Keeping It Real Estate with Colleen Benson

When it comes to deciding where to live in retirement, many Baby Boomers are choosing to downsize their home. There are many benefits to going this direction, but there are also several challenges that we often see.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 - Intro

1:41 – Why downsize?

3:47 – Emotional concerns

6:20 – Health issues

9:50 – Financial considerations

11:32 – Market conditions

13:10 – Role the agent plays

Get in ...

Our feature listing this week is a wonderful home in Waldport, Oregon. We’ll tell you all about it in this video and share some pictures of the home on Edgewater Drive.

Plus, we’ll answer a question form Bill that covers a topic we get asked about all the time. Is it difficult to buy and sell a home at the same time? If you’re going through that experience for the first time, we’ll tell you what you need to know because it can be...

Every seller who decides to put their home on the market wants to get as much as they can at the closing table. It’s not uncommon for that person to have a price in their head before meeting with a real estate agent and then they find out it might not be that valuable.

Today we want to talk through this scenario thanks to a question we received from someone recently. Here it is:

I have spoken with a couple of realtors about sel...

On this episode, we're zooming in on how national real estate trends are directly affecting your local market. Are sellers in your area more open to concessions? How have recent shifts in interest rates influenced the local real estate scene? And has the rise in remote work been a boon or a drag for your local housing market?

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 - Intro

2:27 – More seller concessions

4:29 – Intere...

On this episode, we're zooming in on how national real estate trends actually differ from what we are seeing around Oregon to start 2024. While many of the headlines are full of doom and gloom, Salem and surrounding areas have had a great start to the year.

We’re going to highlight a few of the key stats that capture this positive momentum and then share a great story from the closing table about a multigenerational home we worked ...

We’re excited to bring our podcast to YouTube so that we can expand the show by sharing photos of the homes we feature on the show. To kick it off, we have two great homes to showcase in this episode.

The first is a 3br/2ba home in Dallas, Oregon that is listed for $530,000. It features a large flat driveway with an RV parking pad and some beautiful touches throughout the home.

The second home is a cute home in West Salem, Oregon t...

We all like to get a good deal, especially when it comes to a major purchase like buying a home. Today, we talk through an older article with tips and tricks on how to find a bargain-priced home. Colleen shares which of these pointers she agrees with and which ones she feels have changed over time.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• Homes on the market for more than 30 days may open up a bargain.
• Stay away from t...

You may have heard some recent buzz about real estate commissions in the news. Following a lawsuit in Missouri, we discuss some potential shifts and perspectives regarding commission structures. Right now, buyers don’t pay a realtor fee and the sellers do. How could this potentially impact homebuyers? Colleen shares what she foresees happening and how much to be concerned about it.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

It can be tempting to sell your house on your own and avoid paying commission. But did you know that more often than not, sellers end up losing more when doing it on their own instead of working with a realtor? We talk through the common pitfalls faced when doing a for sale by owner on today’s show. Then you can decide for yourself if it’s still worth the risk.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• The hidden costs ...

Have you heard the news? We talk about some of the national headlines making the rounds about real estate and find out from Colleen if it rings true locally. According to recent studies, 8 out of 10 Americans think it’s a bad time to buy a home. Is that really true? While the mortgage rates are high, Colleen thinks it’s actually a great time to buy. Buyers have plenty of time to do inspections or voice concerns in a way they haven’...

It’s spooky season! Colleen and Walter kick off the episode by sharing some of their feelings about Halloween scares and haunted houses before they share the top fears that many homebuyers and sellers face. Before you cover your eyes or run away in fear, don't worry! Listen in as Colleen advises on how to overcome these fears and navigate your home buying or selling process with ease. 

Here are some of the top fears we discuss to...

Football is back, the air is getting crisp, and the holidays are on the horizon. But what about real estate? Is fall a good time to buy a home? 

In this episode, we talk about what you need to know if you’re looking for a home this fall and how the seasons may (or may not) change your home buying strategy. Listen in as Colleen shares her expert insights and valuable tips on how to make the most out of your home buying journey in th...

Have you ever wondered how house shows like Love it or List It or House Hunters compare to reality? Whether you watch them for entertainment or find it educational, they can be fun to watch from time to time. On today’s show, we peel back the layers a bit to find out what’s fact and what’s fiction on these popular TV shows. We also cover five takeaways you can learn from house shows like these. As you go on your own home search, ma...

Ever wondered what "cozy" truly implies in a real estate listing, or why "rustic" can be a tricky term? If you've ever skimmed through a real estate listing, chances are you've come across some puzzling terminology.

On this week's episode, we pull back the curtain on the coded language of real estate listings. We unpack the meaning behind terms like "fixer upper", "handyman special", and "motivated seller", and discuss how these ...

If you're in the real estate market, it's crucial to keep up with the ever-changing trends and tactics. In today's digital age, old-school strategies are rapidly losing their effectiveness, and the need to adapt to more modern methods is becoming increasingly clear.

Here are some of the things we’ll tackle on today’s show:

• Why you don’t want to list at a higher price to give yourself room to negotiate.
• Are open houses still ...

We’re getting creative today and applying some of Johnny Carson’s quotes to real estate to see what we can learn. Colleen takes each quote and talks through how she sees it play out in the day-to-day amongst clients as well as real estate agents.

Find out how these quotes relate to real estate:

• “I never analyze, I just go out and do it.”
• “People will pay more to be entertained than be educated.”
• “If life was fair, Elvis would...

Get ready to demystify the process of buying and selling a home with the help of technology. We’re going to play a little game today by having Google fill in the blank to help us unravel the most common real estate queries, ensuring you're informed and empowered on your property journey.

Here are some of the questions we’ll tackle on today’s show:

• Who pays the realtor? (2:47)
• When buying a home, who pays for the inspection? ...

You want your home to be show ready and in the best light possible when you go to sell. From the first impression photos online to accommodating a last-minute showing, you want your home to shine with potential buyers.

If your home isn’t selling right away, make sure you work with your real estate agent to understand why. Is it priced realistically? Are you willing to compromise?

Here are seven home-selling habits we discuss on t...

Join us as we delve into the exciting possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI) in the real estate industry. We asked ChatGPT, a popular AI chatbot, how it thinks AI will impact the future of real estate. Colleen shares her thoughts on its answers in today's episode. Tune in as we talk about the exciting possibilities of AI and how to find the right balance of technology and human interaction in the world of real estate! 

Get...