Corvallis, Newport and Albany Oregon real estate listings, home buying, selling and relocation information

Sue Long began her career in Real Estate in 1985 with an enthusiasm and energy that carries through her work and all areas of her life. In 2004, Sue decided to bring Keller Williams, a new and exciting concept in Real Estate to Corvallis. It has steadily grown into the largest firm in the Mid-Willamette Valley with over 80 agents! She has maintained her dedication to her customers and has become one of Keller Williams Realty's top agents, earning many honors, including one of the highest awards, quadruple gold.

Sue enjoys many passions during her "play time" such as her love of the outdoors, tennis, downhill skiing, white-water rafting, traveling, and most recently competing in triathlons. Her husband is a local veterinarian, specializing in llamas and alpacas. They have 3 grown children; Dawn, a doctor in Seattle, Ryan, a financial advisor and gym owner in Portland, and Kyle, in an international business Masters program in Germany.

Sue was originally from San Fernando Valley, California and attended UC Davis, training in nutrition science. Time spent counseling patients in both the military hospitals and the local Corvallis hospital, has prepared her well to listen to clients' needs. Her goal in real estate is to continue providing the exceptional service that laid the groundwork for her success. Customer satisfaction is of foremost importance, with a large part of her business a result of referrals from very satisfied past customers. With so many choices in Realtors today, she considers this the highest compliment.

Sue is committed to the local area, and it shows with her involvement in community activities. Every spring since 1995 she has organized and rallied hundreds of local youth from schools and scout troops to collect food for the Linn-Benton Food share, to provide for the community needs beyond holiday times. She has also been an active fundraiser and organizer for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital since Kyle’s stay there many years ago.

Above all, Sue knows real estate, but also confesses a true love for the beautiful state of Oregon, and especially Corvallis. It is a small enough town to be personal, yet offers so much in the way of culture and livability, while consistently ranking at the top of many ‘Best Cities in America’ lists. You just can't go wrong living and raising a family in this community. Why live anywhere else?

About Appraisals >Three Caballeros

When you buy a house or refinance your present home, your lender will ask you to pay for an appraisal to help ensure that the sales price and mortgage amount is consistent with the property's market value. The appraiser will look for "three caballeros" or three "comparables" -- homes that are very similar to the one you are buying -- and will make adjustments to reflect the differences between the properties.

Housing patterns tend to be homogenous, meaning that homes worth $300,000 are usually located in $300,000 neighborhoods. It is important for properties to be within the general pricing patterns of their neighborhoods because over-valued homes, even if they are exceptional, are sometimes difficult to sell at full market price.

This is not the only factor considered in determining the worth of a property, but it is an important one. The buyer or seller may view the property as a home or an investment, but lenders view it in a completely different way. To a lender, property means security in the event a borrower fails to repay a mortgage. Therefore, lenders must know real estate values in order to limit their risks.

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Q	Which house over 100 years old still holds the title as the largest house in the U.S.?
A	The 250-room Biltmore House in Asheville, NC, built 1890-1895 at a cost of $4.4 million, is the largest house in the US.
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