Realtor Blog
For top tips on the Clark County real estate market, interior design trends, data reports and much more, scroll through our blog postings below!
A Year of Gratitude, Growth, and Celebration with Go With Ro Real Estate
As we wrap up another year, we’re reflecting on the joy, milestones, and gratitude that defined 2024. It’s been a busy, fulfilling year, filled with moments of celebration with family, friends, and our incredible clients. We’re incredibly grateful for a standout year, closing 72 transactions and earning the 2024 Best of Clark County title by popular vote.
Winter 2024: Upcoming Events In Clark County, Washington
We can no longer hold back the holiday lights and jingle bells. It’s time for the Holiday Season here in Clark County!! We've rounded up some of the top local events in town that celebrate local businesses, community cheer, shopping, giving back, and more. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful season! We hope to see you out and about at these celebrations!
Repair and Prepare: Our Complete Pre-Listing Checklist
When you work with our team, we take a comprehensive approach to getting your home ready for the market. We start with a pre-listing inspection to identify any necessary repairs or touch-ups, giving us a clear roadmap for our preparation strategy. This allows us to assess your home’s overall condition and fine-tune our efforts to maximize buyer interest and ensure a smooth transaction. Whether you're selling a starter home or a luxury estate, our goal is to help you attract top offers and get the best return on your investment.
Fall 2024: Upcoming Events In Clark County, Washington
It’s time to break out the flannels, cozy blankets, and pumpkin decor - Fall has officially come to Clark County! Here are some top local events to pin on your calendar and soak up all the festivities the season has to bring.
Prepping Your Home For A New Dog
If you know anything about the Go With Ro team, you know that we love dogs! We are proud longtime partners with the Humane Society for Southwest Washington because we believe our duty as agents of “finding home” extends to the many dogs, cats, and other pets available for adoption in our county. In our own homes, we’ve welcomed foster and rescue dogs, cats, abandoned fish, and even one spunky turtle. Over the years, we’ve become experts in two things: homes and pets. So today, we’re combining both in our blog post on how to create the perfect home for a new four-legged family member.
Summer 2024: Upcoming Events In Clark County, Washington
Spring marks the beginning of an absolutely stunning stretch of months in the Pacific Northwest. It’s no surprise that the warm weather also leads to a blossoming of local community events. We’ve gathered up some of our favorites, from the annual Humane Society Walk/Run to local flower festivals to youth entrepreneurship celebrations and more!
Cultivating Your Oasis: Our Go With Ro Gardening Guide
Now that our days are growing longer and the weather is warming up, there's truly no better time to start your gardening journey. With the start of summer just around the corner, it’s time to get your outdoor spaces ready for evenings spent enjoying patios, decks, and backyards. A well-maintained garden can make all the difference in turning a house into a home, creating a personal outdoor sanctuary (both for you and for local pollinators!). When it comes to listing your home, landscaping details and healthy garden beds can add significant appeal and value to a property by enhancing your curb appeal and amplifying the design of outdoor entertaining spaces.
Understanding the Vital Role of Buyer's Agents
As changing laws reshape the landscape of property transactions, buyer’s agents have found themselves on the chopping block in the name of “cutting costs” in the precise moment where they are more vital than ever. When most people imagine buying a home, they think about the exciting parts – picking a location, touring houses, finding the perfect fit. What often gets overlooked is the behind-the-scenes work of a buyer's agent. They're the ones tackling all the complex details and making sure everything runs smoothly, so buyers can focus on the fun parts of finding their dream home without added stress.
Spring 2024: Upcoming Events In Clark County, Washington
Spring marks the beginning of an absolutely stunning stretch of months in the Pacific Northwest. It’s no surprise that the warm weather also leads to a blossoming of local community events. We’ve gathered up some of our favorites, from the annual Humane Society Walk/Run to local flower festivals to youth entrepreneurship celebrations and more!
Strategic Home Pricing In Vancouver, WA
In this article, we’ll discuss the way our team strategically prices homes, what factors influence overall home price, and provide information on how to secure your commitment-free complimentary home market evaluation so that you can know the exact value of your home in today’s market.
Unveiling the Art of Home Staging: A Chat with Bethani Green of HadleyMak Designs
There are hundreds of moving parts to a home sale, and in many cases, the ability of a realtor lies in having the right person to call for each of those moving parts. One crucial area where the Go With Ro team excels is in staging homes, and we entrust this responsibility to the best and brightest in the field. When a home needs an extra touch to make its photos look even more fantastic or a layout refresh to facilitate a quick and efficient sale, we rely on HadleyMak Designs' Bethani Green. Bethani is the founder of HadleyMak Designs and was born and raised here in Clark County. She is an absolute genius when it comes to home design and layout. She sat down with us to answer a couple of questions about her work, how she got into the business, and her best design tips on a budget.
Southwest Washington 2023 Recap: A Year Of Real Estate Freeze Ushers In A Hopeful Thaw
2023 was a challenging year for buyers and sellers in SW Washington and nationwide. This past year highlighted the intricate balance the housing market's overall health relies on, juggling factors such as mortgage rates, inventory levels, home prices, and overall demand. High mortgage rates took center stage in 2023, causing a ripple effect that sidelined potential buyers, restrained potential sellers, and left everyone frustrated. Yet, these mortgage rates were crucial in restoring market stability following the historic price inflation induced by the pandemic. Despite the short-term challenges in 2023, they have set the groundwork for a promising new year.
As we transition into 2024, there are indications of a thaw in the market, attributed to early signs of declining mortgage rates. Let's take a moment to look back on the real estate landscape in 2023 and explore how these dynamics will shape the upcoming year.
The Ultimate Anti-Gift Guide: Gifts To Avoid This Holiday Season
'Tis the season of giving, but not all gifts are created equal! In the spirit of steering clear of festive faux pas, we’ve detailed out five gifts that are rarely a good idea and some alternatives we would offer in their place!
Cozy Up Your Home for Thanksgiving
Fall is all about cozying up and getting ready to spend more time indoors as the weather cools. To combat Fall and Winter blues and enjoy the transition of the seasons, it's time to transform our homes into cozy retreats. For this blog post, we are joined by Holley Hoffman, founder of Southwest Washington-based Hoffman Interior Design Group, to share some interior design tips that will infuse your home with a warm and inviting ambiance, perfect for the Thanksgiving season. So, grab your favorite throw blanket, and let's dive into creating a home that will have your guests swooning.
Navigating Current Mortgage Rates in Southwest Washington: Strategies to Ease Interest Rate Shock
Since the spring of this year, we have seen mortgage rates increase steadily as a continued measure to combat inflation. While higher rates are intended, at least in part, to safeguard buyers from unsustainable home price growth in the long run, it's understandable that many buyers are feeling the impact of reduced purchasing power due to these rates. While we expect mortgage rates to decrease in the future, saavy buyers can seize the opportunity presented by the current reduced market competition to secure their dream home today, allowing them to act before a rush of buyers come back on the market when rates decline. To do this, they can employ some key tactics to manage interest rates and mortgage payments effectively.
Upcoming Fall Events In Clark County, Washington
Clark County is an amazing community to live and work in, and we are fortunate to have a wide range of community events, celebrations, and festivals every year. Fall is a particularly busy time, with calendars jam-packed with activities for people of all ages and interests. Whether you are a long-time resident or new to the area, I invite you to check out some of the upcoming events in Clark County, WA that I have put together for you. Get ready to have some fun and create some lasting memories!
Bark-Worthy Backyards: Creating the Perfect Space for Your Canine Companion
As a proud team of dog moms, we understand that dogs are more than just pets – they’re beloved members of the family. When searching for the perfect home, it's not only important to find the right living space for you but also a yard that suits your four-legged friend's needs. As a Vancouver, WA real estate agent, I'm excited to guide you through the process of creating a truly "bark-worthy" backyard that's tailor-made for your canine companion. In this article, we'll dive into optimal fencing options, innovative enrichment ideas, hazards to avoid, and much more.
Ridgefield Waterfront Prepares For Massive Makeover
The Vancouver Waterfront has been a vibrant community hub since its opening in 2018, and now the Port of Ridgefield is preparing to embark on it’s own long-awaited renovation project that has been in the works for over 25 years. Situated adjacent to Lake River in downtown Ridgefield and the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge, this area was once home to the Ridgefield Veeneer Co in the 1950s and Pacific Wood Treating in the early 1960s. These companies played a pivotal role in the town's early development and local economy. However, the use of chemicals on the lumber led to significant environmental impacts. Unfortunately, this left the roughly 40-acre waterfront unusable and unsafe, resulting in its closure to the public for over 100 years. That is, until now!
Annual Home Maintenance Checklist For PNW Residents
When determining a property’s value, one of the key factors I look at is how well-maintained a home is. Regular upkeep helps prevent minor issues from escalating into costly repairs, saving homeowners significant amounts of money and potential headaches. Particularly here in the rainy PNW, it is essential to take diligent care of your home’s exterior. Prospective buyers are often attracted to homes that have been diligently maintained, as it reflects the care and pride of ownership. By prioritizing regular home maintenance, homeowners can enjoy the benefits of increased property value, peace of mind, and a comfortable living space for themselves and potential future buyers.
Spring Market Update
As we enter the traditionally busy Spring market, many home buyers and sellers are wondering what they can expect in terms of inventory, mortgage rates, and investment projections. After nearly a year of high interest rates, high housing prices, and limited listings inventory, buyers and real estate brokers have been looking forward to Spring, when a flurry of new listings typically comes on the market. However, this Spring has been anything but typical, and inventory has remained low through the start of the season.