23 JAN 2021 · One reason buying or selling a home is different than other transactions is because with real estate, egos are sometimes involved. We often hear about the importance of ‘curb appeal,' or making a home look good from the street. Yet the ‘curb appeal' that could be a deal-maker or deal-breaker in your next real estate transaction might be as simple as ‘curbing your own ego.' Curious? Find out more…in this insightful real estate podcast. When store shopping, most of us know what we want. The list can look different, too. For some, it might be milk, eggs and butter. The list for others may include coffee, a pair of shoes, or even a bicycle. When shopping online, this same principle applies. We're there for a reason. Grocery shopping has little drama One curious commonality about in-store and online transactions is the lack of drama. In part, that's because we don't usually haggle about price in those transactions. But they're also what might be called unemotional purchases.   Retail shopping is often low on the emotional scale This frequently isn't the case for house shopping, where there's often emotion and a large price tag attached. So we can agree home buying is different than picking up groceries. Another difference worth considering is that home buyers typically deal with people much like themselves, not a faceless, corporate entity on the other side of the transaction. Absent that corporate dynamic, some home buyers sense they can leverage the human element to ‘get a better deal.' There's plenty of advice bandied about for bargaining with home sellers. At their core is the thought sellers can be manipulated. Among the most popular of these tactics is writing a sentimental, or ‘heart tugging' letter to accompany your real estate offer. Sometimes they work, but more often how the offer is written is what matters most. Emotions and driving sometimes don't mix Have you ever watched a normally calm person behave aggressively while driving? Perhaps they swerve in and out of traffic, or lay on the horn in displeasure when someone cuts them off. A similar phenomena can happen in real estate transactions, fueled in part by emotion and money. Personality changes can look different, depending on each situation. Sometimes they arise out of fear, or a desire for control. The point is that stress can trigger more aggressive behavior that frequently backfires. That's because depending upon how a home buyer is perceived, perception becomes reality to some sellers. Especially appealing to many home sellers is no added drama to what's often an already challenging activity. So instead of blustering one's way through the offer phase with ultimatums or other counterproductive strategies, more sophisticated home buyers find it effective to first discern a seller's reason for selling. This provides a clearer picture of what approach might work best. Armed with that data, a more appealing offer can be drafted. Regardless, abandoning the notion of getting a ‘steal' is helpful, since aside from the occasional horrible real estate market, that's simply not the norm. Besides, most sellers review recent comparable sales with their Realtor before listing their home and therefore have a pretty good idea of their property's value. ‘Win-Win' transactions mean a good deal for all ‘Win-Win' Real estate transactions are most successful when they include an eye for a ‘Win-Win' outcome. Simply put, make it easy for both sides to say ‘Yes.' A key point here is that this means someone doesn't necessarily have to lose. Making the ‘pie bigger' is one analogy, where a real estate deal isn't a ‘zero sum' game. So by enlarging the pie, it's possible for both parties to still meet their needs. Moving day can be fraught

10 JUL 2020 · As we navigate through the 2020 Coronavirus environment, it's helpful to know that pandemics can provide a unique home buying opportunity. That's because market disruptions frequently propel motivated home sellers to action. Yet outbreaks like the Covid-19 virus don't automatically favor home buyers. So what's the real scoop on buying a home during the Covid-19 pandemic? Do home buyers have more, or less of an influence in today's real estate transactions…and what should you know if you're thinking about home buying as Coronavirus dominates the news? Find out more…in this helpful Oregon real estate podcast. 

29 MAY 2020 · When confronting the prospects of selling an Oregon home given the current pandemic climate, a common question asked of Realtors is "What's ahead? Is Oregon's real estate climate likely to get better, get worse, or stay the same?" Find out more in this helpful Oregon real estate podcast episode.

30 APR 2020 · How Long Will Covid-19 Last? Detailed predictions on how long the current Coronavirus pandemic will last require viral modeling and are fraught with degrees of uncertainty. That said, as a virus, we can examine several likelihoods to get a sense of the possibilities. This insightful podcast episode examines each of three pandemic scenarios most likely to affect Oregonians. 

31 MAR 2020 · Given present concerns about the COVID-19 or Corona virus, many Oregon home buyers and home sellers are concerned about how it may affect their next real estate transaction. Related questions include "Will I be able to get a loan?" to "Are buyers still interested in buying?" and "Is the market going to improve, worsen, or stay the same?" Added concerns surround what many formerly took for granted, like the simple act of touring a home, where buyers and sellers now hope to avoid spreading or contracting the virus. In this currently changing situation, answers to all of these questions are not 100% predictable for the short term, but there is heartening news. Based on past virus outbreaks like SARS, viruses can experience less efficient transmission in warmer weather. This makes sense, since in Oregon, Winter frequently means maintaining closer proximity to others indoors for an extended period of time. As we move through Spring, Oregonians tend to spend more time outdoors where transmission can be reduced. We can also be thankful Corona virus didn't first accelerate here in late Autumn or early Winter.

28 FEB 2020 · Downsizing can mean a variety of things to different people. In the real estate realm, downsizing typically involves moving to a smaller, more manageable residence. What might seem to some a minor event, downsizing can have life-changing repercussions. This insightful Oregon real estate podcast shows how to identify if downsizing is right for you or your loved ones and the steps to do it right!

31 JAN 2020 · With rare exception, most home sellers hope to sell their property for the most money possible. That's a perfectly reasonable approach. Yet if you overprice your property in an attempt to maximize your return, you're likely to sabotage your home selling efforts, have your property on the market longer and even receive less at the closing table.  You might wonder why this is the case. Others may ask "How is this a problem? I can always come down in price later…besides, I can only sell this home once and don't want to leave any money on the table." While seemingly counter-intuitive, your best chance to sell faster and for the highest price typically means pricing close to the market, not significantly above it. Curious? Find out more…in this insightful Oregon real estate podcast! https://episodes.castos.com/Helpful-Interesting-Information-on-Oregon-Real-Estate/How-Your-Home-Price-And-Market-Time-Are-Related.mp3

25 NOV 2019 · Predictability in our daily lives is something most of us appreciate. This is especially true in the world of real estate. Some extreme changes, such as rapid home value appreciation, can suggest opportunity. Yet when the reverse happens, like when home prices drop fast, the alternative is sometimes heightened risk. Are there signs you should be aware of before —a frightening financial flame-out? Find out in this insightful real estate podcast!

29 OCT 2019 · This re-broadcast of a popular true episode illustrates the far-reaching impact of what Realtors call ‘stigmatized property,' sometimes known as a ‘haunted house:' While at work one day, I received a phone call, then quickly recognized the caller as a client I assisted with a home purchase months earlier. I soon detected serious concern in his voice as I’d never observed from him before. While the client talked, I listened and automatically ran through a brief mental checklist of his closed transaction: ‘Paperwork completed correctly?’  Check. ‘Home inspection performed?’ Check. ‘Inspection issues addressed and/or negotiated?’ Check. ‘Building permits researched?’ Check. ‘Insurance, title report, loan and closing documents taken care of?’  Check. I run through a few more items in my mind, then hear him say the word ‘Ghost.’ Listen to this full Oregon real estate podcast episode and learn what happens!

30 SEP 2019 · This ‘best of' Oregon Real Estate Podcast edition is one of our most popular podcast episodes. Listen and learn how you can take control of your homesale by making homebuyers compete for your property! Whether you're a homebuyer or homeseller, the presence of multiple buyers competing for the same property changes everything. In other words, adding multiple buyers to the mix means a change in behavior between all parties involved. When multiple buyers express interest in a property by each writing an offer, the balance of power has shifted substantially in favor of the seller. As a result of this decided shift, buyers typically become more competitive. Why? Because fear of loss can be a powerful motivator. And while it's possible for three, four, or even more buyers to compete for the same house, the principle is essentially the same, regardless of how many multiple buyers write an offer. Adding more buyers to the mix, however, does have a tendency to ‘quicken' the pace.  What can buyers do to lower the volume, lessen their own anxiety and reduce the frenzy without getting caught up in the process, all while making sure they don't miss out on the house of their dreams? Plus, what can sellers do to maximize their leverage in getting the best possible offer? And for both buyers and sellers, are there specific tips you can use to ensure you're ‘in it to win it' for your next home purchase or sale? Find out more in this helpful Oregon real estate feature article & podcast by clicking here.