How a diverse market and strategy can lead to big savings for buyers
One of the most frequent questions I am asked is “How is real estate right now”. The answer I have been giving for about all of 2025 and beginning of 2026 is “ It’s a mixed bag”. What do I mean by this? Some homes are going under contract within days for over asking, some are receiving a fair market value offer within the standard sell time of our market, and some are sitting there forever and sometimes even get pulled off the market by owners out of frustration.
There are some general indicators as to which properties will fall into which category. Something special, unique, in good condition, and priced reasonably ( not below market, just at what data supports), those are the ones that go fast. Properties that need a little extra attention, maybe are dated, maybe not prepared well for market with cleaning and simple staging, and those that are priced higher than what the data supports, those are the properties that are staying on the market for a long time.
This can be a great opportunity if you are a buyer! Get with your favorite realtor and look at some homes that have been on the market an extended amount of time. Often, these homes have nothing wrong aside from needing a refresh. So if you have the time ( or maybe just the money to hire it out), this can be a great opportunity.
Camas can be a competitive market for homes. Especially unique homes on the lake or in our view neighborhoods. I began working with a client in late December that made a decision to move to Camas based on the schools and extra-curriculars available to students. We looked in Lacamas Shores as our initial focus but moved on after not finding something that excited my clients. Eventually we ended up in a beautiful view neighborhood, up high and overlooking greenery and city lights. Upon first walking in, the view was breathtaking, but the 1994 finishes left something to be desired. We left thinking how wonderful the view was, but that the home was too much work.
This particular home entered the market June 2025 at 1.395M. We looked at December 2025 when the price had been reduced to 1.25M. My awesome clients had the experience and knowledge to do a renovation and decided at the right price, this home could be the one. We structured an offer that balanced a lower offer price with some incentives that would feel good to the seller such as no current home-sell-contingency, and an as-is purchase so the seller was assured this was the lowest they would take away from the transaction. We were able to negotiate a purchase price of 1,055,000!
What a savings! I’m not going to downplay the amount of work my clients will be doing, but wow!! Can’t wait to visit their new home once the new flooring, lighting, and paint is in!
