Matthew Ricker » Events

April 11th Auction at John Ross

rickerma — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:49:08 +0000

The Oregonian reported today that The John Ross tower on the South Waterfront will have an auction at 1pm on April 30th in order to help meet their goal of selling out the tower by the end of 2010. Starting bids will be significantly lower than current asking prices on 50 properties. Much like the Atwater auction, you will have to pre-register. If you need some help trying to get a great condo at a great price, give me a call. I can help you navigate the process.

New FHA Restrictions, What Does it Mean?

rickerma — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:22:34 +0000

A recent article from Realtor.com talks about the possibility of changes to the current FHA loan situation. Many First-Time buyers have been using FHA loans because of the 3.5% down payment aspect. This offers the buyer a chance to get into a home without an extremely steep output of initial cash. I expect to see more tightening of credit in the future and this could be a small step towards that. It seems that buyers are encouraged to get out there (tax credit, etc.), but discouraged by the credit and banking guidelines. Which way are we going to sway?

Do you Have Questions About the New Tax Credit?

rickerma — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:06:48 +0000

As many of you are well aware, Congress has passed a new tax credit for first-Time Buyers and for buyers that have lived in a primary residence and are moving up. I have had plenty of questions regarding the credit. There are regulations that govern the $8000 or $6500, so I have been referring my clients to the source: www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com

HGTV’s National Open House

rickerma — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:15:56 +0000

Well, after two full years of waiting, I finally get a chance to see what I look like on TV. I am a little anxious to say the least. Two years ago I filmed a TV show for HGTV called National Open House. For a big explanation of what that show is, check out my previous post.This week I received numerous calls and emails from friends, clients, and family members telling me that I was on TV. I was told by the producers that I would hear about the air date two weeks before, so I was very surprised! Unfortunately, the producer and the traveling producer have since left for different companies, so I was lost in the shuffle. Anyway, check it out on HGTV when you have a chance. I have not seen it yet, but I can assure you that the pricing information is much different two years in the future! Here’s a link for info. I assume they will have information on the site or even have a webcast of it when the next episode airs.

November 30th First Time Buyer Credit Expires

rickerma — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:10:13 +0000

Most people know that the first time home buyer tax credit will expire November 30, 2009. If you are looking for a home you need to know and understand these facts:

Fact: The average timeframe from when you find a property until it closes is 30-45 days.

Fact: You will need some time to find the property that you wish to buy. Some buyers are lucky and find their home quickly, but others need more time.

Fact: The week before November 30th is Thanksgiving! Many banks and title companies are traditionally closed for the last 3 days of that week.

Fact: November 30th is the Monday following the typical 3 day bank shutdowns.

Fact: There will surely be many, many buyers who will wait until the last minute to start looking for homes. This means that November 30th is sure to be an extremely busy day and many banks and title companies will not be equipped to handle all of the expected volume.

Fact: As more buyers start to frantically hit the market to take advantage of the tax credit the selection of properties is sure to decrease. This will result in fewer options for all buyers.

Fact: You NEED a plan to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit. Waiting too long is a gamble that you should not take. You need to work with a team of professionals who can develop a plan with you to hit the deadline

Start your search at www.portland-listings.com today and contact me for a consultation on the tax credit and your home-buying experience.

Mt. Tabor Celebration

rickerma — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:57:04 +0000

As an addition to the events section of the site, check out the Mt. Tabor Centennial celebration at this link!

Volunteer at the Oregon Food Bank January 15, 2009 from 6-8:30pm

rickerma — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:34:34 +0000

To all of my readers, clients, friends:

This January 15, 2009 from 6-8:30 pm I am hosting a Volunteer Party at the Oregon Food Bank on North Columbia Blvd. We will be doing a Food Re-pack, where we take bulk food and repackage the food for distribution to other parts of the state. It is suitable for ages 6 and up. If you have questions regarding the event or the Food Bank, please contact me at mricker@kw.com.

I hope to see all of you there!

Sauvie Island October Tradition

rickerma — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:17:14 +0000

A tradition here in Portland, Oregon during October is visiting Sauvie Island and the numerous Pumpkin Patches. With or without children, its a fun tradition. My wife and I have been do this every year. Sometimes we visit the “Corn Maze”, but we usually go to pick out our pumpkins, try some apple cider, and enjoy the island. This year our daughter seemed more interested in the tractor ride than anything else going on around her. Judging by the traffic every year during October, its a tradition in many Oregon families.

What is Sauvie Island? Sauvie Island is an island in the middle of the Columbia River, about 15 minutes drive along Highway 30 to the NW. It is a highly agricultural island with plenty of U-Pick farms for flowers, berries, pumpkins and more. It has about 800 residents, its own school, and is also popular for cyclists and runners for its beautiful 10 mile loop. A current client teaches at the school and raves about the fantastic amount of parental involvement and support. The people are proud of where they live. Its a rural oasis close to the city.

Real Estate in Sauvie Island is rare because of the size of the island. There are traditional and farm homes, and on the river you even have some House Boat Communities. Current stats show that there are 6 active listings on the market and 3 homes that have sold in the last year. The lowest priced home sold for $550,000, while the most expensive home sold for $1.25 million. The active homes on the market range from $590,000 to almost $2 million dollars. Each of these properties had at least an acre of land, and one property had 10 acres. Plenty of room to stretch out! Come for a visit and a pumpkin, or purchase a farm and lay down some roots.

SE Events in the Coming Months

rickerma — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:32:14 +0000

Division/Clinton Street Fair–July 26 from 10am-5pm. Plenty of activities to be hosted by local businesses, and a parade beginning at 10:45 am.

Hawthorne Street Fair-August 16th from 11am-6pm. More information at this link!

Belmont Street Fair-September 6 from 10am-5pm. More info at this link!

Fun on Foster-September 13 from 10am-5pm. Live Music, Activities for the family between 50th and 93rd avenues.

Ricker Realty Group

rickerma — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:11:49 +0000

This year I have created a logo for my group inside of Keller Williams Realty. The success of my business has allowed me to expand and create my own group inside of mycurrent Real Estate company. Its the best balance of the power and recognition of the Keller Williams name and network and the personal service of me and my team. The expansion allows me to serve more clients while still providing the service and professionalism that my clients expect. Ricker Realty Group is still serving Portland, OR and the surrounding communities, and I hope you enjoy our logo as much as us. It was created by Waterknot.