Oregon Real Estate - Tillamook County

Are you looking for a rental home in Tillamook County?

2007-06-03T19:48:00.001-07:00

Often you find it difficult to find somewhere to rent in the county. I have put a few links here to help you out. I have not used most of these services myself - so cannot tell you how they rate. Just click a link below for more information.

Short Term Rentals and Lodging Links

Visit Our Town

Oregon Coast Guide

Tillamook Chamber of Commerce

Long term and other rentals:

Tillamook County Headlight Herald Newspaper

Insider Pages

You may also want to call the Tillamook County Shopper

Ribbon Investment Firm

North Coast Citizen - Classifieds

Information about Tillamook County

Purchasing Real Property On Your Own

2007-02-09T10:20:00.000-08:00

Buyers: Why not just buy that for sale by owner home now?

You’ve been looking for property or a home. You’ve been working with a Realtor® in your search and she has sent you property after property that have been close, but just aren't quite your dream. Finally on “the list”, in the newspaper or somewhere similar, you find that "for sale by owner home" that seems just right and it’s at the right price, too.

So you ask yourself, “Why shouldn’t I just purchase this home or property? – Do I really need to use a Realtor's® service?” and start thinking about the offer you are going to make, by yourself. Well, stop right there. Although this home looks like it's just the right home for you, unless you’ve been through the buying and selling process often, do you really know what you’re getting yourself into?

Your Realtor® is trained to know the ins and outs of Real Estate. Perhaps an attorney could help instead, but whatever you do, please don’t do it by yourself. Use the knowledge for which Realtors® like me have been trained and get that help you deserve. We spend many hours and dollars each year in classes, getting our licenses, renewing our licenses, keeping our licenses, researching property, and many other fundamentals for you - the client. We are always in contact with escrow agents, mortgage bankers, and our local government.

Do you know the area in which you are purchasing this property? Do you know what the geo hazards are in the area? Y our savvy Realtor® should be doing the preliminary leg-work for you, researching for you and helping you contact the right person with whom to talk. What she doesn’t know, she’ll find out or help you discover.

Do you know the closing process? Do you know the questions that should be asked? Your savvy Realtor® does and again, what she doesn’t, she can find out and get you together with the right person or government agency with whom to talk.

Please, please don’t make the mistake of purchasing a home without a Realtor® knowledgeable about the area, someone that has your back. Purchasing property is a big endeavor; savvy buyers utilize the help available.

Knowledge is power, be powerful when you look for a home. You may not regret that home ever, but you may when it's time to sell it.

Realtors(r) and Agency Relationships

2007-01-15T14:56:00.000-08:00

A Discussion about Realtors(r) and Agency Relationships

In Oregon Realtors(r) are required to give this pamphlet to all potential clients. The first thing I am going to start with is a copy of the pamphlet. After you read the pamphlet, I will discuss some of the questions that clients have had. As a Realtor(r) in Oregon, not only is it my duty, but it is my privilege to discuss this pamphlet with my clients.

Here is the pamphlet we as Realtors(r) in Oregon are required to give potential clients:

-----------------------------------------------------------------beginning of pamphlet--------

Oregon Agency Disclosure Pamphlet

This pamphlet describes agency relationships and the duties and responsibilities of real estate licensees in Oregon. This pamphlet is informational only and neither the pamphlet nor its delivery to you may be construed to be evidence of intent to create an agency relationship.
Real Estate Agency Relationships

An "agency" relationship is a voluntary legal relationship in which a real estate licensee (the "agent") agrees to act on behalf of a buyer or a seller (the "client") in a real estate transaction. Oregon law provides for three types of agency relationships between real estate agents and their clients:

Seller's Agent: Represents the seller only;
Buyer's Agent: Represents the buyer only;
Disclosed Limited Agent: Represents both the buyer and seller, or multiple buyers who want to purchase the same property. This can be done only with the written permission of both clients.

The actual agency relationships between the seller, buyer and their agents in a real estate transaction must be acknowledged at the time an offer to purchase is made. Please read this pamphlet carefully before entering into an agency relationship with a real estate agent.

Duties and Responsibilities of an Agent who Represents Only the Seller or Only the Buyer

Under a written listing agreement to sell property, an agent represents only the seller unless the seller agrees in writing to allow the agent to also represent the buyer. An agent who agrees to represent a buyer acts only as the buyer's agent unless the buyer agrees in writing to allow the agent to also represent the seller. An agent who represents only the seller or only the buyer owes the following affirmative duties to their client, other parties and their agents involved in a real estate transaction:

To exercise reasonable care and diligence;
To deal honestly and in good faith;
To present all written offers, notices and other communications in a timely manner whether or not the seller's property is subject to a contract for sale or the buyer is already a party to a contract to purchase;
To disclose material facts known by the agent and not apparent or readily ascertainable to a party;
To account in a timely manner for money and property received from or on behalf of the client;
To be loyal to their client by not taking action that is adverse or detrimental to the client's interest in a transaction;
To disclose in a timely manner to the client any conflict of interest, existing or contemplated;
To advise the client to seek expert advice on matters related to the transactions that are beyond the agent's expertise;
To maintain confidential information from or about the client except under subpoena or court order, even after termination of the agency relationship; and
When representing a seller, to make a continuous, good faith effort to find a buyer for the property, except that a seller's agent is not required to seek additional offers to purchase the property while the property is subject to a contract for sale. When representing a buyer, to make a continuous, good faith effort to find property for the buyer, except that a buyer's agent is not required to seek additional properties for the buyer while the buyer is subject to a contract for purchase or to show properties for which there is no written agreement to pay compensation to the buyer's agent.

None of these affirmative duties of an agent may be waived, except #10, which can only be waived by written agreement between client and agent.

Under Oregon law, a seller's agent may show properties owned by another seller to a prospective buyer and may list competing properties for sale without breaching any affirmative duty to the seller. Similarly, a buyer's agent may show properties in which the buyer is interested to other prospective buyers without breaching any affirmative duty to the buyer.

Unless agreed to in writing, an agent has no duty to investigate matters that are outside the scope of the agent's expertise.

Duties and Responsibilities of an Agent who Represents More than One Client in a Transaction

One agent may represent both the seller and the buyer in the same transaction, or multiple buyers who want to purchase the same property only under a written "Disclosed Limited Agency" agreement, signed by the seller, buyer(s) and their agent.

When different agents associated with the same real estate firm establish agency relationships with different parties to the same transaction, only the principal broker (the broker who supervises the other agents) will act as a Disclosed Limited Agent for both the buyer and seller.

The other agents continue to represent only the party with whom the agent already has an established agency relationship unless all parties agree otherwise in writing.

The supervising principal broker and the agents representing either the seller or the buyer have the following duties to their clients:

To disclose a conflict of interest in writing to all parties;
To take no action that is adverse or detrimental to either party's interest in the transaction; and
To obey the lawful instruction of both parties.
An agent acting under a Disclosed Limited Agency agreement has the same duties to the client as when representing only a seller or only a buyer, except that the agent may not, without written permission, disclose any of the following:
That the seller will accept a lower price or less favorable terms than the listing price or terms;
That the buyer will pay a greater price or more favorable terms than the offering price or terms; or
In transactions involving one-to-four residential units only, information regarding the real property transaction including, but not limited to, price, terms, financial qualifications or motivation to buy or sell.

No matter whom they represent, an agent must disclose information the agent knows or should know that failure to disclose would constitute fraudulent misrepresentation. Unless agreed to in writing, an agent acting under a Disclosed Limited Agency agreement has no duty to investigate matters that are outside the scope of the agent's expertise.

You are encouraged to discuss the above information with the agent delivering this pamphlet to you. If you intend for that agent, or any other Oregon real estate agent, to represent you as a Seller's Agent, Buyer's Agent, or Disclosed Limited Agent, you should have a specific discussion with him/her about the nature and scope of the agency relationship. Whether you are a buyer or seller, you cannot make a licensee your agent without their knowledge and consent, and an agent cannot make you their client without your knowledge and consent.

-----------------------------------------------------end of pamphlet--------------------------

Objections I have come across when giving this pamphlet out is the misunderstanding that by giving this pamphlet to my potential clients I am putting them into a contractual obligation. This is not the case.

"This pamphlet describes agency relationships and the duties and responsibilities of real estate licensees in Oregon. This pamphlet is informational only and neither the pamphlet nor its delivery to you may be construed to be evidence of intent to create an agency relationship."

I am required by law, to give you this pamphlet. If I don't give you a copy of this pamphlet, I could get in trouble. Please don't think I am trying to make you use my services whan I give you this pamphlet. The Oregon Real Estate Board and I want you to understand my role as a Realtor(r).

to be continued......

Next addition to this discussion will be:

The 10 Duties and Responsibilities of an AgentWho Represents Only the Seller or Only the Buyer

Where does your Real Estate Agent hang their hat? and.... Do you care?

2007-01-04T18:01:00.000-08:00

It does matter where the agent hangs his or her hat. Your objectives matter.

Are you buying property? If so, a buyer's agent is one thing in which to seek among other things such as personality and how hard they work for you. Pick from many agents or brokers out there and you can find some really good people to work with that have your best interests at heart. Boutique Realty companies are fine to work with if you are buying property, as long as they belong to the local board. Of course, do keep in mind that those larger firms often give their Realtor(r)s more and extensive training, whereas, smaller firms may not have the resources to provide it.

If you are selling property, it can be a different matter entirely. You need to look at agents that have some connections. Your neighbor Joe is not going to be buying your property, in most cases. The person that is looking for your home may live in Chicago, New York, Texas, or someplace else that the ad the boutique agent puts in the local paper may never reach.

When selling your home, you want the marketing power. Not the local limit. When buying your home you want the resources a top notch brokerage can give. So yes, one of these high name brokerages will get you results that boutique brokers just may not.

That's why I chose the firm where I hang my hat.

Buying a home or property?

2006-12-29T18:03:00.000-08:00

Are you waiting until Spring to purchase your property?

Buyers, are you waiting to purchase in the spring or summer when everyone else will be too? The winter months make a great time to purchase homes that have been on the market for a while. Maybe now would be a good time to put in that offer and get some negotiating done. Sellers who have kept their homes on the market are motivated and willing to entertain reasonable and fair offers---no one has to give their home away--and sellers are more negotiable at this time.

It's also a great time of year to look at those other things you can't or may not be able to see in the summer. Is there a roof leak? Is the house in a flood zone? How well does the house stay heated? Was the home affected by our recent storms? What do the grounds look like under the trees and bushes? You should be able to tell this time of year. This is the time of year to easily find those and other pesky problems. .

Savvy buyers know that this is the BEST time to buy as traditionally many buyers wait until spring or early summer when the buds and birds are back again and when there is a great deal of competition from other buyers. Homes and property are being purchased in December and January. Some buyers are making offers now, but with spring will come more purchasers. Sellers won't have need to consider being as flexible then.