The pros and cons of city living.

A home is partially what you make of the walls that surround you, but it’s also about the environment that surrounds your home. If you’re thinking about making a move to the city, consider these pros and cons before you start packing.

Pros:

Walkability and public transportation
City living can put you in walking distance to work, school, grocery stores, and other points of interest. What you can’t reach on foot is likely only a subway or bus ticket away. Skip car payments, insurance and gas by purchasing a public transit pass.

Availability of amenities
A new restaurant, theater or museum is always popping up in the city. Cultural experiences abound, and special events come and go frequently. Health and emergency services are also much closer and more readily available.

Professional and personal opportunities
A higher concentration of people naturally means a higher concentration of opportunities. There is likely more demand for your profession in the city, accompanied by a higher paycheck. Networking professionally or expanding your social circle personally are much easier to do in an urban area.

Cons:

Cost of living
Your dollar will not stretch as far in the city. You will pay more for less living space, pay for parking that is free outside the city, and may even experience sticker shock at the grocery store.

Crowds and noise
More people means more traffic, more noise and longer wait times at your favorite restaurant. Even if your home is in a quieter neighborhood, chances are still high you’ll be falling asleep to the sounds of horns honking, sirens blaring and people walking home late at night.

Limited outdoor living space
Private yards, patios and decks are more limited in cities than anywhere else. You may have to share outdoor condominium amenities with neighbors, or go to a public park to host a barbecue. If you have a pet, consider where you will have to walk it in all kinds of weather.

Five Star award recipient 2011-2017 honoring the top 7% of real estate professionals in Oregon.

IT’S A GOOD LIFE!!

Rachel Sheller, Principal Broker, Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, MASTERS CIRCLE, Diversity Specialist, HOWNW, CSA-Certified Staging Agent, Oregon First, Realtors

Direct 503.380.9634, Email-homesforyou@frontier.com

See ALL available homes at my website!

Licensed in the State of Oregon

***I’M NEVER TOO BUSY FOR YOU AND YOUR REFERRALS***

Common home-buying pitfalls to avoid!

Purchasing a home can be exciting, challenging, scary, and confusing. There are several common pitfalls that trip up many home buyers. Knowing what they are can set you up for greater success.

Skipping pre-approval. 
Less extensive than prequalifying, your lender will take a deeper dive into your finances to pre-approve you for a loan. Checking the pre-approval box will give you a clear budget and be in your favor in a bidding war.

Making an emotional decision. 
Choosing your future home can be emotional. Remember, you’ve set a budget for a reason, so stick to it. Don’t skip the inspection or back down from reasonable demands just to land the home. Always have a backup plan, and try to keep your emotions in check until the deal is finalized.

Foregoing a Realtor^®
The best way to find a home is with professional assistance. Realtors^® will work to help you find the best deal on the best home available. It’s their job to know the market inside and out, and they will often have insight that isn’t publicly available. Choose a trusted real estate professional to make sure you avoid these and other common home-buying pitfalls.

Five Star award recipient 2011-2017 honoring the top 7% of real estate professionals in Oregon.

IT’S A GOOD LIFE!!

Rachel Sheller, Principal Broker, Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, MASTERS CIRCLE, Diversity Specialist, HOWNW, CSA-Certified Staging Agent, Oregon First, Realtors

Direct 503.380.9634, Email-homesforyou@frontier.com

See ALL available homes at my website!!

Licensed in the State of Oregon

***I’M NEVER TOO BUSY FOR YOU AND YOUR REFERRALS***

Thank you so much for your testimonial, Eric!

“OK where should I begin

Rachel may have had thousands of clients in her career, but I think we could be put in the top 20 for most challenging clients and keeping her on her toes.
She was very patient and understanding when we had pulled offers on three separate homes. We were aware this takes time to prepare offers
and she is putting her reputation of many years on the line with our instant change of decisions.

In the end she really understood we needed to find the right home that felt comfortable for me and more important my wife…which is another story.

Rachel took charge on the small details that need to be covered and demonstrated she always has her clients best interest. One example is on our closing with a seller there were a  number of repairs that were not completed. Rachel took it upon herself and called the contractors to confirm the repairs would be made. she even went a step further and found one of her own contractors to replace a window that the seller told their realtor that it was in the process of being replace. Which was not the case, in my opinion the sellers Realtor should share some of her commission for what Rachel did to help with the repairs.

I have never recommended a realtor to someone, that is the truth but I keep Rachel’s card in my wallet to give to anyone looking for a relator that has a passion to please her clients.

Best Regards”

Five Star award recipient 2011-2017 honoring the top 7% of real estate professionals in Oregon.

IT’S A GOOD LIFE!!

Rachel Sheller, Principal Broker, Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, MASTERS CIRCLE, Diversity Specialist, HOWNW, CSA-Certified Staging Agent, Oregon First, Realtors

Direct 503.380.9634, Email-homesforyou@frontier.com

See ALL available homes at my website!!

Licensed in the State of Oregon

***I’M NEVER TOO BUSY FOR YOU AND YOUR REFERRALS***

Got the travel bug?

How to Travel on a Budget

Vacations don’t have to be out of reach. Follow these tips to travel on a budget.

Budget in advance.
Set aside money each month in a separate account ahead of time instead of planning to pay off your vacation expenses later.

Go during the off season.
Avoid traveling during holidays and school breaks to get better deals.

Talk to a travel agent.
Travel agents have connections and can help you access prices not available to the general public.

Set vacation priorities.
List your non-negotiable vacation priorities, such as destination and type of hotel. Also assess where you can save money, and then enjoy the expenses you budgeted for without feeling guilty.

 

Five Star award recipient 2011-2017 honoring the top 7% of real estate professionals in Oregon.

IT’S A GOOD LIFE!!

Rachel Sheller, Principal Broker, Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, MASTERS CIRCLE, Diversity Specialist, HOWNW, CSA-Certified Staging Agent, Oregon First, Realtors

Direct 503.380.9634, Email- homesforyou@frontier.com

See ALL available homes at my website!!

Licensed in the State of Oregon

***I’M NEVER TOO BUSY FOR YOU AND YOUR REFERRALS***

Something sweet for this warm weather!

Strawberry Mango Salsa

3/4 cup diced strawberries
3/4 cup diced mango
1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
2 Tbsp. diced red onion
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
2-3 tsp. honey, to taste
Juice of 1 lime

In a large bowl, combine strawberries, mango, jalapeño, onion, cilantro, honey, and lime juice.

Serve immediately with chips or over grilled chicken

If you’re looking for something sweet, call me and I will help you get a sweet deal in real estate!

Five Star award recipient 2011-2017 honoring the top 7% of real estate professionals in Oregon.

IT’S A GOOD LIFE!!

Rachel Sheller, Principal Broker, Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, MASTERS CIRCLE, Diversity Specialist, HOWNW, CSA-Certified Staging Agent, Oregon First, Realtors

Direct 503.380.9634, Email- homesforyou@frontier.com

See ALL available homes at my website!

Licensed in the State of Oregon

***I’M NEVER TOO BUSY FOR YOU AND YOUR REFERRALS***

Do it yourself, baby!

Here are 6 easy DIY projects that will boost the value of your home!

1. Invest in your landscaping
2. Upgrade your front door
3. Illuminate with outdoor lighting
4. Discover the magic of pressure washing
5. create a beautiful, functional space with a fire pit
6. Upgrade your homes technology

 

Five Star award recipient 2011-2017 honoring the top 7% of real estate professionals in Oregon.

IT’S A GOOD LIFE!!

Rachel Sheller, Principal Broker, Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, MASTERS CIRCLE, Diversity Specialist, HOWNW, CSA-Certified Staging Agent, Oregon First, Realtors

Direct 503.380.9634, Email- homesforyou@frontier.com

See ALL available homes at my website!

Licensed in the State of Oregon

***I’M NEVER TOO BUSY FOR YOU AND YOUR REFERRALS***

 

Here’s a little sugar and spice and everything nice!

Five Star award recipient 2011-2017 honoring the top 7% of real estate professionals in Oregon.

IT’S A GOOD LIFE!!

Rachel Sheller, Principal Broker, Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, MASTERS CIRCLE, Diversity Specialist, HOWNW, CSA-Certified Staging Agent, Oregon First, Realtors

Direct 503.380.9634, Email-homesforyou@frontier.com

See ALL available properties at my website!

Licensed in the State of Oregon

***I’M NEVER TOO BUSY FOR YOU AND YOUR REFERRALS***

Simplicity is key in this always changing world!

Life can get busy. I simplify lives by helping with all real estate needs. Please let me know when I can be of service to you. Thank you for your trust.

 

Five Star award recipient 2011-2017 honoring the top 7% of real estate professionals in Oregon.

IT’S A GOOD LIFE!!

Rachel Sheller, Principal Broker, Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, MASTERS CIRCLE, Diversity Specialist, HOWNW, CSA-Certified Staging Agent, Oregon First, Realtors

Direct 503.380.9634, Email- homesforyou@frontier.com

See ALL available homes at my website!

Licensed in the State of Oregon

***I’M NEVER TOO BUSY FOR YOU AND YOUR REFERRALS***

 

Some helpful data if you’re contemplating selling! It’s YOUR time!

Are millennials slackers or geniuses?

Millennials often get a bad rap for being unemployed, living with their parents, and putting off getting married or having kids, but, according to an article from Business Insider, there’s more to 18- to 30-year-olds than meets the eye!

1. Millennials do most of their shopping in physical stores.  Sure, they are tech savvy and frequently shop online. But millennials haven’t completely abandoned stores and shopping malls. They like to touch and feel products before they buy them, and still appreciate the experience of shopping in a store. In fact, millennials still complete 54% of shopping in physical stores, according to the report.
2. Millennials save more money than the national average. “Contrary to popular rhetoric regarding a highly challenged consumer who may be burdened with debt and living ‘paycheck to paycheck,’ our survey of millennials suggests the majority of the demographic (74% of total responses) saves money every month compared to 26% who do not,” the report says.
3. Millennials are planning to buy homes. They are delaying home-buying and marriage and kids, but they are planning to get to those life milestones eventually. When asked what they are saving for, millennials said (1) a house, (2) a car, and (3) retirement.
4. Millennials aren’t just relying on Uber and Lyft to get around. They are actually buying cars. Like with homeownership, many millennials have delayed purchasing cars. But car buying among this demographic is rapidly rising and will continue to grow, according to the report. About 64% of millennials plan to buy a car in the next two years, and most of those who don’t plan to buy a car already own one, according to the data. Only 5% of respondents said car-sharing services like Uber and Lyft serve as a replacement for owning a car.

 

Five Star award recipient 2011-2017 honoring the top 7% of real estate professionals in Oregon.

IT’S A GOOD LIFE!!

Rachel Sheller, Principal Broker, Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, MASTERS CIRCLE, Diversity Specialist, HOWNW, CSA-Certified Staging Agent, Oregon First, Realtors

Direct 503.380.9634, Email- homesforyou@frontier.com

See ALL available homes at my website!

Licensed in the State of Oregon

***I’M NEVER TOO BUSY FOR YOU AND YOUR REFERRALS***