Real Estate Articles

Living in Ridgefield, Washington [Insider's Guide]

Living in Ridgefield, Washington [Insider's Guide]

Initially settled by the Chinook Native American people, Ridgefield, Washington is now a rapidly growing town of a little over 9,000 people. Ridgefield's population has more than quadrupled over the last few decades and doubled since 2010. ...

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Types of Listing Agreements

Types of Listing Agreements

In nearly every part of the United States, sellers who contract with an agent to sell their residential real estate sign one of three types of listing agreements: (1) the exclusive listing (2) the exclusive agency listing, and (3) an open listing....

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The Best Portland Suburbs

The Best Portland Suburbs

Portland’s suburbs are better suited for home shoppers who want more space than they would otherwise find within the city’s boundaries. These smaller cities and towns offer a more suburban lifestyle but still give their residents the ...

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Earnest Money in Oregon: Can I Get it Refunded?

Earnest Money in Oregon: Can I Get it Refunded?

Being a buyer’s agent in real estate transactions, I often get asked these questions. It is a legitimate and a very important question for home buyers. It is also a very broad question that comes with many different answers in both black / ...

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Portland's Eastside vs Westside: Which is Better?

Portland's Eastside vs Westside: Which is Better?

Many Portlanders are dead set on where they want to live. Some fans of the Eastside swear they will never live on the Westside and vice versa. Each of Portland's official neighborhoods can be so different; crossing the Willamette River ...

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The Best Neighborhoods in Portland

The Best Neighborhoods in Portland

Portland neighborhoods differ quite a lot in terms of lifestyle, architecture, access to nature, local amenities, and much more. Home shoppers will find Portland houses ranging from high-rise condos Downtown to two-acre farms in the ...

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Closing Costs in Oregon

Closing Costs in Oregon

The chart below shows who pays for what in Oregon between the home buyer and seller including how much each pays. This is an example for a $350K home. Home buying and selling can be a costly process. Many people jump into their dream of home ...

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Buying a Home with Unpermitted Work in Portland

Buying a Home with Unpermitted Work in Portland

When you buy a house, the amount of work and due diligence items a buyer should perform can be overwhelming. As a buyer, working with a lender is already a lot of work. On top of that, identifying any issues with a house is critical before you even ...

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Buying a House With an Easement: Is That Bad?

Buying a House With an Easement: Is That Bad?

Note: This article was originally published on May 6, 2016 and authored by Peter Park, J.D., a Portland real estate attorney. It has been updated since its original publication date. When I was in law school, and once again for the bar exam, I ...

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Proof of Funds Explained

Proof of Funds Explained

If you’re thinking about making an offer on a home, your Realtor has likely asked you to produce two key documents to submit with your offer: proof of funds and a pre-approval letter. These two documents go hand-in-hand to create the best ...

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Pre Approval Letter [Sample + How to Get One]

Pre Approval Letter [Sample + How to Get One]

A pre-approval letter is a written statement from a lender that summarizes how much money they’ll loan to a borrower to buy a home. Pre-approval letters also stipulate the type of loan program used for the purchase. Banks or mortgage ...

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What is a Home Warranty? Everything You Need to Know

What is a Home Warranty? Everything You Need to Know

A home warranty is a service contract that covers the repair or replacement of appliances and mechanical systems in a home for one year. Warranties are renewable annually. Homeowners take comfort knowing that when items covered by their warranty ...

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Who Pays Realtor® Fees?

Who Pays Realtor® Fees?

Two of the most frequently asked real estate questions Realtors hear from first time home buyers and sellers are how: do Realtors get paid and do I have to pay an agent to buy a home? This post aims to clarify who is responsible for paying realtor ...

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Closing Costs in Washington State

Closing Costs in Washington State

Who Pays Closing Costs in Washington State? Closing costs in Washington State are the fees and taxes associated with real estate transactions. If you’ve purchased a home in the past, you may can recall the fees that get tacked on during ...

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Steps in the Escrow Process Simplified!

Steps in the Escrow Process Simplified!

So, the offer you made on a home was accepted? Congrats! You're now in escrow. Pretty soon you'll receive a mountain of paperwork and disclosures and reports to read. The professionals who’ve been helping you (your agent and lender) will get ...

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12 Common Real Estate Questions That Buyers Ask

12 Common Real Estate Questions That Buyers Ask

Real Estate FAQs As a home buyer, especially if you are new to the process, you will be learning about several new real estate terms. Although you will, of course, have your real estate agent to rely on, sometimes it's nice to know what you're ...

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What Does Bumpable Mean in Real Estate?

What Does Bumpable Mean in Real Estate?

“Bumpable” is a property listing status that is used by an MLS to indicate to other real estate agents and prospective buyers that a seller accepted an offer on their home, but with the condition that the buyer first sells their current ...

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