Подкасти на тему Colleen Benson

In this episode, Colleen will share a few tips for improving the appearance of your home before it goes to market. Plus, we’ll update you on the state of the rental market, share some HOA pros and cons, and talk about why you probably need to take out at least $100,000 on a mortgage. Here’s what we’ll discuss in this episode: Some easy things you c…

When you meet with an agent, you might hear different statements and opinions. But are they positive signs that you’ve chosen the right person or red flags that you should turn and run? You want to make sure you have a good relationship with your real estate agent and can trust their advice. Today we’ll share some good and bad things to look out fo…

It’s time for another mailbag episode! We have an exciting lineup of topics to discuss today. Listen in as we tackle some questions from our listeners, and you’ll likely gain some invaluable insights to help you make informed housing decisions. In this episode, we will discuss some popular housing areas with promising appreciation potential in the …

Today we’re going to take a look at some of the top things people do that tend to frustrate real estate agents. Now, this list is certainly not intended to make anyone feel bad, but being aware of these frustrations and traits can lead to a more seamless home-buying experience. Here’s what we’ll discuss in this episode: Working with a client who is…

Whether you are looking to sell your home soon or simply want to enhance its curb appeal, we have some budget-friendly tips and helpful advice to share with you today. In this episode, Colleen will provide expert advice on sprucing up your outdoor space to maximize its potential for future buyers. She’ll also share her thoughts on the right time to…

On this week’s podcast, we’re going to the mailbag to find out what our listeners have questions about. Colleen will tackle five different topics ranging from new inventory coming onto the market, how long houses will take to sell this spring, why an agent will provide a better home search than Zillow, and more. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in …

One of the questions we hear a lot from buyers is whether they should look for an existing home or new construction. It’s an ongoing debate that is often up to personal preference, but there are some myths out there about buying a new home that need to be cleared up. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: The one homebuyer mistake people…

In this episode, we have five mailbag questions we want to run by Colleen, and three of those are asking about real estate investing. The great thing about the discuss today is that we’ll touch on Airbnb properties but also ways to get involved without actually becoming a landlord. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: Is it okay to hav…

How do you know if the home you’re interested in actually has good bones underneath all the cosmetic improvements that were made? We posed that question to Colleen today along with a few others from the mailbag to find out what buyers should be paying attention to. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: What are your options when you’re …

In this episode, Colleen will answer 10 of the most important questions that come up during the process. This might not cover everything, but it should help provide answers to a lot of the initial topics we discuss with clients. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: What’s the best way to prepare your house before selling it? (0:56) How…

As the market changes, a lot of information and opinions get thrown out into the world. In this episode, we will be taking a fun approach to sharing our thoughts by playing a game of “True or False”. Listen to learn questions you may want to ask your realtor, what you should know about home appraisals, shifts that may be coming to the housing marke…

The housing market has shifted quite a bit. Active inventory has gone up 55% over last November and today we will be answering some great questions from sellers. Listen to find out more about home inspections, finding the right realtor, and more! Here are some of the key points Colleen covers: Should you budget for a home inspection before selling?…

It’s time for another mailbag episode, and we bet these questions (and our answers) will help many of you as well. This episode could really help if you’re looking to buy a home in the future or work with an agent. We will discuss whether it’s better to buy a newer home or build one and if you should sign a contract with your agent. Listen to hear …

We love answering your questions, so we are back with another mailbag episode. This episode could really help if you’re someone looking to buy a home in the future. We will discuss different ways to achieve purchasing a home, from contingent offers, low bids, rent-to-own properties, and more. Listen to hear some of the questions our other listeners…

Bold headlines catch the attention of many, but how much weight do they really hold? In today’s episode, we are going to discuss some recent articles and see if we agree with the content. As the market is fluctuating, a lot of potentially scary words are thrown around like “depression”, “recession”, and more. Let’s pick apart some of these topics i…

Realtor.com recently wrote an article sharing five ways to increase the value of your home without spending money on upgrades. In this episode, we will be going over these five suggestions and see if we agree. Are you looking for some fresh marketing suggestions? Look no further. We also share the inside scoop about our effective marketing tactics …

Today we will be answering mailbag questions! The mailbag series helps us stay in touch with the topics you want to know as buyers. You might find some clarity as you hear the answers to questions you may have had yourself! Listen to learn more about home pricing, spotting a lemon, down payments in a competitive market, and more! Here are some of t…

With the real estate market cooling off a bit, buyers are starting to find some reduced prices on homes. If you’re currently searching for a good deal, are these reduced homes a good place to look? On today’s episode, Colleen will answer that question that came into the show recently and she’ll also tackle a few others. As always, this mailbag edit…

Today’s episode is broken into two parts as we take a look at some recent real estate headlines. First, spoiler alert! The housing market is not going to crash. That’s at least the opinion of Dave Ramsey’s team published an article recently that breaks down the reasons he thinks the housing market is not in for a big price crash. Their main point i…

Whether you’re new to real estate or a seasoned veteran, it’s never a bad thing to revisit the basics to make sure you have a clear understanding when it comes to buying and selling a home. On this episode, we’ll open the real estate dictionary to look at some of the key terms you might see or hear during the process. We’ll look at a few on both th…

With the housing market changing, but still doing strong, what kind of questions are buyers and sellers asking? On today’s episode, we’re opening up the mailbag to answer your questions on flipping old homes, new construction versus aged homes, and much more. Listen to the episode to learn the answers to these questions and more: Felix is wondering…

Let's open up the mailbag to answer some of your questions on buying, selling, and everything in between. What you’ll learn on today’s episode: “We are thinking of leaving some personal items behind when we sell our home. Can we negotiate with personal items when a buyer asks for a discount because of needed repairs?” (0:36) “I have been outpriced …

We’re answering some of your questions on today’s show! Allie, a listener in North East Salem, wrote in saying her father wants to help with her down payment so she can afford her first home. Are there any limits she should know about? Ben, asks where he can put his money to improve the value of his house? Paint and landscape are really important f…

A recent Realtor.com article outlines a few signs you’ll hate your home after the initial excitement of a new house wears off. Does Colleen agree? A front door that opens into a wall might not seem like a big deal when you tour the home, but after a while, it may start to feel cramped. Long hallways are classic for some of us, but the newest style …

Let’s answer some questions from buyers and sellers in the area! Brent is thinking of using an adjustable-rate mortgage to buy his home, but he knows they became a big issue in 2008 and the rate may go up in the future. How does Colleen advise those interested in ARMs? Colleen recommends meeting with a lender and wants to remind you that we’re not …

We are answering some of your questions on today’s show about buying and selling your home. In this market is a 20% down payment enough? Definitely! While it may be harder to win certain bids 20% is usually more than enough. Mary wrote in that her loan approval was for $700,000 and with all the houses selling above asking value she is wondering if …

Today we’re opening up the mailbag again to find out what you’re most interested in when it comes to buying and selling a home and we have some great questions to dive into. We’ll cover the foreclosure market and whether we’ll see that increase around Oregon. Then we’ll talk about the pros and cons of hiring experts to do the work around your home.…

Let’s open up the mailbag and answer some of your questions about buying and selling your home. Stella says her neighbors are also planning on selling their home soon. Should she list before, after, or at the same time as them? With interest rates rising and a changing market, we recommend getting listed as soon as possible. Dean asks how detailed …

With a lot of investors buying up more and more properties in the past few years, there have been a lot of flipped houses coming onto the market. When you are in the search for your next home, how can you be sure what you’re looking at isn’t a cheap flip? If you’re looking at a home without building permits, but it appears major changes have been m…

Kathy saw someone on the news recently list their home extremely below market price and it generated a lot of buzz. What does Colleen think of this strategy? This is a great question; most sellers want to price high and go from there. This strategy can generate a lot of bids on your home and end up getting you more money. Bud is wondering if he has…

True or false? It’s impossible to buy right now without overpaying. You might feel like you are overpaying for homes on the market right now, but keep in mind your equity is also going up once you own that home. So, Colleen doesn't really see it as overpaying. True or false? You’re most likely going to end up in a bidding war if you buy right now… …

What headlines are trending around the real estate market? With a lack of supply, hopeful homebuyers are finding fewer and fewer options. Which means fewer contract signings. In our own area, we are down 20% on new listings taken. We’ve also seen skyrocketing prices and the average seller profit from 2021 was almost $100,000! Salem made the top lis…

Have you seen the reality show “Selling Sunset”? It covers the top-end and high-end luxury real estate market in Los Angeles. On today’s episode, we are going to have some fun and talk about some of the “Selling Sunset” secrets that may apply to your home buying experience, no matter the price tag. Never assume a home is perfect, no matter how much…

Inflation has been rising across the country. How does that impact your home buying timeline? We are seeing mortgage rates increase, but it’s still cheaper to own than to rent. Rent is more unpredictable, a mortgage is locked in. What advice does Colleen have for people searching for luxury homes? While a lot of the process is the same, there are s…

Are you curious about HOAs in the Salem area? Many people moving up from California will be pleasantly surprised to learn there are plenty of nice neighborhoods without steep HOA costs. A lot of people are thinking of waiting until spring to sell, but there are serious buyers out there right now. Does Colleen think higher mortgage rates will eventu…

Are you thinking of remodeling before selling your home? If they are cosmetic changes you might want to think again, every buyer is different. But depending on your budget and planned updates it might be the right move for you. You’ve probably heard a lot about Opendoor and iBuyers recently, but what do you miss out on when you don’t have the perso…

How fast can Colleen and her team sell your home? Well, the market is a seller’s market right now but you want to make that good first impression no matter what. Should buyers give up right now and wait until the market has calmed down? We don’t recommend it! You never know what home is going to be around the corner. It is exhausting looking for a …

We are going to be answering some listener questions today about a wide variety of real estate topics. Is now a good time to invest in rental properties? What matters most is your return on investment. Is it wise to accept an offer from Offerpad? These types of apps are driven by data and may not get you as great of an offer as a real estate agent …

There have been a lot of new real estate headlines going around. So, on today's episode, we are going to be discussing these topics. A lot of renters are fearing they'll never be able to buy. Especially with current down payments being so high. Colleen talks through some ways her lenders can help you if you are in this situation. We will also be di…

We are opening up the mailbag today to answer some of your questions! Colleen will discuss mixed-use developments, market timing, rentals, and fence additions. Mixed-use developments have been becoming more and more popular especially in the Oregon area. So where should you look to find one? Does a fence really add that much value to your home or i…

A year and a half into the pandemic, housing market issues and trends look a little different than they did a few years ago. Today, we are discussing some of the top issues facing home buyers and sellers. We will also go over popular home features that a potential buyer may be looking for. Remote work, technology, and general housing supply will be…

Buying or selling a home is an exciting time. But it is also a time when we have a lot of questions about what things mean and what the best approach may be to certain situations. Colleen is here to help us navigate these questions from a realtor’s point of view with another mailbag episode. Read more and get additional resources here: https://keep…

Mistakes can be very costly when buying and selling a home, which is why we work with clients to make them aware of potential pitfalls during the process. If you’re in the market for a home now, you’ll want to keep an eye out for these seven mistakes that have been plaguing people in 2021. Read more here: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/buyi…

It’s time to take another look at the top real estate headlines and find out if the same trends are happening here in Oregon. Today we’ll talk crowdfunding investments, a rise in affordable listings, and the reasons searches are taking a while. Show Notes: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/headlines/ep-90-recent-headlines-crowdfunding-affordab…

When it comes time to start drawing up an offer, what all is negotiable during the home-buying process? On this episode, we’ll take you into some of those discussions and provide you with the insight you need to get the most out of your next purchase. Read more: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/buying/ep-89-negotiable-parts-of-the-buying-proc…

Today we take four of your real estate questions and answer them on the show. From square footage discrepancies to home values to finding a home to use as an AirBNB, we’ll cover a range of topics on this episode. Read more and get additional resources here: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/mailbag/ep-88-answering-your-real-estate-questions/69…

This year continues to be a busy one for real estate, but what does that date tell us after the first quarter of 2021? Today we’ll look at three national headlines on sales, buyer confidence, and the possibility of a real estate bubble and find out if Colleen is seeing the same things on the west coast. Read more and get additional resources here: …

It always helps to hear stories from other people that go through the buying and selling process so today we’re featuring three closing recaps. Each of these real-life examples spotlights a unique or interesting process that a member of our team with through with a client. Read more: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/headlines/ep-86-3-closing-…

It’s time to open up the mailbag and answer your questions about the home buying process. Today we’ll dive into paying cash, selling while the market is high, using a discount brokerage, and sellers backing out. Read more and get additional resources here: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/buying/ep-84-mailbag-questions-about-the-home-buying-p…

With the current state of the real estate market in Oregon, we don’t always see appraisals line up with purchase prices. So what happens in those situations? We’ll tell you on this episode of the podcast and answer a few other questions that you sent in. Read more and get additional resources here: https://keepingitrealestatepodcast.com/mailbag/ep-…