Keith Berne, Real Estate Broker, Realtor, GRI

OK, a year has gone by since you helped the Smith-Joneses buy their dream-home. At the time you noticed the two humongous broad-leafed Maples that overhung the front roof-line. Now you have the perfect opportunity to call and say: "Hi Mr. and Mrs. Smith-Jones, I'm just calling to remind you to get that gutter service over as soon as possible to make sure the water is going off the roof properly." What a great way to stay in touch and ensure your buyer's home is being well maintained, thus avoiding deferred maintenance issues when you eventually help them sell. Happy November!

Yes, we know, it's a buyers market. They can do whatever they like... if they're not picky. But what if they've found their dream-house? How can they still take advantage of the market and avoid having their low-ball offer rejected? One thing the buyer can do to get a good sale price is offer to take the house in AS-IS condition, while retaining the right to back out of the deal based on all the normal contingencies within the specified time-lines. If something big comes up in the inspection like a broken sewer line, or a lender required repair, the buyer can go back to the seller and say... "We know we weren't going to ask for repairs... but this is a major fault, either you repair it or we're out". This strategy lets the seller feel good about taking a lower offer with the promise of not being nit-picked with small repairs, while keeping the buyer safe and getting a good price. Everyone's a winner... Happy Selling!

Ah, the smell of a new home... just like a new car, a new home has that great smell when you first open the door, The aromas of wood floors and new paint combine to tickle the pleasure points in our brains... there couldn't be anything wrong with this new home! But wait, lurking just behind the brand-spanking-new kitchen cabinets on the ground floor is a punctured water drain pipe from the upstairs master bath. When the cabinet guys installed the kitchen cabs, they didn't know the screw they drove deep into the wall hit the pipe... and the only way my buyer found out was during the home inspection when our inspector noticed puddles in the crawl space. After removing the cabs and sheet rock, the builder discovered the problem and repaired as necessary. The MORAL OF THE STORY... EVEN NEW CONSTRUCTION NEEDS TO BE FULLY INSPECTED! Happy buying!

In this market, being a listing agent can be FRUSTRATING but I just had a fantastic listing agent experience... MY SELLERS DID EVERYTHING I ASKED! Their small bungalow was built in 1921 and had been remodelled several years ago. I suggested they put on a new roof, paint inside and outside, add new exterior steps and decking, add some cute design elements like fish scales at the roof peaks, oh and PRICE THE HOUSE REASONABLY... AND THEY DID! We were under contract within two months. Then, during the inspection, several issues came up and my sellers gladly had them repaired. They did EVERYTHING they could do to sell their home in this crazy market and they were successful. THE MORAL OF THE STORY... LISTEN TO YOUR REALTOR AND YOUR HOUSE WILL SELL!

As of February 12, 2008 the Portland, Oregon real estate market continues to be one of the strongest in the nation. We have a reasonable inventory of homes under one year while other great American cities have "years" of inventory. "Inventory" means that if another home was not listed following today, it would take a certain number of months for all currently listed homes to be sold. For more information call Keith at 503-734-6646

The above comments are based on the OPINIONS of Keith Berne, Real Estate Broker. Keith cannot predict the future of the real estate market. Keith's comments are not meant to solicit currently listed properties.