an Exclusive Buyers Agent here in Portland, OR . . . I work with buyers and buyers alone.  Seldom do we see a seller having a pre-inspection done.
Why?
What is a pre-inspection?  Simple put, the seller prior to listing their property, will hire a home inspection company to perform a home inspection. 
Why does this Buyers Agent in Portland think pre-inspections are a good thing?
FHA / VA guidelines:  These funding guidelines have become quite stringent.  Gone are the days that repairs can be a … (14 comments)

We Want to Buy a Home Within 30 Miles of Portland - 06/19/11 02:49 PM
Buying a Home Within 30 Miles of Portland
Today I read a post by ActiveRain colleage Cindy Jones : Hyper-Local Blogging - Are Neighborhood Blogs the Right Place to Focus?
For those that don't know, hyper-local blogging is blogging about a very specific area, neighborhood . . . or local event. 
Hyper-local blogging might be about the City Library having a summer fun read challenge, or a cool restaurant in a specific neighborhood.
Cindy wrote about buyers who are relocating.  They tell her they want to buy a home within 30 miles of the city.  And many not even know the … (4 comments)

Requiring Buyers To Perform Cartwheels - 06/18/11 01:41 PM
In a good read this morning by Active Rain colleague Bill Travis Nothing is Negotiable Anymore Bill's post goes into an interesting trend: the non-negotiable "we say so" demands from BANKS on their short sales, or REO properties.  Which, in my opinion, are akin to . . . well, the more difficult the demands for performance, the more encumbering to the buyer . . . might as well require buyers to perform cartwheels on the front lawn.
I posted a comment and I wanted to elaborate.  And I encourage you to take a glance at Bill's post.
A contract to purchase has items … (8 comments)

If You're Relocating to Portland . . . Just Remember: Oregon is a "Dry" State - 06/14/11 10:51 PM
I just closed a deal with clients who are relocating to Portland. 
Yesterday, while I was at escrow with my clients who were signing their loan docs, the buyer -- who is from the southeast and relocating to Portland -- asked where the sellers were.
I heard something I've not heard in my 12+ years as a real estate agent.
"Oregon is a dry state," the escrow lady says.  "We do dry signings here."
And then she explains.  "Wet" signings are when EVERYBODY gets together and signs their documents, keys are exchanged, and people meet each other.  Buyers are there, sellers, … (30 comments)

It's not the "neighborhood" it's YOUR PRICE! - 06/11/11 01:25 PM

This is a good post about expectations.  While Greg Nino is an active agent in the Houston, TX market, and prices in his market are stated, fill in the price points for your area, and this post makes perfect sense.
"If you want a 'nicer looking neighborhood' with more amenities, better perceived construction, curb appeal and value then you need for pay for it."
As Greg says, "It's that simple."
Via Greg Nino Houston Texas (RE/MAX West Houston Professionals):
In Houston it's quite possible for you to find a subdivision where the average sales price is around 95k. That dollar amount will get … (10 comments)

Debunking the Myth: You Will Not Save Money By Not Using a Buyers Agent - 06/10/11 09:49 PM

This is a great post by colleague, and Exclusive Buyers Agent Christine Smith.  She's also an attorney.
Many people (consumers, buyers, sellers . . . heck even agents) don't understand that once a listing agreement is signed, it could be considered interference with a contract.  A post about this very topic follows!
Via Christine Smith, Canton MA Buyer Agent & Attorney, 781.799.8313 (Buyers Brokers Only LLC - www.BuyersBrokersOnly.com):
Debunking the Myth: You Will Not Save Money By Not Using a Buyers Agent
Over the past couple of weeks, I have seen several blog posts and news reports about home buyers, who seem … (5 comments)

The Overpriced Listing . . . Thanks!! - 06/10/11 12:40 PM
The Overpriced Listings . . . Thanks!!
After reading Brenda Mullen's recent post: DRASTICALLY OVERPRICED!! I wanted to add my own, personal/professional THANKS!!  Thanks, not only to Brenda for a well-written post on how overpricing -- even by $10,000 -- can make it seem like a million dollar listing, i.e., not many buyers in that price range and it's out of reach.  But thanks, in general, for overpricing that puppy.  It makes the other properties look even better!
As an Exclusive Buyers Agent in the Metro Portland market, I look at a lot of listings.  A LOT!!  Not saying that listing agents don't … (40 comments)

"I Know You're a Real Estate Agent . . . Mind if I Ask You a Question?" - 06/08/11 07:20 PM
"I Know You're a Real Estate Agent . . . Mind if I Ask You a Question?"
We all love it when we're asked for our professional real estate advice. 
Today, when I was asked the "mind if I ask you a question" question . . . silly me . . .  I was actually thinking it would be . . . REAL ESTATE related! 
So dude tells me about his sister, down in California . . .  Can we say "referral" boys and girls?!?  (What part in Cali?  Maybe this is a lead for my ActiveRain colleagues:  Karen or Jane or Andi or Ken or Robert or Ralph???)
And how … (65 comments)

Hats (and Cell Phones) OFF . . . My THANKS to the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX - 06/08/11 12:10 PM
A tip of the hat to Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX
Tha Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX seems like a great place to enjoy a movie!  We've got a few independent movie theaters here in the Metro Portland area that are based on the same concept: 
Eat a little, Drink a little . . . Enjoy a movie A LOT!!
The Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX seems to bump it up a notch when it comes to ensuring their patrons enjoy the screening.  They have a zero tolarance for cell phones in use and/or texting. 
Why?
Because it's . . .
ANNOYING … (10 comments)

Credit Suisse Monthly Survey of Real Estate Agents for May 2011 - 06/07/11 12:28 PM
Credit Suisse Monthly Survey of Real Estate Agents for May 2011
Each month Credit Suisse conducts a survey of Real Estate Agents from around the country.  They are asked about what they are experiencing in their markets.  It's a rather bare bones survey, with the results published the following month.
Typically, I just scroll over to see what's going on in Portland, but I do look at the other markets, particularly the trends:  Traffic, House Prices, Incentives.
The Portland Metro Market is on Page 37 -- And house prices are down, and traffic is down.  No surprises there.
Two Florida markets have "THUMBS … (8 comments)

Advice On The Real Estate Purchase . . . - 06/06/11 03:24 PM
Advice On the Real Estate Purchase . . .
Many buyers believe that real estate is an "investment" . . . for some "investors" that's true.  But real estate is always one thing:  a purchase.
No matter what the buyers' motivations might be, they are PURCHASING real estate.  In this market, many home buyers are looking at their PURCHASE as if they are, in fact, investors.  Investors PURCHASE real estate for different reasons.  Home buyers PURCHASE to live in the home.
I was pleased to have received an email from Greg Rand, whose radio program "Rand on Real Estate" introduced me … (19 comments)

Welcome to the Waffle House - 06/05/11 03:03 PM
Not to confuse this post with those DELICIOUS original Dutch treats, this post is about buyers that . . . WAFFLE.
waf·fle 2 (wfl) Informal v. waf·fled, waf·fling, waf·fles v.intr. To speak or write evasively. v.tr. To speak, write, or act evasively about. n. Evasive or vague speech or writing.
If you've been in the business for any length of time, you've met folks . . . customers / clients / buyers / sellers . . . that have welcomed you to their WAFFLE HOUSE!
Consumers are skittish -- we get that. 
Are housing prices going to fall even more?  When … (13 comments)

What Realtors Do for Buyers - 06/03/11 08:49 PM

Mimi captures what agents do for buyers . . . but there's a TON of behind the scene nuances that come up in every transaction.
Answer at least 10-15 emails /phone calls from clients about the transaction (from
"How come escrow hasn't set up my appt. yet?" to "What utilitiy companies do I call?" Answer at least 10-15 emails/phone calls from the listing agent Answer at least 10-15 emails/phone calls from escrow, the lender, the appraiser, the inspector Addenda, addenda, addenda . . . change the close date, extend the inspection period . . . Via Mimi Foster - Realtor Colorado Springs … (9 comments)

 
Carla_1 Rainmaker_large

Carla Muss-Jacobs - Principal Broker/ Owner | Exclusive Buyers Agent |

Portland, OR

More about me…

503-810-7192 | BuyersAgentPortland.com

Address: Beaverton OR, Portland OR, Forest Heights, Lake Oswego, Hillsboro, SW Portland, SE Portland, NW Portland, N Portland, Downtown, The Pearl, NE Portland, Milwaukie, West Linn, Aloha, Cedar Hills, Portland, OR

Office Phone: (503) 810-7192

Cell Phone: (503) 810-7192

Email Me

Author Bio: Carla Muss-Jacobs is the Principal Broker/Owner of EBA Portland, LLC an Exclusive Buyer Agency representing Buyers in the Portland Metro real estate market since 1999.

The Sellers have their own agent ~~ Why don't you have yours?  

Carla Muss-Jacobs practices the TRUE FORM of Buyer Agency ~~ Exclusive Buyer Agent.  Her office/brokerage never takes listings and never respresents the Seller.  Exclusive Buyer Agency is the BEST form of legal real estate representation a Buyer can have.  There is 100% Buyer Representation - !00% of the Time.  There are NO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST and there is no possibility of ever having YOUR Buyer Agency comprised.  When buying a house -- it's important to know who is working for you!!  



Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog