Becky Wagar

How Green Are We?

Becky Wagar — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:28:00 GMT

In the past few years I have attempted to make some changes in my daily habits to become more 'green'. Not just because it's 'the thing to do,' but also because I care about becoming more energy-efficient, cost-conscious, and concerned about our environment. I read a recent survey about what percentage of Americans participated in energy-saving activities, and rated myself on the items to see how well I was doing. Here are the survey results and how I did on the surveyed items-

Installed more energy-efficient light bulbs: 63% I use CFL lightbulbs when possible. They don't fit in all the lamps or light fixtures in my home, but I use them when possible.

Purchase energy-efficient appliances: 35% No new appliances for our home this year.

Started paying bills online: 46% We have been doing this for several years now.

Switched to paperless financal statements: 40% I generally do most of them; still need to determine how to get investment reports on-line (I'm sure there are ways, I just haven't taken the time to figure it out) /

Installed a low-flow showerhead: 40% We did this when we first moved into our current home 4 years ago

Installed a low-flow toilet: 17% Yep, we remodeled both bathrooms this year and installed the low-flow, dual flush toilets

Made home improvement (e.g. windows, solar panels or insulation) that provided government tax credits: 14% No tax credits for what we did this past year, but our home does have the double paned windows and extra insulation./

Bought a more fuel-efficient car: 13% Not this year, probably won't need a new car for a couple more years. It will be interesting to see how far the car makers have come in fuel-efficient cars when I am ready for a new car.

None of these: 13%

I haven't done too badly on the actions I took during the past year, and have some opportunity to become more energy-efficient in the coming year. Where do you fall in making energy-efficient choices

Scenes from Portland Oregon

Becky Wagar — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:26:00 GMT

Just came across this YouTube video on traveling to Portland Oregon which provides a great representation of what Portland has to offer and all the places that are within a short drive from the city.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PC5PDlKKIo

Beautiful place, lots to do, great people... kinda makes you want to live here!

2010--What Will it Bring in the Real Estate Market

Becky Wagar — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:10:00 GMT

What will the real estate (and mortgage) markets look like after the Fed ends its program of buying mortgage-backed securities in March, and the homebuyer tax credit expires in April? I don't think I'm alone in expecting that rates will rise, perhaps significantly, and that we will see a flattening of home sales .

There is also anticipated to be another round of option loans getting ready to reset which may lead to more bargains becoming available in the housing inventory.

So, is this really a good time to buy? Yes...

- For first time home buyers who are eligible for the $8,000 tax credit and can obtain an accepted offer by April 30th and close by June 30th. (see program eligibility information at http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/faq1.php)

- For 'move-up' buyers - those who currently own a home and would like to move into a different home may be eligible for the 'move up' tax credit of $6,500 if, again, they can obtain an accepted offer by April 30th and close by June 30th. (program eligibility information: http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/faq2.php)

- For investors - there are some great deals available on the market, particularly if you are able to do a bit of repair/updating work on the home. It was just announced that HUD has temporarily lifted the anti-90 day flipping rule allowing investors to purchase a property, remodel the home and put it back on the market without having to hold the property for 90 days before obtaining a signed sale agreement. More information can be found at the HUD site: http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2010/HUDNo.10-011

If you have been considering purchasing a home or investing in real estate, this may be the best time to make your move.

Open House in South Hillsboro on Sunday

Becky Wagar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:16:00 GMT

South Hillsboro, Hillsboro - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 8880 SW River Road on November 22 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

Property information

Housing Sales Rebounding

Becky Wagar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:08:00 GMT

Nationwide, the housing market is showing signs of improvement. Closed sales in the Portland metro area for July showed a marked improvement over a year ago, resulting in the first time same-month closed sales have increased since April 2007. We are seeing many homes receiving acceptable offers within less than a month on the market, and in many cases sellers are receiving multiple offers on their home. At the same time, inventory is falling - the Portland metro area is now at 7.3 months of inventory much closer to the 'normal market' estimates of around 6 months. Read more about the national housing picture at http://tinyurl.com/nc2r9a

A place for everything and everything it it's place

Becky Wagar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:30:00 GMT

That's what perspective buyers want to see in your house. Home staging is more than just redecorating; it's a way to help potential buyers feel like your house could be their next home. Staging doesn't have to be expensive or overwhelming. The "3 Steps to Sold" DVD I provide to my sellers before listing their home for sale offers several simple tips on how to prepare their home to maximize sale price and minimize time on market. Here are three easy ways to lose (or disguise) the clutter in your home:

1. Is that a cow in your entry way? Hopefully that is not the case, but if your entry is not clutter free, then there may as well be a bovine greeting potential buyers. Ditch the coat rack. As handy as coat racks are in our entry or hallway, they may be sending the message to potential buyers that you don't have a coat closet or adequate storage. Put coat racks away while you're showing your home, and clean out your coat closet while you're at it (and take the cow back to the barn for showings!)

2. Manage the magazine madness! Having a few magazines around can make a home look inviting and lived in. Having a few years' worth makes you look like an eccentric pack rat! People will wonder what else you've been hoarding! Have a few inoffensive magazines (home and garden publications are good; they make you look like you care) on your coffee table or in a nice magazine rack, and box or recycle the rest of them.

3. Box up your bookshelves. When it comes to bookshelves, less is best as a general rule. If you can't see any of the wall behind a shelf, it's loaded with too much stuff. Pack up the dozens of framed photos weighing down the shelves and display a simple collection of a few baskets and art. Try painting the wall behind the shelves to help them become a focal point. If the room is lacking natural light, try putting mirrors behind the shelves to brighten up the space and make it feel larger.

2 Story For Sale in Forest Grove

Becky Wagar — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 03:56:00 GMT

Great home in nice cul-de-sac location

• 1,586 sq. ft., 3 bath, 4 bdrm 2 story - MLS® $225,000 - Welcome Home!

Forest Grove, Washington County - Well Maintained home in beautiful cul-de-sac location. Open living room and dining room area welcomes you into the home. Bamboo floors, wood-burning fireplace, vaulted ceiling all make for a spacious feeling. Separate family room off the kitchen, with hardwood floors and more windows allowing in lots of natural light. Plenty of cabinet space in kitchen, and all appliances stay with the home. An indoor laundry room and half bath are conveniently located off the family room on the main level.

Upstairs you'll find four bedrooms and two full baths. New carpeting throughout the upstairs. The hall bath has just been finished adding new tile floor and tile shower surround. Master bedroom has private bath and walk-in closet.

Slider from family rooms opens to a large deck, great for entertaining. One side is 'screened' with bamboo, providing extra privacy. Back yard is fully fenced and offers a water feature. Fire chimney/brick pad on deck to stay with the home.

This home has a new roof, new hot water heater, new carpet and is freshly painted inside. It's move-in ready for the next homeowner!

This is a great home, good sized yard, and a convenient location in Forest Grove to main roads, shopping, downtown and Pacific University.

Property information

Eat a DQ Blizzard Aug. 13 for kids

Becky Wagar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:43:00 GMT

Indulging your sweet tooth can be a rewarding experience. On Thursday, Aug. 13, your personal indulgence can become a treat for your whole community.

Proceeds from every Blizzard purchased at a participating Dairy Queen store will help children at your local Children's Miracle Network hospital.

Visit miracletreatday.com to find a participating DQ location near you. You also can make an online donation directly to Children's Miracle Network or promise to buy a blizzard for a friend. When you submit your promise online, a floating balloon will be added to the Miracle Treats Day Web site.

Ugh! The flyer box is empty...

Becky Wagar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:38:00 GMT

How frustrating to spend time driving by homes for sale only to find the flyer box for the home is empty! How many times have you driven by a home that looks good from the outside, but you don’t have any information on the inside and you’re reluctant to call the number on the sign. Well, problem solved.

I now have the ability to set up your cell phone so that when you see a sign in the yard of a house, you can dial a phone number and get all the vital statistics, including price. You can listen to a recorded message or have the information sent by text to your phone. You just type in the address of the property. Email me with your cell phone number and I will set it up for you.

It’s that simple.

Single Story For Sale in Cornelius

Becky Wagar — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:39:00 GMT

Cute, well maintained one-level

• 1,524 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story - MLS® $197,500 - Just Listed!

Cornelius, Washington County - Nice home in a nice neighborhood!
Spacious living room/dining room area filled with light and great for entertaining.
Kitchen with eat-bar opens to family room. All appliances stay with the home.
Family room with slider opens to professionally landscaped yard and covered patio.
Three bedrooms, including master suite.
Air conditioned.

Property information

Just Listed! 1404 Spring Garden Way in Forest Grove

Becky Wagar — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:19:00 GMT

Forest Grove, Washington County - 1404 Spring Garden Way,

A big front porch welcomes you into this 2,275 sq. ft. one-level home. This home features 4 bedrooms, an office and 2 baths. The spacious living room has a wood-burning fireplace and access to the back deck. The newly remodeled kitchen, with all new appliances and eat-bar, opens to the dining room and family room. The comfortable family room offers a second wood-burning fireplace for your enjoyment.

Just about everything is new - siding, roof, carpet, laminated floor in the kitchen, cabinets and all fixtures. Truly move-in ready and waiting for you!

$280,000

Property information

Mortgage Rates on the Rise

Becky Wagar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:53:00 GMT

At the recent National Association of Realtors midyear conference, the general consensus was that this is a great time to buy.

“Now is absolutely the best time ever to purchase real estate. Consumer confidence is increasing, the housing affordability index is the best it has been in 40 years, and interest rates are hovering around 5 percent” shared one of the industry speakers.

In terms of interest rates, virtually all of the speakers predicted that interest rates would be increasing soon. Just in the last week, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 5.65%, according to Bankrate.com. Mortgage rates are still below 6% and shouldn’t pose a problem for well-qualified borrowers, and they are still less than what we were seeing a year ago when the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.52%.

However, as mortgage rates increase, home affordability will go down.

For example, on a $200,000 loan, an interest-rate increase from 6 percent to 7 percent will result in an additional $47,345 over the life of a 30-year loan. This means that a one-point interest-rate increase will cost the buyer an additional 20.4 percent in interest payments. If interest rates increased from 6 percent to 8 percent on a $200,000 loan, the increase in interest would cost the buyer an additional $96,632 over the life of the loan. In other words, the buyer would pay more than 41.3 percent in additional interest.

While prices may still be falling in some areas, in most places the amount of inventory is starting to shrink. As the inventory declines, prices will stabilize. The probability that prices will decline an additional 20.4 percent to 41.3 percent is highly unlikely. On the other hand, the probability that interest rates will increase appears to be quite high.

If you are in the market for a new home – whether you are moving up, downsizing or are a first-time home buyer, consider the impact on your purchasing power if the mortgage rates continue to climb over the remaining months of this year. Perhaps it’s time to make your move -

Good News.... not so good

Becky Wagar — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:56:00 GMT

Over this past weekend, several articles were published announcing the potential opportunity for first-time home buyers to apply the $8,000 tax credit for the purchase of a home as a down payment at closing. I distributed an email to many of my first-time home buyers announcing the good news - yet encouraging that they continue to follow the news as the details had not yet been announced on how this option would work.

There was substantial push-back on the announcement, and many questions about how this 'bridge loan' process would work, and how it would be funded. Enough push back that the potential opportunity has been withdrawn for the current time.

While the use of the tax credit as a down payment is not currently available, the $8,000 tax credit is still a reality for first-time home buyers who purchase a home prior to 12/1/2009. It is still beneficial to take advantage of the low housing prices, low interest rates and the $8000 tax credit for first-time home buyers.

A little more detail....

HUD has pulled/rescinded their Mortgagee Letter 9-15 which allowed tax credit loans. They are apparently analyzing the issues with it. Some details, it appears, need to be worked out in the language.

In regards to FHA loans, a borrower can only obtain monies for their actual downpayment of 3.5% by the following :

Their own funds
up to 100% of a gift from a relative/family member
From the Federal, state, and local governmental agencies and nonprofit instrumentalities of government
FHA approved non-profits
monies from their employer in a form of employee contribution
monies from secured borrowed funds... IE. borrowing equity from your home to buy another home or borrowing against your car that is free and clear or borrowing from your 401-k, etc, etc

HUD does not allow for monies to be borrowed or given to, in any form that wasn't mention above, to be used for the down payment. When it comes to FHA loans / FHA mortgages, you could get monies for your down payment from the items mentioned above. The Mortgagee Letter 9-15, that has been revoked for now, allowed for lenders to secure a short term loan or bridge loan against the $8,000 to be used to purchase a home. However, it can't be used for the actual down payment, because it goes against the basic FHA guidelines of down payment monies of 3.5%.

Window of Opportunity

Becky Wagar — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:53:00 GMT

The Oregonian (Portland's newspaper) this morning had a realistic article on how current lower home prices and lower mortgage rates are opening a window of opportunity for first time homebuyers. The article indicates that while we may see home prices fall, possibly into early 2010, that the old adage in real estate, 'location, location, location' is very applicable at this time.

Homes in some Portland Metro areas are holding their value very well at this time, others in more depressed areas may continue to see falling home prices. This is key for new homeowners, as you will want to ensure you are getting a good deal in an area that you will want to live for the next 7-10 years - not just focus on 'getting a good deal'.

Read the full article at: http://tinyurl.com/covbra

Improvements in the Portland Market

Becky Wagar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:41:00 GMT

The Portland, Oregon RMLS recently published the Market Action report of activity from March 2009. We're beginning to see good signs of an improving real estate market. While the activity is still down from year ago data, when comparing March 2009 to February 2009 pending sales are up, closed sales are up and inventory levels are down. Visit http://tinyurl.com/d7ylte, or the Market Statistic link on my web page for the recent market activity information for the Portland metro area.