Living Beaverton - Your guide to everything Beaverton

this amazing shot was taking by me while on vacation in Yellow Stone and I have to say that is one amazing place if you have never been.



Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - I don't feel like typing Saturdays: Reflections

More and more I’ve been seeing people online constantly! I have to wonder if this taking away from their family time or their interaction with the world. I would criticize teenagers that don’t leave their mom’s basements, spending all day and night playing video games, is social media and what you are doing really any better?

There are times when I’ve left to go show homes, or to go coach baseball, and when I’ve come back and they have been on Activerain, Facebook, or Twitter and you see that they have left 125 tweets in those few hours. What? You didn’t sell any real estate? You didn’t talk to your family?

I do understand the importance of tweeting, as I picked up my first client today from it. I’ve gotten most of my business in the last 2 years from blogging on Activerain, but there is one thing that will and always has come first and that is my family and family time with softball, the parks (which I integrate in to my blogs) and the family dinner.

So, has social media taken over your life to the point your family has to wait for you finish typing one last comment or one last tweet before you will even look up to say good morning or good night?

Think about your answer then go kiss your family and say, “I’m sorry.”

Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - Is social media taking you away from your family time?

This chart below breaks down Beaverton Oregon Real Estate sales by neighborhood, for the week ending 05/29/2008. Sales have been off since last year with the pending sales in Beaverton, Oregon were down 20.4% from 2008 for the month of April when the last stats came out. The good news is that the average sales price was down only 6.6% from the same time last year, but this was a 1% drop since March We are starting to see a few more foreclosures hit the market, but things still seem to be picking up just a little.

Here is a breakdown of homes sales for the week by neighborhood. Just click on the link to your neighborhood for the complete breakdown of what the average of homes that are on the market, how long they have been on the market, how many have sold, what their average price was, and how long they were on the market.

Neighborhood                            # of Active Listings

Aloha Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	149
Cooper Mountain Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	101
Greenway Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	45
Hart Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	93
Highland Hills Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	44
Lexington Neighborhood, Aloha, Oregon :	53
Murrayhill Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	85
Sexton Mountain Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	100
Sorrento Ridge Neighborhood, Beaverton, Oregon :	61

Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - Originally posted at Beaverton Oregon Real Estate Sales by Neighborhood (05/29/2009)

This chart below breaks down Tigard Oregon Real Estate sales by neighborhood, for the week ending 05/29/2009. Sales have been off since last year with the pending sales in Tigard, Oregon were down 20.9% from 2008 for the month of April when the last stats came out. The news isn’t a good for Tigard with the average sales price being down by 8% from the same time last year, This is down more than a percent since April. Though many foreclosed homes have hit the market, the hit to average price of homes seems to be less than expected.

Here is a breakdown of homes sales for the week by neighborhood. Just click on the link to your neighborhood for the complete breakdown of what the average of homes that are on the market, how long they have been on the market, how many have sold, what their average price was, and how long they were on the market.

Neighborhood                    # of Active Listings

Bull Mountain North Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	74
Bull Mountain South Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	136
Greenburg Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	46
Mountainview Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	103
Summer Lake Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	35
Summerfield Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	36
Tigard Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	21
Walnut Grove Neighborhood, Tigard, Oregon :	34

Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - Originally posted at Tigard Oregon Real Estate Sales by Neighborhood (05/29/2009)

This is one of the questions I get a lot from both buyers and sellers of properties that are in a short sale situation, but one thing I can tell you is it has nothing to do really with the buyer or the seller.

What happens when a listing is taken by an agent that is going to be in a short sale situation has a lot to do with how long the process will take. If that agent gets all the paperwork up front from the seller, submits it to the bank right away, and gets on the property getting a BPO done, it can save lots of time, but that still doesn’t mean it will be a short process.

It really has everything to do with the bank and their procedures. Once a bank receives a short sale package, (which I can tell you from experience they will claim they don’t get despite sending confirmations of receiving it) it goes to the loss mitigation department, but all they do is make sure all the paperwork is in from the seller. (They don’t call the seller… that is the agent’s job.) Each person in this department may be working more than 100 files at a time, and unless and agent keeps on them, that file will stay at the bottom of the pile. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Once the file has everything that is needed, then it gets assigned to a negotiator. That process can take a couple weeks. There never is an overnight thing with banks. Then the negotiator will decided if the property and the seller even qualify for a short sale based on the information gathered by the loss mitigation department. If the BPO and the financials all meet the negotiators criteria, then they will order an appraisal of the property, and once again, this can take 10-15 days.

After the appraisal is done, the packet is finally given the yes or no to if they are going to allow a short sale. Then, they finally advise everybody of what they will accept and what they will pay and it rarely is everything the buyer is asking for. Then you have to submit a counter offer to the buyer and get that back to the bank. Then the negotiator may take another week to look at that and finally give approval to close.

As you can see the process at the banks is flawed, but right now it is the only one we have to work with. Some banks are better than others. But in the end, if you qualify for a short sale, and have the patience to deal with the banks, then selling one can be better for your credit in the long run rather than a foreclosure. If you’re buying a short sale, if you can be patient, the prices are usually discounted enough to make the wait well worth it.

For more information on selling your home on a short sale in Beaverton, Oregon, please give me a call, I would love to help. If you are a buyer, I can help you look at hundreds of short sale homes that are available. Heck, I’ll even buy you a coffee so you can sit back and relax waiting for your new home at a great price.

Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - Beaverton Oregon Real Estate: Why does selling your home on a short sale take so long?

Earlier today I wrote about my first meet up with a fellow Twitterer and I am so glad I did. Not only did I meet a great guy, who loves to help people, but a guy who really has an interesting background. I can say I’m going to be proud to say I know him and I will be proud to call him friend.

Bob Shabasson, of RJS Financial Planning, LLC (www.twitter.com/rjsfinancial) is not only an active reserve member, but at one time was the director of the Patton Museum at Fort Knox. We spent a good 45 minutes talking about Patton and the museum.

But, there is so much more to Bob. He truly cares about every one of his clients and you can tell just by the way he talks about them and how he directs them to better their lives through financial independence. His goal is to make everyone in Beaverton, Oregon, debt free and help them not to be a slave to their debt.

I can’t wait to get my clients in contact with Bob. He really can help save themselves thousands of dollars a year. When he puts it down in front of a person that they are spending half their time at work just working for their credit card company, it really is like a brick to the head that they need to change. He explains to people that if you don’t have debt, you could work part time and live the same lifestyle and are no longer a slave to the credit card companies.

So, if you are in the Beaverton area and are looking for good, down to earth guy that can help you with your financial goals, then I suggest you give Bob a call, you won’t regret it.


Here is Bob’s contact information:
(503) 799-5883
www.RJSFinancialPlanning.com
RJSFinancialPlanning@Gmail.com





Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - My meeting with a fellow Twitterer: Meet Bob Shabasson of RJS Financial Planning, LLC

Well, I would love to say yes, but I don’t really think so! I know, I know, the Beaverton, Oregon real estate market is in the crapper, but it hasn’t burst, at least as far as I’m concerned. There are a lot of things to consider in the statement, “the bubble has burst”. When I think of a bubble bursting, I think of the market being completely gone and its time to grab another balloon and start pumping away.

But, here we are, with prices still falling. This means to me that we have a very, very slow leak in our bubble. Until the balloon is flat and we can start pumping up what everyone wants to call a bubble, then the bubble hasn’t burst, it just has deflated and I just wish I had the patch to fix it.

Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - Has the housing bubble in Beaverton Oregon burst?

How do you sell your home if you owe more than it is worth in Beaverton, Oregon? Well, there are two ways. The first is to hold on to the property until the market rebounds or you can sell it on a short sale. A short sale, in basic terms, means the bank takes it in the shorts! (It certainly has nothing to do with the amount of time it will take for you to sell your home.) You sell the property and they take the loss, but this usually is only acceptable to the bank if you can prove a hardship. If I were you, and you aren’t in a hardship situation, I suggest you do the first, hold on to the property until the market rebounds.

Here is the reason why. If you can survive this downturn in the market and hold on to your property, you won’t take the hit to your credit that a short sale can cause. (See your CPA for more advice on how it can affect you and your long term financial goals.)

You see, if you sell your home on a short sale, you will not be able to purchase anything for approximately two years, or more, depending on how bad the hit to your credit was with other bills you may have been late on. (But, the time is usually about two years.) During those two years, you will usually have to be renting and you will pay more because of the ding on your credit.

If you aren’t behind on your payments yet, but could be because of a job loss, call your lender and try to get a loan modification and get the payments reduced until you can find a new job. But, if you have to move and you have to sell, then I still suggest you call your bank and advise them of what is happening, it will make things a lot easier when it comes to the sale of your home.

Now, if you have to sell and you can prove a hardship, then you are certainly a candidate for a short sale. (It certainly is better for you than a foreclosure – Once again, you’ll need to talk to your CPA.) Now there are a series of things you are going to need to do to prepare yourself and your home for a short sale. Unfortunately, it isn’t going to be an easy process, but when it is all said and done, a great burden will be lifted off your shoulders.

One of the first things you are going to need to do is sit down and talk to an agent who is qualified in selling short sales. This is a very complex real estate transaction, and if done wrong, it can have significant tax and legal ramifications. A short sale expert will sit down with you, give you a short sale packet, and go over the entire process from beginning to end. Once again, make sure you call your CPA and lawyer before you ever sign a single document. (A real estate agent is not qualified to give legal or financial advice, so they should have you call your CPA and lawyer first.)

After that has been done, they will have you sign what is called a Letter of Authorization. This letter will spell out what your agent and their representatives can or can’t do on your behalf with your bank. It usually says they can negotiate the sale of your home on your behalf and can have access to all financials pertaining to the sale of your home. But, it does limit what they can do when it comes to a loan modification on your behalf, unless that is something you want done.

The next step is the hard one! You will need to write a hardship letter to your bank explaining why you need to do a short sale, why you can’t continue to pay on your current mortgage, and why you need to move on. Then you will need to gather all of your financial information to submit to the bank, including your last two pay stubs, last two months worth of bank statements, tax returns for the past two years, and all your bills (Credit cards, car payments, electric, gas, water…everything). The bank basically needs to know why you are considering a short sale and then the proof that your total income is not enough to pay all your bills. (Especially your mortgage.) They would rather see you stay in the home and pay than take the home back in foreclosure or take a huge loss on a short sale. This is just a warning to you, they maybe calling a lot for more verification on your bills and your income.

The next thing they are going to need from you is the CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) to show the current value of your home. This is where your agent comes in. They will supply you with this. Even after an offer has been submitted on your home, they will still send another agent out to do what is called a BPO (Brokers Price Opinion), and then, if that is satisfactory, and everything else is satisfactory, they will send out an appraiser. (See how long this process is already taking?)

Everything is negotiable with banks, so don’t be afraid to ask for what you think they won’t agree to, they may just surprise you. But, also be prepared for what will feel like a 15 inning baseball game, it won’t be short, and by the time it is over you will breathe a sigh of relief and hopefully be thanking your agent for keeping you sane during the whole process.



Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - Beaverton Oregon Real Estate: How do I sell my home if it worth less than I owe (Short Sale Advice)

I remember from real estate school that if someone signs a contract under duress, the contract is invalid, but what is duress? Duress, to me, is someone holding a gun to your head and saying sign or die. But, there are, of course, lesser meanings to it.

So, how does this come into play in real estate today? Let us look at someone in a short sale situation who has lost their job. They have two banks, the first is getting all their money and the 2^nd is taking a huge hit or getting absolutely nothing. If they make the seller sign a contract to pay back the money, or they won’t agree to the short sale, is this a form of duress? Is the contract valid?

Inquiring minds want to know?

OK, here is the story behind this question. I was asked this by a client who was trying to be forced in to signing this exact contract to pay back the 2nd what they were going to lose. I told him I didn't think it was because they weren't holding a gun to his head, but I said I would ask the experts and let him watch the answers and let him decide for himself.



Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

©2009 Todd Clark - Real Estate 101: A contract signed under duress isn’t valid, but what is duress?

Normally today is “I don’t feel like typing Saturdays” but somehow, today, knowing what Monday is, how could I not feel like typing when I would like to thank the servicemen and woman who gave the ultimate sacrifice for my freedom? To those families who lost service members this memorial day, I promise your sacrifice for this great country of ours is not forgotten.

When any military person gives the ultimate sacrifice so someone else can be free, we should all bow our heads and thank them for their sacrifice. My wife’s father died when she was 4 because of Vietnam and though I never met the man, I still am proud of him. I know what he did for someone else and he was able to instill in his daughter, in those 4 short years, to help make her the woman she is today.

So, thank you, to all those who gave so much for our country and to those families that lost that loved ones. I still remember why we celebrate Memorial Day.



Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739