Category: General

All About Lake Oswego, Oregon real estate topics

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News & Notes

Real Estate News ~

Have a wood stove?  Planning to buy or sell a home with one? Note that beginning August 1st, 2010, in an effort to control emissions from smoke, when selling a home you will be required to remove the wood stove if it is “uncertified” by the DEQ.  Here is a link for more information: Woodstoves in Oregon

Greece and Mortgage Rates – MBS Quoteline reports: ” Despite stronger than expected economic data, the financial situation in Greece held the greatest influence on mortgage rates this week. A flight to quality and prospects of slower economic growth in Europe were favorable for mortgage markets and negative for the stock market, and mortgage rates ended the week lower.”

Current Mortgage Rates and Mortgage Insurance Updates – According to Pat Goodell of Academy Mortgage:

  • “Some of the Mortgage Insurance companies have gone to tiered pricing based on credit scores which is good news to those with good credit scores.  Mortgage insurance companies also will now allow “up front mortgage insurance” (in lieu of monthly mortgage insurance) to be paid by the seller.  The potential advantage of this is that the seller can pay the up front mortgage insurance as part of any allowable closing costs that a buyer might negotiate for a seller to pay.  Then the buyer has no mortgage insurance premium to pay as part of their mortgage – this may or may not be an advantage to the buyer depending on their situation; but it does help for qualifying by reducing their monthly mortgage payment.  There are qualifying parameters for this option and the lender also has to approve this option as well.”
  • “Interest rates are holding steady now with the 30-yr fixed still hovering around 5% — 30-yr fixed today is actually available at 4.875% with 0 pts, depending on the buyer’s qualifications.”

    • Community Notes ~

    Farmers Market opens this Saturday, May 15th in Lake Oswego. (yay!)  This is the 10th Anniversary Celebration.  You can find the food  & fun at Millennium Plaza Park from 8:30AM – 1:30PM on Saturdays through October 9th.   Local musical group, Southern Nights, will perform from 10:30AM till 12:30PM at the kickoff, and the Bike Gallery will be there to check your kids’ helmets!

    May is Sustainability Action Month. Take advantage of these local events:

    • Free screening of the film Deep Green with local film-maker Matt Briggs. This is an insightful look at “uncovering the best people with the best solutions for “de-carbonizing energy and restoring the natural world.” It will be held Saturday evening, May 15th at 7:30Pm at the Lake Grove Presbyterian Church, 4040 Sunset Drive.  Bring your family and friends!
    • Get a good look at Lake Oswego’s Century Trees on the Century Tree Bike Ride, May 22nd.  The bike ride is hosted by the Planning Dept.’s Green Team, and more information can be had by contacting Laura Weigel at Lweigel@ci.oswego.or.us .

    Lake Oswego’s city council created the Sustainability Action Board (SAB) in 2008. For more information on sustainability, visit: The Sustainability Resource Page

    To Move or Not To Move / Lifestyle Options for Older Adults , an educational program for seniors and their families is designed to give information on housing options and resources in Lake Oswego.  You are invited to attend on May 16th, from 2:00PM to 5:00Pm at the Lake Oswego Adult Community Center, 505 G Avenue.

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    Secrets of Lake Oswego’s Famous Flower Baskets

    There are several things that Lake Oswego is famous for: the Lake, beautiful homes, great schools, and the glorious flower baskets. The baskets have been hung annually on the main streets of town for many years. They are spectacular with both great size and great color. As someone who loves flowers and working in my garden, I’ve wondered how they do it. What are the secrets that make the LO baskets thrive? They start out pretty and of good size, but by summer’s end they hang about 6 feet down and are a profusion of color that is just amazing. Last Saturday I attended a class put on by the City Park’s and Recreation Department where I learned how they do it. So here it is: the secrets of Lake Oswego’s famous flower baskets.

    Start with a 12 inch hanging pot that is nearly as deep as it is wide. The city uses 16 inch pots, but those are much too large for the scale of most homes. 10 inch pots can also be used, but they require watering twice daily, whereas the 12 inch pot can get by on once daily watering. Also recommended is a pot with a straight side. This allows as much soil and water as possible for root development. These instructions are for a 12 inch pot. If you use one that is either larger or smaller, please make your own adjustments.

    Fill the pot about half full of soil. The recommended soil is NW Best Soil Potting Mix. This is what is used by the City. It is the choice because it contains “Sirfactin” which allows the walls of soil to expand so water doesn’t run around the planting mix and out the bottom of the container. To this soil, mix in about 1/4 cup of Plant-Tone, a fertilizer to get the plants off to a good start.

    Before adding any more soil, remember the planter is only about half full, place 7, 4-inch plant starts. If they are in plastic containers, pull them out. If they are in the kind that are made of compost you can just set them into the planter in the container and the container will decompose as the roots develop. Think about putting a plant that will grow tall in the center such as a geranium. Then place the other 6 plants around the perimeter that will hang as they spread and grow. Think about having a variety of colors and textures. The planters made for the city are designed to be hung in full sun. You can design your own flowers based upon where you intend to hang your planter. Using a 12 inch planter and 4 inch plants you will find that this really packs the pot completely full of plants. The 7th one has to be pretty much squeezed into the planter. This will leave just a few areas between the edges of the plants that need to be filled with dirt. Find those spots and gently fill dirt in around the plants. When you are done the level of the top of the dirt should be about one inch below the rim of the pot. (It’s a good idea when testing the first plant you put into the container to eye-ball the level and see if you need to fill your planter more than half full when you add the initial soil).

    Water immediately and really let the water run. The planter needs to be watered DAILY, even on days that have rain. Rain will not be enough to thoroughly saturate the soil. It is not possible to over-water this planter. Yes, you really have to water it every single day. When you water, let the water gently run and then keep the water going. Count to 50, sing a short song, whatever you can do to force yourself to stand at the planter and thoroughly water the planter.  Do it every single day and on those days with really extreme heat, do it TWICE.

    Once a week fertilize with Proven Winners. This is a fertilizer that is widely sold in the area. You mix it into a big gallon watering can with water and poor it into the planter. It has a balance of fertilizers that is 24-12-17. It contains 15 nutrients, not just nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but trace elements as well.

    When you hang your planter remember a couple of things. This planter is going to get very large. This means that it will be very heavy so make certain that it is on a hook that will hold the growing weight. Also hang it where it has room to grow. By the end of the season it will hang 4 to 6 feet long. It will be a total show piece in your garden.

    If you have questions or need help, or want to buy any and all of the materials listed above, the place to go is The Garden Corner in Tualatin. Located at 21550 SW 108th Ave in Tualatin, this garden center has been the birthplace of the LO hanging baskets for many years. They are proud of their participation in the LO hanging basket program and are happy to be of help to you when you grow a basket of your very own.

    I’ve got my basket hanging at my home. I am eager to see just how big it is going to get. Let me know if you do one too. Maybe we can share some photos in September!

    Remember, gardening is great therapy for your soul.
    Dianne

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    News & Notes

    Real Estate News ~

    House Set to Extend Rural Home Loan Guarantee Program – A unanimous vote by the House Financial Services Committee will send the Rural Housing and Stabilization Act of 2010 to the full House of Representatives where it is said that it has been fast tracked for a vote as early as next week.  Passing HR5017 will continue the availability of government guaranteed mortgages for rural home-buyers.  If passed it will correct section 502 of the Single family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program to make it self-funding. Section 502 assists home-buyers living in rural areas to obtain affordable mortgages guaranteed by USDA.  There has been great concern of late at announcements that there were no more funds for this program, so this is a welcome announcement for many. You must qualify credit-wise of course, and have reliable and adequate income.  The average guarantee in 2009 was for $112,000.

    Lock Box Activity – According to RMLS, when comparing the week of April 5th through April 11th with the week prior, the number of times a lock box was opened increased 33% in Washington and 26.6% in Oregon.  Spring is in the air!

    Community ~

    Shred Day! Bring your shred-able items in to the West End Building on May 1st & protect your identity while you recycle. Credit Cards, staples, paper clips and rubber bands are all said to be acceptable.  Up to three boxes per person will be accepted, and all are encouraged to bring cans of food to support the Oregon Food Bank.  10:00 AM till 1:00 PM or until the truck is full!

    I LOVE LOPR  Video Challenge – Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation is asking all those who love our parks to grab a camera and illustrate why!  Take a photo of your favorite event, your favorite park, your favorite park activity… the list is endless.  Details can be found HERE The list of prizes and sponsors is growing.  Sign up for the challenge, OR sign up to be a sponsor.

    Child Safety Seat Clinic – Come & make sure you know how to install your child’s safety seat property. This clinic will take place May 1st from 10:00 AM till 2:00 PM at 300 B Avenue/The Main Fire Station.  Each seat takes about 30 minutes to check.  Come and spend some time building peace of mind.

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    Double-bottom-line Thinking

    I have had an idea swirling around in my head for a few weeks now. It comes from my personal experience with clients as they interact with the current economy and the housing market. This idea really jelled in my thinking when I read Ted Leonsis’ article in the April 12th issue of Newsweek.

    My observation with clients, both buyers and sellers, is that there is a tremendous amount of attention and focus put onto the dollars involved in buying and selling. This is nothing new. Real estate is, for most people, the largest financial investment they will make in their entire lifetime. So what is different is that the weight being put onto the investment is in many cases causing people to forget that real estate is also about a home. Yes, I am addressing this to houses that people live in and not to rentals or portfolio properties. What I am seeing is that people are so driven to get the right deal, that they are passing up properties that are far superior in amenities.

    Ted Leonsis is a former vice chairman of AOL and the author of a book, The Business of Happiness. His theory is that a company who wants financial success needs to not only think in terms of making money, but also in terms of doing what is often difficult but what is ultimately the right thing to do. This in turn keeps the company on a path of happiness that will ultimately also bring greater financial success. In other words, there is a link between pursuing happiness and also finding financial success. His case in point is the recent move by Google to route Web users from China to an unrestricted search page based out of Hong Kong. While this move may, in the short term, stifle the financial growth of Google in the biggest Internet market in the world, Leonsis believes that in the long term it will have greater financial success by placing its core values to do the right thing for humanity ahead of it’s short-term interest in its bottom line.

    “Google aims to make money, of course, but it also has a motto (“Don’t be evil”) and a higher calling: to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible. By refusing to participate in Chinese censorship, the company imperiled billions of dollars in future profit. More important, it protected its status as a happy company at peace with its values—and happy companies are more, not less, likely to continue being successful.”

    Ted Leonsis goes on to call this way of looking at business double-bottom-line thinking. In other words, success should be measured by the financial growth of the investment, but also by the positive out come for the happiness of human beings.

    It is probably my liberal arts education coming out here, but I find this to be really important. As a Realtor, when I represent buyers my job it to get them the best possible deal. When I represent sellers, by job is to get them the highest possible sales price. I never loose focus on that. But it is hard when I have a buyer who is saying to me “show me foreclosures and short sales because I’ve heard that they are the best deal”. Or when a seller passes up a lower offer that is all cash for a higher offer with a buyer who is only putting down 5%. Focusing strictly on money may cause you to pass up the house that was lovingly cared for and is priced $10,000 higher than the beaten up foreclosure down the street. And in this lending environment, cash buyers are a real blessing.

    I guess I think that there is value that needs to be also given to things like timing (short sales take months to close, if they happen at all), good will (they buyer will take the house with the big pile of yard debris in the yard because it doesn’t bother them to have to clean it up), and livability (the big kitchen is ideally designed with loads of cabinets and counter space). For some reason this economy and this real estate market has got both buyers and sellers fixated on money, money, money. And that has them acting blindly to happiness. I thinking buying the right house, where you will live and grow, is just as important as buying the right deal.

    The perfect sale does both: the house will be bought or sold at the right deal and it will also be more than a house, it will be a home. That is double-bottom-line thinking and that is a good way to approach both a property purchase and a property sale.

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    News & Notes

    State of the Market:

    • Have We Hit Bottom? The experts agree that generally speaking, the country has “hit bottom”, with various areas lagging behind a bit.   CNN.Money.com predicts that the Portland area will hit bottom in Q3 of this year. Our latest RMLS Market Action Report for the Portland area indicates that Portland metro area closed sales increased 18.4% when comparing 2009 vs 2010. Pending sales rose 45% and new listings rose 12.4%. The average sales price declined 8.5%.

    (Money Magazine) — The drama is nearly over. After a decade of extremes — the ebullient highs of the real estate boom, then the devastating lows of the bust — calmer forces are beginning to prevail in the housing market.

    • Local Lake Oswego Data The RMLS Market Action Report lumps West Linn and Lake Oswego together, but here is some interesting data:
      * In February 2010 the average sales price was $457,700.
      * The average time on the market was 153 days.
      * Pending Sales rose 52.7% in Feb 2010 as compared to Feb 2009.
      * The average sales price has declined 9.7% in a rolling 12-month equation (i.e. 3/1/08 – 2/28/09 compared with 3/1/09 – 2/28/10)
    • Rates are Rising I have clients asking  “Is this the right time to buy or should we wait?”  One thing we know is that rates are rising. Right now they are still in the 5% range…  actually they are up a bit today at 5.125% but overall they’ve been fluctuating between 4.875% and 5.125% for 30-yr fixed.  As for more foreclosures to come, and prices lowering… interest rates are rising, some say 7% is possible NY Times… so if you ARE planning to finance, all the experts agree that this is the time to be buying, because even if prices go lower, the fact that the interest rates go up effectively nullifies your benefits.
    • Portland Area Rating Improves “Mortgage insurance companies have upgraded Portland’s property value housing trends, meaning that they predict values to be stabilizing in the Portland market.”  Pat Goodell, Academy Mortgage
    • Tax Credits For first-time home-buyers and “moving-up” buyers, there is still time to find a property you love & get a mutually-agreed deal in place before April 30th. So….  hang in there if you are still looking for that “right” one.  Work with your Realtor to narrow the field, or give Dianne or me a call if you are not working with a Realtor.  (I love working with Buyers…. it is actually the reason I originally got into real estate.)
    • USDA Loans USDA anticipates running out of funds to lend by end-April 2010.  If you are thinking about rural properties and considering a USDA loan, now would be the time to ink an offer.
    • FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Rising FHA’s upfront (financed) mortgage insurance premium increased to 2.25% effective April 5. And/but, if you are anticipating taking advantage of an FHA loan, don’t fret too much. You WILL now have the higher premium, however,  it’s not anything that should get you in a tizzy, as it will make very little difference in your mortgage payment.  For example, on a $300,000 loan amount, your payment will only increase by approximately $8./month adding in that higher mortgage insurance premium.  (This according to Pat Goodell of Academy Mortgage  503 380 0953.)
    • “The Deal” One thing I am noticing is that many people are becoming so enamored with “the deal” these days, that some are missing the point of why they decided to purchase to begin with, so I am simultaneously always trying to meet my clients needs & desires in a *property* (i.e. what they are trying to accomplish for themselves in their lives w/the purchase… what they truly like), while at the same time being cognizant of the “deal factor” for them.  Keep in mind these things regarding “deals”…  there are basically three kinds:
    1. People who are pricing their homes to sell. They have their own circumstances (down-sizing/relocation/up-sizing/on & on & on), and they are wanting to move on in some fashion.  There are plenty of these out there these days, especially as home owners look around and face the fact that they are now competing with so many homes in or approaching foreclosure.  There are some very real advantages to buying your home from these folks.  Some include: Often these homes are in tip-top shape / You are dealing directly with the owner of the home and as long as the agreed-upon sales price does not dip below what they owe on the property, you are in “Pending” status when you reach mutual acceptance, and /You are negotiating only with the Seller.  / You proceed through a normal closing process if you are taking out a loan, and notwithstanding any negotiations or hoops you need to jump through for the underwriter, you will most likely close in 30-45 days.
    2. Short Sales. These homes’ owners owe more to the bank than what the property is worth in today’s market. The bank is agreeing to take less than what is owed from the Seller.  There are many, many banks in existence and each has its own methods and processes, so there is no uniformity of what to expect, with a few exceptions that I will get into in a moment.  There may be more than one bank involved if there is a second mortgage or more. There are a few things that you can expect, and they are:   * Even if the Seller accepts your offer, the bank is the one (or ones) to give final approval considering that what they will receive is less than what was contracted with the Seller.   ***The bank (s) will usually have paperwork that you must sign if you want to be in the running that will change how the property proceeds through the sale process including: Notifying you that they will only accept an earnest money check & no promissory notes/ They will keep your money and wait to see how many other offers they receive / They will not give you a time line on when they will respond to your offer / You are usually on your own with regard to any repairs / It is usually several months before you find out if your offer was the one accepted & get to proceed to close / During this process the property very often stays in “Active” position on RMLS / Very often the paperwork you must sign includes a provision wherein the bank retains the right to accept another offer right up to closing.   ***For these reasons,  I counsel clients that they must REALLY be in love with a property to proceed through this process.  Also, depending on the property, you may be entering territory wherein you know that you will be competing with other offers, so the best advice, if this is the case, is to make this your best offer… especially if you plan to sit out the long process and want to have a happy ending.  Don’t try to “wing it”… these are complicated times & even the professionals involved are still feeling out the landscape.  There are all kinds of people calling themselves “experts”.  Make sure you know what you are doing and ask for licenses if you think people on the periphery are operating outside of their scope of expertise. Talk to your Realtor as to what your options are, and rely on that trusted professional relationship for guidance.
    3. Bank-owned properties. These homes have usually been through the short sale phase unsuccessfully.  The property has either been on the market & not sold, or the owners opted not to try a short sale and have simply stayed in the property until they had to move on as the bank proceeded through their legal remedies to regain the property due to non-payment.   These properties are sometimes in sad condition due to hardship (i.e. deferred maintenance), but many times these days, they are in very good condition… a sign of the times & the large numbers of otherwise responsible homeowners who simply found themselves in an untenable position through job loss or other factors. The thing to remember about these properties is that the price is ALWAYS lower than either short-sales or standard “good deals”. The bank wants to move on and prices the home low.  The bank is now the Seller and usually acts just like a normal Seller, i.e. Negotiating (tho usually not for repairs)/ accepting or rejecting an offer/Moving on to close with the property going to “Pending” status once it’s mutually agreed-upon/Proceeding through a normal closing process for the Buyer. For this reason: Investors and others are waiting in the wings to pounce on these very often with cash offers, so you have to be quick, and you want to be very careful about low offers, though this can sometimes still be a viable option. Talk to your Realtor about options as they will vary from property to property.

    Hope this info is helpful!

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    New Lake Oswego Lots (River Grove)

    There is some buzz in River Grove lately as word spreads that the property off of Childs Rd.,  east of Pilkington between there & Bryant Rd. has been designed for 34 lots by Renaissance Custom Homes.  The area is a sought-after intersection of sleepy River Grove residential living and nearby shops, freeway access and so much more.  Neighbors have been anticipating the future of this land for quite some time as it has languished undeveloped and left many surrounding residents wondering at its fate.

    I spoke with Jack Hall of Renaissance who confirmed that they are taking lot reservations for a fully refundable cost of $2500. per lot.  The plats are not recorded as yet, but I’m told that all has been approved, with lots ranging from 7400SF – 11,000SF.  Homes range from 2100SF to 3600SF with prices from $559,900 to $659,900. Excavation with roads and utilities will begin the first week in July. Assuming recording of the plat in October, you would be in your new home by Spring 2011!

    The big kick-off party was held at Renaissance this past Monday evening where I’m told floor plans, prices and a fit list were released.  The result was that three of the 34 lots are now reserved.  More information may be obtained by contacting Jack Hall at 503 545 3982.  You may also wish to visit Renaissance Woods online at: http://www.renaissance-homes.com/futureDev.html As always, feel free to give Dianne or me a call as we’d be happy to assist you if you are not already working with a Realtor.

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    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!)

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    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

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

    HappyHappy 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.

    Couple3The 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 SophieTuckerRealtor (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.

    CarrieNationLast, 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

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    Seeing the Christmas Lights

    christmas shipLet’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