Nathan J.

Hi Carolyn,
I am a Realtor in Bandon which is about 25 minutes north of Port Orford. I would love to spend some time with you covering the area and our weather patterns. I have lived in Bandon for the majority of my life, but lived in Seattle for three years between 2000 and 2003. I have family in Gig Harbor and visit regularly. I much prefer our weather to the consistantly overcast areas of WA. There are a few things you might want to consider when looking at the Oregon Coast in terms of weather and which area will suit you best.

When you have a moment, please feel free to email me or call me on my cell phone, 541-404-3322. I hope that I can help shed some light on your dreary Washington winter! - Sat Feb 9 2008, 11:49

Jim is correct in explaining QSC (Quality Service Certified) and Holly is correct in decoding the acronym PC (Personal Corporation). Any broker who operates under a Personal Corporation must always accompany the company's name (usually the Brokers full name) with PC afterwards. So say the Brokers name is Joe Smith and he operates under a PC. He must always market and advertise as Joe Smith, PC. This resolves him of being personally responsible or liable in the event he is sued so you can not go after his house or personal belongings. There are also a multitude of tax benefits to operating under a PC.

As for QSC, that is simply additional training or education that a broker has completed in order to earn that designation. There are certain requirements which each designation demands in order to qualify to receive the designation itself. You will see many Realtors operating under a multitude of designations. Some of the most common are GRI, ABR, CRS and CRE.

I should point out that even though a Realtor has acquired those designations, it does not guarantee he/she is superior to one who does not have those designations.

I hope this answers your question. - Sat Nov 24 2007, 21:04

Does she specialize in the neighborhood that you are searching in? Part of the benefits to using a Realtor is that they know the ins and outs of each area. They are able to inform you of new homes on the market in that area and whether or not it is a fit for you. Whatever you do, don't sign an exclusive contract with her. It sounds like you are in a difficult spot, but if you want better representation you simply have to ask for it. If you don't get it, tell her that you need to find someone else to work with.

Buying a home should not be taken lightly and if she isn't doing her end of the work, cut her loose. Just having her write up the deal contributes to her delinquency and she needs to know as a professional, how her clients need to be treated. It may be tough to swallow, but she isn't doing you any favors, why would you do her a favor? In any instance, it needs to be dealt with lightly but it also needs to happen immediately. - Fri Oct 26 2007, 10:22

YOU ARE IN LUCK! FHA loans don't even look at your credit. That is the beauty of Federally secured loans. If you have not yet purchased a home, then you can qualify for an FHA loan. I beleive the lender will require 3 years of tax returns to verify whether or not you have owned a home in your past. The best step you can take is talking with a mortgage lender. Not a brokerage. Your loan origination fees will be smaller if you talk with a conventional lender, plus you can rest assured that they are not some fly-by-night outfit like we have seen in the past. Talk to your bank about who handles FHA loans and then talk directly with that person. If your bank does not have someone who specializes in this type of lending, talk to another bank who does. Bank of America is really picking up the pieces of the mortgage fall-out, so they are very willing to work with new buyers. No matter who you choose, make sure they are reputable. The best part about an FHA loan and the current housing market is that you can request the home seller to pay for your closing costs and minimize your out-of-pocket expenses. Or, ask your lender about the Oregon Bond Measure, this may or may not help depending on your household income level. Where in Oregon are you planning on purchasing? - Fri Oct 26 2007, 09:32

Check out buyersfund.com or ameridream.org. Or just Google; Down Payment Assistance Programs and do some homework. Good luck. Oh yeah...I wouldn't buy anything without the knowledge and guidance of a professional Realtor working on your behalf. Remember, you can choose any Realtor you want to work with. If the home is not listed, chances are the sellers will be willing to compensate the Realtor, so no additional money out of your pocket. - Fri Oct 19 2007, 23:35