Portland Real Estate Podcast
112 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingIf you are looking to buy or sell a home, get all the information and the latest updates, tips, and tricks from The AskSarita Team powered by PLACE - your professional Portland Real Estate Real Estate Agents.
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Episodes
Have A Stress-Free Summer Move By Creating a Moving Timeline
April 25, 2024 00:00 VideoAim for a successful move by planning ahead and creating a moving timeline. When moving in or out of your home, one aspect that sometimes gets overlooked is the timeline. It is easy for many sellers to underestimate the time required for a smooth transition, particularly when aiming to move before the start of the new school year in August. If you are thinking of making a move this summer, understand that timing is crucial. If you start taking action in April, you’re already behind schedu...
Make Real Estate Dreams Come True with Ask Sarita
March 29, 2024 00:00 VideoExplore a fulfilling career in real estate with the Ask Sarita team. Among brokerages, our team is known for its dedication to fulfilling real estate dreams, with over 80% of our business thriving on repeat and referred clients thanks to people like you. Now, we’re embarking on an exciting phase of growth and looking for new talents to join our journey. Our search is broad, encompassing agents at any point in their career—whether you’re newly licensed, seasoned in the industry, or simply ...
Navigating the 2024 Housing Landscape: Buyer and Seller Guide
March 13, 2024 00:00 VideoExplore key trends and statistics shaping the 2024 real estate market. As we navigate through March 2024, the real estate market continues to puzzle many of us. What’s truly happening in the housing landscape? Drawing from recent statistics and insights from the annual Keller Williams conference, let’s dive into the current state of the market and what it means for buyers and sellers alike. A key indicator we rely on is months of inventory, which shows how long it would take for all curre...
Maximize Your Home Sale: Insightful Pre-Inspection Tips
February 29, 2024 00:00 VideoMaking an informed choice: The seller’s guide to pre-inspections. Selling a home is a journey filled with decisions, one of which involves inspections. Many sellers ponder whether conducting a pre-listing home inspection is beneficial. It’s a valid concern, primarily because surprises during the selling process are unwelcome. Here, we delve into the advantages and considerations of pre-listing inspections to guide you through this critical decision. Pre-inspecting your home can mentally p...
How Homebuyers Should Handle the Home-Inspection Process
February 13, 2024 00:00 VideoHere’s what you need to know about home inspections as a buyer. Today, let’s dive into the home inspection process, particularly for buyers. This can be a nerve-wracking stage, especially for first-time buyers. Picture this: You’ve found your dream home, made an offer, and now it’s time for inspections. Typically, we conduct several inspections in our area, including a general home inspection, sewer inspection, radon inspection, and possibly oil tank checks. These may lead to further insp...
Sell Your Home Fast: 3 Best Staging Options for Your Home
January 31, 2024 00:00 VideoStaging can increase the chances of selling your home at a higher price. One of the things that you can do to make your home look its best to prospective buyers is staging. In this article, we’ll talk about staging and how it can improve your home when a buyer visits it. When assessing a home for a showing, real estate agents, like me, consider the arrangement of the furniture in your home. There are times when we suggest bringing some furniture to your home to help it look according to w...
Touchdown in Real Estate: Why Selling Post-Super Bowl Is the Winning Play
January 16, 2024 00:00 VideoThe surprising link between the Super Bowl and real estate success. Today, let’s discuss the upcoming Super Bowl. I’m passionate about sports, I’m married to someone with a long tenure at Nike, and both my kids work in sports-related jobs. The Super Bowl, scheduled for the first Sunday in February, holds significance for NFL fans. However, as a Realtor, my “Super Bowl” starts right after the game ends. The typical notion is to wait for the spring market, often targeting March or April for...
How You Can Enhance Your Current Home Instead of Moving
January 04, 2024 00:00 VideoWe want to share a few ideas with you to help you revitalize your space. During the pandemic, we all discovered the importance of our home spaces. Spending more time indoors prompted many to consider changes, whether it’s upgrading their living space or finding new ways to love their current homes. While I’m often seen as a resource for those looking to buy or sell a property, there’s a fourth option that’s often overlooked: making the most of the home you already have. Perhaps you adore ...
How I Can Help You with Real Estate Beyond Portland
December 05, 2023 00:00 VideoSarita Dua: Offering you real estate connections globally. I’m Sarita Dua from the AskSarita Team. While I am based in Portland, I want to share how I can assist you with your real estate needs no matter where you are in the country or even globally. In my network, I have connections with agents across the United States and around the world. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, or invest in property, I can match you with the perfect agent for your needs. This service isn’t just limited to...
Secure Your Future with a Home Equity Line of Credit
November 13, 2023 00:00 VideoLearn why a Home Equity Line of Credit is your shield. When it comes to securing your financial future, it’s essential to have the right resources at your disposal. While I may not be a lender, today, I want to emphasize the significance of having a Home Equity Line of Credit, commonly known as a HELOC. This financial tool could be your lifeline when unforeseen circumstances demand cash, and I’m here to shed light on why having a HELOC is a smart move. A Home Equity Line of Credit allows ...
Sleigh Your Real Estate Goals: Winter’s Surprising Advantages
October 30, 2023 00:00 VideoThese are the three reasons why winter is a great time to sell your home. What are the advantages of selling your house during the holidays and winter? While many believe that the prime selling seasons are summer and spring, there are three key reasons why the holidays and winter can be a favorable time for sellers, and today, I’m sharing them with you. 1. Serious sellers. During this season, you’ll mostly find serious sellers in the market. Some homeowners prefer to enjoy the holidays an...
Unlocking the Power of Perfect Timing in Real Estate
October 16, 2023 00:00 VideoWhy timing matters when selling your home. When it comes to selling your home, timing is often a critical factor that can significantly impact your success in the real estate market. Many sellers ponder the ideal moment to list their property, considering various factors such as their moving plans, market conditions, and days on the market. However, it’s essential to recognize that the optimal timing can vary depending on your specific circumstances and goals. As a homeowner, you may be t...
Does It Make Sense To Buy a Home Right Now?
September 28, 2023 00:00 VideoWhy it doesn’t always make sense to wait to purchase a home. Today, I want to tackle the most common question I get asked, whether I’m at the grocery store, the mall, or the post office. When people find out I’m a Realtor, they all want to know the same thing: What’s happening in the real estate market, especially with interest rates on the rise? Is it the right time to buy or should I wait? These questions are on the minds of both buyers and sellers. So, here’s the unvarnished truth: Non...
The Power of Partnership: How a Buyer's Agent Can Transform Your Home-Buying Experience
July 21, 2023 00:00 VideoDiscover the invaluable role of a buyer's agent in buying a home. In the realm of real estate, working with buyers holds a special place in my heart. It is an area where my expertise shines, as I strive to set myself apart as a buyer’s agent by forging true partnerships with clients. While some may believe that buyer agency is merely a formality, allowing them to independently search for homes online, the reality is far more nuanced. Today, I’m diving into the multifaceted role of a buyer’...
The Platinum Rule: Why Treating Clients Like Family is the Key to My Success in Real Estate
June 13, 2023 00:00 VideoCommission isn’t the biggest concern in real estate—relationships are. Today, I want to talk about a topic that many people don’t like discussing: money and how real estate agents get paid. I was inspired to create this video after a conversation with my family over the holidays. They were curious about how I get paid on commission. One family member asked, “What’s in it for you to try and get your buyers a better deal? Wouldn’t that mean you get paid less?” This got me thinking about how...
To Move or Not to Move: How Interest Rates Affect Your Decision
May 25, 2023 00:00 VideoThe truth is that most people move for reasons other than interest rates. Today, let’s address the elephant in the room: interest rates. It’s a question that many people ask me—why would they give up their low interest rate of 2.75%, 2.875%, or 3.0% to make a move? The answer is that it depends on your motivation and rationale for moving. Of course, interest rates are a factor that should be considered, but people move for different reasons. Often, it’s due to things that can’t be change...
Connect With the Right Agent Anywhere in the World
April 30, 2023 07:00 VideoWherever you want to buy or sell, I can be your real estate matchmaker. Today I want to talk about a pet peeve of mine. It’s when people tell me they aren’t having a great experience with the agent they’re working with within another state and wished I lived there. This pet peeve isn’t your fault by any means; it’s my fault because I haven’t educated people properly. The truth is that I can help you anywhere. I may be licensed in Oregon and can service all of Oregon, but the reality is, a...
3 Proven Ways Homeownership Gives You Financial Gains
April 10, 2023 07:00 VideoHere’s how owning a home can be a fantastic financial investment. What is the true value of owning a home? There are three components to the value of homeownership, and today I’m sharing what they are and how to calculate them: 1. Appreciation. If you hold onto a home, it will appreciate in value. Let’s use an example of a $500,000 home and assume a 4% appreciation rate year over year, which is a conservative estimate. During the first year, your $500,000 home is worth $520,000, which mea...
Our Team Is Expanding
March 29, 2023 07:00 VideoAs we expand, we are looking for people to join our real estate team. Today, I’m here to tell you that our team is growing and looking for people. My best clients are referrals from friends, family, past clients, vendors, and the people in my community, so I am coming to you all with this as well. You may be interested yourself or may know someone that would be perfect for our team. We’re looking for licensed agents with six months of experience or more. They could be seasoned veterans o...
3 Ways To Get Your Home Ready To Sell
March 22, 2023 07:00 VideoThree things to focus on when preparing your home for the market. It is crucial to thoughtfully prepare your home before you put it up for sale. A home that is correctly staged and prepped will sell for thousands of dollars more. However, how do you know where to start? There are a lot of things you could prioritize, and you don’t want to put your time and money into the wrong things. That is why I have created a list of three things to focus on when preparing your home: 1. Do the three ...
Projects That Will Give You the Biggest ROI
March 02, 2023 07:00 VideoThree home upgrades that will fetch you a high return on your investment. When preparing your house for sale, you may be led to believe that the more upgrades you make, the higher the price you can list for. However, not all home upgrades are created equal; some will have you pouring money down the drain, while others will get you immediate resale value. Understanding which projects to take on can help you make thousands of dollars more. So, what home improvements should you do if you want...
If You Think You’re Late to the Market: You’re Right
February 23, 2023 07:00 VideoMy phone is already ringing off the hook with potential sellers. Today I want to talk about market timing. In a nutshell, if you think you’re late, you are. What I’m finding and the main message I want to impart today is that the news is always lagging. By the time you read about how high the rates are and how bad the market is, it’s not. There’s always a lag, for good or bad, between what’s actually being said in the news and what’s happening in reality. Here’s what’s happening in Portlan...
Explaining the Duality of the Housing Market
February 13, 2023 07:00 VideoHow the duality of our market affects both buyers and sellers. There’s a duality in our housing market right now. In my 20 years of experience, I can attest that it is both a buyer’s market and a seller’s market. Let me explain what I mean by that. Currently, some buyers are highly motivated to purchase, feeling like they missed out on the last market due to high prices and waived contingencies, like repairs and appraisals. It was truly a crazy market! However, with the market and invent...
We Wish You a Wonderful Holiday Season
December 07, 2022 07:00 VideoFrom our team to your family, we want to wish you a happy holiday season. From our family to yours, happy holidays. Enjoy the very best of what this season has to offer. The holiday season is a time of joy, gratitude, and reflection on the year as well as things that we’re excited about in the coming year. We are always here to help you and answer any questions you may have. Call or email us, we’d love to help you. In case we don’t hear from you until 2023, have a happy New Year!
How an Experienced Agent Can Help You
December 04, 2022 07:00 VideoThree reasons why you should work with a seasoned real estate professional. Why should you interview and hire an experienced agent? If you’re buying or selling, you’ll need an experienced real estate agent to represent you for the following reasons: 1. The market has shifted. There are 1.5 million agents in the National Association of Realtors (NAR). According to statistics, the average agent only has eight years of experience. Unfortunately, we’ve been in a hot seller’s market for more t...
Why Now Is a Good Time To Buy and Sell
December 04, 2022 07:00 VideoA couple of reasons why you should consider buying and selling now. We’re at the end of the year and you may be thinking, “I want to buy a home and I want to sell my home. Should I make my move now or should I just wait until next year?” Today I want to talk to you about timing the market and seasonality. There are many reasons why it may be a great time to act now. Many people take their homes off the market, so there’s significantly less competition during the holiday season. It’s a gr...
How We Grew Professionally Due to the Pandemic
November 15, 2022 00:00 VideoThree lessons the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us in our careers. While we would never wish a pandemic to happen, it is always good to look at the silver linings that happened during that time in our professions. Today I’ll share three things we’ve learned during the COVID-19 pandemic: We learned to slow down. The pandemic allowed us to slow down, reconnect with people at a human level and care about how they’re doing. In the past, we focused too much on wanting to add to our database...
How the Current Market Affects Sellers
October 25, 2022 07:00 VideoSellers can still find opportunities, but they need to start right away. The market has changed. It’s not horrible, but it is different. Sellers can’t compare what’s happening today to your neighbor’s sale a few months ago. What do the current market dynamics mean for sellers? Let’s talk about the rule of 18. If it takes 18 showings to sell a home in a tight market, you might have 18 showings on the first day it’s on the market, so by the weekend, you’ve had more than 18 showings and the...
Why It’s a Fantastic Time To Buy a Home
October 25, 2022 07:00 VideoWhat’s in store for buyers in today’s shifting real estate market. What does today’s market look like for buyers? Are there opportunities buyers can take advantage of? I’ve received these questions a lot from clients. Today, I’ll respond to them and talk about why now is a fantastic time to purchase a home. Our business has always been strong with buyers, so be rest assured that I am not one of those fairweather agents who choose to talk about buyers just because the changes in the marke...
Your Latest Portland Metro Market Update
September 25, 2022 07:00 VideoHere’s what you need to know about the Portland metro housing market. Today I want to talk to you about market stats. It’s what everybody wants to talk about. Let’s look at the August data that just came out. We ended last August with 1.8 months of inventory, which is a little bit lower than the month before. However, the days on market have gone up. We are now averaging 28 days on the market. From this time last year in August, it was 23 days on the market. Interestingly, when you look...
Working With Buyer Clients in Today’s Market
July 25, 2022 00:00 VideoAre you tired of competing in a seller’s market? Here’s our solution. In this seller’s market, it can be challenging to work with buyers. That’s why the AskSarita Team, are very direct when managing our buyer clients’ expectations regarding list price, showings, offer deadlines, etc. They have to trust our guidance as we help them make the best deal possible, be pre-approved, prepared to make decisions quickly, and clear with their criteria. The acceptance rate for buyers right now is ver...
How To Prep Your Home for the Market
July 05, 2022 05:00 VideoHow you can increase your home’s value and sell for top dollar. We might be in a seller’s market now, but that doesn’t mean sellers can get away with being complacent and not doing everything they can to raise the value of their home. If you want people to pay top dollar for your property, you have to make sure that your home is in top condition. Keep in mind that firs impressions matter. By cleaning and properly staging the home, buyers are more likely to fall in love with it, and they’...
What You Need To Know About Our Market Shift
June 21, 2022 12:02 VideoHere’s what buyers and sellers need to know about our shifting market. What’s going on with our market? I had a different topic planned for this blog post, but things have moved so fast and dramatically that I just had to talk to you about it. There are tons of factors contributing to our market shift, such as the war in Ukraine, gas prices, inflation, and interest rates, so today I want to explain what’s happening and what it means for you. The main culprit behind our market shift is ou...
Is There Wisdom in Waiving Contingencies?
June 13, 2022 06:00 VideoShould you be waiving contingencies in this current market conditions? Waiving contingencies has become a controversial topic in real estate lately. Today I’ll discuss why many buyers are waiving contingencies in this competitive market. In the Oregon sales agreement document, many contingencies are baked into the text. For example, the disclosure contingency allows you to back out of a deal due to disclosures. The inspection contingency allows you to terminate the contract if the propert...
Buyers Need Urgency in the Portland Market
May 27, 2022 06:00 VideoHere’s why urgency is the name of the game in today’s real estate market. When I sit down with a buyer for a strategy session, the one question I always make sure to ask is, “How serious are you about buying a home?” Being serious about buying doesn’t mean you need to make an insane offer on a home. However, it does mean being fully approved, having your assets and income verified, and being decisive when you see a home that matches your needs. “It’s okay to pass if you’re not quite rea...
An Effective Pricing Strategy
May 16, 2022 10:05 VideoPricing your home lower may be the key to getting top dollar. Lately, I’ve had a few clients ask, “I want to buy a house, but how much over list price is this going to go?” It can vary wildly based on the pricing strategy. Today I want to talk how sellers should price their homes in this market. Someone with a $700,000 home may choose to list for $799,000 in the hopes of this hot market pushing it toward $800,000. However, even if they get beautiful photography and advertise it everywher...
What’s Happening in Our Market?
May 09, 2022 05:00 VideoBuyer affordability is quickly becoming out of reach in today’s market. The Oregon MLS just released the stats for March 2022, so today I’ll be going over the details of what’s been happening in our market. The supply of inventory is at 0.7 months. This is very low, but the lowest we’ve ever seen was December 2021 at 0.6 months. Due to seasonality, there are always fewer homes for sale in December, but 0.7 months of inventory in March is very noteworthy. “March had the second lowest inv...
Why Now Is a Good Time To Sell
April 25, 2022 15:17 VideoIs now the best time to sell, or should you wait for prices to get higher? There’s an old adage in real estate that says the best time to sell a house is never—home prices should, in theory, always go up. A lot of people think that because prices are on the rise, they should wait before selling. However, the reality is that many people need to sell their homes to extract the equity and position themselves for the next chapter of their lives. If you’ve had this thought yourself, understan...
3 Reasons Why We Can Handle Climbing Rates
April 19, 2022 16:41 VideoRising interest rates might not be as bad as you think for a few reasons. What are these rising interest rates doing to the market? Should you get in the market now or wait? Those are great questions, so let’s go over how interest rates are affecting our market. While interest rates have gone up and will continue climbing, they are still very low compared to historical averages. Instead of slowing our market, rising rates have spurred buyers to secure a home before they rise even more. We...
Don’t Do These Things When Buying a Home
February 14, 2022 19:14 VideoThese three things can derail or slow down your home purchase. Usually, I talk about what to do when you are buying or selling, but today I want to talk about what not to do. Buyers should avoid doing all three of these things. Some of them may be obvious, but we can all do with a few gentle reminders. Buying a home is an invasive process regarding your financials, so you want to avoid making big purchases. You don’t want your spending to be any different. Sure, you have to buy a washer a...
Why Getting Pre-Approved Is a Must
January 31, 2022 19:17 VideoIf you want to buy a home, you must get pre-approved before anything else. A pre-approval isn’t just going to the lender and getting a letter. Buyers have to get their assets, income, and credit verified by a lender before they start looking. Why is that? More often than not, you’ll find a home a lot sooner than you think, especially in a low inventory market. If you don’t have a pre-approval, it’s a bit like going to the store without your purse or wallet. You can find a property you wan...
Should You Rent or Buy?
January 14, 2022 16:42 VideoHere are a few reasons why buying a home is better than renting Should you rent or buy? If you’re new to town and don’t know where you’ll be a year from now, renting makes sense. It’s a good way to learn about the local market before you buy. However, if you’ve been renting for some time, I think there are some clear advantages to buying. First and foremost, you’re building equity. When you rent, you are paying your landlord’s mortgage. When you buy, you are paying your own mortgage. It’s...
Let’s Make a Plan To Meet Your Real Estate Goals
December 29, 2021 19:04 VideoThe new year is a great time to plan out your real estate goals. Happy New Year! We counted down to midnight and watched the ball drop, and if you’re like me, you’re already looking at your goals for this year. My phone rings off the hook in January with clients who are committed to selling in the new year. It’s a great time to reach out to a trusted real estate professional and come up with a strategy for selling your home, whether you want to do that now or later this year. Even if you...
Happy Holidays From Us
December 13, 2021 15:37 VideoFrom our team to your family, we want to wish you a happy holiday season. Happy holidays to you! The holiday season has officially arrived. We hope you enjoy this wonderful time of year and make some fantastic memories. We wanted to take a moment to thank you for your continued support. We love helping people make their real estate dreams come true, so thank you for working with us and supporting our business. This may be a busy time of year, but we are always here to help you and answe...
What We’ve Learned From This Market
December 07, 2021 22:57 VideoHere’s what we’ve learned from the crazy seller’s market we’ve experienced. Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve experienced a hyper seller’s market with very low inventory. Buyers have been losing house after house. We started 2021 with one month of inventory, and we went as low as 0.7 months. Even in June and July, we only had 0.8 and 0.9 months of inventory. Today I want to talk about what we’ve learned from this crazy market. The No. 1 thing we’ve learned is that patience ...
Thank You for Your Support
November 19, 2021 19:33 VideoI wouldn’t be where I am today without all of your support. The 2021 holiday season has officially begun! I hope you are as excited as I am. I’d like to take a moment to express my gratitude to all of you this Thanksgiving. I have met some truly wonderful people, and I’m proud to have helped so many reach their real estate goals over the years. I wouldn’t be where I am today without all of your support. Enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner—that’s what I plan to do! In the meantime, please do...
When Is the Best Time To Sell?
November 02, 2021 14:49 VideoAre you wondering whether now is the best time to sell your home? It’s autumn now, and people are wondering whether this is a good time to sell or if they should wait until next spring. The best time to sell your house is when you’re ready, and you’re probably ready now. Due to the seasonality of our market, in the fall and winter, sellers have less competition than in the spring and summer. There’s more buyer activity in the warmer months, but there are also more listings on the market wi...
Why the Highest Offer Isn’t Always the Best
October 26, 2021 18:09 VideoHere’s why the highest offer is not always the best offer on a home. Why wouldn’t the highest offer be the best offer? I hear this all the time from my buyers. They get fixated on the numbers and ignore the many other things that make an offer strong. So today I wanted to talk about some of those other factors that can be more important than price. There are several things to think about: down payments, close dates, contingencies, etc. The seller is looking for the best terms with the low...
Why a Home Inspection Is Critical
October 14, 2021 15:50 VideoHere’s why waiving the home inspection when buying is a bad idea. Home inspections are a fun topic for me to discuss, especially in a hot seller’s market. Right now, many people are buying homes and waiving an array of contingencies, including the home inspection. However, waiving the home inspection isn’t a great idea. When you view a home, particularly in a hot market, you only spend 10 to 20 minutes in it, and you might get to see it twice if you’re lucky. In that short time, you’re no...
How To Sell Your Home With Confidence
September 30, 2021 10:00 VideoCall me now so I can help you get your house ready to sell for top dollar. People often ask me, “When should I call you if I’m looking to sell?” Call me now. You want a professional Realtor with you so that we can create a plan of what you need to do, book photographers, and schedule with the appraiser. In a market like this, there may be a lot less you need to do to sell your home, but you still want your home to look amazing. There may be some repairs that you think you need to do that...