A recent article in the Gazette Times said there would be between three and four thousand new students once again this fall.  Additionally, it is predicted that there is construction in the works to allow for new housing for about 500 or so, but that rents are on the way up.  Would-be builders of new housing are not able to find financing for new projects to accommodate the incoming crowd.  This means buyers looking now would be wise to secure housing for their OSU housing needs as the pace may get pretty competetive as the spring progresses. 02/15/2011

Have to toot my horn a bit here: http://activerain.com/action/listings/edit/14991 This home was listed with another brokerage for 260 days without any offers.  I hired a professional photographer, did a video, had two Open Houses and 14 showings within 3 weeks and an accepted offer after 31 days! (that includes Christmas and New Year!) Having skin in the game, investing in your listings and being truly engaged works!   02/02/2011

When a house close to you is for sale and the sign goes up it is not only this home the broker sells, it also is the location. So what is next door, going on on the street, whether the lawn across the street is mowed, if the neighbor's teenager is blasting with his boom box or if 60% of the neighboring houses have a bad fence, all these and plenty more aspects play a huge role in the salability of a property. Of course it would be deceiving if the neighbor to the right always has the garage door wide open on Sunday afternoons and always watches football in his garage with his buddies and just for the Open House does not. But if you see that your lawn needs mowing anyhow and you are the neighbor of a house for sale it would be such a nice and neighborly touch to keep it well groomed espe... 02/02/2011

When during listing appointments I suggest the price this property should sell for I hear again and again that the sellers are afraid they then would get low ball offers that gets them even less than that and they have nothing to negotiate left. While those cases certainly can happen, the data shows that realistically priced home actually fetch either very close to asking or even full asking price or sometimes even in this market have multiple offers. The CMA a broker brings to a listing appointment should have a graph section with properties comparable to the one to be listed that were realistically priced and for what they sold. I bet that in most cases the graph that shows list and sales prices side by side has very similar height.  My own experience shows me exactly that. It tells u... 02/02/2011

One of the absolutely great features for younger children in Corvallis is the Elementary Strings Program. Part of the Corvallis Youth Symphony Association. Children can have strings education twice a week in school, teachers are coming from the CYSA and teach. It has been a fantastic opportunity  and is, especially compared with private lessons, extremely affordable. Our son had Anne Ridlington as teacher this year, a highly accomplished Cello Solist from Corvallis. The Winter Concert was last Sunday and the children played in front of a packed auditorium. Now that our son is at level two we can hear the difference from level one up. The "finger nails on chalk board stage" is behind us and he starts to produce real music. Corvallis has so much to offer for children of all ages, this is ... 01/31/2011

We always felt that Corvallis was an "on it's toes" community and in my blog http://localism.com/blog/or/corvallis/posts/2088970/Why-the-Corvallis-market  I wrote that the Corvallis RE Market is comparably stable and will continue to do so. Here is another very compelling reason for this:   Corvallis is the city with the highest patent per capita in the US!! That is enormous for a city of this size. As we waive bye bye to San Jose, San Francisco and NY in the rearview mirror let's be very happy that we live in this environment as it is a pleasure to be around such people and it will carry us far in the future!     01/25/2011

Corvallis           Price Range Active Listings as of 1/21/2011 Sold Listings Last 6 Mos. Average Sold Per Month Months of Inventory Av. Days on Market Solds $0 - $99,999 * * * * * $100,000 - $149,999 8 7 1.17 6.86 187 $150,000 - $199,999  30 34 5.67 5.29 118 $200,000 - $249,999 40 51 8.50 4.71 103 $250,000 - $299,999 34 37 6.17 5.51 115 $300,000 - $349,999 20 25 4.17 4.80 142 $350,000 - $399,999 27 12 2.00 13.50 139 $400,000 - $449,999 12 12 2.00 6.00 151 $450,000 - $499,999 10 5 0.83 12.00 127 $500,000 - $599,999 11 5 0.83 13.20 238 $600,000 - $699,999 5 6 1.00 5.00 176 $700,000 + 6 2 0.33 18.00 192   203 196   6.21 153 01/21/2011

Corvallis is special. While a lot of people will say that about their hometown, I have a few very compelling reasons why I think this way and most important why I think this RE market is special. 1: Corvallis did not succumbed to the "developing at any expense everywhere". Yes, there are developments. But not everywhere and not too much. Controlled growth is a good thing, especially when you see in surrounding communities how less limited growth let markets tank in a recession. 2: Corvallis has OSU, strong health care players like Good Sam and The Corvallis Clinic, (still) HP and a lot of smaller and larger innovative private companies. Benton County has lower unemployment than surrounding counties and Corvallis plays a big role in this. 3: There is a finite amount of inventory in sough... 01/20/2011

Looking to get the most money for your home in 2011? Experts say it boils down to two key points.  When selling your home there are only two elements you can control – price and presentation. If you don’t want to keep lowering the price, a home must speak volumes of value and have a fabulous presentation.  Staging adds perceived value and provides the atmosphere home sellers are looking for when they want to invest in a property to call home.  In 2010, over and over again our staged home sold for more money and quicker than the competition.  Homes that had been on the market for over a year were staged and sold successfully. But What do Real Estate Agents Say? This isn’t something that only we’ve experienced in 2010 – it’s being echoed by real estate agents and business experts alike. ... 01/04/2011

Happiness! When all paperwork is where it belongs and things are going smoothly that is what our closing coordinator at our Coldwell Banker office exclaims. It always sounds good to me. Who does not like to be happy? When parents are being asked what they want for their children, the answer is very often "we want them to be happy". But what does that mean? What does make children, what makes us, happy? First and foremost it is any kind of positive feedback. We are happy when we are loved, liked, acknowledged, praised, are successful, at ease. When my clients are happy with their purchase and love the new house or have successfully sold one with my help that in return makes me happy. Success and acknowledgement feels good. So does a sweet email from clients, starting with: "Hello, Favori... 01/02/2011

Coldwell Banker Valley Brokers presents our Winter Twilight Open House Tour on Sunday 12/19 from 3-6pm. Join us to see beautifully decorated homes, warm lights, maybe cookies and cider... Look for our ad in the Gazette Times to see which properties are participating and join me at 4900 NE Vintage St, Corvallis, to see DUAL LIVING PERFECTION! Hope to see you there! 12/14/2010

Om 12/19 Coldwell Banker Valley Brokers will hold a Christmas Twilight Open House Tour from 3-6pm in Corvallis and Albany. Look for our local advertising or request information at asievert@valleybrokers.com or 541 207 5551 12/10/2010

Dear Creative Concepts, I have a beautiful home that will be listed for sale this week.  We would like to hire you to warm it up with some home staging -- add some towels, art and a few dishes in the glass kitchen cabinets.  Please let me know if you do this type of staging? Corvallis Oregon Home Seller Dear Corvallis Oregon Home Seller, You are absolutely correct that adding staging helps give vacant listings a warmer and inviting feel.   Our staging business has never provided such minimal staging as you describe for several reasons. When we help home sellers prepare homes for sale, we know it is like preparing for a job interview.  First impressions will be made from your home's resume - the photos and write up on the multiple listing service.  Over 90% of potential home buyers shop ... 11/01/2010

Corvallis           Price Range Active Listings as of 10/21/2010 Sold Listings Last 6 Mos. Average Sold Per Month Months of Inventory Av. Days on Market Solds $0 - $99,999 * 3 0.50 * 83 $100,000 - $149,999 9 11 1.83 4.91 135 $150,000 - $199,999  34 45 7.50 4.53 118 $200,000 - $249,999 47 72 12.00 3.92 117 $250,000 - $299,999 44 39 6.50 6.77 91 $300,000 - $349,999 30 38 6.33 4.74 142 $350,000 - $399,999 32 18 3.00 10.67 145 $400,000 - $449,999 17 12 2.00 8.50 107 $450,000 - $499,999 15 9 1.50 10.00 100 $500,000 - $599,999 10 8 1.33 7.50 183 $600,000 - $699,999 9 3 0.50 18.00 184 $700,000 + 5 2 0.33 15.00 192   252 260   5.82 133 10/25/2010

When selling your home in 2010, you need more than a good price and location. You also need a home that is memorable, stands out and that buyers will fall in love with! As home stagers, we think adding a bit of drama can be a great thing! Here's a glimpse of two houses we did this week in Corvallis Oregon.  Both had been on the market for a while - getting comments that they were "dated". This master doesn't have much appeal . . . No one will ever think this room looks dated! Some buyers may wonder how to make this space look great. Now they'll know it can look fabulous! Too much furniture detracts from the view This room now has "WOW"     There's still LOTS to see a this house, but before you get bored, lets zip off to our next job! Hmmm - these counters are really too yellow!!! How ca... 09/17/2010

We shop for cars, for loans, for electronics, for furniture. But for one of the biggest deals in our lifes, selling our home, Aunt Tilly's cousin, who is an agent, gets the job. No questions asked. Or somebody who offers a lower commission without questioning what one gets for the money (and you always get what you pay for...)  Well, here are 11 questions to ask a real estate agent before you sign on the dotted line: 1: What are your qualifications to list this specific house? Are you experienced in estate sales/distressed sales/million dollar properties/farms... 2: How long have you been in the business and how many properties are you in average selling per year? 3: Do you have knowledge in Real Easte Photography and how many photos do you take for a property like mine? 4: What kind of... 08/28/2010

Dear Creative Concepts: I’d appreciate some home staging advice.  After watching some additional home improvement shows yesterday, I’m wondering if  I am too bland in my approach to colors for the broader market?  I long ago accepted the concept of going with neutral colors, but many of the television designers seem to consider some pretty bold colors as “neutral colors”. I would welcome your suggestions before I get too far along. Sincerely, Too Bland Bill Dear Bill: This is a great question!  First there are style and color differences based on geographic areas. Since your home is in Corvallis Oregon and the television shows are produced in larger metropolitan areas like Los Angeles or New York, some styles and ideas are too contemporary for the average Corvallis home. Secondly, consi... 07/26/2010

Oregon is trying to have sun this summer...really it is.  I hear that we may actually get hot tomorrow and I can put away my polar fleece.  As such it's time to start thinking about things to do outdoors. The Wash VIII. I'm not talking about taking a really good bath here...although there may be a few of you that need one.  I'm taking about Washing out Hunger.  Eric Smith a home inspector in Corvallis, OR and a golf disc fanatic (can I call him that), is doing his 8th annual fundraiser for the Linn-Benton county food bank.   The Wash takes place on July 24th at Adair County Park.  Registration is from 8-10 and disc golf starts at 10:45.  If you have never played before here is your chance to play and get some good cooking by Eric's mom.  Seriously, who is going to turn down Mrs. Smith's... 07/06/2010

Recently our staging company was contacted by the listing agent to submit ideas to an out of state owner.  Why was this Corvallis Oregon home not selling?  It had been on the market with no offers and was in a beautiful location.  When we visited we found: unfinished maintenance projects an awkward floor plan laminate, tile and white walls, all that felt very cold when vacant We gave the owner a prioritized list of repairs and updates needed.  We look for improvements that give sellers a “big bang for their buck”.  Often when selling a home, the budget may not allow for everything to be put into perfect, tip top condition.  Evaluating which repairs should be done and that have a strong impact on home buyers is important.  We also gave the home seller a staging proposal that would give a... 04/11/2010

Corvallis Oregon Price Appreciation | A Strong Market Projected Money Magazine's latest projections for some of the Nation's largest metro areas places Corvallis, OR as a top gainer in real estate price appreciation for the period Q1 2010 - Q1 2011 at average price increases of 4.1%.  Good numbers in a sluggish economy, but fairly close to expected numbers in a "typical" year. Those big numbers of 2006-2007 were not the norm.  Check out the snap shot synopsis of why Corvallis... So, is it a Good Time to Buy Real Estate in Corvallis, Oregon? I think so and here are a few additional reasons. 1) Low Interest Rates (still at record lows...) 2) Federal Tax Incentives (the window closes on April 30th, must have a signed contract by that date)  and 3) Value Increase Projections... (waiting wil... 04/03/2010