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 6th 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 Kristen503-232-0010 x 319.

Application Deadline:
Tuesday, November 1 by 2:00PM

Posted in $46, 058, Grant, Money, Office of Neighborhood Involvement, SE Uplift, Small Grant | Comments closed

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

Posted in Energy Star, Real Estate, Sweepstakes | Comments closed

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 1st through October 15th, 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 15th), 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.

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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 8North by Northwest Elizabeth Caruthers Park

 

Sat, Sept 10 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang April Hill Park
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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

Posted in affordable housing, Amy Seaholt, First Time Home Buyers | Comments closed

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

Posted in #portland, Amy Seaholt, Micro Homes, Southeast Portland | Comments closed

To tree or not to tree?

If trees are your thing this holiday season and you still don’t have one.

Try one of these tree farms this weekend

Christmas Tree Farms
Beck’s Christmas trees
16700 S Gerber Rd, Oregon City
503.631.7947
http://www.becksfarms.com/

Batcheller Family Tree Farm
13022 S Spangler Rd, Oregon City
503.784.3000

Bob’z Tree Farm
21579 S Springwater Rd, Estacada
503.663.4505
http://www.bobzgardencenter.com/

Christmas Mountain
25470 NW Dixie Mountain Rd, Scappoose
503.621.3169
http://www.chrismasmountaintrees.com/

Helvetia Christmas Tree Farm
12814 NW Bishop Rd, Hillsboro
503.647.5858
http://www.youcut.com/

Lee Farms
21975 SW 65th Ave, Tualatin
503.638.1869
http://www.leefarmsoregon.com/

Loch Lolly Christmas Forest
28366 NW Dorland Rd, North Plains
503.647.2619
http://www.lochlollychristmasforest.com/

McCann Noble Christmas Trees
20990 SW Jaquith Rd, Newberg
503.312.4694
http://www.mccannnoblechristmastreefarm.com/

Parry’s Tree Farm
45627 NW David Hill Rd, Forest Grove
503.348.9601
http://www.parrysfarm.us/

Plumper Pumpkins Tree Farm
11435 NW Old Cornelius Pass Rd, Portland
503.645.9561
http://www.plumperpumpkins.com/

Quail Creek Ranch
9949 NW Kaiser Rd, Portland
503.629.5464
http://www.qcrxtrees.com/

Sleighbells Christmas Trees
23855 SW 195th Pl, Sherwood
503.625.6052
http://www.sleighbells.biz/

Snowline Tree Farm
39098 S Sawtell Rd, Molalla
503.333.0168
http://www.snowlinetreefarm.com/

Stardig Tree Farm
16665 S Spangler Rd, Beavercreek
503.632.6635
http://www.stardigtreefarm.com/

Tracy’s Tree Farm
21885 S Eaden Rd, Oregon City
503.631.7320
http://www.tracystrees.synthasite.com/

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Snow spots

 

You know it’s Snowonderful, go out and have fun!

Snow & Road Conditions:
http://www.tripcheck.com/
800.977.6368 (ODOT)

Anthony Lakes
http://www.anthonylakes.com/

Cooper Spur
http://www.cooperspur.com/
541.352.7803

Hoodoo Ski Area
http://www.hoodoo.com/
541.272.3206

Mt. Bachelor
http://www.mtbachelor.com/
800.829.2442

Mt. Hood Meadows
http://www.skihood.com/
503.337.2222

Mt. Hood Ski Bowl
http://www.skibowl.com/
503.272.3206

Summit Ski Area
503.272.0256

Timberline Ski Area
http://www.timberlinelodge.com/
503.222.2211

Willamette Pass
http://www.willamettepass.com/
541.345.7669

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October 2010 – Market Action Report

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Neighborhood Small Grants Program


Since 2007, the Office of Neighborhood Involvement and Southeast Uplift have partnered to offer the annual Neighborhood Small Grants Program. The grants program responds to years of input from neighborhood and community leaders for increased direct resources to neighborhood associations and other community-based groups working on local neighborhood projects.
The goal for this annual grant program is to provide neighborhood and community organizations an opportunity to build community, attract new and diverse members and sustain those already involved
Read more about the Grant Program here

Please Attend The Grant Information Session
Interested parties are invited this session to learn more about get feedback about their project ideas. Participation is strongly recommended though not required.
Thurs. Sept 30, 6:30-8:00PM
SE Uplift Neighborhood Coalition
3534 SE Main, two blocks south of Hawthorne.
To RSVP, please contact Kristen at [email protected] or 503-232-0010 x 319

The Deadline to Apply is Monday, November 1, 2010 by 2PM.

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