Dear Shanon, What was it like when you bought your first house?
Wowza it was quite a doozy at times. I was my worst nightmare client. Searching in the average price range in Jackson county, I started out looking for the basics: 3/2, clean, nice neighborhood, good size lot, the normal thing I hear from most Buyers every day.
Two years and hundreds of houses later from Applegate to Eagle Point to Ashland, my journey had certainly been great. At one point I was in escrow for a beautiful adobe home on 15 acres in Gold Hill, until I realized I didn’t know how nor had the time to learn to chop wood with the lack of available time to maintain water and septic systems right now didn’t end up sitting well with me. For this gal, I knew I needed to be in town in the hustle and bustle.
I finally found “the one” and surprised myself with a smaller home built in the 1950s on a good size lot for Bella the hound dog to romp around in. The process was not easy though. I was in a competitive market up against three other offers where I most certainly had to have my ABCs in order or I was back on what by then felt like a painful and grueling hunt.
Thank goodness I had my Mortgage Lender on speed dial and went through the pre-qualification process early on, so I could prove to the Sellers I could adequately buy the home. Financing-check. Secondly, the offer contingencies had to be strong, i.e. quick inspection, good earnest money amount, and not asking for the moon in my “Additional Provisions.” And lastly, I knew it was what I wanted. My emotions were in check because it was the right time and place in my life to make the move. Preparation-check.
There’s nothing worse than getting your hopes up on a situation that doesn’t turn out, so this time I was prepared not to set myself up for failure again. So keep in mind this year in 2018 as you entertain the idea of buying or selling your home, that IT IS A PROCESS. Put together your game plan, write down your goals, talk to the people in your life and TAKE ACTION. It’s a New Year and what better time than now to start planning? Contact your favorite Realtor in the Valley and they’ll be happy to help you get started. Cheers and Happy New Year!
MEDFORD MARKET STATS: average price and price increase % over last year
· NW: $216,000 up 8%
· WEST: $190,500 up 17%
· SW: $245,950 up 2.9%
· EAST: $288,625 up 5.6%
Shanon Pewtress
Real Estate Broker, Licensed in the state of Oregon
Published East Medford Life Magazine - January 2021
Shanon holds an MBA in International Business and loves writing in her “At Home with Shanon” column that has been delivered to 47,000+ homes in Medford since 2014, has appeared on the Real Estate Radio Show and was also featured on A&E TV network’s Real Estate Reality TV show.