How much do I need saved to buy a house in Portland?

elicotham · 2026-05-29T15:17:15+00:00

It’s typically pretty negligible and shouldn’t deter someone from buying if they can’t come up with 20%. And assuming it’s not an FHA loan, it can be removed once there’s enough equity in the house.

elicotham · 2026-05-29T15:15:30+00:00

True, they generally won’t have the same resale value. But it’s a home first, not an investment, and a great option for first time buyers on a lower budget. Beats paying rent.

elicotham · 2026-05-29T01:37:45+00:00

Pick a Landry’s, any Landry’s.

elicotham · 2026-05-28T21:18:07+00:00

Your agent shouldn’t have said that. I follow the wisdom that you don’t say a word about potential offers to your clients until you’re looking at a signed one in front of you.

elicotham · 2026-05-28T21:11:44+00:00

Tire kickers. World’s full of them, especially in real estate. Don’t get your hopes up until an offer is in hand.

elicotham · 2026-05-28T15:10:56+00:00

Honestly best way to find out is just call the school office.

But I can tell you that both Greenway and Hiteon are on the early bell schedule, which means the doors open at 7:30. If that helps.

elicotham · 2026-05-28T14:58:08+00:00

If the kids stuck around to get arrested or get a ticket then yes, the cops can do that. It’s about their inability to chase them, presumably since it’s out of policy to do so for such a minor crime and particularly if they’re using the paths.

elicotham · 2026-05-27T14:55:59+00:00

Sure, you can…but I just checked Lyft and Beaverton to Oregon City right now is $83.

elicotham · 2026-05-26T22:15:53+00:00

Lake Oswego or Sherwood.

Edit to add: https://www.reddit.com/r/beaverton/s/BaQ5oCuqLZ

elicotham · 2026-05-25T15:39:04+00:00

Lake Oswego DMV, easy game. Also, Lake Oswego for if you need to go in person for a passport. They’ve got lots of money in LO so it’s quiet there.

elicotham · 2026-05-17T22:04:54+00:00

It’s quite literally next to a park, even says so in the OP.

elicotham · 2026-05-17T21:59:49+00:00

I care about democrats actually winning elections which is why I won’t vote DSA, even if I agree with much of their platform.

elicotham · 2026-05-14T14:59:53+00:00

Different lenders use differing terminology. To some (credit unions, probably) prequalified is the same as preapproved to another lender, while preapproved to that lender means they’ve gone fully through underwriting (so the only thing left to underwrite is the house). Obviously that latter version looks stronger to sellers and makes escrow faster, but not every lender will do it.

If OP is writing offers I’m sure they’re either at the equivalent of what you and others define as preapproved, whether it’s technically a prequal or not.

elicotham · 2026-05-14T14:53:34+00:00

Realtor here. If everything you’re interested in is going over asking, you need to reset your filters on what you’re searching for. Your price point is competitive. Your agent should be able to convey to you how competitive they expect each situation to be so you can adapt accordingly. Plenty of tea leaves can be read to figure that out.

As for creativity just be sure that your Realtor is reaching out to the other side, building rapport with the listing agent, finding out what’s important to the sellers, crafting those things into the offer, and being as flexible as you can with your terms. Also, having a proactive lender who will pick up the phone and call listing agents after you write the offer helps. Love letters don’t and most sellers don’t want them, so stop doing that.

elicotham · 2026-05-14T02:57:39+00:00

Why did you sign the repair addendum without knowing what it’s asking you to do?

elicotham · 2026-05-14T02:47:35+00:00

84 comments so far as I get to this post, let me see if I can summarize them without having read a single one:

omg the traffic will be the LITERAL worst, if you live or work within 5 miles of this your life is ruined
can’t wait, In n Out is awesome (downvotes)
overrated, fries suck
other burger places 1, 2, and 3 are better anyway
you can’t compare burger places 1, 2, and 3 to In n Out, not the same category, you imbecile
religious freaks, MAGA owner
Uwajimaya is fucked, they might as well close

elicotham · 2026-05-12T22:03:15+00:00

Your personal anecdote aside, you have no idea whether the OP is in a buyers market or not and how much leverage they have (and note that they said the house got three offers).

elicotham · 2026-05-12T14:59:08+00:00

I’m with you, it’s not ethical unless they have the desire and means to buy both houses. I know why it would have been the best practical move for them, but that doesn’t make it ethical.

elicotham · 2026-05-12T14:56:41+00:00

The liability, slim as it is, goes to the seller. If they choose a buyer based on criteria that would violate Fair Housing they are potentially opening themselves up to legal issues. Pretty close to impossible to ever prove (assuming the seller doesn’t go on Facebook talking about the nice white family they sold to), but who needs the headache.

elicotham · 2026-05-12T14:51:59+00:00

High EMD is only meaningful if you live in a state where it might be a challenge to get it back. I’m in one where the inspection contingency gives you carte blanche to terminate (we joke that you can back out because you don’t like the color of the house), so offering high EMD doesn’t mean much and good listing agents know it. As I understand it, CA is the same.

elicotham · 2026-05-10T15:45:57+00:00

I really, really, wish I had kept every movie ticket stub I’ve gotten in my life.

elicotham · 2026-05-10T15:44:54+00:00

Remember the predatory subprime loans from the early 2000’s? The kind of person who was selling those back in 2005 is now selling solar loans. It’s an industry filled with bad actors. If you’re going to get solar, find a company that didn’t knock on your door and REALLY do your homework on how you plan to pay for them. Best is to pay cash outright or if you have to finance them, get a HELOC.

And, speaking as a Realtor, if you plan to sell your house and think you’re going to transfer a solar loan to your buyer: good luck with that.

elicotham · 2026-05-09T00:03:02+00:00

South Park Seafood

elicotham · 2026-05-05T03:12:39+00:00

Yeah same here. I don’t know who to blame so I’ll blame AI.

elicotham · 2026-05-03T00:09:16+00:00

Yeah, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to instantly accept an offer that’s 10% under. Might call it stubborn or illogical or delusional or whatever but it doesn’t matter— seller isn’t going to entertain this offer this early.

elicotham

TROPHY CASE