Why the Fall Is a Great Time to Buy a Home

If you’ve been waiting for the best time to purchase your next home, the time is now. Here are my top three reasons to buy your next home in the fall.

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If you’ve been looking to purchase your next home and are worried that you missed out on the summer season, I have great news for you: the fall is actually a great time to buy a home. Why is this? Here are my top three reasons:

1. There is less competition in the fall. Though many people are under the impression that the selling season ends around Thanksgiving and doesn’t start back up again until the following spring, in the last three or four years, we’ve found that the market is less affected by seasonality every single year. This means that there are fewer buyers on the market to compete against, so it's less likely that you will end up in multiple offer situations.
2. Quicker and smoother closing transactions. Because of the reduced inventory, inspectors and appraisers are more available. During the spring or summer, it can take between 45 and 60 days to get a property closed in escrow; during the fall, it’s possible to close in 45 days or less.
3. Interest rates are still low. Conventional and FHA financing rates are running between high 3% to low 4% right now, which is outstanding. Remember, just a 1% bump in interest rates can make a big difference in terms of your buying power.

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You can close on a property in less than 45 days during the fall.

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These three factors together make fall a great time to purchase your next house, so be sure to speak with your local real estate agent soon. If you have any other questions about buying or selling real estate in the Portland area, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help you!

Neighborhood Spotlight: Modern Villages in Hillsborough

Today I wanted to shine a light on the Platform District and Orenco Station in Hillsborough.

Both have become wildly popular destinations for home buyers looking to find a connection point where high-tech meets rapid transit, home-grown shops, restaurants, and neighborhood pubs. It’s a truly walkable village with tons of retail gems, including markets, wine, restaurants, bars, and a bakery, just to name a few.

The Urban Plaza is a half-acre area modeled off of traditional town squares, and they host outdoor movie nights in the summer and a skating rink in the winter. The Platform District and Orenco Station were designed to bring a Central Park-like quality to the city, and there are multiple parks with areas for outdoor ping pong tables, bocce ball courts, and pet parks.

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It’s a truly a walkable village with shops, restaurants, markets, and pubs.

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Real estate appreciation has seen a rise of 15% to 20% over the last couple of years; condos and townhouses start just below $200,000 and can get up above $500,000 for some of the brownstones. Single-family homes are relatively new at about 10 to 12 years old, and start in the mid $300,000 range and can get up to about the $500,000 mark.

With lots of sustainable job growth anchored by great companies, the neighborhood looks to be a hot location for years to come in Portland. If you have any more questions about these wonderful neighborhoods or you’re interested in a free real estate consultation, give me a call or send me an email today. I’d love to speak with you!