Keeping It Real Estate with Colleen Benson

Ep 107: Mailbag – Foreclosures, Divorce Sales, and Renovations

Today we’re opening up the mailbag again to find out what you’re most interested in when it comes to buying and selling a home and we have some great questions to dive into.
 
We’ll cover the foreclosure market and whether we’ll see that increase around Oregon. Then we’ll talk about the pros and cons of hiring experts to do the work around your home. Next we’ll cover a question about trying to navigate the sales process during a divorce. And finally, we’ll wrap it all up with the benefits of undertaking a kitchen remodel.
 
Key Points:  
0:31 – Mailbag question on foreclosure opportunities
4:35 – Mailbag comment on hiring experts
9:24 – Mailbag question on coordinating sale during divorce
11:28 – Mailbag question on kitchen remodels
 
Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

Ep 106: Mailbag – Due Diligence, Home Inspections, and More

Let’s open up the mailbag and answer some of your questions about buying and selling your home. Stella says her neighbors are also planning on selling their home soon. Should she list before, after, or at the same time as them? With interest rates rising and a changing market, we recommend getting listed as soon as possible.
Dean asks how detailed he can get while touring a home. Can he check things like the crawl space and electricity? If you are the only person viewing, we want our clients to look to their heart's content, but within reason. Join us today as we explore these questions and two more on due diligence and rent back setups.  
 
See our listings: https://bit.ly/3z49gcL
 
What we discuss on this episode: 
0:33 – “Do we need to list before or after our neighbors?”
2:38 – “Are you finding any issues with a rent back set up?”
3:43 – “What’s the current expectation with due diligence?”
6:00 – “How detailed can I get when viewing a home?”
 
Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

Ep 105: Signs You’re Looking at a Cheap Flip

With a lot of investors buying up more and more properties in the past few years, there have been a lot of flipped houses coming onto the market. When you are in the search for your next home, how can you be sure what you’re looking at isn’t a cheap flip?
If you’re looking at a home without building permits, but it appears major changes have been made to the property, be wary. This can bite you when you go to sell as well. With mismatched plumbing or wiring you want to be careful you won’t run into future problems with these structural issues. Join us today as we explore some common things to look out for when looking at a flipped home.
 
See our listings: https://bit.ly/3z49gcL
 
What we discuss on this episode: 
0:53 – No building permits, but major changes
1:37 – Fresh paint in certain areas
2:51 – Mismatched plumbing or mismatched wiring
4:32 – Is it helpful to have a contractor?
6:00 – Cabinets and drawers not opening-up
6:32 – Flooring and door inconsistency
 
Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

Ep 104: Mailbag – Listing Prices, Home Inspections, and More

Kathy saw someone on the news recently list their home extremely below market price and it generated a lot of buzz. What does Colleen think of this strategy? This is a great question; most sellers want to price high and go from there. This strategy can generate a lot of bids on your home and end up getting you more money.
Bud is wondering if he has to make his home inspection public to buyers? Not necessarily, but if problems come up you have to legally disclose them. On today’s episode, Colleen answers these mailbag questions and two more on where to look for condos and the best strategy for listing pictures.
 
See our listings: https://bit.ly/3z49gcL
 
What we discuss on this episode: 
0:31 – “Should I list my home really low to generate buzz?”
3:50 – “Do I have to make the inspection of my home public?”
5:27 – “Where should I look for a condo or townhome?”
6:14 – “Can we list now with pictures from the summertime?”
 
Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

Ep 103: True or False? It’s Impossible to Buy Right Now Without Overpaying

True or false? It’s impossible to buy right now without overpaying. You might feel like you are overpaying for homes on the market right now, but keep in mind your equity is also going up once you own that home. So, Colleen doesn't really see it as overpaying.
True or false? You’re most likely going to end up in a bidding war if you buy right now… True! Join us today as we play a round of true or false when it comes to various housing market statements. Colleen will share her expertise on down payments, curb appeal, mortgage rates, and more.
 
See our listings: https://bit.ly/3z49gcL
 
What we discuss on this episode: 
0:45 – “It’s impossible to buy right now without overpaying”
1:34 – “You’re most likely going to be in a bidding war”
2:34 – “Down payments must be between 5 and 20%”
4:05 – “Curb appeal can make or break a sell”
5:40 – “It’s not a big deal if mortgage rate increases by 1%”
7:20 – “You won’t be able to compete with cash buyers”
8:47 – “Zillow home buying estimates are usually correct”
10:12 – What is a CMA?
 
Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

Ep 102: Headlines – Contracts, Profits, and More

What headlines are trending around the real estate market? With a lack of supply, hopeful homebuyers are finding fewer and fewer options. Which means fewer contract signings. In our own area, we are down 20% on new listings taken.
We’ve also seen skyrocketing prices and the average seller profit from 2021 was almost $100,000! Salem made the top list for seller profits in the country. Despite construction costs, new homes are selling fast. On today’s episode, we’ll explore these headlines and more with Colleen.
 
See our listings: https://bit.ly/3z49gcL
 
What we discuss on this episode: 
0:43 – Fewer contracts are being signed
1:41 – Seller profits averaged almost $100,000
3:42 – Sells for new homes are hot
6:10 – Are millennials desperate for a house?
 
Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

Ep 101: Secrets From ”Selling Sunset”

Have you seen the reality show “Selling Sunset”? It covers the top-end and high-end luxury real estate market in Los Angeles. On today’s episode, we are going to have some fun and talk about some of the “Selling Sunset” secrets that may apply to your home buying experience, no matter the price tag. 
Never assume a home is perfect, no matter how much it costs. You don’t want to go into your home search setting yourself up for disappointment. Investigate what development is going on around your potential home. Trees getting cut down, condos getting built, etc. Doing your homework beforehand is always a good idea. We’ll also discuss price appreciation, the market, and contingencies.  
 
See our listings: https://bit.ly/3z49gcL
 
What we discuss on this episode: 
0:27 – Have you seen selling sunset?
2:52 – Never assume a home is perfect
4:35 – What’s going up next door?
8:00 – Home prices appreciate fast
9:56 – Home buyers better move fast
11:02 – Drop contingencies
 
Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog

Ep 100: Mailbag – Inflation, Luxury Homes, and More

Inflation has been rising across the country. How does that impact your home buying timeline? We are seeing mortgage rates increase, but it’s still cheaper to own than to rent. Rent is more unpredictable, a mortgage is locked in.
What advice does Colleen have for people searching for luxury homes? While a lot of the process is the same, there are some unique challenges to look out for when buying a luxury home. On today’s episode, we discuss the impact of inflation on the housing market, how renovations impact your selling power, and more!
 
See our listings: https://bit.ly/3z49gcL
 
What we discuss on this episode: 
0:32 – Should I buy now because of inflation?
3:14 – If we have no baths in our home, will it be harder to sell in the future?
5:44 – What is your advice for luxury home buyers?
 
Learn more: https://www.bensonbrokergroup.com/blog