Welcome Summer! Sunshine Everywhere! Great time to find a new home...the highest priority right now, Air Conditioning! Plus looking at homes when it's warm is a good indication of how the house responds to heat!
SHORT SALE: A short sale is a sale of real estate in which the proceeds from the sale fall short of the balance owed on a loan secured by the property sold. Several variables and patience, patience and more patience are the keys to navigating through a short sale. No two are the same.
FORECLOSURE: A situation in which a homeowner is unable to make principal and/or interest payments on his or her mortgage, so the lender, be it a bank or building society, can seize and sell the property as stipulated in the terms of the mortgage contract. When the house cannot be sold during the pre-foreclosure time frame the property will get auctioned off for sale, in our area, this is at the courthouse steps (or gazebo).
BANK OWNED PROPERTIES (REO): Another name for bank owned properties is REO, an acronym for “real estate owned.” This refers to property that has come into the possession of a bank or lender, usually through the foreclosure process. Most lenders and banks are not in the business of managing and holding real estate and want to move the property as quickly as possible. Many banks turn their REO properties over to large asset management companies for disposition. Usually these properties are then listed with Realtors. The plus to these properties is the PRICE, typically bank owned are LESS than the comps. The downside can be multiple offers, no repairs (properties are AS IS), and condition. Many of the bank owned can be dirty and need repairs.
Navigating through these three types of properties is not for the faint hearted! Be sure you have EXPERIENCED agents on your side who know the processes and how to get your offer accepted! We specialize in distressed properties and can help you, your friends and family move through the process. Short sales aren't for every buyer, once you are approved by a lender we can determine if a short sale or bank owned is right for you.
Are you eligible for the $8,000 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit? Here's a link for additional info: $8,000 Tax Credit Info
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 authorizes a tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
There's only 152 days left to take advantage of the tax credit! That may seem like a lot of time to find a place and get closed, but many lenders are now asking for at least 45 days to close! And that's AFTER you find the house. Many buyers take at least a few weeks to locate the house they want to purchase; typically twice as long if you are a first-time home buyer! In my opinion if you haven't found a house by October 15th, you may NOT make the November 30th closing! If you are not closed (keys in your hand) before December 1st, you will miss out! I can help, I work days, evenings and weekend (holidays too) to help you find your new home...and I answer my phone! Don't wait until the last minute, start your search today, I would love to help you find your new home!
As of June 27, 2009 there are 3,908 properties for sale in the Vancouver (Clark County) area, 949 are subject to 3rd party approval (including short sales) and 169 are bank owned. There are 1,078 PENDING (under contract) currently (181 Bank Owned & 281 Subject to 3rd party approval), and 447 SOLD in the last 30 days!
Bank Owned Properties: The properties start at $68,250 condo ($30,000 BELOW the tax assessed value) up to $674,900 in Ridgefield ($138,000 below the tax assessed value).
There are many GREAT deals on properties, call me for more details.
Live Your Dream and Dream Big! Why not dream big, it doesn't take any more energy to Dream Big! We have helped people become homeowners and get into homes that were bigger/better than they had imagined and for the SAME PRICE! How? We listen, take notes and are excellent negotiators - all for you! We make sure we ask the right questions and listen to YOU as you explain what you are looking for in a home and repeat those needs and wants back to you. We don't assume we know what you want.
The following links are a direct result feedback from buyers, like you, surfing agent websites for information and letting us know they don't like to have to log in and "jump through hoops" just to get information on Bank Owned properties and they don't want to search all over the website to find them either, so here they are, right on my first page, and NO LOG-IN required, just click and view. If you find a property that you want more info or want to see, just call us, most of the time we can show you the property the SAME DAY!
Bank Owned Properties, click any of the three links for the current list:
MOVE IN READY and Gorgeous one-level home in desirable Enzler Meadows. Extensive Oak Hardwoods and Cabinets; Vaulted Ceilings; Upgraded Master Suite and other upgraded elements throughout. Outside there's a huge private deck perfect for entertaining, and a large in-ground Heated Pool! RV Parking with full hook-ups for a 36' unit. Too much more to list...!
Pre-approved?: If you are not already pre-approved, do so NOW, before interest rates go up! If your pre-approval letter is more than 30 days old, contact your lender for a NEW updated one. Many loan programs have changed and some are now extinct: Most 100% loans and stated income are just a few that are now history; VA & FHA are now some of the hottest loan program and for those who want to buy a fixer, ask about the FHA Streamline 203(k). Here are some of our preferred lenders:
Helpful Links
Not only do we have local information on our site, but we have also put together the following links that you may find useful. Please note that all links will open in a new window.
Property Search This advanced web site lets you search thousands of local listings along with another 120,000 national listings. Once you find your dream home just click on "Contact Us" and we'll be more than happy to show you your next home!
Disclaimer: All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information on this site was last updated 07/04/2009. The listing information on this page last changed on 07/04/2009. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of RMLS (last updated Sat 07/04/2009 12:00:00 AM EST) or Willamette Valley MLS (last updated Sat 07/04/2009 12:00:00 AM EST) or MLSCO (last updated Sat 07/04/2009 12:00:00 AM EST) or Southern Oregon (last updated Sat 07/04/2009 12:00:00 AM EST). Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than RE/MAX equity group, inc. may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. All rights reserved. --
There's only 152 days left to take advantage of the tax credit! That may seem like a lot of time to find a place and get closed, but many lenders are now asking for at least 45 days to close! And that's AFTER you find the house. Many buyers take at least a few weeks to locate the house they want to purchase; typically twice as long if you are a first-time home buyer! In my opinion if you haven't found a house by October 15th, you may NOT make the November 30th closing! If you are not closed (keys in your hand) before December 1st, you will miss out! I can help, I work days, evenings and weekend (holidays too) to help you find your new home...and I answer my phone! Don't wait until the last minute, start your search today, I would love to help you find your new home!
