Whitney Minnich is a professional Realtor and Broker with John L. Scott Real Esate serving the greater Portland, OR area. For more information visit www.whitneyminnich.com
How Buyers Can Save $430 in the First Year of Ownership March 5, 2019 Buyers financing their home purchase can save hundreds of dollars in their first year of owning just by shopping around for a mortgage, according to new study from NerdWallet, a personal finance website. “That savings would accumulate and compound for every year that they had the loan,” Holden Lewis, a home expert at NerdWallet, told CNBC.Home shoppers who compare interest rates between five different lenders can pocket $430 in savings in their first year alone, according to NerdWallet’s analysis using a 30-year fixed-rate, $260,000 mortgage. However, most borrowers fail to shop around. Indeed, half of home buyers say they only looked at one lender when buying a home, according to the survey of about 2,000 adults. Lewis says borrowers are missing out on potential savings. He suggests borrowers not only call multiple lenders when looking for the best loan but also use online home affordability...
The December 2018 Housing Market Recap update for East and West Portland is now available. Get the breakdown by clicking on the image below. There are many factors that go into determining the fair market value for a home. The fair market value is the price that a ready, willing, and able buyer is willing to pay and a seller is willing to accept, based on historical data. Contact me for a complementary and detailed market analysis specific your house, 503.953.6240 or whitney@whitneyminnich.com.
Builders Bet on Luxe Townhomes to Win Over Young Buyers January 17, 2019 Builders across the country are betting on luxury townhomes to try to get more young adults into homeownership. Open floor plans, high ceilings, and upgraded amenities are features they hope will lure millennials to buy their first home. “When a lot of people think of townhouses, they think of these very narrow homes because the floors are stacked on top of one another,” Felix Bravo, a sales executive with Pordes Residential in Miami, told Forbes.com. He is selling townhomes up to 3,000 square feet starting at $900,000. “With the amount of space we have, they have a very open feel.” The amenities include a private rooftop terrace with a jacuzzi and outdoor kitchen. “The wow factor is how much space they have and how luxurious the interior is in terms of appliances, cabinetry, and the kitchen island,” says Bravo. “The second biggest wow factor is being able to go up to your own private roof...