Eugene Oregon Real Estate Blog

Eugene and Springfield area Real Estate

Galand Haas

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Displaying blog entries 481-490 of 847

Mortgage Rates: Last Chance for these Super Low Mortgage Rates?

Monday, October 7, 2013
by Galand Haas
VideoVideo

Good Monday Morning!

With mortgage interest rates declining again, the interest of first time home buyers is picking up. Could this be the last chance for these super low mortgage rates?  It's hard to say, but we all know that at some point, rates will take a permanent jump and we may never see them at the levels we have experienced over the last year again in our lifetime.  

If you are a first time home buyer the opportunity to purchase a home may never be more attractive.  The current low mortgage rates coupled with attractive home prices provides a great opportunity.  Now, it even gets better because there are some new conventional loan programs that compete with FHA and other governement sponsored loan programs.  The good news here is that with conventional financing you don't have to pay mortgage insurance for the duration of the loan.  This may save you thousands of dollars.

If you are thinking about the purchase of your first home, get in touch.  We would love to meet with you and go over the home purchase process, give you some information on loan programs and see how much home you might be able to purchase in this market.  Like many others we have worked with, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Have An Awesome Week!

Video Link: http://eugeneoregonhomesforsale.com/video/This-Month-in-Real-Estate-US-October-2013
Image Unavailable
2647 Moon Mountain Dr
Price: $335,000 Beds: 3 Baths: 2 Partial Baths: 1 Sq Ft: 2061
Lovely Home in Fantastic Location! Only 8 minutes from downtown with country-like setting! Located 5 mins from U of O, less than 10 mins from LCC, and neighborhood park one block away! Hardwood floors, ash cabinets, vinyl windows, classic front porc...



AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

Sincerely,
Galand

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Home Sellers: Tax Benefit of Selling Your Home

Monday, September 30, 2013
by Galand Haas
 

I am asked regularly about the tax consequences involved in selling a home.  The following will give you some information on this subject

Your home may not always be your "castle", but if it is your principal residence, there is one very significant tax benefit when you decide to sell.

The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, signed by President Clinton on August 5, 1997, terminated both the roll-over and the once-in-a-lifetime exemption, which were the existing tax benefits at that time. In its place, the law substituted a more beneficial approach for American homeowners.

When you sell your home, married couples can exclude from their taxable income up to $500,000 of gain. Individuals filing separate returns can exclude up to $250,000. Unlike a deduction, which allows you to take a percentage off your gross income (based on the tax rate bracket in which you fall) the exclusion means that the profit you make up to the statutory ceiling is not even included in your income for tax purposes.

There are two important conditions:

  • You must have owned and used the home as your principal residence for two out of five years before the sale. If you are married, although both husband and wife must meet the "use" test, only one of you must meet the "occupancy" test. Marital status is determined on the date the house is sold. In the event of a divorce where one spouse is given ownership pursuant to a divorce decree or separation agreement, the use requirements will include any time that the former spouse actually owned the property before the transfer to the other spouse.
  • The exclusion is generally applicable once every two years. However, if you are unable to meet the two year ownership and use requirements because of a change in employment, health reasons or unforseen circumstances, then your exclusion may be prorated.

Have An Awesome Week!

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING! 

Image Unavailable
89025 Sky High Dr
Price: $895,000 Beds: 2 Baths: 3 Sq Ft: 2850
Beautiful Sanctuary with Pristine Views! In a gated community offering privacy and seclusion, this 30 acre property is one of a kind! Open floor plan, walls of windows, granite counters, tile floors, high ceilings, gourmet kitchen, office and bonus/...



AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

Sincerely,
Galand

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The Numbers are in: August 2013

Monday, September 23, 2013
by Galand Haas

Good Monday Morning!

The numbers are in for August home sales in the Eugene and Springfield area.

Real estate in Lane County posted healthy numbers in August. Closed sales remained strong at 408, an increase of 13.3% over the 360 in July and 14.9% over the 355 from August 2012. It was the best August for closed sales since 2007, when there were 446. New listings (591) were nearly equal with the 592 in July and showed an increase of 32.5% over last August. Pending sales (369) dropped 18.0% this month compared to July’s 450, but bested August 2012 by one sale, or 0.3%.

Average total market time increased this month to 83 days, and inventory decreased slightly to 4.3 months.

Year-to-Date Summary

The 4,322 new listings represent a 16.5% increase over the 3,711 entered in the first eight months of 2012.

There have been 2,827 pending and 2,579 closed sales through August 2013, up 17.5% and 19.5%, respec- tively, from 2,406 pendings and 2,159 closed sales by August 2012.

Average and Median Sale Prices

The average price through August is $227,300, up 14.3% from this time in 2012, when the average was $198,800. In the same comparison, the median price increased 15.4% from $175,000 last year to $202,000 this year. 

Have An Awesome Week!

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

Image Unavailable
2750 Grand Cayman Dr
Price: $440,000 Beds: 3 Baths: 2 ½ Baths: 1 Sq Ft: 3068
Gorgeous Home with Lots of Options! High ceilings, recessed lighting, lots of storage throughout, bonus room, office, library, formal dining room, plus well-sized laundry/mud room. Great room with living room, fireplace, built-ins, kitchen with larg...



AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

Sincerely,
Galand

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Home Seller: Creative Staging

Monday, September 16, 2013
by Galand Haas

Creative Staging

The current Real Estate market in the Eugene and Springfield area is becoming more competitive again.  The surge of sales we saw in the Summer has given away to a slower market with more homes inventory and longer times on the market.  Gaining a competitive edge over competing homes is important and the way your home presents itself to would be home buyers is important.  Having your home look identical to a model home that a realtor is selling can be nearly impossible.  However, if you are willing to spend a little extra money to improve the look of your home, it can garner a lot of positive attention.  This will help you to sell your home even faster than normal.

If you rent furniture that is a dramatic improvement over the furniture you currently have in the home, it will give it a more decorative and positive feel.  People pay attention to details like that, and will appreciate the effort of upkeep the home has had.  Not many people consider renting furniture just for the aesthetics, but it can go a long way in helping the sale. 

Staging may be very important for you to be able to obtain a top value sale in this market.  There are some great home stagers in the Eugene and Springfield market area.  Contact me if you are interested in looking into staging your home prior to selling.

Have An Awesome Week!

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

Image Unavailable
88604 Ermi Bee Rd
Price: $533,000 Beds: 4 Baths: 3 Sq Ft: 3376
Wonderful Wooded Retreat! Surrounded by nature, this secluded 5 acre property offers lots of space and options! Granite, tile, skylights, vaulted ceiling, 4 decks, 3 sliders, beautifully landscaped grounds with water feature and pond, walking trails...



AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

Sincerely,
Galand

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Home Seller: What to do to sell at Top Market Value

Monday, September 9, 2013
by Galand Haas
VideoVideo

Good Monday Morning!

The one thing that remains constant about the Real Estate Market both nationally and locally is that it never stays the same for long.  Following the hot sales months of early Summer, the Real Estate market in the Eugene and Springfield area has cooled off some.  Now it is time for home sellers to pull out all of the tricks if they want to sell their home at top market value.  Of course the number one tactic is to price your home with the market.  Number two on the list is to get your home in show condition both on the inside and outside.  Greening up the lawn, fresh bark dust on the beds, trimming shrubs and trees and even painting the house can make your home more appealing and make potential buyers want to look inside.  

On the homes interior fresh paint, touch up nicks and fill holes in the walls along with going through and removing clutter and non needed items is important.  Cleaning the home thoroughly, including windows is extremely important.  If your home is dated, then replacing dated wallpaper, colors, counter tops and even appliances can add value to your home and help you get top value.

I think that it also important to have your Real Estate agent visit your home before you place it on the market to give you a check list of things that you should do.  Your agent can then visit your home as you accomplish these items on your list to give you direction as you get your home ready for sale.

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

Video Link: http://eugeneoregonhomesforsale.com/video/This-Month-in-Real-Estate-US-September-2013
Image Unavailable
1280 Rose St
Price: $274,800 Beds: 5 Baths: 3 Sq Ft: 2374
Beautifully Remodeled and Updated! Kitchen fully remodeled with 20ft of granite counter space, master bath completely remodeled, high-end laminate flooring in every room. Mini-master suite with family room accessibility. Living room with vaulted cei...



AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

Sincerely,
Galand

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Did You Know: Appraisals

Monday, September 2, 2013
by Galand Haas

Good Monday Morning!

Happy Labor Day!

A fact that is part of an improving Real Estate Market is that appraisals usually lag behind home value increases.  This can take place because appraisals use home sale data from homes that sold and sometimes are not reflective as values increase rapidly.  The result of this can be a home sale at top value that does not meet the appraisers opinion of value as supported by comparable home sales in the area. In this way appraisals control the speed at which a Real Estate market can increase and is really a healthy check on keeping Real Estate markets from jumping too quickly and creating an affordability crisis.  Even though home sellers can sometimes be upset with a low appraisal the appraiser is one of the most important components of keeping Real Estate markets healthy over the long term.

Have An Awesome Week!

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

Image Unavailable
2647 Moon Mountain Dr
Price: $345,000 Beds: 3 Baths: 2 ½ Baths: 1 Sq Ft: 2061
Lovely Home in Fantastic Location! Only 8 minutes from downtown with country-like setting! Located 5 mins from U of O, less than 10 mins from LCC, and neighborhood park one block away! Hardwood floors, ash cabinets, vinyl windows, classic front porc...



AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

Sincerely,
Galand

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The Numbers are in: July 2013

Monday, August 19, 2013
by Galand Haas

Good Monday Morning,

Here are the statistics for the Eugene and Springfield Real Estate market for the month of July 2013.

Real estate activity cooled slightly this month compared to June, but was up across all categories compared to July 2012. Pending sales (450) increased 27.5% over the 353 in June, and 23.3% over the 365 from July 2012.

New listings (592) dropped 1.7% from the 602 listings posted in June, but represent a 14.5% increase compared to last July. Similarly, closed sales dropped to 360 in July, a 4.0% drop over the 375 in June but a 14.6% increase over last July’s 314 sales.

Average total market time decreased this month to 76 days, and inventory increased slightly to 4.7 months.

Year-to-Date Summary

The 3,725 new listings represent a 14.5% increase over the 3,252 entered in the first seven months of 2012. There have been 2,485 pending and 2,150 closed sales through July 2013, up 19.8% and 20.1%, respectively, from 2,074 pendings and 1,790 closed sales by July 2012.

Average and Median Sale Prices

The average price through July is $226,800, up 15.2% from this time in 2012, when the average was $196,800. In the same comparison, the median price increased 15.7% from $172,800 last year to $199,900 this year. 

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

Image Unavailable
89025 Sky High Dr
Price: $895,000 Beds: 2 Baths: 3 Sq Ft: 2850
Beautiful Sanctuary with Pristine Views! In a gated community offering privacy and seclusion, this 30 acre property is one of a kind! Open floor plan, walls of windows, granite counters, tile floors, high ceilings, gourmet kitchen, office and bonus/...



AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

Sincerely,
Galand

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Monday Morning Coffee

Monday, August 12, 2013
by Galand Haas

While homeownership numbers may be down, Americans continue to believe that owning a home is still a good decision even as mortgage rates bounce up and down. According to the National Association of Realtors 2013 National Housing Pulse Survey, eight in 10 people believe that purchasing a home is a good choice and 68% believe that now is a good time to make a purchase. Since the last survey in 2011, renters who are contemplating a home purchase rose from 25% to 36% while those who stated they prefer to rent fell from 31% to 25%. More than half of the renters surveyed stated that one of their highest priorities is owning a home, up to 51% from 42%.  

We remain towards the lower end of a home value cycle.  This means that most likely home values will increase significantly over the next 5 years.  Even though mortgage rates have ticked up slightly, they remain well below the 10 year average.  This combination leads one to believe that investing in home ownership now is a wise decision.

Have An Awesome Week!


Image Unavailable
88604 Ermi Bee Rd
Price: $549,000 Beds: 4 Baths: 3 Sq Ft: 3376
Wonderful Wooded Retreat! Surrounded by nature, this secluded 5 acre property offers lots of space and options! Granite, tile, skylights, vaulted ceiling, 4 decks, 3 sliders, beautifully landscaped grounds with water feature and pond, walking trails...



AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

Sincerely,
Galand

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Don't Be Fooled By Pre-Qualification Letters

Monday, August 5, 2013
by Galand Haas
VideoVideo

Good Monday Morning!

With a more active Real Estate Market here in the Eugene and Springfield area, we are seeing offers much more frequently on homes for sale than we did over the past several years during a slower market time.  This does not mean that all offers are created equal. Even today, there are many buyers out there that just cannot qualify for home fiinancing and are making offers based on poor information from their lender.  Many of these buyers even have letters of pre-qualification from their lender.  Don't be fooled by pre-qualification letters. These are just letters that state that based on the initial information given to the mortgage broker the buyer is qualified to purchase.  Many times after these buyers get into contract and all of their information is actually sent to the underwriters for approval, things change and it is not always for the good.  If you are selling a home and you have an offer on your home, make sure that your buyer has an actual loan approval letter.  This means that the buyers financial information has already gone to the underwriters and was approved.  This is not 100% fool proof, but it is a much safer bet than a simple lender pre qualification letter.

Have An Awesome Week!

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

Video Link: http://eugeneoregonhomesforsale.com/video/This-Month-in-Real-Estate-US-August-2013
Image Unavailable
86453 Greenbriar Dr
Price: $945,000 Beds: 3 Baths: 3 Partial Baths: 1 Sq Ft: 5582
A Luxurious Oasis! Panoramic view of Fern Ridge, Coast Range, Sunset and Sunrise. Gated, privacy and a one of a kind home make this property exquisite! Spacious great room with 32ft vaulted ceiling & fireplace, 10’ ceilings and 8’ doors,...



AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

Sincerely,
Galand

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What the numbers mean for the housing industry.

Monday, July 29, 2013
by Galand Haas

Good Monday Morning!

The most recent report from the National Association of Realtors shows that the national median existing home price for the month of June increased 13.5% from June of 2012. This also was the 16th straight month of year-over-year price increases. At the end of June, total housing inventory also rose 1.9% and represents a 5.2 month supply which is still 7.6% lower than a year ago. Home mortgage rates are once again stable after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testified at the House Financial Services hearing last week. With unemployment still high, he stated that monetary policy will remain "highly accommodative". This means no changes in the near future.  This is great news for housing industry that remains on the edge.  A tick up with interest rates could send housing into another slump.

Have An Awesome Week!

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

Image Unavailable
2750 Grand Cayman Dr
Price: $450,000 Beds: 3 Baths: 2 ½ Baths: 1 Sq Ft: 3068
Gorgeous Home with Lots of Options! High ceilings, recessed lighting, lots of storage throughout, bonus room, office, library, formal dining room, plus well-sized laundry/mud room. Great room with living room, fireplace, built-ins, kitchen with larg...



AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

Sincerely,
Galand

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Haas Real Estate Team
Keller Williams Realty Eugene and Springfield
2645 Suzanne Way Suite 2A
Eugene OR 97408
Direct: (541) 349-2620
Fax: 541-687-6411
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