Portland Real Estate Blog
This is a top 100 real estate blog in the world according to Feedspot.com. In particular, this is a local real estate blog written by a top 1% real estate agent in the U.S., Stephen FitzMaurice, Realtor. Stephen regularly reports on the greater Portland metro area’s real estate market including annual housing forecasts and best time to sell or buy a home reports. He gives home selling and home buying professional advice. He also writes informative articles on Portland neighborhoods and suburbs as they relate to the real estate market. Finally, he writes to inform the general public about real estate agents, such as annual average real estate agent commission reports and more.
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Best Time to Sell or Buy a HomeCategory Best Time to Sell or Buy a Home
Every year Stephen FitzMaurice, top 1% agent in the U.S. writes a best time of the year to sell a… Read More
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Buy a Home in PortlandCategory Buy a Home in Portland
Kami Price, Principal Broker is our lead buyer's agent and a top 1% buyer's agent in the Portland metro area.… Read More
Subcategories- Buyer Closing Costs
- Buying a Condo in Portland
- Coming Soon and Pocket Listings
- Deeds, Title, and Escrow
- Downpayment Grants for Home Buyers
- Portland Housing Affordability
- Portland School Ratings
- Rent vs Buy Reports
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Construction Rates, ADUS, and ZoningCategory Construction Rates, ADUS, and Zoning
Supply vs. demand drives the Portland real estate market. Increased zoning density, ADU opportunities, and new home construction rates can… Read More
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Portland Home HazardsCategory Portland Home Hazards
Portland, Oregon, like any other city is home to many hazards for home buyers and sellers. We have flood risks,… Read More
Subcategories- Portland Earthquakes and Landslides
- Portland Flood Maps and Updates
- Portland Mold Problems
- Portland Radon Maps and Updates
- Portland Underground Oil Tanks
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Portland Landlord InformationCategory Portland Landlord Information
Landlord laws in Portland, Oregon are extensive and constantly changing. We report on these changes and give researched articles on… Read More
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Portland Neighborhood ReportsCategory Portland Neighborhood Reports
Out of Love for Portland Portland, Oregon is an amazing place with distinct neighborhoods, each with its own attractions and… Read More
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Portland Real EstateCategory Portland Real Estate
While everything in our blog could fall under the general category of Portland real estate, we decided to put Portland… Read More
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Portland Real Estate AgentsCategory Portland Real Estate Agents
Curious about Realtors? We write regular articles about average real estate agent commission rates, the number of real estate agents… Read More
Subcategories- EXP Realty
- How Many Realtors Are There
- How Much Do Realtors Make
- How to Pick a Real Estate Agent
- Portland Realtor Awards
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Portland Real Estate MarketCategory Portland Real Estate Market
The Portland real estate market is always changing. It takes a very busy real estate agent, top 1% in Portland,… Read More
Subcategories- Portland Condo Market
- Portland Real Estate Market Forecasts
- Portland Real Estate Market Monthly Reports
- Portland Short Sale and Foreclosure Market
- Portland, Oregon Population Growth or Decline
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Portland Real Estate Suburb ReportsCategory Portland Real Estate Suburb Reports
We write regular reports on each Portland suburb's real estate market including current performance and forecasts, as well as informational… Read More
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Real Estate Commission RatesCategory Real Estate Commission Rates
Real estate commission rates are a hot topic in the real estate industry and important to my clients. Since the… Read More
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Real Estate TechnologyCategory Real Estate Technology
As a top real estate team in the U.S. it has been crucial for us to stay on top of… Read More
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Sell a Home in PortlandCategory Sell a Home in Portland
Top 1% Seller's Agent Planning on selling a home in the next year or so? You've come to the right… Read More
Subcategories- For Sale By Owner Reports
- How many Days or Showings to Sell
- How to Sell an Inherited Home
- Portland Home Energy Score
- Portland Home Value
- Professional Home Staging and Tips
- Reasons Why a Home Sells or Doesn't
- Seller Closing Costs
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What Causes a Home to Sell for MoreCategory What Causes a Home to Sell for More
Different types of homes sell faster than others (much faster). We provide the research. Whether you're considering adding a bathroom… Read More
Subcategories- ADU Homes Sell for More Reports
- Bedroom Suite Homes Sell for More
- Septic Sells for More than Sewer Reports
- Single Level Homes Sell for More Reports
- Swimming Pool Homes Sell for Less Reports
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Rent vs Buy Reports
Rent VS. Buy a Home in Portland, Oregon – 2024 Update
According to one survey, 94% of respondents considered owning a home part of the American Dream; however, 51% of people who didn’t already own a home worried that they never would. With a rising cost of housing prices, an increase in federal interest rates, and a lack of housing stock, this fear is somewhat warranted. […]
Rent vs. Buy a Home in Portland, Oregon? A Financial Calculation 2023
In their 2022 Housing Survey, NeighborWorks America found that nearly nine in ten Americans agree that homeownership is important, and many see both increased feelings of security and connection to their community as significant benefits of owning a home. In reality, being a homeowner extends beyond the property itself to a sense of ownership and […]
Portland Rent vs. Buy a Home – 2022 Statistics
Homeownership makes people happy. No really. Study after study shows that homeownership positively effects a person’s life in more ways than financial security. The below is a report from NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® research division, article, “Social Benefits of Homeownership and Stable Housing.” Rohe and Stegman found that low-income people who recently became homeowners reportedhigher […]
Sell a Home in Portland
Oregon Home Energy Score News and Updates By City
How Home Energy Scores Got Started In Oregon The city of Portland enacted its Home Energy Score (HES) Program in 2018 to help reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050. Portland is one of the first US cities to do it, second only to Berkley, CA. A year later, the Oregon Department of Energy partnered […]
For Sale By Owners Homes Sell for Much Less, Annual Report
The National Association of Realtors, NAR, puts out an annual in-depth research report on what actually causes homes to sell across the U.S., down to a percentage point. This annual report also includes information on for sale by owner homes, how many there were in the last year and how they performed versus Realtor listed […]
iBuyer Warning. Read Before Selling Your Home to Opendoor, Zillow, Etc.
Over the past few years, the iBuyer model surged and faded, with companies like Opendoor and Zillow leading the way. iBuyers acted as intermediaries, providing quick purchases for sellers and reselling to buyers or amassing their real estate portfolio and turning those homes into rentals. However, this seemingly ideal solution has faced some recent challenges. […]
Seller Closing Costs
What is Title Insurance and Who Pays for It?
Buying or selling a home means anticipating costs, some of which are closing costs. In Oregon, most of the amount needed at closing is for title insurance. This type of insurance isn’t required by law in Oregon. However, most lenders require it to ensure a smooth transition from seller to buyer and to protect their […]
Should the Seller Pay the Buyer’s Closing Costs?
Selling or buying a home and getting approved for a mortgage can be a taxing process, even for those who have done it before. Laws and standards change, and for most of us, we only do it a few times throughout our lives. Closing costs are the biggest upfront financial investment, especially for the buyer. […]
Who Pays for Title Insurance? Oregon Closing Costs
When’s the last time you heard of someone losing their home because an unsatisfied heir of a previous owner laid claim to it? You probably haven’t because of title insurance, an often-overlooked component of real estate transactions. In Oregon, title insurance represents a lion’s share of the average home seller’s closing costs, but home buyers […]
Sellers Agent Commission Rates
The Average U.S. Real Estate Commission Rate
Thinking of selling your home? Then you’re probably interested in real estate commissions. How much are they and what do you get in return? Will you be able to sell your home for more? Do you need a real estate agent’s advice and representation? Real Estate Commission Changes from the 90s to Today There are […]
Average U.S. Real Estate Commission Rates into 2023
Thinking of selling your home? Then you’re probably interested in real estate commissions. How much are they and what do you get in return? Will you be able to sell your home for more? Do you need the real estate agent’s advice and representation? Real Estate Commission Changes from the 90s to Today There are […]
Average Real Estate Agent Commissions Drop Under 5% in 2021
Thinking of selling your home? The average real estate commission in the U.S. in 2021 is just under 5%. Most of the time this commission includes both the seller’s and buyer’s agent costs combined and paid by the homeowner. All real estate commissions in the U.S. are fully negotiable. Valid real estate commission information is […]
Selling a Home with a Tenant Inside
What Status Sells a Home for More: Vacant, Seller, or Tenant Occupied? 2023 Report
There are a number of factors that cause homes to sell faster or slower and for more, or much less. Whether you’re picking the best time of the year to sell in (or the worst), whether you’re on the east or west side of Portland, whether your condo is downtown or elsewhere in the metro, […]
What Sells a Home Best? Vacant, Seller, or Tenant Occupied? 2022 Report
Since 2017 we’ve been creating this annual report to help our clients know what occupancy status is better for a potential home sale. Is it easier to sell a home if it is vacant, seller, or tenant occupied? While most of our clients can guess it is more difficult to sell tenant occupied, this annual […]
How to Sell a Home with a Tenant Inside in Portland, Oregon
Updated Feb. 2023 Selling a tenant occupied home has never been trickier. A landlord must be aware of constantly changing local regulations, whether it be state, county, or city and at the same time keep an eye on federal regulations. All of the above governmental agencies can override any existing lease between the homeowner and […]
When my wife and I decided to sell our home we started to search for agents who work for less than the 6% standard commission. Slightly skeptical, I decided to call Stephen for a consultation. Stephen came very prepared with comp sales, marketing techniques, and several other items pertaining to the sale I never would have considered. We sold in six days.
Denny