Keeping It Real Estate with Colleen Benson
Weekly guidance concerning the real estate landscape in Oregon. From Salem to Portland to Bend and the coast, this is the show for you if you want to know the 411 on the real estate market throughout the Willamette Valley. Join Realtor Colleen Benson each week for great buying and selling tips.
Episodes
Episodes
Thursday Mar 07, 2024
How National Real Estate Trends Impact Salem, Oregon
Thursday Mar 07, 2024
Thursday Mar 07, 2024
On this episode, we're zooming in on how national real estate trends are directly affecting your local market. Are sellers in your area more open to concessions? How have recent shifts in interest rates influenced the local real estate scene? And has the rise in remote work been a boon or a drag for your local housing market?
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
0:00 - Intro
2:27 – More seller concessions
4:29 – Interest rates
6:10 – Low existing home sales
7:31 – Realtor concerns
10:00 – Remote work impact
Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/
Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value
Watch our show & see featured listings on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3uGMsBW
Thursday Feb 29, 2024
January Real Estate Market Jumps in Salem, Oregon
Thursday Feb 29, 2024
Thursday Feb 29, 2024
On this episode, we're zooming in on how national real estate trends actually differ from what we are seeing around Oregon to start 2024. While many of the headlines are full of doom and gloom, Salem and surrounding areas have had a great start to the year.
We’re going to highlight a few of the key stats that capture this positive momentum and then share a great story from the closing table about a multigenerational home we worked on last month.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
0:00 – Intro
0:46 – Market update
4:06 – Local perspective
6:00 – Closing Recap
Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/
Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value
Watch our show & see featured listings on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3uGMsBW
Thursday Feb 22, 2024
Two Listings in Salem & Dallas, Oregon You’ll Want to See
Thursday Feb 22, 2024
Thursday Feb 22, 2024
We’re excited to bring our podcast to YouTube so that we can expand the show by sharing photos of the homes we feature on the show. To kick it off, we have two great homes to showcase in this episode.
The first is a 3br/2ba home in Dallas, Oregon that is listed for $530,000. It features a large flat driveway with an RV parking pad and some beautiful touches throughout the home.
The second home is a cute home in West Salem, Oregon that you’ll find for under $400,000. It’s a new home, built in 2015, with a very manageable lot.
Check out the listings below:
https://wvmls.paragonrels.com/paragonls/publink/view.mvc/?GUID=a453f22b-271e-49e0-a3ac-0a4fa0dfedd1&Report=Yes
https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/homes-for-sale/OR/salem/97304/909-limelight-ave-nw/bid-178-813059
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
0:00 - Intro
1:10 – Home in Dallas, Oregon
4:57 – Home in Salem, Oregon
Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/
Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value
Watch our show & see featured listings on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3uGMsBW
Thursday Dec 21, 2023
How to Find a Bargain-Priced Home
Thursday Dec 21, 2023
Thursday Dec 21, 2023
We all like to get a good deal, especially when it comes to a major purchase like buying a home. Today, we talk through an older article with tips and tricks on how to find a bargain-priced home. Colleen shares which of these pointers she agrees with and which ones she feels have changed over time.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
Homes on the market for more than 30 days may open up a bargain.
Stay away from turnkey and fixer-upper homes.
Should you shop for alternatives to single-family homes?
Seek out less desirable or outdated homes.
Find foreclosure options…if they exist.
Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/
Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
Clearing The Air About Commissions
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
You may have heard some recent buzz about real estate commissions in the news. Following a lawsuit in Missouri, we discuss some potential shifts and perspectives regarding commission structures. Right now, buyers don’t pay a realtor fee and the sellers do. How could this potentially impact homebuyers? Colleen shares what she foresees happening and how much to be concerned about it.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
How standard real estate commissions work.
What changes could buyers face?
Will first-time homebuyers have a harder time?
Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/
Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value
Thursday Nov 16, 2023
The Common Pitfalls of For Sale By Owner
Thursday Nov 16, 2023
Thursday Nov 16, 2023
It can be tempting to sell your house on your own and avoid paying commission. But did you know that more often than not, sellers end up losing more when doing it on their own instead of working with a realtor? We talk through the common pitfalls faced when doing a for sale by owner on today’s show. Then you can decide for yourself if it’s still worth the risk.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
The hidden costs of inexperience get exposed.
There are safety and security concerns.
Navigating the negotiations adds to profitability and ease of the sale.
Lost opportunities mean less business.
You’ll want to know how to sort through the serious buyers.
Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/
Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value
Thursday Nov 02, 2023
Bad News: Real Estate in the Headlines
Thursday Nov 02, 2023
Thursday Nov 02, 2023
Have you heard the news? We talk about some of the national headlines making the rounds about real estate and find out from Colleen if it rings true locally. According to recent studies, 8 out of 10 Americans think it’s a bad time to buy a home. Is that really true? While the mortgage rates are high, Colleen thinks it’s actually a great time to buy. Buyers have plenty of time to do inspections or voice concerns in a way they haven’t in the past few years.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
Is it a bad time to buy a home?
Will prices of homes drop anytime soon?
Homebuilder confidence is declining
Last minute cancellations are a major fear among sellers
Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/
Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
Top Fears for Homebuyers and Sellers
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
It’s spooky season! Colleen and Walter kick off the episode by sharing some of their feelings about Halloween scares and haunted houses before they share the top fears that many homebuyers and sellers face. Before you cover your eyes or run away in fear, don't worry! Listen in as Colleen advises on how to overcome these fears and navigate your home buying or selling process with ease.
Here are some of the top fears we discuss today:
Hidden issues and needed repairs after the purchase scare potential buyers.
The fear of missing out can cause some people to overspend.
The unknown may be scariest of all!
No seller wants to accidentally underprice their home.
The idea of getting no offers at all can cause anxiety.
Unqualified buyers can make for a scary situation when it’s time to close.
Get in touch with Benson Broker Group: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/
Find out how much your home is worth: https://bensonbrokergroup.com/home_value