Keeping It Real Estate

With the housing market changing, but still doing strong, what kind of questions are buyers and sellers asking? On today’s episode, we’re opening up the mailbag to answer your questions on flipping old homes, new construction versus aged homes, and much more. Listen to the episode to learn the answers to these questions and more:  Felix is wondering where he can find old homes suited in order to flip? (0:41) Will is wondering if new construction is easier to buy than an aged home that needs remodeling? (4:33) Bruce just bought a new home and the previous owners left behind some junk. Does he now own this stuff? Does he have to get rid of it and incur the cost of doing so? (7:26)   Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

Let's open up the mailbag to answer some of your questions on buying, selling, and everything in between. What you’ll learn on today’s episode: “We are thinking of leaving some personal items behind when we sell our home. Can we negotiate with personal items when a buyer asks for a discount because of needed repairs?” (0:36) “I have been outpriced out of South Salem. What are some alternative neighborhoods that have the same appeal but are more budget-friendly?” (3:56) “I have heard of home prices dropping, we are finally getting ready to sell. Now we are worried we’re going to miss out on all of the value growth our house had over the past several years. What do we do?” (5:28) “I have smart tech throughout my home. Do these things really add value?” (7:39) “Should I still expect to get above the asking price for my home?” (10:29) “My dad says a two-bedroom house is harder to sell in the future. Should I focus only on three-bedroom houses?” (12:10)   Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

We’re answering some of your questions on today’s show! Allie, a listener in North East Salem, wrote in saying her father wants to help with her down payment so she can afford her first home. Are there any limits she should know about? Ben, asks where he can put his money to improve the value of his house? Paint and landscape are really important for a first impression, but things like a new roof can be a negotiation point. And should you be worried if buyers start asking for discounts? Let’s explore these questions and more.   Key Points:   0:32 – Can my family help with my down payment? 1:11 – Where should I put money to improve the value of my home? 2:46 – I’m worried buyers will ask for a discount because of repairs 7:31 – How do you know when you're emotionally ready to sell?   Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

A recent Realtor.com article outlines a few signs you’ll hate your home after the initial excitement of a new house wears off. Does Colleen agree? A front door that opens into a wall might not seem like a big deal when you tour the home, but after a while, it may start to feel cramped. Long hallways are classic for some of us, but the newest style is an open landing area. A dead-end living room, with one way in and out, can certainly feel smaller than you’d like after a while. Join us today as we explore 7 things that you may or may not hate after a while in your new home.   Key Points:   1:18 – Front door that opens into a wall 2:57 – Front door that faces the stairs 4:43 – Unnecessarily long hallways 5:25 – Guest bathroom at the entrance of the home 6:06 – Not having two sinks in the bathroom 8:06 – A dead-end living room 9:01 – Adjoining bedrooms 9:57 – “Male” centered features 10:48 – Bi-folded doors     Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

Let’s answer some questions from buyers and sellers in the area! Brent is thinking of using an adjustable-rate mortgage to buy his home, but he knows they became a big issue in 2008 and the rate may go up in the future. How does Colleen advise those interested in ARMs? Colleen recommends meeting with a lender and wants to remind you that we’re not in the same position as we were in 2008. Dan in Salem just sold his home with a different realtor and is having some seller's regret: his house took 3-weeks to sell and sold below value. What did he do wrong? This could happen for various reasons including the agent's workload or the presentation of the home. Join us today as Collen explores these questions and more!   Key Points:   0:37 – What is your advice on adjustable-rate mortgages? 3:28 – Our house sold below value what did we do wrong? 6:14 – What home upgrades could increase the value of our home? 10:22 – Should I try to buy again with the rental market just as competitive?   Learn more: https://www.bensonb

We are answering some of your questions on today’s show about buying and selling your home. In this market is a 20% down payment enough? Definitely! While it may be harder to win certain bids 20% is usually more than enough. Mary wrote in that her loan approval was for $700,000 and with all the houses selling above asking value she is wondering if she should look at houses more in the $600,000 range to leave some wiggle room? It might be smart to look a little below your maximum budget, but it’s going to depend on your lender and a few other factors. Join us today as we explore these questions and more on rent-back situations and selling privately.     Key Points:   0:30 – Should we be leaving wiggle room on the houses we are looking at? 2:46 – Is a 20% down payment enough in this market? 4:03 – Can I rent back my home to a buyer and when do I negotiate this? 7:28 – Would we miss out on selling privately?   Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

Today we’re opening up the mailbag again to find out what you’re most interested in when it comes to buying and selling a home and we have some great questions to dive into.   We’ll cover the foreclosure market and whether we’ll see that increase around Oregon. Then we’ll talk about the pros and cons of hiring experts to do the work around your home. Next we’ll cover a question about trying to navigate the sales process during a divorce. And finally, we’ll wrap it all up with the benefits of undertaking a kitchen remodel.   Key Points:   0:31 – Mailbag question on foreclosure opportunities 4:35 – Mailbag comment on hiring experts 9:24 – Mailbag question on coordinating sale during divorce 11:28 – Mailbag question on kitchen remodels   Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

Let’s open up the mailbag and answer some of your questions about buying and selling your home. Stella says her neighbors are also planning on selling their home soon. Should she list before, after, or at the same time as them? With interest rates rising and a changing market, we recommend getting listed as soon as possible. Dean asks how detailed he can get while touring a home. Can he check things like the crawl space and electricity? If you are the only person viewing, we want our clients to look to their heart's content, but within reason. Join us today as we explore these questions and two more on due diligence and rent back setups.     See our listings: https://bit.ly/3z49gcL   What we discuss on this episode:  0:33 – “Do we need to list before or after our neighbors?” 2:38 – “Are you finding any issues with a rent back set up?” 3:43 – “What’s the current expectation with due diligence?” 6:00 – “How detailed can I get when viewing a home?”   Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

With a lot of investors buying up more and more properties in the past few years, there have been a lot of flipped houses coming onto the market. When you are in the search for your next home, how can you be sure what you’re looking at isn’t a cheap flip? If you’re looking at a home without building permits, but it appears major changes have been made to the property, be wary. This can bite you when you go to sell as well. With mismatched plumbing or wiring you want to be careful you won’t run into future problems with these structural issues. Join us today as we explore some common things to look out for when looking at a flipped home.   See our listings: https://bit.ly/3z49gcL   What we discuss on this episode:  0:53 – No building permits, but major changes 1:37 – Fresh paint in certain areas 2:51 – Mismatched plumbing or mismatched wiring 4:32 – Is it helpful to have a contractor? 6:00 – Cabinets and drawers not opening-up 6:32 – Flooring and door inconsistency   Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.c

Kathy saw someone on the news recently list their home extremely below market price and it generated a lot of buzz. What does Colleen think of this strategy? This is a great question; most sellers want to price high and go from there. This strategy can generate a lot of bids on your home and end up getting you more money. Bud is wondering if he has to make his home inspection public to buyers? Not necessarily, but if problems come up you have to legally disclose them. On today’s episode, Colleen answers these mailbag questions and two more on where to look for condos and the best strategy for listing pictures.   See our listings: https://bit.ly/3z49gcL   What we discuss on this episode:  0:31 – “Should I list my home really low to generate buzz?” 3:50 – “Do I have to make the inspection of my home public?” 5:27 – “Where should I look for a condo or townhome?” 6:14 – “Can we list now with pictures from the summertime?”   Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

True or false? It’s impossible to buy right now without overpaying. You might feel like you are overpaying for homes on the market right now, but keep in mind your equity is also going up once you own that home. So, Colleen doesn't really see it as overpaying. True or false? You’re most likely going to end up in a bidding war if you buy right now… True! Join us today as we play a round of true or false when it comes to various housing market statements. Colleen will share her expertise on down payments, curb appeal, mortgage rates, and more.   See our listings: https://bit.ly/3z49gcL   What we discuss on this episode:  0:45 – “It’s impossible to buy right now without overpaying” 1:34 – “You’re most likely going to be in a bidding war” 2:34 – “Down payments must be between 5 and 20%” 4:05 – “Curb appeal can make or break a sell” 5:40 – “It’s not a big deal if mortgage rate increases by 1%” 7:20 – “You won’t be able to compete with cash buyers” 8:47 – “Zillow home buying estimates are usually correc

What headlines are trending around the real estate market? With a lack of supply, hopeful homebuyers are finding fewer and fewer options. Which means fewer contract signings. In our own area, we are down 20% on new listings taken. We’ve also seen skyrocketing prices and the average seller profit from 2021 was almost $100,000! Salem made the top list for seller profits in the country. Despite construction costs, new homes are selling fast. On today’s episode, we’ll explore these headlines and more with Colleen.   See our listings: https://bit.ly/3z49gcL   What we discuss on this episode:  0:43 – Fewer contracts are being signed 1:41 – Seller profits averaged almost $100,000 3:42 – Sells for new homes are hot 6:10 – Are millennials desperate for a house?   Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

Have you seen the reality show “Selling Sunset”? It covers the top-end and high-end luxury real estate market in Los Angeles. On today’s episode, we are going to have some fun and talk about some of the “Selling Sunset” secrets that may apply to your home buying experience, no matter the price tag.  Never assume a home is perfect, no matter how much it costs. You don’t want to go into your home search setting yourself up for disappointment. Investigate what development is going on around your potential home. Trees getting cut down, condos getting built, etc. Doing your homework beforehand is always a good idea. We’ll also discuss price appreciation, the market, and contingencies.     See our listings: https://bit.ly/3z49gcL   What we discuss on this episode:  0:27 – Have you seen selling sunset? 2:52 – Never assume a home is perfect 4:35 – What’s going up next door? 8:00 – Home prices appreciate fast 9:56 – Home buyers better move fast 11:02 – Drop contingencies   Learn more: https://www.bensonbr

Inflation has been rising across the country. How does that impact your home buying timeline? We are seeing mortgage rates increase, but it’s still cheaper to own than to rent. Rent is more unpredictable, a mortgage is locked in. What advice does Colleen have for people searching for luxury homes? While a lot of the process is the same, there are some unique challenges to look out for when buying a luxury home. On today’s episode, we discuss the impact of inflation on the housing market, how renovations impact your selling power, and more!   See our listings: https://bit.ly/3z49gcL   What we discuss on this episode:  0:32 – Should I buy now because of inflation? 3:14 – If we have no baths in our home, will it be harder to sell in the future? 5:44 – What is your advice for luxury home buyers?   Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

Are you curious about HOAs in the Salem area? Many people moving up from California will be pleasantly surprised to learn there are plenty of nice neighborhoods without steep HOA costs. A lot of people are thinking of waiting until spring to sell, but there are serious buyers out there right now. Does Colleen think higher mortgage rates will eventually dampen buyer demand? What is the best way to strategically use a down payment to impress a seller? We’ll be discussing these mailbag questions on today’s show!   See our listings: https://bit.ly/3z49gcL   What we discuss on this episode:  0:41 – Do most neighborhoods have strict HOAs? 2:55 – What’s your philosophy on selling in the spring? 4:40 – What is a spring selling timeline like? 7:00 – Will higher mortgage rates dampen buyer demand? 8:14 – Does the size of the down payment matter?   Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

Are you thinking of remodeling before selling your home? If they are cosmetic changes you might want to think again, every buyer is different. But depending on your budget and planned updates it might be the right move for you.  You’ve probably heard a lot about Opendoor and iBuyers recently, but what do you miss out on when you don’t have the person-to-person relationship you’d have with a realtor?  On today’s episode, we will be answering these questions as well as going over some areas to look for acreage and a bit about Colleen’s team.    See our listings: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog/ep_98_mailbag_repairs_acreage_and_colleen_s_team/38826   What we discuss on this episode:  0:41 – Is it worth doing repairs before listing? 3:01 – Open door or the traditional route? 4:39 – Where should we look with a $500,000 budget with an acre? 5:53 – How many people will I interact with in the process of selling?   Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

How fast can Colleen and her team sell your home? Well, the market is a seller’s market right now but you want to make that good first impression no matter what. Should buyers give up right now and wait until the market has calmed down? We don’t recommend it! You never know what home is going to be around the corner. It is exhausting looking for a new house, but with the right approach, we can find your next home. Looking for land in the area? Depending on what you want to use it for Colleen has some specialists she can connect you with. On today’s episode, we will be answering these questions and whether Colleen specializes more in selling, buying, or both.   See our listings: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/    What we discuss on this episode:  0:36 – How fast can you sell my home? 2:45 – Should we give up on searching for a house? 5:06 – Where can I find land? 6:37 – Do you specialize in buying or selling?   Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

We are going to be answering some listener questions today about a wide variety of real estate topics. Is now a good time to invest in rental properties? What matters most is your return on investment. Is it wise to accept an offer from Offerpad? These types of apps are driven by data and may not get you as great of an offer as a real estate agent could. We will also be discussing whether Colleen has part-time agents on her team and whether selling is as stressful as buying.     See our listings: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/    What we discuss on this episode:  0:36 – Do you think now is a good time to invest in rental properties? 3:18 – Is selling as stressful as buying? 5:18 – Do you have part-time agents or only full-time? 7:20 – Should I accept an offer from Offerpad?   Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

There have been a lot of new real estate headlines going around. So, on today's episode, we are going to be discussing these topics. A lot of renters are fearing they'll never be able to buy. Especially with current down payments being so high. Colleen talks through some ways her lenders can help you if you are in this situation. We will also be discussing remote work's transformation on the housing market. Are these changes here to stay? Could this next month could be the best month of the year to buy? Learn more about these headlines and what Colleen thinks about them on today's show!   See our listings: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/    What we discuss on this episode:  0:57 – Renters fear they’ll never own 2:24 – Resources for renters wanting to buy 5:02 – Remote workers transforming the market 7:11 – Will this be a permanent change? 8:27 – Best buying period of the year   Learn More: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

We are opening up the mailbag today to answer some of your questions! Colleen will discuss mixed-use developments, market timing, rentals, and fence additions. Whether you have a question about selling your current property or finding your next home, Colleen is here to share her advice.   Read more and get additional resources here: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/mailbag/mailbag-mixed-use-developments-market-timing-and-more/750/   See our listings here: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/    What we discuss on this episode:  0:32 – Mixed-use development in Salem 2:09 – Timing of selling our home 5:14 – Do real estate agents help with rentals? 7:49 – Is it beneficial to add a fence?