We Can’t Do This Without You! 10 Burning Questions We're Dying to Ask

In this episode, we’re flipping the script and asking you the questions that have been on our minds when it comes to the home-buying journey. We’re not here to give answers—we’re here to hear your thoughts! Whether you’re still figuring out whether now is the right time, or you’ve been dreaming about the perfect home for years, we’re eager to know what’s going through your head. Tune in as we ask 10 essential questions to better understand your needs, fears, and goals as you navigate the world of real estate.

Questions Discussed:

1. If you're on the fence about purchasing a home, what is holding you back?
   Is it something in the world, your job situation, or the time of year?
2. What does your dream home look like, and what features are most important to you?
   Is it location, home size, or specific amenities like a pool?
3. What has been the most confusing part of the home-buying process so far?
   Are you confused by industry jargon, timing for down payments, or knowing when a home is "the one"?
4. How do you feel about the current real estate market?
   Are there any trends or changes that concern or excite you?
5. How has your lifestyle or family situation influenced your decision to buy a home?
   Have life events like family growth, career changes, or caregiving needs impacted your home-buying plans?
6. What are your top financial goals when it comes to purchasing a home?
   Do you see this as a forever home, or are you thinking about investment opportunities down the road?
7. What advice would you give to someone just starting their home search?
   Looking back, is there anything you wish you’d done differently?
8. If you've previously purchased a home, what do you wish you had known beforehand?
   Any lessons learned that would help a first-time homebuyer?
9. What is your biggest fear or concern when it comes to buying a home?
   Is it making the wrong choice, facing unexpected costs, or timing the market poorly?
10. How much does the neighborhood factor into your decision?
    Are you focused on school districts, proximity to work, community feel, or something else entirely?

We want to hear from you! Whether you're just starting your journey or already deep into your search, your insights will help us better understand what matters to homebuyers like you. Share your thoughts with us on social media or through our website—your feedback will shape the conversations ahead!

Thank you for listening to this episode. Stay up to date on the latest trends and insights by subscribing to our podcast and following us on social media.

For more information about buying or selling in the Portland Metro real estate market, please visit www.LivPortland.com or contact us directly.

We appreciate your feedback, so please leave a review and let us know what topics you would like to hear more about.

Transcript

00;00;08;21 - 00;00;25;28

Joe Reitzug

Welcome to Off the Record talking real estate with Joe and Makayla If you're interested in the Portland, Oregon real estate market and want the unvarnished inside scoop, you've come to the right place. Thanks for giving us a listen. Okay, welcome to the show, everyone. Thanks for joining us. Hello, Makayla.

00;00;25;29 - 00;00;26;22

Makayla Mast

Hi. How are.

00;00;26;22 - 00;00;28;22

Joe Reitzug

You? I'm fantastic. How are you?

00;00;28;23 - 00;00;29;21

Makayla Mast

I'm so good.

00;00;29;27 - 00;00;43;08

Joe Reitzug

Good. We got a just a quick little show for you today that's a little bit different than what we've done in the past. We're the ones that are going to be asking the questions now.

00;00;43;10 - 00;00;55;05

Makayla Mast

I would love your participation on this one. These are kind of questions that are always looming in our head and we think are specific to, you know, each client. But we thought we'd give you the opportunity to write in, let us know.

00;00;55;07 - 00;01;21;08

Joe Reitzug

Yeah. Before we get to the questions that are burning in our head as far as what people are thinking right now, go to YouTube if you haven't yet. I know most people catch us on the podcast here, but if you don't know, we also do this in video and you can get that on our YouTube channel at, if you just plug in LivPortland, LivPortland, you'll be able to see our YouTube channel and watch these shows.

00;01;21;11 - 00;01;30;15

Joe Reitzug

So if you've got time, if you got the inclination, jump on YouTube. The other thing is these questions that we're going to be asking. You can reply either in the comment section.

00;01;30;15 - 00;01;33;12

Makayla Mast

On Spotify has a great comment section.

00;01;33;13 - 00;01;35;02

Joe Reitzug

Yes, Spotify does platform.

00;01;35;09 - 00;01;44;00

Makayla Mast

We'll probably be posting these as reels on social media. So obviously if you're seeing us there right now, just comment in the post below. And then YouTube obviously has a comment section.

00;01;44;04 - 00;01;55;29

Joe Reitzug

Yeah, love the YouTube comment section. Always entertaining. Yes. Mikayla, I want you to lead us off. Okay. What is the burning question that you have for home buyers and sellers right now?

00;01;56;02 - 00;02;03;05

Makayla Mast

Well, I have one for buyers, and it's if you're on the fence right now about purchasing a home, what is holding you back?

00;02;03;07 - 00;02;03;19

Joe Reitzug

Yeah.

00;02;03;20 - 00;02;08;11

Makayla Mast

Is it, you know, something in the world a lessening.

00;02;08;13 - 00;02;17;28

Joe Reitzug

Yeah. Is it something in the world? What could that be? What are we less than two weeks away from the craziest election that this country has ever seen?

00;02;17;29 - 00;02;20;09

Makayla Mast

Right. Are you overwhelmed?

00;02;20;11 - 00;02;20;18

Joe Reitzug

Yeah.

00;02;20;18 - 00;02;21;10

Makayla Mast

Are you.

00;02;21;13 - 00;02;34;04

Joe Reitzug

Is it a job situation or is it time of year? We're always curious. We want to get your feedback on that. So, you know, if you are in the home buying process or thinking about buying a home, where do you stand on that?

00;02;34;05 - 00;02;44;11

Makayla Mast

I love that. Let us know. Please, please, please. Two. This one's a little more fun. What does your dream home look like and what features are most important to you?

00;02;44;13 - 00;02;46;06

Joe Reitzug

Yeah, that's a good one.

00;02;46;08 - 00;03;04;01

Makayla Mast

I think we all dream about our dream homes all the time. I know I do, yeah, but when we really get down to the search and making our list, our top three things of what are most important to us. I don't know, what does that look like? Is that location? Is that the size of the home or is it a pool?

00;03;04;02 - 00;03;05;03

Joe Reitzug

You want to know my.

00;03;05;06 - 00;03;05;14

Makayla Mast

Yeah, I.

00;03;05;14 - 00;03;22;13

Joe Reitzug

Do, I do. Yeah. So when I look at homes, the two things that I focus on just for me personally and just so you guys know, as professional real estate brokers. Yeah, we do look at homes and think, oh yeah, this would be cool to live in. Yeah. Don't you? Yeah.

00;03;22;14 - 00;03;25;15

Makayla Mast

It's very easy to get lost on the MLS.

00;03;25;17 - 00;03;41;14

Joe Reitzug

And see some pretty amazing homes. The two things I look for are the kitchen. And does it have a flow with the rest of the house and then the primary bedroom? Yeah, I love a big bedroom. And how that's all laid out with the primary suite, the whole thing. So yeah, those are.

00;03;41;16 - 00;03;59;04

Makayla Mast

Not really checks out with what the data says. People say if you're remodeling a home to spend money in those areas. So yeah. Yeah, that makes sense I gotta agree. Yeah. Location. Also, if I'm like one street over in a neighborhood I just don't really love. I just know I will end up being happy there.

00;03;59;04 - 00;04;01;12

Joe Reitzug

So yeah. Number three.

00;04;01;13 - 00;04;32;26

Makayla Mast

Three. What has been the most confusing part of the home buying process so far? So if you're not quite in the process, but you're thinking about buying what is confusing to you or there, do we use too much jargon when we're talking about things? Because I can totally see that. Are you worried about, like, timing with making your down payment or a lot of times people are worried, like, how many homes should I see before I know if the one is the one, when in reality it's actually proven that if you see too many options, then you have a harder time making a decision in your home.

00;04;32;28 - 00;04;36;08

Makayla Mast

You're more likely to be upset with your decision. So what is it?

00;04;36;10 - 00;04;42;22

Joe Reitzug

I would love to hear that because it's I think it's different for everyone. But that I'll be very curious to see what people say about that.

00;04;42;22 - 00;04;43;23

Makayla Mast

Me too.

00;04;43;26 - 00;04;44;18

Joe Reitzug

Number four.

00;04;44;18 - 00;04;51;05

Makayla Mast

Four. How do you feel about the current real estate market? Are there any trends or changes that concern or excite you?

00;04;51;06 - 00;04;52;18

Joe Reitzug

Yeah, that's a good one.

00;04;52;22 - 00;04;54;28

Makayla Mast

Kind of goes along with number one a little bit.

00;04;54;28 - 00;05;16;08

Joe Reitzug

Yeah I think home prices. So the prices that homes are listed that coming down. It's got to be exciting. I don't know if a lot of people know that. I mean, what we're seeing in a lot of areas in Portland, between 6 and 10% reduction in the list price right now, just because the market has slowed so much.

00;05;16;11 - 00;05;28;26

Joe Reitzug

20 to 30% increase in days on market. So how long it takes to get a home sold. So it's taking longer. So that's moving more towards a buyer's market which are all good things right.

00;05;28;28 - 00;05;45;05

Makayla Mast

And I think you kind of have to be pretty in the know about real estate trends to have an opinion like that. But it might be, you know, more simple than you think. I know in my four years in the business, this is the first time I've seen days on market creep up. So it's even new territory for me, which is exciting.

00;05;45;08 - 00;05;48;01

Makayla Mast

Like Joe said, where are we on number five? Six?

00;05;48;03 - 00;05;49;09

Joe Reitzug

Number five.

00;05;49;11 - 00;06;04;12

Makayla Mast

How has your lifestyle or family situation influenced your decision to buy a home? I love that one good one lender always. Mister Todd Garrison always says people don't stop having babies and they don't stop getting divorced.

00;06;04;12 - 00;06;22;08

Joe Reitzug

And they don't stop caring for their elderly family that they need to take care of. And they don't stop having kids come home from college. And all of those things. So always curious to see what life events and life situations people are going through. I think that's super interesting.

00;06;22;08 - 00;06;23;28

Makayla Mast

Yeah, and it hap it can happen so.

00;06;23;28 - 00;06;27;17

Joe Reitzug

Fast in that changes what you need for your home situation.

00;06;27;17 - 00;06;50;09

Makayla Mast

So absolutely. Number six six what are your top financial goals when it comes to purchasing a home. So are you wanting to keep this home for your whole life? Do you think this is your forever home? Do you want to own rental properties one day? There's so much that goes into purchasing a home other than getting to enjoy it with your family, which obviously is number one, having a.

00;06;50;09 - 00;06;51;09

Joe Reitzug

Roof over your head.

00;06;51;09 - 00;06;56;15

Makayla Mast

Right? Yeah, but the financial aspect is just as exciting. My opinion.

00;06;56;17 - 00;07;09;25

Joe Reitzug

Yeah. I couldn't agree more. You got to think about those things. And we always encourage people to sit down, get your plan, figure out what your why is, what, what the important pieces of the puzzle are for you. And then you can start moving from there.

00;07;09;28 - 00;07;12;13

Makayla Mast

Right? Yeah. Good advice.

00;07;12;16 - 00;07;13;02

Joe Reitzug

Number seven.

00;07;13;02 - 00;07;33;22

Makayla Mast

Number seven. Oh, this is for somebody who has maybe purchased a home before already. What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their search. I like that. That's a good would you do you wish you would have saved a little bit more. Do you wish you would have been looking online longer before you went into it in person.

00;07;33;24 - 00;07;45;21

Joe Reitzug

Do you wish you would have had a more professional realtor. Do you wish you would have listened to your realtor? That's a great question. But yeah, number eight, number eight.

00;07;45;23 - 00;07;51;04

Makayla Mast

If you could ask a real estate expert one question, what would it be?

00;07;51;07 - 00;07;58;11

Joe Reitzug

Good one, good one. Even now, I don't even know. I'm a little scared to find out what that one is.

00;07;58;16 - 00;08;00;14

Makayla Mast

I can get kind of nasty.

00;08;00;14 - 00;08;01;24

Joe Reitzug

Yeah.

00;08;01;26 - 00;08;02;20

Makayla Mast

Number nine.

00;08;02;22 - 00;08;03;20

Joe Reitzug

Number nine.

00;08;03;21 - 00;08;11;12

Makayla Mast

What are you looking for in a realtor? That is probably one of the biggest ones we'd like to hear. How can we support you through this process?

00;08;11;16 - 00;08;19;13

Joe Reitzug

Does you have to have gray hair, wear glasses? The old. Yeah. I think most people would say.

00;08;19;13 - 00;08;21;16

Makayla Mast

Yes to the gray hair.

00;08;21;17 - 00;08;23;11

Joe Reitzug

Yes. Dang.

00;08;23;13 - 00;08;25;17

Makayla Mast

I'm screwed. Wow.

00;08;25;20 - 00;08;38;10

Joe Reitzug

I think many, many more people would probably say differently, but I'm just guessing. I'm just going out on a limb here. I'm trying to figure out, you know, where people are at with things and maybe, you know, putting something in their mind.

00;08;38;12 - 00;08;39;20

Makayla Mast

I don't know. Sure, sure.

00;08;39;21 - 00;08;40;01

Joe Reitzug

Yeah.

00;08;40;01 - 00;09;00;26

Makayla Mast

We'll see a lot of people like when they're new to buying and they're touring with a broker for the first time. There's a fine line where brokers try to sell them on the house, maybe past some of the features that are poor, like the roof is obviously caving in and the realtor is still trying to sell them on it or things like that.

00;09;00;26 - 00;09;16;27

Makayla Mast

That's kind of the common feedback we hear and how a lot of people end up working with us, honestly, is they've kind of had a bad experience of, you know, their broker not coming in and really, you know, giving you the insight to what they see in the home. Because we tour homes almost every day. You know what to look for.

00;09;16;29 - 00;09;20;07

Makayla Mast

Yeah. So if you don't have someone who's advocating for you.

00;09;20;09 - 00;09;44;19

Joe Reitzug

Yeah. Maybe a red line. There's a fine line between trying to sell something to someone and being a service to someone, and we always on the side of being a service to someone. If you said that these three things are the most important for you, you know, we're probably going to remind you of that. If we're sitting in a home and and it doesn't match any of the criteria that you've said.

00;09;44;19 - 00;10;06;07

Joe Reitzug

And a lot of times, you know, we get clients that will ask us what, what do you think of this home? What do you think of this neighborhood or whatever? And I love giving my personal opinion, my professional opinion, and I always just it it's like fingernails on a chalkboard when I hear brokers or hear situations where people are selling someone.

00;10;06;07 - 00;10;32;04

Joe Reitzug

Yeah, we're not here to sell you anything. We're here to help you. Yeah. Be your advocate and help you find the best fit and the best situation for you. And a lot of times that means just reminding people what their initially said was important, but then also if they have questions or not sure about something, being able to chime in and say, this neighborhood is actually a very, very good neighborhood, right?

00;10;32;04 - 00;10;46;26

Joe Reitzug

Right. And has done historically well appreciation wise. You know, crime rates are very low. It's easy to get to the places where you're saying you want to be and where you work and all that type of thing. So big difference there between selling and serving.

00;10;46;28 - 00;10;49;23

Makayla Mast

Couldn't agree more. Hey, you ready for number ten?

00;10;49;26 - 00;10;50;27

Joe Reitzug

The last one.

00;10;50;27 - 00;10;58;02

Makayla Mast

Okay. Number 1010. Well, what has been your biggest challenge or frustration so far in searching for a home?

00;10;58;05 - 00;11;09;00

Joe Reitzug

Well, I think I know what it used to be. It used to be I have to make 12 offers and they all get rejected. Because of the competition? Yeah, that's a good one.

00;11;09;02 - 00;11;31;24

Makayla Mast

From my perspective, it seems like the pricing is so all over the map right now in our marketplace. So people might be looking kind of all over at the same types of homes, but there's not a ton of consistency with their price range and the ones that are on the lower end, aka properly priced, are getting multiple offers.

00;11;32;01 - 00;11;35;17

Joe Reitzug

Yeah, there's still multiple offer situations out there.

00;11;35;20 - 00;11;37;13

Makayla Mast

Some I don't know interested to hear.

00;11;37;15 - 00;11;45;16

Joe Reitzug

Yeah. So as a reminder, you can go to if you're listening to this on Spotify, there is this, comment section there. I think all of them have a comment section.

00;11;45;18 - 00;11;47;09

Makayla Mast

I think so, but I don't know.

00;11;47;11 - 00;12;05;14

Joe Reitzug

Yeah, I maybe maybe not. They see. And then if you're watching us on YouTube, you can always leave comments there. And you don't have to answer all ten. We're not asking you for that, but 1 or 2 or three that, you know, speak to you and you want to chime in on, that would be awesome. We would love to hear your opinion.

00;12;05;14 - 00;12;16;29

Makayla Mast

So yeah, we appreciate the collaboration. Our business and success is only good when we hear from our people, and we get honest responses on how your process is going. So yeah, we appreciate it.

00;12;17;03 - 00;12;39;08

Joe Reitzug

And just a heads up, we've got lots of really fun interviews coming up with brokers from around the country. We're getting 3 or 4 set up right now with some really, really high powered brokers who do a lot of business but also have been in the business, a long, long time, and different marketplaces like New York City, San Francisco, Sunriver, you know, those type of places.

00;12;39;08 - 00;12;42;08

Joe Reitzug

So that'll be a lot of fun. Excited for that and looking.

00;12;42;08 - 00;12;42;27

Makayla Mast

Forward to that.

00;12;42;28 - 00;12;48;21

Joe Reitzug

Yeah. And we really appreciate you joining us. Thanks so much. And we'll see you next time.

00;12;48;24 - 00;12;50;00

Makayla Mast

Bye. Thank you.

00;12;50;02 - 00;12;51;01

Joe Reitzug

Thank you.

00;12;51;04 - 00;13;06;20

Makayla Mast

Thanks for joining us today. If you're interested in finding out more about Joe, myself or the livPortland team, you can go to livportland.com. Thanks for giving us the lesson and see you next time on the Off the Record podcast.