Blythe's Mt Hood Real Estate Blog

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Name: Blythe Creek 503-706-7101
Location: Welches, Brightwood, Government Camp and Rhododendron, Mt Hood Corridor, Oregon/ Villages of Mt Hood

Having moved to the Mt Hood Corridor in 1972 while attending college, I choose the Mt Hood Corridor to buy my first home, raise a family, and enjoy a quiet life surrounded by the natural beauty of Mt. Hood. I’ve watched the Mt. Hood Corridor evolve to mixture of full time and vacation homes and cabins in price ranges for the first time home buyer to the fantastic custom built lodges plus everything in-between. Fulfilling the dream for a home on Mt Hood for my clients is what I love to do! Getting the right balance for each buyer is the key… Call me at 503-706-7101 for more information property available in “the Villages of Mt Hood”.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

How to Decide if You Should Remodel Your Mt Hood Home or Move

From birthdays and anniversaries to graduations and weddings, your home has seen many great days. But, you also may find yourself making repairs more often, and you could begin to get the feeling you need a change. This change can come by remodeling your Mt Hood home whether in Brightwood, Rhododendron, Welches or Government Camp or selling it. Before you make a decision, consider a few very important factors.

What does remodel mean to you? — If your idea of a remodel is as simple as replacing flooring and adding fresh paint, that should be an easy fix. But if a complete demolition job is involved, you'll probably save yourself money and a lot of headaches by buying a new home.

• Factor in finances – Whether you plan to remodel your Mt Hood home or move, money is involved. Figure out if it financially makes more sense to make updates to your current home or move into a new already updated home. You'd be surprised how quickly renovation costs can add up, so keep that in mind. Expect the unexpected!

• Assess your neighborhood – Do you still recognize the area you once knew? Are your neighbors still "neighborly?" An important point to consider is whether or not the neighborhood still has value. You want to make sure it is well kept and safe. If not, selling could be the answer. You also don't want to price yourself out of the neighborhood. If updating your home would make it the highest valued home in the neighborhood, you'd be better off moving into a neighborhood where you can purchase one of the lowest valued homes.

• What about the children? Most times, when kids practically grow up in a home, many strong friendships are made. Think about how moving can affect your kids. Starting over in a new neighborhood and a new school can be life changing for children. In this case, remodeling your home could be the better option.

Bottom line, when trying to figure out if you should remodel you home on Mt. Hood or sell, take your time. You should exhaust every possibility to ensure you make the right choice for you and your family.


Remodel:
www.bobvila.com

Renovation costs:

www.trustyguides.com/home-renovation1.html

Moving can affect kids

www.tlcinst.org/Moving.html

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Saturday, May 9, 2009

Information to Have On Hand When Selling Your Real Estate on Mt Hood

Selling your property, whether it is a primary home or income property, is easier if you have the information your buyers are likely to want to know on hand.

Type up an info sheet answering the most commonly asked questions buyers have when looking at real estate for sale in Welches, Rhododendron, Brightwood and Government Camp.

Questions such as:

• How old is the roof?
• Has the roof ever leaked?
• Have you had a recent Appraisal?
• Have you had a home inspection in the last three years?• What improvements were done and when?
• What comes with the property? Window treatments? Do all of the appliances come with the property?
• How old are the appliances?• Is there water in the crawlspace?• Has the basement ever leaked?
• Where are the hot water heater, the electrical service panel, and other important maintenance items located? Are they easy to access?
• What kind of Heating System do you have and has it recently been serviced?
• Are the roads plowed in Winter?• What is the age and condition of the plumbing and wiring?
• Are there schools nearby?
• What is the average utility cost per month/year?
• Have you had any major problems in the past? Your normal seller's disclosure does not require you to list problems you had and have fixed. Some buyers would like to know what those problems were. It can give them an idea if they are likely to be a recurring problem (like flood damage) or if the fact that you already had the issue and fixed it they will not likely have to deal with that particular problem in the future.

Of course, you should always have the general information about your Mountain real estate available such as square footage of the building, property size, zoning and any restrictions or easements.

Having all of the information on hand will prove to potential buyers that you're serious, that you're prepared to be upfront with them about any issues your home may have, and that you've taken excellent care of your home

Thinking of selling your home? I specialize in selling homes in the Mt Hood Corridor between Sandy, Oregon and Government Camp, Oregon. Find out more by calling me today at 503-706-7101 or emailing me at
blythe@servingmthood.com.

Income property:
www.investorwords.com/2405/income_property.html

Electrical service panel:
homerepair.about.com/od/electricalrepair/ss/anat_elec_pnl.htm

Seller's disclosure:
homebuying.about.com/od/homedisclosures/qt/Req2Disclose.htm

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Sunday, April 26, 2009

Great Welches Home

Great Home in Welches. Family Room Addition with Propane Incert New covered Front Porch in '07. Free Standing Propane stove in Dining Rm. Granite Countertop inKitchen. Fenced back yard w/Garden/Tool Shed. Well maintained home. Upstairs has a 595 sq ft unfinished bonus Rm not calculated into SqFt. Just needs Sheetrock & Carpet.Could be Master Suite,Office in the Home Or Young Person Play area. Lots of Outside Living.
http://68199etwinberryloop.epropertysites.com/

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Thursday, April 16, 2009

Tips for First Time Home Buyers in the Mt Hood Corridor

Are you considering buying your first home? I'm sure you already know that now's an amazing time to buy your first home. You have the perfect combination of low interest rates, lower home prices and President Obama's stimulus plan which gives you additional incentive to buy now.

To help make your first time home buying experience the best it can be, here are some tips:
  1. Know What You Can AffordIt is easy to get carried away with what you want versus what you can actually afford. Start with reasonable expectations.
  2. Decide Exactly What You NeedConsider your current family status and what your immediate future might hold, then decide on the number of bedrooms you require and the amenities you feel you can't do without. If you love to cook, a well-equipped and spacious kitchen will be important. If you eat out 90% of the time, it is wasted space.
  3. Make Good Use of the InternetIf you're like millions of other Americans, you spend a lot of time online. Make use of the many available free programs and calculators to give you a better idea of what you can afford and what your mortgage payments will be. There are mortgage calculators that give you an instant idea of what each home you find will cost you monthly.
  4. Don't Hesitate to Ask QuestionsCall around to get insurance quotes so that you have a reasonable estimation of what to add to the total cost of your monthly mortgage. Check the information on Mt Hood Corridor towns, like Welches, Brightwood, Rhododendron or Government Camp to find home properties you are interested in & find out what the taxes are, utilities have run, what water system/or well the home is on and what the sewage disposal system is just to name a few questions to find out. Add that amount to your total monthly mortgage cost too. The Taxes will be going up in the area of the Oregon Trail School System. A great new High School was voted in November 2008!!

Buying your first Mt Hood home should be the thrill of a lifetime and with proper planning it can be. If you'd like to work with a real estate agent who specializes in helping first time home buyers get their dream home at the best price, call me today at 503-706-7101 or email me at blythe@servingmthood.com .

Stimulus Plan:
www.premiercapitalmortgage.com/2009_Stimulus_Plan

Mortgage calculators: Link to the mortgage calculator on your website. If you don't have one, link here:
www.mortgage-calc.com/

total cost of your monthly mortgage:
www.loanpage.com/morpay.htm

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Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Welches Home in Great Neighborhood!

SUNNY Location, Home faces South and back yard is full of SUN! New Carpet, Freshly painted. Fully Fenced back Yard. Fully landscaped, Room for Veggie Garden too. 3 Bedroom,plus Den/Office or 4th bd without a closet. Master downstairs. Laminate Floor in Kitchen and Dining Area. Propane FS Stove. Immaculate-MOVE in condition! Beautifully Maintained!

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Sunday, April 12, 2009

How You Can Get the Best Price When Buying Real Estate On Mt Hood

The Mt Hood real estate market is a homebuyer’s dream right now! Whether you're looking to buy a full time home, vacation getaway or an investment property, it's the perfect time. There is a lot of inventory, home prices are down, and interest rates are favorable which means that well-informed buying could benefit you in the long run. There are several tips I can offer you on how to get the best price when you buying a home:
  • Shop around in the neighborhood where you're looking to buy. The only way to know if you're getting a good deal is to look at home prices in the same neighborhood. Ask your real estate agent for listings that are similar to the other homes in Brightwood, Welches, Rhododendron or Government Camp and the home you are interested in. Evaluate the homes and their prices to ensure that you’re getting a good price. Your real estate agent can help you with this evaluation. Ask for a Market Analysis.
  • Play the negotiator when writing your contract! One way to try to bring down the price of the home is to offer a lower price on your contract. Offering a slightly lower price than what the homeowner is asking is a place to start trying to save some money. If the homeowner is firm on the listing price, you can look to cut costs in other areas. One way you may be able to lower your cost is by asking the seller to pay your closing costs.
  • Check how long the house has been on the market. If a home has been on the market for an extended period, the homeowner is going to be more likely to lower the price. A house that has not had any offers in a few months gives you, the homebuyer, an advantage. The homeowner may be willing to lose a few thousand dollars in order to sell the property to you

Especially now, it’s possible to get a good price in the Mt Hood real estate market. Let me help you negotiate an excellent price for your new home. Call me today at 503-706-7101 or email me at blythe@servingmthood.com . If you would like to see Listings on Mt Hood you can sign up for listing alerts at www.servingmthood.com.

Negotiator
www.work911.com/articles/negotiate.htm

Closing costs
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closing_costs

Investment property
www.investorwords.com/2624/investment_property.html

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Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Wise Investments to Prepare your Mt Hood Home for Sale

If you're thinking of listing your Mt Hood Home for sale and know it needs a little sprucing up, here are a few tips on the smartest home improvements you can make to help sell your home faster and for more money.

  • Kitchen remodeling stands at the top of any list of most attractive projects for re-sale value. Crisp clean new cabinets, fresh tile and countertops all make for buyer approval and is money well spent.
  • Bathroom remodeling is a good bet but not nearly as good as adding additional bathrooms, unless your home already has a lot of them.
  • Adding central heat and air to replace floorboard or radiator heat is a huge selling point for any Mt Hood home for sale.
  • Installing a deck or patio. This one hovers close to the middle of the do/don't numbers but it is still a nice investment that can make your home feel more comfortable and give it more 'space.'

Items that are less likely to be worth the money include:
  • Installing a backyard pool. Some people think a pool is attractive. To many buyers, it's nothing but additional work and expense. Unless you live in a climate where the majority of people want a pool, steer clear of this investment.
  • Converting your basement into a finished living space. Many buyers like a finished basement, but it's the main living space that counts most to them. Your money would be better spent above ground.
  • A large landscaping job. It adds pleasure for you but not immediate gain in measurable value.
It is important to fix up your home to get it ready for buyers. But with money tighter than we've seen it in a long time, you need to focus on those improvements that will give you a good return on your money. If you'd like more tips on what works and what doesn't when fixing up your home In Rhododendron, Brightwood, Welches or Government Camp for sale, I can help. Call me today at 503-706-7101 or email me at blythe@servingmthood.com.

www.1to1house.com/fix-ups.html Kitchen remodeling: www.hgtv.com/kitchens/index.html Installing a deck: www.hgtv.com/topics/decks/index.html

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Saturday, April 4, 2009

Golf Villa Just Sold

Welches, Oregon Townhome
Part of the Rippling River Homeowner's Association on The Resort at the Mountain 27-Hole public golf course. This townhome is located on the Foxglove Course which has been newly enginerred this winter.
Looking for Golf Course Property in Welches,? Give me a call at 503-706-7101

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Barriers to Selling a Home Here On Mt Hood

The Biggest Barriers to Selling Your Home
Often they are those you create yourself by wanting a quick sale or not learning all there is to know about presenting your house to its best advantage. When you first begin to think about selling your home it seems easy. Put a sign on the lawn and list it. Once the shine wears off of the desire to do it all yourself, you might need some tips to help sell your home:

Clean It Up
That's the first and foremost advice. Nothing deters a real estate sale faster than a messy house. Living in your home while trying to sell it makes it difficult to keep it clean, but if you're serious about wanting to sell your home, it's worth the extra effort. You may want to learn how to clean your home fast for those times when a buyer calls and wants to see your home in 15 minutes or less.

Take Good Pictures
Where do you think people search first for homes for sale? Online. Newspapers used to be the first place people looked for homes. But now, approximately 80% of all home buyers look online before searching anywhere else. Due to cost and space limitations, newspapers usually display only one photo of the front view of the home. On the internet, where space is abundant, buyers expect to see lots of exterior and interior pictures, in fact, the more the better. If you aren't experienced at getting good room photos that show off your Mt Hood home to its best advantage, hire a photographer or a real estate agent who can do it for you.

Looking to Streamline the Selling Process
There are pitfalls you can get tripped up on when selling your home here on Mt Hood. If you'd like to work with a real estate agent who can help you maneuver around those pitfalls, give me a call today at 503-706-7101 or email me at blythe@servingmthood.com.


Tips to help sell your home: www.statefarm.com/learning/life_stages/learning_lifestages_sellinghome.asp

How to clean your home fast:
www.ehow.com/how_2312344_clean-house-faster.html

Room pictures:
www.ehow.com/how_4516889_take-photos-house-sale.html

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