THIS MONTH
Talking About Open Door and Zillow Offers
You may have heard about these companies who are working to take the stress out of selling by offering guaranteed, direct offers to sellers. You get to pick your closing date, you don’t have to worry about dealing with showings, repairs can be credited, and you get an all cash offer. Sounds pretty amazing, right? So I decided to give it a test run since my wife and I are in the process of refinancing our home. I filled out the Opendoor questions online and waited. When the offer came in a few days later, it was well below what I considered a fair market price - and they wanted to take a 6% service fee off the top! Lo and behold, when we had an appraiser out to evaluate the home, our appraised value came in $57,100 over the Opendoor offer. So what does this teach us about this new innovation in the real estate market? It shows us that for those who need to sell their home right away due to unforeseen circumstances, this is a great option. However, for those looking to maximize profit, even with a 6% realtor commission, you’d be leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table (in our case, about $50,000). If you’re considering selling this spring, give me a call to chat about your best options. I’m happy to recommend a service like Opendoor or Zillow Offers if it’s truly the best thing for you!
NEWS
Have You Been on the Fence About Buying? Now May be Your Time!
Great news! Interest rates have fallen since last fall, from 5.125% to around 4.625%. If you’ve been on the fence about buying a home, I recommend taking action sooner than later. With a likely rate hike coming this summer, your buying power is at an all-time high this spring and Portland is seeing a steadier stream of inventory than it's seen in some time, which means more options to choose from!
GROWTH
How Your Kind Words are Helping me Build a Referral Based Business
Thanks to my amazing clients, my business is growing with referral clients, and that’s AWESOME. I'm so thankful to have clients who share their experience working with me with their family, friends, and coworkers. As a thank you for helping me build a business based on referrals, I’ll be sending a personal note and a little gift to anyone who sends me a referral this year. Keep an eye out for yours in the mail!
INSPIRATION WITH LOGAN GERRITZ
Thinking About How We're Showing Up in Everyday Interactions
Have you ever been around someone who seems to think the world and the people in it are beneath them? As if they’re better in some way because of status, career, finances, possessions, looks, athletic ability or education? It doesn’t feel very good to experience arrogance, does it? If you find yourself interacting with someone who makes you feel insignificant or spends all their time and energy on comparison, remember to hold your head up high. Be confident and grateful for who you are and what you have - no matter how modest it might be or how the rest of the world perceives it. While we all make mistakes and don’t show up as our best selves 100% of the time, we have the choice to be intentional and thoughtful about how we make others feel. Are we entering each interaction with a heart of service? Are people happier and more inspired after a conversation with us? This is what I believe God calls us to ask ourselves each day and as we celebrate February, the month of love, I hope you’ll join me in loving the people around you more.
