George's Blog

Super Moon at Dock in Port Orford, OR 97465

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Sun, 06 May 2012 08:29:15 -0700

It was big and beautiful. A close encounter with our own moon. I wish that I had the equipment to get a photo that showed the orange hue of the moon more accurately but this is the best my camera could do. There were 12 - 15 photo and moon enthusiasts at the Port Orford dock to photograph the event and the moon did not disappoint us. Enjoy. George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

Panoramic Ocean Views include migrating grey whale playground

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:16:31 -0800

$329,000 for this exceptional property with enormous potential and one of the "best" views in Port Orford. Two panoramic white water ocean view lots .42 & .5 acres one with an older 2 BR, ! BA home with wood burning fireplace, heat pump, bonus/craft room, and oversized attached carport. Contact listing agent for more details. George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

Chinese New Year - Chinese Zodiac - Panda-monium?

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:30:49 -0800

Chinese New Year begins according to the Chinese calendar which consists of both Gregorian and lunar-solar calendar systems. Because the track of the new moon changes from year to year, Chinese New Year can begin anytime between late January and mid-February. Accordingly, the Chinese New Year is Jan 23, 2012, which their zodiac designates as the year of the Dragon. Interestingly, the chinese zodiac does not use China's most recognizable & most popular animal, the panda, as a sign in the Zodiac. The following 12 animals represent the rotating 12-year cycle that is the basis for the Chinese Zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, & Pig. George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

Gray Whale Watching - Winter Migration

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:52:23 -0800

The annual migration is underway. Trained volunteers will be on duty at Port Orford's Battle Rock Park from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. from Dec 26 through Dec 31 to help visitors see these magnificent whales and provide information about their migration. There have been many more sitings this years than in the years recently past and it is just as exciting as ever. For more information about Oregon State Parks Whale Watch Spoken here program visit their site.George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

Winter Solstice and the silence of the surf

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:03:19 -0800

It was a beautiful day in Port Orford, clear skies, a brisk chill in the air, and a silent surf as the sun directly shown on the Tropic of Capricorn and cast a silvery light on the waters near Battle Rock It was another beautiful winter day at the top of the banana belt on the southern Oregon coast. George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

Salmon Fishing on the Elk River Port Orford, OR

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:29:31 -0800

Dec 16, 2011 - According to the Anglersguide.com salmon fishing season on the Elk River: October through January. The Elk River is 50 miles long with 10 miles of good King Salmon fishing water for late season. The Elk River is a wonderful small stream with more King salmon holding water and holes per mile than any other stream in Oregon. Kings on the Elk River average about 30-pounds, with fish to 50-pounds. World class salmon fishing as enjoyed by the fisherman below. George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

An Attitude of Gratitude ~ Best Friends Animal Society

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:20:16 -0800

Here is Cinnamon our cocker spaniel/poodle mix. She is 12 yrs old now. This gentle loving fur-person was rescued from a high-kill shelter in Sacramento, CA eight years ago. She loves everyone and she is loved by everyone who meets her. It is impossible to count the number of smiles that she has brought to the faces of adults and children that see her and meet her. She rides shotgun in my truck, stands on the seat, crouches over the window rail, and places her head between the door/window frame and the passenger side mirror. When she runs to greet someone all you can see is her ears, fu manchu, paws, and tail flying in all directions at once. Cinnamon has brought a heart full of joy to our lives and we give our thanks and gratitude to members and affiliates of the Best Friends Animal Society. Members of our Curry County Animal shelter, Gerda Ramer and Catherine Powers, just returned from a conference in Utah sponsored by Best Friends Utah on ‘No More Homeless Pets.’ They reported that the founder of Best Friends, Gregory Castle, gave a speech during the closing ceremony in which he expressed his belief that in the year 2014 we will be a no kill nation. Thanks to the dedication and tireless efforts of members of the Best Friends Animal Society, http://www.bestfriends.org/, and other like-minded groups and individuals the number of dogs and cats killed at shelters across the United States has been reduced from 25 million in 1975 to 2.5 million in 2010. In just a few short years with our support, their hard work, and the success of spay and neuter as well as their placement programs dogs and cats will be safe, warm, and happy in the shelters and ultimately in their forever homes. Please help them to help the homeless dogs and cats by volunteering and/or donating at the local non-profit(s) that operate spay and neuter programs and the animal shelter(s).George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

140 Nineteenth St. Port Orford, OR 97465

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:48:45 -0800

$210,000 SOLD! 1689 sf 2 BR, 1 & 1/2 BA Charming remodeled (2007) craftsman style home with end-of-road privacy over looking year-round creek & sheltered from the wind. Enjoy the sounds of the creek & a soak in the hot-tub on private 3 level deck then relax in the warmth of the sunroom or by the wood stove. Main floor MBR with large Bath. Upper BR has 1/2 BA & a bonus room for a nursery, office, or a media room. Hi Speed internet avlbl via DSL, Cable, WiFi, or Sat.Beautiful landscaping w river rock walls, cement patio, & 3 levelDeck U-24'x4', M-24'x15', & L-14'x14'Clean bsmnt w cement flr. Adjacent ~100'x~100' lot with water & sewer is available for $40,000. Lower level deck & east end of sunroom. Main level of deck, hot tub, & cement patio Looking east from upper level of 3 level deck. Sun Room Kitchen Living Room Looking South Living Room looking North Dining Room Master Bedroom on Main Level Master BA on Main Level Upstairs Bedroom facing south End of Road privacy Adjacent 100'x100' vacant lot with water & sewer for $40,000 George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

755 Oregon St. Port Orford, OR 97465

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 10:36:14 -0800

This property if 0ff-the-market at present. http://www.rmls.com #10086126 $178,000 Commercial property on highly visible corner along Oregon St./Hwy 101 in downtown Port Orford. Located within walking distance to beaches, parks, galleries, restaurants, theaters & shopping. This 1203 sf masonary block bldg has been: a service station, beauty shop, insurance office, realty office, jewelry store, & gallery/gift shop. 2 suites & 2 half baths. 4000sf asphalt parking area. Front view from Hwy 101 View from North View from South Suite 1 view 1 Suite 1 view 2 George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

41945 OLD MILL RD. Port Orford, OR 97465

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 07:45:20 -0800

This property is off-the-market at present. Major Price Reduction rmls.com #10023047 $335,000 Enjoy coastal living in a Country Manor with many upgrades including custum rock work, heated tile floor, gas fireplace, spiral stair, decks, patio, firepit,& waterfalls. ~1500 sf guest space w studio, full BA, wet bar, xlg greatroom w open beams & lp fireplace. ~1500 sf shop/4 car gar. Prof hard/landscapes includes river rock walls, water feature with falls, raised gardens, fruit trees, perimeter fence, paved drive & two RV sites. Front View 1 Front view 2 View from the Patio LR rockwall & bench with lp fireplace Master Bedroom Master BA Master BR lounge - office Patio with firepit Guest rooms, garage, & shop Guest kitchen Guest bath with access from guest bedroom and greatroom.George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

SMARTMONEY MAG SMEARS REALTORS - "I WON'T LET TERMITES - OR PESKY INSPECTORS - KILL A DEAL"

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 06:15:36 -0700

SMARTMONEY MAGAZINE article by SmartMoney Magazine Staff Published July 7, 2009 The tone of this article is wrought with shameless self promotion for the magazine and the named sources that are quoted in it. The writer(s) also make reference to quotes from un-named sources in a very unprofessional job of reporting. They are creating a story and their story in untrue "I won't let termites - pesky inspectors - kill a deal - The writer(s) cite Steve VanGrack, former chairman of the Maryland Real Estate Commission for the following statement: "We have had cases where [brokers have] been deceptive about termites and flood damage." Then the writer(s) cite S. Woody Dawson, a structural inspector and owner of Dawson Inspections in Connecticut for the following statements: 1) "One time I had a broker tell me that unless I told her the results of my inspection - which is confidential between myself and my client - she wouldn't let me get up on the roof," 2) "I got out my ladder and told her that unless she was big enough to stop me, I was going up there - she wasn't big enough." The writer(s) summarize by making the following statement: "What you need to worry about , though, are the home's features that he [the broker] keeps to himself." The writer(s) is/are generalizing an indiviual incident and using a broad brush to paint a dark portrait in an overt attempt to defame Real Estate Brokers and their profession. Write to your State and National Association of Realtors.George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

SMARTMONEY MAG SMEARS REALTORS - "SOMETIMES I FORGET WHOSE SIDE I'M ON"

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 06:00:25 -0700

SMARTMONEY MAGAZINE article by SmartMoney Magazine Staff Published July 7, 2009 The tone of this article is wrought with shameless self promotion for the magazine and the named sources that are quoted in it. The writer(s) also make reference to quotes from un-named sources in a very unprofessional job of reporting. They are creating a story and their story in untrue. SOMETIMES I FORGET WHOS SIDE I'M ON - The writer(s) make the following unsubstantiated claim: The past 15 years have seen the proliferation of the buyer broker, agents who are supposed to work strictly in the buyer's interest, helping him get a fair price on a home as well as a avoid pitfalls along the way. Unfortunately things don't always work unfold so nicely. While buyer may think they're getting a boker who isn't commission-hungary, many buyer agents are just that. Then the writer(s) cite Max Gordon, an Overland Park, Kansas - based real estate broker and attorney as the source of the following statement about buyer brokers: "Buyer brokers are sometimes too focused on closing the sale and getting that commission" The writer(s) then add their own unsubstantiated claim: so it's often in their best interest to see you pay as high a price as possible. Then the writer(s) cites Stephen Israel, President of Buyers Edge, in a statement that some brokers who call themselves buyer advocates are actually working for companies that also represent sellers. "Brokerages offer bonuses to buyer agents if they sell an in-house listing. Yellow journalism lives on at SMARTMONEY MAGAGZINE through overt acts to fabricate false claims, sensationalize individual behavior then attribute it to all members of our profession and smear Realtors through unsubstantiated claims, They have clearly demonstrated their disregard for the truth by making unsubstantiated claims and through poor fact checking in an overt attempt to defame Real Estate Brokers in a self-serving attempt to draw on buyers fears. Write to your State and National Association of Realtors.George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

SMARTMONEY MAG SMEARS REALTORS - 'I'M NOT OBLIGATED TO KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT FOR YOU"

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:35:03 -0700

SMARTMONEY MAG SMEARS REALTORS - THINK YOU'VE HAD NO OFFERS?...

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:18:41 -0700

SMARTMONEY MAG SMEARS REALTORS - MY FEES ARE NEGOTIABLE

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:00:44 -0700

1975 Dee Terrace Port Orford, OR 97465

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:28:34 -0700

This property is currently off of the market $139,900 for >1/2 acre city lot with ocean & lake views! Enjoy spectacular panoramic views of ocean, lake, sunsets, & Cape Blanco lighthouse from this large city lot in Paradise Terrace subd. City water & sewer and power are available at the street. George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

96086 McGribble Rd Port Orford, OR 97465

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:51:55 -0700

$975,000 Luxurious 79 acre Creekside Mountain Retreat in the Siskiyou Nat'l Forest - OFF-THE-GRID. Post & Beam construction 1783 sf 3 BR, 2 BA Chalet with cedar siding & shake shingle roof & in-house sauna. Great room has open-beam ceiling, rock fireplace, & hardwood floors. MBR has rock fireplace & balcony. The kitchen has LP gas appliances & granite counter tops. Large wrap-around decks, two large trout ponds, large vegetable garden and custom landscaping. The private Guest House has 1 BR, 1 BA, & large living room with wood stove. It is foot bridge accessible across Bald Mtn Creek. Watch the wild steelhead trout & salmon migrations, watch birds in their natural habitat, and enjoy the peace and serenity of the Siskiyou Forest. The Broken Tree Ranch/Retreat has a low carbon footprint with its own hydro electric power generating system with gasoline generator backup system, satellite tv, internet, & phone, George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

Happy Mother's Day

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Sun, 10 May 2009 17:18:43 -0700

Did you know that the earliest "Mother's Day" celebrations in the U.S. were mostly marked by women's peace groups. A common early activity was the meeting of groups of mothers whose sons had fought or died on opposite sides of the American Civil War. For more details on "Mother's Day" celebration click on this linkGeorge Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

Discover Port Orford One of Oregon's Most Idyillic Seaside Towns.

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Sat, 09 May 2009 16:35:22 -0700

Get away to Oregon's Hidden Seaside Town is the title of the article recently published in Sunset Magazine. The hidden seaside town is Port Orford and the writer, Susan Houser, and the photographer, John Clark, have done a very good job of portraying "the not-so-sleepy charms of one of Oregon's most idyllic seaside towns." I've been telling you all about Port Orford in my localizm blog but here is an outsiders opinion that substantiates what I've been blogging about. George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

23 Percent Completion Rate of Short Sale Transactions

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Sat, 09 May 2009 16:18:59 -0700

According to research firm Campbell Communications, “Three out of four potential short sale transactions fail, principally because the mortgage servicer takes too long to respond to the offer.” After foreclosure, these properties are sold at a price on the average of 20 percent below market and thus they further depress the price of real estate. There are two primary reasons for this practice that at first look appears to be against the “best interest” of the banks and their investors. According to Arthur Delaney and Ryan Grim in their Huffington Post article dated 5/8/09 The first reason is "securitization, the method by which banks bundle together different mortgages and slice them up and sell the pieces to various investors. Securitization makes negotiating a real estate sale that results in a loss nearly impossible. Accoding to Dave Liniger, founder and chairman of the global real estate company Re/Max, "... so many of the banks' mortgages have been securitized, put together and bundled, sold off to Iceland or China or some godforsaken place, The bank has to go through all of the various people who are stakeholders and it becomes a very lengthy process, and the bank is turning off the realtors by not even getting answers back to them, sometimes for months." However, the second and perhaps the more important reason cited by Delaney and Grem is that “Banks have little incentive to untie those bundles. Since mortgages are listed on the banks' balance sheets at the value of the original loan, if they complete a short sale they must record a loss on their balance sheets.” Apparently, banks drag the process out as long as possible because it allows the bank to list the “original value of the loan” on its balance sheet until it is sold as a foreclosed property. Postponement of their losses is an accounting maneuver to make the banks appear to be more solvent than they really are.George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

My Psychic Counselor Said:

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Wed, 06 May 2009 09:16:17 -0700

A friend of mine who is also my neighbor and a client has one of her properties listed with me. During previous visits my friend has ‘WOW'd me with stories about psychic readings and the uncanny accuracy of her most trusted psychic counselor. So recently, when she was in need of some additional comfort and reassuring words with regard to the sale of her property I asked her: ‘Well what does your psychic counselor tell you?' She answered that she hadn't consulted her and then added: ‘But I will make an appointment today.' I asked her to call me and share the news when she received it and she said she would. Yesterday, I received the call from my friend/client who was in much better spirits. She had discussed many personal concerns with her counselor but with regard to the sale of her property the counselor advised her that someone with the letter ‘D' in their first and last names would ultimately sell her property. The irony is that there is a well established brokerage in the town next to us by the name of ‘D..... D....' Her psychic counselor is out of state and she has never been to our town and has no ‘first person' experience of our area yet she made a prediction that could easily be correlated to this brokerage. Our hopes were buoyed by the news and to be honest we are both more than a little excited about the possibilities. Time will tell. Here is the AR link to this property: I will keep you all posted on our progress but that's all for now.George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

Choosing Your Place

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:55:40 -0700

The conventional wisdom is that you have to go talk to people who live in a place, and you have to visit the place. If the place is in a climate zone that has seasonal changes, you need to experience it in all four seasons. Correcting the ‘wrong place' decision has complexities similar to those experienced when correcting a ‘wrong relationship' decision or a ‘wrong employment' decision. Many people don't even think about the meaning of place in their lives but when you ask them you quickly realize that their place is a critical contributor to their happiness. When people find a place that fits them, it gives them more energy. Home Buyers have always been attracted to aesthetics and amenities. However, while some people enjoy their privacy and the quiet comforts of home many others like to meet people, make friends, and join groups. Many people's lives are enriched by sharing their lives with families and friends, participation in school activities, community organizations, and/or social groups. These activities are critically important and add to their enjoyment and quality of their lives. What people are saying is they are not going to be fulfilled in a place that just has a ‘nice house.' They want to live in a place that gives them excitement and energy as well as comfort. So, when helping your buyers choose where they are going to live we frequently have to ask them what kind of ‘Place' they are looking for and then ask appropriate questions to learn what gives them excitement, energy, and comfort.George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

Galleries Port Orford, OR 97465

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:04:43 -0700

Local artists and craftsman display their work in 4 of our local galleries. Master wood worker and wood carver displays his own work at the Cook Gallery at the corner of 7th and Oregon St. The Johnson Gallery is at 530 8th St. The Pottery Gallery is in the 900 block of Oregon St/Hwy 101. The Triangle Gallery at the intersection of Hwy 101 and Oregon St. George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

Strengths of Port Orford - Port Orford Oregon 97465

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:11:39 -0700

A prospective buyer from California recently asked: "What kind of town is Port Orford?" I spoke about the natural beauty of the area then explained that in my opinion the people in Port Orford are its greatest strength. I shared with him my own experience about how open and accepting the community was when my wife and I arrived back in 2005 and how supportive our new friends and neighbors were when my wife needed major surgery to restore her to good health. Then I shared my sense of our community's spirit and our community's sense of place, He decided he needed to experience Port Orford first hand and is scheduling a visit in the next few weeks. After our conversation I reflected on Port Orford and came up with the following list of strengths which I have discussed individually in previous blogs. Port Orford is: Unpretentious small town atmosphere with a strong sense of community Natural beauty of ocean, beaches, coastal forests, rivers & deep water ocean port Recreational activities - fishing, birding, surfing, scuba diving, kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, & photograpy Galleries that promote local artists, craftsman, & writers Theatre 101 at the Seaside Plaza for plays, musicals, bands, & musicians Savoy movie theater for first run movies and an occassional oldie but goodie Locally owned businesses - no fast food restaurants or chain stores State and City Parks including one with an arena for giving your horse a workout. State and Private campgrounds & RV Parks including a State campground on the beach for horseback riding Sense of history - geological, biological, and cultural - indigenous & immigrant Sense of our heritage - tribal, pioneer, mining, timber, & fishing Sense of time - slower coastal pace, seasonal changes, & migratory movements of whales & birds Active/engaged retirees with talents & financial assets Local schools & community organizations that enjoy high levels of community support George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.

94017 Elk River Rd Port Orford, OR 97465 'Off the Market' for now

George Bennett, Inactive Principal Broker, GRI (Inactive) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:53:06 -0700

$159,000 3 BR, 2 BA 1512 sf MFH. 94017 Elk River Rd. Port Orford, OR 97465 Well Maintained home built in1986 on 1.02 acres on the Elk River with a great floor plan, remodeled MBA, laminate floors, and new roofs on the house & garage. World-Class Salmon fishing & gorgeous views of the Elk River, the valley pastures, & hills from this well maintained MFH with a spacious floor plan. Remodeled MBR BA, large kitchen w island & a wood burning stove, laminate floor in LR & DR, sky lights, large deck on the back, narrow deck off the kitchen, a covered front porch, & xlg 1 car garage. MFH & garage have new roofs. Front View from driveway. River view from rear deck Mountain Views Eat in country kitchen with wood burning stove Country Kitchen with island & sky light Dining Room Living Room George Bennett, Principal Broker, Affiliated, GRI in Port Orford, OR 97465 Affiliated with 'Neath The Wind Realty Inc.