rogue valley: Have You Been To New Sammy’s Cowboy Bistro in Talent Oregon?
- 08/25/08 05:43 AM
New Sammy's Cowboy Bistro is one of the Rogue Valley's true 5 Star restaurants, and a fantastic dining experience for those looking for some exquisite food and wine pairings. Located on the South end of Talent, close to Ashland Oregon, make sure you call ahead for reservations, as although the restaurant has expanded since opening with their original 6 tables, it is a popular choice for Southern Oregon visitors and residents alike.
My husband and I saved our trip to New Sammy's for a special occasion, and finally got there to celebrate our 13th anniversary. Vern recommended an incredible French … (7 comments)
rogue valley: Seventy-Five Hundred Reasons for First Time Home Buyers to Buy NOW!
- 08/11/08 04:34 AM
So HR 3221, the Housing & Economic Recovery Act of 2008, was signed by President Bush, and as with many of today's proposed solutions it comes with good and bad news. So, first time home buyers - want the bad news first? The "bad news" is Seller Funded Down Payment Assistance programs that have been allowed on FHA programs will no longer be allowed. The "good news" is eligible first time home buyers, buyers who have not owned a home in the past 3 years, who meet the income criteria of less than $75,000 for an individual or $150,000 for joint … (7 comments)
rogue valley: Above It All At Prescott Park on Roxy Ann in Medford Oregon
- 07/15/08 09:20 AM
There is a familiar landmark in Medford Oregon that many are familiar with. Like Lower and Upper Table Rocks or The Rogue Valley Manor, Roxy Ann is a distinguishing feature in our Rogue Valley landscape. Living on the Southwest slope of RoxyAnn, we know this park well. Prescott Park is a popular hiking/ walking/ riding destination for our neighborhood residents, the residents in the other neighborhoods of East Medford Hills, as well as people throughout the Rogue Valley. You'll need to keep your eyes open for rattlesnakes in the summertime here, though, and do a "tick check" after your hike/ride. The … (2 comments)
rogue valley: What To Do On A Friday After Work In Southern Oregon?
- 07/01/08 08:13 AM
Living in this beautiful area of Southern Oregon, surrounded by forests, rivers, lava flows, caves and lakes, our biggest challenge is to figure out which wonderful terrain we want to go see when there is so much gorgeous scenery to see.
One of our most favorite destinations is Howard Prairie Lake. This mountain lake experiences some wonderful breezes, making it not only the lake of choice for boaters looking to fish, ski or cruise (like we do), but it is ideal for the sailboats, too.
This is our third year keeping our boat at Howard Prairie Lake … (11 comments)
rogue valley: Sometimes It’s a GOOD Thing To Be In The Bottom Five
- 06/30/08 12:20 PM
So often we focus on being in the "Top 5...This" or the "Top 10...That". Well, although I have some what of a competitive nature, I was thrilled to read in an article in our local newspaper, the Mail Tribune, that I live and work in a "Bottom Five State". That would be the State of Oregon, who the CEO of the Oregon Association of Realtors says has stayed in the bottom five of the 50 United States when it comes to States with the number of homes foreclosed upon. Realty Trac published data stating Oregon has climbed to State # 21 … (3 comments)
rogue valley: “Do You Finance Log Homes in Oregon”?
- 06/27/08 05:09 AM
I received a referral last week to a person who owns land just outside of Ashland, Oregon in the beautiful tree covered countryside. They bought this land a few years back, and have an outbuilding/shop/living-quarters on it where they'd been living while preparing to build their dream home. At first, they thought they would put a manufactured home on it, but then decided to put a log home on it instead. There are many homes like this spotting the landscape in the mountains surrounding the Rogue Valley. A log home company, Homestead Log Homes, is located right here in Medford Oregon … (0 comments)
rogue valley: Are True Energy Efficient Mortgages Finally On Their Way?
- 06/17/08 10:04 AM
Fannie Mae, HUD, and the Veteran's Administration all came forward with various pilot programs in the 1990's to assist homeowners interested in "Going Green". One of the largest stumbling blocks for homeowners has been the maximum dollar amount these secondary marketing sources will allow to be allocated to energy efficiency improvements. The small amount that is allowed to be added to the loan for this purpose added to the stiff documentation requirements to prove the actual energy cost savings these improvements will generate have made the current version of Energy Efficient Mortgages useless to the homeowners that are looking for them. … (6 comments)
rogue valley: Living Longer And Lifelong Learning Programs in Southern Oregon
- 06/16/08 06:32 AM
While reading about the World Health Organization data reflecting U.S. life expectancy has surpassed 78 years for the first time, and I was reminded of one of the many reasons my family and I relocated to Southern Oregon in 2004, educational opportunities for children and adults. At this week's Rotary Club of Ashland meeting, the key speaker addressed this topic. Bernie Hartman of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute gave a presentation on a wonderfully enriching program available to Southern Oregon residents of approximately 55+ years of age. Starting out in Ashland, Oregon, participation in the courses has grown by leaps and bounds, and the organization … (0 comments)
rogue valley: Calling All Jackson County Oregon Real Estate Investors Don’t Stop Now!!!
- 05/15/08 03:53 PM
Southern Oregon Investors: Have you already purchased and financed 10 investment properties, and are now being told by your lender you will be unable to take advantage of the many buying opportunities we are seeing in our current local real estate market? You have good credit, you can qualify with full income/asset documentation, but lenders will not lend any more money to you on the real estate purchases you wish to make? You've seen the growth projections for Jackson County, Oregon and want to build your portfolio of real estate owned, taking advantage of this current cyclical real estate market dip. … (0 comments)
Calling all Jackson County Oregon residents earning 30-60% of Hud's currently published median income for Jackson County, Oregon based on family size!!!!!
Have you, or has someone you know, given up on the idea of ever fulfilling your dream of becoming a homeowner? Have you thought you would be a renter forever because that is what you can afford with your income? Are you ready to see if maybe there really IS an alternative for you and your family? Did you know that credit issues may not necessarily prevent you from becoming a Habitat Homeowner? These are the main criteria for Rogue Valley Habitat: You current live … (5 comments)
rogue valley: Guanajuato Mexico Housing Project Supported By The Rotary Club of Ashland Oregon
- 04/26/08 05:05 PM
There is an International Affordable Housing Program being supported by The Rotary Club of Ashland to promote affordable housing internationally. This is the Guanajuato Housing Project, a project that like Habitat for Humanity, requires an investment by the home's recipient. The homeowner must own their own land and build their own home, a home which will cost $2,600 US to build. The Rotary Club of Ashland raises $650 per home, the City of Guanajuato also contributes $650 per home, then the State of Guanajuato matched that $1,300 each per home. The Mayor of the City of Guanajuato and the president of the Club Rotario … (2 comments)
rogue valley: To Be, Or Not To Be (More Affordable Housing in Ashland Oregon)…That Is The Question!
- 04/26/08 03:39 PM
The City of Ashland and Developer Doug Irvine have been in discussions over the possible trade of land. Doug Irvine is interested in acquiring a 2 acre parcel of land within Westwood Park plus three residential lots on Strawberry Lane, for which he will in return trade 10 acres of land he owns on Clay Street.
The City of Ashland has been great proponents of affordable housing for its residents, and they are looking to build 60 homes on 5 acres if this parcel of land on Clay Street with soccer fields on the other 5 acres. Doug Irvine is looking … (7 comments)
rogue valley: TOP Five Reasons We Relocated to the Rogue Valley
- 04/25/08 03:07 AM
2003 was a year of transition for us. My husband was in between jobs, and really didn't want to work for anyone else anymore. For years he watched, and for a while participated in, the hard work and satisfaction that came from my mortagage/real estate business. The time had come to pursue his dream, and we switched gears, looking for a business to purchase instead of a job for my husband to go to. What we were finding in Southern California was disheartening, but we realized this was not a disappointment, this was an opportunity! We had been prowling all over … (4 comments)
rogue valley: Now Is The Time For Us To Swing This Pendulum Back To The Middle! (Part 1 of 3)
- 04/03/08 09:48 AM
Wonderful news! Oregon Affordable Housing advocates have helped secure much needed funds to help retain low-cost rental housing units, funding that will include saving 667 apartment units in Jackson County, Oregon, keeping these units from being sold at market rates when their contracts expire soon. With the low rents maintained to help the tenants, these buildings need maintenance that has not been in the budget. With only $7 million allocated to the entire state, plus $4 million for the State's Affordable Housing Tax Credit program, these funds are going to be stretched very thin to meet the needs of low to … (0 comments)
rogue valley: Pear Blossom Festival for Medford Oregon is Just Around the Corner
- 03/14/08 09:09 AM
Daylight Savings Time is here, and it won't be long before our favorite Springtime events are here. The Medford 2008 Pear Blossom Festival kicks off with The Junior and Senior Royalty Coronations held on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at the North Medford High Auditorium, Jr. Royalty beginning at 9:00am and Sr. Royalty beginning at 7:00pm, with the Pear Blossom Ballroom Dance Competition Finals also beginning at 7pm. The Baby Contest will be held Saturday, April 5, 2008 at 9am and will be located at the Rogue Valley Mall on the Lower Level near JC Penney. The Pear Blossom Festival Street Fair is … (4 comments)
rogue valley: Freddie Mac 100 Program Elimination Reflects Continued Tightening in Credit Criteria
- 03/10/08 07:56 AM
For First Time Home Buyers in Southern Oregon, I typically recommend the Oregon Bond CashAdvantage program when the buyers lack a down payment, so the elimination of the Freddie Mac 100 program will not have much effect on my business practice. I received the following today from one of the lenders: "ELIMINATION OF THE FREDDIE MAC 100 LOAN PROGRAM - Effective for Locks on or after Monday, March 17, 2008 In response to the continued deterioration of credit quality and declining home values in most areas of the country, Freddie Mac is eliminating the higher risk Freddie Mac 100 loan program. … (2 comments)
rogue valley: Table Rock Fellowship of Medford Oregon Steps Up to Help Habitat for Humanity Rogue Valley Build Their Next Home
- 03/10/08 06:44 AM
Table Rock Fellowship is a nondenominational Christian fellowship church that has grown to become one of the Rogue Valley's mega churches. In spite of roughly 3,000 weekly attendees at this church, it has remained a down-to-earth, friendly church offering many programs and link groups to its members looking to find the right church home. The pastoral team, staff and volunteers who pull together the many different services and programs this church offers are an outstanding resource and one of the reasons for this church's phenomenal growth. This is a "come as you are" place, with a fantastic worship band and children's program. … (12 comments)
rogue valley: Fannie Mae's Declining Value Area Designation
- 02/25/08 04:07 PM
We're starting to see the "Declining Value Area" condition popping up on some of our automated underwriting decisions on Jackson County, Oregon properties. In many cases, this will not affect the borrower's loan amount. For first time home buyers putting the minimum amount down for their down payment, it is creating some challenges, though. Down payment assistance programs are becoming even more valuable to help buyers meet a higher down payment requirement. A Southern Oregon buyer that was preapproved long before this guideline change went in to affect is now having to consider coming up with an extra 5% to put down … (4 comments)
rogue valley: “Back to Nature” - Jacksonville Woodlands Historic Natural Park and Trail System, in Historic Jacksonville, Oregon
- 01/28/08 01:48 PM
The discovery of Gold in the Oregon Territory at Rich Gulch in 1851 created the boom town of Jacksonville, Oregon, like many of those towns established in the California Gold Rush of 1849. The resulting gold rush fever quickly created the prosperity of Jacksonville, the hub of commerce as well as the County seat until it was finally moved to Medford in 1927. With the designation of much of the city of Jacksonville in 1966 as a National Historic Landmark District, the first such district in Oregon, many of the buildings and mansions built as a result of the wealth resulting from this … (10 comments)
rogue valley: “Back to Nature”-Upper & Lower Table Rocks in Medford/Central Point Area, Oregon
- 01/28/08 01:14 PM
Two of the most prominent topographic features in the Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon are Upper and Lower Table Rocks. These mesa buttes rise immediately above the north bank of the Rogue River near Tou Velle State Park in southwestern Oregon, between Sams Valley and Central Point, providing amazing vistas of the surrounding Cascade Range to the east and the Siskiyou Mountains to the south and west.
Both Upper and Lower Table Rock have trails to their summits. In Summer 2005, we hiked Upper Table Rock with the Super Tuesday kids from Tablerock Fellowship. This trail is shorter, a little steeper, and … (7 comments)
Loving the challenge of a career in mortgage|real estate since 1983, keeping up with the progression of changes in this industry keeps one on their toes. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right? Here's to a few more decades of strength building!
New Sammy's Cowboy Bistro is one of the Rogue Valley's true 5 Star restaurants, and a fantastic dining experience for those looking for some exquisite food and wine pairings. Located on the South end of Talent, close to Ashland Oregon, make sure you call ahead for reservations, as although the restaurant has expanded since opening with their original 6 tables, it is a popular choice for Southern Oregon visitors and residents alike. 
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