Welcome to Fairstone Properties

Thank you for visting Fairstone Properties' Website.  We are delighted to be your source for real estate information.  Our goal is to provide you with all the real estate knowledge you want... free and at no obligation.  If you don't find what you're looking for, please contact us and we'll get right back to you.

Real estate can be a complex, but VERY rewarding investment.  It's about the process you take to get there.  Fairstone Properties is dedicated to helping you with all your real estate needs.  We have a team of Brokers based in the Portland Oregon area who specalize in not just typical resale transacations, but short sales and REO (Bank Owned Properties) as well.  Give us a try, we're sure you'll be pleased.

If you're thinking about selling your property... you'd probably like to know what it is worth. Find out FREE. You can also review our Seller's Resource Section to find more valuable information.  Fairstone has created an aggressive marketing plan and will represent you in the sale of any property to get it sold quickly.

Fairstone will provide strong representation for you in the purchase of any property as well.  Whether or not it is on the real estate market.  If you'd like to know about financing, interest rates, down payments, closing costs...  We have information on most major loan programs available.  Review our Buyers' Resource Section to see more.

My team and myself would be very pleased to visit with you personally.

We want and appreciate your business. 

Victoria Rudzek, P.C., CRB, e-PRO, GRI
Owner / Principal Broker, 503.697.3807

Closing Costs

The bundle of fees associated with the buying or selling of a home are called closing costs. Certain fees are automatically assigned to either the buyer or the seller; other costs are either negotiable or dictated by local custom.

Buyer Closing Costs

When a buyer applies for a loan, lenders are required to provide them with a good-faith estimate (GFE) of their closing costs. The fees vary according to several factors, including the type of loan they applied for and the terms of the purchase agreement. Likewise, some of the closing costs, especially those associated with the loan application, are actually paid in advance. Some typical buyer closing costs include:

• The down payment
• Loan fees (points, application fee, credit report)
• Prepaid interest
• Inspection fees
• Appraisal
• Mortgage insurance (typically 1 years premium plus an escrow of 2 months)
• Hazard insurance (typically 1 years premium plus an escrow of 2 months)
• Title insurance
• County Transfer Fees
• Documentary stamps on the note

Seller Closing Costs

If the seller has not yet paid for the house in full, the seller's most important closing cost is satisfying the remaining balance of their loan. Before the date of closing, the escrow officer will contact the seller's lender to verify the amount needed to close out the loan. Then, along with any other fees, the original loan will be paid for at the closing before the seller receives any proceeds from the sale. Other seller closing costs can include:

• Broker's commission
• Transfer taxes
• Documentary Stamps on the Deed
• Title insurance
• Property taxes (prorated)

Negotiating Closing Costs

In addition to the sales price, buyers and sellers frequently include closing costs in their negotiations. This can be for both major and minor fees. For example, if a buyer is particularly nervous about the condition of the plumbing, the seller may agree to pay for the house inspection.

Likewise, a buyer may want to save on up-front expenditures, and so agree to pay the seller's full asking price in return for the seller paying all the allowable closing costs. There's no right or wrong way to negotiate closing costs; just be sure all the terms are written down on the purchase agreement.

Prorations

At the closing, certain costs are often prorated (or distributed) between buyer and seller. The most common prorations are for property taxes. This is because property taxes are typically paid at the end of the year for which they were assessed.

Thus, if a house is sold in June, the sellers will have lived in the house for half the year, but the bill for the taxes won't come due until the following year! To make this situation more equitable, the taxes are prorated. In this example, the sellers will credit the buyers for half the taxes at closing.

Privacy Policy

We recognize the importance of protecting the personal information that you provide at www.Fairstone.com and www.FairstoneProperties.com.  We maintain the following privacy policy:

1.  We gather the following types of information needed to process your transactions, fulfill your requests, and maintain our membership records:

• Contact information you provide (for example, your personal and business addresses, phone and fax numbers, firm affiliations and titles).
• Tracking information which our web server automatically recognizes each time you visit one of our sites or communicate with us by e-mail (for example, your domain name, your e-mail address, and what pages you visit); and
• Information you volunteer, via applications or surveys (for example, education, designations, specialties, affiliations with other real estate organizations and general demographic data).
• Property criteria that is specific to you or your search for a home. (for example, address location, square footage, and estimated value.)

2.  We use this information to:

• Improve and customize the content and layout of our sites and other communications tools.
• Notify you of updates to our sites.
• Notify you of relevant products and services.
• Notify you of upcoming events and programs.
• Compile specialty directories about which you will be made aware.
• Track usage of our sites.

3.  Fairstone Properties does not share, sell or trade e-mail addresses, but may provide you with on-line informational or marketing messages that have been approved by Fairstone Properties  for the purposes described in Part 4 of this policy.

4.  We will not share, sell or otherwise provide other information about you to third parties, except for:

• When we market your property, limited information about you and your property will be shared with the RMLS system as determined by written and verbal agreements between you and Fairstone Properties.
• When required by law or valid legal process, or to protect the personal safety of our members or the public.
• Some or all of the data collected during promotions or contests on our sites that are sponsored by third parties may be shared with the sponsor for the limited purpose of a one-time marketing follow-up by the sponsor. If information about you will be shared with a sponsor you will be notified prior to your participation in the promotion or contest and you can decide not to participate in the promotion or contest.

6.  We maintain security procedures and standards which we believe are as safe as today's technology permits. We test these procedures and modify them regularly as new technologies become feasible.

7.  We utilize a strict Opt-Out policy for sending online notifications regarding services, products and programs. You may adjust your Communication Preferences bycontacting us directly via phone or this form.

8.  You may edit your personal contact information by contacting Fairstone Properties via phone or this form.

9.  Our site may contain advertising placed by advertising networks pursuant to agreements between Fairstone Properties and the advertising network. We do not control these advertising networks, the sites of third parties reached through links on our site or their collection practices and Fairstone Properties will not be responsible for the activities of these third parties. The advertising network uses cookies to collect certain non-personally identifiable information when you click on the banner ads appearing on our sites.  This information is collected by the advertising network for purposes of measuring and reporting on the advertising to advertisers and Fairstone Properties. The advertising network may also aggregate the information for certain other statistical and reporting purposes.

Fairstone is Dedicated to Exceeding your Expectations

Fairstone Properties is an Independent, Family-Owned and Operated, and Full Service Boutique Real Estate Brokerage Firm for Goal-Specific Clients who enjoy high quality service and communication and expect top levels of knowledge, experience, convenience, and reliability. Unlike other brokerage firms, we’re not competing; we’re just helping you reach your goals.

Fairstone Properties Knows How to Protect Your Equity

Fairstone Properties aggressively represents you as your true fiduciary. All Fairstone agents are highly educated, skilled, and experienced licensed Brokers who work full time in real estate. All Fairstone Brokers are also members of the National Associations of Realtors® (NAR) as well as members of the Oregon Association of Realtors®, Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors®, and the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS™). Fairstone Properties’ philosophy demands high standards of communication, integrity, and reliability from each agent and employee.

Fairstone Properties provides Full Brokerage Services

Fairstone Brokers recognize that your success in meeting your real estate goals is directly dependent upon our ability to perform. We know the area, the business, and most importantly, we know how to get your properties sold and your new ones secured. We remain committed to providing the highest levels of knowledge, experience, convenience, and dependability thereby providing you a solid advantage.

Fairstone Properties Wants and Appreciates Your Business

Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.