Comcast Offering Free Basic Cable and Installation in Eugene!

Today I was presently surprised. Surprised by the fact that because I already had high speed internet with Comcast, we were able to get free basic cable and without having to pay for any instillation. It’s wonderful when life surprises you! So for all those folks who might have Comcast internet, but not cable and don’t want to have go buy a digital converter…now’s your chance!

Contact Pat McBride was the Comcast rep that did the install and he can be contacted at 541-501-1086 m-Sat 10am-6pm He also does free transfers if you move!

Spring Weather Means Hiking the Ridgeline Trail

Ridgeline Trail In and Around Eugene

The14-mile trail meanders through over 1000 acres of diverse natural habitats straddling the southern edge of Eugene, Oregon.
Designated as a National Recreation Trail in 2006

This 14-mile urban trail/bikeway provides an extensive opportunity for recreation and nature appreciation just a few miles from downtown Eugene and features Spencer Butte, the highest and most prominent landmark at the southern end of the Willamette Valley. Access to the trail is easily found in many of the surrounding residential neighborhoods of south Eugene.

	The view from the trail over the Willamette Valley

The trail provides an extensive opportunity for recreation and nature appreciation just a few miles from downtown and within walking distance of thousands of residents.

The Ridgeline Trail, especially the challenging spur which climbs to the top of Spencer Butte, is one of the most popular trails in the metropolitan area. Spencer Butte, elevation 2054 feet, is the highest and most prominent landmark at the southern end of the Willamette Valley.

The trail and surrounding park have had broad public support ever since their origin in a 1939 grass-roots campaign which collected contributions no larger than $5 in order to let everyone “buy a piece” of the butte.

The Ridgeline Trail near Eugene, Oregon

Since 1939, the City has continued to actively purchase adjacent lands and extend the trail, towards completing a vision of a twenty mile long wildlife, scenic, and recreational corridor connecting Fern Ridge Reservoir in the east to the Willamette River, and Mt. Pisgah in the west.

The City has partnered with a wide variety of organizations and agencies to help build and maintain the trail, manage the habitats, and acquire additional adjacent lands, including, Federal, State, and Local governments, conservation organizations, citizen groups, and educational institutions.

Hikers along the trail pass through a great diversity of habitats including: Old growth Douglas fir forest,globally imperiled upland prairie and Oregon white oak savanna, California black oak, ponderosa alpine woodlands, iIncense cedar, grand fir, bigleaf maple, black cottonwood, Oregon Ash, and abundant native shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses.

	Youth crews provide help with trail maintenance

The top of Spencer Butte is a regionally unique rocky bald with rare lichen and bryophyte populations and affords outstanding views to the surrounding city, countryside, and distant mountain ranges. The trail includes several boardwalks and bridges and is a wonderful resource for bird and wildlife watchers. Portions of the trail are open to mountain bikers.

For more information:

City of Eugene, Parks and Open Space
1820 Roosevelt Blvd.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4800
http://www.eugene-or.gov

Quoted from National Recreational Trails

http://www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/trailNRT/Ridgeline-OR.html

Click Map to enlarge

The Top 7 Reasons to Get Pre-Approved For a Home Loan

There are many steps that are required when purchasing a new home. The most important step is to be pre-approved for a home loan prior to looking for a house.

Now, keep in mind that a pre-approval is very different than a pre-qualification. A pre-qualification is given when the lender talks with you (usually over the telephone) and takes the information that you tell them and qualifies you off of your word without collecting any documentation from you.

The pre-approval process is a little more complete. In this process, the lender will ask you to complete a loan application and return it to them with all the documentation needed to submit to the lender for an approval. These items would include tax returns or W-2’s, paystubs, bank statements, etc. Once the lender received this information, they would run a credit report and submit the loan for approval. When the lender receives the approval, they will write you a pre-approval letter stating the purchase price and interest rate that you qualify for on a new home loan. This letter is then given to the seller at the time an offer is presented to show them that you have your financing in place.

Here are the top 7 reasons why you should get pre-approved for a home loan:

1. A pre-approval will tell you how much you qualify for on a new home loan. This helps you and your realtor to look for a property that is not above the amount that you can afford.

2. A pre-approval gives you the chance to go over the different loan programs available to you with your lender. You will also be able to see what the monthly payment will be on each program.

3. In today’s market it takes time to get a loan approved. Getting a pre-approval puts you ahead of the game by sending all of your paperwork in before you get into escrow. By having a pre-approval, you may be able to shorten the escrow period needed to close a loan. This can make a big difference to a seller that is looking to close as soon as possible.

4. Some real estate agents will not start the process of searching for homes until you have a pre-approval.

5. If by chance you do not qualify for a home loan at the time of the pre-approval, your lender can guide you in the right direction to prepare you to purchase in the near future. Sometimes there are items on the credit report that can be paid off or disputed to help you to qualify. Without sitting down with a lender, you would not have known about these issues until you are in escrow, which would either delay the close of escrow or cause the property to fall out of escrow.

6. You will learn about the lenders guidelines on locking in an interest rate. When can you lock your loan and for how long.

7. You will be able to relax and know that you have your financing in place when you find the right home for you.

The pre-approval process may sound like you are putting the cart before the horse, but in reality it is ensuring that you are buying within your means and gives you the opportunity to understand the different loan options available to you.

Quoting Patricia Barmatz from

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Top-7-Reasons-to-Get-Pre-Approved-For-a-Home-Loan&id=1980688

5 Reasons Why You Should Buy Your First Home in 2009

Quoting Kurt Novak

Save the Pets Does Well in Eugene

ABOUT SAVE THE PETS

Save the Pets is a non-profit 501(c) (3). Their goal is to help eliminate the pet overpopulation problem by increasing adoption rates in our community and educating people on the importance of spaying and neutering their pets. They help local shelters and rescue groups by creating a venue to showcase their animals that are available for adoption.  They have proven that off-site adoption events are successful which inspires them to move forward with their goal of opening an animal adoption center. Save the Pets is run solely by volunteers who advocate for the rights of animals to be treated with the respect and kindness they deserve.  To date Save the Pets has helped to place over 300 animals into loving home since thier conception in April 2007.

FUTURE PLANS

Eventually Save the Pets plans on launching a capital campaign to open a conveniently located animal adoption center for animals to be viewed 7 days a week by potential adopters.

Save the Pets believes that a center would improve adoption rates because of the convenience and friendly environment they envision.  It would also serve as a rehabilitation center for animals who have never been inside a home or for some that are terrified from past experiences or their time confined in a cage.

Save the Pets feels that creating a safe environment for the animals would allow them to thrive and, in some cases, regain their loss of trust. The center would constitute a home-like atmosphere where cats are free to roam, perch or enjoy sunning themselves in a cozy bed, and where dogs can lounge on a comfy couch, take a walk around the community or go home in the evening with a volunteer or staff member for a “doggy sleepover”.

There are thousands of homeless animals in Lane County alone and many end up in shelters or have a worse fate on the streets fending for themselves.  Some are euthanized simply due to lack of space.  This is no fault of the shelters or rescue groups who dedicate their lives to saving animals.  Save the Pets wants to alleviate some of the burden placed on these groups and unite for the greater good of the animals.

Referenced from Save the Pets

To learn more, click here: http://www.savethepets.net

Autzen Stadium History: Home of the Ducks

History

Prior to 1967, the Ducks played on Hayward Field. Recognizing that the football team had outgrown that facility, Oregon athletic director Leo Harriss led a campaign to build a new stadium on 90 acres (360,000 m²) that he had acquired for the purpose in the 1950s.

The stadium, designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill was built within an artificial crater to eliminate the need for multilevel ramps. As a result, construction took just nine months and cost approximately $2.5 million. $250,000 was contributed by the Autzen Foundation, headed by Portland lumberman Thomas Autzen, for whom the stadium was named. Thomas J. Autzen is actually an alumnus of Oregon State University. His donation to the University of Oregon is linked to his son’s attendance at the school during the late 1930s and early 1940s.

The first game played at Autzen Stadium was on September 23, 1967 in which Colorado defeated Oregon, 17–13. Oregon’s first win in the stadium occurred on October 21, when Idaho was defeated 31–6. That was the only victory for Oregon at Autzen Stadium that year.

The stadium alternates with Reser Stadium atOregon State University in hosting the Civil War Game between Oregon and Oregon State.

Renovations

The old press box on the northern side of Autzen Stadium was converted to luxury suites as part of a 1988 renovation

In 1988, a $2.3 million renovation built a new press box on the south side of the stadium and converted the original north side press box to luxury suites. The renovation was designed by architecture firm Ellber Becket.

In 1995, the field was named Rich Brooks Field. Brooks, currently the head coach at Kentucky, coached the Ducks from 1977-94, and led the Ducks to their first outright Pac-10 title in school history in 1994.

In 2002, a $90 million facelift and expansion added seating and luxury boxes to the south sideline, bringing capacity up to its current size.

In 2007, the large yellow “O” was added onto the South end of the stadium exterior when ESPN’s College Gameday was on location. That season, The Gameday crew held 2 Saturday shows from Eugene, the first time the show has ever broadcast from the same school twice in one season.

In 2008, a new, 33-by-85-foot high-definition LED scoreboard and replay screen — known as DuckVision– was installed; it replaced the original video screen installed prior to the 1998-1999 football season. It is the largest video screen in the Pac-10.

Reference from wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autzen_Stadium

What Are the Advantages of Using a Buyer’s Agent?

Before selecting a real estate agent ask all the agents you interview these questions:

• Do you spend 100% of your time assisting Buyers?
• Will you guarantee me that you will not be representing any seller at any time while you are working for me?
• Do you, or the company you are with, ever list properties for sale?
• Will you point out all the negative aspects of each property as well as all the positive aspects so I will be fully informed when making my decision?
• Will you provide information on comparable sales and help me formulate an offering price and negotiating strategy?
• Do you have a list of lenders, home inspectors, insurance agents and other professionals that you recommend?
• Will you tell me everything you can find out about the seller and their reasons for selling?
• Will you show me all the homes on the market that meet my needs, including For Sale By Owner properties, foreclosures, and other properties?
• Will you guarantee that any information I give you will be kept confidential?
• Will you guarantee me your undivided loyalty?
• Will you guarantee me you will not try to change your relationship with me to “dual agency”, “designated agent”, transactional agent”, or any other form of agency that offers reduced levels of service?
• Can you guarantee me 100% loyalty 100% of the time? Only an Exclusive Buyers Agent working in an Exclusive Buyer Agency can answer “Yes!” to ALL of the questions.

In the case of SNIDER v. OKLAHOMA REAL ESTATE COMMISSION, June 1, 1999 the Oklahoma Supreme Court said: “Sellers’ agents and dual agents do not and cannot by law give a buyer the same degree of loyalty as an agent who acts on behalf of a buyer. Sellers’ agents owe their allegiance to the seller. Dual agency invites a conflict of interest. A buyer who relies on the seller’s agent or on dual agency does not receive the same degree of legal protection as that afforded by an agent acting solely on behalf of the buyer”

An Exclusive Buyer’s Agent acts solely on behalf of the Buyer. They work for an office that does not take listings so they never have anything to “sell” you but their specialized knowledge and expertise in assisting home buyers.

Quoting John J. Rygiol

http://www.exclusivebuyersagents.com/snider-oklahoma.htm

$8,000 Tax Credit for First Time Buyers!

There hasn’t been a better time to buy real estate than now! With sales prices where they were at in 1998, motivated sellers and all kinds of inventory, 2009 is shaping up to be a historically phenomenal time to purchase a home. AND just when we thought things couldn’t get better for buyers, they just did. Now first time home buyers(or buyers who haven’t owned a home in the last 3 yrs), will receive a $8,000 tax credit for the 2009 tax season, if they purchase before December 31st.

Here’s a snippet from the CNN/Money article with a link to the full article below:

Final Score: $8,000 for Homebuyers

First-time purchasers get a tax credit windfall if they buy before December.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — There’s a nice windfall for some homebuyers in the economic stimulus bill awaiting President Obama’s signature on Tuesday. First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 – or 10% of the home’s value, whichever is less – on their 2008 or 2009 taxes.

A big plus is that the credit is refundable, meaning tax filers see a refund of the full $8,000 even if their total tax bill – the amount of withholding they paid during the year plus anything extra they had to pony up when they filed their returns – was less than that amount. But there has been a lot of confusion over this provision. Adam Billings of Knoxville , Tenn. wrote to CNNMoney.com asking:

“I will qualify as a first-time home buyer, and I am currently set to get a small tax refund for 2008. Does that mean if I purchased now that I would get an extra $8,000 added on top of my current refund?”

The short answer? Yes, Billings would get back the $8,000 plus what he’d overpaid. The long answer? It depends. Here are three scenarios:

Scenario 1: Your final tax liability is normally $6,000. You’ve had taxes withheld from every paycheck and at the end of the year you’ve paid Uncle Sam $6,000. Since you’ve already paid him all you owe, you get the entire $8,000 tax credit as a refund check.

Scenario 2: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you’ve overpaid by $1,000 through your payroll withholding. Normally you would get a $1,000 refund check. In this scenario, you get $9,000, the $8,000 credit plus the $1,000 you overpaid.

Scenario 3: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you’ve underpaid through your payroll withholding by $1,000. Normally, you would have to write the IRS a $1,000 check. This time, the first $1,000 of the tax credit pays your bill, and you get the remaining $7,000 as a refund.

To qualify for the credit, the purchase must be made between Jan. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009. Buyers may not have owned a home for the past three years to qualify as “first time” buyer. They must also live in the house for at least three years, or they will be obligated to pay back the credit.

Additionally, there are income restrictions: To qualify, buyers must make less than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for couples. (Higher-income buyers may receive a partial credit.)

Applying for the credit will be easy – or at least as easy as doing your income taxes. Just claim it on your return. No other forms or papers have to be filed. Taxpayers who have already completed their returns can file amended returns for 2008 to claim the credit.

This article is quoted from CNN Money

http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/13/real_estate/homebuyer_tax_credit_finalized/index.htm

The Beginning!

Welcome and thank you for visiting us, our first post of our Eugene Real Estate Blog! We are very excited to be joining the blog-o-sphere and add our professional expertise relating to the sights, sounds and happenings of the Eugene community and it’s out lying areas. We ‘re going to be sharing with you, not only our thoughts, tips and predications of the real estate goings on here in Eugene, but also, feature our highlights of what makes Eugene great! We’ll also look at what’s shaping the market and how that affects you. Plus, some of our favorite hot spots, hide outs and hidden gems of the Emerald City! Please be sure to check back often as we will be constantly updating! To see listings, homes, houses for sale, please click on Search All Listings Above.