What 'preferred agent' actually means at a builder's sales office
The on-site sales agent works for the builder. The "preferred agent" sign by the door doesn't change that. Here's how to read the room.
From the blog
Posts on Portland-metro new construction from Kaz. Community spotlights, contract clauses to know, and what each step in the new-build process actually looks like from the buyer's side.
Why your agent needs to register your name before your first new-home visit
First-visit registration is the single biggest representation issue in Portland-metro new construction. Walk in solo and your agent may not be able to be paid later.
Miyabi at Frog Pond — walking the Kanazawa model
A tour-with-Kaz read-through of the Kanazawa floor plan at Miyabi at Frog Pond. What stands out, what the model home hides, and what to actually ask the on-site agent.
Copper Heights — honest tour notes for the Columbia plan
The Columbia is the single-story entry plan at Copper Heights by Terrata Homes. Here's what to look at, what to ignore in the staging, and what the included finish package actually delivers.
How the design center actually works (and what to refuse)
Most new-build options at the design center are priced for the builder, not the buyer. Here's how to spend smart and what to refuse outright.
Inspection sequencing on a new build — pre-drywall, final, 11-month
A new home is not the same as a finished home. The three inspections that catch the most defects, in the order to do them.
What the 'lot premium' actually buys you
Lot premiums on new-construction lots range from a few thousand dollars to six figures. Sometimes they're worth it. Sometimes they're not. How to tell.
Reading a new-build purchase agreement — clauses to know
Builder purchase agreements are not the OREF standard forms. They have addenda that benefit the builder, sometimes heavily. Here are the clauses that matter most.
School districts and new-build geography in Clackamas County
New-construction communities cluster on the edges of established districts. What that means for school assignment, boundary changes, and resale at the 5-year mark.
How new-build contracts differ from resale — cooling-off, contingencies, and the timeline
A new-construction purchase contract is structurally different from a resale offer. Here's how each major clause changes — and what to know if you've only ever bought resale before.
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