SE Uplift and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement Small Grants Program

It’s that time of year again when SE Uplift and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement take applications for the Neighborhood Small Grants program, which in it’s 6^th year. Here’s more from SE Uplift:

“SE Uplift will be awarding $46,058 in grant funds to neighborhood, business and community-based groups.  Grants will be awarded through a competitive basis and may range from $1,000-$7,500.

The goal of the grant program is to provide neighborhood and community organizations the opportunity to build community, attract new and diverse members and sustain those already involved.  We accomplish this through building partnerships between neighborhood, business, and community based organizations.  Engagement of historically under-engaged communities is a high priority for this grant program.

This year applicants are required to have an organizational partner on proposed projects.  Preference will be given to proposals submitted on behalf of or in direct partnership with one or more of the following:

• Neighborhood associations  
• Organizations predominantly led by people from historically under-engaged communities including communities of color, immigrants and refugees, youth, people with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bi and trans communities
• Business associations or individual businesses   

For more information about SE Uplift's 2012 Neighborhood Small Grants Program or to  download the grant application, visit our website.

For more information, questions or feedback on your project idea, please contact  Kristen 503-232-0010 x 319.”

Application Deadline:

Tuesday, November 1 by 2:00PM

Energy Star 2011 Welcome Home Sweepstakes

NW Energy Star Homes is holding a "Welcome Home" $25,000 sweepstakes through September. The $25,000 winner could use the money as a down payment or to purchase a new home (whether it's an Energy Star home or not).

Simply:
1) Find a Home
2) Take a Tour
3) Tell NW Energy Star What You Think

Contat us to find a participating home in your area

Escrow Tips: Tax Holdbacks

We have moved into the season of Tax Holdbacks. 
Preparing your clients for this additional financial responsibility is another way to help your transaction flow quickly and smoothly.  During the period of September 1^st through October 15^th, your buyer/borrower’s lender, in most cases, will require a Tax Holdback for the estimated payment of the 2011-12 county property taxes.  This estimated amount quite often is 115% of the previous year’s tax amount.
Also during this time, pro-rations of the property taxes will be a debit to the seller and a credit to the buyer.  The prorated tax value will be based on last year’s tax amount as the New Year’s tax amount is not yet available, unless the sales agreement instructs for a different figure to be used.

It’s a good idea to confirm with your seller that once the tax roll is certified (around October 15^th), any taxes due for the remainder of the year will be charged to the Seller to clear the lien of taxes.  Your seller will receive a credit for the buyer’s pro-rated share.  To clarify, prior to the certification of the tax roll, the taxes are “a lien, not yet payable”.  Once the tax roll turns, they become a lien on the title to property.  Additionally, if your seller has an escrow account for property taxes/ insurance, they will get a refund from their lender about three weeks after closing; it is not a credit at the closing table.  They should contact their lender for the specific information on how the funds will be returned.

 
Time of closing is critical when dealing with tax prorates between the buyer and seller.  When in doubt, ask questions.  We’re on your team and here to help.

Escrow Tips Courtesy of Theresa Marshall, Senior Escrow Office at Lawyers Title.  With over 15 years experience Theresa is a great resource for your Title & Escrow needs.

Movies in the Park(s)

One of the many great things about summers in Portland are all the great free events put on by the park department. Here's a list of movies in the park for the rest of the season.  If you can try and see one or more, Pre-movie entertainment starts at 630p and the movies start at dark.
Enjoy!

Thu, July 28 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off DeWitt Park

Fri, July 29 The King’s Speech Laurelhurst Park

Sat, July 30 Free Willy Holly Farm Park

Sun, July 31 The Goonies Sellwood Park

Tue, Aug 2 Tangled Glenfair Park

Tue, Aug 2 Megamind Earl Boyles Park

Wed, Aug 3 Iron Man 2 Wellington Park

Thu, Aug 4 Despicable Me Mt Scott Park

Fri, Aug 5 Wall-E Alberta Park

Sat, Aug 6 How to Train Your Dragon King School Park

Sun, Aug 7 Yogi Bear Sellwood Park

Wed, Aug 10 Secretariat Wilkes Park

Thu, Aug 11 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Elizabeth Caruthers Park

Fri, Aug 12 Gamara vs Guiron (live dialogue & music) Sewallcrest Park

Sat, Aug 13 James and the Giant Peach Dickinson Park

Sun, Aug 14 Tangled* Hazeltine Park

Wed, Aug 17 Back to the Future Colonel Summers Park

Thu, Aug 18 Toy Story 3* Woodstock Park

Fri, Aug 19 Rango Irving Park

Sat, Aug 20 How to Train Your Dragon Warner Pacific College

Sun, Aug 21 Iron Man 2 Lents Park

Wed, Aug 24 The Sorceror’s Apprentice Unthank Park

Thu, Aug 25 The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Parklane Park

Fri, Aug 26 Megamind* St Johns Park

Sat, Aug 27 The Social Network Laurelhurst Park

Sun, Aug 28 How to Train Your Dragon Argay Park

Thu, Sept 1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Columbia Park

Fri, Sept 2 Roman Holiday* Director Park

Sat, Sept 3 Gulliver’s Travels (2010) Wallace Park

Thu, Sept 8 North by Northwest Elizabeth Caruthers Park

Sat, Sept 10 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang April Hill Park

Looking a the Silver Lining, Not the Cloud

Housing market's silver lining - Jun. 21, 2011

I thought this article from CNN Money was a good read if you're interested in what's going to happen with the real estate market. It makes the point that the tough housing market isn't all bad. It's great for first time buyers and makes homes more affordable even for those who are not buying their first home, but want to move up or buy investment property.

Foundation Crack

The most interesting and thought provoking point, for me, was that this market creates a foundation for a housing recovery in the future. Of course! It makes so much sense! We were not on solid footing before, but we're getting there now. How did I not see it before!? Oh, wait... It wasn't just me. Few saw it before and those people weren't believed.

Many people still can and should seize the opportunity to take advantage of the affordable market. Call Amy or Elena at Rose City Realtors if you'd like to see what you might afford in Portland today.

- Amy Seaholt, Broker in Oregon, CDPE
503-936-8705

Expect more Micro Houses around Portland

The nation's population is predicted to grow by 150 million in the next 40 years, we can expect at least a few of those people to be here in Portland. To poorly paraphrase Mark Twain: they're not making more land. Instead we must learn to live on it more efficiently (read: tiny footprint), as described in this Realtor Magazine article.

Micro homes are tiny homes - from 100 to 800 square feet - with efficient floor plans and a very small greenhouse footprint. D.R. Horton has begun development of the first micro home community in Southeast Portland at 43rd and Division. Consistent with the idea of an efficient mixed use community, the neighborhood is walkable, centrally located, and cleverly developed.

Toronto's Tiny Home

Though this photo of a Toronto home made it's way around the internet and email lists as the target of jokes recently, the home is real and it meets a real need. These homes are targeted toward first time buyers or single-person households. Considering that married couples no longer make up the majority of homeowners in the U.S., the move to creating a smaller housing base makes sense. 

You can read more about these tiny houses and see other options besides those provided by D.R. Horton here.

If you or anyone you know is interested in exploring these micro homes - or bigger houses - give Amy or Elena at Rose City Realtors a call and we can help you with your home search.

- Amy Seaholt  503-936-8705