General – Page 38 – Property Blotter

February 18, 2010March 10, 2011

City Chickens….

You’d have to be hiding under a rock somewhere not to have heard all the buzz about “chickens in the city”. I haven’t witnessed such passionate discourse on anything other than elections, health insurance reform, or bank bailouts in quite a long time…on both sides of the issue. I do have to admit that chicken lovers seem to be most invested in the subject though, and therefore they are winning their battles all across the country. Believe me, it’s not pretty when people who want chickens are told they cannot have them on their own property. Here’s an article from MSNBC in Sept ’09 entitled ” In Portland, Ore., urban chickens rule the roost” . They even get into the fact that Portland’s Mayor Sam Adams owns two hens (I didn’t know that!). Hmmm… Chickens in Portland on the national stage…

Chickens are said to make great pets, produce eggs, and eat table scraps like a dog but bark less. Actually they are said to make less noise (chickens don’t bark, silly!). I have friends with chickens, and witness much Facebooking and Twittering about these feathery pets. Recipes are exchanged online, and of course the fact that the eggs used came from the family pet always features prominently. My friend Pamela (who is a fabulous cook) feeds Adele, Fatima, Georgina, Hera and Irene fruit, vegetable, and bread leftovers. (That’s Hera at the top of the page.) Just as there are “victory gardens” springing up everywhere these days that fit in nicely with the welcome & spreading focus on organic foods, home-grown eggs are also food you can count on for your family in times both lean and luxurious.

Chicken coops are appearing over backyard fences in every metropolitan area. Some of them are downright “designer”. Now, whether cities allow chickens or not is another matter. Many do not. Portland does… Beaverton does not. Salem does not. Tigard and Gresham only allow them on unusually large lots (must be 100 feet from neighbors). Almost all prohibit roosters (eggs do not require a rooster… unless you want baby chicks). According to The City Chicken, Lake Oswego does allow them, does not prohibit roosters, and does not place a limit on how many you may have. That said, roosters in particular may end up in violation of city noise ordinances, so Lake Oswego is not about to give up on quality of life for neighbors of chickens. Here is a resource for basic info about whether or not they are allowed in your location: Chicken Laws

Remember, if you decide to take on the delightful adventure of keeping chickens at your home, they are pets, and do require care and attention. (These are “The Irene’s” to the right… little Irene named after Pamela’s best friend.) Give some thought to care, feeding, lodging and protection. Cats are attracted to them, and one cat doing what is natural can end up breaking your heart.

Below, you’ll find some links to sites with all kinds of information regarding: chickens, raising them in urban environments, organizing to change your city’s ordinances, educating yourself on avian flu, general upkeep, and lots more:

Mad City Chickens

The City Chicken

Pistils Nursery (Country Living in the City)

Keeping Chickens Blogspot

Feel free to use this forum to discuss your own experiences of “chickens in the city”. We’d love to hear from you! (Many thanks to my friend Pamela for the photos of her beauties!)

January 27, 2010January 30, 2010

Lake Oswego Reads

Beginning in 2007, the City of Lake Oswego has used the month of February to host a city-wide reading program. The concept is to encourage everyone in town to read the same book at the same time. The community then hosts events to show-case and share the ideas found in the book. This year’s book selection is The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig.

The Whistling Season is a coming-of-age story set in 1910. It tells the tale of a rural family of 3 boys and their widowed father. The book was selected because, tying into the Lake Oswego Centennial Celebration, it will transport the reader back to 1910, the year that the City of Lake Oswego was originally founded. The book was selected by a panel of librarians, community leaders, High School English teachers and High School students.

Throughout the month of February events will be held all over Lake Oswego to bring The Whistling Season to life in the community:
February 1, Lake Oswego Writes, Chuck’s Place, 7pm
February 2-28, Art Exhitition at Graham’s Book and Stationary and at Chrisman Picture Frame and Gallery. 18 artists have created original pieces based upon their vision while reading the book.

February 3, History of the Telephone, Heritage House, 7pm

February 5, Pioneer Lunch, Noon, Adult Community Center

February 8, Book Club Quilter’s Tea, 2 pm, the Library

February 9, One Room School House Panel Discussion, Holy Names Heritage Center, 2pm

February 10, Spelling Bee, Lakewood Center, 7pm

February 11, Tales of the Secret Life of Lake Oswego, Library, 7pm

February 12, Photo Scavenger Hunt for Teens, Library, 7pm

February 13, Apron Making Classes, The Pine Needle, 10 am for kids, 1pm for adults

February 17, Dream Analysis, Lake Oswego Country Club, $15, 11:45 am

February 17, Hear Ivan Doig in Person, Lake Oswego High School, 7pm, tickets are free and given out 1st come 1st serve on January 30, 11 am, at the Library (see you there!)

February 18, Star Gazing, Luscher Farm, 7pm

February 18, Book Discussion, 7pm, West End Building

February 19, Book Discussion. 1 pm, Adult Community Center

February 20, Horse Carriage Rides, 11am to 3pm, Graham’s Stationary

February 20, Hoe Down, 5-8pm, West End Building

February 24, Historic Recipe Tasting, 1pm, Adult Community Center

February 24, Book Discussion, 7pm, the Library

February 25, Book Discussion, 10am, Mt. Park Church

February 25, Hear a real hand whistler, 7pm, the Library

February 26, Book Discussion, 1pm, Adult Community Center

February 27, Horse Show/ Jumper Night, 5:30, Oswego Hunt

For specifics on each event, click here.

I am an avid reader. I jumped into the Lake Oswego Reads idea when it was first introduced in 2007. I don’t attend all of the events, but I do try to get to a few of them. This year I will make the effort to get to the art show as well as the evening with Ivan Doig. I also plan to take my Mom to the One-Room-School-House discussion on the 9th (she actually went to school in a 1-room school house). I have learned that the book discussions are interesting, both in person and on-line. I think what I like most about Lake Oswego Reads is that it introduces me to really good books that I might otherwise not read. Here is a brief list of past book choices and my take on them:

2007, Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. This book takes place in post-WWII Barcelona. I liked this book. It reminded me of The Davinci Code with its intrigue and espionage. I particularly enjoyed the setting. You feel like you are meandering through alleyways and breathing in Barcelona. I know that this book was selected because one of the goals of LO Reads is to draw in High School students as well as adults. The local High Schools use the selected book in their classrooms. This is a fast-paced story that successfully appeals to diverse age groups.

2008, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Relin. This book is hands down one of the most important books of our time. It is non-fiction. It is about one man and his mission to bring peace to Afghanistan and Pakistan by building schools. As I read it I found myself wishing that every world leader could take the time to read it too. It is remarkable, amazing, and inspiring what one individual can accomplish. And Greg Mortenson did it rather by chance. You will find yourself with him as he comes off of climbing K2 and lands in a remote village in the Middle East. He deals first-hand with The Taliban. His mission is important and when your read about it you will be forever changed.

2009, Stubborn Twig by Lauren Kessler. This book traces 3 generations of Japanese immigrants from their early beginnings in the Hood River Valley, through their ordeals and the alterations of their lives during WWII, to the gradual assimilation into American culture after several generations. I was completely touched by their story. Like Three Cups of Tea, it is non-fiction. This family came to the United States to find a better life, built a very successful business, and then lost nearly everything while being both jailed and put into Internment Camps. And yet, they were and are Americans, with lives of determination and patriotism.

I want to encourage you to get involved with Lake Oswego Reads. If The Whistling Season is as good as the other book selections have been, then I know it will be a worthwhile experience. And, let’s face it, one of the great things about February in Oregon is that it is the perfect time of year to curl up with a good book.

Dianne

January 6, 2010March 10, 2011

It’s A New… Centennial Year in Lake Oswego!

Happy Happy 2010 to each of you! I don’t know about you, but I can feel the excitement (and dare I say relief) in the air. It’s a new year, and things are looking good. Lake Oswego is already celebrating its Centennial, employment figures are up, real estate tax incentives are in full force (for a few months anyway), stocks started the year with a rally, and “the trend is still up” according to Rob Lutts, chief investment officer at Cabot Money Management.

Are there naysayers and warnings of impending doom? Yes, as always. I, however, am “cautiously excited” at the prospect of renewed opportunity all around. I see my clients achieving their goals and changing their lives, and I know that time does indeed march on. For my clients, job changes happen, marriages and divorces happen, families grow & need more space, loved ones want to be closer geographically, retirement and downsizing happen, and of course, “upsizing” is also very much alive.

Couple3 The beginning of the year also always brings some legislative changes, like needing a hands-free device to talk on your cellphone in the car. The new law does, however “…exempt motorists who are on their hand-held cell phones ‘in the scope of the person’s employment if operation of the motor vehicle is necessary for the person’s job’.” Hmmmm, I wonder if that includes Realtors? Well, I think I’ll opt for safety anyway, but I can smell some friction (is that burning rubber?) ahead in the way of challenges to these minimum $142. tickets.

In the real estate world, there are all manner of regulatory changes, and changes to the “new” forms we’ll be using. Make sure to talk with your SophieTucker Realtor (or Dianne and I if you are without a Realtor) if you have any questions. Some of the changes could affect the timeline of your transaction if you are not aware of them. For instance, if a transaction includes any seller-carried financing, and the document is prepared by escrow, there is a 3-day mandatory review period… so if the Buyer is just seeing the document for the first time at signing, there will be a 3-day delay in closing. Also, you will notice that our ML#’s have gotten a bit longer. As we are starting a new decade, the ML#’s now start with “10”… so they’ll be longer numbers & have lots of zero’s for awhile : ) As an aside, the count on these, and therefore the number of new January listings as of today in Lake Oswego number 24, and range in price from $90,000 to $998,500.

CarrieNation Last, but definitely not least, I want to address the excitement of the ongoing Centennial Celebration in Lake Oswego. I’m including a link here to a pdf that has all kinds of historic Lake Oswego photos, and news stories from 1910. By that time Lake Oswego had been in existence for 60 years already. Three previous attempts at incorporation had failed due to fears around “additional regulations and taxation” (sound familiar?). Residents in First Addition were interested in: “promoting small businesses, water quality, fire protection, debate over the sale of alcohol, as well as government autonomy. The vote in favor of the measure was 79 to 22. Only men cast their ballots because Oregon women did not win the right to vote until 1912.” You really MUST check out this link. Some of the headlines read: “City Government Controls Width of Tires”, “Buy a Lake-Front Lot for $50.”, “Oswego’s Bear Population”, “Illiterate Cows”, “Pig Penmanship”, and many, many more.

Happy, Happy 2010 to you and yours, and thank you for reading the Property Blotter!

Linda

December 17, 2009December 17, 2009

Seeing the Christmas Lights

christmas ship Let’s face it, December is dark. The sun comes up about 7:30 and sets about 4:30. That’s just 9 hours of daylight. And that’s why Christmas lights are pretty darn important to me. I know they are put up to celebrate religious traditions. But as far as I am concerned they are put up for ME. I love them and need them to get through the month of the year with the shortest daylight. My own turkey barely has a chance to go cold on the counter before I am putting up my own Christmas lights. And I push the boundary on the other end too by leaving them up past Christmas. (Yes, one year I had them up until Valentine’s, but haven’t been that extreme in quite awhile.)

So when Linda and I first designed the propertyblotter, and had to think about what links we wanted permanently attached, the Christmas Ship Parade came immediately to mind. You will see our link to the Christmas Ships year around on our left tool bar. However, I don’t want to just assume that you have used it to see what it is all about. This year I want to point it out and suggest that you load up your car with family and a thermos of hot cocoa and drive over to Foothills Park on December 19th at about 6pm. This is the evening that the parade of lighted ships are scheduled to come as far South as George Rogers Park on the Willamette River. You can view them from George Rogers Park, and also from Roehr Park, but you would probably need to get out of your car. Personally, I love to sit in the car to watch them. Just find some Christmas music on the radio and stay toasty warm. When my children were little, we commonly did this with both of them bathed and in their pajamas.

There are about 20 or so ships that are organized and captained by volunteers. They do a nightly parade of both the Willamette and the Columbia Rivers with the evening parade location changing daily. I think the only time between now and Christmas that they will be as far South as LO is the 19th. If you are willing to drive North, you will be able to find them in other locations on other evenings. For a complete schedule, click here.

And if you want to find what I consider to be the top decorated house light displays, I want to recommend driving down Edenberry Drive in Westlake. The homeowners on the street go all out. It is gorgeous. Many of the side streets are also decorated. So swing through when you get the chance.

Enjoy the season. I know that I do: especially the Christmas lights.

Ho Ho Ho, Dianne

December 9, 2009

Holidays+Food=Recipe Secrets Fm Lake Oswego To You

manicotti a Ok, so, it’s the holidays, and the Realtors are all running around serving their clients with Christmas trees on their car roofs… well, at least I am! Or was, earlier today. I visited another real estate office and noticed that I’m not the only one juggling real estate business and “extra” holiday activities and errands… and frankly we all are right now. So, I was thinking- What am I going to write about in the Property Blotter this time? I’ve got to take care of my clients and go shopping for Manicotti ingredients, champagne, Martinelli’s and all manner of other Christmas Party necessities. What will I write about? Food comes to mind of course.

I confess, I have been overextended into giving away some of my cooking secrets, and other hopefully interesting tidbits for the sake of expediency! What has the world come to? Anyway, here are a few little things I usually do not pass on to people… but for YOU??? Our Property Blotter reader? Here you go:

Manicotti: I make a killer Manicotti. It’s a well-known fact if I do say so myself, which is due to my dear Grandmother’s guidance and recipe… and which I am NOT giving you (she’d come after me from the afterlife!). So, you’ll have to come up with your own sauce and blend of cheeses, but I WILL tell you the biggest secret of all: ~How To Stuff Manicotti Noodles~ Basically, you stuff them while they’re hard. Using a pastry tube is something I incorporated last year and it worked much better than the “old country” method my Grandmother and I used, which was little by little with teaspoons. You stuff the noodles, line them up in a buttered pan till its filled with one layer, and pour your sauce over them all. Here comes the secret part: You then pour hot water… about 3/4 cup of it, around the edges of the pan, cover tightly with foil and bake according to your directions. The water steams the noodles, and your sauce retains the consistency you intended. Voila! (oops… not an Italian expression)

Hungarian Mushroom Soup: There is a restaurant in Portland called Old Wives Tales that is famous for this soup. I used to drive all the way there and take home large cartons of it. “Anything else, Miss?” “No. Just the soup please.” One day I experimented till I came up with nearly the same flavor. Sophisticated cooks will balk at this part, but I use 2 large cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup from the store. I then add several cloves of garlic (at least 5) chopped, at least a cube of butter, a 16 oz. carton of sour cream, 3 cartons of fresh sliced mushrooms from the produce section, one can of milk, and several tablespoons of paprika. Ta da! Secret, easy Hungarian Mushroom Soup.

Brussel Sprouts: For this I am going to give you a link to a great local cooking blog. A lot of people like to serve brussel sprouts during the holidays, and I believe there is some kind of superstition having to do with good luck when you eat them on New Year’s Eve. Anyway, this recipe is so good I can hardly describe it. The way you cook them is easy, involves lots of heavy cream and freshly squeezed lemon juice at the end. This method takes some of the “bite” our of them, and ends up sending you back for more till there are no leftovers. It’s that good (if you like brussel sprouts that is… and if you don’t, I’d suggest trying them this way to see if you change your mind). Here’s the link: Creamy Braised Brussel Sprouts

Ok, Addendum- Check. Closing Coordination- Check. Research- Check. Repair schedule- Check. Update Clients- Check. Documents Emailed- Check… Off to decorate the tree!

Happy Holiday Cooking to each of you.

Very Best,

Linda

November 25, 2009

Oh, To Be Thankful

Thanksgiving This week we get to take a step back from our daily routine… usually we take a few days to kick back & enjoy family, friends, and good food… and at the very minimum, we enjoy a few extra moments or hours to reflect on all we have to be grateful for.

This has been quite a year. I don’t think there are many who have not been affected, or had a loved one affected by the roller coaster ride that has been our economy. Now that things are starting to turn, and we hear “the recession is over”, we may or may not be seeing big changes in our own lives yet, but we can look around, and take stock. Do we have shelter? A roof over our heads, warmth and food? Do we have family? And if so, do we remember to tell them each and every day that we love them? Do we have friends… real friends? If so, do we remember to let them know that they make our lives richer just by being themselves? Do we have a job? & If so, do we think about all the ways that job enriches our lives, providing goods and/or services to others and supporting our family? Do we have beauty in our lives? Do we remember to actually look at those hanging baskets in downtown Lake Oswego, or the beautiful lights and holiday dressing the town takes on this time of year? Do we see the beautiful little things that cross our paths everyday… often escaping our notice? Ok, I’ll stop, but hopefully this gets you thinking a bit. Maybe this year would be the year to start a Gratitude Journal. I have a friend who records everything that happened that day for which he is grateful every night before bed. He swears that it has turned his life around! Maybe this year we might start a new tradition with our children, and have them fill out two lists… one being everything for which they are thankful, and the other being, well, you know… the one that goes to the North Pole (make sure to address it to City Hall/North Pole this year though : )

I am grateful for so many things, and I know I speak for Dianne and I both when I say we are so thankful for our Property Blotter readers & clients. You make it all worthwhile.

I’ll leave you with a few quotes to start your holiday season off just right:

“Stand up, on this Thanksgiving Day, stand upon your feet. Believe in man. Soberly and with clear eyes, believe in your own time and place. There is not, and there never has been a better time, or a better place to live in.” –Phillips Brooks

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
—Melody Beattie

“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.” –Cicero

“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” –W.T. Purkiser

“Serenely full, the epicure would say, Fate cannot harm me, I have dined today.”
–Sydney Smith

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 20, 2009

Open Houses for Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

There will be 22 houses held open in Lake Oswego this Sunday:

Address	List Price	# BR	# BTHS	Total SF	Prop Type	Open
15200 BOONES WAY	$175,000	2	1.1	1,248	CONDO	12 to 3
1597 BONNIEBRAE DR	$199,900	2	1	998	CONDO	2 to 4
1547 BOCA RATAN DR	$208,900	2	1.1	1,008	ATTACHD	11 to 1
5686 WASHINGTON CT	$259,900	2	2	1,342	DETACHD	12 to 3
505 8TH ST	$389,000	3	1	1,050	DETACHD	1 to 3
119 3RD ST	$419,900	3	2	1,204	CONDO	2 to 4
138 KINGSGATE RD	$420,000	3	2.1	1,600	DETACHD	1 to 3
106 GREENRIDGE CT	$449,000	4	3	3,127	ATTACHD	1 to 4
3254 DUNCAN DR	500000	4	3.1	3,997	DETACHD	2 to 4
136 D AVE	550000	2	2.1	1,741	ATTACHD	11 to 1
13504 STREAMSIDE DR	599000	4	2.1	3,467	DETACHD	1 to 4
5678 SW CHARLES CIR	625000	4	4	3,455	DETACHD	3 to 5
14435 UPLANDS DR	825000	4	3.1	4,822	DETACHD	1 to 4
16461 CHAPIN WAY	857500	4	2.1	4,271	DETACHD	1 to 3
18209 SIENA DR	1178950	5	3.1	3,839	DETACHD	1 to 3
18143 SIENA DR	1197000	5	4.1	4,152	DETACHD	1 to 4
17464 RIDGEVIEW LN	1298950	4	3.1	4,407	DETACHD	1 to 3
622 OAK MEADOW DR	1325000	4	3.1	4,171	DETACHD	1 to 3
664 OAK MEADOW DR	1355000	4	3.1	4,198	DETACHD	1 to 3
18110 Siena DR	1394000	4	3.1	4,311	DETACHD	1 to 4
657 OAK MEADOW DR.	1395000	4	3.1	4,371	DETACHD	1 to 3
17364 RIDGEVIEW CT	1425000	4	3.1	4,436	DETACHD	1 to 3

Have a great weekend!

November 11, 2009November 11, 2009

Notes & Scribbles

47° F \| 40° F	45° F \| 38° F	45° F \| 36° F	45° F \| 38° F	49° F \| 41° F
Rain Showers 50% chance of precipitation	Chance of Rain 60% chance of precipitation	Rain Showers 80% chance of precipitation	Chance of Rain 30% chance of precipitation	Chance of Rain 50% chance of precipitation

(Image from: www.wunderground.com )

Hmmmmmm…. Not to bum you California readers out, but this is a pretty dreary week in Lake Oswego! I so often hear from family and friends in California though, that they really LOVE rain, and I can relate. Nothing better than to curl up with a book (or a laptop) by a fire near a window with a nice view & hear the rain on the roof. Lots of coffee shops prosper here for the same reason.

We have yet to see what the weather is going to look like this winter. I hear that at the recent “weather conference” held here in Lake Oswego, experts were torn over whether we would be having a relatively dry season, or even MORE snow than we had last year…. quite a gap in understanding among experts… (any readers who attended this conference or who would like to chime in are welcome!).

Lake Oswego turns 100!

Well, we are only 99 right now, but Lake Oswego is turning 100 in 2010. Already planning is underway for a “year-long celebration” that will kick off in January with a film at the Lakewood Center giving an overview of the city’s history and unveiling the “Lake Oswego Building Blocks” display; a visual history of 20 of the city’s neighborhoods which will remain on display throughout the year.

There will also be a scavenger hunt that will begin after the kick-off and last thru March (!!!) with clues given each week via he Lake Oswego Review and the city’s official website.

For more info or to get involved, contact Kern-Schilling at 503-675-3983, attend a community meeting at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the West End Building or visit the Web site www.lakeoswego100.com later this month.

City Revisits “Affordable Housing”

There was an interesting article in the Lake Oswego Review about a week ago that highlighted some citizens’ work toward ensuring that in particular seniors, but also lower income families and individuals, have access to affordable housing. Paul Lyons, along with Ralph Tahran have been meeting with City Counselor Roger Hennigan and other interested parties. Mr. Lyons led a discussion at a recent city council meeting. He pointed out that the planning department is undergoing a periodic review of the Comprehensive Plan, and is hopeful that this is a good time to reintroduce this discussion which was sidelined in 2005. Here is a link to the article for anyone interested: Affordable Housing The article has generated lively debate in Lake Oswego.

Market Action Report

It is almost time for the October Market Action Report to be released by RMLS. I think it is interesting to note that there has been a new column added to the Residential Market Highlights and the Area Report called “Total Market Time”. This is an average of the cumulative number of days a property has been truly on the market. This time does not reset unless a property has been off the market for more than 30 days, and this statistic is evidently calculated for listings that sell in the month and year-to-date time periods that apply to any issue of Market Action. You know that Dianne and I have often mentioned the confusion that sometimes results from how “Days on Market” are shown when a property relists but is really not a new listing, and so I am glad to see this change in the Market Action Report which will more accurately reflect a property’s actual time on the market before sale.

November 4, 2009

What’s in a name?

marina I have two things on my mind today: Thanksgiving and how much Linda and I are loving writing the PropertyBblotter. I am thinking about Thanksgiving because it is my favorite holiday and because it has been so incredibly gorgeous the last few days. The air is crisp. The sunshine is bright. It just makes me feel grateful to be alive. And somehow those feelings tie into how I feel about the Property Blotter. We have been writing this blog for 20 months. In that time we have had the pleasure of sharing our passion for real estate and for this wonderful town that we live in. We have also been fortunate to have people contact us to get information, and even to buy and to sell homes. We are grateful for our loyal readers and hope that you are enjoying and learning from what we are able to share.

In that light, today I want to take us back to the roots of the Blotter and remind our readers that the name is completely local to Lake Oswego and references the Police Blotter that is published each Thursday in The Lake Oswego Review, the local newspaper. The Review is widely read in LO, both to see photos and hear about our neighbors, and also to get a good chuckle over the varied activities of our local law enforcement. Let’s face it, while LO is not immune to crime, there is quite a bit of time when the good men and women of our police department deal with some pretty funny stuff. So the Police Blotter is in some ways a form of entertainment. I thought I’d take time today to share a bit of the Property Blotter’s namesake. Here, for your reading enjoyment, are actual police activities that were published in the LO Review from a two week period in late September. Enjoy.

9/14/09 1:47 pm A man fell down while walking on a broken sidewalk on Boones Ferry Rd.

9/14/09 4:10 pm An elderly man acted confused at a pizza restaurant.

9/15/09 12:54 pm Police saved a man from being stranded on his roof after his ladder fell down while he was working on it. The ladder was replaced and the man came down.

9/15/09 1:39 pm A caged leopard was observed in a vehicle traveling down Highway 43.

9/15/09 4:47 pm An old lady has been throwing plums at her neighbor.

9/15/09 5 pm An injured pheasant was caught on the side of the road by officers and taken to the Audobon Society.

9/16/09 1:44 pm A woman complained that her neighbor’s garage sale had been going on for far too long.

9/17/09 8:58 pm A short, heavy, suspicious man was advised to leave a super market after he was observed leaning against a wall.

9/18/09 7:48 pm After leaving his scooter on a dock, a man returned to find that it was missing. It turned out the scooter had been thrown into the water by a mentally challenged boy, whose father agreed to pay for a new scooter.

9/19/09 8:41 am A racoon found injured in the middle of the road was taken to a Lake Grove veterinarian.

9/19/09 6:23 pm A person dropped a glass on Lakeview Boulevard, then got out and tried to pick it up.

9/21/09 9:09 am A man in a van has been parking behind a church and sleeping. Church officials hope he will wake up and leave.

9/22/09 1:38 pm A large swarm of yellow jackets was seen a Maple Circle. A beekeeper was notified to respond.

9/24/09 2:16 am A dog cornered a raccoon in a backyard.

9/24/09 7:28 pm A man’s 10-year-old son was screaming about not being able to get on a computer.

9/25/09 11:35 am A dark blue Jeep Liberty was seen driving over yellow lines and onto the sidewalk on Boones Ferry Road. An alternative driver was located to drive the car.

9/25/09 5:03 pm A 15-year-old boy reported a man in an Alden Utilities vest riding a bicycle through his yard. Turns out Alden Utilities is taking a pole inventory.

9/25/09 8:40 pm A suspicious man was going door to door on Albert Circle claiming to be the Kirby Vacuum guy.

9/26/09 1:54 pm A back pack with drug paraphernalia was reportedly found at Our Lady of the Lake. Officers determined the contents were just garbage and disposed of them.

9/26/09 2:41 pm A dead squirrel was removed from Lake Grove Avenue.

9/26/09 10:13 pm A complaint was filed on a loud party at Country Woods Court and Quarry Road. Partiers shut the garage door and turned the music down.

9/26/09 11:59 pm The partying continued on Country Woods Court. Homeowners were warned of a citiation.

We may be just 15 minutes from downtown Portland, but reading the LO Review’s Police Blotter really puts into perspective that LO has the personality of a small town. Our police department has a 100% personal response policy. When you call the police, for whatever issue no matter how small or how large, you will get a police officer who will personally respond. And then the next week, you will see it in the Lake Oswego Review. I love it.

October 21, 2009

Talking Taxes

Along with the gorgeous fall color, October brings property tax statements. If you live in Oregon, you will be receiving your statement in the mail in the next week or so. Property taxes are pretty misunderstood, and not because people are dumb. The simple fact is that they are confusing. I am going to take a shot at explaining them and clearing up some basic issues.

The tax year runs from July 1st to June 30th, but you receive your tax statement in October for payment on November 15th. No wonder people are confused! Not only does the tax year not correspond with the calendar year, but you get your statement at a completely odd time as well. (Is this some sort of a conspiracy?) So when you pay your taxes in November you are paying in arrears back to July 1 and ahead to June 30. You can pay your taxes in one lump sum and receive a discount, or you can pay it in thirds with the final third due in May.

Don’t fall behind in your property taxes. The tax assessor is the only entity that can step ahead of your mortgage lender in lien position. This means that if you fall behind, the county can actually foreclosure on your home even if you are current on your mortgage. This is why mortgage companies pay attention to whether or not your property taxes are paid and will be all over you if you let them slide. I recommend to all first-time buyers, and to buyers who are not yet financially seasoned homeowners, that they arrange for their taxes to be paid as a part of their house payment. This builds a reserve account that is built up all year so that when November rolls around the full year’s tax bill is on hand, and the taxes are paid on your behalf by your mortgage company. It makes paying your taxes quite automatic.

Yes, your property taxes will probably go up this year even though your house value has likely gone down. Right now, this is the most confusing issue about property taxes and is getting a lot of play in the media. This is happening because of the restriction that was placed onto annual tax increases in the mid-1990’s. At that time house values were going up quickly and property taxes were going up at the same pace. This was creating financial hardship because people’s incomes were not keeping pace. A ballot measure was passed that restricted annual tax increases to not more than 3% per year plus any bond measures passed through public vote. Bond measures are those ballot measures that supply funding to build libraries, schools, zoos, etc. Lots of bond measures have been passed in the last 15 years, including an $80,000,000 bond measure that re-built the two High Schools here in Lake Oswego.

When you receive your tax bill you will see two values: tax assessed and market. The tax assessed value has increased under restrictions for the last 15 years. These restrictions have kept the increase to about 3-6% per year. At the same time the real market value has increased at the rate of the actual market and there were many years with 10-15% appreciation. You will not see any decrease in property taxes until or unless the market value falls below the tax assessed value. And because the market value so far out-paced the tax assessed value, they are still pretty wide apart. And that is why your property taxes will likely be going up this year.

It’s good to know that buying or selling a home does not trigger a tax increase. The tax assessed value goes with the house to the new home owner. So the new sale at a value that is much higher than the tax assessed value will not have an impact on the annual property taxes. (Other than becoming a part of general statistics used in the tax assessor’s office to track valuations). There are, however, two things that can trigger higher taxes. I have already mentioned publicly voted bond measures that pass. These have no dollar limitations. It is completely at the discretion of the voters. The second is major remodeling. This is not the sort of remodeling where you re-do the kitchen or put up a fence in the yard. (I am providing general information here. What the tax assessor uses to trigger a tax increase because of remodeling is at his/her discretion, and not mine ) This is the sort of remodeling where you add square footage to the house, or gut a house and re-build it from the studs out. This will bring in lots of building permits and the tax assessor will be right in there to see how it affects the value. A total remodel can trigger tax assessments that make the home virtually a new house.

The taxation process is political. And that means it was built from problems that needed to be solved and a solution that was from compromises. So it’s not perfect. The biggest area that I see as imbalanced is that the basis for the 3% annual increase happened in the mid-1990’s. Older homes that had lower market values 15 years ago continue to benefit from those values. And homes that were newer or in expensive neighborhoods continue to have taxes that are higher in comparison. Having said that, it is my experience that on average taxes in Lake Oswego/Clackamas County still remain lower than taxes in Multnomah County (Portland), and there is no transfer tax like you find in Washington County (Beaverton/Tigard).

Without going on and on on this topic (because that would be pretty easy to do), I hope this explanation is helpful to you as you receive your tax statement in the coming weeks. And if you are re-locating to the area, I hope it helps you to understand what to expect.

Dianne