Port Angeles Real Estate Information Archive

Port Angeles Real Estate

If you desire to own your own Port Angeles Real Estate / Home but are unable to secure conventional financing today, leasing a Port Angeles home with an option to buy may be your best option. A lease purchase can make your rent money work for you instead of making your landlord rich. Typically rent to own homes offer rent credits that reduce the final purchase price!

Here's how it works:

A home is made available via a standard lease with one important addition. Included is an option to purchase that home at a specified price over a specified time period (usually one or two years). In order to acquire that option, the renter/buyer must pay a one time, NON REFUNDABLE, fee called the option consideration. The exact amount is negotiable, but it is usually ranges from 2.5 to 7% of the purchase price. A fair contract will credit the buyer 100% of that option consideration upon closing of the sale. Furthermore a negotiated percentage of all rent payments should be applied toward the purchase price of the Port Angeles home. Some typical terms and conditions one might expect to find in a contract are as follows:

1.) In order to receive a rent credit of 50%, time is of the essence. You MUST pay your rent on or BEFORE the due date of your lease (typically the 1st of the month). This means it must be received by the lessor (landlord) on or before the due date. Any payment received after the due date will result in a 0% rent credit for that month, a late fee may apply and you will not be building any equity.

2.) Maintenance is the responsibility of the Tenant Buyer. You are now renting to own and homeownership requires maintenance. This includes things like broken windows from stones or baseballs, clogged drains, peeling paint, broken appliances, burnt out bulbs, lawn work/snow removal, etc. If any major repairs are required to ensure habitability, the owner remains responsible.

3.) You need to have Option Consideration. Option Consideration is typically 2.5% to 7% of the purchase price of the home. It is a non-refundable payment, of which 100% is credited toward the purchase price, which binds the lease purchase contract.

Here's an example transaction:

We have a nice 3 bedroom, 1 bath single family Port Angeles home located in a near west side of town in a great neighborhood with good school and a strong neighborhood. It has been freshly painted, cleaned, and is ready to move in. The purchase price will be $215,000. Monthly rent payments will be $1,500 and you will receive a 50% rent credit ($750 per month). You need between 2.5% and 7% in up front Option Consideration. Let's say your budget allows for $6,000 for Option Consideration. This equates to approximately 2.8% ($6,000/215,000). You will also need $1,500 for the first months rent for a total initial payment of $7,500.

Please note: Option consideration is not a security deposit. It is a non refundable payment toward the purchase price and is 100% credited toward reducing the price of the Port Angeles home.

Now suppose you paid all your monthly rent payments on or before the due date and you choose to buy the rent to own home at the end of the 12 month lease purchase contract. You will have $15,000 in equity before you even own the home! Here's the math:

Lease Purchase Price - $215,000

Less: Option Consideration paid at lease signing - $6,000

Less: 50% rent credit of $750/m * 12 months - $9,000

Net Purchase Price after credits - $200,000

You started with $6,000 and by paying your rent on time; your equity position grew 150% (another $9,000) for a total of $15,000 with 12 months. Not a bad deal! Many people find it nearly impossible to save $9,000 in a year with all the costs of living constantly on the rise.

What's the catch?

Now you may be thinking, "OK, what's the catch? This sounds too good to be true."

Answer, there is no catch.

There are many possible reasons a landlord/seller may want to enter into a rent to own agreement. Some reasons may be:

1.)  The Port Angeles Home owner needs to maintain ownership for at least one year for tax purposes.

2.) Home owner is unable to get a fair price due to local conditions.

3.) Home Owner is tired of performing minor maintenance & repairs etc.

Also, when the Tenant becomes the Tenant Buyer (via rent to own), there is an immediate sense of pride in ownership. Tenant Buyers add value to the community. They take care of their future Port Angeles Real Estate / Property, make improvements, and feel good knowing their rent money is working for them (reducing the purchase price) rather than just making their Landlord rich.

There are also many advantages for the renter:

1.)  Buyer builds equity toward home ownership.
2.)  No bank or finance company involvement.
3.)  Poor credit history may not be an issue.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Port Angeles real estate. For complete information about the Port Angeles real estate market including, homes for sale, Land for Sale, buyers and sellers info, home values,  relocating information …Please visit my website  www.PortAngelesRealEsateServices.com  There you’ll find everything you need to know about Port Angeles Washington Real Estate  

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be Toll Free: (866) 359-9099  or  mailto:steveedwards@olypen.com

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards – Realtor – Broker
Real Estate Professional
Strait Realty
Port Angeles, WA

Port Angeles Real Estate

One of the most popular things to do to increase your Port Angeles Real Estate / Home's value prior to selling, is to renovate and spiff up the home and property in order to catch the eye of prospective buyers. Its a time consuming process, so its a process that should be planned carefully from the get-go. The question remains, what renovations should you undertake in order to accomplish this goal? Two things that are always good ideas are kitchens and bathrooms.

Kitchens are the most communal rooms in any home. They are the gathering place of the family and a meeting point for friends and neighbors. As one of the most high-traffic rooms, they are also one of the rooms that receives the most wear and tear. There is a simple truth, new kitchens can sell homes. Buyers appreciate new appliances and countertops, they are highly attractive and can also raise the value of a home by thousands. Floors can also drastically change the look of a kitchen. If the floors are worn old linoleum, try replacing them with new tile or laminate, the worth of the change will be evident when your Port Angeles Real Estate / House shows. 

Bathrooms are an area that can quickly fall into a state of disrepair. This is largely due to the amount of moisture that is in the air on a constant basis. Any wood elements of a bathroom will usually deteriorate faster than other areas of the home. Also, custom bathrooms are becoming highly popular selling points for many Port Angeles homes. There is a real move towards creating artistic bathrooms, whether that be regressing to an older, more classical style with clawfoot tubs and pedestal sinks or; a more modern feel with clean lines and utilitarian fixtures. Being that aside from the kitchen this room is the room with the larger fixtures and appliances, it is a natural choice for renovation.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Port Angeles real estate. For complete information about the Port Angeles real estate market including, homes for sale, Land for Sale, buyers and sellers info, home values,  relocating information …Please visit my website www.PortAngelesRealEsateServices.com  There you’ll find everything you need to know about Port Angeles Washington Real Estate  

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be Toll Free: (866) 359-9099  or  mailto:steveedwards@olypen.com

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards – Realtor – Broker
Real Estate Professional
Strait Realty
Port Angeles, WA

Port Angeles Real Estate

Should you buy or rent? It depends on your circumstances, and the real estate market where you are going to live. Years ago, I sold a Port Angeles home for a young couple who owed almost as much as the sales price on their Port Angeles house. They needed to take money from savings to pay the closing costs and sales commission. You can bet that they wished they had rented for the couple years they lived there.

This brings up the first thing to consider when comparing buying versus renting: the amount of time you'll be there. Buying and later selling a home will usually cost about 10% or more of the value of the home. These costs mean that if the home only went up in value 10% or so in the year or two you lived there, you won't be gaining anything (equity gain from principal pay-down is very little in the first years). You'll often be better off renting if you'll be in a town for less than a few years.

If you'll definitely be in one place for a long time to come, it will almost always be better to buy than to rent. In the last example, buying becomes a better bet after about four or five years. Also consider that if you get a fixed rate mortgage, your payment will never change, a benefit landlords won't offer you that on your rent payment.

To sum up, look at the time you'll be there, the comparison of total monthly costs, whether rents are going up fast, and whether you have good reason to believe home prices will be going up fast. Then look also at all the personal factors. To buy or to rent? In the end, you have to work this one out by yourself.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Port Angeles real estate. For complete information about the Port Angeles real estate market including, homes for sale, Land for Sale, buyers and sellers info, home values,  relocating information …Please visit my website  www.PortAngelesRealEsateServices.com  There you’ll find everything you need to know about Port Angeles Washington Real Estate  

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be Toll Free: (866) 359-9099  or  mailto:steveedwards@olypen.com

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards – Realtor – Broker
Real Estate Professional
Strait Realty
Port Angeles, WA

Port Angeles Real Estate

Closing costs are often the last thing a person thinks of when buying a home in Port Angeles. While closing is the joyous moment the home becomes yours, the costs can be surprisingly aggravating.

When you purchase a piece of Port Angeles Real Estate / Home, Condo or other property, you will go through a period known as escrow. During escrow, various issues related to the property transfer are worked out. The last day of escrow is known as the closing day and you are going to be paying closing costs.

Closing costs come in many forms. Some involve significant dollars while others are relatively painless. Here’s a list of typical costs:

Escrow Fees

An Port Angeles escrow agent is essentially a third party that works with the seller and buyer to finalize the transaction. For this assistance, the escrow agent will charge a fee. Depending on your area and the agent, you can expect fees from a few hundred dollars to around a thousand or so. Make sure you find out the fees before picking an escrow agent. Typically within the Port Angeles real estate market 1/2 the total escrow fees would be around $350.00 +/-

Home Loan

Obtaining a home loan in the current Port Angeles Real Estate market is a highly subjective event. “Points” can be a major cost associated with home loans. Points are essentially a fee you pay or have built into the loan for the privilege of being allowed to borrow money. A point usually equates to 1% of the loan. On a loan of $300,000, one point would equal $3,000. If you have excellent credit, you can shop for a loan that doesn’t require you to pay points.

Port Angeles Home and Title Insurance

Insurance for your home and title are a must. If you are borrowing money to purchase the home, each is mandatory. If you are using your own funds, you should still get both forms of insurance. As each name implies, they provide insurance against issues involving your home and problems with the title transferred to you. You want to have clear title on any purchase of real estate.

PMI

Private Mortgage Insurance, “PMI”, is mandatory if your down payment is less than 20% of the purchase price. You can expect to pay a few hundred dollars a year in PMI. Inspections, Appraisals and Miscellaneous Fees

In the Port Angeles home purchase process, you are going to use a variety of services to validate the property is your dream home. These services come with fees and you can expect to pay for home inspectors, appraisers and the like. Depending upon the state you live in, many of these fees may be built into your mortgage. Nonetheless, you need to know exactly what you must pay for on closing day so you can budget accordingly.

Closing escrow should be one of the happiest days of your life ... plan for this day and all will go well .... and on this day!....:) It will be....one of the happiest days of your life...:)

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Port Angeles real estate. For complete information about the Port Angeles real estate market including, homes for sale, Land for Sale, buyers and sellers info, home values,  relocating information …Please visit my website  www.PortAngelesRealEsateServices.com  There you’ll find everything you need to know about Port Angeles Washington Real Estate  

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be Toll Free: (866) 359-9099 or  mail-to: steveedwards@olypen.com

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards – Realtor – Broker
Real Estate Professional
Strait Realty
Port Angeles, WA

Port Angeles Real Estate

When a person buys a Port Angeles home, he/she usually has to take out a loan. The lenders, generally banks, keep the title to home collateral in this case. The ownership of the home is transferred to the lender when the person is unable to pay the dues and installments in time. This transfer of ownership to lender is called Foreclosure. Buying foreclosure has been compared to playing poker. As an investment, it has its own risks.

The Port Angeles lenders or other first determine if there are any junior liens as well. When they find any pending loans etc, they pay everything off so that they themselves have clear title to the property. Once this is done, the lender adds up all costs to the loan amount to be recovered, and then again resells the property so that they can recover the expenses and loan amount. This is an ideal time for investors to buy such property. Buying a property that has been foreclosed has many gains.

Benefits of acquiring foreclosed property from your locat Port Angeles lenders:

The first and most prominent benefit is the fact that all properties bought from lenders will have clear titles and ownership rights, thereby saving you the trouble of doing any research.

Next is the fact that foreclosure is not for profit booking. When the lenders sell foreclosed property they want their money back, so they are ready to sell the property cheaper than what it could have fetched in the open Port Angeles real estate market under normal conditions.

How to buy foreclosed property:

The first step is to collect information. The best idea is to make a database specifically so that you will have separate data on all the Port Angeles properties and markets in clear sets. In addition, that way you will be aware of any specific Port Angeles laws that you may need to abide by while making an investment. The next step is to directly contact the foreclosure owners and start negotiating with them. If you have the address of property but not the name, online directories may help you find the relevant names.

As a beginner, buying foreclosure property on your own can be risky. Try to get help from your local Port Angeles real estate agent if you are trying to buy such property. They have all the required knowledge.

Risks involved:

One risk is when buying foreclosed property at auction, sometimes they give just a week to deposit all the cash, and if you fail to do so, you may lose all your deposit. As you keep on investing and making money, you will gain experience about bad construction, poor soils, problems with septic systems etc. Background reading and relevant information is extremely important before you get into foreclosure investing. Foreclosure laws in Washington state, priority of liens, bidding at auctions, title insurance, and bankruptcy are some key areas where you should gain full knowledge. That way you will be able to make better and safer investments.

Property investment is not an easy game, and must be played only with caution and care. Some compassion for the person whose property is up for foreclosure is also essential.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Port Angeles real estate. For complete information about the Port Angeles real estate market including, homes for sale, Land for Sale, buyers and sellers info, home values,  relocating information …Please visit my website  www.PortAngelesRealEsateServices.com  There you’ll find everything you need to know about Port Angeles Washington Real Estate  

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be Toll Free: (866) 359-9099  or  mailto:steveedwards@olypen.com

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards – Realtor – Broker
Real Estate Professional
Strait Realty
Port Angeles, WA

Port Angeles Real Estate

In addition to zoning, some properties have covenants recorded at the courthouse that “run with the land.” These “protective covenants” can put a serious pinch in your plans for purchasing a piece of property.

Protective Covenants

A protective covenant remains in effect as the property is sold from one Port Angeles Real Estate owner to another. The covenants are designed to maintain a certain aspect of the Port Angeles area in question. The covenants may require a particular architectural style or use for the land to mention only a few areas of restriction.

Land in a Port Angeles scenic area may have a protective covenant that prevents certain types of development for the land or properties on it. Importantly, these restrictions may not show up in the zoning laws, so make sure you research the issues before buying. Let’s consider an example of a great buy gone wrong because of a protective covenant.

A protective covenant may restrict the number of parcels into which the property can be subdivided. Thus, you could find yourself in a situation in which you buy a one hundred acre parcel with an eye toward subdividing it. Upon researching the issues, you discover the zoning laws allow the Port Angeles real estate / parcel to be cut into quarter acre lots. Visions of profit swirl before your eyes. Your development dreams, however, could turn to nightmares if there is a protective covenant.

Assume you go ahead and purchase the parcel. While showing it to a friend, a neighbor from down the road walks up and introduces himself. You excitedly explain you plans for subdividing only to be shocked when he tells you there is a protective covenant that prevents the creation of any lots under ten acres. What if the covenant restricts ANY subdividing of the parcels? That great deal you got on the parcel may not look so hot when the protective covenant is factored in.

So, how should you deal with protective covenants? First, you should ask the Port Angeles real estate seller / owner whether any exists for the property. Second, make sure you buy title insurance as the title company will certainly look for any protective covenants before issuing a policy.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Port Angeles real estate. For complete information about the Port Angeles real estate market including, homes for sale, Land for Sale, buyers and sellers info, home values,  relocating information …Please visit my website  www.PortAngelesRealEsateServices.com  There you’ll find everything you need to know about Port Angeles Washington Real Estate  

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be Toll Free: (866) 359-9099  or  mailto:steveedwards@olypen.com

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards – Realtor – Broker
Real Estate Professional
Strait Realty
Port Angeles, WA

Port Angeles Real Estate

The home buying process can seem complicated, but if you take things step-by-step, you will soon be holding the keys to your own home in Port Angeles!

But before going into the buying process you should first ask yourself if your are already ready for home buying.

Do you prefer or even enjoy moving into different places. Do you prefer using your savings for things like vacations, appliances, retirement or having your own business? Do you like to enjoy not having so much trouble with regular maintenance and repairs?

If your answers to these queries are yes, then you may not be ready to delve into the Port Angeles home buying experience. You may have a lot of good reasons for buying a Port Angeles home but you should also have to consider your reasons for not wanting to.

Remember than buying home is not just the biggest financial decision you will ever make but also the strongest emotional choice in your life, so be prepared to make wise decisions when you are in this process.

Buying a Port Angeles home always seems to be a great idea, but it is important that ownership of a certain property comes with a great deal of responsibilities too.

Of course, being a homeowner is something to be proud of but it also means having to invest money, time and energy and take on added responsibilities. So, before you decide to buy a home, make sure you're ready.

The first things that comes into our mind when we think about home owning, is the wonderful things that is connected to it. It is true that there are a lot of good reasons for buying a Port Angeles home. So here are some of the good advantages of home buying.

Financial security is a very great deal of advantage when it comes to owning your own home. If the Port Angeles housing prices goes up, your home can provide you with some financial security due to capital appreciation.

Flexibility is another thing, when owning your Port Angeles house you will be able to decide all the aspects that comes with it. You can decorate or renovate your home to meet your own family's personal tastes and needs.

And of course stability, having your own home will make you feel at ease and less burden than renting one.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Port Angeles real estate. For complete information about the Port Angeles real estate market including, homes for sale, Land for Sale, buyers and sellers info, home values,  relocating information …Please visit my website  www.PortAngelesRealEsateServices.com  There you’ll find everything you need to know about Port Angeles Washington Real Estate  

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be Toll Free: (866) 359-9099  or  mailto:steveedwards@olypen.com

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards – Realtor – Broker
Real Estate Professional
Strait Realty
Port Angeles, WA

Port Angeles Real Estate:

Real estate investing is really an art and, like any art, it takes time to master the art of real estate investing. The key, of course, is to buy at a lower price and sell at higher price and make a profit even after paying all the costs involved in the two (buy/sell) transactions. Generally, people are of the opinion that Port Angeles real estate investing makes sense only when the rates are on the rise. However, real estate investing for profits is possible just about any time (and as I just said, real estate investing is an art).

Here is a list of tricks that can make real estate investing profitable for you:

1) Look for public auctions, divorce settlements and Port Angeles foreclosures (bank/FHA/VA): Since quick settlement is the preference here (and not price), you might get a property at a price that is much lower than the prevailing market rate. You can then make arrangements to sell it at the market rate over a short period of time. However, make sure that the Port Angeles property is worth the price you are paying.

2) Looking for old listings: The old listings that are still unsold may provide you with good real estate investing opportunities. Just get hold of an old newspaper and call up the Port Angeles sellers. They might have given up hope of selling that property at all and with a bit of negotiation you can get the Port Angeles property for a real low price.

3) The hidden treasure: A really old (and dirty) looking house may scare off Port Angeles buyers. But this might be your chance for real estate investing within the Port Angeles area that can yield good profits. So, explore such properties and check if spending a bit on them can make them shine. You can get these at very low prices and make a big profit in a short time.

4) Team up with local Port Angeles attorneys: There are a number of attorneys who handle property sales on behalf of sellers or in special circumstances (like the death of the property owner). They might sometimes be looking to dispose off the property rather quickly and hence at a low price. Be the first one to grab such real estate investing opportunities and enjoy the profits.

5) Keep tab on the Port Angeles newspaper announcements: Property sell offs due to deaths, divorce settlements, immediate cash requirements and other reason are frequently announced in local papers. Keep track of such real estate investing avenues.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Port Angeles real estate. For complete information about the Port Angeles real estate market including, homes for sale, Land for Sale, buyers and sellers info, home values,  relocating information …Please visit my website www.PortAngelesRealEsateServices.com  There you’ll find everything you need to know about Port Angeles Washington Real Estate  

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be Toll Free: (866) 359-9099  or  mailto:steveedwards@olypen.com

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

Port Angeles Real Estate:

Considering the purchase of Foreclosure property?

Here are some steps to follow to help you achieve your goal.

The Port Angeles real estate market is being bombarded weekly with new Foreclosures ... as well .... in every area in the USA.  How can you find them? Simple, call a few Port Angeles real estate agents and ask them to send you daily listings that meet your criteria, don’t be vague, be as detailed as possible and within a realistic price range.  In other words if you qualify for a  $100,000 loan don’t focus on $ 1,000,000 homes, odds are you will never get an offer accepted and if you did we are talking about hundreds of offers. That takes time and energy and you will probably end up losing your Port Angeles real estate agent.

Once you start receiving the list contact the different Port Angeles real estate agents and see who gives you the best serves. I recommend that you stick to one agent, why? Because you will need a lot of hand holding and you are looking for an advocate, someone that will go the extra mile. Every property you like, you will need Market Reports CMA’s, information, etc. In addition you will need to be looking at property weekly with your agent. It is important for both of you to see eye to eye. Remember you are looking for the diamond in the rough and believe me they are out there you just have to look.

The most pressing piece that many folks ignore is that you have to, no way around it make offers every week. The more offers the better; your Port Angeles real estate agent will guide you with the right wording to avoid having to commit to all accepted offers. The bottom line is that if you don’t make offers it’s impossible to make a deal.

Your Port Angeles broker will help you put together a well packaged offer. Make sure you provide the pre-approval letter, proof of funds, etc. The better you look on paper the easier it will be. If you can close in 10 days, put it in the contract. Every detail helps the bank decide in your favor.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Port Angeles real estate. For complete information about the Port Angeles real estate market including, homes for sale, Land for Sale, buyers and sellers info, home values,  relocating information …Please visit my website  www.PortAngelesRealEsateServices.com  There you’ll find everything you need to know about Port Angeles Washington Real Estate  

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be Toll Free: (866) 359-9099  or  mailto:steveedwards@olypen.com

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent

Port Angeles Real Estate:

I am living in living in the third Port Angeles house I have purchased during my 23 years of home ownership. To some that may seem like a lot of houses, to others it may seem like I’ve just started. The simple fact is we Americans move a lot… 11 or 12 times in a lifetime depending on whom you consult. Chances are you are going to purchase a house during quite a few of those moves and somewhere along the line you may have the opportunity to build a new home.

Should you?

Everyone has fantasized at some point about his or her dream house. You may want closets big enough to live in; a bathroom that doubles as a spa; a kitchen in which you could produce programs for the Food Network But, as in most fantasies, there is usually some epic journey required to achieve the goal. And building your dream house follows that plot line all too closely.

But isn’t it the dream that makes the quest worthwhile? Yes, if you can weather the storms and battles along the way. And the determination to keep moving forward is usually a function of a strong will and a big heart. But it helps to use your head before you set off on your personal version of “The Lord of the Rings.”

It is likely that you have options when you begin the process of buying a Port Angeles home. There may be existing homes in the area that are affordable and that meet your needs. But there are always things about any Port Angeles property or house that don’t exactly meet with your approval. The basement may not be finished or the yard may be too small or the interior décor may have to be entirely redone. It is virtually impossible to buy an existing home without making compromises.

Building new allows you to imagine, design and build the home that accommodates needs and amenities that are important to you… within a budget of course. And that is one thing that must be considered. A new Port Angeles home will be more expensive, on a cost per foot basis, than an existing one. That is due to the cost of land, the price of building materials and labor expense. You might also find that taxes are high as a new area is developed and the municipal authorities factor in the required infrastructure for a growing population and the need for services like education, law enforcement and recreation. You may find yourself subsidizing some of these costs as an area develops.

The ongoing costs associated with an existing Port Angeles house are more predictable. However, there will likely be more maintenance expense than for a new house and energy costs tend to be higher with older properties because newer homes are more energy efficient.

Commuting costs may be an issue. Developers must go further and further out to find enough land to accommodate a new subdivision. That may mean higher costs for commuting to work and to access other businesses and venues that may be closer to the nearest major population center. You should consider this from both a monetary perspective and to determine if you are comfortable with an additional investment of time.

If your new Port Angeles house is built in a subdivision there may be ongoing fees required. In addition, there may be covenants that are designed to protect property values that may apply serious restrictions on your ability to enhance your home and/or your property down the road.

A new home needs new landscaping. This may be included in the price of the home but there will likely be a limit to what is covered under the agreement. To landscape the Port Angeles property in a way that is truly satisfying may require an additional outlay.

Beware of construction delays! Building contractors are notorious for setting deadlines they miss and making promises they can’t keep. Make sure you do some thorough research about the builder and his track record before you commit. Weather is always unpredictable and may have an effect but that should be factored in from the start.

A new Port Angeles subdivision can be a hornet’s nest of building activity.  If you move into your home early in the process be prepared for hammering, sawing, trucks, mud and general chaos for quite a while as the subdivision progresses. This is a lifestyle issue and is a temporary inconvenience. But some have found this level of activity disconcerting and disruptive especially when they are settling into their “dream home” and trying to savor the experience.

If you build new be prepared to stay for a while. With new construction all around you it would be difficult to compete with the rest of the properties available for others who want to build a house from the ground up. You would have to make it worth their while and that usually means a compromise in price.

All this being said (and trust me there is more that could be said) there is nothing quite as satisfying as showcasing the house to family and friends that you designed and built and that reflects your unique vision and personality. If you survive the journey, you will likely have turned your fantasy into reality.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Port Angeles real estate. For complete information about the Port Angeles real estate market including, homes for sale, Land for Sale, buyers and sellers info, home values,  relocating information …Please visit my website  www.PortAngelesRealEsateServices.com  There you’ll find everything you need to know about Port Angeles Washington Real Estate  

Feel free to contact me (Steve Edwards) at anytime. I’ll be happy to answer / address any questions or concerns you may have.  Call me anytime … I can be Toll Free: (866) 359-9099  or  mailto:steveedwards@olypen.com

Thank you for your time!
 
Steve Edwards – Realtor
Windermere Real Estate
Port Angeles, WA
Real Estate Expert / Agent