September Shout Outs!

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life."

~ Melody Beattie ~

Gratitude is an amazing thing.  Each day I awake, roll over and hug my wonderwife and start my day with gratitude.  Once a month I get to send out my official “Shout-Outs” as my gratitude to my friends, family and the amazing people I get to help accomplish their real estate goals.

I am grateful for getting to work with each of you on the sale/purchase of your homes and/or just being able to know you! Congratulations and thank you for your continued support. I wish you all the best!

~Lee

Each and every day I could fill a page full of gratitude.  Below are some extra special shout outs:

Let me start by saying THANKS to the 350 who came and made the 4th annual Life is Great party amazing. It was an incredible day that I will always remember.  A very special shout out to my amazing team of Jessi Furlo and Jenny Bouman who took the magic wand and created some magic this year.

To my friends at Imagine Coffee – you rock.

Congrats to everyone at Ticor Title for being number one in the marketplace.

John and Jo - – You are treasures. Corvallis will miss you.

Johna - Congrats on your new home.  So happy for you. Tricia Kocurek –thanks for your efforts.

Jeanette -– Congrats on your move to California and the sale of your home in Corvallis.  So happy for you.

MaryKay -– Big time congrats on being close to moving closer to your Grandbabies! Corvallis is a much better place with you here.

Fall Festival -– Great job on an amazing festival.

James Furlo -– For being you.

Jessi and James -– Congrats on your first of many big deals.

Brian and Tim -– Although I still have some saddle soars, the 110 mile escapade from Sisters to Albany on the Old Santiam Wagon Trail was an experience I will never forget.

Michele K and Ben D -– You two are gems.

Morgan Eckroth -– Congrats on getting your license. Thanks for allowing me to sleep in after so many years. Be careful!!!

Mayor Julie -– You are an amazing person.

1000awesomethings.com –- I am a new addict.


And last but certainly not least...Go Beavs!

Rose City Comic-Con 2014 Review by Morgan Eckroth

By 8:15 AM Sunday morning I was walking out of my front door, clad in a skin tight Harley Quinn outfit, platinum blonde pigtailed wig, extreme fake eyelashes, and swinging a blood red and black taped baseball bat. I was Harley Quinn, Joker’s girlfriend and henchwoman.

And today?

Today was Comic-Con.

Before heading off to Portland my dad and I stopped by my boyfriend’s house and picked up him and our mutual best friend. Lake was cosplaying as Joker, wearing a bright purple suit, suspenders, green shirt, and white gloves. Joe was the 10th Doctor from Doctor Who, a dark suit, trench coat, red Converse, and a Sonic Screwdriver was his costume of choice. During the ride up we were all excited beyond words, this was going to be our first Comic-Con. When we got into Portland we started to look for other cosplayers and as we neared the convention center they began to pop up. First there was Link from Legend of Zelda walking down the street, then a herd of superheroes trying to cross at a crosswalk.

We pulled up to the convention center and began unloading quickly, excited to go inside and begin our day. As we walked into the convention center we were greeted by the sight of booths and cosplayers as far as the eye could see. Each booth was filled with books, posters, art, merchandise, costumes, and memorabilia. Starting writers and artists called us over to show their new graphic novels and comic books. Within 5 minutes of wandering the floor we found a Delorean, the original Batmobile, and a Tardis, all of which we HAD to get pictures with.

As more people arrived at Comic-Con we started to notice an increase of requests to have photos taken with us, we had families, singles, children, and teenagers constantly coming up to us and asking “Can we get a picture with Joker and Harley? With the Doctor? With all of you?” Pretty soon we were feeling like celebrities. The time and effort we’d put into making our costumes accurate was definitely paying off. It was amazing to be in an environment where cosplay was looked upon with respect and praise, the more extreme and/or accurate your costume was, the more people liked it. We spent around 6 hours that day wandering the convention floor, taking photos with people, and freaking out over all the nerd/geek materials that were around us.

One of the best parts of Comic-Con though was the kids there. It was awesome to see a dad dressed as a Jedi and his son as a Padawan, both reading and enjoying comic books in a booth. Or to see a mom being dragged around by her seven year old daughter who was dressed like Wonder-Woman. A feeling of welcoming and inclusion filled the entire convention, nothing was judged. We got this one weekend to dress and become someone else with people who did the same.
Comic-Con was an amazing experience and one I’m looking forward to have again soon. The art, culture, inspiration, and craziness of it all was an awesome thing, I think anyone could go and find at least a few things they like.

~ Morgan Eckroth (Lee's Comic-Cosmic Daughter) 

Home Buyer Do's and Don'ts Once Pre-Approved

You have done the hard part in the home buying process and chosen a lender and a real estate agent to work with. You have also gone out and found the home of your dreams! Best of all, your team has done a great job of negotiating the best deal for you.

Now, as a buyer, all you have to do is sit back and wait for your loan to close … right? Wrong!

Getting a home loan these days is a very interactive process. I am always amazed by how many clients I work with who come to me unaware of all the pitfalls they face during the loan process. To help avoid any surprises while waiting for final approval, I provide my clients with a short list of “do’s and don’ts” to follow.

Let’s start with the “do’s” …

• Do keep the process moving by responding to your loan officers’ requests for documentation as soon as possible.
• Do make decisions as soon as is reasonably possible.
• Do convey questions or concerns you have as they develop.
• Do continue to make all of your rent or mortgage payments on time.
• Do stay current on all other existing accounts.
• Do continue to work your normal work schedule with no unplanned time off.
• Do continue to use your credit as normal.
• Do be prepared to explain any large deposits in your bank accounts.
• Do enjoy purchasing your home but remain objective throughout the process to help make decisions that are best for you.

After you have been pre-approved for your mortgage you will want to refrain from the following …

• Do not make any major purchases (car, boat, jewelry, furniture, appliances, etc.).
• Do not apply for any new credit (even if it says you are preapproved or “xxx days same as cash”).
• Do not pay off charges or collections (unless directed by your loan officer to do so).
• Do not make any changes to your credit profile.
• Do not change bank accounts.
• Do not make unusual deposits into your bank accounts or move money around from one account to another.

Follow these simple rules and you will help to make your loan closing as smooth and hassle-free as possible!

Good luck!

This article was originally published by Barbara Mooers on Active Rain. Barbara is a loan officer with Primary Residential Mortgage in Tacoma, Washington. Her website is available here.

Corvallis-Albany Farmers' Market

The fall is always such an amazing time for harvest! It is one of my favorite things to watch all the pumpkins get bigger and bigger and then to tromp through the mud to pick the perfect pumpkin for carving! It is also my favorite time to stop by the Farmers' Market for all the fresh peppers, apples, and squash. The Corvallis-Albany Farmers' Markets are open throughout the Summer and well into the Fall. Read on for the details!

Corvallis-Albany Farmers' Market:

Our goal is to provide highly visible, centralized locations in Corvallis and Albany for mid-Willamette Valley and Coast Range farmers and gardeners to market high-quality produce directly to consumers.




Farmers’ markets:

• Educate consumers about how their food is grown and processed.
• Support small family farmers, whose continued existence depends on direct marketing opportunities, and related small-scale economic activity.
• Protect air quality and the environment by shortening the distance food travels from farm to consumer and  by encouraging sustainable agriculture practices.
• Create a community activity that helps revitalize downtowns, riverfronts and other community resources.
• Meet certain community needs that have been swept aside in pursuit of a “modern” food distribution system.
• Farmers’ markets contribute to livable communities

Albany Farmers' Market
4th & Ellsworth, Saturdays, 9 AM to 1 PM, April 19 - Nov. 22, 2014

Corvallis Farmers' Market
1st & Jackson, Saturdays & Wednesdays, 9 AM to 1 PM, April 19 - Nov. 26, 2014


Check out www.locallygrown.com for more info and to see a calendar of events!

Enjoy the harvest!

~Jessi

Ken Plum - Ken's Car Care of Corvallis

Hello, I am Ken Plum, and I would like to welcome you to Kens Car Care Center in Corvallis. With close to 70 years of collective experience, we are proud to be your local Auto Repair experts. As the premier auto repair shop in Corvallis, our highly trained automotive technicians take pride in all of their Auto Repair efforts.

Each and every one of our reliable specialists undergoes extensive automotive repair training, including advanced certification in Brake Repair, Engine Repair, Transmission Repair, and Auto Electrical Service. While Transmission Repair may be one of our specialties, our reputation has been built on our ability to solve all complex mechanical issues on your vehicle bumper to bumper.

No matter your vehicle needs, our team at Kens Car Care Center will be glad to provide trustworthy, honest, and reputable service. We are grateful to offer reliable vehicle care to Corvallis residents, as well as those just driving through.

Our services include:

Mechanical Repair

• Automotive Engine Repair or Replacement 
• Diesel Service and Repair
• Clutch Repairs & Replacement
• Steering and Suspension Service 
• Power Steering
• Exhaust System
• Transmission Service, Repair or Replacement
• Cooling System Service (Water Pumps, Radiators, etc.)
• Air Intake Cleaning & Filter Changing
• No-Start Diagnostics / Driveability Diagnostics
• Differential & Transfer Case (4WD) Service
• Belt, Hoses and Wiper Blade Replacement
• Timing Belt or Chain Replacement 

Electrical, Wiring and Electronics

• Battery Replacement and Service
• Anti-Lock Brake Service & Diagnostics
• Computer Diagnostics (Check Engine Light, Air Bag Light, etc.)
• Electrical and/or Wiring Problems
• Interior / Exterior Lighting Replacement 

Regular Maintenance

• Tune-Ups, Air Filters, Fuel Filters
• Oil, Lube and Filter Service
• Factory Scheduled Maintenance (30K, 60K, 90K, 105K)
• Fuel Injection Cleaning & Service
• Preventive Maintenance & Fluid Flushes
• Heating & Air Conditioning Service

Thanks, Ken! I can always count on your team to keep me going!

Contact Ken's Car Care at 541-757-7511, in person at 1419 NW 9th St. Corvallis, OR 97330, or visit their website at www.AutoRepairCorvallis.com. Read more about what their customers have to say here!

Corvallis Events, Updates, Scenery, and more!!!

Do you want to know the latest and greatest about Corvallis? 

Check out Corvallis Maven on Facebook to stay on top of local events, and see beautiful local scenery! Run by Visit Corvallis, Corvalis Maven can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/CorvallisOr 

These two sites also have great information about Corvallis and upcoming events! 

www.VisitCorvallis.com

http://corvallisoregon.tumblr.com/

Here are a few of the most recent updates to wet your appetite...

Corvallis Beer Week continues through Saturday with a pile of great events, tastings and promotions, plus Rhapsody in The Vineyard - Downtown Corvallis Wine Walk is coming up Saturday, along with Septembeerfest!

This gorgeous sunset was taken up on Marys Peak, by @thethirdrowe. Beautiful!

Celebrate the harvest and have a Fall adventure in Corvallis, Oregon in September! See what's happening here: http://bit.ly/SeptInCorvallis.

Life is Great 2014!!!!!

Just a few memories from a great day! Thanks for making our lives great!

              

For more photos Click Here!

Life is Great 2014

It's September and that can only mean one thing for the Eckroth Family...The Annual Life is Great Party!!!!!

Here are a few hints for what we have planned for the day!  We hope you can make it even for a few minutes to say hi, play some games, and have a quick bite to eat. RSVP online or give us a call to let us know you are coming!

August Shout Outs!

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments 
when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."

~ Thornton Wilder ~

We are grateful for getting to work with each of you on the sale/purchase of your homes and just being able to know you! Congratulations and thank you for your continued support. We wish you all the best!

~Lee, Jenny, & Jessi


Barber family -Congrats on your great home in a fantastic Corvallis location.  Mary - thanks for connecting us!

Brian and Laura - Super happy for you. Thanks for having me on your team since last year. Soon you will be moving into the dream home!!

Veronica and DeWayne - Welcome to Corvallis!  I think you will love being so close to the trails in your great new place.

Robert and Rebecca - Big time congratulations on your home sale! We had a couple of challenges –but all the hard work and focus paid off.

Kevin - Thanks for having me on your team as we worked to sell your Corvallis real estate investment. Success!

A special thank you to the Corvallis Parks and Rec Department, City Hall, Public works, the library and OSU for helping make Play Corvallis, Play a huge success!

A special thanks to David Dodson, Ken Gibb, Karen Emry and Dave Lundahl for believing in Play Corvallis, Play. Without your support it never would have happened.

Market of Choice –thanks for hosting a piano at the front of your store.  Everyone loved it!

Corvallis Community Band...you rock!!!

Congrats to CIMA for a successful second annual festival!

To my core mountain biking buddies - Thanks for making my riding world awesome.  You know who you are!

I have so much gratitude –but to end this month'’s shout-outs:

A very special thanks to my family. I love you very much and thanks for all your daily love and support.