Team Thayer Property Servicing

Since a borrower's credit score influences a lender's decision on whether or not to give that borrower a single family mortgage loan, the importance of having a good credit score when buying a home cannot be underestimated,  according to Freddie Mac's  blog on Monday. According to  Freddie Mac , the best way to earn a high credit score is to pay debts on time that include credit cards, car payments, or student loan payments. Since a  recent survey by TransUnion found that three out four consumers know their credit score is important but are unaware of the critical role the score plays when they are seeking a mortgage loan, on Monday Freddie Mac published a list of helpful hints (as reported by financial-education company Financial Finesse) to consider for consumers who are trying to build a solid credit score or consumers who may not know of its importance. A credit score between 661 and 780 is generally considered good, with 700 being the "sweet spo...

Justin Lee Thayer / Eugene Oregon Listing Broker How does hiring the wrong real estate listing agent hurt your chances to get top dollar for your home? Here's four examples current real estate listings that will likely cost the homeowners money. Pictures of the home do not do it justice  - The  MLS can hold 16 pictures, and every listing should have all 16 filled up. Studies show that  properties with more pictures get more views online , and it's these online views that are the precursor to gaining visits to the property by ready buyers. Furthermore, the images utilized should "sell" the features and benefits of the portion of the home shown. So often, listing agents do not seem to have an agenda with the pictures they choose to include. For example, why on earth a listing agent would include the image on the right? It happens far more often than you might expect. Typographical errors in critical property descriptions  - Listing agent sloppiness costs home ...

Concerns about the potential impact of higher interest rates have sent  real estate investment trusts on a roller coaster ride this year, after chalking up double-digit gains in 2014. Despite their recent fickle behavior, however, this asset class belongs in the diversified portfolios of long-term investors, experts say. What's more, the volatility could provide a buying opportunity. A REIT is simply a company that owns or finances income-producing real estate. Most REITs are traded on major stock exchanges, and investors can purchase a share of the REIT just as they would any other stock. One major draw of REITs is that they provide investors with a  regular income stream , as they typically pay out their taxable income as dividends to shareholders. In the low interest-rate environment that has prevailed in recent years, income investors have turned to REITs to generate potentially higher rates of return than more traditional income-generating investments, such as ...

Selling Secret #10: Pricing it right Find out what your home is worth, then shave 15 to 20 percent off the price. You’ll be stampeded by buyers with multiple bids — even in the worst markets — and they’ll bid up the price over what it’s worth. It takes real courage and most sellers just don’t want to risk it, but it’s the single best strategy to sell a home in today’s market. Selling Secret #9: Half-empty closets Storage is something every buyer is looking for and can never have enough of. Take half the stuff out of your closets then neatly organize what’s left in there. Buyers will snoop, so be sure to keep all your closets and cabinets clean and tidy. Selling Secret #8: Light it up Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. Do wha...