Purchasing a foreclosed home in Oregon is a great opportunity for families and investors alike who are looking for a good deal. However, the process is far from a simple affair. To get you started off on the right foot, let’s connect with some trusted industry sources and cover the 10 things you absolutely need to know if you’re in the Oregon market for a foreclosed home.

Leaky roofs, liens, and a variety of other factors play into the sale and acquisition of foreclosed and abandoned homes. Avoiding the numerous pitfalls that plague and hinder other buyers, as well as minimizing your risk, starts with a smart and educated take on the process.

Stepping away from the standard new home market and venturing into the world of foreclosed homes isn’t for the faint of heart. While there’s no arguing this point, that doesn’t mean that you should completely avoid this type of home purchase. As long as you can put the following tips and tactics to good use during your search for the perfect foreclosure opportunity, you’ll be well on your way to tapping into the underappreciated potential of this portion of the real estate market.

Looking to purchase a condo in the Willamette Valley or Central Oregon? You will want to consider the pros and cons before signing on the dotted line.

Condos are very popular home choices for first time homebuyers, and for good reason! Purchasing a condo can give you all the convenience of living in an apartment while also receiving all of the benefits of being a property owner.

Many young professionals in their 20’s and 30’s choose to purchase a condo instead of a home because they simply don't want to deal with maintaining the exterior of a larger, stand-alone home. Mowing the lawn, raking leaves, and shoveling snow are some of the many responsibilities that come along with home ownership. Choosing a condo instead of a house eliminates these worries and guarantees that the exterior of the property investment you have made will be well cared for no matter what.

Many homes hold secrets locked inside, be it a structural issue or a previous unfortunate bug infestation. Know what you are getting into from the start so you don’t get disappointed later.

At first glance, most homes seem fine – but without taking the time to really get to the bottom of each home’s history you will never know for sure if it has suffered water damage or been the victim of shoddy repair work. Dig up all the dirt you can before buying, and you will end up with a purchase you are proud to own.

You enter the foyer and your heart starts beating faster. Your pulse quickens as you take in the wood parquet floors and elaborate crown moldings. Only three steps inside, and you have already fallen in love with the house. You have found your new home! If this was a movie, you would hear the music swell…but like people, houses can keep secrets. As a savvy home buyer, you need to take the time to read the seller’s disclosure, and sometimes even dig a little deeper, to make sure that you know everything about your prospective dream home.

You do not have to be in the real estate business long before you have heard countless stories about people making unfortunate, even startling discoveries while viewing a home.

Signing off on an Oregon mortgage should be an exciting and positive experience. After all, this document is essentially the key that unlocks your new home. However, failing to work out the best rate possible could put a damper on this otherwise memorable event. With this in mind, let’s listen in as some of the most renowned financial and realty experts offer up advice on how to maximize the value of your mortgage agreement.

Should I explore other options? What if I come back with a bigger down payment later? These and many other concerns can radically impact the size and scope of a home loan, so it’s well worth your time to brush up how to best navigate this process before sitting down with your bank’s lending officer.

Every house has a story to tell. What is the house you are looking at have to say about its upkeep (or lack thereof)?

Before you purchase a home anywhere in Oregon, you want to know that past owners have taken good care of it. That isn’t always easy to tell, especially if the current owner is working hard to put the property’s best foot forward. But, even when the owner has done his best to hide the ugly truth, there are ways to tell whether the home might be a ticking time bomb of repairs after the sale.

When you are shopping for your next home, you want to find one that has been well maintained over the years, one that isn’t hiding unseen problems. A good home inspection should be able to catch the major issues, but at that point, you’ve already invested earnest money and become emotionally attached. How can you spot a potentially problematic house earlier?

As a real estate investor in Oregon, you have a choice: buy and hold a property or fix and flip it. The decision may not be as clear cut as you think.

When you decide to invest in Oregon real estate, you have to make the decision whether you want to renovate and resell a property (fix and flip) or want to become a landlord to offset your costs as you wait for the property to appreciate (buy and hold). Which decision is best for you depends on your goals, experience, and risk tolerance.

You have two options whenever you purchase a property as an Oregon real estate investment. You can renovate the property and try to resell it for a quick profit, or you can keep it for a longer period of time and convert it into a rental to offset the costs of ownership and maybe even create positive cash flow. Both options have upsides, but they also have drawbacks.

Selling your home is all about appealing to the market. You’re putting a product out there, so of course you have to take steps to make it appeal to your prospective customers. Some flaws are excusable: not having a fireplace in the living room, kitchen tiles that are slightly out of fashion, and so on. When your home has certain flaws, however, you’ve got to take steps to improve or downplay them – otherwise, they’ll send any sane home buyer dashing for the door.

Signing off on a mortgage should be an exciting and positive experience. After all, this document is essentially the key that unlocks your new home. However, failing to work out the best rate possible could put a damper on this otherwise memorable event. With this in mind, let’s listen in as some of the most renowned financial and realty experts offer up advice on how to maximize the value of your mortgage agreement.

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Should I explore other options? What if I come back with a bigger down payment later? These and many other concerns can radically impact the size and scope of a home loan, so it’s well worth your time to brush up how to best navigate this process before sitting down with your bank’s lending officer.

“Needs a little love,” “project home,” and “fixer-upper” are terms that pop up on listings around the country, aimed at enticing energetic and industrious home buyers who are looking for a unique and rewarding challenge. However, are you really up for the demands that come with this kind of home purchase? To answer this question – and address a variety of other concerns that come with fixer-uppers – let’s hear from some of the leading voices in the real estate industry.

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The concept of the fixer-upper is definitely appealing – as long as you know what you’re getting into before you sign on the dotted line. Unfortunately, too many new homeowners bite off a lot more than they can chew on this front and end up stuck in a bad real estate position. From poor planning to an inflated sense of ability regarding renovations, there’s plenty of issues that can derail this kind of project. However, after reading over these five important points, you’ll be able to move forward with confidence and certainty as you write the next great chapter of your home life.

Historic Oregon homes are full or mystery and culture Especially in Albany, Corvallis, Lebanon, Bend, and Redmond Oregon – owning one can be a great way to connect with both the past and the future of your community.

Older homes are both charming and intriguing – be sure to know the special responsibilities that come along with owning a historic home before you sign the mortgage papers so you don’t end up with more than you bargained for.

Perhaps it started when you walked home from school. You would always slow down your pace as you passed the older Victorian home with its gabled roof and inviting wrap-around porch. Or maybe you were always fascinated by stories of days gone by, and now take day-trips to historic sites near your town. Whatever brought you to this point, it was a powerful force in your life and your heart is now set on buying your own historic home.