Alex Page Knows Portland

Less House, More Home: Why Smaller Homes Are Paying Off for Today’s Buyers

Today’s smaller single-family homes and condos have more going for them than the square footage suggests. They can give your budget some breathing room and put you in a community designed with lifestyle in mind.

Curious about the options in our area? Let's connect.

Less House, More Home: Why Smaller Homes Are Paying Off for Today’s Buyers You started shopping with a specific mental image of your future home in your mind. Then the houses in your budget came in smaller than you pictured.

A lot of people have been waiting for rates to drop or prices to come down before making a move. But the reality is, sometimes life changes before the market does.
A growing family.
An empty nest.
A new job.
Retirement.
Needing to be closer to loved ones.

Those are the real reasons 1 in 5 buyers last year said they felt like they had to move, no matter the market. Because life doesn't wait for the timing to be perfect.

And if that’s where you are right now, you can still move. You may even have more options than you think. You just need someone who can help you find them.

Tempted to price your house high just to see what happens? You should know, overpriced homes generally don’t sell right away, they sit. And that delay will cost you.

The longer a house is on the market without any offers, typically the lower the eventual sale price.

So, how do you know that right number to list at? You lean on a pro.

The best list price depends on your neighborhood, and what buyers are actually paying right now. That’s where I can help.

DM me and let’s talk about a realistic strategy that’ll get your house sold for as much as possible (and as quickly as possible). Because overpricing may actually leave money on the table.

Now might be a smart time to look at newly built homes.

Builders are motivated to keep their inventory moving, so they’re offering incentives like mortgage rate buydowns and closing cost help to draw in buyers.

It also means they may be more flexible on price. In fact, the median price for newly built homes just hit a five-year low for this exact reason.

Builder perks and lower prices? That’s a combo worth paying attention to.

DM me to talk through what’s available in our area and which builders are offering the best incentives today.

Record High Mortgage Debt Sounds Scary. Here’s What the Headlines Leave Out.

Record mortgage debt makes for a scary headline. But context matters.

Equity is near an all-time high, home values have surged, and the vast majority of homeowners are in a position of real financial strength. The conditions that made 2008 a crisis simply don't exist right now.

If you're wondering what all of this means for your situation, whether you're thinking about buying, selling, or just trying to make sense of the market, reach out anytime. No pressure, just answers.

Record High Mortgage Debt Sounds Scary. Here’s What the Headlines Leave Out. You may have seen the headlines lately about mortgage debt in America hitting a record high.

What the Foreclosure Headlines Aren’t Telling You

Foreclosure filings may be rising, but they're still low. And the equity most homeowners are sitting on today is a key reason this looks nothing like 2008.

What the Foreclosure Headlines Aren’t Telling You You've probably seen the headlines saying, "foreclosures are on the rise,” and maybe your mind jumped straight to 2008.

Are Home Prices Going To Fall?

Home prices have a long track record of going up over time. And that’s why buying a home is generally considered a safe long-term investment.

That certainly doesn’t mean you have to buy now. You should only move when it makes sense, and you plan to live there for a while.

But if you’re interested, let this reassure you. If you want to talk through what home prices are doing in our market, your goals, or your timelines, let’s have a quick conversation.

Are Home Prices Going To Fall? It’s one of the biggest hold ups some buyers have right now: “What if I buy, and home prices go down?”

80% of homeowners still expect to get their asking price or more when they sell. But right now, only about 40% actually do.

That might sound surprising, but it’s not. It’s normal.

The issue is where those outdating pricing expectations are coming from.

Some sellers are still pricing high just to “see what happens.” And that strategy doesn’t work now that inventory has grown.

When a house is priced above where it should be today, buyers don’t negotiate. They move on to other options.

That’s when homes sit, and sellers have to slash prices – sometimes below what they could’ve gotten if they’d just priced right from the start.

That’s why the sellers getting the best results right now are doing something different.

They’re pricing at (or even slightly below) market value from day 1. Because that’s what creates demand early and puts you in a position to sell faster… and potentially for more.

So don’t price based on the past. Price for today’s...

Thinking about selling your house soon? Don't skip staging.

With more houses on the market now, anything you can do to help yours stand out counts. And while staging costs vary, whatever you spend could pay you back big time.

For example, if you invest the typical $4k for mid-level staging on a $400k home, that can turn into roughly $18k in added value when you sell.

That gives you the potential to net about $14k more at closing – about a 350% return on your investment.

But staging doesn’t have to mean hiring a full crew. There’s an option for almost every budget, from professional staging to virtual staging to simple DIY updates.

DM me if you're getting ready to sell and let's talk about what level of staging makes sense for your house and your budget.

Why Staging Your House Could Pay Off This Spring

With more homes for sale right now, making a strong first impression matters. Staging can help your house sell faster and for more – and there's an option for almost every budget.

If you’re getting ready to list, let’s talk about what level of staging makes sense for your house and make a plan for attracting the right buyers.

Why Staging Your House Could Pay Off This Spring Selling your house this season? You’ve probably heard you should stage it before it hits the market.