For years customers have been clamoring for close-in, small acreage with room for a custom built sprawling single level home.  Garrette Custom Homes listened and we have DELIVERED!!! Construction has just started on two new single level homes on small acreage just a few minutes from shopping and freeways.  Check it out below or go to www.garrettecustomhomes.com to see all available properties and floor plans.

Featuring the new Cascade plan this 2,996 sq ft home with a master on the main has an optional 380 sq ft bonus room above garage.  The home also features 10 ft ceilings, enormous master suite with private covered patio, den, dining room and a huge great room.  Find this plan under construction at two amazing locations: One home is on just under one acre in Felida, 5 minutes to I-5 and 15 minutes to downtown PDX!!!  Click Here for more details or call Tony at 360-518-3499. Set on more than 3 acres, this home backs to forest for amazing privacy, surrounded by high end custom homes and is just outside of Oregon City by previous Street of Dreams location!  Click Here for more details or call Will at 503-504-9228

We at Garrette Customs Homes are excited with the amount of homes being sold in the Portland area. A new MSN real estate article, list Portland among the 10 major housing markets with the shortest supply of homes. Check out the article here.

Home buying can be an overwhelming experience, but you do not need be a real estate agent to understand the key terms used in the process. We at Garrette Custom Homes think its important for home buyers to understand the following the seven terms, not only will this impress your real estate agent but it will also allow you to focus on what’s important – choosing the right home for you.

1.      The first term is buyer cost sheet.  This is a property purchase agreement can range from a few pages to a dozen or more, depending on the location of your home and the complexity of the transaction. Buyers need to focus closely on the buyer cost sheet, sometimes called “cash to close.”

2.      Commission authorization is theagreed upon commissions for both the listing agent and your buyers agent; they are negotiable and generally paid from the proceeds of the sale by the seller.

3.      Contingency is a clause in a contract that sets the conditions under which the contract can be voided and the deposit returned to the buyer. Contingencies are negotiable, so if you believe you need more time for an inspection or to obtain financing, you can write contingencies into your offer.

4.      Disclosure or disclaimer are rules that vary from state to state about what homeowners need to disclose to potential buyers. Most states require sellers to complete a form that tells buyers what they know about their property.

5.      Earnest-money deposit is when buyers attach a check for their earnest-money deposit to their offer. The check is put into escrow once thecontract has been approved by all parties and is used as part of the down payment at settlement.

6.      Escrow is handled by a title company, an escrow company, an attorney or a real–estate broker and depends on local practices. An escrow account includes the buyer’s deposit and all the financial portions of the purchase transaction before, during and after the settlement.

7.      A good-faith estimate gives buyers a snapshot of their estimated costs for closing services, the down payment and prepaid items such as homeowners association dues, homeowners insurance and property taxes. Inaddition, buyers can use the estimate to hold their lenders to the amount promised in certain categories of costs.

Here at Garrette Custom Homes, we are always here to help you with any questions you may come across. Knowledge of these terms helps take the fear of the unknown for first time buyers and for those looking for their second or third home, it’s a great refresher.

• First home purchase  http://www.efile.com/tax-deduction/mortgage-deduction/first-time-home-buyer-tax-credit/
• Home tax deduction  http://www.efile.com/tax-deduction/income-deduction/home-deductions/
• Home office deduction  http://www.efile.com/tax-deduction/income-deduction/home-business-tax/
• Energy tax credit for your home  http://www.efile.com/tax-credit/energy-credit/

Weather your Garrette Custom Home is brand new or tried and true, painting a room or a wall can instantly change to tone and energy in a room and is one of the simplest ways to redecorate your home.

Below are a few handy tips we’ve compiled for picking the right color palette for your home.

Think about how you use the room.
· Consider deep colors for rooms used primarily at night such as dining rooms or rooms where you watch TV.
· Look to light colors for spaces flooded with daylight, this will reduce eyestrain caused by strong contrasts.
· Opt for skin-flattering, subtle colors for the main bathroom.

Effectively test your paint colors.
· Pick up large paper color swatches, available at paint stores, or paint canvas squares.
· Hang test squares against the trim and then paint a small length along the trim so you can view the colors together.
· Keep competing palettes on different sides of the room and observe all your options at various times of day.

Consider the view.
· When painting an enclosed room, anything goes, however when adding color to a space that connects to rooms such an entry, consider the adjoining rooms as well. If, say, your living room opens into the dining room, pick a living room shade that complements the existing dining room walls or plan to paint the dining room the same color.
Expect the unexpected.
· If you’re making a big change, even thorough testing won’t completely prepare you for the results, be open to surprises and happy accidents and realize while