The Aji Network is a business education company that teaches students how to become knowledge-based and strategic business people so that they develop superior competitive advantage.  Ron and I are both graduates of their Business Professional’s Course and are currently members of the LEIP Program, an acronym for leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation and power!  These are just some of the capacities we seek to learn to build our careers.

Ron Macklin and Becky Jackson at The Aji Network Conference

At this annual meeting of The Aji Network, students from all classes and the online program called “Aji Space” came together to ‘celebrate’ and practice their learning.  Senior students like Ron and myself led sessions on topics relevant to building significant careers in business by learning superior strategic knowledge to enable top 1% performance.  This year’s conference theme was “Strategy and Strategic Planning.”  Today’s highly competitive and rapidly changing global marketplace requires that we as business people stay engaged in continual learning as all professionals do.  Ron and I find that contributing as session leaders is an added dimension to our learning.

The association I have with other ambitious business people at The Aji Network – people who are seeking competitive knowledge – helps me continually improve the services The Jackson Group offers to clients so that we can help them succeed with their property objectives in spite of a challenging marketplace. Without new strategic knowledge we cannot expect to help our clients compete effectively and cope successfully with the enormous challenges in the real estate business – difficult financing,  enormous competition, over supply of housing and limited demand.   With a commitment to learning and improving, we develop and innovate our services so that we maintain a standard of care for our clients that helps us all meet our objectives.  That’s why I commit the time and expense to study.

1462 Greentree Circle, Lake Oswego $435,000

A super traditional family home in a most ideal of family neighborhoods, this new listing at 1462 Greentree Circle is a perfect place to settle.  An open floor plan with warm hardwood floors, fresh updates and a bonus room over the garage.  The home has four bedroom home including a sexy master suite that has hardwood floors and a cozy fireplace.

The neighborhood is quiet and low on traffic and has the nearby Greentree Park with swing-sets and half-court basketball courts.  another great convenience of the area is that from this home it is easy to walk to either the Palisades Elementary School and Lakeview High School.  So for the just the two years of Waluga Middle School will parents find themselves juggling rides to school!

An attractive home for $435,000.

You might be confused if you listen to the buyers and sellers talk about it today.  While buyers bought for substantially reduced prices, even by today’s standards, there are some who will tell you that they are happy, even thrilled, with their “deal” but they had hoped to buy for less.  And, the seller had hoped to sell homes for 180% of minimum, but the auction resulted in prices of about 155% of minimum.  Not rich, but also not bad for an auction, and they did sell 47 homes so sales velocity was achieved!  Sorry, guys, you can’t have it both ways, except to say “win/win”!

The moral to the story is two lessons, actually.  The first is one of human nature – no matter what we want, when we get it we can still have remorse for what might have been.  The second lesson also speaks to our human psyche – when the market is uncertain (have we hit the bottom yet, or not?) people obsess about their choices and second guess their decisions.  In this case, all sales are final!

Here below is a sampling of some sales from the auction.  Call or email us for a full spreadsheet in Excel.

The bikes are awesome!  Electric battery powered models from performance sport styles to jazzy all-about-town, (read practical and possible to pedal anywhere) cruisers.  High style, high quality and enabling of the high life of Portland –  e-urban sustainable and really, practically useful for getting up hills!

What does this have to do with real estate?  Not much.  It was reminiscent of the days we sold Civic lofts from the B-Street Gallery on 13th – and invigorating to be so engaged again in a new concept.  And the fresh activity for the first Thursday of the month speaks positively of the marketplace in general.

The evening and the event are market relevant because people are out again to check out what’s new and be part of product innovation worthy of the Portland culture.  Here’s to Kalkhoffusa.com for bringing their marvelous new bike and commuter technology to Portland . . .  and for bringing back the party to the Pearl!

On Pennoyer Street there are distinguishing features specific to Pennoyer townhomes.

Jackson Group listing at 835 SW Pennoyer #1006120

First, Pennoyer itself has the special characteristic of being a limited access street, which is to sale that is is really a pedestrian plaza.  Further, this plaza adjoins the courtyard of Atwater Place and connects residents of all buildings in the district to both the waterfront greenway and the District’s Central Park.  Urban master planning of this kind, creating open space and pedestrian connectivity, is hard to find for townhouse infill projects around the city, so the Pennoyer Street Townhomes have a special quality that is related to their location in the heart of South Waterfront, steps from the river and parks that distinguish the area.

A recent story in The Oregonian quoted claims from an economist that “tree-lined” streets add $7000-$13,000 in value to homes nearby.  Pennoyer Street Townhomes have the potential of becoming a one-of-a-kind opportunity in Portland with the pedestrian plaza, Willamette Riverfront, public parks, etc.,adding value to the neighborhood and the homes themselves.

Sean is a gentleman, sincere and genuine – the kind of self you want to be around, with the ethics, talent and character that anyone would admire.

My professional relationship with Sean began in 2004 when, as Director of Sales for urban condo projects at Realty Trust, I hired him to be the closing broker for the Henry Condominium.  Sean’s skill as an engaged listener and problem solver was revealed immediately. From that position Sean moved to broker at the South Waterfront Discovery Center where we did marketing and sales for The Meriwether, John Ross and Atwater Place Condominium towers.  Sean performed so well in his role that he was given the position of Lead Broker for the Civic Condominium in Downtown Portland and he moved to the B Street Gallery to lead the team for that project.

From the Civic Sean moved back to South Waterfront, this time as General Manager of the Discovery Center. Sean demonstrated leadership in sales and proved to be an effective builder of teams in every situation. In 5 fast years Sean gained a career’s worth of experience and credibility in real estate. Each one of these promotions came about because Sean produces results through excellent communication skills, a high standard of service and a thorough knowledge of properties and the real estate process.

At all times during Sean’s ascent in real estate, we stayed connected.  We’d meet for coffee and talk – deconstructing the high points of our project work together and speculating about the new realities in real estate and what it might mean for our careers and futures.  We helped each other navigate the bubble, and then the bust, staying engaged and active and positively focused. There was always an aspect to how we would stay connected as we planned for the recovery.

At The Jackson Group we have always been organized around the concept of bringing together a team of talented and accomplished brokers with individual specialties and shared values.  Our purpose is to serve our clients with superior care in the many different real estate transactions they pursue.  Our style is to offer “Ritz Carlton” talent and service from specialization of effort and collective commitment to care for the unique requests of each individual client.

Sean is a perfect fit for this model! Kelly, Sarah and I are thrilled to have him on the team.  We welcome him and know that you will as well.

]]> http://thejacksonfiles.com/2010/01/24/welcome-sean-becker/feed/ 0 http://thejacksonfiles.com/2009/12/31/distressed-property-rent-short-sale-or-foreclosure/ http://thejacksonfiles.com/2009/12/31/distressed-property-rent-short-sale-or-foreclosure/#comments Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:37:14 +0000 jacksonb http://thejacksonfiles.com/?p=316 With the decline in the real estate market, many home owners are now upside down on their mortgage.  They may have over borrowers and over paid related to what our market can produce today.  There are many options for homeowners to consider.  You should also consult your financial or tax advisors when making these significant investment decisions.

Foreclosure- the option that everyone should try to avoid and only use it if it is your last resort. A foreclosure on your credit history can drastically affect how you can borrow and spend money in the future. It can lower your credit score up to 200-300 points. It is not the choice to take unless someone has lost everything else and has no other options.

Renting- a homeowner might need to change their thinking about their home.   Real Estate is a long term investment. During the fast days of 2003-2007, people were buying and selling so quickly because the market was shooting up so fast. Those days are gone and so real estate appreciation has slowed to a steady level once again. The value of your home WILL go up again but it might not be at the level you purchased for quite some time. If you can consider a rental and stomach covering the additional amount of the mortgage, taxes and insurance- then you might not lose your equity, it would have no affect on your credit and you could move and rent another home that is within your budget. You might have to change your thinking about her mortgage payments- think of it as a payment into an IRA. You might have to tighten your belt a bit but at least you won’t lose your equity.

Short Sale- we are doing a lot of short sales now. Short sales are a good option for home owners that have lost a lot of equity and now owe more in their mortgage than the home is worth. The paperwork and length of time it takes to get a reply from the bank takes a lot of patience so you have to be prepared to make it wait once you submit the paperwork. The bank assigns you a negotiator and then you work with them to lower the loan pay off amounts and release the debt deficiency. Often, there is none or very little affect on one’s credit score. The bank is usually more willing to work with people that are in some type of financial distress- job loss, income reduction, etc. But I have seen sellers will high net worth’s have success with short sales. If you are considering a short sale- you will need a real estate agent with short sale experience that can assess your situation and see if a short sale is a viable option.

Loan Modification- this is also an option but a difficult one to obtain.  Your bank might be willing to work with you to modify your mortgage to decrease your monthly payments if you are in a financially distress situation.  Contact your mortgage holder’s loss mitigation department for more information.

What I have seen a lot of in this ‘recessionary’ market is that buyers have become even more demanding than they ever were before.  They almost have an attitude of entitlement – like it is their turn to be the winners in negotiations.  They take it for granted that they are going to get a good buy and wait and they have no compunction about making low offers and standing firm.

The problem is that with all the choices and the many houses on the market these buyers are often successful with their posture, and if they are not it is not uncommon for them to wait on the sidelines for a better deal on the next one.  Sellers- do you want to wait for a better market or sell now in the market you have?  All homes for sale get “priced” in the marketplace, and the ones we see selling are priced at very compelling values.  Otherwise, there are many houses on the market that are waiting for something to change.  And the problem is that we have learned that change in this market has mostly been moving lower, not higher.

Value seems to be the primary focus of current buyers and can you blame them?  With the present fear in the financial market- everyone is acting more conservative with their investments. Property condition has become secondary to property value.  Perhaps this market has allowed buyers to seek more potential in their home’s condition rather than the appreciating value of the home.

1. Clean the gutters– once the leaves fall remove the leaves and other debris from your gutters by hand, scraper or spatula. Use a good hose rinse to see if there are any cracks in your gutters.

2. Block the leaks– Seal any leaks on the inside and outside of your home using door sweeps or caulk.

3. Insulate– Spend some money to add additional insulation to your home. You’ll get it back in the form of lower energy bills. Have at least 12 inches of insulation.

4. Service the Furnace– HVAC specialist to service every 1-2 years for approx $120.

5. Get your ducts in a row– Central heating ducts can lose up to 60% of heated air before that air reaches the vents if ductwork is not well-connected and insulated. Check your ducts in the attic and crawl space, repair places where the pipes are pinched and fix gaps with . . . . . . . duct tape!

6. Face your windows– Take down window screens and put up storm windows. Consider upgrading to new windows which will help lower your energy bills.

7. Inspect and clean the chimney– See reverse for our recommended contractors.

8. Make sure your crawl space or basement is properly vented– Keep your crawl space vents OPEN during the winter months so the space will be properly vented when it rains or snows. If you have a sump pump– make sure it is working properly and the vapor barrier is properly graded for optimal water drainage.

9. Wrap pipes and hose bibs– Install a Styrofoam cup around hose bibs and wrap all un-insulated pipes in unheated areas of your home.

10. Check alarms systems– Change batteries and check the operation of your home’s smoke detectors, carbon-monoxide detectors, and generators.

Businesses and People We Recommend For Help Winterizing Your Home

Gutter Cleaning

CJ’s High Climbing Services 503-228-9278

Metro Gutter Service 503-771-5529

Chimney Repair/ Inspections

Oregon Chimney 503-231-2588

Paramount Masonry 503-260-3911

Drainage Contractor

John’s Waterproofing 800-810-5883

HVAC Specialist

AAA Heating and Cooling 503-284-2173

Ron Hardy Heating 503-222-9654

Insulation Contractor

All Weatherization 503-649-6542

Alpha Energy Savers 503-658-2212

Tree Trimming

Rich’s Tree Service 503-465-2133

Wind Thin Tree Services– 503-481-4628

Window Installer

Alpha Energy Savers 503-658-2212

Oregon Window Installers– 503-829-8117

1.Have you owned and lived in your primary residence for at least five consecutive years?

2. Are you looking to purchase a new home with a value up to $800,000?

3. Is your yearly income up to $125,000 individually or $225,000 for a couple?

4. Could you use an additional $6,500 in your pocket after you file you income taxes?

If you answered YES to these questions– you like qualify to receive the NEW homebuyer tax credit of $6,500. You must find your next primary residence by April 30, 2010 in order to qualify. Call for additional details.

Top 4 Reasons to Buy NOW in Portland

1. Home prices are LOW throughout Portland

2. Financing is available for qualified buyers– SURPRISE!

3. Interest rates are LOW (under 5%)

4. There are great homes on the market at great prices

Start NOW & lock in current LOW Interest Rates

Call us today to hear about our offers for buyers and sellers. Our team has the resources and tools to effectively market your home, find you a buyer and close the deal. We have new search technology for buyers that we will share to help you with your search. We are saasoned professionals with the knowledge to help you buy or sell with less stress. We know the challenges and how to overcome them in stride.