Are you looking for a 4 or 5 bedroom home priced from 321,900 to 355,000?  Butler Creek Estates, located near Pleasant Valley and in SW Gresham, is the place for you.  30 beautiful new homes located on flat lots near Butler Creek Elementary school.  Seven different floor plans to choose from including ranch style and master on the main.  Tile countertops, custom doors, and hardwood floors are standard.  Stop by and check out these homes built by Palace Construction.

How do I get there?

Butler Creek Estates is located off Butler Rd.  Follow 190th to Butler Rd. and head east.  Turn Right on SW Battaglia.  Model home is open Wednesday-Sunday from 2-5 pm. or by appointment.  Buyer's Agent will be on duty to help you write your offer and assist you with financing.  (If you are currently working with an agent, please call your agent to view the homes outside of these hours.)

More to come...

Homes marketed by Jason Shuler, John L. Scott Sandy

For more information contact Valerie Harvey, GRI, Broker, John L. Scott Sandy (503) 704-9891

Buyer's and Seller's Agent

www.johnlscott.com/valerieharvey

Perfect property for INVESTOR or Flipping.  Must sell within this week.  CASH only.  Subject to third party approval.  All reasonable offers considered.  A little elbow grease, hammer in hand will reward the next owner with equity.  Call Valerie Harvey, GRI, Broker today at 503-704-9891 for more information.

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Presented By: Valerie Harvey Agent Full   John L. Scott Sandy RESIDENTIAL Status: ACT 9/7/2007 4:29:46 PM ML#: 7090344 Area: 145 List Price: $255,000 Addr: 7516 SE LAKE RD Unit#:   City: Milwaukie Zip: 97267   Condo Loc/Lvl:     Map Coord: 657/E/5 Zoning:   List Type: ER LR: N County: Clackamas Tax ID: 00435700 Elem: VIEW ACRES Middle: ALDER CREEK High: PUTNAM PropType: DETACHD Nhood/Bldg:   Legal: 908 TIARA CREST LT 1 BLK 2 Public Internet/Address Display: Y/ Y Offer/Nego: CALL-LA

You are ready to make an offer on the home of your dreams.  You know what your principal payment, interest payment and insurance will be per month.  Here is a quick guide to figure your estimated property tax.  You will need your sales price and the millage rate (available from your agent or title representative).

Take your sales price:  $350,000

Times .80 or 80%= $280,000

Times .70 or 70%= $196,000

Divide by 1000= 196

Times (the millage rate) 17.87

Equals your estimated taxes= $3502.52

(Minus $100 monthly I forest or farm deferral)

There you have it!  Information provided by Tim James of Town & Country Home Loans (503) 826-1505. 

Need help finding that special home?  Looking for someone who will listen to your needs?  Call Valerie Harvey, GRI, Broker, John L. Scott at (503) 704-9891.  Licensed in Oregon & Washington

Recently, I met a fellow who thought that because I "worked for" John L. Scott that I was on a salary and my job was just to show homes even if he was not going to use me as his agent.  After explaining too him about agency relationships, I think that he went away informed.  It was then that I realised that the general public might have a large misunderstanding about professional buyer's agents. 

We all see advertisements for FREE buyer's agency.  Let me explain a little bit about this.  If you have found the right professional agent to work with then he/she has been answering your questions to the best of their knowledge, helping you through the process of qualifying you for a loan with a reputable mortgage lender, and showing you homes that fit into your budget and balance your needs and wants.  In most cases, many hours are also spent by the buyer's agent doing research on your behalf.  A good buyer's agent will also be there for you throughout the negotiations and help manage and facilitate the mortgage process and escrow of the property. 

But how is my agent compensated?  We work solely on the faith that you, the buyer, will reward us by writing your offer with us when the time comes to purchase.  The listing agent has negotiated the compensation with the seller before or during the listing for a portion to be paid to the buyer's agent upon successful closing of the property.  This amount show up on the seller's net sheet in the form of agent commission.  This is why it is known as "FREE" to the buyer, since it does not show on their net sheet at closing, but on the seller's.  Yes, it is built in to the price along with the listing agent's commission, but the value of a knowledgeable buyer's agent is priceless.

Our companies that hold our licenses do not pay us for our time.  (We actually pay them to hold our licenses and supervise our transactions!)  We actually are individual self-employed, independent contractors who cooperate/network with one another to sell houses.  There is a large risk involved.  We do not get compensated a dime until the transaction has closed and has been recorded.  Even once this happens, we pay our companies, the government, and reimburse our business accounts for advertising and expenses incurred while working for "free".  What remains pay for what my co-worker calls "groceries" or bill and extras.  There are even time when we put in extra efforts to close a difficult transaction and it never makes it to the closing table.

Yes, we can ask you to enter into a exclusive buyer's agency agreement, but many agents and buyers do not like to use these.  It is much safer for the agent (and the buyer), but many buyer's do not want to commit.  What is wrong with a commitment to an agent?  Nothing, unless you do not like them or trust them.  You will be spending quite a bit of time communicating with them.  They are putting in many hours on good faith.  This is really up to you and your agent though.

Hopefully that has answered the question "How is my agent compensated?". 

The bottom line...Your professional buyer's agent works very hard for you...Please Be Loyal.

This is a question that is often asked by my clients when they first want to move to the area.  As the local expert, it is my job to have this information on hand.  But before we go into depth..there are a few things to consider...

First, consider the comfort zone for your mortgage payment.  I can pre-screen you before you fill out a lengthy mortgage loan application.  The pre-screening consists of about 10 quick questions.  This will help head off any surprises during your mortgage application and underwriting and help this part of the home buying process go smoother.  Next, we will get you in contact with a reputable mortgage broker or banker who can communicate well with you and myself to get you through to closing.  It is a good idea to do business with a mortgage company who has a local physical presence.  Once the comfort zone for you mortgage has been established then the search can truly begin.

Next, you must think about your lifestyle.  This is the time to consider your needs, not wants.  It is important to have public transportation? or do you like a nice country drive?  Do you desire an urban setting, suburban or country feel?  Do you need a big yardor home or will a quaint home with a low maintenance yard be a better choice?  Are schools and programs a consideration?  There are many more decisions to make, but these can get me started in the right direction in finding the right place for you.

Once the general feel for your needs is complete, then we get in to the "want" stage.  What neighborhoods and areas fit your lifestyle?  You will want an area that feels good to you.  And only you know what that exact feeling will feel like.  This is the emotional part of home buying.  I can tell when my clients have "fallen" for a home.  It is written all over their faces.  Where do you want to live that meets your needs and fits into your budget?  I suggest driving through areas during different times to get a general feel.

What do I do once I have that "feeling" while in a home, have had a loan approval and have considered my lifestyle?  If I am not already out in the field with you looking, then call me and we can write a winning offer on that home.  We may some negotiating to do with the sellers, but I am a tough cookie for my clients.

I just received this bulletin from my trusted newsource.  The American Red Cross relies on volunteer blood donations for crisis situations.  Do a good deed for the day.  Please pass this information along to anyone who may be interested:

"News Release from: Sandy Fire District

SAVING LIVES IS EASY

Posted: August 20th, 2007 3:16 PM

Donate at the upcoming Blood Drive

The Sandy Fire Station and Mt. Hood Hospice would like to invite all eligible donors to donate at a special "Celebrate Life and Freedom Blood Drive" located at Sandy Fire Department (17460 Bruns Ave, Sandy OR 97055) on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007 from 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM

You don't need to be a firefighter, EMT, doctor or nurse to save lives. Just give blood.

Because blood has a limited shelf life, the community blood supply must constantly be replenished to meet the needs of patients. Therefore, giving blood on a regular basis maintains the emergency supply and may one day touch your life in a very personal way.

"With Highway 26 intersecting our community, we have become all too familiar with tragedy. Traumatic injuries don't just happen to "other people". Those who have been touched by these events know, when their loved one was in need, lifesaving blood was given - donated by strangers who took the time to care". Alice Lasher, PIO Sandy Fire District

FALL BLOOD DONORS NEEDED

When asked, blood donors often view their contribution as "minor" even "insignificant". Yet, those whose lives have depended on this selfless gesture tell a different kind of story.

Because whole blood is separated and transfused as components, one blood donation can help as many as three people. Make your life-saving contribution on Sept 11th!

Donors must be at least 16 (with parental permission) years old, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good general health. For new and existing additional donor eligibility questions, please visit the American Red Cross website at: www.nwblood.redcross.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

To schedule an appointment, please go to www.givelife.org sponsor code: SandyComm or call the Sandy Fire Station at 503-668-8093. Walk-ins will be taken on a space available basis so register early!

# # #

About the American Red Cross

The Red Cross provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply (collecting more than six million units a year from volunteer donors) to patients in 3,000 hospitals across the country through its national network. Founded in 1949, Pacific Northwest Regional Blood Services (PNWRBS) is the sole supplier of blood and blood products to over 80 hospitals in Oregon, Washington and Southeast Alaska. The Pacific Northwest Region is the eighth largest of 36 American Red Cross blood regions and stretches throughout Southwest and Central Washington State and most of Oregon. In order to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients, and other ill or injured people who need transfusions, PNWRBS must collect at least 5,000 pints of blood each week. For more information visit www.pdxredx.org or call 1-800-GIVE LIFE or visit <www.nwblood.redcross.org> to schedule your blood donation or to sponsor a blood drive."

Okay, hopefully that got your attention.  It is clearly a buyer's market out there.....but where are the serious buyers?  I have seen price reduction after price reduction locally here in the Gresham, Oregon and surrounding market, but still the buyer activity has declined.  In most areas you can buy a home at last year's prices, if not for less.  There are more choices than ever... and many sellers are willing to help with your closing costs.  What are you waiting for???

This is your call to action.  If you are sitting on the fence, waiting for the "right time", the bell is being rung.  Call your agent, talk to your mortage broker and make your best offer on the home that you have been driving by for weeks on end. 

Investors...now is the time to pick up that rental property.  You can even do a lease option.  This is a great time to build your portfolio.  

If you are sitting on the fence, I would love to talk with you about today's current market conditions.  Please feel free to call or email.