Has anyone offered you the Home Buyers Scouting Report?

This is an Exciting & FREE home finding service directly to home owners.

The Report is customized to your price range, home styles, neighborhoods, bedrooms & more.

HBM shows exactly what homes sold for (up to 12 months), current listings, & recently sold homes.

The Home Buyers Scouting Report offers ALL the available listings that match your personal search criteria from area real estate companies, COMPLETE with Pictures, Prices, Directions, & Maps.

You will receive ‘Quick Alert’ emails of new listings as they become available & you can even schedule a property showing with your REALTOR through Home Buyers Scouting Report!.

Let me know if this is something you want to untilize.

Talk to you soon!
Nikki

Tue May 6 2008, 14:03

Hello Shelley,
First time home buyer financing used to allow the buyer the ability to come up with less of a down payment. Financing now doesn't matter if you are a first time buyer or not, you still can go for the same type of financing. If you are looking for a low or no down payment loan then call me. Although there are 100% financing programs, you'll find that the private mortgage insurance company (pmi) will not always insure the loan. So using someone that knows what they are doing and keeps up with the rapid and ever changing guidelines is very helpful.

There are other ways of obtaining a down payment....gift funds and borrowed funds are some ideas but there are many options. Call me with your scenario and I'll put together some options for you free of charge. It helps to know what to expect. You can email me at crystal@ambientlending.com or call me toll free 877-777-9763. We lend within the entire State of Oregon. www.ambientlending.com

Fri May 2 2008, 14:03

Hello,
I plan to put my 2005 3/2.5 house on the market in May. It's a great house with lots of upgrades - laminate throughout lower level and most of upstairs too. Custom paint colors and tile in the bathroom backsplashes imported from Turkey. It has a great view of the Jackson Bottom Wetlands preserve - nesting eagles and all kinds of wildlife yet only 25 minutes by car to downtown Portland. Good school district, friendly neighbors, low HOA that also takes care of front yard.
Let me know if you'd like more details.
Thanks
Kelley

Wed Apr 2 2008, 21:18

I'usually give this information to my clients as they start their home search. I like to have them well informed of any neighborhood they are looking at. Since we, as Realtors(c) can not ''STEER" we are better to give resources for investigations to make a buyer's job easier.
I would really love to help you in your search as you consider relocating. I have a lot of experience with relocations and can also send you a relocation packet. You can go to my web site below and email me to request this relocation packet. You can also search all listed homes, see house-specific satalite mapping, community connections, events etc. To check my QSC rating go tohttp:// www.qualityservice.org and type in my name June Lizotte and state of Oregon.

To check on Registered Sex Offenders
http://www.nsopr.gov/

To check Crime Stats, School Report Cards, zones etc.
http://www.portlandmaps.com


To check on aerial maps, satellite imagery of global locations, zones and other pertinent information regarding a home you may wish to purchase or to simply enhance your knowledge of geography and topography.
http://www.googleearth.com
http://mapslive.com

http://www.familywatchdog.us/ (they can link this one from my web site as well)

http://www.gis.ci.portland.or.us/maps/police/

http://www.pdx.edu/cpso/campuscrimelog.html Portland State Crime Log

http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=116 Area school report cards

http://www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml Area Education (No Child Left Behind)

http://www.learningfirst.org More on Oregon Education Issues

http://www.osba.org/hotopics/rptcard/index.asp More On Schools- OR. School Board

Wed Apr 2 2008, 01:13

If you need any information, feel free to email me directly. I specialize in first time buyers in close-in SE and NE Portland. I moved here from Los Angeles five years ago. It's a trip, I can tell you that. Portland is night and day from So Cal. It's wonderful, though. I agree with much of the advice you've already gotten. It will be extremely important for you to actually visit the neighborhoods you're interested in. SE Portland can vary quite a bit "street by street". You might love one block yet be put off by an area three blocks away. As you've probably found by now, Portland's public schools aren't always the best. Having said that, there are some really good ones. You'll want to make sure you choose a neighborhood with one of the better local schools. The more info you can give me the better I can direct you to some neighborhoods I think you'd like.

By the way, sounds like we have some similar backgrounds. I just turned 34. Both my wife and I grew up in SoCal. We own a classic home. Etc. etc.

Give me a shout if you'd like some help.

Tue Mar 11 2008, 12:36

Wow, I love this thread, REO's auctions, cautions....Absolutely get inspections, and often you can negotiate a repair. If you are not working with an agent that will help you make an aggressive offer, find one. I am in Vancouver...yet I know SE has become very popular. Vancouver has some great neighborhoods, great schools, and no income tax!...
I just stopped by to drop off a "community reports" link I provide folks....great information and can zoom right into an address.

Sun Mar 9 2008, 13:41

Kathy,
I looked into the auction side of it, and I am going to stay far away from that avenue. I would not buy a house I could not have a full inspection done on. I am going to do either a Short Sale, or buy an REO house. Both of which would allow me, or other buyers for that matter, the ability to have the house inspected by professionals, before deciding to buy.

I should have made that clearer in my post. Thank you for bringing that up. Buying at the auction is very very risky business, and should be left to professionals that have that kind of money to waste.

MissTessi

Sun Mar 9 2008, 13:17

Miss Tessi, this is a great avenue for someone who had the time and talent to discern the facts and determination to stick to it...however, is you are transfering and need a quick move or do not wish to engage in that kind of real estate the traditional avenue is always there...My Husband and I have in the past purchased realestate on the Courthouse steps, it is fun and has been worthwhile...I do know others that have had disappointment taking that avenue, as you cannot always view the interiors of the homes being sold and do not know the condition that has been left behind...so, buyer beware...there can be some angry and disappointed homeowners on their way out...

Sun Mar 9 2008, 12:16

Shelley,

I am not a realtor; I am also a home buyer. I have been researching prices in Portland, Vancouver, and up here where I currently live, Seattle. I will be buying a home that is either in Foreclosure (you can offer a price to the Lender, called a short sale), or an REO (stands for Real Estate Owned) home. An REO home has gone through the auction and the bank bought it back. Either no one bid on it, or the bank out bid them. I will make sure I am not buying a house where the bank out bid someone and I am paying more than $.50 on the dollar for a home.

If you want the websites I use for my research email me for them. I love Portland, I used to live there and I can't wait to get back.

I would NOT pay the prices that are on the MLS or flyers. Many, many homes are either IN foreclosure, or on the brink of foreclosure. You are in the driving seat, and you can do a little research and save yourself tens of thousands of dollars, if not more.

MT

Sun Mar 9 2008, 03:48

Sls was right on! Portlandmaps.com is one of the best sites to look on and you can see the crime in the area. I always think it's a great idea to visit the neighborhoods that you like at different times of the day and sit in the car and really spend some time checking things out. I also think the area will depend on where your commute will be. There are some great areas in SE and some really bad areas. Most of us "agents" have school info on our web sites that pull from a third party source so school info should be a true picture for you. My best advise would be once you narrow it down find someone in that area that really knows it and will spend the time to show you and your family around. There is more to a good agent then just selling you a house, most will take the time to help your family really love the area and home that you are investing in. Good luck!

Tue Mar 4 2008, 23:21

As a relocated Californian myself, I was surprised to see the great "bargain" neighborhoods promoted by realtors. If you're accustomed to Californian neighborhoods built in the 1950s and later, you may not find some of these neighborhoods promoted as bargains as all that charming. I've been struck that they're actually kind of run down.

To new buyers looking to relocate I'd caution you to read the neighborhood web sites with care. Most of these are sponsored by real estate groups, who put the best picture on them. They show one cute shop or upgraded Victorian in a photo, which implies the whole region looks that way.

Check out Portlandmaps.com to identify crime rates and understand the turnover in a property. Also be aware that the market is highly variable these days and you can't rely on "comparables" to give you a clear sense of value. A lot of properties in the "value" neighborhoods have been flipped in recent years and new buyers will be absorbing the overinflated prices of earlier years.

Portland is a lovely place, but you really need to visit and spend some time before you're convinced that it's for you. If you're used to southern CA subdivision communities, you might check out Beaverton, which is much newer.

Tue Mar 4 2008, 12:49

Having lived in California I was amazed that I could actually buy a house in the Portland area. I think where you are looking is great.........have you considered Overlook in northeast? Check out schoolmatters.com for comparisons on school districts you are considering.

Tue Mar 4 2008, 10:53

Shelley, you may want to consider Vancouver, Washington for a look as well...we have excellent school systems here, parks, walking trails, and much, much, more...give it a look...

Tue Mar 4 2008, 07:51

Hi! I have helped several buyers in your similar circumstances find their first homes in Portland. I also have 3 kids who have attended Portland Public Schools in SE and think you will find them to be excellent (despite what you might hear in the media). Depending on your children's ages, you have lots of options. SE Portland is home to a public Chinese Immersion school (at Woodstock), Japanese Immersion (Richmond) and Spanish Immersion (Atkinson). They also have many excellent K-5 and K-8 formats, and even a year round (Abernethy). I would love to send you some houses that fit your parameters if you are interested! Good luck...

Mon Mar 3 2008, 10:19

We also have three children and spent a year searching through neighborhoods and schools before settling in the Hillsdale neighborhood and our kids are at Rieke Elementary and Gray Middle School (the best and smallest middle school in the city--I subbed at most of them, and by far looove Gray). The kids are great, the families are incredible and down to earth. Good restaurants, five minutes to downtown, safe area, lowest crime rate in the city, and it's extremely family-friendly.

Good luck! I'd search in the 97219 or 97239 zip codes for some great houses and schools. Our second choice school would be Maplewood, by the way.

Fri Feb 29 2008, 16:28

My wife and I bought a home from Renaissance Homes. They are great neighborhoods and the schools are excellent. I know they have numerous neighborhoods around Portland with varying prices. We wanted a nice new home that was built to green standards and that is what we found with Renaissance Homes. Great people and a great product. I would highly recomend checking them out.

Best luck on the relocation,

Bill Carter

Sat Feb 16 2008, 14:55