The Latest News From Lane County as We Move Through Fall

Prices aren’t appreciating like we’re used to in Lane County, but we’re still in a good market.

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For your latest Lane County market update, I’ll do a quick recap of what’s happened since the start of the year and then switch gears to focus on what’s transpired over the last couple of months. We’ve been accustomed to a yearly home price appreciation rate of about 10%, but we estimate that the rate will drop to 6% for 2019. In other words, prices are still rising and we’re still in a good market, but things are cooling off a bit. Since October, the number of pending sales has decreased by 16% compared to the previous month, and the number of closed sales and new listings has dropped 17.5% and 30% during that same time.

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We’ve been accustomed to a yearly home price appreciation rate of about 10%, but we estimate that the rate will drop to 6% for 2019.

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Moving forward, are November and December good months to list your home? There are advantages and disadvantages to consider. There won’t be as many buyers out and about, but there won’t be as many sellers either, so you won’t face as much competition. Furthermore, the buyers who are in the market are more motivated to buy. As always, if you have any more questions about our market or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home soon, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

What Should You Do to Prepare Your Home for Colder Weather?

If you want to minimize problems in your home this fall, all it takes is a little preparation. Here’s what you need to know.

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I’ve been hearing some rumors that it’s starting to cool off. While I could be talking about the real estate market, the weather is starting to cool off too. Today I have some tips to share that will help you get your home ready for fall: 1. Clear the gutters. If your gutters get clogged up, it causes all kinds of problems and can even damage your siding if not cleaned regularly. If you have a kitchen spatula, you can use that to scoop out your gutters instead of your hand. Make sure you wash it afterward, though! If you have water coming down behind the gutters, that means your gutters aren’t protected with an overlap and that should be fixed as well. 2. Repair any loose or damaged windows or door frames. Seal up any cracks to ensure your home heats efficiently when the weather cools down. 3. Make sure your furnace is running properly. Change your filters, too! The last thing you want to happen is a furnace to break in the dead of winter because you neglected it in the fall. 4. Get a chimney inspection. This can be a very big safety issue if not taken care of.

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Make sure you change your filters.

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5. Have your air ducts cleaned by a professional. It not only cleans up the air in your home, but it ensures there are no leaks either. 6. Cover outside faucets with a styrofoam cup and disconnect all of your hoses. That’s where your problems will start when it starts to freeze outside. 7. Clean up your yard. Clear debris, do your pruning, and be sure to fertilize your grass. Trim any tree limbs that are close to power lines as well. These are just a few simple things you can do to make sure your home is protected as we head toward the colder months. If you have any questions for me in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

What Can You Do to Sell Your Home Quickly?

Are you in need of a quick home sale, but don’t want to discount your home? Here are some tips to help get you there.

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report.  

Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale.

Life happens, and that means you might have to make some life changes immediately, such as selling your home. What can you do to expedite this process? The first thing you need to focus on is price. You don’t want to price your home too low because you can end up leaving a lot of money on the table. If you list at market value, however, you might not sell as quickly as you want. I think that if you lower your price by 1% to 2% below its value, buyers will recognize that value and see your home first. This usually leads to multiple offers, which leads to bidding wars. In many cases, you can end up selling higher than market value because you offered a bargain from the start. The next thing to think about is decluttering your home as much as possible. If your home is empty because you've already moved to another state, you need to get it staged to have that home looking its best. 

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Pricing slightly below market value can lead to multiple offers.

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You also need to be flexible with showings. If you have restricted showings, you’re going to lose out to a quick sale. It should be available at all times to be shown. Offering an incentive is not a bad idea. For example, you could offer to pay for the buyer’s closing costs, or offer a vacation to a timeshare that you own and aren’t using. If you have any questions for me in the meantime about what you can do to sell your home fast and for top dollar, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.