As you can guess this is one of the first questions we’re asked. The average days on market has been sitting around 43 days. Our average days on market, year to date is 20. Also, you must take into consideration, the type of home you have, the neighborhood you are in, and the season in which you are selling.

The answer to this question really depends on your specific situation. Our general answer usually doesn’t depend on the season we are in. Typically, for buyers, it becomes a financial question. “Can you afford to purchase a home in today’s market?” If not, then we will discuss a plan to position you to be able to purchase within 6 months to a year. For sellers, it’s similar. We don’t recommend trying to time the market, so the question really is “do you have to move now? or are you ready to move now?”

We get this question often. Our response is typically the same. “We’re not sure that you should, yet.” Hiring a realtor is a big decision and becomes personal. We would be working closely together for at least a couple months. We could go on and on about how we’re the best team in Portland, but that’s everyone’s pitch. The first step would be meeting over a cup of coffee and discussing your needs. Sometimes the client and the realtor can be great people but the chemistry for a working relationship isn’t there. When we first meet, we will be interviewing one another.

In a real estate transaction, the seller typically pays a realtor fee which is negotiable in the state of Oregon. So, if we represent you as a seller, we will generally charge you between 5-6% of the purchase price to prep, market, negotiate and sell your home. That fee isn’t paid until the home closes and is split between the listing and buyer’s agent. If we represent you as a buyer, the listing agent generally offers us 2.5% to write an offer on your behalf, negotiate and represent you through the buying process.

Our clients come to us for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s the Ol come and sell my home. Often times it’s more complicated than that. When we meet you for a consultation our “salesman” hat comes off and our consultant hat comes on. Our goal is to intently hear out your situation and help you process through what the next best steps are. Sometimes that involves us sharing our opinion, that it may not be the right time or circumstance to buy or sell.