Living Beaverton - Your guide to everything Beaverton

Welcome to my home,

Born and raised in Washington County, I can't say enough good things about Washington County and Oregon. Here are some up coming events that if you plan to visit could be fun.

Saketini Saturday

Starring three new cocktails, including the Little Spring Moon: Momokawa Diamond Saké, Monin Blood Orange Syrup, Cointreau and muddled lime, and the Ice MeltSakétini: Momokawa Silver Saké, Monin Lychee Syrup, tangerine juice, and muddled mint. SakeOne - 820 Elm St. Forest Grove, OR 97116 Cost $3 (Saturday 17th)

Jazz Concert: Gentle Rain

Event Time/Date: February 18, 2007 01:00 PM to 04:00 PM Montinore Estate - 3663 SW Dilley Road, Forest Grove

Would love to see you here.

Todd Clark - broker
Kastings & Associates
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

You hear it on the news everyday. The real estate bubble has finally popped. Well here in Washington Co, Oregon, we have some good news. Average prices are up from last year.

As you can see. There are more listings, but the number of pending sales is more and the average price is up almost $30,000 from last year. Those numbers are looking pretty good to me, compared to what I hear on the news every night. Remember Real Estate is still the safest investment you can make. Even if there is a down turn in the market, over time Real Estate values will always go up.

Todd Clark - broker
Kastings & Associates
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

Did you know that in a recent survey seventy percent of Americans view home ownership as the smartest and safest investment you could make? Yet only ten percent felt that way about the stock market.

More and more investors are leaving the stock market and going in to the investment property market. Why is this? One reason is that over the past 5 years stocks have risen in value at about a three percent increase per year. Compare that to the 14%-20% increase in the housing market. Now combine that with people buying that investment property and renting it out, and you have a huge profit machine.

So you are thinking of selling you home and you are worried about the tax implications. Well worry no more! The current tax law for the sale of your primary residence, after May 6, 1997, states that you can have up to $500,000 in capital gains for a married couple and $250,000 for a single person. So unless you are single and paid only $10,000 for your home and plan to sell it for $300,000 you don't have too much to worry about.

One of the requirements of this tax law is that you must have lived in that home at lease 2 of the past 5 years. If you are a married couple and as long as at least one of the spouses meets this requirement then you are eligible for the exclusion.

These restrictions can be waived and your exclusion will be prorated if you are unable to meet the two year ownership and use requirement for any unforeseen circumstances; such as health or relocation of employment. (Check with the IRS for a complete list of eligible circumstances)



Todd Clark - broker
Kastings & Associates
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

This is the best time to get a free copy of your credit report. As a Real Estate agent I can't count the times that I've seen people find their perfect home and then lose it when they couldn't afford the payments because of an error on a credit report. They can't figure out why they didn't get the interest rate that they wanted. Then they get the credit report and see mistakes on it, but it is too late to fix anything. By getting your credit report early, you can fix the errors that do appear on it in plenty of time, and not have it hold up the purchase of your dream home.

If you own a home already, this would be a good time to call me and get my "Home Sellers Checklist". This is a list of all the things you should do to your home, prior to putting it on the market, that will help insure a faster sale and net you the most money. Most people put their home on the market and then try to fix things. This is the incorrect order to do things if you want to get the most out of your home. First, you lose a lot of potential buyers. They saw the home prior to the fixes and will not come back again. Second is you may lose thousands of dollars in the price of your home to a buyer that may put in an offer, but not for what you are asking. A desperate agent will tell you to list now! I advise my clients to wait, do the repairs, and net the profit later. Why lower the price by $15,000 when in less than 2 weeks, the home could be show ready, and sell a lot quicker than if you just listed it immediately.

For more tips on what to do prior to buying or selling a home, please feel free to call me anytime or visit my website for other helpful tips. 




Todd Clark - broker
Kastings & Associates
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

You have started to plan your wedding! But have you started to plan for your future? The marriage doesn't end with the wedding! You need a place to live and to let the marriage dream thrive. That is why I've started this BLOG, to help couples realize the dream of homeownership and long lasting marriages.

One of the biggest mistakes brides and grooms make when they first get married is one of them moves into the others home. A marriage is a fresh start in life and moving into a spouse's residence can be a stressful burden on a marriage. A person has their personal touches to a home and when the other moves in, what is the first thing they do? They redecorate! This can be a touchy subject or feel like an invasion and can lead to arguments. But if you get a brand new home you can decorate it together and grow the home together as you grow your marriage.

Todd Clark - broker
Kastings & Associates
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

About Me - I've worked with couples getting married for 18+ years now and can't be happier than seeing them succeed in life. The wedding of two people is one of the happiest days in their lives, and to be invited to be a part of their lives is an honor that fills my heart with joy and excitement. Remember, "Home is where the heart is". I want to help every couple find their perfect home!