10 Reasons to Buy

Courtesy of Realty Times Online News, by Carla Hill, Published: December 8, 2010

Owning a home has been a part of the American Dream for decades. If you are still unsure, however, whether or not homeownership is the move for you, be sure to read these ten reasons to buy.

1. Low Interest Rates. It’s true! Interest rates are currently at historical lows. This means over the course of your loan, you’ll pay less interest. And it also means monthly payments will be a smaller, more manageable amount.

2. Mortgage Interest Deduction: While this deduction may not be available for much longer, for now you can still use this great tax advantage!

3. Stability: Studies have shown that homeownership not only increases community involvement, it also leads to safer neighborhoods, and higher graduation rates.

4. Affordability: Coupled with the low interest rates, affordability is the highest it’s been in years. Prices fell in many areas and median incomes rose — meaning you can get more bang for your buck.

5. Paying Towards Ownership. Instead of paying a landlord, you are making an investment in your future. Every month your payment goes towards something you’ll eventually own and that will have worth and value. Renting only makes the landlord richer!

6. Appreciation: Average appreciation rates vary widely depending on the condition of the local market and demand, but anywhere from 4 to 6 percent annually is considered average. This means the longer you stay in your home, the more your home will be worth.

7. Home equity: This building of worth over time (see number 6) means that if you need to make improvements to your home, you will be able to tap into its equity to finance repairs and additions.

8. Gardening: Many households are embracing the organic movement, and families have begun again to raise their own food. Even the White House has its own victory garden. Owning your own home (in most cases) means you will have your own land to cultivate.

9. Roots: Young and old alike seek out places where they belong. Owning a property, and taking your first steps towards putting down roots, can mean the difference between a house and a home.

10. Monthly Payments: Once your home is paid off — you won’t have monthly payments anymore. Apart from insurance, property taxes, and repairs, monthly expenses are minimal. In today’s market, many buyers are finding, as well, that their monthly house payments are less than what they’d pay in rent!

Don’t miss a fabulous opportunity to meet a local artist and view the Crestview Townhomes for sale.  There will be at least 4 condos for sale and open for your enjoyment, Sunday November 28, 2010 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. 

2261 Crestview Drive S + 3 others held open.  South on River Rd past Minto Brown, first left up Schurman, left on Crestview.  All price ranges from $159,900 to $195,000.  You can buy low and make improvements yourself of buy finished with granite at a higher price.

The seller made this crestview wildlife flyer to portray some of the birds you will meet from your private deck.  You will get to feed these fine feathered friends, as well as other critters.  You will have your own private view of Minto Brown Island Park and the Willamette River.  This is a perfect setting for someone who wants privacy with little to no maintenance.

The seller is an avid bird watcher and will help you get set up to enjoy them for yourself.  This is the perfect location if you want to be close to work, downtown shopping, bus lines, and parks yet have privacy!

Minto Brown is a large natural park which includes open and wooded areas with many trails for walking, jogging, biking, and roller blades.  A few of the park amenities include:

• Shelter with BBQ area to Reserve
• Play Equipment
• Picnic Table/Benches
• Walking/Jogging/Biking Trails
• Off Leash Dog Park Area
• Compass Trail Course, and Maps w/ Trail Distances
• Trails set up for Casual and Serious Walkers
• Family Friendly Play Areas, Frisbee, Horse Shoes, Badminton, etc.

Click this link to explore Minto Island Park on Flickr.  Thank you to everyone in our fabulous community who contributes here!  Salem, Oregon and the Willamette Valley is a wonderful place to live, shop, work and play.  Seeing these photos reminds me of how thankful I am to live here and work with such wonderful people such as the couple who owns this condo.  I will be sad to see them leave the area, but what they are doing is exciting and out of the norm so I am really happy for them!

Come out Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 to 2261 Crestview Drive S and support one of our local artists as well as buy this condo/townhouse!

About the Author:  Look to Laura Gwyn, P.C. for all your real estate needs in addition to information about market trends, local activities, shopping, working, playing and raising a family in beautiful Salem Oregon.  Follow her on your preferred social media sites to stay current on happenings in real estate in the Salem Keizer area as well as the greater Willamette Valley.  She hopes to be your realtor for life!  She can be reached at 503-585-0802, @lggp, or Laura@ViewSalemHomes.com.

I need help finding a buyer with vision.  Watch this video to see what I mean.  I chose a Rock Theme for this but if you are an orchestra based family it will work for you too!  Trust me…  I’ll change the music, carpet and paint to something calm and serene.  You’ll love it!

The house has all the repairs done except for cosmetic.  I have a plan!  This house has tremendous potential because of its fab location.

Location is everything in real estate!

If you walk, ride a bike, or want convenience to I-5 without the freeway noise, this home is for you.  It is located within close proximity of:

• Major bus lines, mass transit
• Schirle, Crossler, and Sprague High School
• Amadeus Café, The Doctors Clinic and Kaiser Permanente
• Pain Management NW, Bud 2 Blossom Daycare, Country Financial
• Liberty Road Post Office, Sunnyslope Shopping Center,
• Roths Grocery Store, DMV, Love Love Teriyaki
• And last but not least Edens Day Spa

Who wouldn’t want to stop by the spa on their way home?

The pest and dry rot inspection and repairs have been done.  The old roof was torn off and replaced.  The exterior has been painted.  There is a new kitchen remodel with tile floors.

It has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, a large kitchen, eating area, living room and family room.  The downstairs family room is perfect for a musical family.  It has a large cul de sac lot with privacy, garden areas and room to improve.

There is an allowance to finish the remaining items as soon as I find a buyer to choose the colors!

I have edited this front photo to be the front photo.  Utube will be updating shortly.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNG_EZtFICY]

Please view this 1995 custom built 1 level home in Dallas, Oregon. It sits on 8.35 flat acres that would accommodate many uses. The home was built by a local builder for his own enjoyment. He and his wife have decided they are ready to travel and move on to retirement. They are hoping to find someone who enjoys country privacy and quiet yet needs easy city access.

Dallas has many benefits and more people are considering a move to Dallas because it has the lowest property tax rates of any full service city in Oregon. It is located just south of Portland in our beautiful and scenic Willamette Valley. It is conveniently located to Salem, the capitol of Oregon, the Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

Dallas has a population of approximately 15,445. They offer a wide variety of community activities and several commercial and industrial business incentives. Dallas is a great place to live with its strong sense of small town historical charm.

About the Author: 

Laura Gwyn is the Principal Broker and owner of Laura Gail Gwyn Properties. She utilizes 20+ years in real estate with her skills of a wife and mother to ensure her clients receive the finest real estate services available. She and her family are active in the Salem community. Look to Laura Gwyn for all your real estate needs in addition to information about market trends, local activities, shopping, working, playing and raising a family in the beautiful Willamette Valley.

 Ralph Silbernagel closed and wrote me 10/20/10:

      I met Ricky Guaderrama by walking into the Key Bank in Stayton.  I have only bought 2 homes before so I really didn’t know much about the process or what to expect.  I am almost to retirement age, don’t have email or a cell phone and work around the clock.  I am really hard to reach and have very little time for this whole real estate process. 

I told him I wasn’t going to be easy.  He said that wouldn’t be a problem.  He got me a fantastic non-owner occupied rate so that I could buy a duplex.  

He knew I needed a realtor that was also willing to accommodate my needs.  He recommended me to Laura Gwyn.  My daughter did all the looking for me.  We needed to see every duplex on the market between $200-250K.  My daughter said Laura was very knowledgeable about neighborhoods and areas.  She sold me a really nice duplex for $185,000.  We feel we got it for about $35K under market because of the current market conditions.  

I am very pleased.  Laura and Ricky were both very straight with me as to what was needed, provided excellent service from beginning to end, and got the job done exactly as they stated.  In the future I will feel comfortable in recommending both Ricky and Laura for their highly developed skills, outstanding Customer service, and ability to work together to get the job done quickly.

*Photo Courtesy of Jim Allhiser who completed the full home inspection.

Note fr Laura:  It was fun to do a deal “old school” with no cell, voice mail or fax.  Thank you Nick for all the errand running you did for me to Lyons and back.  Thank you Melissa for looking at everything I sent you via email/online.  You both made my job much easier.  I do remember the days when we drove paperwork, carried a big thick 4 pound book of homes 2 weeks outdated, etc.  lol…  back when dinosaurs roamed the earth…

Laura@ViewSalemHomes.com and ricky_guadarrama@keybank.com want your business!