Mitchell Halvorsen

06/10/2022

New listing with Village Properties at Sunriver! Join us this Sunday from 10:30-1:30 with Mark Halvorsen, Mitchell Halvorsen and the newest member of our team Anna Clausen at her first open house!

02/02/2021

If you're working from home and want to move to a place where you can have great adventures too, then come on up to Central Oregon! The market/inventory is moving very quickly so before you begin your home search, send me a message or give me a call and I can recommend a couple of great lenders that make getting pre-approved really easy. After you have been pr-approved let me help you search for your perfect home. Let's make it happen, make the move over to Central Oregon today!

02/02/2021

Refinancing your mortgage is something most homeowners consider at least once throughout the lifespan of their home loan. It allows you to pay off your previous loan by applying for a new one that has better financial advantages. While there are many good reasons to refinance, here are five common ones.

1. Scoring a lower interest rate. The number one reason homeowners decide to refinance is to secure a lower interest rate on their mortgage. Not only does this save you money in the long run and decrease your monthly payment, but you can start building equity in your home sooner.

2. Using an improved credit score. Even if interest rates have not dropped in the market, if you’ve improved your credit score over the last few years, you may be able to reduce your mortgage rate.

3. Shortening the loan’s term. If interest rates are decreasing, there is a chance you may be able to get a shorter loan term with little to no change in your monthly payment, allowing you to pay off your loan sooner.

4. Switching from an adjustable rate to a fixed rate. If you chose an adjustable-rate mortgage with great introductory rates when you initially financed your home, that rate may increase significantly over the years. By switching to a fixed rate while interest rates are low, you can protect yourself from future increases.

5. Cashing out home equity. If there is a big purchase or payment on the horizon, such as funding a wedding or going back to school, your best option may be to use the equity you’ve built in your home to borrow money at a lower cost.

11/04/2020

Now that you’ve found your dream home and now it’s time to cross all your T's and dot all your I's before it’s all your own. One of the first items on your closing checklist the home appraisal. So, what exactly is that?

The home appraisal is essentially a value assessment of the home and property. It is conducted by a certified third party and is used to determine whether the home is priced appropriately.

During a home appraisal, the appraiser conducts a complete visual inspection of the interior and exterior of the home. He or she factors in a variety of things, including the home’s floor plan functionality, condition, location, school district, fixtures, lot size, and more. An upward adjustment is generally made if the home has a deck, a view, or a large yard. The appraiser will also compare the home to several similar homes that were sold within the last six months in the area.

The final report must include a street map showing the property and the ones’ compared, photographs of the interior and exterior, an explanation on how the square footage was calculated, market sales data, public land records, and more.

After it is complete, the lender uses the information found to ensure that the property is worth the amount they are investing. This is a safe-guard for the lender as the home acts as collateral for the mortgage. If the buyer defaults on the mortgage and goes into foreclosure, the lender generally sells the home to recover the money borrowed.

If you have any further questions regarding this or anything real estate related don't hesitate to text or call me!

Thank you,
Mitchell Halvorsen

10/05/2020

If you are a first-time home buyer or a seasoned veteran, the negotiation part of the transaction can be a little stressful. However, it is necessary to ensure you are getting the best possible deal for your money. So, what should you negotiate when buying a home?

1. Closing costs. Your closing costs are determined by a variety of factors, but you can expect it to be between 2% to 5% of the purchase price. Ask the seller to cover some or all of the closing costs upfront or request a closing credit that can be used to make specific updates and fixes to the home.

2. Furnishings. Love how the seller has furnished and decorated the home? Buyers often negotiate keeping couches, fixtures, landscaping items, patio furniture, appliances, and more. And many sellers agree, wanting to make the home more appealing.

3. Inspection and closing timing. Buyer offers that include a quick inspection and close timeline are often more attractive to sellers who have been going through the process for far too long. Just ensure you allow yourself ample time to get your financing in place and complete proper, thorough inspections.

4. Home warranty. Sellers will sometimes agree to pay the premium on the home warranty at closing and then hand it off to the new homeowner, who is responsible for the deductible on any future claims.

5. Repairs. Your inspection may uncover small or large repairs needed to bring the home up to standard. You can negotiate to have these items fixed before closing or ask for a price reduction to cover the costs.

Village Properties is the Sunriver Oregon source for vacation rentals, long-term rentals, commercial lease, or real estate.

10/02/2020

This is accurate!

09/30/2020

The current market in Bend for the 97702 Zip Code. The current market is still looking strong, if your looking to sell now is the time! Look forward to hearing from you!

The most up-to-date look at housing prices and market trends.

09/30/2020

When it comes time to sell help the potential buyers visualize themselves in your home. Here are a few great tips for staging your home to sell!

1. Help them visualize it as their own. Make it easier for buyers to imagine themselves making your house their home by removing personal memorabilia, knick-knacks, and photos. Instead replace them with simple décors, such as paintings, nature images, and plants.

2. Think sleek instead of comfy. Modern-day buyers are leaning toward modern, crisp, clean interiors over comfy, homey looks. When staging your home, keep a minimalist mindset, and incorporate bright colors and metal accents.

3. Deep clean the small spaces. It's obvious to say you should clean your home before viewing, but don’t forget to cover your bases by deep cleaning the small spots. Take time to scrub porous areas like grout that may hold on to stains and baseboards where small pet hairs and dust love to cling.

4. Spruce up your landscaping. The first impression your home gives to potential buyers is its exterior. Ensure you have a freshly mowed lawn, neat hedges and shrubbery, bright flowers, and a clean driveway.

5. Set the mood. A home is so much more than just the way it looks, so you need to appeal to the other senses. Prior to having potential buyers over, set the mood by burning delicious smelling candles and selecting an upbeat, happy soundtrack to play in the background.

09/23/2020

The current Bend market for the 97701 Zip Code. You can see that the inventory is still going down and the price per square foot is increasing. You will notice that that the days on market on this chart are high. That is because they are an average of all the homes on the market and don't accurately reflect the current trend. I will be posting the other Bend Zip Codes 97702, 97703 soon. Hope you all have a wonderful day!

The most up-to-date look at housing prices and market trends.

09/17/2020

Here is a wonderful report by First American indicating a very strong sellers market! As you can see there are only 11 residential homes in Sunriver for sale at this time. Homes are also selling incredibly quickly! The days on market on this chart are an average and don't accurately reflect the current trend. If your looking to sell now is the time!

The most up-to-date look at housing prices and market trends.

09/07/2020

When you are ready to sell your home use thes 6 easy steps to help make the process much easier!!