Keeping It Real Estate

In this episode, Colleen will share a few tips for improving the appearance of your home before it goes to market. Plus, we’ll update you on the state of the rental market, share some HOA pros and cons, and talk about why you probably need to take out at least $100,000 on a mortgage.   Here’s what we’ll discuss in this episode: Some easy things you can do to your home before listing it. (0:40) What is the state of the rental market in our area right now? (2:17) How can you find more information about how a property is zoned? (5:01) Why it’s harder to get a mortgage for $25,000 to 50,000. (8:05) Understanding the pros and cons of HOAs. (9:39)   Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/ Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value 

When you meet with an agent, you might hear different statements and opinions. But are they positive signs that you’ve chosen the right person or red flags that you should turn and run? You want to make sure you have a good relationship with your real estate agent and can trust their advice. Today we’ll share some good and bad things to look out for when working with a real estate professional.   Here’s what we’ll discuss in this episode: Should you put a stuffed tiger in each room to make the home go viral? (1:08) Is it OK if your real estate agent only responds during business hours? (2:42) Does Zillow always get your home price right? (5:24)   Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/ Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value   

It’s time for another mailbag episode! We have an exciting lineup of topics to discuss today. Listen in as we tackle some questions from our listeners, and you’ll likely gain some invaluable insights to help you make informed housing decisions. In this episode, we will discuss some popular housing areas with promising appreciation potential in the next 5 to 10 years. We’ll also discuss where to look for rental property and more! Whether you’re buying or selling, tune in to this episode for some practical tips and expert guidance from Colleen Benson.   Here’s what we’ll discuss in this episode: Where will we see the most appreciation? (0:31) Where should I buy a rental property? (2:00) Where can I live with access to public transportation? (4:03)   Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/ Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value 

Today we’re going to take a look at some of the top things people do that tend to frustrate real estate agents. Now, this list is certainly not intended to make anyone feel bad, but being aware of these frustrations and traits can lead to a more seamless home-buying experience.   Here’s what we’ll discuss in this episode: Working with a client who is not serious. (1:14) Having no trust in your agent.  (3:25) Having unrealistic expectations in the home-buying process.  (5:33) How bad communication can be frustrating for both agents and clients. (8:13) How Colleen matches clients up with the most suitable agent based on their personality. (10:29)   Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/ Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value 

Whether you are looking to sell your home soon or simply want to enhance its curb appeal, we have some budget-friendly tips and helpful advice to share with you today. In this episode, Colleen will provide expert advice on sprucing up your outdoor space to maximize its potential for future buyers. She’ll also share her thoughts on the right time to tackle DIY home renovations versus when to seek professional help.   Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: Tips for sprucing up your curb appeal on a budget. (0:37) A rule of thumb to keep in mind before renovating yourself. (3:50) What’s the typical timeline for closing on a property in Albany? (6:27) Should I wait for price corrections before I make an offer on a property?  (7:31)   Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/ Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value 

On this week’s podcast, we’re going to the mailbag to find out what our listeners have questions about. Colleen will tackle five different topics ranging from new inventory coming onto the market, how long houses will take to sell this spring, why an agent will provide a better home search than Zillow, and more.   Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: What is the average price point in the Keizer area?  (0:35) Listener question on new builds coming onto the market. (2:41) How long will it take to sell my home this spring? (4:10) What are the basic steps to buying a home? (5:37) What’s better about organizing a home search through an agent instead of Zillow? (7:35)   Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/ Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value 

One of the questions we hear a lot from buyers is whether they should look for an existing home or new construction. It’s an ongoing debate that is often up to personal preference, but there are some myths out there about buying a new home that need to be cleared up.   Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: The one homebuyer mistake people are making today is trying to time the market. (0:33) Myth – New homes are more expensive than existing homes. (4:02) Myth – You’ll have to wait a long time to move in. (5:30) Myth – It’s hard to finance a new home. (6:44) Myth – You can’t inspect a new home. (8:10) Myth – Do new homes lack character? (9:19) Myth – New construction homes are poorer quality. (12:09)   Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/ Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value 

In this episode, we have five mailbag questions we want to run by Colleen, and three of those are asking about real estate investing. The great thing about the discuss today is that we’ll touch on Airbnb properties but also ways to get involved without actually becoming a landlord. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: Is it okay to have two different realtors if they’re separated geographically? (0:36) What are some easy ways to make my home more attractive to potential buyers as we prepare to sell? (3:04) Can I legally rent out my home for short-term rentals? (4:28) Is there a way to invest in real estate without becoming a landlord? (6:19) Is there a way to search for duplex or triplex properties for sale? (8:05)   Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/ Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value 

How do you know if the home you’re interested in actually has good bones underneath all the cosmetic improvements that were made? We posed that question to Colleen today along with a few others from the mailbag to find out what buyers should be paying attention to. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: What are your options when you’re underwater in your mortgage? (0:36) Where’s a good place to look for land in the area? (3:10) Do you need to keep utilities on once you’ve vacated your home? (6:13) How can you tell if a home has good bones? (7:36)   Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/ Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value 

In this episode, Colleen will answer 10 of the most important questions that come up during the process. This might not cover everything, but it should help provide answers to a lot of the initial topics we discuss with clients.   Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: What’s the best way to prepare your house before selling it? (0:56) How much earnest money should you expect to pay? (7:08) Can you back out of buying a house? What happens then? (9:49) The average days on market for a listing varies on market but here’s what we pay attention to. (10:34) How often should the agent and buyer/seller be communicating during the process. (14:15)   Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/ Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value 

As the market changes, a lot of information and opinions get thrown out into the world. In this episode, we will be taking a fun approach to sharing our thoughts by playing a game of “True or False”. Listen to learn questions you may want to ask your realtor, what you should know about home appraisals, shifts that may be coming to the housing market, and more!   Here are some of the key points Colleen covers: Are home prices still high? (0:51) Is the work-from-home revolution over and will its effect on the housing market normalize? (1:49) Is it still a seller’s market? (3:04) Will you likely need to make renovations to sell your home now? (3:23) See our listings and connect with us here: http://bensonbrokergroup.com

The housing market has shifted quite a bit. Active inventory has gone up 55% over last November and today we will be answering some great questions from sellers. Listen to find out more about home inspections, finding the right realtor, and more!   Here are some of the key points Colleen covers: Should you budget for a home inspection before selling? (0:42) How long would it take to sell your home if you sold it in the next few weeks? (3:34) Which home assessment tools should you use? (5:19) See our listings and connect with us here: http://bensonbrokergroup.com

It’s time for another mailbag episode, and we bet these questions (and our answers) will help many of you as well. This episode could really help if you’re looking to buy a home in the future or work with an agent. We will discuss whether it’s better to buy a newer home or build one and if you should sign a contract with your agent. Listen to hear some of the questions our other listeners have and maybe you’ll gain some valuable knowledge from our answers!   Here are some of the key points Colleen covers: Is it better to buy a newer home or build a new one? (0:34) Does every agent require a contract? (2:41) How many homes should an agent sell each month? (5:35) See our listings and connect with us here: http://bensonbrokergroup.com

We love answering your questions, so we are back with another mailbag episode. This episode could really help if you’re someone looking to buy a home in the future. We will discuss different ways to achieve purchasing a home, from contingent offers, low bids, rent-to-own properties, and more. Listen to hear some of the questions our other listeners have and maybe you’ll gain some valuable knowledge from our answers!   Here are some of the key points Colleen covers: How you can make an offer, contingent on the sale of your home. (0:31) Why Colleen is not a fan of rent-to-own home buying options. (2:54) Should you always bid low when you make an offer? (5:00) See our listings and connect with us here: http://bensonbrokergroup.com

Bold headlines catch the attention of many, but how much weight do they really hold? In today’s episode, we are going to discuss some recent articles and see if we agree with the content.   As the market is fluctuating, a lot of potentially scary words are thrown around like “depression”, “recession”, and more. Let’s pick apart some of these topics in relation to housing prices and homebuyers, so you know what to look out for.   Here are some of the key points Colleen covers: Colleen’s thoughts on a Wallstreet article claiming we are going to see the second biggest home price decline. (1:00) com wrote an article about reasons homebuyer deals fall through. (5:44) What to know for buyers that wrack up too much debt. (10:12) See our listings and connect with us here: http://bensonbrokergroup.com

Realtor.com recently wrote an article sharing five ways to increase the value of your home without spending money on upgrades. In this episode, we will be going over these five suggestions and see if we agree.   Are you looking for some fresh marketing suggestions? Look no further. We also share the inside scoop about our effective marketing tactics and how you can think like a buyer.   Here are some of the key points Colleen covers: How you can price your home competitively. (0:56) How you can strategize your listing price to get it in front of more buyers. (1:53) Here is how we utilize effective digital marketing. (3:46) We believe in thinking like a buyer. Learn how you can too. (5:24) See our listings and connect with us here: http://bensonbrokergroup.com

Today we will be answering mailbag questions! The mailbag series helps us stay in touch with the topics you want to know as buyers. You might find some clarity as you hear the answers to questions you may have had yourself!   Listen to learn more about home pricing, spotting a lemon, down payments in a competitive market, and more!   Here are some of the key points Colleen covers: How to tell if the house you want to purchase is overpriced. (0:30) How much of a down payment should I put down on a house to win the bid? (4:35) How to help buyers spot red flags in flipped homes. (6:49) How quickly do I need to react when a new home hits the market? (8:31) See our listings and connect with us here: http://bensonbrokergroup.com

With the real estate market cooling off a bit, buyers are starting to find some reduced prices on homes. If you’re currently searching for a good deal, are these reduced homes a good place to look? On today’s episode, Colleen will answer that question that came into the show recently and she’ll also tackle a few others. As always, this mailbag edition is a great way to learn more about a handful of different topics that people are curious about right now. Here are some of the key points Colleen covers: What’s the best way to find good value properties on the market? (0:43) Colleen’s suggestions on good spots for retirees to live. (2:13) Is it reasonable to expect sellers to cover some closing costs now? (3:25) How you determine square footage for homes with mother-in-law suites? (4:13) See our listings and connect with us here: http://bensonbrokergroup.com

Today’s episode is broken into two parts as we take a look at some recent real estate headlines. First, spoiler alert! The housing market is not going to crash. That’s at least the opinion of Dave Ramsey’s team published an article recently that breaks down the reasons he thinks the housing market is not in for a big price crash. Their main point is that simple supply and demand still rules the day. Current inventory is half of what it was in 2007 and that’s still driving the issue. They also point to a stat that indicates there are 12 million more households wanting to own a home (using 2020 numbers) compared to 2007. So, there’s your demand. Hear Colleen’s opinion about this article and if she thinks this mentality is true for Oregon by listening to the show. 2:22 The second half of this episode covers a recent article from HomeLight that found 70% of buyers have at least one regret about their homebuying experience. Here are some of the key points Colleen covers. The top regrets were tied at 22%. Feeling

Whether you’re new to real estate or a seasoned veteran, it’s never a bad thing to revisit the basics to make sure you have a clear understanding when it comes to buying and selling a home. On this episode, we’ll open the real estate dictionary to look at some of the key terms you might see or hear during the process. We’ll look at a few on both the buying and selling side and get Colleen’s breakdown of each. Here are some of the things you'll learn on this episode:  Why should the average buyer be aware of ‘days on market’ and why it’s important. (1:08) The different types of mortgage loans and how they work. (4:44) What’s important during the due diligence process for the buyers and sellers. (9:26) What do sellers need to know about contingencies. (12:20) What are iBuyers?(14:48)   See our listings and learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/