Your Perfect Home on Mt. Hood
Displaying blog entries 351-360 of 1882
Opportunity knocks! This one level two bedroom home sits on nearly a third of an acre in Rhododendron. It's only one block to the Zig Zag River and twenty minutes to the slopes of Mt. Hood. The Mt. Hood National Forest is nearby and it's a short walk to Skyway for some awesome live music and killer barbeque!
Just under 900 square feet of living space, the home features a propane fireplace, vaulted ceilings, open floor plan, decks and your own forest! Super affordable for the mountain at $375,000! Sold as is!
Buyers in today’s market often have questions about the importance of getting a home appraisal and an inspection. That’s because high buyer demand and low housing supply are driving intense competition and leading some buyers to consider waiving those contingencies to stand out in the crowded market.
But is that the best move? Buying a home is one of the most important transactions in your lifetime, and it’s critical to keep your best interests in mind. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect from the appraisal and the inspection, and why each one can potentially save you a lot of time, money, and headaches down the road.
The home appraisal is a critical step for securing a mortgage on your home. As Home Light explains:
“. . . lenders typically require an appraisal to ensure that your loan-to-value ratio falls within their underwriting guidelines. Mortgages are secured loans where the lender uses your home as collateral in case you default on the agreed-upon payments.”
Put simply: when you apply for a mortgage, an unbiased appraisal – typically required by your lender – is the best way to verify the value of the home. That appraisal ensures the lender doesn’t loan you more than what the home is worth.
When buyers are competing like they are today, bidding wars and market conditions can push prices up. A buyer’s contract price may end up higher than the value of the home – this is known as an appraisal gap. In today’s market, it’s common for the seller to ask the buyer to make up the difference when an appraisal gap occurs. That means, as a buyer, you may need to be prepared to bring extra money to the table if you really want the home.
Like the appraisal, the inspection is important because it gives an impartial evaluation of the home. While the appraisal determines the current value of the home, the inspection determines the current condition of the home. As the American Society of Home Inspectors puts it:
“Home inspections are the opportunity to discover major defects that were not apparent at a buyer’s showing. . . . Your home inspection is to help you make an informed decision about the house, including its condition.”
If there are any concerns during the inspection – an aging roof, a malfunctioning HVAC system, or any other questionable items – you have the option to discuss and negotiate any potential issues with the seller. Your real estate advisor can help you navigate this process and negotiate what, if any, repairs need to be made before the sale is finalized.
Keep in mind – home inspections are critical because they can shed light on challenges you may face as the new homeowner. Without an inspection, serious, sometimes costly issues could come as a surprise later on.
Both the appraisal and the inspection are important steps in the home buying process. They protect your best interests as a buyer by providing unbiased information about the home’s value and condition. Let’s connect so you have an expert guiding you throughout the entire process.
There’s a lot of talk lately about how challenging it can be to find a home to buy. While housing inventory is still low, there are a few important things to understand about the supply of homes for sale as we move into the end of the year.
In the residential real estate market, trends generally follow a predictable and seasonal pattern. Typically, the number of homes available for sale (or active monthly listings) peaks in the fall. But in a chapter where so little feels normal, the question becomes: should we expect a fall peak this year?
If we look at the active monthly listings for 2021 (shown in the chart below), we’ll see that the number of homes on the market has increased fairly steadily since spring this year. The realtor.com data shows we’re still seeing an increase in active inventory month-over-month. While that gain is a bit smaller month-to-month (see August to September in the chart), September numbers are still up from the month prior.The important takeaway here is the latest monthly numbers show growth. At the end of September, buyers had more options to pick from than they did this spring. That’s encouraging for buyers who may have paused their search months ago because they had trouble finding a home. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, sums this up nicely:
“Put simply, this September buyers had more options than they've had all year and while that's typical of early fall, that's not what happened in 2020. Still, it's important to remember that while buyers may have an easier time this fall than they did in the spring, the market remains more competitive than it has been historically at this time of year.”
As Hale says, a fall peak in inventory is in line with typical seasonal trends. While it’s impossible to say for certain what the future holds for housing inventory, we do know both buyers and sellers have opportunities this season based on the latest data.
If you’re thinking of buying a home, rest assured you do have more options now than you did earlier this year – and that’s a welcome relief. That said, today’s market is still highly competitive. This isn’t the time to slow your search. It’s actually the season when the number of homes available for sale tends to peak. Focus on the additional options with renewed energy this season and be prepared for ongoing competition from other buyers.
If you’re considering selling your house, realize that while growing, inventory is still low. Selling now means you’ll be in a great position to negotiate with buyers – and competition among buyers is good news for your bottom line. Eager buyers will likely be motivated to act before the holidays, giving you the benefit of a fast sale.
Current Mt. Hood inventory sits at 15 active listings. There's also 15 land listings available on the market too!
Whether you’re buying or selling, there’s still a chance to make your goals a reality this season. Let’s connect so we can discuss what’s going on with the local market and current trends and what they mean for you.
This Zig Zag Riverfront cabin in the Mt. Hood National Forest is one of a kind. Like new and architecturally designed and filled with craftsman touches, this amazing cabin is one of the best built I've ever seen on leased land! Two bedrooms and a loft upstairs, one and a half baths, and a huge great room complete with floor to ceiling windows and custom tile flooring. Wood walls from top to bottom! Tall windows look right over the Zig Zag River. The living room features a wood stove and pellet stove along with an outside deck right off the living room area. There's even a garage! Campfire ring for stories and some-mores! Only minutes to the slopes and hiking trails near by. Leased land in the Mt. Hood National Forest. $575,000
The home equity on Mt. Hood has skyrocketed to new heights! With minimal inventory and the highest demand we have ever seen in the Mt. Hood area, its the prime time to sell your property.
This is a great private location right on Hackett Creek in Rhododendron in Timberline Rim a riverside community. This unique cabin features vaulted ceilings, a toe warming propane stove, two French doors and lots of windows. There is one bedroom on the main level and a spacious loft upstairs with a private bedroom and bunkbeds in the loft. Enjoy the hot tub just off the back deck. The wooded setting makes for a private location. Low HOA. Amenities include pool, tennis courts, lodge and basketball court. $425000
Displaying blog entries 351-360 of 1882