Buying a Home in Portland

Welcome Portland Home Buyer!

If you are thinking of buying a home in Portland, we are here for you. The below home buying articles are written by experienced, top Portland buyer’s agents who know the real estate market.

Top 1% Portland Buyer’s Agent

Kami Price, Principal Broker is our lead buyer’s agent and a top 1% buyer’s agent in the Portland metro area. Kami has been licensed since 2004 and has helped hundreds of local home buyers find their next property. She has a long list of awards and additional education certificates. You can put your trust in her to navigate your next home purchase with incredible skill. Her office phone: 503-773-0000.

Portland Buyer’s Home Search

We’ve looked far and wide to find the best Portland home search program out there. We recommend you give this one a shot! Our search program is updated every few minutes, you can filter by schools, view type, HOA, lot size, garage and much more (just hit the “more” button). You can get instant alerts, save multiple different search criteria, and more.

Buying Portland Investment Property: 5 Things to Know in 2021

December 14, 2020

From market conditions to zoning rules and rental restrictions, here are five essential facts for potential Portland investors.  1. Real estate investment is not for everyone At its most basic level, the idea of becoming a landlord and receiving, on average, a 9% return on your investment, seems like a no-brainer. However, successful real estate investors take the job pretty seriously. They calculate how much the property is going to cost them (up front and ongoing), versus how much they’re going to earn on the rental, before they even make an offer. They also take personal stock of their skills in management, home-maintenance (there’s going to be a lot of that), and legal processes. Do your research, read a book...

Portland Real Estate Deeds and Titles FAQ: 2021

December 11, 2020

Transferring ownership is at the core of real estate transactions, yet few buyers and sellers truly understand the legal process behind deeds and titles. In this article, we answer some of the most common questions we hear from our real estate clients on this topic. What’s the difference between the deed and the title? The big difference between a deed and a title is that the deed is a piece of paper, and the title is an abstract concept: The rights of ownership.  Put another way, the deed is the document that names the legal title-holder of the property.  Why do I have to pay a title fee when I buy a piece of real estate? In Oregon, as in...

Whose Fence is it Anyway? Resolving Problems with Neighbors.

November 23, 2020

With all that’s weighing on fences, it’s no wonder they’re a frequent source of conflict! In Portland, homes are constructed in some pretty tight spaces, and losing even a few inches of land to a neighbor can feel untenable. The appearance and upkeep of fences is also important, not just for aesthetics but also because fences are relied on to keep pets and children safe. In this article, we’ll attempt to untangle Oregon fence laws, as well the local codes and restrictions that affect their design and use. We’ll also provide home owners and buyers with some practical tips for resolving fence conflicts peacefully. When Fences Turn Contentious  As Portland grows and adds more housing (every lot in Portland can...

Top 4 Maps for Portland Real Estate Buyers – 2021

November 6, 2020

Shopping for real estate can feel like being toppled by a landslide of information. It helps to have visual aids as you explore neighborhoods, research the amenities that are important to you (whether it’s restaurants, schools or safety), and shop for your dream home. Fortunately, in 2021, interactive maps are ready to help you organize your search.  Map 1: Portland Homes For Sale We’ll start with the most obvious map to use first if you’re ready to start comparing home prices, lining up in-person or virtual tours, and creating sharable a list of your favorite homes on the market: Portlandhomesforsale.com Here are some of the maps you can make with its powerful search tools: A map of homes in your...

Official Portland Crime Maps and Reports

October 12, 2020

Whether you’re new to Portland or have lived here for years, it can sometimes be difficult to get an accurate idea of how safe it is out there. News reports focus on attention-grabbing events, and periods of low or no crime never make the headlines.  Is it possible for home buyers and sellers to cut through the media distortion? Yes, thanks to the digital age, most crime and policing data are easily accessible to the public, not just for the City of Portland but also for many of the communities that make up the Metro Area. Here’s a comprehensive list of resources provided by our real estate team. Portland, Oregon Crime Maps and Reports Official Crime Reports in Portland Maps...

What is Real Estate Escrow and How Much is It?

September 4, 2020

Going through the escrow process can be a bit like an obstacle course: You pay to get in, and then there are a lot of hoops to jump through before you end up closing on your home! A good real estate agent can help you avoid the pitfalls. In this article we’ll attempt to give you a preview of the escrow process and associated costs.  So what is escrow?  According to Investopedia, “Escrow is a legal concept describing a financial instrument whereby an asset or escrow money is held by a third party on behalf of two other parties that are in the process of completing a transaction.” That’s about as clear as mud so let’s break it down! Basically, escrow is the...

Pros and Cons of Top 5 Portland Roof Types

August 31, 2020

A good roof is something we take for granted until a big storm comes through or it’s time for a replacement. That’s why we’re bringing you our unbiased, real-estate-agent-approved list of the Top 5 roofing materials in Portland, and the pros and cons of each. Except where noted, pricing information comes from Home Advisor, per “square” of roofing which covers 100 square feet. This doesn’t include the cost of installation. Wood (Cedar) Shake Roofing in Portland Cedar is the most common type of wood used for roofing in North America. Cedar shakes (the term for cedar shingles cut for roof application) look beautiful and natural, but come with some drawbacks. Cedar shake roofing Pros:  It’s a natural look with great curb...

Home Inspection VS. Appraisal: What’s the difference?

June 29, 2020

Home inspections and appraisals happen in the vast majority of real estate transactions. They both involve someone physically coming to the home and making an assessment. And both can have an influence on the eventual success or failure of the home sale. Note: This article is not focusing on refinance appraisals. With refi appraisals, it is more frequent that an appraiser doesn’t have to come inside the home (though often they still must). The appraisal must come in at value to get the whole refi loan you want, but you could go for less potentially. In our experience, the lender may appraise the home higher than its worth in a refi because it knows you have good credit or strong...

First Time Homebuyer Loans, Downpayment Grants, and More – 2020 Update

May 15, 2020

Is 2020 your year to buy a home in Portland? Making the leap from renter to homeowner is possible even if you don’t have the traditional 20% down payment. From below-market interest rates to help from private investors, there is assistance available for all first time homebuyers. Read on for our updated list for 2020. First, some definitions: First time home buyer: Any individual who has not owned and occupied a primary residence in at least three years. Cash assistance: A sum of money that you don’t have to pay back, that goes toward the down payment on the home. This is sometimes also referred to as a grant. FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loan: A loan backed by the federal government,...

Portland Home Appraisals – 2020 FAQ

April 3, 2020

What’s the difference between the home inspection and the appraisal? Home inspections and appraisals have a lot in common. Both are key to the home sale transaction. Both involve a third party coming into the home to form an assessment. And both can be stressful for home buyers and sellers!  That’s about where the similarities end. A home inspection differs from an appraisal in that the inspection is performed on the buyer’s behalf, and the results will help shape the sales contract. A home appraisal is performed for the sake of the mortgage lender, and the result will only affect how much money the lender is willing to pay for the home. While a home inspector looks at the “guts”...