PDX Plan

A city is only as good as its last plan. And our last one brought to life some of the very thins we admire most about our city. It laid the groundwork for one of the best transportation infrastructures in the country and enabled us to develop a vibrant central city. That was 1980. And almost 50% of us weren't even here then.

Get involved. This is your chance to help define our priorities, guide our investments and actually set the course for our city. Please join us a t a workshop listed below, or answer some questions online at PDXPland.com

Tues, 11/17 630p to 900p Beaumont Middle School, 4043 NE Fremont St
Thur, 11/19 630p to 900p David Douglas High School, 1001 SE 135th Ave
Tues, 12/1 630p to 900p St Johns Community Center, 8427 N Central St
Thur, 12/3 800a to 930a World Trade Center, 121 SW Salmon St
Sat, 12/5 1000a to 1230p Mt Scott Community Center, 5530 SE 72nd Ave
Mon, 12/7 630p to 900p Wilson High School, 1151 SW Vermont St
Tues, 12/15 630p to 900p University of Oregon - Old Town, 70 NW Couch St

or visit
www.pdxplan.com
Twitter: @pdxplan, #pdxplan
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pdxplan

(Info Source: The City of Portland, mailer & www.pdxplan.com)

Tax Credit: Extend & Expand

Tax Credits Provide Outstanding Opportunities for Home Buyers
The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 has extended the tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence. It also authorized a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified repeat home buyers.

Frequently asked questions about the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit.

Frequently asked questions about the $6,500 tax credit for repeat home buyers.

You can continue to stay informed of future home buyer information by joining us on the following social media sites.

(Info Sorce: http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/)

Open House Sunday 8 November 1p - 4p

The curtains make my backyard look big

I just read this interesting artical by Mike Swain at Science, Health & the Enviroment.
It makes me wonder what my house would say.


House that twitters is home of the future

By Mike Swain on Sep 8, 09 04:52 PM in Environment


Scientist Dr Andy Stanford-Clark reckons he has cut his electric bills by a third by wirelessing up his house to Twitter.
He has "twenty to thirty" sensors dotted around his 16th century thatched cottage on the Isle of Wight telling him all kinds of information such as if he's left the lights on or a window open.
He has linked the system onto Twitter which can send him messages about how much water he is using or when he has used £5 of electricity
He even has a globe which glows red, amber or green depending on how much energy he's using so if it is glowing red when he goes to bed he knows he's left something on.

Read more at:
http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/science/2009/09/house-that-twitters-is-home-of.html

SE Uplift Photo Contest

SE Uplift Photo Contest
Southeast Uplift is looking for your best shot - pictures of the people and places that make our communities hum.

Here’s what you need to know.

The contest is open to anyone who lives, works or visits places within the SE Uplift Coalition boundaries.
Photos must be taken within the SE Uplift Coaltion boundaries and relate to the neighborhood.
Photos must be the original works of the entrant.
Winners will be printed, framed and displayed permanently at SE Uplift.
Visit contest rules for complete details.

See story at: http://www.southeastuplift.org/whats_happening/news

Contest Rules: http://www.southeastuplift.org/content/contest_rules

Boundaries:
http://www.southeastuplift.org/our_neighborhoods


Good Luck!

New Listing - University Park Custom Home

OK So it's not Portland but.... This guy could fit right in.

Now and again I run across something so fun or funny I just want to share it.
Here's one I found on Twitter.

Seems Justin is living with his 73-year-old dad and tweets things his dad says.
Warning on the language but, fun all the same.

I've enjoyed what he has to say so far and look forward to hearing what's said next.

Enjoy

http://twitter.com/shitmydadsays

First-Time Buyer Tax Credit Expires Nov 30th, For Now....

For the most part I think buyers should keep in mind the extension has NOT passed.

If you are looking to take advantage of the tax credit, just plan on closing before November 30th.

____________________

Source: Washington Post Writers Group, Kenneth R. Harney (08/22/2009)

First-Time Buyer Tax Credit Extension Possible Bills to extend the maximum $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers, which expires Nov. 30, are pending in both the U.S. House and the Senate.

Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat and chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, is co-sponsor of a bill with Georgia Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson that would raise the credit amount to a maximum of $15,000.

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid of Nevada favors an extension of the current credit.

He was quoted by the Las Vegas Sun saying, "It's something we can get done."

Odds are that the credit will be extended and broadened to cover all buyers next year, but the chances of the amount increasing aren’t as good, observers say.

New Truth in Lending Rules Start 30 July 2009

If your buying a home or selling for that matter.
You should be aware of the new Truth in Lending Rules that start at the end of July
(Click on the title link to read the full 17 page section of the Federal Register)

Realtor.org published the follow:
NOTE: Remember these rules only apply to loan applications filed on or after July 30,2009. There is some talk that the closing of a home will be affected by the new rules. Really only time will tell but, I can't imagine closings getting any more delayed then they are right now with the HVCC rules on appraisals.



Revised TILA Disclosure Requirements Take Effect on July 30, 2009
Lenders will be subject to new disclosure requirements for mortgage loans under the
Federal Reserve Board Truth in Lending Regulation (Reg Z).
The new requirements apply to loan applications filed on or after July 30, 2009 (about two
months earlier than originally planned).
The new rules are complex and compliance will be a challenge for lenders.
REALTORS® will want to learn the basics so they can advise clients of potential delays and
the new procedures. Here are key highlights of the changes:
• The new requirements apply to all mortgages secured by a borrower’s home, including
primary and second homes and refinancings. Investor loans continue to be exempt.
• Lenders must give good faith estimates of mortgage loan costs within 3 business days
after the consumer applies for a loan (early disclosure). The lender may not collect any
fees before the disclosure is provided, except for a reasonable fee for obtaining a credit
report.
• The closing may not take place until expiration of a 7 day waiting period after the
consumer receives the early disclosure.
• Consumers may shorten or waive the 3‐day and/or 7‐day waiting periods for a “bona
fide personal financial emergency,” but only after receiving an accurate TILA disclosure.
In the final rule’s preamble, the Fed stated that it “believes waivers should not be used
routinely to expedite consummation for reasons of convenience.” The Fed decided not
to insulate lenders from liability even where a consumer modifies or waives the waiting
periods.
• If the annual percentage rate (APR) changes by more than 0.125 percent, the lender
must provide a corrected disclosure to the borrower and wait an additional 3 business
days before closing the loan. The APR includes not only the interest rate on the loan but
certain other costs related to settlement, so it will be important for any fees that affect
the APR to be as accurate as possible, as early as possible, to minimize the need for a
corrected TILA disclosure. - Realtor.org (http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/files/RegZ.pdf/$FILE/RegZ.pdf)

Movies in the Park

Summer is by far the best time to be in Portland. There are so many things happening it's hard to keep up. The Portland Park Department has already started the Movies in the Park series for this summer. But it's not too late to enjoy a free movie under the stars. And there are some good one's coming up. Enjoy at your local park or get to know a new park close by. (click on the link for a Full Events Calendar)

DATE MOVIE / PARK

SAT July 18

Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3D

Dickinson Park

WED July 22

Hairspray

McCoy Park

THU July 23

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Holly Farm Park

FRI July 24

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Brentwood Park

SAT July 25

Dirty Dancing

Colonel Summers Park

MON July 27

Singin’ in the Rain

Laurelhurst Park

WED July 29

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (in Spanish, subtitled in English)

Fernhill Park

THU July 30

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (subtitled for those with hearing disabilities)

Argay Park

FRI July 31

Zathura: A Space Adventure

Cathedral Park

FRI July 31

Kung Fu Panda

Kenilworth Park

SAT Aug 1

Shrek

Earl Boyles Park

SUN Aug 2

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Sellwood Park

TUE Aug 4

Charlotte’s Web

Glenfair Park

THU Aug 6

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Brooklyn Park

FRI Aug 7

Hairspray

Willamette Park

FRI Aug 7

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Multnomah Arts Center

SAT Aug 8

Coraline

Dickinson Park

MON Aug 10

Casablanca

Laurelhurst Park

THU Aug 13

Hotel for Dogs

Grant Park

FRI Aug 14

The Wizard of Oz

Laurelhurst Park

FRI Aug 14

The Tale of Despereaux

St Johns Park

SAT Aug 15

School of Rock

Sewallcrest Park

SAT Aug 15

Iron Man

Lents Park

WED Aug 19

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

McCoy Park

THU Aug 20

High School Music 3: Senior Year (subtitled for those with hearing disabilities)
Parklane Park

FRI Aug 21

Iron Man

Irving Park

SAT Aug 22

Blue Hawaii (Salute to Elvis)

Washington Park

WED Aug 26

The Longshots

Peninsula Park

WED Aug 26

One Night in Frogtown

Sellwood Park

THU Aug 27

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Hazeltine Park

FRI Aug 28

Mamma Mia! (Sing Along)

Washington Park

SAT Aug 29

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Laurelhurst Park

TUE Sept 1

Casablanca

DeNorval Unthank Park

FRI Sept 11

The Neverending Story

Multnomah Arts Center

Warm Fuzzies

I ran across these wonderful creations and LOVE them!
Yes it's knit, Yes it's gloves, wraps & scarves. Yes it's hot here right now but it never stays this way. She's local and her stuff is so cute I just had to share.


Did I mention the hand bags...I've gotta make room in my closet!




How about a sale "Christmas In July"?
Check it out, be fun and fashionable!


Cofygirl
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=100719

Farmers' Markets

Farmers' Market's I Love them, here are a few in the area you should check out.


Hollywood Farmers’ Market
NE Hancock /44th & 45th
May - Oct
Sat: 8am - 1pm

Interstate Farmers’ Market
Overlook Pk N Fremont/Interstate
Mid May - Sept
Wed: 3pm - 7pm


Lents Farmers’ Market
SE 92nd & SE Foster Rd
Mid June - Mid Oct
Sun: 9am - 2pm


Lloyd Farmers’ Market
NE Holladay St /7th & 9th
June - Sept
Tue: 10am - 2pm


Montavilla Farmers’ Market
7600 block SE Stark St
June - Early Oct
Sun: 10am - 2pm


Moreland Farmers’ Market
SE Bybee & 14th St
Mid May - Sept
Wed: 3:30pm - 7:30pm


Parkrose Farmers’ Market
NE 122nd & Shaver St
May - Oct
Sat: 8am - 2pm


People’s Farmers’ Market
3029 SE 21st Ave
Year-round market
Wed: 2pm - 7pm


Portland Eastbank Market
SE 20th & Salmon
Mid May - Sept
Thurs: 3:30pm - 7:30pm


Portland Farmers’ Market
South Park Blocks
Apr - Oct
Sat: 8:30am - 2pm


PDX Farmers’ Market Downtown
SW Salmon & Park
May - Oct
Wed: 10am - 2pm


PDX Farmers’ Market EcoTrust
NW 10th / Irving & Johnson
June - Sept
Thurs: 3:30pm - 7:30pm


Milwaukie Sunday Market
SE Main across from City Hall
Mid May - Oct
Sun: 9:30am - 2pm

Clackamas/Sunnyside Grange
132nd SE Sunnyside Rd
April - Oct
Sun: 11:30am - 3:30pm


Oregon City Farmers’ Market
2051 Kaen Rd at Beavercreek Rd
May - Oct
Sat: 9am - 2pm


Estacada Farmers’ Market
3rd & Broadway
May - Oct
Sat: 9am - 3pm
Fairview Farmers’ & Artists Mkt
Fairview City Hall 1300 Village St
April - Oct
Thurs: 4pm - 8pm


Gresham Farmers’ Market
Miller St between 2nd & 3rd
May - Oct
Sat: 8:30am - 2pm


Canby Saturday Market
1st Ave at Holly Street
Mid May - Mid Oct
Sat: 9am - 1pm


Boring Farmers’ Market
Boring Station/Trailhead Park
June - Early Sept
Sun: 10am - 3pm


Beaverton Farmers’ Market
Hall Blvd between 3rd & 5th Sts
Mid May - October
Sat 8am - 1:30pm


Beaverton Wed Farmers’ Market
Hall Blvd between 3rd & 5th Sts
Mid June - August
Wed 3pm - 6pm


Cedar Mills/Sunset Farmers’ Market
NW Cornell, 1 Blk W of Murray
End of May - Mid Oct
Sat 8am - 1pm


Forest Grove/Adelante Mujeres
21st Ave between College & Main
Mid May - Mid Oct
Wed 4pm - 8pm


Hillsboro Farmers’ Market
Courthouse Sq, 2nd & East Main
May - December
Sat 8am - 1:30pm


Hillsboro Tue Marketplace
Main St, 1st to 3rd Ave
Mid June - August
Tues 5pm - 8:30pm


Hillsboro Market @ Orenco Station
61st & Cornell Rd
May - Oct
Sun 10am - 2pm


Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market
Millennium Park, 1st & Evergreen
Mid May - Mid Oct
Sat 8:30am - 1:30pm
Hillsdale Farmers’ Market
SW Sunset Rd & Capital Hwy
May - Oct
Sun 10am - 2pm

Zoo Tunes

Thought this Zoo Concert info was good.
I'm thinking the Tears for Fears would be a good one to go to with some friends.



Zoo Tunes Wednesday Concerts
Shows Start at 7:00 p.m. ($10.50 General Admission)
June 17th - Femi Kuti and The Positive Force
June 24th - Sly & Robbie and the Taxi Gang
July 1st - The 234th Army Band
July 8th - TBA
July 15th - Vieux Farka Toure
July 22nd - Riders in the Sky
July 29th - Orchestra Baobab
August 5th - The Wailers
August 12th - Jonatha Brooke
August 19th - Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca
ZOOBEAT Premium Concerts - Shows Start at 7:00 p.m.
June 19th - The B-52s $27
July 11th - Tears for Fears with Wainright $22
July 17th - Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Los Lobos $22
July 24th - Indigo Girls with David Ryan Harris $19
July 31st - Jewel $22.50
August 14th - Joan Baez $22
August 21st - Susan Tedeschi with JJ Gray & Mofro $22
August 28th - Amos Lee $19

Five States That Will Lead US Out of Recession

Wednesday, 3 Jun 2009

Five States That Will Lead US Out of Recession

Posted By:Cindy Perman

Topics:Employment Recession Economy (U.S.) Wall Street
Sectors:Technology

If you’re not prepared to go to Australia to ride out the recovery, great news! A new report shows the five U.S. states poised to lead the nation out of recession.


You might want to get out your hiking boots and trail mix because most of the states are out in the northwest: Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

Those are the states where job growth is expected to sprout first — in the fourth quarter of this year — according to Moody’s Economy.com, which conducted the survey.

Read More Here:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/31086859

Forbes Ranks Portland, 7th of America's Fittest Cities

Health Lists & Rankings
America's Fittest Cities
Rebecca Ruiz, 05.26.09
A new report looks at 30 different measures to determine which cities' residents are healthiest.


In Depth: America's Fittest Cities When it comes to healthy living, Washington, D.C., is seldom mentioned in the same breath as cities like San Francisco, Portland, Ore., and Seattle, all of which are known for their active, health-conscious residents.

But according to a new report, the city of pomp and politics is the healthiest in the nation. In the second annual American Fitness Index (AFI), a publication released by the American College of Sports Medicine, Washington, D.C., edged out Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., Denver, Boston and San Francisco.

Read More Here: http://tiny.cc/6FXA7

HUD Secretary Announces Monetization of Tax Credit at NAR Real Estate Summit

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2009

Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said that the

Federal Housing Administration is going to permit its lenders to allow homeowners to use the $8,000 tax credit as a downpayment.

Donovan’s remarks came in an address to several thousand Realtors® gathered this morning at The Real Estate Summit: Advancing the U.S. Economy, a special daylong session at the Realtors® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo here.

Secretary Donovan said that important changes, which the National Association of Realtors® has been calling for, will help consumers purchase a home. “We all want to enable FHA consumers to access the home buyer tax credit funds when they close on their home loans so that the cash can be used as a downpayment,” Donovan said. According to Donovan, the FHA’s approved lenders will be permitted to “monetize” the tax credit through short-term bridge loans. This will allow eligible home buyers to access the funds immediately at the closing table.


READ THE FULL ARTICAL HERE:
http://tiny.cc/nJ6wP

Classic Craftsman

Buy Local Tip: Guitar Enthusiasts meet your new Love

Some time back I meet a great guy named Jiri Fercak, he’s a carpenter and makes great cabinets.
I loved his work so I had him build some cabinets for me. I’ve referred him to friends and they too love his work.

Now I come to find Jiri embarking on, what I will call a True Calling, Passion Project, Art...
The art of making beautiful guitars. Jiri is an artist and his work is AMAZING.

Here are a few pictures.



His site has a slide show and will be more content over the next few weeks so keep checking in.

I know it’s just a matter of time before I can say “I knew him when”

Best to you Jiri.

http://www.fercak.com

Portland how I love thee

So I was recently ask to send a postcard to one of my cousins for a school project. The postcard was to be from family members, it should be from the city they live in and if they could include a note about the city, weather or things they like about their city.
I was able to find a great locale artist (www.redbatpress.com) that made postcards of the all the bridges, one of my favorite things about Portland.
Here's what I added to the back before mailing it off. I had a great time helping with this project, Thank you Michael....

PORTLAND:
Parks, largest urban park in U.S.
Ozone-friendly, recycling and alternative energy leader
Rivers and Bridges, 10 bridges over the rivers
Transportation, best mass transit system and only platinum rated bicycling city in U.S.
Leafy, trees, trees everywhere!
Affable, friendly and outgoing people
Novel, as in it's a unique place -and- we are voracious readers :)
Dining, world class cuisine and renowned local beverages (I wanted to put beer, wine and coffee, but this is an elementary school project)


Tell me what city you live in and what you like about it.

ZIP Codes Where Housing Sales Are Increasing

Housing sales are improving significantly in key ZIP codes around the country where prices have moderated, according to information compiled for BusinessWeek.com by First American CoreLogic.

ZIP codes in California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada dominated the list, but there were also ZIP codes on the top 25 most-improved sales list from the suburbs around Detroit and Minneapolis and in the metro areas of Atlanta and Chicago.

Inventories are shrinking and prices are stabilizing in several markets, according to the survey. Here are the top 10 ZIP codes with improved home sales:

94533, Fairfield, Calif. (Fresno)
92376, Rialto, Calif. (Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario)
91342, Slymar, Calif. (Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana)
92126, San Diego, Calif.
33914, Cape Coral, Fla. (Fort Meyers)
93065, Simi Valley, Calif. (Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura)
95123, San Jose, Calif.
85379, Surprise, Ariz. (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale)
93722, Fresno, Calif. (Madera)
95624, Elks Grove, Calif. (Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville)

Source: BusinessWeek.com, Prashant Gopal (03/05/2009)

Tax credit made easy

I recently found a flyer that was put out by the Illinois Association of Realtors.
It laid out tax credit in an easy to understand fashion, with bullett points.
Here's how it read:


The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 features an $8,000 tax credit for first-time
buyers who purchase a home on or after Jan. 1, 2009
and before Dec. 1, 2009.

Details of the tax credit include:

* The temporary credit is only available for
home purchases made from Jan. 1, 2009 to before
Dec. 1, 2009 and is equal to 10 percent of
the cost of the home, up to a maximum credit
of $8,000. (For example, a home purchased for
$80,000 or more would qualify for the full $8,000
credit while a $70,000 home would only qualify
for 10 percent, or $7,000)

*Buyers claim the credit on their federal tax return
to reduce their tax liability. If the credit is
more than their total tax liability that year, the
buyer will get a refund check for the balance.

*Only first-time homebuyers can take advantage
of the tax credit. A first-time buyer is defined
under the tax credit as an individual who has
not owned a home in the last three years.
For married joint filers, both must
meet the first-time
homebuyer test
to take the credit
on a joint return.

*Eligible properties include anything that will be
used as a principal single-family residence—including
condos and townhouses.

*There are income guidelines on the credit. Individuals
with an adjusted gross income up to
$75,000 (or $150,000 if filing jointly) are eligible
for the full tax credit. The credit is phased
down for those earning more and is not available
for those with an income above $95,000
(or $170,000 if filing jointly).

*The new tax credit does not have to be repaid
if the buyer stays in the home at least three
years. But if the home is sold before that, the
entire amount of the credit is recaptured on
the sale.

*People who purchased homes under the 2008
$7,500 tax credit program will still be required
to repay that credit to the government over a
15-year period.

Consult with your tax advisor to learn more about the tax credit

Just Listed - 4131 SE Grant St, Portland OR

Just Listed - 1814 NE 19th Gresham OR - $113,900

Why we LOVE Portland

So I found some old 'Best of' I thought were nice to see.
I did a quick check and added a few new ones.
Feel free to add any you know of, I'm sure there are so much more.
How can you not LOVE Portland.
________________________________________________________________________________

* Most Courteous Drivers in the Country., Auto-Vantage, Norwalk, Conn
* #1 Bike Commuting city in the Country., U.S.Census Bureau, 2005 commuting data
* #1 City for Sustainability., SustainLane 2006 & 2008 US City Rankings
* Best City for Seniors., Sperling's Best Places
* Best Eating Destination., 2007 Food Network Awards
* #1 City for Walking., About.com: Walking, 2006 #4 in 2005
* #1 City for Innovation., SustainLane, 2006 tied with Sacramento and Seattle, 2008 tied
* #1 City for Energy/Climate Change Policy., SustainLane 2006 & 2008 tied with San Francisco and Seattle
* #1 "Green" Economy City., SustainLane, 2006 & 2008
* #2 "Green" (LEED Certified Buildings) city in America., SustainLane 2006 & 2008 US City Rankings
* #2 City for Tap Water Quality., SusainLane 2006 & 2008
* #1 City for Knowledge Base., SustainLane 2006 & 2008, tied.
* #2 Fiscally Fit City (citizens' financial fitness)., Sperling's Best Places
* Best Domestic Airport., Conde Nast Business Travel Awards, 2006
* #4 Most Liveable City in the Country., Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2007
* In the Top 10 Most Literate cities in the Country., Study by Dr. John W.Miller, Central Connecticut State University
* Most bike-friendly major city in the U.S., League of American Bicyclists
* #1 Access to the Outdoors., Travel&Leisure
* Best Place to have a baby., FitPregancy 2008, #4 in 2007
* Greenest city in the USA., Popular Science 2008
* #4 Best Housing Market in the US., Forbes 2009

Welcome

Hello to you.
I will tell you I'm not much of a 'wordsmith'.
I'm much more of a reader.
I will from time to time key in on real estate information I think you should know or about a 'great find' or fun fact about the city I love, Portland.
But for the most part I will post Real Estate related articles and facts that I find helpful. I of course will tell you were I found it. Feel free to ask questions or post comments. I'd love to hear from you.
Oh, Please the Golden Rule a good one, let's stick to it here.

If you already know what a great city Portland is drop me a note on your favorite part of the life here. If you have yet to find out, let me have the pleasure of introducing you.

Let the Blog-venture begin!
Elena