Wordless Wednesday . . . On a Clear Day - 03/28/12 07:20 PM
Well, this photo wasn't taken in Portland, and this post isn't exactly wordless, but . . . whaddya gonna do?!?
 

Mount Hood from Bull Mountain
This photo was taken on Saturday in the Bull Mountain neighborhood of Tigard.  When I was driving to preview a property for a relocation client, I couldn't believe when I turned onto the street and saw Mt. Hood in the distance.   Thankfully, I had the camera to snap some pics of the property, but stopped to smell the  roses snap Mt. Hood.  There are some low-hanging clouds, but on a clear day . . . the views … (25 comments)

I Hear You Knocking . . . But You Can't Come IN!! - 03/27/12 08:37 PM
Tales from the trenches . . .
Today I was showing property.  My client needed to get to an appointment and couldn't see the last property I had scheduled.  It was owner occupied and I didn't want to stand the owner up, so I went by myself for a preview.
As I was in the property the doorbell rang.  I'm not the owner, so I didn't have any compunction to rush to see who it was -- no one was coming to visit me.
Then the bang, bang, bang on the door . . . and the ding dong again . . … (25 comments)

Have Your Realtor® Do It! - 03/25/12 12:47 PM
Have Your Realtor® Do It! The majority of Buyers love to look at listings on line . . . which is why you can SEARCH LISTINGS on my site too! But, when you're getting ready to buy, have engaged the services of a Realtor®,do you really have time to constantly scour the listings??
The Writing on the Wall I read the above on my wall this morning. A buyer is "sifting" through 170 criteria matched listings and muses how "in theory" it seems exciting . . . then reality takes over.
The first response they received was:
"Have your realtor do … (8 comments)

You Wanted To Lowball The Sellers. Don't Be Upset That You Didn't Get The House. - 03/22/12 11:00 AM
Eric Michael is a real estate agent in Michigan.  And even with the distance from Portland, OR to Northville, MI we have very similliar buyer tales.  "Y" is that?!? 
Because buyers do not, and I repeat, do NOT want to listen to their agent.  I get so annoyed with this type of buyer who has no clue about the market.
The time wasters mantra . . . "Well, let's see if they will."  And Eric and I are here to say:
THEY WON'T  
Via Eric Michael, CDPE -Real Estate & Short Sale Professional 734.564.1519 (Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI):
You Wanted To Low-ball … (9 comments)

My Pick of the Week | Rummer Inspired Diamond in the Rough SE Portland Fixer - 03/21/12 03:31 PM

FIXER in SE Portland PICK of the Week My pick this week is a Rummer-inspired diamond in the rough located in SE Portland Mill Park Neighborhood.
The homes for sale in the SE Portland market are gaining some heat and activity, when they have be stagnant for some time. Homes in SE Portland are moving quickly especially the low-end fixers.
My colleagues in the area agree -- the SE Portland market is moving quickly, especially SE Portland FIXERS.
Photo is NOT the property for sale only an EXAMPLE of a Rummer Are Fixers in SE Portland a Good Buy? Some … (5 comments)

That New Car Cost You A New House - 03/19/12 10:01 AM
So, it seems I'm not the only one who has experienced having a potential buyer opt for a new car . . . rather than a home.
Doug Rogers makes a clear point about income-to-debt ratios.  With a large monthly car (and car note) just recently acquired it took home buying out of the picture for buyers he knew.  The situation of the potential buyer I consulted with was no different then Doug's experience.
LENDERS are under strict underwriting guidelines these days.  Gone are the days that you could just breathe on your loan docs and get a loan. 
If you're planning on … (11 comments)

My Pick of the Week | Beaverton Townhome for Sale - 03/15/12 06:25 PM
My Pick This Week: Beaverton Townhouse for Sale Each week I pick a property located in the Portland Metro area. My pick this week is a nice 2 bedroom / 2 bath townhome for sale in Beaverton.
Why Is This Beaverton Townhouse For Sale Featured? When I pick a property to feature I look for price, condition, location and any other amenities that make the property stand out.
This week, this Beaverton Townhome for sale is my pick and let's see why:
Price: This Beaverton townhouse is for sale for $135,000. Let's look at it from a rent vs. buy standpoint.  … (2 comments)

With All the Honking . . . Can It Truly Be Wordless Wednesday? - 03/14/12 06:02 PM

While driving to a townhome for sale in Beaverton on Sunday, I noticed a lot cars ahead of me stopping.  It wasn't from a red light . . . so what was it.  As I slowed down, I saw what all the honking was about:
  
LOOK CLOSELY at the center ------------------------->
Traffic in both directions had stopped.   No one was doing anything, so I pulled over with camera in hand. 
I goosed them out of the way. 

 
 
The speed limit is about 40 mph in this area . . . and this is where they were … (28 comments)

Big Island of Hawaii Fee Simple Timeshare ONE MONTH Kona Bilfisher Condominiums - 03/12/12 07:37 PM
For those folks in the Great Pacific NW -- today was rather blustery, cold and rainy.  Are YOU doing some "fun in the sun" thinking??
How about a nice Kona, HI timeshare?  It's a full month for $27,000 . . .
As well as:
Fee Simple Timeshare -- you actually get a deed to 1/12 ownership of the unit Many highrise timeshares in Hawaii cost this much for one WEEK...this is an entire month - January 15- February 13 PEAK season time to be in Hawaii Walking distance to Downtown Kona 1st Floor unit (no stairs to enter) and HUGE Lanai … (1 comments)

The Unintended Consequences to a Buyer of a Lowball Offer - 03/12/12 11:16 AM
This is a post written by an agent . . . way over on the other side of the nation.  Chris Ann Cleland writes about her market in Northern Virginia but replace Northern Virginia with Portland, OR and yeah . . . it's like that.
The tide has turned, and those home owners who had waded through 4 years (since 2008) of declinging values are not going to even consider the low-ball.  They won't counter -- at all!  The prices have dropped considerably here over the years. Prices are good, interest rates are good . . . FOR NOW!!
 
Via Chris Ann … (6 comments)

Your Home Might Have Sold in 2 Days . . . Because My Clients Have Been Looking for 3 Months - 03/11/12 12:36 PM
This post is inspired by Alan May's feature: Sold in 2 days? So Glad!
We've all heard of "buyer's remorse" . . . the second-thoughts buyers sometimes have after they've submitted an offer and it's been accepted.
Well . . . sellers can have a 'remorse' too, it seems.  Theirs' come in the form of: Their home sold in a short amount of time, they often second-guess their listing agent: 
"Perhaps we could have gotten more?"  "Perhaps we priced it too low?"
And I'm here to debunk that myth.
Sellers . . . listen carefully to this Exclusive Buyers Agent, who ONLY works … (69 comments)

The Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant in NW Portland - 03/10/12 11:46 AM
Marrakesh Restaurant in Portland Would you like to ride on the Marrakesh express? It's taking me, and my mouth, to the corner of NW 21st and Northup.
On March 5 my son turned 25. And what better way to celebrate then to go to a local restaurant and enjoy a meal that I don't have to prepare, cook or clean up!!
A group of 10 of us headed on the Marrakesh express and we had a delightful meal and wonderful time.
The Marrakesh is Great for Groups The seating is on hassocks and low, comfy sofas and the meal is brought … (11 comments)

Credit Suisse Monthly Survey of Real Estate Agents for February 2012 - 03/09/12 01:19 PM
Not sure what the heck happened to January's report . . . I realized I didn't post January.  Must have gone into the old spam folder . . . oh well . . .
Here's the February report and FINALLY I'm seeing a few "thumbs up." 
Not to say it's all better now, 'cause it ain't . . . but, it sure does seem a little more on the plus side.  We have a way to go.
Portland, OR information can be found on page 37 Credit Suisse Monthly Survey of Real Estate Agent February 2012
… (2 comments)

The Dessert Tray a Local Beaverton Bakery Filled With Deliciousness - 03/06/12 05:14 PM

The Dessert Tray Beaverton Bakery Let's start off with a mouth-watering photo shall we? 
Nothing says DELICIOUS then The Dessert Tray and their delicious bakery products. I went in to The Dessert Tray around Valentine's Day last month and I was like a kid in a candy store . . . or like a kid a bakery! Some thing. I was really having a hard time deciding what to sink my teeth into because this is the type of bakery that EVERYTHING looks -- well, good enough to EAT!! The decadence of choice was the Carrot Cake and it was … (13 comments)

Monday Randomness . . . - 03/05/12 01:25 PM
There's been a few people who've written those 'random' posts . . . today I want to.  So in no particular order:
 
Fleeting thoughts:  I woke up in the wee hours of the morning today with a GREAT blog idea.  It was genius and worked on so many levels.  It would have been "featured" of course, it was so good.  And then with the post idea being very cool, and I was satisfied, I went back to sleep.  And now . . . I have no idea what it was about!  There are just the tailings of a good idea … (27 comments)

Who does the real estate agent represent? - 03/03/12 08:03 PM
Apparently, I'm not the only agent who gets their panties in a twist with buyers who are unrepresented and don't know THEY OUGHT TO BE!!
Having a licensed professional assist in the home buying process does not cost the buyer anything.  So why wouldn't a buyer WANT to have their own agent??
The listing agent works for the Sellers.  They like it when an unrepresented buyer comes a'calling, or a'looking . . .
And Diana Philips is an agent working on the other side of the nation (from me).  So it's NOT just something I'm dreaming up . . . agents … (8 comments)

BUYING a Home . . . What's in Your Wallet? (Third-Party Lead Generator Outfit Does NOT Want Agents to Ask if Buyers Are Pre-Approved!!) - 03/01/12 02:14 PM
Buying a Home . . . What's in Your Wallet?
Prior to the use of credit/debit cards having cash was one way to BUY things. 
Take the concept of eating out.  You go to a restaurant, order a meal, consume it . . . is that the time to pull out your wallet to see if you have the funds to pay for (aka BUY) the meal?
The concept of BUYING a home is similar.  Why would buyers want to tour homes without knowing what's in their wallet?
BUYING a home . . .
. . . isn't the key word -- buying -- no?!?
Homebuyers DO look at … (22 comments)

 
Carla Muss-Jacobs - Principal Broker/ Owner | Buyers Broker | Buyers Agent EBA (503-810-7192 | BuyersAgentPortland.com) Rainmaker_large

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

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!!  



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