It’s July, and therefore we’re technically in the "hot selling season" for real estate in Portland, OR.  People ask me all the time about market conditions and whether the national housing bust has hit Portland as hard.  So here’s my take. 

Real estate is slow right now for sellers.  This is partly because of the mortgage crisis that the entire nation is suffering from and partly because of the large amount of inventory on the market. 

The latest statistics from RMLS (June 2008) show the Portland Metro area with an inventory rate of 9.5.  This means that if no other house went on the market in June, it would take 9 1/2 months to sell off everything that was available.  For Portland, that’s a pretty large figure.  Especially when you compare it to 2005-2006 inventory levels of 1 1/2 - 4 months. 

Despite the high inventory, we are still seeing lots of new houses hit the market.  In fact each day I sort through about 5-10 new listings that other agents email me in hopes that I might have a buyer for their listing.  And within the next 2 weeks, I’ll be adding 4 new listings to my personal repertoire. 

With all of this competition, for-sale-by-owner listings are easier for realtors to ignore when planning showings for their buyers.  There are just so many homes to choose from off the MLS that it doesn’t make much sense for agents to search on the FSBO web sites and then have to work out commission agreements with each seller.

One of the primary advantages of my fee-for-service packages is that they allow sellers to have their listing on the MLS, and therefore make their homes readily accessible to the 5,000+ realtors and their buyers in the Portland Metro area, while paying a minimal real estate commission on the listing end.

Full details about all of my packages can be found on my web site, www.PointClickandPack.com.  Click on the Fee for Service link on the Home page. 

I understand the desire FSBO sellers have to save money on real estate commissions.  But in this market, not having an MLS listing could really hurt you.  I’d love to assist you with your sale.  Please let me know how I can earn your business.  You can reach me at 503-421-2407 or via email, phyllis@pointclickandpack.com.