Archive for category Real estate
Portland Clean Energy Works pilot program
Posted by Danny in Green and Environmentally Friendly, Real estate on March 1st, 2010
Portland will have 500 lucky homeowners that will be able to participate in a pilot program to promote using energy efficient upgrades. This is program provides low interest loans with no upfront costs to finance and install energy efficiency home improvements. Eligibility restrictions apply. Visit http://www.cleanenergyworksportland.org/ for more details.
If you have any questions on this program or other matters concerning real estate, please call me at 503-267-8370 or email at dannyshepard@oregonfirst.com.
Why would you advertise, “Please rob me!”
Posted by Danny in Health and Safety, Real estate on February 23rd, 2010
If you are going out of town, would you hang a sign on your door stating that your home is empty? Most people have been doing just that! The meteoric rise in the use of social networking sites is having some unintended consequences. One that is gaining a lot of attention is that by publicly posting online that you are on vacation or just away from home, you are declaring to the world that your home is currently empty!
This post was inspired by this article: Your Facebook profile: An open invite to Crime?
But most credit for raising awareness to this risk in the security of your home goes to Please Rob Me, which is a site that is now drawing a great deal of online media attention.
Real estate articles concerning Portland, Oregon
Posted by Danny in Real estate on February 16th, 2010
Though I am not yet a subscriber, I recently read several relevant articles concerning real estate for Portland, Oregon on MSN money. I do not agree with everything written, but all of them offer interesting insights and information on our current real estate market.
Here are 5 of my recent favorites:
10 savvy home buying tips for 2010
10 secrets of off season homebuying
Top 5 cities where home prices are plummeting
Cities with the fastest-falling home prices
Quit renting and buy in Portland
If you have any comments, please post them here. If you have any questions, please email me at dannyshepard@oregonfirst.com or call me at 503-267-8370.
Danny Shepard
Oregon Veteran programs information has been added to this site.
Posted by Danny in Brokerage, Real estate, Refinancing, Veterans on January 26th, 2010
I have posted several veteran programs links to this site, including both home loan programs from the national Veterans Administration and the Oregon VA. I recently took advantage of the IRRRL program, shaving one percent off our own mortgage with no closing costs thanks to the help of Kelly Parkman at the Northwest Mortgage Group. There are also links for veterans from the department of Housing Urban Development, US Department of Agriculture, and the Small Business Administration. Counseling information for veterans possibly facing foreclosure has also been listed. Finally, there is information for veterans and their spouses to determine their eligibility to use a VA home loan or to determine if their home purchases, renovations, or improvements are eligible under the VA home loan program.
If you have any questions or need assistance in utilizing these programs, please contact me at:
dannyshepard@oregonfirst.com
503-267-8370
Portland, Oregon, and National realtor associations information has been added to this site.
Posted by Danny in Brokerage, Real estate on January 25th, 2010
My links section now contains the official websites for the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors, the Oregon Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors. Beyond being professional real estate sites, each provide useful information and content for home buyers and sellers.
If you have any questions concerning their content or why I am a member of these professional realtor associations, please post a comment or contact me at:
dannyshepard@oregonfirst.com
503-267-8370
Tigard Open House for condo in 55 and older Summerfield community
Posted by Danny in Listings, Open houses, Real estate on December 5th, 2009

Front of condominium
I am holding an open house tomorrow, Sunday, December 6th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at 10885 SW Meadowbrook Drive, Tigard 97224, RMLS number 9083799. This turnkey condo is part of the Summerfield 55 and older community, which means at least 80% of the properties has at least one resident who is 55 or older; one of the rare exceptions to the Fair Housing Act. This open house is part of a community wide tour of 17 properties tomorrow, including condominiums, townhouses, and single family homes that all have access to golf, a swimming pool, a large and modern clubhouse, along with other amenities and community activities.
Buyer Agent Representation
Posted by Danny in Brokerage, Mortgages, Real estate on October 26th, 2009
What is buyer agent representation? Why would someone buying a home want a real estate agent to represent them? How much does it cost?
Buyer agent representation is when a real estate broker assists and represents a buyer in a real estate transaction. Representation is agreed upon in a written contract between the buyer and agent. A Buyer’s Agents performs many duties, including: helping buyers identify what their wants and needs are, locate and show properties that will fulfill their wants and needs, submit and negotiate the best possible offer to the seller on behalf of the buyer, help the buyer evaluate counteroffers, perform all communications and follow-up inquiries with the seller, and inform buyers of any actions that are needed to insure the transaction closes as smoothly as possible. Other duties of buyer agent representatives include educating buyers on: the real estate market, financing, trends, neighborhoods, and providing informational sources on these and other topics. A buyer’s agent may also suggest a list of potential real estate service providers, such as lenders and home inspectors; but not to select service providers without expressed consent from the client.
A real estate agent is more informed than even the most determined and motivated buyers. Certainly, buyers should educate themselves, but they can only benefit by having a real estate professional working for them. An agent representing a buyer works exclusively for the buyer’s benefit. Any real estate agent in Oregon should provide a pamphlet from the state that defines an agent’s duties and responsibilities in representing buyers and sellers.
Finally, a buyer seldom needs to pay for the services of an agent to represent them. That is correct. The cost of services is typically free, to the buyer. Sounds too good to be true? This is because the selling agent is typically willing to split a portion of the commission received by the seller at closing. This amount is predetermined, typically by percentage of commission, and is provided as part of the listing information on the home for sale in the multiple listing service. By cooperating with the selling agent, he or she is willing to pay for the buyer’s agent for the services. The buyer’s agent conducts all business on good faith and duty as required by personal integrity and real estate law, but only owes loyalty to the buyer that the agent represents.













