Albany Oregon Real Estate

Whether you’re planning on buying or selling a home, the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) can give you free information on all real estate currently for sale. This includes homes, land, commercial and multi-family properties in Albany, Corvallis, Lebanon, Jefferson A native to Oregon; I welcome newcomers to this diverse area, one of the friendliest states in the country.

A Buyer's Agent-

A buyer’s agent works for you by keeping up with all the real estate currently for sale. This means not just relying on MLS, but actually going out and looking for you while also keeping up with the (for sale by owner) properties.

Make sure your agent educates you. Shows you a number of homes above and below the price you set for yourself; and negotiates wisely by reading between the lines and negotiate the lowest possible price.  Remember, a home is more than just shelter. It’s an investment in your present and future.

A Seller's agent-

Choosing a real estate agent to sell your home is one of the biggest business decisions you will make for you and your family. Before you decide, ask these two important questions:

1.     What is their experience as a real estate agent?

It takes at least two years in an active real estate market to scratch the surface because no one transaction is identical to another. The number of years in business, however, is less important than the number of transactions they’ve actually closed. For example, if they’ve been in real estate for four years, which may seem like a good amount of experience, but if they’ve only closed 10 or 12 transactions, well that’s not so good. Your agent should have closed a minimum of 50 transactions, but an agent who’s closed more than 200 is an even better choice.

2.   What kind of advertising is being done for you?

Statistics tell us that 95% of all real estate transactions are first found on the Internet. Most agents belong to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and when listing your home, they will put it up on MLS where multiple real estate advertisers will pick it up and post it. Check out: Google, MSN, realestate.yahoo.com, www.realtor.com, www.trulia.com, www.zillow.com and www.homefinder.com.