Oregon Real Estate Queen

Have you ever wondered what those letters after a REALTOR’S®  name really mean. Those letters are not meant to make a REALTOR® seem unnecessarily important. The letters are indicators that a particular REALTOR® has completed extra coursework to better assist buyers and sellers. The coursework is offered to REALTORS® in conjuction with the National Association of REALTORS® and State Association of REALTORS®. The Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) designation is an extremely important designation as it indicates the designee has taken and successfully completed 90 hours of coursework to better help their clients. The coursework is the foundation upon which the most successful REALTORS® build their base of knowledge and read more

Here is an announcement from Fred Chamberlin, the Eugene Loan Guy, about the Springfield Home Buyer Fair being held today, June 27, 2009, as part of Mayor Sid Leiken and the city’s effort to revitalize the Real Estate market in Springfield, the city we all love and work in and for. This fair is primarily aimed at the First Time Home Buyer, but even the experienced home buyer can bring something of value away. Please join with us today to make this a great event. The City of Springfield (OR), along with several lenders, homebuilders and the Springfield Board of Realtors is sponsoring a Homebuyers Fair tomorrow, 11-3 p.m. It will be held in the lobby of City Hall, 225 5th St and also at 20 homes that are open for viewing. I will be read more

TIPS FOR SELLERS # 2 – IT JUST MAKES “SENSE” By Lori Palermo – Oregon Real Estate Queen “All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason.” Immanuel Kant   In “Tips for Sellers – Part 1”, we talked about what you could do to the outside of your home before putting it on the active market for sale. In Part 2 we’ll take a look at the inside of your home and suggest things you can do very inexpensively to put your home in its very best position to make a potential buyer feel welcome. It is imperative that you take an unbiased look at the inside of your home – as if you are walking in the door for the first time. A great way to do this is to use your 5 senses. Here read more

TIPS FOR SELLERS #1 – MAKING A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION By Lori Palermo – Oregon Real Estate Queen It has been said that we never get a second chance to make a first impression. Although this quote was in reference to our first impressions of people, the same is true with houses. Before listing your home for sale, I recommend taking a good, hard, unbiased look at the front of your home. Sometimes this is the most difficult step of all – the unbiased part anyway. You might consider enlisting the help of a trusted friend to gain better perspective. Take an objective look at the appearance of your home as you drive on to your street and into your driveway. Here are some tips to make a great first impression on potential home buyers, and read more

by Lori Palermo, GRI – Principal Broker So … you want to buy a home of your own. You are probably excited and maybe a little nervous if it’s your first home. For many of us, owning a home is, “The American Dream”. The following are some of the beginning steps that will lead you to realize the dream of home-ownership:   Set Realistic Goals Setting realistic goals is a great place to start on the road to home-ownership. Financial goal-setting that will enable you to afford a home of your own and practical goal-setting about the kind of home you want. Define early on the difference between your wants and your needs. Determine what you can afford and then determine your housing needs. Ask yourself questions like, read more

1. Find a real estate agent that you “click” with. Home buying is not only a big financial commitment, but also an emotional one. It’s critical that the agent you chose is both skilled and a good fit with your personality. 2. Remember, there’s no “right” time to buy, any more than there’s a right time to sell. If you find a home now, don’t try to second-guess the interest rates or the housing market by waiting. Changes don’t usually occur fast enough to make that much difference in price, and a good home won’t stay on the market long. 3. Don’t ask for too many opinions. It’s natural to want reassurance for such a big decision, but too many ideas will make it much harder to make a decision. 4. Accept that no house read more

The neighborhood you choose can have a big impact on your lifestyle—safety, available amenities, and convenience all play their part. Make a list of the activities—movies, health club, church—you engage in regularly and stores you visit frequently. See how far you would have to travel from each neighborhood you’re considering, to engaging in your most common activities. Check out the school district. The Department of Education in your town can probably provide information on test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend college, and special enrichment programs. If you have school-age children, also consider paying a visit to schools in the neighborhoods you’re considering. Even if you don’t have children, a read more