beaverton oregon real estate: Can you be fair and balanced in a multi offer situation? (If one of the buyers is yours) - 10/10/08 10:10 AM
Over the past couple years I have closed many transactions where I am both the buyers and sellers agent and act as a neutral party for both in the transaction. It has worked out well and truly a win-win for both parties and both parties have walked away happy.
But, what … (61 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Can we bring our kids? - 10/04/08 11:21 AM
This is a question I got from a buyer yesterday and as a person with 3 kids of my own, ranging from ages 4 to 10, I couldn't believe I was being asked this question. I personally think this is a question that I shouldn't have to be asked. Without kids, … (22 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Renting to people with bad credit can make you big money! - 10/01/08 12:23 AM
Are you an investor with rental properties, but only seem to be getting people to put in applications that have bad credit? Don't let this keep your investment properties empty! I have some investors who cater to this type of client and don't have problems because they put safeguards in place … (17 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: What do you mean your client isn’t buying it just because of the countertops? - 09/29/08 11:38 PM
What do you mean your client isn't buying it just because of the countertops? My client just spent $5,000 on those granite countertops to make it look this good so it will sell faster and now you are telling me that you aren't buying because of them?
Yep, this was the … (24 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: What do you tell a another agent’s buyer when they call you crying - 09/28/08 06:02 PM
Today I got a call from a lady who was crying uncontrollably. So much so that I was having a hard time understanding her. But, when I finally got her to calm down enough that I could understand her, she wanted to know what she could do. She had gone with … (113 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Investing in real estate at 60% of appraised value can’t hurt your portfolio! - 09/25/08 11:55 PM
I have a group of investors that have learned that investing in real estate doesn't have to be venture in losing money like so many investors have in the past year. You see, they learned that you can't really lose money if you are buying properties at 60% of the appraised … (4 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Your credit score can cost you over $300 a month in mortgage payments, so call and fix it now! - 09/25/08 10:15 AM
I still have clients I have been working with that called me 2 years ago to buy a house. Now, I wasn't actively showing them homes, but rather working on their credit with them. You see the problem was that they could get a loan, but the payments would be about … (5 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Are you moving cross country? It maybe cheaper to sell everything and buy new when you get here! - 09/23/08 01:49 AM
With the price of fuel and the cost of moving companies going up more and more people are realizing that they can sell a lot of their stuff on line and at garage sales and buy used furniture and replacement items in their new home state and save thousands over packing … (10 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Your home didn’t sell? Let me ask you this…What makes you so special? - 09/07/08 12:04 AM
You have had your home on the market for four to six months now and all of a sudden it expires. Why do you think that is? Was it your agent's marketing? I doubt it! Was it the neighborhood? I doubt it! Heck, was it just that dang barking dog next … (11 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: I’m glad I got your attention – But, do you want to keep your license? - 09/02/08 10:43 AM
I'm glad to say that in the last year I'm probably one of a handful of agents in the Beaverton and Tigard area that is doing better this year than I did last year. Now I know the top producers, and thanks to Google Alerts, I now know they know me … (12 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: I’m a qualified buyer, but I want lower payments. What do I do? - 08/14/08 10:12 AM
With interest rates creeping up every month and down payments near 3%, I am finding more and more buyers that like the houses they are finding, but don't like the payments they are being quoted from the lenders.
Thirty year fixed rate loans are nearing 6.5%, and PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) … (3 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: If you can’t sell it, I’m going to rent it (HUH?) - 08/11/08 08:49 AM
I recently had a client call me two weeks after I took a listing from her and she told me if I didn't have it sold in 20 days, that she was going to take it off the market and rent it out for $1500 a month.
What? OK, … (16 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Another free tool to offer your investors - 08/05/08 11:36 PM
Yesterday I got a call from one of my investors and he gave me a free tool to offer my other investors who own rental properties. I love it when people from the Empowered Investors group share what they have found, without worrying about losing business or a competitive edge in … (22 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: The Beautiful Oregon Coast in Pictures - 08/05/08 09:50 AM
The other day I wrote a post called "The day the beach came to us" and that just wasn't going to do for the family, so off to the beach we went. One of the things I love about the Beaverton and Portland area is that we are so close to … (8 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Dang, I look good! - 08/04/08 10:06 PM
Is it really possible? Am I that good looking? Well, of course it is, but over the past 3 months I think I'm getting even better looking and healthier and it is even building my business.
You see over the past 3 months I've been doing a few things different in … (25 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: I was sent another referral yesterday, but I’m worried about him already - 08/04/08 08:54 AM
Yesterday I was sent a referral from a mortgage broker that I met through another agent in another state, but this referral has me worried. This potential client had already been pre-approved and was already somewhat actively looking when I first talked to him.
He said he had found a place … (11 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: The day the beach came to us - 08/03/08 12:19 AM
Normally it takes our family about an hour, to an hour and a half, to get to the beach, depending on which beach we are heading to. But today it only took about 15 minutes as it seems the beach got a lot closer to us than normal.
You see the … (10 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (20 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (31 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (5 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (6 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (7 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (13 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (6 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (10 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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, … (25 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (6 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (7 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (6 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (15 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (28 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (10 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (4 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (10 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (19 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (1 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (1 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (23 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: 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 … (3 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: If you don’t trust your agent or they don’t know what they are doing, why did you hire them? - 06/26/08 12:45 AM
Recently I got a call from someone that I had met a couple weeks back at an open house, the house I had wasn't the one for them, but they were out looking and said they would contact me if they found something. I didn't want to push it as it … (7 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: I’m not very happy – Ok, where would you like me to mail your complaint form? - 06/24/08 11:01 AM
Complaints from the public happen when you are in business and I've been lucky in my real estate career to not have one, until today. Now, this complaint really isn't against me, but more against the seller for not disclosing something in the contracts, and the buyer wants to blame the … (6 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Thanks Home Depot for our new neighbors - 06/23/08 12:43 AM
Last year I wrote about Home Depot and their birthday parties that they offered for free to kids, and thanks to that party, we now have new neighbors. Yep, now at this party my kids built some pretty cool birdhouses, but we have a stupid robin in our backyard that decided … (2 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Don’t get held hostage on your home repairs - 06/19/08 12:28 PM
This is a warning to anyone hiring someone to do work on their house. I had a client of mine hire a "NON-LICENCED" contractor to do some work on their home about six months ago.
What happened is this "contractor" required $500 down before they started the work and the remaining … (5 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: My meeting with the seller of the $600,000 house that sold for $26,478! - 06/18/08 11:23 PM
Was it really possible? Was this person tricked in to this? What happened? Why did he do it? There were so many questions that popped into my head and others when I called on this house that was in default. But, what I heard on the phone couldn't be the real … (21 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Beaverton Oregon Real Estate: Using Oregon’s rain as a selling point - 06/18/08 09:54 AM
With all the hype about global warming, polluted water, and everything else environmental in the world today, it is amazing that we don't hear more about so called "Green Houses" more often. We are seeing them more and more, but how do you, someone with an older home, compete with a … (1 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Beaverton Oregon Real Estate: Better to ask forgiveness than permission or just buy a tent - 06/15/08 10:07 AM
We all have done it, a little work here, a little work there, heck it is our own house right? But, when does that little work around the house go from little work to needing a permit?Well, that isn't a question I can answer easily, because each city has a different … (7 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Don’t lose your identity while selling your home - 06/11/08 10:06 AM
I would say close to 90% of my sellers are going to be buyers after they sell, and I would say they all need a loan in order to get that new home. But, did you know that you may be putting yourself at risk of identity theft during this process … (14 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Avoiding foreclosure shouldn’t have cost you $575,000 - 06/10/08 11:13 AM
How bad do you want to avoid foreclosure? What do you think it should cost you? Right now, you are just in default and may only have had the home a few years and don't have any equity, but in other cases you may have owned the home for many years … (42 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Giving it your all - 06/08/08 11:57 AM
Sometimes life, like baseball, hands us a curveball. Health issues, a slowing economy, whatever it may be, life isn't always throwing right down the middle, where we can hit a home run and get everything we want.
But, sometimes all it takes is to just keep swinging, and eventually we will … (10 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: The tears of a small child - Thanks team! - 06/07/08 11:17 AM
Last night my wife found my son crying in his room, and though having a six year old crying isn't unusual, it is when there isn't another crying child trying to blame something on them. My wife went in to his room, sat down beside him and asked him what was … (13 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Beaverton Oregon Real Estate: Errol Hassell Elementary School - 06/04/08 12:54 PM
One of the biggest decisions for a family when they move in to an area is what the schools are like. Errol Hassell is located at 18100 SW Bany Road in Aloha, Oregon, and only had about 550 students enrolled in the 2007-2008 school year, and the school report card was … (2 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Granada Park in Aloha Oregon (Beaverton) - 06/03/08 03:38 AM
This is a little park, maybe 3 acres, located between the Granada Park neighborhood and Bany Road in Aloha, Oregon. This park may be small, but the walking paths aren't bad and the wildlife seems to be abundant. During our family walk in the park we saw two woodpeckers and a … (3 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Burnsridge Park in Aloha Oregon (Beaverton) - 06/02/08 02:49 PM
You will find Aloha and Beaverton, Oregon, full of wonderful little parks and Burnsbridge is no exception to this. This small, little park has a large grassy area perfect for playing Frisbee with the kids or the family dog.
If you are in the mood for a picnic, the park also … (2 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Beaverton Oregon Real Estate: Don’t extend that listing contract if… - 05/28/08 09:25 AM
Yesterday I went on a listing appointment with a person that had had their home expire after 284 days on the market. They had 10, count them, 10 extensions of that listing contract! Why, did this person keep signing things with this other agent, even though they weren't producing results? Because … (9 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Last years top producer is this year’s fry cook of the year! - 05/27/08 12:46 PM
I know it sounds far fetched, but I see more and more agents that have been in the business 20+ years leaving, as they just can't survive and aren't willing to change again.
I recently read about someone who had 89 sales last year that this year, to … (80 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: You may want to reconsider helping a friend by a home - 05/24/08 10:33 AM
Have you ever heard the saying don't lend money to a friend or a relative unless you never plan to see it again? What about co-signing on a car, boat or now even a house? I always warn people of this and despite my best efforts, they say it will be … (5 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: That affects me? I’m not the one not paying! - 05/22/08 01:27 AM
How foreclosure and short sales affected one person in a cul-de-sac of eight homes. It was really was heartbreaking when I had to tell her that her home wasn't worth as much as she thought it would be when she went to sell it so she could buy her dream home.
… (7 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Beaverton Oregon Real Estate: Short Sales – You need to know who to talk to - 05/20/08 12:23 PM
Are you in a situation that you are in default, but can't sell your home for what it was worth when you bought it? Maybe the problem is the home is still the same value as it was when you bought it, but after real estate fees and taxes, you would … (1 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Beaverton Oregon Real Estate: Lease Options and Owner Financing it isn’t something you should do alone - 05/19/08 05:45 PM
In the Beaverton, Oregon Real Estate market at any one time, you can find anywhere from 1 to 3% of homes for sale are offering Lease Option or Owner Financing. There are some good deals out there, but you need to know what to ask.
If you call someone and they … (2 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: How to stop your dog from ruining your landscape during a sale of a home - 05/19/08 12:52 AM
Many of you remember about 6 months ago when a client of mine was nice enough to grace our family with a Australian Shepard, Sneaky Neighbor Dog (Golden Retriever) mixed puppy. This dog has really become part of the family, but has recently discovered that digging is fun!
I didn't know … (15 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: Beaverton Oregon Real Estate: Investors, the best answer maybe let’s find out - 05/14/08 02:27 PM
I am amazed at how many investors hire an agent that seems to have all the answers, but really great agents will always say, "Let's find out." The reason I say this is because the biggest and most expensive mistakes made in real estate investing are the ones that are made … (0 comments)
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beaverton oregon real estate: My worst nightmare when walking in to a home for a preview happened this week - 03/29/08 02:14 PM
It finally happened, my worst nightmare! I had some clients call me the other day to list their home that hadbeen a rental for the past 5 years. We met at the office, quickly went over the comps in the area and then weregoing to go over to the home for … (28 comments)
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