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Bene's Blog Why Isn’t My House Selling? If your home has been on the market longer than you expected, you may be wondering what is wrong. Is the price too high? Are buyers waiting for interest rates to come down? Or has the market simply changed? The answer is a little bit of all three. The housing market in 2026 is very […]
Bene's Blog Buy First or Sell First in Portland? How to Plan Your Move If you’re thinking about moving to a different home, one of the first questions you’ll probably face is whether to buy your next home before selling your current one—or sell first and then start looking. For many homeowners, this can be a particularly important decision. You may have built up significant equity in your current […]
Bene's Blog How Do I Price My Home Correctly? Pricing your home correctly is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when selling. Price it too high, and you may discourage buyers and end up sitting on the market. Price it too low, and you could leave money on the table. So how do you find the right number? Start With a Comparative […]
Bene's Blog Will the New ROAD to Housing Act Actually Make Homes More Affordable? If you’ve been following the housing market, you’ve probably heard a lot about the housing shortage—and about how desperately we need to build more homes. On July 11, 2026, Congress took a significant step in that direction when the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became federal law. The bipartisan legislation is intended to increase […]
Bene's Blog Before You Put Your Home on the Market: Smart Steps That Pay Off Preparing to sell your home is about more than putting up a sign. The work you do before your home hits the market can have a significant impact on how quickly it sells, the offers you receive, and how smoothly the entire transaction goes. While every home is different, these are some of the most […]
Bene's Blog Understanding Seller Concessions: What They Are and Why They Matter In today’s housing market, buyers and sellers often need to be flexible to reach an agreement. One tool that can help make a transaction work for both sides is a seller concession. This is when a seller agrees to cover certain expenses on behalf of the buyer as part of the sale. For buyers, concessions […]
Bene's Blog Skip the Home Inspection? No. Skip the HOA Review? Absolutely Not.   After years of helping buyers into condos, I’ll say something that surprises most of my clients: the HOA document review matters more than the home inspection. I know. That sounds backwards. But hear me out. What a Home Inspection Tells You A home inspection is valuable. A good inspector will flag the leaky faucet, […]
Bene's Blog Home Insurance Is Getting Harder to Afford Many Americans are feeling financial pressure right now—and it’s not just about buying a home. Even keeping up with the costs of owning one has become more difficult. A major reason? Rising homeowners insurance premiums. Recent data shows that more than half of homeowners (57%) have had to make financial sacrifices just to keep their […]
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Bene's Blog The Hidden Costs of Putting Off Home Repairs It’s tempting to delay small fixes around the house. A minor leak, a slightly loose railing, or a system that’s still functioning can feel easy to ignore—especially when time and money are tight. However, postponing routine maintenance can quickly lead to bigger problems and more expensive repairs than expected. Take Jason, for example. He noticed […]
Bene's Blog Why Some Homes Sell in Days—While Others Linger for Months You’ve probably noticed the pattern: one home hits the market and is under contract almost immediately, while another—just as appealing at first glance—sits unsold for weeks or even months. It’s easy to assume the difference comes down to price or location. While those factors matter, they’re rarely the full story. The real driver is momentum—and […]
ADUs ADUs, Guest Suites, and In-Law Units: Turning Extra Space into Opportunity Extra rooms in a home often begin as simple ideas—a guest bedroom, a finished basement, or a garage conversion that never quite became anything specific. Today, many homeowners are discovering that these spaces can offer flexibility, income, or both. What Qualifies as an ADU? An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a separate living space located […]
Bene's Blog Cash vs. Financing a Home: Understanding the True Cost of Each Option Buying a home often comes with a big financial question: should you pay in cash or take out a mortgage? While paying cash sounds straightforward, financing can sometimes be the smarter move once you look at how your money could be used elsewhere. The best choice depends on your priorities, your comfort with risk, and […]
Bene's Blog How Owning a Home Builds Generational Wealth For many families, buying a home is more than just finding a place to live—it’s a powerful way to create long-term financial stability. Over time, homeownership can help build wealth that can be passed down to children and grandchildren, creating what’s often called generational wealth. What Is Generational Wealth? Generational wealth is money or assets […]
Bene's Blog Mortgage Rates Hold Steady Near 6.1% Following Fed Chair Nomination Mortgage interest rates edged up only slightly this week, remaining largely unchanged even after President Donald Trump announced his nominee for the next Federal Reserve chair. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.11% for the week ending February 5, according to Freddie Mac. That’s just a hair above last week’s 6.10%, […]
Bene's Blog What Is a CMA—and Why Sellers Shouldn’t Skip It If you’re thinking about selling your home, you may hear real estate agents mention a “CMA.” It sounds technical, but it’s actually one of the most practical tools a seller can use. A Comparative Market Analysis, or CMA, helps determine what your home is realistically worth in today’s market—and getting this right can make a […]
Bene's Blog Year-End Home Paperwork You’ll Be Glad You Organized Whether you bought, sold, refinanced, or simply kept up your home this year, organizing your housing paperwork now can save time, stress, and money when tax season arrives. A little effort before the end of the year makes April much easier. Gather Mortgage and Property Tax Documents Start by locating your mortgage interest statements. These […]
Bene's Blog Holiday Fire Safety The holidays are full of warmth, lights, and gatherings—but they also bring an increased risk of home fires. A few small precautions can make a big difference in keeping everyone safe. Use this quick checklist to stay ahead of common holiday fire hazards. Decorations & Lighting Use only lights labeled for indoor or outdoor use, […]
Bene's Blog Buyer Satisfaction Is Rising—But Younger Homeowners Still Feel the Most Regret A Slower Market, Happier Buyers More homeowners today say they’re happy with their purchase compared to two years ago. According to Realtor.com’s 2025 Consumer Attitudes & Usage Study, 37% of buyers reported no regrets about their home purchase this year—up from 31% in 2023. Researchers surveyed more than 1,200 people who bought a home in […]
Bene's Blog Portable Mortgages: A Bold Fix for Homeowners—But Not for Affordability The U.S. housing market is stuck. Millions of homeowners are clinging to ultra-low mortgage rates they locked in years ago, unwilling to sell and face today’s much higher rates. Now, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is exploring an idea that could shake things up: portable mortgages—loans that homeowners could take with them to their […]
Bene's Blog Mortgage Rates Dip as the Fed Cuts Interest Rates Again — But Don’t Expect Big Drops Yet The Federal Reserve has lowered its benchmark interest rate for the second time in a row, aiming to steady the economy as layoffs increase and the government shutdown drags on. The move brings the federal funds rate down to a range between 3.75% and 4%, the lowest level since late 2022. But while this rate […]
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