Portland Ranked 8th As Most Desirable City in America

The Pew Research Center, a social & demographic trends reporting group, released their study of the most desirable cities in America, January 29, 2009.  In the top ten, Portland, OR!

The results of the survey are based on telephone interviews conducted nationally from a national sample of 2,260 adults resulting in 1,502 completed interviews.

In general, the West topped all the charts from “Where Americans want to live” to “Education Levels” – click here for the complete report.

Click on graph for larger image

~Kori

Fix-It Fair – FREE Healthy Home Workshops

Join the City of Portland Bureau of Planning & Sustainablity for the 22nd Annual Fix-It Fair. A free event where attendees can learn simple ways to save money and connect with local resources.  Talk with experts about how to spend less and stay healthy.

When? Saturday, February 7th from 8:30 am – 2 pm
Where? George Middle School
10000 N Burr Avenue – map to this location
Portland, OR  97203
Taking Trimet? Click here for the Trip Planner

Exhibits: weatherization, health & nutrition, water & energy savings, recycling, yard & garden care and community resources.

Workshops: learn simple and affordable ways to improve your home during the 45 minute classed offered hourly – click here for the couse schedule.

Attendees will receive a FREE lunch, FREE lead testing, FREE on-site childcare and door prizes every hour!

Lake Oswego High School Gets Silver

Lake Oswego High School has been awarded sliver medal status on 2009 America’s Best HIgh Schools list from U.S. News & World Report.

U.S.News & World Report—in collaboration with School Evaluation Services, a K-12 education and data research and analysis business that provides parents with education data on SchoolMatters.com — analyzed academic and enrollment data from more than 21,000 public high schools to find the very best across the country.
These top schools were placed into gold, silver, bronze, or honorable mention categories.

The report analyzed 21,069 public high schools using a variety of data, wth a focus on factors that would support the main principle of a great high school is one that serves ALL its students, not just those that are college bound.

Walk There! 50 Treks In & Around Portland

I’ve always said, walking is the best way to explore a city but how often do you take the time to walk around your own hometown?  When you travel, walking is usually the transportation method of choice and just think about all the wonderful discoveries you stumble upon as you meander down those unknown streets.

Fortunate for us, Metro has pulled together a new guide to great places to walk in & around Portland.  Walk There! is available in booklet form or you may simply download the walks you’re interested in from the site.  Choose from historic neighborhoods, scenic parks, newly acquired urban natural areas and fascinating main streets.  The detailed maps and route descriptions will help you discover our region’s rich history while enjoying the pleasures of walking.

What a wonderful way to enjoy a quiet afternoon alone or take the family out to learn more about our wonderful city!  When I lived in New York City I thought it was amazing that so many locals had never been to the Statue of Liberty, the plethora of Museums, Battery Park, or even the theatre - I believe every town has something to offer and it’s up to us to discover those opportunities so get out there and enjoy Portland!

~Kori

Oregon Property Team In Action – First Time Homebuyer Seminar

Today we hosted our FREE First Time Homebuyer Seminar in Northeast Portland.  The information was fantastic, we had attendees grabbing up the extra materials to share with their friends and family members.  We will continue to host these events so, if you wanted to attend but just couldn’t make it today, drop us an email and we’ll keep you posted on future events and dates. 

-Photo courtesy of an attendee’s camera phone :-) 

~Kori

10 Free Trees From from the Arbor Day Foundation

Join the Arbor Day Foundation for just $10 and recieve 10 FREE trees to plant in your yard.  Choose from flowering trees or evergreens – the Arbor Day Foundation will ship the 6″-12″ trees to arrive at the best time for planting in your specific area.  Those of us in Oregon have until January 31, 2009 to become a member if we would like flowering trees to be planted this Spring.

Along with the free tress your membership will include:

• Tree Discounts, you’ll recieve a 33%-56% discount on over 100 trees and shubs offered by the Arbor Day Foundation.
• Arbor Day Subscription, a colorful bimonthly newsletter that’s both a garderner’s handbook and tree information guide all in one. 
• The Tree Book, a useful guide about planting and caring for trees in a cheerful and corolful fomat.

What a great gift to yourself or how about birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s or Father’s Day!

Together, we can make a difference!

Market Forecast per Calvin and Hobbes

Written over 15 years ago - Calvin and Hobbes foresee the future of the economy. 

~ Kori

Oregon E-Cycling

Did you know that electronics contain hazardous substances such as lead, cadmium and mercury but electronics also contain valuable materials such as copper, gold and aluminum which can all be recovered through recycling?  Effective January 1, 2009 – individuals, households, small businesses and non-profits may recycle computers, monitors and televisions at participating Oregon E-Cycles collection sites for FREE! 

Take up to seven of the following items per visit to one of the participating e-cycling sites: desktop computers, portable or laptop computers, monitors and televisions.  To find a collections site near you visit www.oregonecycles.org or call the Metro hotline at 503-234-3000. 

For other electronics such as VCRs, video game consoles, printers, scanners and fax machines call Metro.

~ Kori

A Call to Service

Martin Luther King at the Lincoln Memorial in August 1963

Yesterday, President-elect (now President) Obama encouraged Americans to observe the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday by giving back to their communities, “Everybody’s going to have to pitch in,” said Obama as he visited a shelter for homeless and runaway teens Monday.  I was moved by this statement and even more so by his own actions to serve when he himself is preparing for one of the most important days in his life up to this point.

I bring this up because I also believe that in our current economic state we need to be mindful of our communities – whether that be through volunteerism, charitable giving or simply being more mindful of where we spend our money. We will survive and thrive in these current financial times if we band together and support one another. Please remember, there are many of us who are self-employed individuals – your hairdresser, dry cleaner, your favorite lunch spot, your mechanic, contractors and of course your beloved real estate agent.   So whenever possible, think locally and as a community our impact will be global.

It was this mentality of charitable giving and community outreach that helped me choose RE/MAX equity group as my principle brokerage.  Even in a time of economic uncertainty our agents and office staff raised more than $107,000 in 2008.  Thirty-two local organizations were award grants from the Equity Group Foundation, including: the Children’s Cancer Association, Forward Stride, KEX Kids Fund, Mt. Hood Kiwanis, the Boys & Girls Aid Society and the Wounded Warrior program.  As a foundation, our priority is local charities, especially the smaller “grass roots” organizations that have little or no federal funding.

I’m excited to be part of what I believe is a truly historic time and I’m looking forward to what the coming months will bring to our country.

“Where there is unity there is always victory.”
-Publilius Syrus, Roman author, 1st centry BC  

~ Kori

FREE First Time Homebuyer Seminar

Please join us for a FREE First Time Homebuyer Seminar next Saturday, January 24 from 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM at the RE/MAX equity group office located at 237 NE Broadway (across from Broadway Furniture – click here for a map)  Seating is limited so please reserve your seat today by email or call 503-380-8944. 

Maria and I have teamed up with one of our preferred lenders and a representative from the Title Company to present a comprehensive first time homebuyer seminar.  The seminar will address current lending programs both locally and federal programs, including the $7500 tax credit available to first time buyers until June 30, 2009.  Maria and I will review the home search process, available tools and making an offer.  We’ll wrap up the seminar with the role of the Title Company & Escrow to ultimately close the deal and get you the keys to your home.

This is truly a comprehensive seminar to help guide first time buyers through the complete home buying experience.

~Kori

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