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.
You can subscribe to this top 100 real estate blog via email or by RSS button below.
Subscribe to our 2x month email digest.
I’ve been successfully selling foreclosures in the Portland Metro area for years now. This designation represents additional education and certification, rewarding experience and professionalism in the foreclosure marketplace. Foreclosures are often the best deals you can find in Portland, Oregon. Let me help you find one today! Stephen FitzMaurice, Realtor See all of my twelve designations here.
I recently received by Trade Ally designation from Energy Trust. Energy Trust is an independent nonprofit that helps people throughout Oregon save energy by providing cash incentives and creative solutions to home energy needs. I’m proud to be a partner with them! As a trade ally of Energy Trust of Oregon, I can tell you about energyefficient features and improvements for your home. It is possible to make any home “greener” and Energy Trust will give you money to help you make that happen! Save up to 30% on energy costs with Energy Trust of Oregon cash incentives. Stephen FitzMaurice is Proud to be a: Energy Trust Trade Ally. See all of my twelve designations here.
This is a very important question. Many people are afraid of doing a short sale because they are concerned the bank could come after them later for funds. If you don’t do a short sale correctly, a bank CAN come after you afterwards. If you do a short sale correctly, a bank CAN’T. I make sure the short sale process goes correctly. Listen to this important question posed to a real estate lawyer. Q. I have heard conflicting information regarding the banks’ ability to have a deficiency judgment against the seller of a property in a short sale and the banks’ recourse against that seller/borrower. Will you please clarify and address Oregon Law regarding recourse vs. non-recourse? A. There is...
I’ve been successfully representing sellers for years now. This designation was awarded to me after I took a number of courses, meet professional experience requirements, and passed the final exams with flying colors. Staying educated on the best practices to market homes and represent sellers couldn’t be more important to me. Recently Sold Homes Selling Package Stephen FitzMaurice, Realtor, SRS. See all of my twelve designations here.
I’ve been successfully selling short sales for years on both the buyer’s and seller’s side. This designation was awarded to me after I successfully took a number of classes, met professional experience requirements, and passed the necessary exams with flying colors. Let me help you get out of that underwater home today. I have all the tools and training necessary. Short Sale your Portland Home. See Recently Sold Short Sale Homes Stephen FitzMaurice, Realtor, CSSA. See all of my twelve designations here.
Many people are concerned (and rightly so) that they may be taxed for the forgiven amount on their short sale. For those of you who don’t know, this is a short sale. Basically, you owe say 200,000 and the home short sales for 150,000, so on your next tax statement you could be 1099’d for 50,000. This would be a problem for most people! The good news is that the government has provided relief from this potential tax problem. You can read all about it on the IRS website, they call it “The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation”. At the time of this post, it is still active, but check with the IRS to make sure it...
As a top Portland real estate agent, I believe I take great photographs for my clients and have even taken some classes to enhance my skills. Yet, I always offer professional photography services to all my listing clients. Why? Right now, there is nothing more important in selling your home than its online exposure. 92% of buyers are using the internet in their home search (NAR report 2013). I pay to feature my homes on the top 5 real estate websites so they show up first in search results – and it makes all the difference. Photographs are the most impacting part of your online presentation. I take great photographs, but I cannot compete with professional photographers who have the...
1. DON’T APPLY FOR NEW CREDIT OF ANY KIND. Including those “You have been pre-approved” credit card invitations that you receive in the mail. Every time that you have your credit pulled by a potential creditor or lender, you lose points from your credit score immediately. Depending on the elements in your current credit report, you could lose anywhere from 2-50 points for one hard inquiry. 2. DON’T PAY OFF COLLECTIONS OR CHARGE OFFS during the loan process. Paying collections will decrease the credit score immediately due to the date of last activity becoming recent. If you want to pay off old accounts, do it through escrow, and make sure that 1) you validate that the debt is yours, and...
Today, it is all in the offer. A Portland short sale price means almost nothing. The bank will take what it takes and no one knows for sure what that will be, unless the price is pre-approved. On the selling side agents set ridiculously low short sale prices to bring in an offer. Once the first offer is in the bank starts acting, usually by ording a BPO, or broker’s price opinion. Then the bank will negotiate with the first offer at (usually) a much higher price. Finally, most banks present the selling agent with a pre-approved price (after they do the BPO) and then the home might actually sell. Buying a short sale home can be a long process, but it helps...
