Aisha McDonough, Licensed Realtor

Aisha McDonough, Licensed Realtor Licensed Realtor | Founder of Oregon Home Help
Helping Oregon homeowners explore their options.

Before you spend thousands fixing up an inherited property, run the numbers.It’s easy to assume that putting money into ...
08/19/2026

Before you spend thousands fixing up an inherited property, run the numbers.

It’s easy to assume that putting money into repairs, updates, paint, flooring, or a full renovation will automatically mean more money in your pocket when you sell. But that’s not always the case.

Sometimes the cost, time, and risk of fixing up the property simply doesn’t produce enough additional profit to make it worthwhile.

Compare the options:
• What could you sell it for as-is?
• What would the repairs actually cost?
• What could it realistically sell for after the work is done?
• How much will you spend holding the property while you renovate?
• What will your true net be at the end?

Don’t guess. Don’t argue over what might be best.

Stop arguing and let the math make the decision for you.

Sincerely,
Aisha
Your Oregon Real Estate Advisor 🏡

The “Fix It Up” Illusion.

It is the most common argument families have when managing an estate: should we spend the est...
08/19/2026

The “Fix It Up” Illusion.

It is the most common argument families have when managing an estate: should we spend the estate’s cash to update the house before we sell it?

Almost everyone assumes that putting $40,000 into a house will automatically yield a massive profit. But they forget to calculate the hidden costs.

It takes months to get contractors scheduled and complete the work. During those months, the estate is bleeding cash to pay property taxes, utilities, and expensive vacant home insurance. When you finally add up the cost of the renovation, the holding costs, and the stress of managing the project... the net profit is often identical to what you would have made selling it as-is on day one.

Don’t guess. And don’t let emotions drive the decision.

Before you hire a single contractor, I run a detailed net sheet comparing an immediate as-is sale against a fully renovated sale. We let the math dictate the strategy.

Save this post if your family is currently navigating an estate.

Comment PROBATE below and I’ll send you my complete Oregon Inherited Property Checklist.

08/18/2026

When you actually *have* to fix an inherited house.

I am a huge advocate for selling inherited properties exactly as they are. It saves the family time, stress, and usually nets them the exact same amount of money.

But there is one major exception in Oregon: you have to fix the house if it is unfinanceable.

If the roof is actively leaking, if there is exposed knob-and-tube wiring, if the heater is completely dead, or if the foundation is failing, a traditional buyer cannot get a conventional mortgage on that house. The bank simply will not lend on it until those safety issues are resolved.

If you are in this situation, you only have two choices:
1. You spend the estate’s remaining cash to fix the major structural and safety issues so the house can pass a bank appraisal.
2. You skip the open market entirely and sell it directly to a cash buyer who does not need bank approval.

As your advisor, I run the numbers for both paths so your family can make a clear, unemotional decision.

Comment PROBATE and I’ll send you my guide on navigating these complex estate decisions.

08/17/2026

The truth about fixing up Mom’s house before you sell.

If you are managing a probate property in Oregon and your family is arguing about renovating the house to “get top dollar,” you need to look at the actual data.

Most major renovations do not pay for themselves. They actively lose money for the estate.

On average, a mid-range kitchen remodel only recoups about 60% of its cost at resale. Replacing a roof or an HVAC system? You are lucky to get 50% back. Buyers expect the roof to keep the rain out — they don’t pay a massive premium just because it’s new. And they probably hate the tile you picked for the kitchen anyway.

Unless the house is in such bad shape that a traditional buyer cannot get a loan for it, major renovations are almost always a bad idea for an estate.

Sell it as-is, preserve the estate’s remaining cash, and let the new buyer pick their own countertops.

Comment PROBATE and I’ll send you my free Oregon Inherited Property Checklist.

08/06/2026

If you want to right-size your life but the timeline of buying and selling at the same time is keeping you up at night, let me introduce you to my favorite negotiation tool: the rent-back.

When we sell your large family home, I negotiate a clause with the buyer that allows you to stay in the house for 30 to 60 days after the sale closes.

The buyer officially owns the house, the cash from the sale is sitting securely in your bank account, and you don’t have to move a single box yet. Now you have 60 days to go buy your next home as a cash buyer, with zero contingencies holding you back.

It is the ultimate peace-of-mind strategy. You get the cash, you get the time, and you only move once.

Comment **ROADMAP** and I’ll send you my Right-Sizing Guide to show you exactly how this works.

08/05/2026

Why single-level homes are so hard to find in Oregon right now.

If you are waiting to downsize until the perfect single-level home pops up on Zillow, you are going to be waiting a long time — and you are probably going to lose the house when it finally does appear.

Here is the data: Single-level homes make up a very small percentage of Oregon’s housing inventory. Because the entire Baby Boomer generation is currently trying to buy them, they sell twice as fast as two-story homes, often with multiple offers.

If you wait until you see the house you want before you list your current home, you will lose out. By the time your house is prepped and listed, that single-level home is already pending.

We have to get your equity unlocked and your current home under contract first, so you can strike the minute the right house hits the market.

Comment **EQUITY** and let’s look at exactly how much buying power you have right now.

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Eugene, OR

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