Blog - Sean Besso Realty

PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: Foster-Powell

*Photo by photoquest7 from Getty Image*s

For this month’s PDX Neighborhood Spotlight, I’ll be highlighting Foster-Powell.

About Foster-Powell
Full of character, Foster-Powell is a neighborhood in SE Portland. The triangular neighborhood is bounded by three major transit arteries: Powell Boulevard, Foster Road, and 82nd Avenue. Foster-Powell is known for being very bike and pedestrian friendly and has been dubbed with the nickname “FoPo”. It’s believed that the neighborhood started around the same time as the construction of the Portland Streetcar in the 1890s.

Parks
Foster-Powell is home to three parks: Laurelwood Park, Kern Park, and Essex Park. Laurelwood Park was recently renovated and is largely complete. Kern Park’s amenities include a playground area, a softball field, and a basketball court.

*Laurelwood Park Master Plan from portland.gov/parks*

Food/Drink
Bar Carlo – Delicious Mexican-American brunch. Try the MIGAS and the Chilaquiles Verde.
An Xuyen Bakery – Perfect Pan-Asian bakery for steamed buns, bahn mi-style sandwiches, and macarons.
Bar Maven – A Mediterranean gastro-pub great for Happy Hour! The grilled kebabs and sumac sweet potato fries are a must!
Portland Mercado – With more than 16 businesses, this public market is sure to have something for everyone.
Starday Tavern – They call themselves “The Most OKest Bar” which really means that you feel like a regular once you walk in. Dog friendly, tasty pub food, and movie/game nights… what more could you want?!

*Photo from Travel Portland – Christine Dong for Portland in Color*

Shops
Foster Outdoor – Local outdoor shop for all your outdoor equipment needs.
Glasshaus Gardens – Popular indoor plant shop that also carries pottery and gifts. Their knowledge of plants and plant care is insane!
Hammer & Jacks – An independent mother-owned toy store with books and toys for all ages and interests.
Bread & Roses Market – Locally owned organic grocery store. Quality produce and a very friendly staff!

Market Stats
Right now, the median sales price of a home in the Foster-Powell area is approximately $450,000 with over 58.3% of homes selling over asking price. Click here for a free home valuation.

References: Wikipedia & TravelPortland.com

10 Things You Should Do to Get Your Home Autumn Ready

Happy Fall Ya’ll! Get your home autumn ready with this list of 10 to-dos.

1. Clean Out Your Gutters

- An old plastic spatula comes in handy when it’s gutter cleaning time. It doesn’t scratch up the gutter and you can cut the spatula to fit gutter contours. Grime wipes right off the spatula too, making cleanup a breeze.

2. Check Your Smoke & CO Detectors

- With heaters running and fireplaces roaring, fall is a great time to make sure your smoke and CO detectors are working. Be sure to check the batteries and expiration dates. Smoke detectors are typically good for 10 years and CO detectors last for about six years.

3. Replace the Furnace Filters

- Changing your furnace filter is one the simplest tasks on this list. If it’s been awhile since you’ve changed it, be sure to replace it with a new one before kicking on the heater this fall.

4. Schedule Chimney & Furnace Maintenance

- Speaking of furnaces, depending on the last time it was cleaned, you’ll want to schedule a chimney cleaning. Make sure your fireplace and heating system are clean, safe and ready to go by having a pro look at them now.

5. Remove Window A/C Units

- If you used window a/c units this summer, which A LOT of us have, you’ll want to remove and store them. If you choose to keep them up, make sure to pick up some insulating covers to minimize winter heat loss.

6. Fertilize the Lawn

- Fall is a great time to fertilize your lawn one last time. With the epic heat waves we had this summer, your lawn could use some fertilizer and the long anticipated PNW rainy season.

7. Add Weatherstripping to Windows & Doors in Need

- Newer double-paned windows won’t necessarily need weatherstripping, but it is a good idea for older windows to prevent leaks and retain heat. This goes for your doors as well. You don’t want tiny pests seeking solace from the autumn rain in your home.

8. Maintain the Washer & Dryer

- It’s a good idea to thoroughly clean out your dryer vents often, but you’ll want to make sure that your washer hoses are in good shape as well. Cracked hoses can cause leaks and costly repairs. Clean dryer vents and hoses will help your machines work more efficiently and reduce the risk of fire – which is always a good thing.

9. Cozy Up with Warm Layers

- Now’s the time to start thinking about changing out your lighter-weight bedding with some flannel sheets and fluffy duvets. Bring warmth to your home by adding a few throw blankets around the house or even swap out the area rug for something thicker. Not only will slight changes like this make your home cozy, it can also cut down on your energy bills.

10. Get Your Wardrobe Fall Ready

- Fall is a great opportunity to sort through your wardrobe, donate things you no longer wear, and get your colder weather pieces repaired or dry cleaned. Gather your summer clothes and put them in an out-of-the-way spot so your fall wardrobe can be front and center.

By prepping your home for the colder months ahead of us, you’ll prevent breakdowns, save money and keep your home looking brand spanking new! Now add a few cozy touches here and there, relax in your favorite chair, and enjoy the comforts of your fall ready home.

PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: Montavilla

*Photo by 4kodiak from Getty Image*s *Signature*

For this month’s PDX Neighborhood Spotlight, I’ll be highlighting Montavilla in SE Portland.

About Montavilla
Montavilla is a neighborhood in the Northeast & Southeast sections of Portland, Oregon. Montavilla started as a small farming community named Mount Tabor Village. After the completion of the Morrison Bridge in 1887, East Portland became more accessible and the streetcar began to service the area. The Mount Tabor Village streetcar destination sign was abbreviated to “Mt. Ta. Villa” and the name stuck! The P5 marker, a Baseline Mile markers from the 1850’s for the original Baseline Road, (now SE Stark Street, see my blog post “Surveying Portland, One Marker at a Time”) is at the corner of 78th and Stark.

Parks
Montavilla is home to Montavilla Park, a 9.46 acre park established in 1921. The park includes a Portland Timbers sponsored futsal field, dedicated in August 2014. Montavilla also includes Berrydale Park, Harrison Park, and Montavilla Community Center. Vestal Community Garden is located near Vestal school.

*Photo by Patricia Sanders of Village Portland*

Montavilla Farmers Market & Montavilla Street Fair
Montavilla Farmers Market is open year round on Sunday’s from 10am – 2pm at 7700 SE Stark St. You can find more information about the farmers market here. Every year, the neighborhood hosts “Montavilla Street Fair” (prior to COVID restrictions) and normally includes live music, 120+ vendors, a children’s area, and a plethora of places to eat, drink, and play. Unfortunately, the street fair has been postponed the this year and last, but here’s hoping for 2022!

Food/Drink
Bipartisan Cafe – Community based cafe where you can get a hot drink and a homemade pie.
Ya Hala – One of Portland’s most beloved Middle Eastern restaurants, Ya Hala is a must try.
Hungry Heart Bakery – Bustling family friendly bakery serving up delicious brunch and coffee.
Vintage Cocktail Lounge – Laidback watering hole featuring contemporary cocktails and outdoor seating. Try the Vieux Carre or ask for a custom cocktail!
Roscoe’s – Lowkey tavern with a pool table. The hush puppies, chicken and waffles, and gumbo are a favorite.

Shops
Cactus Records & Vintage – Eclectic shop filled with vintage clothing, vinyls, jewelry, and artwork.
Union Rose – Popular boutique for locally designed clothing, accessories, and gifts.
Beanstalk – Perfect place for the kiddos! You can shop in-store or online for childern’s quality resale items.
Wink Vintage – Fairly priced vintage shop with an incredibly friendly staff.

Market Stats
Right now, the median sales price of a home in Montavilla is approximately $500,000 with over 75.7% of homes selling over asking price. It’s a hot market, but the Montavilla neighborhood is well worth it! Click here for a free home valuation.

References: Wikipedia & TravelPortland.com

PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: Sellwood-Moreland

Photo by Laura Kneedler from Getty Images

This PDX Neighborhood Spotlight, let’s talk about Sellwood-Moreland!

About Sellwood-Moreland
Sellwood-Moreland is a neighborhood on a bluff overlooking the Willamette River in Southeast Portland, Oregon. The neighborhood is linked to Southwest Portland across the Willamette by the beautiful Sellwood Bridge, Portland’s southernmost bridge. Sellwood was originally an independent city and was incorporated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly on February 25th, 1889. It was annexed by the City of Portland in 1893.

Parks
There are many beautiful parks and natural areas in Sellwood-Moreland, including Sellwood Park, Westmoreland Park, Springwater Corridor Trail, and the must-see Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden.
Sellwood Park features basketball and horseshoes and for a tranquil view of Downtown Portland, visit the riverfront park by the Sellwood Bridge. Sellwood-Moreland is also home to the small, but mighty Oaks Amusement Park, one of the oldest continually operating amusement parks in the country.

Photo by JPL Designs from Getty Images

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
This highly manicured 9 acre garden is almost completely surrounded by Crystal Springs Lake and features an assortment of rhododendrons and azaleas. It’s the perfect place to take the family or to enjoy a nice romantic stroll with a loved one. During the first weekend in April, they host an “Early Show” with several hundred trusses of early-blooming rhododendrons. An even larger display can be seen on Mother’s Day.

Food/Drink
Papa Haydn – A Portland brunch favorite!
Jade Bistro & Patisserie – Asian-fusion teahouse featuring delicious french pastries. Try the lemongrass chicken and be sure to take home a pastry for later!
Bible Club – “Speakeasy” style bar with a great atmosphere and outdoor sitting area.
PDX Sliders – Right next door to Bible Club is PDX Sliders. When it’s voted “Best Burger in Portland”, you have to give it a try! Silver Julep Mobile Bar is also at PDX Sliders so you can sip a tasty cocktail at the same time.

Shops
Sellwood Union – A wonderful consignment store featuring a lot of vintage one-of-a-kind pieces.
Collage – Popular art supply store where you can stock up on all of your crafting materials.
Fuschia – Lovely boutique where you can find great gifts for everyone.
CoCo and Toulouse – Also offers gifts, paper goods, soaps, perfumes, and unique clothing items.

Market Stats
Right now, the average price of a home in Sellwood-Moreland is approximately $700,000 with over 57% of homes selling over asking price. It’s a hot market, but the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood is well worth it! Click here for a free home valuation.

References: Wikipedia & TravelPortland.com

PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: St. Johns

For this month’s PDX Neighborhood Spotlight, I’m highlighting the lovely and full of small town charm St. Johns neighborhood.

About St. Johns
Located in North Portland, St. Johns is on the tip of the peninsula formed by the convergence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. It was a separate, incorporated city from 1902 until 1915, when citizens of both St. Johns and Portland voted to approve its annexation to Portland.

St. Johns is named in honor of settler James John who made his way to the Pacific Northwest from Missouri in 1841. After his death, John left his remaining personal property to the township of St. Johns to use to build a public school. It was John’s wish that children of all religious denominations could study together and receive an education that stressed the importance of civic engagement. St. Johns was officially recognized as a municipality by the Oregon State Legislature on January 5, 1902.

As of the 2010s, there has been a lot of new development in Portland and St. Johns is one of the most rapidly developing parts of Portland. Downtown St. Johns consists primarily of boutique shops and individually owned and operated restaurants, including two theater pubs, while the northern portion of the neighborhood gives way to a vast industrial landscape of warehouses, parking lots, and cargo & shipping facilities, including the Rivergate Industrial District of the Port of Portland.

The most notable feature of St. Johns is the tallest bridge in Portland, the St. Johns Bridge. Designed by internationally renowned engineer David B. Steinman and Holton D. Robinson, the St. Johns was the longest suspension-type bridge west of the Mississippi River at the time of construction.

Via artran from Getty Images

Parks
There are many beautiful parks and natural areas in St. Johns, including Pier Park, the Columbia Slough, Kelley Point Park, and The Smith & Bybee Wetlands Natural Area. It is also very close to Cathedral Park and Baltimore Woods in the Cathedral Park Neighborhood and right across the river from Forest Park. Upon entering St. Johns there is a conspicuously placed sign in the traffic median which says, “Welcome to the Peninsula, Gateway to Nature”. Sightings of bald eagles and other birds of prey are common. Chimney Park is a great place to take your furry friends and is also the ending point for the Pier Park Loop Hike. The Pier Park Loop Hike is around 2 miles and starts at Pier Park Trailhead.

Are you a lover of jazz music? Jazz Society Oregon hosts the annual Cathedral Park Jazz Festival every July for FREE! The 2021 festival will run July 16th – July 18th. You can check out this year’s lineup here.

Via Another Believer – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11246914

St. Johns Parade & Farmers Market
Starting in 1962, St. Johns holds an annual parade consisting of homemade floats, family friendly celebrations, and is an all around great way to meet your neighbors & support local businesses.
The parade takes place on the second Saturday of May, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, the parade has been postponed until May 2022.
You can find more information on this event and event COVID-19 updates here.
The St. Johns Farmers Market usually runs from the middle of May to the end of October and is located in the St. Johns Plaza every Saturday from 9 am – 2 pm.

Food/Drink
Tienda Santa Cruz – An unassuming Mexican grocery store where you will find some of the best tacos in all Portland. Be sure to pick up some house-made Mexican breads as well!
Signal Station Pizza – Previously an old abandoned gas station, Signal Station Pizza is a local favorite. I recommend the Willamette and the No. Portland Special pizzas.
Homegrown Smoker – Vegan? Homegrown Smoker has delicious BBQ for you!
Leisure Public House – Great place to grab a cold beverage and play ping pong or bocce ball with friends. I recommend the Mezcal Old Fashioned or a Boozy Popsicle (especially in this heat!). Tuesdays are trivia nights.
St. Johns Theater & Pub – Once the National Cash Register Building at the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition, it attracted over two million people to NW Portland during the World’s Fair. You can find out more about it’s history here. Now a McMenamin’s, you can catch a movie in the theater or enjoy a nice outdoor lunch with friends and family.

Via ColumbiaRiverImages.com

Shops
Vinyl Resting Place – One of the oldest used record stores in Portland. The name alone should be enough to go in and take a peek at their selection. Twice a year they hold a “$1 Record Sale”.
Blue Moon Camera & Machine – Home of the International Camera Museum, Blue Moon Camera is an all-analog camera shop that sells photo equipment, typewriters, books and more.
Salty Teacup – Quirky boutique featuring whimsical gifts and cool vintage finds.
Revolutions Bookshop – Independently owned bookstore specializing in a curated selection of mostly used books, some new books, vinyl, and collectibles.

Market Stats
Right now, the average price of a home in St. Johns is approximately $477,000 with over 80% of homes selling over asking price. Like I’ve mentioned before – it’s a seller’s market! Click here for a free home valuation.

References: Wikipedia, TravelPortland.com, and ColumbiaRiverImages.com

Get Your Home Summer Ready!

Summer is right around the corner, so let’s take a break from the “PDX Neighborhood Spotlights” and discuss ways you can get your home ready for the sunny day BBQs ahead of us!

Inspect the Exterior of Your Home

Speaking of BBQs, let’s talk grills. If you have a charcoal grill, empty your grill and wipe away any dust or residue. Clean the outside and inside of your grill with hot water, dish soap and a scrub brush. Don’t forget to let your grill dry off before using it. If you have a gas grill, close the lid, turn the heat on high and let the grill cook for about 30 minutes. Once the grill has cooled, use a grill brush to sweep the grill. Clean out all of the drip trays and then wipe down the outside with a sponger and cleaner.
Even though cleaning out gutters and downspouts may seem like a spring or fall chore, doing it in the summer is also a good idea because summer storms and high winds can cause debris to fall into your home’s gutters.
Inspect your home’s foundation for leaks and cracks. Cracks can create an entry point for groundwater which can lead to serious flooding.
Wash your windows inside and out.
Repair and repaint any cracked, chipped or faded exterior paint.

Power Wash

Pressure wash your home’s siding and brick. There are very few things more satisfying than watching how much dirt, dust and grim pressure washing can remove from your home’s exterior surfaces.
Check out this video for some great pressure washing tips.
Before pressure washing your porch or deck, inspect it to see if there are any rotting boards that need to be replaced. If you notice any bubbling/cracks in the sealant of your deck, it’s time to reseal!

Inspect the Interior of Your Home

Re-caulk seals on doors and windows if you are notice any leakage in your windows/doors. This can also help increase your home’s energy efficiency.
Reverse the setting your ceiling fans to counter-clockwise! This pushes air down and helps create a nice breeze in your space.
You’re not the only one who loves a nice and cool home… watch out for bug/pest infestations. Try an outdoor bug repellent barrier spray if you start to notice ants or spiders inside your home.
Clean your garbage disposal to avoid a costly plumber invoice.

Inspect Air Conditioners

Get your A/C checked and serviced. By doing this, you can extend the life of your A/C unit and reduce the need for costly repairs.
If you have a window A/C unit, make sure to clean off the filters before using them.
If you are running your A/C a lot during the summer months, you’ll want to clean the filters once a month.

Clean Your Dryer Vent!!

This is soooooo important! Be sure to clean clogged lint and dust in your dryer vents to avoid house fires (approximately 2,900 home laundry dryer fires are reported each year!).
Check out this video for the proper way to clean your dryer vent.

This list may seem a little daunting, but even tackling a few items on this home maintenance checklist will help prevent breakdowns, save you some money and keep your home looking brand spanking new!

PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: Multnomah/Multnomah Village

Time for another PDX Neighborhood Spotlight! This month, I’m highlighting the quaint, historic, and oh so charming Multnomah/Multnomah Village in Southwest Portland.

About Multnomah
Multnomah is a neighborhood in the southwest section of Portland, Oregon, centered on the Multnomah Village business district. The community developed in the 1910s around a depot of the Oregon Electric Railway and was annexed by the city of Portland in 1950.
It is bordered by SW 45th Ave. on the west, SW Capitol Hill Road on the east, SW Vermont St. on the north, and I-5 in the south. Exceptions are the area north of SW Nevada Ct. and east of SW 26th Ave. (part of Hillsdale – another great PDX neighborhood!), an area south of SW Multnomah Blvd. and north of SW Dolph St. where SW 48th Ave. is the western border, and an area south of SW Marigold St. where SW Capitol Highway is the western border.
Within Multnomah is a business district called Multnomah Village – also known as “The Village in the Heart of Portland”. Multnomah Village offers everything from books to clothing and toys to a diverse array of food and drink options all within an easily walkable distance. The compact pedestrian-friendly “downtown” has the ambience and charm of an earlier period, but the vibe is very modern and maintains an ever-growing fan base that has discovered why Multnomah Village is sometimes referred to as “Portland’s Best Kept Secret.”

Murals in Multnomah Village

Gabriel Park
Gabriel Park is a little over 90 acres and offers a baseball field, softball field, soccer field, basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, a skatepark, paved and unpaved paths, reservable picnic sites, and so much more. The park is located between the Maplewood, Multnomah, and Hillsdale neighborhoods of Southwest Portland at 45th Avenue and Vermont Street. Its vast size and plentiful activities makes Gabriel Park an ideal location for small get-togethers while still practicing social distancing.

First Fridays & Multnomah Days
On the first Friday of every month, Multnomah Village celebrates “First Fridays”. Eat & shop from morning to night while enjoying special promotions and activities throughout the district.
Prior to COVID-19, Multnomah Village would host “Multnomah Days” on the third Saturday of August each year. The annual Multnomah Days Parade (dubbed “the biggest little parade in Portland”) is the neighborhood’s old-school street fair, starting with a parade and featuring vendors and performers from throughout the city (and beyond).
You can find more information on these events and event COVID-19 updates here.

Food/Drink
The French Quarter – Essentially a village “square” filled with food carts and a few boutique shops. Grab some Yoshi’s sushi, a delicious iced tea soda from Aesthete Tea, and pick up your seasonal fruit and veggies from the produce stand.
John’s Marketplace – Beer and wine drinkers will feel like a kid in a candy store. Not only does this store carry 400+ wines and 1,000+ (some rare & highly prized) beers, you can also sit down, enjoy a beer they have on their rotating tap and order some delicious grub. The Killer Turkey sandwich with avocado is a must.
Marco’s Cafe – Located in the historic Nelson Thomas building, Marco’s Cafe is full of Multnomah charm. I’d order the chicken fried steak or anything on their daily specials menu.
Lucky Labrador Public House – Also located in a historic building (the 1925 Masonic Lodge), Lucky Lab offers great outdoor seating and is dog friendly. The Mutt pizza + a Super Dog IPA = **chef’s kiss**.

Shops
Annie Bloom’s Books – An independent bookstore that first opened in 1978. You’ll find something for every type of reader there.
JP General – Great shop filled with unique one-of-a-kind items. Shop for home goods, gardening tools, accessories, jewelry, and more.
Arranged & Rooted – Wonderful little plant shop offering a variety of plants, local handmade planters, and very knowledgeable employees.
John’s Marketplace – Have to shoutout John’s Marketplace again for their massive beer and wine selection.

Market Stats
Multnomah is a highly sought after neighborhood to live in and it’s no question why. Here is the Multnomah Neighborhood Association’s Vision: “We envision that the Multnomah Neighborhood will remain a place defined by conscientious decision about the preservation of our canopy of trees, open space, and natural areas; limited and thoughtful residential and commercial development; small businesses; and safe streets. It is our vision that the Neighborhood will retain and judiciously improve on its small-town historic charms and small-scale main street Village character.”
Right now, the average price of a home in Multnomah is $595,526.95 with prices ranging from $91,000 – $876,000. Like I’ve mentioned before – it’s a seller’s market! Click here for a free home valuation.

References: Wikipedia, MultnomahVillage.org, and the Multnomah Neighborhood Association.

PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: North Tabor

Hi Friends!

Welcome to a new segment on the blog where I will highlight various neighborhoods around Portland. First up is my neighborhood: North Tabor. I’ve lived in North Tabor for 25 years, serving the area as a Real Estate Agent for almost 16 years. I guess you can say I really like it here 😉
Now let’s take a deep dive into the neighborhood.

About North Tabor
North Tabor is on the east side of the Willamette River on the northern slope of Mt. Tabor. The I-84 forms its northern boundary, separating it from the Hollywood District, Rose City Park, and Madison South neighborhoods to the north. NE/SE 44th Avenue separates it from Laurelhurst to the west while NE 68th Avenue separates it from Montavilla to the east. East Burnside Street forms most of the southern boundary (separating it from the Mount Tabor Neighborhood), except for a section west of SE 49th Avenue for which SE Stark St. forms the boundary with the Sunnyside neighborhood.*
Not only is North Tabor public transit friendly, the 50s Bikeway Project also extends through the neighborhood.
The North Tabor Neighborhood Association holds Zoom board meetings once a month.

Mural in North Tabor

Rosemont Natural Bluff Area
The only official park in the boundaries of North Tabor neighborhood is the Rosemont Natural Bluff Area, which if you drive by you probably won’t realize it’s a park. One of the only remaining Baseline Mile markers from the 1850’s for the original Baseline Road (now SE Stark Street, see my blog post “Surveying Portland, One Marker at a Time”) is at the corner of 61st and Stark.

Food/Drink
Tabor Tavern – The Rib Dinner is awesome!
Big’s Chicken – I love fried chicken, so the Half Bird with Cole slaw is my go-to.
American Dream Pizza – This iconic pizza joint has been around since 1985. My favorite is a large half “Bill Walton”, half “Rat Pack”.

Market Stats
My wife and I love walking from our house up to the top of Mt. Tabor, looking at historic homes (like the Shogren House) along the way. 91 homes were sold in North Tabor last year which is almost double the amount of sold homes from 2019. Right now, the average price of a home in North Tabor is $554,325 with prices ranging from $485,000 – $650,500. It is definitely a seller’s market! Click here for a free home valuation.

Shogren House via Shogren House Museum

Want to see your neighborhood in PDX Neighborhood Spotlight? Comment below!

References: * Wikipedia

Advantages to Selling a Home in Oregon This Winter

You might have read my previous blog on the advantages to buying a home in Oregon during the winter. The obverse of that article is that there are several compelling reasons to consider selling a home right now, even though winter has not been a particularly popular time to sell.

We are seeing historically low real estate inventory lately not just in the Portland market, but nationwide.

There was a 16% drop in number of homes put on the market in September compared to August. Lower inventory means a more competitive buyer landscape. Why is there a lower inventory? Sadly, one of the reasons is that this year’s wildfires destroyed over 4,000 homes in Oregon. Population growth also factors into a lower inventory. Some people concerned about selling their homes during the pandemic have chosen to hold off. This provides more space for you on the market if you list your home. Here are the precautions I take to ensure everyone’s safety.

Historically low interest rates of below 3% are motivating buyers.

Getting those incredibly low rates shaves off a remarkable difference in what homeowners pay monthly. The Freddie Mac chart below shows the drop in various types of mortgage rates over the past 12 months, bringing us to 2.67% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

Primary Mortgage Market Survey® | U.S. weekly average mortgage rates as of 12/17/2020

Below is a sample mortgage payment calculation factoring in a 10% down payment with a mortgage rate of 3.0%, 3.5%, and 4.0%. So with today’s historically low interest rates, a buyer’s monthly payment would be even lower.

Monthly Mortgage Payment Comparison (Multnomah County)

The National Association of Realtors graph below shows us the median price of a home in the Portland Metro area has increased even though we saw a dip in price growth in 2019. The third quarter of 2020 has rebounded considerably. Fourth Quarter 2020 report was not available at time of publishing.

Portland Vancouver Hillsboro Local Market Report – Third Quarter 2020

If you are still on the fence about whether to list now or wait until spring/summer when house hunting is traditionally more lively, contact me today to have a conversation about your concerns. In the meantime, check out my article on being a prepared home seller.

Originally published 12/28/2020

Why For Sale By Owner Is Not A Good Idea

Smooth ‘Sale-ing’ with Sean

Selling your home yourself might be tempting. Sure, low commission fees and no formal process of purchase might sound like an easy process. But what is the truth about selling your home yourself? Here are reasons why working with a realtor is better than going alone:

Experience

With over 15 years of real estate experience, I have seen a lot—including some surprises with the purchase of my own home. Wouldn’t it be better to hire someone who can anticipate and mitigate bumps in the road? I am trained and experienced in guiding you through the transaction process.

Real Estate Contract Expertise

Your broker is or should be keeping up on the state laws that govern real estate transactions. For example, are you familiar with FIRPTA? Some of the details of the real estate purchase contract are seemingly obscure, but part of the legal process of a sale. How do these rules and regulations impact your investment? Are you a landlord selling your rental property?

All of the legal documents are at your broker’s fingertips. We pay to have access to and use the required standard legal forms. Though tedious and voluminous, the paperwork is in place to protect you, your investment, and your payout. I ensure all the proper disclosure forms are in place so you don’t risk losing your earnest money should a buyer decide to back out. Or worse, a failed sale altogether.

Title Company

Are you equipped to navigate working with a title company? My brokerage and I have established relationships with title companies. The behind-the-scenes preparation influences how smoothly the closing process will go. They ensure all the boxes are checked so your home sale is recorded properly. This attention to detail mitigates errors that if not attended to, may come back to haunt you in the future.

Pricing

FSBOs accounted for 8% of home sales in 2018. The typical FSBO home sold for $217,900 compared to $295,000 for agent-assisted home sales. Source: 2020 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers(link is external)

I also provide:

The multi-page, detailed property entry in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) system. FSBO charges around $400 for this service.
Professional property photography and staging company recommendations so your listing makes that good first impression that is so critical in a competitive market.
Coordination of showings with buyers’ agents.
Installation of a lockbox.
Production and installation of property signage and flyers.
Marketing your property and buying ads and mailers to promote them.
Docusign account, ensuring quick turn-around times on electronic signatures and document delivery.
Access to other resources not readily available to the public.

Why spend time managing these details when you could have an expert handle them for you? While the allure of saving 1 or 2% in commission fees may tempt you, prepare yourself to make the sale of your home a full-time job. As they say, you get what you pay for! Anyone who has cut their own hair knows this to be true–and that some things are better left to the professionals. Contact me to discuss how I can help you with the smooth sale of your home!

Originally published December 16, 2020

PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: Foster-Powell

10 Things You Should Do to Get Your Home Autumn Ready

PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: Montavilla

PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: Sellwood-Moreland

PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: St. Johns

Get Your Home Summer Ready!

PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: Multnomah/Multnomah Village

PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: North Tabor

Advantages to Selling a Home in Oregon This Winter

We are seeing historically low real estate inventory lately not just in the Portland market, but nationwide.

Historically low interest rates of below 3% are motivating buyers.

Why For Sale By Owner Is Not A Good Idea

Smooth ‘Sale-ing’ with Sean

Experience

Real Estate Contract Expertise

Title Company

Pricing

I also provide:

About Sean Besso

Client Reviews

Get in Touch