Herb's Portland Oregon Real Estate Blog your RE/MAX Agent

Foreclosures and Short Sales. We here about them all the time. We all know of a Rich uncle or Friend who claims to make fabulous money in the real estate market Buying and Selling Foreclosures.

Dan a real estate Investor and fixer buyer of Portland Oregon Real Estate and I had been working together only a short time. Dan had told me that he had worked with several agent's over the past few years but had not found anyone that he really clicked with.

The Fixer upper market in Portland Oregon is a tough one. Tough in that there is a lot of well healed competition. In a City like Portland where there is a great deal of Urban renewal projects like Vanport Square and Magic_Johnson's_47,000_SQFT_Sports_and_Fitness_Center_in_Portland's  inner NE Alberta Arts neighborhood.

I had found for Dan a great Victorian fixer upper in the Mt._Tabor_Neighborhood_of_Portland in the inner southeast. We had made an offer which was accepted by the Seller. The Home inspection was not much of a surprise even though there was a tremendous amount to be done before this fixer upper could be put back on the market.

What was a surprise was the  Default_Notice_on_the_Preliminary_Title_Report and our lack of notification from the Seller and or Listing Agent.

Follow Dan and I throughout this Short_Sale_Nightmare  and find out what we learned and how it could benefit you.

In the Heart of the  Pocono_Mountains  in Northeastern Pennsylvania Lies Lake_Wallenpaupack  and the home of Real estate agent Karen Rice of Weichert Realtors-Paupack Group

 Karen has never considered herself a "salesperson" in the traditional sense; she does believe in DOING what she does best - serving customers.  Karen calls this "Do" diligence! 

Caring and serving your customers first. That my friends is " Do Diligence. "

For The Rest of the Story On Karen_Rice   follow this link. For Information about Lake Wallenpaupack go to www.wallenpaupacklakeproperty.com

Steve Dalton Builder Contractor of Synergy Homes Is Your Portage Indiana Home Builder.  Steve Specializes in

Building and working with the First Home Buyer. This 1500 Sqft Ranch style home with a full basement in Valpariso Indana for sale in the Low $200,000's is Steve's most popular home.

Map of Portage, Valpariso and other surrounding communities where Steve Dalton's Synergy Homes is building your dream home today. Call One of the Professionals at Synergy Homes today (219) 464-8888

Featured here as proposed for Eagle Ridge is this     stunning  2 story home. Another quality built beauty in Valaraiso by Builder Steve Dalton of Synergy Homes. Priced well below the $300,000 range as proposed only $284,900. Be sure to check out all thier Floor_Plans_For_Synergy_Homes  right away. Steve's Knowledgeable staff is on hand to help guide you on your first or second home buying desicion.

You Can email them for more information at  info@synergyhomes.com  Do it today you will be glad you did.

  Map of Portage Indiana and Surrounding commuities.

Be sure to check with Steve and his Staff for the Monthly_Special_from_Synergy_Homes . While Steve certainly builds a quality product he also recognizes everyones interest to get a good deal.

Why Choose Synergy Homes ? Steve and His staff explains it best  "Modern floor plans and innovative design features, such as soaring ceilings, dramatic entryways and clever use of windows, create a feeling of spaciousness even in smaller homes. And the new décor can save you thousands in remodeling costs and hassles. Energy-efficient. Today's heating and cooling systems are nearly twice as efficient as those made before 1980, keeping your home comfortable and draft-free while saving you hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs, all while doing your part to sustain the environment"

Come talk with Steve today about your Next Synergy built Home in Portage or the surrounding communities wont you. Visit them on there Web Site Synergy_Homes_of_Portage_Indiana  where your First home is waiting to be built.

City-Data_Information_About_Portage_Indiana  includes map and lots of local information.

Local_Informational_Web_Page_of_Portage_Indiana  lots of local links to Business listings and Services

Official_Home_Page_of_Portage_Indiana  City of Portage official web site includes all government links.

Portage_Indiana_and_Surrounding_Communities_Weather_Maps_And_Forecast 

      Tina Stewart Howell a real estate agent with NCR Brokerage. Tina works in the and around the the Dallas Ft Worth Texas area in Celina and Frisco communities. Be sure to stop by her web site at Celina_Living  where you will find lots of community information in her  Community_of Celina Resources_Page  and if it is home searches you are looking for then be sure to check out the Free_Celina Tx MLS_Search  feature.

This small community in Celina_Tx  with home prices from $108,000 to $1,800,000 has something to offer for everyone.

Tina's Love of her community and for real estate shows. In these Five Promisses :

• I promise that we will work together as a team to meet your real estate needs.
• I promise to keep you 100% informed during our time together.
• I promise to answer my phone when you call or return your call within 1 hour. 7 days a week, 8am-8pm.
• I promise to personally call you, a least 2x a week, with the latest updates on your transaction.
• I promise to answer all of your questions to the best of my ability.

And as Tina says :

I'm a member of the Texas Association of REALTORS®,  the Metrotex Association of REALTORS®, and the National Association of REALTORS®.  Being a member of all these associations makes me a "REALTOR®" which sets me apart from the average licensed real estate agent who does not abide by the set of Ethics that I do. 

Be sure to Give Tina a call or check our her web site. You will be glad you did.

Celina_Chamber_of_Commerce  Demographics and more. See what this charming community has to offer.

Celina_City_Data  Full of local flavor, information and photo's.

Great Celina Texas_Schools  Information on ceilina schools.

City_of_Celina_Web_Site  city information links and photo's 

The recent LightRail ( Max ) extension in North Portland from the Rose_Quarter  home of the Portland_TrailBlazers  NBA professional basket ball team. Tri-Met's  Max_Lightrail  service, the Yellow Line is connected to the main line and runs past the Rose Quarter up Interstate avenue and on out to the Expo_Center  in North Portland.

Along the way you will have an opportunity to view some of Portland Oregon's unique Art Work and Sculptures like the Following. :

Freestanding sculpture at Trimet's MAX Lightrail Station, Albina Mississippi in Portland close to the Rose Quarter.

Group of Three Sculptures at Ainsworth and Interstate ave on Max light rail line in North Portland oregon.

 A Modern Metal Sculpture on the Island of Max Lightrail and Paul Bunyan at Kenton Station in Portland Oregon.

We do love our art work in Portland and we hope you will to. Come for a visit we would love to have you.

Call me today my cell phone number is  503 515 8889  I will treat you fair and honest .

          No high pressure sales techniques. You call we discuss. If we can't do business we will part friends.

    Herb Hamilton is a Real Estate Broker with RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors working in Portland Oregon

                              " A Real Estate Transaction with Herb is one YOU will Profit from "

Over the Years I have sent enough Letters, Flyers, Business Cards and Postcards to completely Paper this fabulous home in Uptown    NW Portland Oregon is a bit of a Fixer Upper.

It is just a great home close to NW 23rd avenue and is one of the last Big Fixer Upper homes. Although the lot is small the House more than makes up for the lands short comings. The Turret is just sweet.

Do you know who owns this Victorian in Portland? If so give me a call I would love to talk to them about it.

Fair and Honest prices are paid. Our philosophy in purchasing property is one of a fair deal. What is a fair deal? A fair deal is one where all parties are happy with the outcome.

                         Call me today my cell phone number is  503 515 8889  I will treat you fair and honest .

This is a Great Market we are in. I love this kind of market. It is the kind of market that Agent's with strong real estate sales backgrounds can excel in. Marketing agent's don't depend on a Buyer's Market or a Seller's Market.

Let's face it. When the Market is Hot like it has been for the past several years, you basically only had to be a WBB (warm breathing body) to do the job. Thats right no skills, just a pleasant personality would in many cases get you through the day.

Folks! For most of us, Those Days Are Gone ! Hallelujah ! It is time for Marketing Agent's to step to the front.

Are you that Agent? NO. Want to be? Everything you need, every skill, every tool, every possible technique you will ever need to become a Top Marketing Agent is right here. That's right! Right here in front of you on AR.

                                                 Search_ActiveRain

                                    Do YOU have What it Takes to be Great?

No high pressure sales techniques. You call we discuss. If we can't do business we will part friends.

    Herb Hamilton is a Real Estate Broker with RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors working in Portland Oregon

                              " A Real Estate Transaction with Herb is one YOU will Profit from "

Ben specializes in Seattle real estate - condos, lofts and townhomes - in Downtown Seattle, Belltown, Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, First Hill, Pioneer Square, Ballard, Fremont, Green Lake, University District and West Seattle.  Though Ben is an urban condo and loft specialist, he has a number of clients in South Snohomish County and have sold homes in Bothell, Mill Creek and Lynnwood.

Ben also writes Two Blogs Seattle_Condos_and_Lofts  find out about everything you want to know about Seattle Condo and Lofts. The Seattle_Housing_Buzz  providing commentary, market trends, news and Real Estate technology

Ben volunteers and/or contributes to the following organizations:

  J.L.Scott_Fndtn Children's_Hospital  Seattle_Animal_Shelter Lifelong_Aids_Aln.

Ben's Web Site Living_Northwest  Is full of local and regional information. Providing an easy to use interface for Home Buyer's and Seller's alike. Check out the Featured_Homes  page here.

If it's Market_Update_Information  you are after, be sure to check back often as Ben keeps you up todate on trends and stats in the Seattle Wa. Condo and Loft Market.

Ben Kakimoto Your Seattle Washington Condo and Loft specialist

Wikipedia_:_Belltown  The free Encyclopedia's entry for Seattle's  Belltown Neighborhood 

Seattle's_Belltown_Neighborhood  Has it all from Hot Jazz, Exciting Nightclubs in Seattles Restaurant Epicenter.

Belltown_Destination_360  an interactive 360 degree video of Belltown and it's many beautifull Condo's.

Ben is someone I consider to be a friend. As a real estate Broker in Portland Oregon I would definetely consider Ben one of the tops in his area of expertise.

How Prepared are You as a Real Estate Agent? Do you carry with you the necessary tools do you your job? We never know in this business when the need may arise and an opportunity may be lost. I will give you an example.

On a damp Tuesday Morninga group of us were looking at all the new vacant land properties just outside of the city limits. Most of the parcels were fairly small and easy to get to. As we made our way up the single car road towards the 1/2 acre of ground a property coincidentally listed just the night before by one of the agents in our group, the caravan came to a sudden stop.

Being the 5th or so car back it took me a while to make my way up the rain soaked slippery cart path. When I got to where the first car had stopped the group was forming and looking across a small land bridge at the head of a small gully. On the other side stood the listing agent. Hurry up he was calling out to the stragglers still making there way up the slippery road.

Okay Okay he called out as the drizzle began to pick up a little steam. Now as a true Oregonian we would't call that a Rain. We might though call it a Driven Mist, as it started to pelt down on us while standing on side of this cart path listening to the agent regale the attributes of the listing.

The crowd was indeed getting restless and seemed as if they wanted to bolt but did not want to offend the agent. I called out and asked to him, What is the Price? He quickly answered back beaming from ear to ear. And the term's I asked what are they? Still beaming he satisfied my questions and asked in a booming voice " Do you have some one for this ?"

To which I answered Holding up the Earnest money contract that I had extricated from the inner pocket of my Blazer " Yes and here is the Offer! How soon can you present? It is full price cash with a 10 day closing! " The crowd assembled was in the murmur state and only the owner of our office who was present made the following comment.

Dang , Herb !  I was going to do that but did not have an offer sheet with me. I thought I would have enough time to do it when we got back to the office. Good for you. He went on to say " Folks that is what being prepared is all about ".

This last year for me has seen the replacement of much of the Technology that I use in Real Estate for my own personal office. I detailed the account of one of those purchases in a post Deal_or_no_Deal  about the purchase of a Toshiba  Laptop computer. The Toshiba has really worked out well and I am as pleased as punch that I made the purchase.

In fact that the Toshiba Laptop computer has already paid for itself many times over. The first time as related in the post The_New_Laptop_Pays_Off . In the subsequent dialogue of comments that followed that post  Ardell_DellaLoggia   asked "How did you print the offer?"  I followed that post a few days later with I_Am_Truly_Mobile  where I discussed the portable HP printer an HP_460  and a fabulous Neat_Receipts_portable_scanner   from  Staples .

A few weeks before I bought the Laptop and peripherals I had been looking for a camera. I started that search on-line right here on AR through the Group Photography. There were as many opinions as there were cameras. I tried one or two but became very comfortable with the  Canon_Powershot_A_630  digital camera a point and click device.

This 8 megapixel camera is no slouch. It is easy to use and full of various options and functions. To make the whole experience even more enjoyable I coupled this with Picasa  the free editing software from Google_Tools  which I also found out about right here on AR. Picasa just makes your life so easy when it comes to editing sharing etc. You can also scan from your computer and Picasa will automatically pick it up and make that available to you as well.

The beautiful part of this whole thing is ease of use. This morning like usual I made my way to my favorite Coffee House ( University Park Coffee ) in North Portland close by the University_of_Portland  hence its name. I normally arrive early just after they open at 6:00am. While setting up my laptop I began to talk with the Owner of the Coffee shop a little. I asked him if he would like a little free publicity. Or course you know he was interested.

I told him I would like to try out the Camera and the interface with the Toshiba Laptop and would be glad to write an article for my Rose_City_Blog  promoting his coffee shop on my Portland_Real_Property_Web_Site . He of course was very pleased and within minutes I was done with  The_Post  and had it up and running by the time he returned. It was literally only 10 minutes. I was pleased and so was he.

Once again it appears that I am still on  Technologys_Upward_Slippery_Slope  and happy to be so.

No high pressure sales techniques. You call we discuss. If we can't do business we will part friends.

    Herb Hamilton is a Real Estate Broker with RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors working in Portland Oregon

                              " A Real Estate Transaction with Herb is one YOU will Profit from "