Turn your tax refund into house keys! Has saving for a home been your goal this year? There are several ways you can use your tax return to help with homebuying expenses. According to Freddie Mac on Keeping Current Matters, here’s how you can utilize your refund to buy a home. Save for a down payment - one of the largest barriers in homeownership and your refund can help you reach that savings goal Pay for closing costs - this covers some of the payments you make at closing and are generally 2-5% of the total purchase price of the home. Lower your mortgage rate - Ask the lender about the optio ..read more

Can you believe we are already in April? That’s 1/4 of the way through 2024. The reality of buying or selling a home is that we can (and should) start the conversation now, even if you don’t think you’ll be ready until later in the year. We can help you find the right lender to get your pre-approval or start looking at your home's value and where you can invest in getting it ready to sell, set your financial goals realistically, learn what you want in your home, and also work on a timeline.  Our team brings years of experience to help educate you about the entire process, financial option ..read more

We're diving into the top question on everyone's mind: the housing market's current state. Understanding the significance of experience and the team you align with, we'll also delve into how innovative strategies in offers and financing can be your key to securing your next home. Join, JT Gile from the Gile Group, and Riley Anderson from Nova Home Loans, as we discuss the housing market's rollercoaster journey in recent years. Have questions? Below, you'll find our contact details JT Gile | Licensed OR Real Estate Broker https://www.gilegroup.com/agents/jt-gile/ Riley Anderson | Loan Office h ..read more

Have you been wondering where the housing market is headed? ?‍♂️ Here is a great video to get the latest housing market information and tips on navigating a market full of mixed signals and information. Watch to the end to get my take on the current housing market trends, where the market is headed, and how to best navigate if you are a home buyer or seller. Want more information on buying or selling your home? Reach out to us!  customercare@gilegroup.com ..read more

What basket are your eggs in? If you are planning on retiring, this one’s for you. As you focus on retirement, think about retiring to something, not retiring from something. Put Your Eggs in 3 Baskets for Retirement Cash Basket - Savings Account/CD This basket is for short-term needs — for the unplanned expenses, which often feel like they hit at the worst times. At a minimum, it’s prudent to have three to six months of living expenses available in case of emergencies Income Basket - The income basket is where you want to have guaranteed, stable income when you’re no longer drawing a paychec ..read more

Has the idea of sharing a home with loved ones like your grandparents, parents, or other relatives crossed your mind? ? More families are choosing the benefits that multigenerational living has to offer, like our own family. ? Affordability provides the top two reasons! ➡️ First-time home buyers are focused on cost savings so pooling resources can help make homeownership more affordable. AND ➡️ It can help buyers more easily afford their dream home. Again, this is that pooled income making it more affordable. But it isn’t all about the financial side. ⬇️ According to the NAR, 23% of repeat bu ..read more

Who do you want on your team? Your home team that is. ? Do you want the average realtor who maybe does just enough or do you want a realtor who puts on all the gear, studies the plays, comes to practice, shows up even when there isn’t practice, and brings their full game to the field. ? My job is to go the extra mile. That sometimes means diving into the details of pending properties around the area you are looking in. Reaching out to agents we have built relationships with to be able to provide you with information to make the best decision possible. If you’re thinking about buying a home, we ..read more

Let's talk about YOUR OPTIONS as a HOMEBUYER! We have been talking to several lenders lately about financial options home buyers have today. From zero down to significant rate reductions, there is something for everyone. We want to share with you the information on what is available. Here are 8 great loan options for you as a homebuyer: • FHA: As low as 3.5% down, lenient credit history • Conventional: As low as 3% down, flexible interest rates and fees • Down Payment Assistance Programs: Up to zero down grant programs through FHA. • Zero down VA or USDA: VA is a great option for veterans with ..read more

A Look Back at the Roller Coaster Year of Real Estate in 2023 One of our favorite Tom's Takes of the Year.  The 2023 annual real estate review! With sales volume down 26%, what happened to prices and inventory? Get the high and low points of the 2023 real estate market as well as Tom's Take on what 2024 has to bring ..read more

Although the number of buyers and sellers, mortgage rates, home prices, etc., have changed (and will continue to change), we still see people out there making moves. In our most recent months, we have had many clients make the move to Portland to be near family or for jobs. We’ve also worked with several investors who actively stay looking for properties. Third, we’ve worked with families with changing dynamics such as needing a multigenerational home, aging parents who are downsizing, marriage, and divorce. In this episode, we will talk about navigating buying or selling in this market, our p ..read more