Have You Donated Blood Recently?

A seasonal shortage of blood donations could leave hospitals in Oregon, Washington and Alaska with a dangerously low supply during the Fourth of July holiday. Highway accidents tend to increase in summer, especially during the holiday. Colleges and high schools, whose blood drives usually provide a fifth of the agency’s collection, are out of session. Those who donate regularly tend to skip an appointment or two in the summer due to vacations. This year the 4th of July falls on a Wednesday so the "long weekend" vacations are even longer and for all these reasons there is are blood shortages in the summer. The shortage has come even sooner this year and a "red alert" has been issued which means there is only half-a-day supply on hand, the norm being 3 days. The Red Cross is asking particularly for those with negative blood types and O-positive. This is particularly scary going into the 4th of July weekend with all the fireworks and parting going on.

http://www.oregonnews.com/article/20070627/REGIONALNEWS/70627008

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Why is it so hard to sell your own home?

• Can't list in MLS. The Multiple Listing Service is only available to licensed real estate brokers and agents. You also have to be an agent to advertise on sites and search engines like Realtor.com. So if you are trying to do a FSBO and you don't happen to be an agent, very few people are going to see your place. Only those in your neighborhood who see your sign or read the local paper, if you advertised, which puts you at a huge disadvantage. This pretty much takes out of the equation those who are relocating or do their search exclusively online and leaves unqualified and unrepresented buyers.
  
• Agents won't show a FSBO. With a FSBO there is no listing contract that automatically provides a commission to the buyer's agent. So if there is no guarantee that they are going to get paid then why would they bother. Unless it happens to be the perfect house and the agent could cut a deal with the buyer directly but the agent still might not want to deal with the issues associated with someone who hasn't delt with this paperwork before.
• FSBO's ususally overprice their home. The extent of the research that goes into finding comparables is usually significantly less than and agent would do not to mention a lack of resources to do it. An agent is also able to be objective and determine what needs to be done to make the home presentable. Also the average person has the tendency of thinking their home is the nicest in the neighborhood and therefore don't feel the need to make improvements. Any agent can tell you how important price is and overpricing can make or break your sale efforts.
• FSBO's don't leave for Open Houses. Since there is no agent to stay and represent their house the owner will host their own open house. Typically though potential buyers will spend less time in a FSBO home because they don't want to discuss the home right in front of the owner. A buyer also will be intimidated to put in an offer because they know they will be negotiating directly with the owner, there won't be an agent to be the buffer in the transaction.
  
• Often find legal trouble. This goes back to dealing with someone who has no experience with real estate paperwork. If just one form gets missed a FSBO could find themselves in a lawsuit. If the buyer's agent wants a smooth transaction they could end up doing twice the work by double checking everything the seller does.
  

http://www.realtor.com/Basics/Sell/Why/Fsbo.asp?poe=realtor

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What are they eating in Beaverton?

Perhaps everyone already knew and it's just me but I had no idea that Beaverton was so diverse. I read an article about all the types of ethnic food stores there are in the Beaverton area and they are thriving due demand created by a huge ethnic population. Foods like pickled duck eggs, bok choy, dried kelp and seasoned pollock entrails are available to me with just a short drive and I didn't even know it. Now I just need to find out what to do with them.

Beaverton is 28 percent minorities with Latinos being the largest group. Even in the Beaverton School District there are students who come from homes where nearly 80 languages spoken. Other groups included in the 28 percent are Asians, East Indians, Middle Easterners and Eastern Europeans. Sadly though none of these minorities are sitting on the City Council. The thought is though, that it's the second generation that will be tackling that challenge.

Some of these stores include:

• Tiendita La Perla
• El Paraiso Tropical
• Mediterranean Market & Deli
• Asia Pacific Marketplace
• Hawaii's BBQ and Dim Sum
• El Perico Cantina y Taqueria
• Uwajimaya
• Pal-Do World Asian Market
• Beaverton Halal Meat
• Tajgerdu
• India Direct

http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/117392013389600.xml&coll=7

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Portland 3rd Best City in USA

According to the authors of "Cities Ranked & Rated, 2nd Edition", Bert Sperling and Peter Sander, say that Portland Oregon is the 3rd best city in the United States to live in. The other cities in the top ten include Gainesville, Fla.; Bellingham, Wash.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Ogden-Clearfield, Utah; Asheville, N.C.; Fort-Collins-Loveland, Colo.; San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, Calf.; and Boise City-Nampa, Idaho.

The criteria these decisions were based on include:

• Economy and Jobs
• Cost of Living
• Climate
• Education
• Health and Health Care
• Crime
• Transportation
• Leisure
• Arts and Culture
• Overall Quality of Life

25th Annual Historic Irvington Home Tour

May 20th is the 25th Anniversary of the Historic Irvington Home Tour featuring 10 homes, Depression Era Mural Art at the Irvington School and even a strolling barbershop quartet. There will also be a lecture by HGTV Curb Appeal designer Paul Duchscherer.

Tickets:

• $20 a person
• $15 if you are 65 yrs old or over
• $10 for each lecture (there are two showings)
• $35 if you buy Admission and BOTH lectures as a package

Children under 7 not permitted except infants in "front packs".

Where to buy tickets:

• www.irvingtonhometour.com
• Architectural Heritage Center 701 SE Grand Ave Wed-Sat 10am-4:30pm
• Broadway Books 1714 NE Broadway Mon-Sat 10am-9pm Sun 12pm-5pm
• Cafe Destino 1339 NE Fremont Ave
• New Seasons Market Concordia 5320 NE 33rd Ave 8am-10pm daily
• At the door; Portland White House Bed and Breakfast 1914 NE 22nd Ave 10am-noon only
• Lecture tickets are also available at the door

The Paul Duchscherer lecture times are Sat May 19th 10am Westminster Presbyterian Church and Sun May 20th 2pm Irvington Tennis Club

For more information go to www.irvingtonhometour.com

Converting a FSBO

Don't assume that FSBO's have already made up their mind and stopping by their open house is a waste of time. A little over half of those who decided to list themselves do so to save on commission, but perhaps they do not really know what that money is going to. It then becomes your job to demonstrate your worth. An approach that seems to have worked well for others is to start a conversation with someone who has decided to go it alone, offer them some advice free of charge. Give them your card and let them know some things they can expect during the sale of their home. You will be gaining trust while highlighting your intrinsic value. Even if you do not convert the individual in question does not necessarily make it time wasted, that effort could easily turn into a referral.

FSBOS EARN LESS ON HOME SALE

Unrepresented sellers have a median household income that's only about 11 percent lower than that of sellers who use an agent from the get-go, but FSBOs' homes sell for 25 percent less.

Agent-assisted Household income (median) $87,000 Selling Price (median) $250,000

First FSBO, then agent-assisted Household income (median) $70,700 Selling Price (median) $192,000

FSBO/don't know buyers Household income (median) $77,800 Selling Price (median) $187,200

Data from the NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 2006 edition, NAR Research

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What's in a Credit Score?

A credit score is basically a number representing the a amount of risk involved in lending money to you. Considerations that go into your score: Payment History (35%); Amounts Owed (30%); Length of Credit History (15%); New Credit (10%); and Types of Credit Used (10%).

Fair Isaac Company, or FICO is the most commonly used credit score. The numbers range from 350-900 with the higher numbers deeming you more trust worthy.

Reason Codes are given with your credit score to let you know why yours may be lower than you like.

• Too few accounts currently "paid as agreed"
• Current delinquency (late payments)
• Too many inquires in the last twelve months
• Proportion of balances to credit limits too high on revolving accounts
  

But not all is lost, there are some things you can do to counteract your score. Fannie Mae recommends

• Strong equity position (large down payment)
• Debt ratios below highest standard ratios
• Excess cash left in the bank after closing
• Successful history of paying housing expenses
  

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