Market Snapshot

September 8, 2011
Homes, Cabins & Condominiums: Mt Hood Area (153)

• 160 Active homes and Cabins Currently listed for sale. ( includes Single Family Residences,Condos & Cabins)
• 20 Pending Sales , 40% Bank Owned (REO) and Short Sales (Short Sales have lower incidence of closing)
• 63 Homes and cabins sold to date in 2011

Lots and Acreage: Mt Hood Area (153)

• 44 Active land listings in the Mt Hood Area or Villages of Mt Hood
• 2 Pending Sales
• 5 Sold Undeveloped Land Properties to date in 2011

Market Snapshot is a bi-monthly Peek at Mt Hood Real Estate Market Conditions provided by Blythe Creek

Mt Hood Real Estate For Sale includes Welches Oregon Real Estate, Brightwood Oregon Real Estate, Government Camp Oregon Real Estate and Rhododendron Oregon Real Estate plus Mt Hood Lots and Land.

Salmon River Getaway

Quiet Riverfront Location, Beautifully maintained home with EZ Care yard. Vaulted ceilings, picture windows w/ view of River, firepit, front and back decks. Listen to the river while relaxing in the HotTub. Two Decks. Tile Back Splash in Kitchen. Wood Blinds. Sleeps up to 10. Furnished turn key. Minutes to Resort@ MT Public Golfcourse and Summer & winter recreation areas on MT Hood. Check out the full Single Property Website at the following link: 28137ewaterst.epropertysites.com/

6 Great Reasons First-Time Mt Hood Home Buyers Should Purchase Now

Although the housing market has had its fair share of ups and down, many home buyers, particularly first-time home buyers, are reaping the benefits. If you're thinking about purchasing a home in Sandy, Brightwood, Welches or Rhododendron, there are many good reasons to make your move today. Here are six of them:

1. Low interest rates – Right now, interest rates are lower than ever before. This means you can get an extremely affordable loan and save big on interest payments.

2. Cheaper home prices – Not only are interest rates low, but homes all around are cheaper. Since the market is packed with homes for sale, selling has become harder. As a result, prices have fallen significantly, allowing you to get a more expensive home for less money. The Bubble has been sliced off!

3. Potential tax credits – As a first-time buyer, you could be eligible for thousands of dollars in tax credits. Best of all, you do not have to pay it back, as opposed to previous years.

4. Less competition – Many people no longer have the money to purchase homes, so fewer people are visiting model homes and open houses. This is great news for you. If you're ready to buy a home on Mt Hood, you don't have to worry about floods of people bidding up the price on the property in Bid wars.

5. Huge inventory – With new homes constantly being built, not to mention an array of existing homes, you can take your pick from a wide variety of available properties.

6. Big bargaining power – Because so many people are trying to sell their homes, they're more willing to be flexible. As a buyer, you could greatly benefit and may be able to save on closing costs, upgrades, repairs and more. Work with a skilled real estate agent who can negotiate a great contract for you.

If you have the funds to step out and purchase one of the many Mt Hood homes for sale, now is the best time to take advantage of all the possibilities. I'm ready, willing and able to negotiate the best price and terms for you. Call me today at 503-706-7101 or email me at blythe@servingmthood.com

Interest payments:
Mortgage Calculator

Tax credits
www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204672,00.html

Closing costs:
financialplan.about.com/cs/mortgagesloans/l/aaclosingcosts.htm

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

Great Cabin on the Mt Hood National Forest.
Zig Zag River site. A lot of updates in the past 20 years!!! Cozy up by the fireplace in the winter. Sleeping area downstairs, Lotf and bedroom upstairs. Separate dining area. Metal roof. Located in Tract of Forest Service Cabins in Government Camp Oregon. Fully furnished. $179,900

Check out the full single property web site at
78419eroad35lot109.ePropertySites.com

Prepare Before Buying to Get the Best Deals for

Mt Hood Real Estate.

You’ve finally decided you want to buy a piece of real estate in Brightwood, Welches, Rhododendron or Government Camp Oregon. What do you do now? Here are a few tips for getting the best deal for your money:

Check Out Your Credit

Remember, everything is credit driven. That means your interest rate on your new home loan. The first thing you’ll want to do is order a copy of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Look for inaccuracies in:
• Name
• Address
• Creditors
• Late payments
• Delinquencies

After you’ve reviewed your credit report and know your credit score, you’re ready to make improvements to your report, if your credit score is too low. Send a written “Notice of Correction” to the credit bureaus. It can be up to 200 words. If needed, you can explain why you fell behind on a particular debt, and every time a lender accesses the report, they’ll see your explanation.

It can take several months to for your credit score to go up. However, it's well worth the effort to get a better interest rate. It can save you thousands on your real estate purchase in the Mt Hood Corridor.

Get Pre-approved

Before you start looking at properties, it’s a good idea to get a pre-approval letter from a lender. The lender takes into consideration your income and credit history. Then the lender determines the loan amount for which you qualify.

Most pre-approval letters list the maximum amount for which you are approved, not necessarily the amount you can afford. Look carefully at your budget so that you don’t get too excited about the number and get into more house than you can afford.

There are several benefits to getting pre-approved. It allows you and your Mt Hood real estate agent to narrow down the house search. That way you won't waste time seeing properties you can’t afford. Also, sellers will give your bid more weight if you're pre-approved.

Are you a first-time buyer?
You have just made a fabulous decision for your future. There are tons of great buys in the Mt Hood Real Estate market in the towns of Brightwood Welches, Rhododendron or Government Camp. I'm a specialist in the Mt Hood Corridor communities and would love to help you buy the home of your dreams. Call me now at 503-706-7101 or email me at blythe@servingmthood.com.

Credit report:
www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

Pre-approval:
loanlane.com/preapprove.php

Budget:
financialplan.about.com/od/budgetingyourmoney/Budgeting.htm

3 Things to Avoid When Preparing to Purchase Real Estate

If you are thinking about buying real estate in the near future and need loan to acquire the property, there are three activities you should avoid. These are normal things we all do from time to time, but are unwise when contemplating a new mortgage application.

1. Change careers: This is different than just changing jobs. If you have recently gotten a new job in the same field, at the same or better pay, and your past history shows long, solid employment, all should be fine. Changing careers entirely is more of an issue. You have no history of steady employment and income in the new field. Since you're new to the field, you may be bringing in less income than in your previous career. That's why a recent career change makes your mortgage application less appealing to a loan officer due to difficulity with underwriting the loan.
2. Open new bank accounts: When you apply for a loan for real estate on Mt Hood you need to provide bank statements for several months. Although your money is still in your possession, moving it to new bank accounts generates a series of big withdrawals and deposits which gives an image of instability. If you have withdrawn large amounts of money and not redeposited the funds, that looks even worse. Even if you invested the money in something solid, you no longer have the cash and thus appear less solvent.
3. Buy Big Ticket Items: The reason for this is simple. When reviewing a loan application for real estate one of the biggest things a lender takes into consideration is your debt-to-income ratio. Purchasing expensive items on credit can negatively impact your debt-to-income ratio. Wait until after you've closed on your home to buy new furniture or appliances.
   

Thinking of buying a home? Remember Interest rates are credit driven. Protect your credit score. I can help you get financing and buy the home of your dreams. Give me a call today at 503-706-7101 or email me at blythe@servingmthood.com.

loan officer:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loan_officer

debt to income ratio:
www.lendingtree.com/mortgage-loans/advice/qualifying-for-a-loan/calculating-debt-to-income

apply for a loan: www.homeloanbasics.com/articles/PurchasingAHome/WhatNotToDoWhenApplyingforaHomeLoan/

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

How Can Obama's Housing Plan for Mt Hood Real Estate Help You?

The housing plan included in President Obama's stimulus package has many good qualities that will help those seeking real estate in the Mt Hood Corridor, west of Government Camp, Oregon.

There are two main points to the housing plan:

1. To help people once again obtain reasonable mortgages to afford the home of their dreams.

2. To keep people in the homes they already have. If it works the way it is planned, it is reason for a collective sigh of relief for millions of homeowners feeling threatened by foreclosures.

That's really it in a nutshell. There are many incentives wrapped up in each of those two areas to help both homeowners and prospective home buyers, but the very impetus behind the stimulus housing package is simple.

For Current Homeowners

If you have a current mortgage that you can't handle, now is the time to talk to your mortgage company. Don't wait too long because some of the detailed elements of Obama's housing plan are meant to be short-term in their offer so as not to over-tax the budget. While you have the chance, see if your mortgage can be reduced to reflect current home values. That can provide you with the equity you would have already built up but lost due to a drop in housing values. It will also lower your monthly mortgage to a manageable level.

For New Home Buyers

This is your market now. The real estate prices in the Mt Hood corridor between Sandy, Oregon and Rhododendron, Oregon are much lower which gives you a chance to buy a home you might not have been able to afford before. President Obama's housing plan provides tax incentives for you. However, just like with current homeowners, the time to do this is now. Because of the stimulus to the Mt Hood Real Estate Market, housing values are not going to stay as low as they currently are. Also, many of the incentives like the tax credits are valid for a very limited time.

If you’re ready to take advantage of the stimulus package benefits by buying a home, I can help. Call me now at 503-706-7101or email me at blythe@servingmthood.com.


homeowners feeling threatened by foreclosures: www.lvrj.com/business/40917822.html

stimulus housing package: www.recovery.gov/

tax credits: www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/

You Don't Need Paint to Make Your Mt Hood Home Green

The environment is a major news issue and everyone is thinking green. Sometimes it seems difficult to go green in your everyday life, but just a few simple steps can move you down the path to a green home in Brightwood, Sandy, Rhododendron, Government Camp or Welches. You won't even have to break a sweat or crack open a can of paint.

In the Laundry Room pick machines for your Mt Hood home that have an Energy Star rating for peak performance to conserve water and electricity. According to Planet Green, an Energy Star washer saves enough water over the machine's life to provide drinking water for six people for a LIFETIME. It will also save you hundreds of dollars in utility bills over an average 11 year machine lifespan. Use natural drying when possible. Hang clothes on a clothesline in the sun on nice days.Use green products to wash your clothes. Laundry soaps that contain phosphates are dangerous to the environment. Look for products made from bio-degradable phosphate free materials.

At the Store buy your cleaning supplies and cleaning detergents as concentrates so you get more in each bottle. The fewer bottles you buy throughout the year the less ends up in a landfill.Buy florescent bulbs instead of incandescent and carry your purchases home in reusable shopping bags.

Eat Green Right from Your Backyard You can make your home in Brightwood, Sandy, Rhododendron, or Welches your very own grocery store. Check out the Great New Welches Home if you are looking for a site for a Garden in the Links below. It doesn't take a huge space to grow a garden big enough to feed an average family each year. You will harvest fresh vegetables you know are free of pesticides and herbicides that are bad for the environment and your health.If you'd like more tips on going green, subscribe to my blog. Each week you'll get free tips like this one sent to your email inbox. It only takes a few seconds to subscribe now.

Great Welches Home with Sunny Site for a Garden:
68303etwinberryloop.epropertysites.com/

Energy Star:
www.energystar.gov/

Planet Green:
planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/green-index/index.html

Grow a garden:
www.backyardgardener.com/veg/

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

Stimulus Isn't Just for First Time Home Real Estate Buyers

All the talk is about how the President's stimulus plan helps out new and first time home buyers. The good news is that it also helps homeowners. You can get stimulus plan benefits from your existing Mt Hood real estate too. Add a little green living to your environment and you'll be pocketing some change at the end of the year from your income tax return.

Under the stimulus plan, both eco friendly new home purchases and eco friendly improvements on existing homes are tax deductible. Now's the time to make your home more energy efficient and get a break at the end of the year for your efforts.

Going green saves money, makes your living environment healthier, and improves the world we live in. To reap the benefits from the stimulus plan, you can make major home improvements such as adding solar power or moderate priced home improvements such as adding low flow water fixtures.

You need to make your home improvements soon to get the stimulus plan benefit. The plan only allows for the tax benefits through the year 2010. Why wait? Use this as motivation to get your projects started (and completed) now.

Here are a few additional eco friendly home improvements to consider for your Mt Hood Home whether it's located in Brightwood, Welches, Government Camp Or Rhododendron real estate:
• Re-cover your roof: The color of your roof can make a big difference in how well your attic retains or refracts heat and cold.
• Install an energy efficient Energy Star furnace: Make sure it has a high SEER rating (seasonal energy efficient ratio).
• Install energy efficient Windows, Doors and Skylights

With a little work and a reasonable investment, your Mt Hood real estate will not only pay you back in dividends for years to come, it could get you a great tax break. If you need more ideas for how to make your home energy efficient and get tax credits, give me a call at 503-706-7101 or email me at blythe@servingmthood.com.

Stimulus plan:
www.reversemortgageadviser.com/blog/reverse-mortgages/economic-stimulus-plan-mortgage/

Eco friendly improvements:
www.toolbarn.com/articles/tips-to-be-green.html

Energy Star:
www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_index
OR
www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=windows_doors.pr_taxcredits

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