Real Estate Information

Zig Ziglar

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing—that’s why we recommend it daily.

Prudential Northwest Properties’ reputation is built on delivering exceptional client service. Since its founding in 1948, service excellence has been a top priority.

In 2005, the company partnered with Quality Service Certification, Inc. and began issuing written service guarantees to its clients and asking them to rate their experience through independently administered third party surveys.

Over the last eight years, Prudential Northwest Properties has consistently received exceptional ratings for service from the people who matter most -- their clients.

Well before online review sites and public recommendations and referrals became the norm, the company began asking their clients for feedback about the quality of service they received from their real estate broker and the overall satisfaction they experienced during the transaction process with the company.

Through Quality Service Certification, Inc., an independent research company surveys each client after the close of their transaction. The unedited survey responses are validated and tabulated by Leading Research Company and used to determine ratings ranging from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied). Those client-generated Customer Satisfaction Ratings are then posted online for the world to see.

In the last three years alone, 2,566 client surveys have been returned and tabulated to reflect an overall rating of 4.82 out of a possible 5.0 for Prudential Northwest Properties brokers, earning the company a Platinum rating, which is the highest level of service achievement in the industry.

“We pride ourselves on giving the best possible service to our clients, and I think asking them directly for feedback is the best way to monitor our service delivery,” says Jason Waugh, President and CEO of Prudential Northwest Properties. “If someone is less than pleased with their experience with our company, I want to know about it. Conversely, if a client raves about great service, which is usually the case, I like to hear about that too. I'm very proud of the exceptional service ratings we consistently earn. It speaks to the caliber of professional brokers that represent Prudential Northwest Properties.”

The company is known for service excellence, and was an annual recipient of the QSC Quality Excellence Award, which recognized the Top 10 brokerages in North America with the highest client service ratings, until Quality Service Certification, Inc. stopped issuing the award in 2011.

At Prudential Northwest Properties, providing exceptional service and integrity-driven professional representation are top priorities. To see our client satisfaction ratings, please visit http://www.QualityService.org.

About Prudential Northwest Properties:

Founded in 1948, Portland-based Prudential Northwest Properties is a proud member of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a flagship franchisee of the Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services network. Recognized as a market leader and one of the most progressive real estate firms in the nation, the company is one of the largest home service providers in the Pacific Northwest. The company ranks as one of the top brokerages in North America in delivering client satisfaction, based on independently measured client feedback. It was voted one of Oregon’s Top Workplaces, and is also a Corporate Philanthropy Award recipient, named one of the five most generous medium-sized companies in Oregon. Prudential Northwest Properties is one of a select number of brokerages invited to join the new Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices real estate brand when it launches in 2013. To learn more, please visit http://www.prunw.com.

There are two types of people in the world: those who choose to be happy, and those who choose to be unhappy. Contrary to popular belief, happiness doesn’t come from fame, fortune, other people, or material possessions. Rather, it comes from within. The richest person in the world could be miserable while a homeless person could be right outside, smiling and content with their life. Happy people are happy because they make themselves happy. They maintain a positive outlook on life and remain at peace with themselves.

The question is: how do they do that?

It’s quite simple. Happy people have good habits that enhance their lives. They do things differently. Ask any happy person, and they will tell you that they …

1. Don’t hold grudges.

Happy people understand that it’s better to forgive and forget than to let their negative feelings crowd out their positive feelings. Holding a grudge has a lot of detrimental effects on your wellbeing, including increased depression, anxiety, and stress. Why let anyone who has wronged you have power over you? If you let go of all your grudges, you’ll gain a clear conscience and enough energy to enjoy the good things in life.

2. Treat everyone with kindness.

Did you know that it has been scientifically proven that being kind makes you happier? Every time you perform a selfless act, your brain produces serotonin, a hormone that eases tension and lifts your spirits. Not only that, but treating people with love, dignity, and respect also allows you to build stronger relationships.

3. See problems as challenges.

The word “problem” is never part of a happy person’s vocabulary. A problem is viewed as a drawback, a struggle, or an unstable situation while a challenge is viewed as something positive like an opportunity, a task, or a dare. Whenever you face an obstacle, try looking at it as a challenge.

4. Express gratitude for what they already have.

There’s a popular saying that goes something like this: “The happiest people don’t have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.” You will have a deeper sense of contentment if you count your blessings instead of yearning for what you don’t have.

5. Dream big.

People who get into the habit of dreaming big are more likely to accomplish their goals than those who don’t. If you dare to dream big, your mind will put itself in a focused and positive state.

6. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Happy people ask themselves, “Will this problem matter a year from now?” They understand that life’s too short to get worked up over trivial situations. Letting things roll off your back will definitely put you at ease to enjoy the more important things in life.

7. Speak well of others.

Being nice feels better than being mean. As fun as gossiping is, it usually leaves you feeling guilty and resentful. Saying nice things about other people encourages you to think positive, non-judgmental thoughts.

8. Never make excuses.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” Happy people don’t make excuses or blame others for their own failures in life. Instead, they own up to their mistakes and, by doing so, they proactively try to change for the better.

9. Get absorbed into the present.

Happy people don’t dwell on the past or worry about the future. They savor the present. They let themselves get immersed in whatever they’re doing at the moment. Stop and smell the roses.

10. Wake up at the same time every morning.

Have you noticed that a lot of successful people tend to be early risers? Waking up at the same time every morning stabilizes your circadian rhythm, increases productivity, and puts you in a calm and centered state.

11. Avoid social comparison.

Everyone works at his own pace, so why compare yourself to others? If you think you’re better than someone else, you gain an unhealthy sense of superiority. If you think someone else is better than you, you end up feeling bad about yourself. You’ll be happier if you focus on your own progress and praise others on theirs.

12. Choose friends wisely.

Misery loves company. That’s why it’s important to surround yourself with optimistic people who will encourage you to achieve your goals. The more positive energy you have around you, the better you will feel about yourself.

13. Never seek approval from others.

Happy people don’t care what others think of them. They follow their own hearts without letting naysayers discourage them. They understand that it’s impossible to please everyone. Listen to what people have to say, but never seek anyone’s approval but your own.

14. Take the time to listen.

Talk less; listen more. Listening keeps your mind open to others’ wisdoms and outlooks on the world. The more intensely you listen, the quieter your mind gets, and the more content you feel.

15. Nurture social relationships.

A lonely person is a miserable person. Happy people understand how important it is to have strong, healthy relationships. Always take the time to see and talk to your family, friends, or significant other.

16. Meditate.

Meditating silences your mind and helps you find inner peace. You don’t have to be a zen master to pull it off. Happy people know how to silence their minds anywhere and anytime they need to calm their nerves.

17. Eat well.

Junk food makes you sluggish, and it’s difficult to be happy when you’re in that kind of state. Everything you eat directly affects your body’s ability to produce hormones, which will dictate your moods, energy, and mental focus. Be sure to eat foods that will keep your mind and body in good shape.

18. Exercise.

Studies have shown that exercise raises happiness levels just as much as Zoloft does. Exercising also boosts your self-esteem and gives you a higher sense of self-accomplishment.

19. Live minimally.

Happy people rarely keep clutter around the house because they know that extra belongings weigh them down and make them feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Some studies have concluded that Europeans are a lot happier than Americans are, which is interesting because they live in smaller homes, drive simpler cars, and own fewer items.

20. Tell the truth.

Lying stresses you out, corrodes your self-esteem, and makes you unlikeable. The truth will set you free. Being honest improves your mental health and builds others’ trust in you. Always be truthful, and never apologize for it.

21. Establish personal control.

Happy people have the ability to choose their own destinies. They don’t let others tell them how they should live their lives. Being in complete control of one’s own life brings positive feelings and a great sense of self-worth.

22. Accept what cannot be changed.

Once you accept the fact that life is not fair, you’ll be more at peace with yourself. Instead of obsessing over how unfair life is, just focus on what you can control and change it for the better.

The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his or her life by altering his or her attitudes. ~ William James

Home Prices Expected to Rise at least 3.3 Percent Annually through 2017

Posted By susanne On March 6, 2013 @ 4:37 pm In Business Outlook,Consumer News and Advice,Finance and Economy,Home Owner News,Real Estate Information,Real Estate News,Real Estate Trends,Today's Top Story,Today's Top Story - Consumer |

^[1]The housing recovery is expected to grow at an annualized rate of 0.6 percent through the third quarter of this year, then gain momentum and prices are projected to grow 3.7 percent between the third quarters of 2013 and 2014 until settling down to 3.3 percent annual increases over the next three years according to Fiserv, a financial services technology provider using data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

Both home prices and home sales volumes increased steadily last year, making 2012 the first positive year for both prices and sales since the housing market crash, excluding gains induced by the home buyer tax credits in 2009 and 2010.

“Although some recent real estate activity has been speculative, it seems as if buyers have more realistic expectations about housing market returns after having lived through the largest housing market crash in U.S. history,” says David Stiff, chief economist, Fiserv.

“2012 was the first year since 1997 that the housing market has resembled something recognizable as normal. For the past 15 years, home price changes and sales volumes have either been boosted by a bubble mentality or crushed by crash psychology,” continues Stiff.

“Back in 1997, housing prices grew 3 percent, just below the 5 percent long-term average rate of appreciation. From 1998 to 2006, prices appreciated at levels above 5 percent, with double-digit price increases in many of those years. Then, after 2006, the market collapsed as euphoria turned to panic. It took until the end of 2011 before housing markets finally started to stabilize. The latest Case-Shiller results show a return to a historically normal pace of price appreciation in the last year.”

The recovery in home prices has been solid and broad-based. At the end of the 2012 third quarter, prices were rising in approximately 62 percent of all U.S. metro areas, compared to 12.5 percent in the same period a year ago. Average U.S. home prices increased 3.6 percent from the third quarter of 2011 to the comparable period of 2012. Many of the metro areas that suffered the most severe declines during the housing market crash enjoyed the highest price increases in that period.

Fiserv Case-Shiller projects that by the end of 2013, home prices will be rising in nearly every metro area in the U.S. Some markets may experience short-term double-digit price jumps that could be partially reversed by price declines as large tranches of bank-owned inventory (REO) are liquidated. In other markets, price appreciation will slowly return to normal rates as home buyers regain confidence that the market has found its footing.

Stiff cautions that the parallels to previous years should not be overstated. Unlike in 1997, there are millions of homes with delinquent mortgages, in the foreclosure process, or in REO inventories listed for sale or waiting to be sold. But many trends are positive. With both prices and mortgage payments at historic lows relative to income, Fiserv Case-Shiller expects stronger demand for housing, and the sector once again having a positive impact on the economy.

“The number of new housing units being built per household is near a record low. As momentum in the housing market builds, we will see the residential real estate sector once again make large contributions to the economic recovery. If residential investment – which encompasses all direct spending on residential real estate construction and activity – returns to its 1997 level over the next two years, then housing will boost overall economic growth by 0.5 percentage points in 2013 and 2014,” Stiff continues.

“In all of the bubble-crash markets, foreclosures will have a persistent but diminishing drag on price appreciation. Since the timing of the disposition of foreclosed properties can be highly uncertain, we will witness choppy price movements as individual metro markets stabilize. For example, in late 2011, prices in Atlanta dropped sharply because of a substantial jump in REO sales, and it is possible that we will see similar, temporary price declines in other markets as subsiding waves of foreclosed properties buffet these markets. In other markets, investor demand is quickly absorbing listed REO properties, and as a result, foreclosures are no longer pulling home prices downward,” Stiff says.

The Fiserv Case-Shiller Indexes, which include data covering thousands of zip codes, counties, metro areas and state markets, are owned and generated by Fiserv. The historical and forecast home price trend information in this report is calculated with the Fiserv proprietary Case-Shiller indexes, supplemented with data from the FHFA. The historical home price trends highlighted in this release are for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2012. One-year forecasts are for the 12 months ending on September 30, 2013. The Fiserv Case-Shiller home price forecasts are produced by Fiserv and Moody’s Analytics.

• Economy on a slightly stronger growth path.
• Unresolved fiscal policy decisions pose significant headwinds in early 2013.
• Net US exports low due to continued financial woes in Europe.
• Improving performance of the housing market is expected through 2013.
• Strengthening home prices, motivate buyers to enter the market.
• Housing to contribute to GDP and help counteract the fiscal headwinds.
• In addition to real estate other growth drivers are consumer spending, manufacturing, and business capital investment.
• Consumer spending is likely to weaken the first half of the year if tax hikes take a toll on our income.
• Economic growth is expected for 2013 in line with average growth the last 3 years.
• The “unknown” is the affect any tax increases or gov spending cuts may have.
• Employment looks better than previously reported as does manufacturing and energy production.
• Housing recovery is expected to broaden this year. However, the degree to which these factors offset the headwinds from fiscal uncertainty is still to be determined.”
• My view: Pent up housing demand and lack of new building starts over the prior 4 years will play a significant factor in the supply and demand balance in the Portland/Vancouver Region.
• If the housing demand continues to exceed the supply as we are now experiencing in close in neighborhoods; I expect the local recovery to ripple out to the suburbs this year.
• Shadow inventory has concerned me and is still a concern for spring, however it appears the banks are selling blocks of bank owned homes to investors, this will help avoid an oversupply market that could result from flooding the market with bank owned homes in coming months.

If you would like to have a conversation regarding your real estate this year, pick up the phone and give me a call or shoot me an email!

Check out our first landing on the new strip at the ranch in strong headwinds on Saturday! Click Picture for YouTube Video Clip.

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"TAKE A RISK AND BE WILLING TO FAIL FORWARD TODAY." - John Maxwell

If you really want to achieve your dreams - I mean really achieve them, not just daydream or talk about them - you've got to get out there and fail.  Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward.  Turn your mistakes into stepping-stones for success."

The pessimist complains about the wind.

The optimist expects it to change.

The leader adjusts the sails.

Polling by Fannie Mae, the government-backed mortgage investor, may shed some light on what’s motivating buyers. Recent survey found the highest share of consumers expect home prices to rise during the coming 12 months. Forty-three percent expect mortgage rates to jump, and 49 percent believe the cost of renting will increase.

Buyers who have been waiting for the bottom of the market are now motivated to buy a home sooner rather than later — pushing spring behavior into midwinter.

What’s missing from this equation? More owners listing their homes for sale. Why? Mainly because many sellers are under the impression that it’s still a buyer’s market filled with smart buyers looking to buy homes significantly lower than market value."

I am here to let you know it is no longer a buyers’ market.

If you would like to have a conversation about making a move this year or investing while prices are affordable, give me a call. 503.906.1370