buyers agent portland: Who's Looking Out For Your Interests? - 08/11/16 02:52 AM
Jerry Newman a colleague in the San Antonio real estate market wrote this EXCELLENT post the other day:  In New Construction -- "Who's Looking Out For Your Interests?"
And the same question can be asked right here in my local real estate market of Portland Metro!
The office sales reps -- many are licensed real estate agents -- are not there to represent the BEST INTERESTS of the buyer.  
They are there to represent the BEST INTERESTS of their client:  The SELLER/OWNER/BUILDER
. . . Just sayin'
It's not my fault that buyers do not understand FIDUCIARY DUTY.  I understand it.  The agent sitting in the sales … (11 comments)

buyers agent portland: A Dose Of Reality in the Portland Metro Real Estate Market - 01/16/15 05:06 AM
A Dose Of Reality in the Portland Metro Real Estate Market
It's time for buyers in the Portland Metro real estate market to realize that "the deal" may be . . . getting their offer accepted on a property they want to call home!
It is not a stable market.
It is not a buyers' market.
We are in a SELLERS' market . . . as much as that pains me to say it.
A stable market is 4-6 months of inventory
A buyers' market is over 6+ months on inventory
Anything under 4 months of inventory it's a seller's market
(10 comments)

buyers agent portland: What's in Store for Fall 2014 Housing? - 09/23/14 03:15 AM
What's in Store for Fall 2014 Housing?
Many real estate markets throughout the Nation will see slower activity in the months ahead.  And some markets are going to be picking up.
As usual, real markets will be at the fickle mercy of inclimate weather, which always includes: heavy rain, snow storms, ice . . . 'tis the season, after all.
Other real estate markets always fare better.
Think Florida . . . think snowbirds.   Think Arizona . . . coming out of the hot as hell summer, buyers are just waiting for the cooler dip. Think California . . . … (15 comments)

buyers agent portland: Home Appraisals & Contract Negotiations . . . What's in Your Contract? - 09/15/14 05:35 AM
Home Appraisals & Contract Negotiations . . . What's in Your Contract?
I've written about REAL ESTATE CONTRACTS before. I am going to do so again today.
My last post "What's In Your . . . . . . . Contract?"  is a subtle hint to consumers/customers/clients to READ their real estate contracts.
This post is a subtle hint to real estate agents to do the same.  
And more importantly, to understand that while during representation of a client, real estate agents are ALSO BOUND TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS of the contract.
We sure do love to give advice, … (12 comments)

buyers agent portland: Houses Are NOT Books . . . Or Seats on an Airplane - 07/03/14 04:21 AM
Houses are NOT Books . . . Or Seats on an Airplane
I've been reading a recent feature, perhaps you've read it, too??
Richard Weisser has predicted the end of the Realtor® in 6 short years, and by the year 2020 it will be the end of the industry as we know it.  [5 Reasons For All Real Estate Agents To Start Considering New Careers]
This was a great read, and thought provoking.
Change happens.
And in any industry or business, change is inevitable.  
Sure, real estate licenses have ALWAYS been easy to obtain . . . plunk down the dough … (55 comments)

buyers agent portland: Portland Metro Home Buyers BEWARE! FAKE Exclusive Buyers Agent on the Rise - 06/14/14 07:15 AM
Home Buyers Beware!  "Fake" Exclusive Buyers Agents On The Rise
 
The National Association of Exclusive Buyers Agent has just sent out a Press Release covering the rise in real estate agents claiming to be "Exclusive Buyers Agent."
Consumers Beware:  Fake Exclusive Buyers Agents on the Rise
 
What is an Exclusive Buyers Agent?
An Exclusive Buyers Agent/Agency is a real estate agent/real estate brokerage that practices real estate representing only Buyers.  A TRUE EBA does not take listings, does not work for a brokerage that does and NEVER represents the sellers!
The confusion starts with many local real estate agents marketing … (10 comments)

buyers agent portland: Buyers Agent Portland -- New Business Cards . . . and a Nice Surprise - 11/01/13 03:03 AM
Buyers Agent Portland -- New Business Name . . . and a Nice Surprise
Recently I changed the name of my brokerage to Buyers Agent Portland.  As a Portland Metro buyers agent since 1999 this new name really says it all.  
During the name change, I had to get business cards.  When they arrived it seemed as if Buyers Agent Portland was "official" once again.  It was just odd going to tour property and not leaving a business card, although with the key readers these days, the entry is recorded.
While meeting up with a client, I passed my new cards out to … (11 comments)

buyers agent portland: Buyers Agent Portland -- New Logo - 09/29/13 06:14 AM
Buyers Agent Portland -- New Logo
So, the new logo is here . . . It was made by someone who does very good work.  I'm very happy with the way it turned out.  If you're looking for a clever design, let me know and I'm happy to make the referral.
Now to get some WordPress banners done, a new business card, a email salution . . . then I'm done with changes.  If it's not one thing, it's another.
Anyway, I hope you like the new logo.  I do.  Pretty soon I will have the Active Rain bannder redesigned too. … (16 comments)

buyers agent portland: Out With The Old . . . In With The New . . . Part Deux - 09/10/13 12:30 PM
Out With The Old . . . In With The New . . . Part Deux
Not that anyone would notice (except for Tammy Lankford), but my brokerage is NO LONGER EBA Portland, LLC.
And what a pain in the backside it is to change over, but my brokerage is now:
Buyers Agent Portland, LLC
Buyer Focused ~ Buyer Results

And that's why my ActiveRain header sucks right now.  Tammy Emineth made a "place holder" for me and I'm having a new logo designed. When that's done, Tammy will design a new header for my ActiveRain blog and my WP site.
(16 comments)

buyers agent portland: How I Prepare a CMA For Buyers In the Portland Metro Area, Part II of II - 11/12/12 03:23 AM
The first post of this series is What is a CMA?
And now for an overview of how I prepare them.
1)  I get the "map coordinate" from the listing sheet.  For those familiar with the Thomas Guide, our RMLS "map coordinate" is the Thomas Guide grid.

2) In the "Search" screen of the RMLS I plug in the map coordinate, then use the "apples to apples" method.  If it's a  3 Bedroom/2 Bath, 1978 property I'll try to find like-properties.  I won't use 2 bedrooms, or 1 bath homes, for example.
3) The price range is important.  If the … (5 comments)

buyers agent portland: Bling'ing in the New Year With Portland Jeweler Paul Bartnik - 01/02/12 08:47 AM
Paul Bartnik Portland Jeweler Extraordinaire ~ Bling'ing In the New Year~ Bling'ing in the New Year 2012
It was a pleasure to spend time with Paul Bartnik in his studio in the heart of Downtown Portland the Pearl District . . . and to talk to him about his latest designs.
What better way to spend the first day of New Year 2012 than Bling'ing it up with Portland Jeweler Designer Extraordinaire Paul Bartnik. He's my buddy!!
The New Year Is Hot with Paul Bartnik's "Ice" Sculptures We all know water boils at exactly 212° . . .
. . . … (15 comments)

buyers agent portland: Downtown Portland One of America's Best Downtowns According to Forbes - 12/29/11 09:39 AM
America's Best Downtown Portland Oregon So who am I to argue with Forbes Magazine?!?  In a recent article Forbes gave the nod to Downtown Portland Oregon as one of America's Best Downtowns. 
I could not agree any more!  Downtown Portland is truly a wonderful place.
"When it comes to cities, Portland, Ore., is a unique urban playground of high-end culture, green living and DIY arts scenes. But for a taste of Portland’s best, natives point to the city’s downtown area. There’s independent live theater, beautiful parks, the largest independent and used bookstore in the country and some of the best doughnut shops on the Pacific Coast … (8 comments)

buyers agent portland: NE Portland Detached Under $200,000 | My Pick of the Week - 11/14/11 02:48 PM
How Do I Select My Pick of the Week? As an Exclusive Buyers Agent in the Portland Metro area, I look at a lot of houses in the various Portland neighborhoods. I recently posted about NE Portland so I thought this week's Pick of the Week should be from NE Portland. And as always, my picks are based on location, price and condition. This NE Portland property seems to be something to consider. This home is under 900 sq. ft., "charming" as we say. It's a detached home, not in an HOA and property taxes aren't bad. A condo alternative which … (13 comments)

buyers agent portland: NE Portland | A Distinctive Portland Area With Distinctive Portland Neighborhoods - 11/11/11 04:56 AM
NE Portland Neighborhoods Metro Portland is comprised of five key quadrants which make up Portland neighborhoods:
NE Portland SE Portland N Portland NW Portland SW Portland NE Portland Historically The NE Portland neighborhoods have a mix of some of the oldest and more affluent homes combined with diversified area of modern homes, mixed-use properties and commercial businesses.
Over the years, NE Portland has had community improvement projects which brought home values up throughout the area. The King Neighborhood Association and The Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods continue to build a strong neighborhood in NE Portland by advancing livability through highly inclusive civic … (11 comments)

buyers agent portland: The Show Must Go On | Buyers Agent Portland, LLC Elevator Speech - 10/30/11 04:05 PM
In putting this video together, I'd like to thank myself for being the real trooper -- in the show must go on.
Without direction of any kind, I sat in front of a video camera and just talked about my company and the services Buyers Agent Portland, LLC offers as an Exclusive Buyers Agency here in the Metro Portland market.
There were no scripts, no direction, no coaching from anyone.  It was only me talking about what I do best in my real estate practice: represent buyers.
I mention the show going on because the day before, I pulled my neck.  Holding … (23 comments)

buyers agent portland: What Buyers Do Wrong . . . They Talk Too Much - 10/22/11 07:41 AM
What Portland Buyers Do Wrong? This really is a statement . . . not a question. Not to pick on Portland buyers . . . since buyers can make this type of mistake anywhere. But, there is one mistake that can cost them money, or ultimately, weaken their negotiation position. WHAT DO BUYERS DO WRONG!?!
Talk TOO Much!
Portland Buyers Have the Right . . . Being an avid viewer of reality TV cop shows I do know one thing . . . everyone has a RIGHT . . . and that is . . .
To Remain Silent
Sadly, in … (72 comments)

buyers agent portland: Bethany Neighborhood 5 Bedroom / 3 Bath | Buyers Agent Portland Pick of the Week - 10/17/11 02:12 PM
My Featured Metro Portland Property - Pick of the Week Each week I select a home in the Metro Portland market as my pick of the week.
My selection is based on my local knowledge of the area-- as a Portland Buyers Agent since 1999 I do know a thing or two about houses -- price, condition of the property, location, amentities . . . perhaps I'll pick a Portland property because of landscaping . . . who knows?
 
But this PICK OF THE WEEK has it all is from the NW Portland Area 149. This Great Bethany Neighborhood property … (10 comments)

buyers agent portland: Taking a Look at the Portland Real Estate Market - 09/16/11 03:55 PM
"What's the Portland Real Estate Market Doing?" Whenever someone finds out that I'm a real estate agent in the Portland area I always get this question: How is the real estate market in Portland doing?
I imagine it's the same for lenders who get asked: What are rates doing these days?
How Long Do You Have to Talk About the Portland Real Estate Market? The Portland real estate market isn't flat-lining . . . matter of fact it's not doing too badly. But with all things in life, it's subjective. There are areas were prices are holding steady . . . … (4 comments)

buyers agent portland: The Difference Between a Listing Agent and a Selling Agent . . . Random Thoughts from a Portland Buyers Agent - 09/15/11 03:27 PM
I read an article this afternoon which confused even me. 
The article was in the New York Times real estate section online.  The Buddy System or the Buyer's Broker is a good article about buyers, renters, investor being better served when having their on Buyer's Agent.
As an Exclusive Buyers Agent in Portland, I only work with Buyers in the Metro Portland real estate market.  So, in that regard, I couldn't agree more with the article's premise.
But this paragraph really confused me:
"Engaging a buyer’s agent later in the process opens up the potential for a dispute over whether the … (19 comments)

buyers agent portland: Buying a Home in Portland . . . the Sales Volume is UP! - 09/14/11 02:09 PM
Are Buyers Really Fence Sitting in Portland? As a simple person, my simple graph shows one thing when comparing the sales volume of Portland properties sold in August 2010 compared to Portland properties sold in August 2011 the numbers are UP!
What Does This Mean? August typically is a slower month to buy a home in Portland. Why? Most people are taking the last vacation or have already made a home purchase in Portland. Schools in the Portlandarea start the first week of September and families with school ages children are settled in.

Portland Tri-Counties Washington County has a population … (5 comments)

 
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED (RETIRED / State License is Inactive)

Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED

Portland, OR

More about me…

RETIRED / State License is Inactive

Office: (503) 810-7192

Mobile: (503) 810-7192



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