Taft Dire in Bend, Oregon is now RE/MAX Key Properties

RE/MAX returns to Bend, Oregon as RE/MAX Key Properties. You may notice some logo and company name changes across my blog today and in the upcoming week. Taft Dire is now RE/MAX Key Properties..we're the same great firm with outstanding service, quality results - now with new tools to serve you better. Here's a copy of our press release that just went out.

RE/MAX Returns to Bend, Oregon

Knowledge, Experience, Full-Service Showcased at Locally-Owned Franchise

(Bend, OR - November 30, 2010) – The RE/MAX Pacific Northwest Region is proud to announce the opening of RE/MAX Key Properties in Bend, Oregon. Recruited by the RE/MAX Network to bring RE/MAX back to Bend after an office closure in 2008, new Broker/Owners Bill Duffey and Pat Huber will open for business on December 1st. Duffey and Huber most recently operated Taft Dire Real Estate Resources, a respected and successful local boutique office.

Duffey says joining with RE/MAX matches perfectly with their company’s strategy. “We’ve seen some big changes in the Central Oregon real estate market, but we see growth for our business and community,” says Duffey. “Just like us, people enjoy Central Oregon and want to live here. They want to own property and there are so many great opportunities that exist in today's market, especially for first time homebuyers and investors. It’s simple - RE/MAX helps us, our agents and our clients be successful in meeting our goals.”

Independently owned and operated, RE/MAX Key Properties will service Bend, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver and other areas of Deschutes and Crook Counties. The office will specialize in residential real estate, new construction, distressed property and the luxury home market.

In addition to Duffey and Huber, who is a licensed CPA and broker, RE/MAX Key Properties has three staff members and more than twenty agents. To serve both the office and the customer, RE/MAX Key Properties features diversified in-house support services including communications, marketing, financial and business management.

The RE/MAX Key Properties office is located at 431 NW Franklin Avenue in downtown Bend. For more information, go to remax.com or contact Colleen McNally, Marketing/Broker at (541) 728-0033 or cmcnally@remax.net .

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About RE/MAX Key Properties: Independently owned and operated, RE/MAX Key Properties is a full service real estate marketing and sales company located in Bend, Oregon. Originally formed in 2007 as Taft Dire LLC and converting to a RE/MAX franchise office, RE/MAX Key Properties opens on December 1, 2010.

RE/MAX Key Properties offers brokerage services to agents and consumers as well as specialty services to residential builders and developers including business and financial analysis/strategy, communications, marketing, and customer service/sales representation.

Partners Bill Duffey and Patricia Huber currently lead a staff of three and more than twenty agents. Active in the Central Oregon community, the firm has supported such organizations as Bend Habitat for Humanity, Central Oregon Builders Association, Family Access Network and area schools.

About the RE/MAX Network: RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Liniger. From a single office in Denver, Colorado, it has grown into a global network of over 90,000 Sales Associates in more than 80 countries, an international presence greater than any of its competitors. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX.

RE/MAX has been recognized as the leading real estate franchise in the “2009 Franchise Times Top 200,” and has also been honored as the top real estate franchise for nine of the last 11 years in “The Franchise 500 Survey,” published by Entrepreneur magazine.

Today, all U.S. home listings in thousands of cities and towns can be found at www.remax.com , the most visited real estate franchise web site. (Compete.com, Hitwise, ComScore for 6-month period through July 2010) RE/MAX is proud of its Premier Community Citizenship, which has raised over $100 million for deserving organizations like Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, Children’s Miracle Network and The Sentinels of Freedom Foundation.

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2010 COBA Award Winner for Sale in SE Bend's South Briar Neighborhood

2010 COBA Tour of Homes winner for Best Architecture under $200K! Packed with features for this price. Two story, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, open living area floor plan includes wood kitchen floor, knotty alder cabinets, stainless appliances, gas fireplace with slate surround, wood doors, knotty pine trim. Fully-landscaped and sprinkled, rear fenced. Other lots and house plans available. Convenient to S. Bend 3rd Street business district.

Contact Kryste Adams with Taft dire for more information on this home. 541.706.1556

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What's in a Short Sale Packet?

When listing your Bend, OR home as a short sale you'll need to prepare a short sale packet.

When listing your home as a short sale in Bend it is a good idea to begin gathering your financial documents while interviewing real estate agents.  A well prepared short sale packet can make the process a bit easier.  As the seller you will be responsible for providing your financial information and your real estate agent will help prepare the contracts and assist you along the way.

What is the short sale packet?

The short sale packet is the collection of documents your real estate agent will submit to your lender.  The lender will then review the documents, assess the value of your home and determine whether or not to approve a short sale.

What is in the short sale packet?

Listing Agreement

Sales Agreement

HUD-1

2 Years tax returns

2 Months of bank statements

2 Months of mortgage statements from each loan

1 Month of Pay-Stubs

Financial Hardship Letter

Financial Worksheet

Authorization to Release Information

Additional supporting financial documents

.

Short sales can take several months to receive bank approval.  During this time your lender may ask you to resubmit financial documents such as pay-stubs and bank statements.  After you submit the initial financial documents to your real estate agent, it is a good idea to keep a file with any new pay-stubs, bank statements, mortgage statements and any other pertinent bills. This way you have the paperwork ready to go when the bank asks for it and you can help speed up the road to approval.

At Taft Dire we are experienced in negotiating short sales.  If you have any questions regarding the short sale process or listing your Bend, OR home please contact us for free confidential information.

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Home Prices in Bend are UP - Here's Hoping it's a Trend!

Home Prices in Bend are Up in August - Here's hoping it's a trend!

The Bend Bulletin posted the following article this morning:

The median sales price of a single-family home in Bend bounced back up last month to $190,000 after diving to $175,000 in August, according to a report Tuesday from Bratton Appraisal Group of Bend.

While September's median was 8.6 percent higher than August, it was still 4.5 percent below September 2009, when the price was $199,000.

Redmond's median sales price also rebounded in September, rising 19.6 percent from August to $122,000. But that was down 21.3 percent from the September 2009 median of $155,000.

Bend's peak sales price was $396,000 in May 2007. Redmond's was $289,000 in November 2006.

Bratton's numbers do not include condominiums, townhomes, manufactured homes and acreage.

In Bend, the median sales price per square foot — considered in the industry to be a better measure of value — was $108 in September, up from $99 in August, but down from $113 in September 2009. In Redmond, the median sales price per square foot rose to $76 from $70 in August, but was down from $86 a year ago.

I personally have seen an increase in activity from both buyers and sellers. In addition to these numbers, there are currently 95 bank owned homes listed for sale in Bend. With the nationwide halt to foreclosures by several national lenders we may see a decrease in bank owned homes hitting the market in Bend. Not all lenders are halting foreclosures so the constant stream of bank owned homes hitting the market in Bend may be here to stay. Since Sunday 10 foreclosures have come on the market. Either way, it's a good time to buy a home in Bend!

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Sunriver Bank Owned Homes

Sunriver, OR Bank Owned Homes.

Bank owned homes update: As of Sunday, October 10, 2010, there are currently 5 bank owned homes for sale in Sunriver. Over the past week there have been numerous reports in the news regarding Bank of America as well as other banks stopping their foreclosure process. This may temporarily slow the number of bank owned homes hitting the Bend real estate market, making short sales a more popular option for purchasing homes at below market prices.

Contact us today to have a free list of bank owned homes delivered directly to your email. For a customized list please include any specifications in your email: price, size, location, etc.

Visit our website for a complete list of bank owned homes in Sunriver.

Bend Bank Owned Homes

Bend, OR Bank Owned Homes.

Bank owned homes update: As of Sunday, October 10, 2010, there are currently 85 bank owned homes for sale in Bend. Over the past week there have been numerous reports in the news regarding Bank of America as well as other banks stopping their foreclosure process. This may temporarily slow the number of bank owned homes hitting the Bend real estate market, making short sales a more popular option for purchasing homes at below market prices.

Contact us today to have a free list of bank owned homes delivered directly to your email. For a customized list please include any specifications in your email: price, size, location, etc.

Visit our website for a complete list of bank owned homes in Bend.

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Foreclosure Help

Bend Oregon Home Owners - Helpful Links to Help you Avoid Foreclosure

While Google searching for foreclosure resources in Bend, Redmond or anywhere I've come across tons of sites that say they'll help if you sign up for this or that. The last thing you need if you're concerned about the foreclosure process is to be bogged down by un-helpful information.

So, here it is - the links you need. All of the links below are government or national agencies that are here to help you, the home owner. I haven't personally spoken with the folks on the other end of the line so I can't verify the level or ease of service or the outcome, but hopefully it gives you a place to start.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Guide to Avoiding Foreclosure. Information includes local counseling services, refinance information, and details on the foreclosure process.

HUD Approved Counseling Agencies in Oregon (this link will take you to the list of local agencies in Central Oregon).

Making Home Affordable

Making Home Affordable is a government program implemented by the Obama administration designed to assist homeowners who have loans backed by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae refinance their mortgages in order to say in their homes. The website will assist you in determining if you qualify for the program as well.

Freddie Mac

Avoiding Foreclosure. Includes detailed information on counseling agencies, talking to your lender and basic terms.

Working with your Lender has a list of questions to ask as well as documents to have available when discussing foreclosure with your bank representative.

Mortgage Bankers Association

Foreclosure Prevention Resource Center. Information on the foreclosure process and what steps can be taken to avoid foreclosure.

The Lender Contact page has phone numbers and websites to contact your lender directly regarding difficulty in making payments. The majority of the Big Name banks are listed here. Also, remember to talk with the Loss Mitigation Department not Customer Service.

Internal Revenue Service

For tax information on home foreclosure and debt cancellation view the IRS website, although, you may need a qualified accountant to help make sense of the details and jargon.

If you're a Bend, Oregon home owner looking to stall the foreclosure process hopefully these links will provide you with the assistance you need.

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