A Successful Purchase!

Lee helped another family recently relocate to Corvallis! 

Read on to hear their success in finding just the right home!

How did you meet Lee?
Lee was highly recommended at the time by a prospective employer. We were asked if we wanted to be connected to a local Realtor. The search, interview, and vetting process at this particular office was one that took almost a year from the actual hire date. On the first of many face to face interviews, Lee had set up a tour of Corvallis for us. This was about 8 months before actually moving here and with no guarantee of landing the job. When we got to our hotel we had a welcome basket that Lee had left us and on our last day after all the interviews were finished Lee took us around the town and neighboring areas. He gave us great information on the city, schools, community, Oregon itself, and information relating to the housing market in the area. I was rather impressed that he knew so much and so many people related to Corvallis and that he was probably doing all of this on his own time.


What were you most excited about when buying your home?
We were looking forward to a great job and moving out of the big city to a small town in Oregon.  It was a great opportunity to imagine our kids growing up here and choosing a neighborhood and home with lots of play space.


What lessons have you learned from this process?
The housing in Corvallis is unique. Not only is there a certain time to sell and buy but the homes are all special in their own way. I found that is was actually pretty challenging to really find what you want.


What advice would you give to a friend who was buying a home, having recently gone through the process yourself?
If you have the time, patience is always good. Take into account what your plans for the future include e.g., kids, grandparents, living at the home for more than 15-20 years or less than 5. Also in this case, use Lee; not only is he the best Realtor but when your roof starts to leak or it's time for a remodel, he has a plethora of resources. It could be someone at the city related to permits, a builder, landscape guy, or if you want to become involved with the community, he knows how to connect you.


What were some of your needs when buying?
At the time, we had a newborn and preschooler, so schools were important. Most of Corvallis is kid friendly but everyone has their interpretation of what makes a good neighborhood for their kids. At the age our kids were, we needed to have a place that was pretty much move in ready and in a neighborhood with less traffic, near a park, and bike paths.


How did Lee help with these needs?
The market in Corvallis can be challenging and to add to that we were on a very tight timeline. Being out of state, I only had a few opportunities to actually see properties. When I did make it to town, Lee had a schedule that had us seeing 15+ houses in just a day and a half. When I was back home Lee was sending e-mails, text messages, pictures, videos, and basically any media he could get his hands on to help. He went as far as walking through a house with a video camera strapped to his head for us. He was running all over the city for information related to permits and property boundaries. When it came time to put offers in, because of our situation everything was done remotely. As my current position did not allow me to take off any more time, Lee handled all the aspects of closing. Getting the house in order, there was some HVAC work that was in question with the previous service company that he took care off. He also took care of inspections, walk through, and even locked the place up and held the keys until we were finally able to get into town. Lee did so much for us and still does.



What do you and your family do for fun?
A few of the reasons for moving to Oregon was to have a slower, more community based life, breathe clean air and enjoy the outdoors more. So far Corvallis does not disappoint. One last point, as I said Lee is well connected so by the time I arrived, I had a network of outdoor people waiting for me to join them!

Thank you, Lee, Jenny, and Jessi!

Sincerely,
Brandon

Home sweet shipping container: Real estate's hot new play

DC shipping container apartments Credit: Travis Price Architects

Every day, 21,000 of them sail into U.S. ports, carrying everything from tea to T-shirts, but just a fraction ever go back. Shipping containers. Strong, durable and eminently recyclable. An estimated 700,000 are sitting near the nation's waterfronts, unused, wasting shipyard space and littering landfills. It all presents an incredible opportunity for developers of environmentally friendly, sustainable real estate.

Stephanie Dhue | CNBC

"The structural integrity of a shipping container is paramount. It's the starting point," said David Campbell, standing in a sea of containers in his Charlotte, North Carolina, factory. "It's a really great building platform. Take the raw form and transform it into something that's larger in scale."

"It is a Lego piece, so how do you put them together using different capacities," Campbell asked rhetorically.



For him, it began with a few pictures of containers he saw online—and an idea to use them as pop-up marketing spaces for all kinds of venues: NASCAR races, concerts, sporting events. That brought his company attention from major brands like Hyundai, Under Armour, Nike and Google.

The container carcasses are not just strong and mobile, they are relatively cheap building materials, ranging anywhere from $800 to $3,000. Campbell buys them from ports, brokers and individual sellers. He has completed projects ranging from $10,000 to $2 million.


"We are the only in-house design and engineering company that has a full set of fabrication abilities—from heavy metal to ornate metal to custom cabinetry, and then we also run our own trucking company," Campbell said.

What's tricky are the regulations, because there aren't any on a national level. Developers have to work with each municipality, which could label the containers modular, mobile or permanent construction and then impose zoning and building codes depending on the decision.

Boxman Studios is transforming this shipping container into what will be a beer garden for "Assembly Row" a Boston mixed use development.

Credit: Travis Price Architects

"The real trick is going to be not to disguise it with some sort of phony traditionalism but to begin to embrace them and to see all the variations that can happen," said Travis Price of Travis Price Architects.

Price designed a multifamily apartment building in Washington, D.C., near the campus of Catholic University. It took just four months to turn 18 metal boxes into micro-unit apartments. Home sweet home for a group of college students.

"At first I thought it was a little crazy, but when I saw it going up, I thought it was pretty cool," said Nick Pelli, a junior at Catholic, who rents an apartment with several other students in the container complex.

"A lot of people have been coming by, even the nun from the convent came by and blessed our unit the other day. There's a lot of buzz about it," said Henry Rasweiler, a senior and fellow container tenant.

The sheer strength and simplicity of the structures are an open palate for architects and engineers—and entrepreneurs like Boxman's Campbell, who thinks they would be ideal for disaster relief or the military. He said he gets calls every day from potential customers with new ideas—good news for the future of so much idle metal.

Watch the CNBC interview here!



Article originally posted on www.cnbc.com on Realty Check with Diana Olick

10 Best Apps for Home Buyers

Photo from www.kikaenterprises.com

When it comes to staying organized and efficient during the home-buying process your best tool might already be in your pocket: your smartphone. If you are in the market for a new home, technology can help make your search a little easier. There are mobile apps that allow you to search listings, calculate mortgage costs, find out which businesses and attractions are nearby, and design what your new home could look like. Below are some of the best real estate apps for homebuyers.

Find the Home

MLS Apps: Realtor.com, Redfin.com, Trulia.com, Zillow.com...

Platform: iOS, Android

Cost: Free

These apps are grouped together because they essentially do the same thing: help you search the local MLS (multiple listing service) to find properties for sale. Homebuyers can search by city/state or zip code to see current listings, and filter by price, number of beds/baths, property type, square feet, lot size, features, age of home, and listing activity (i.e., open houses, new listings, price reduced). Realtor.com is often recommended by real estate agents because it tends to have the most accurate and up-to-date information, sourced from more than 800 MLSs, with 90% of its listings refreshed every 15 minutes.

AroundMe 

Platform: iOS, Android

Cost: Free

The AroundMe app quickly identifies where you are to show you a complete list of nearby businesses and attractions, including the distance from your current location. This can be helpful when looking for a house in an area that is unfamiliar to you. You can search for the nearest bank/ATM, bar, coffee shop, gas station, hospital, hotel, movie theater, restaurant, supermarket, theater and taxi company. You can view every listing on a map, view GPS directions to your chosen destination, add the information to your contact list and email the details to a friend.

 

Homesnap 

Platform: iOS, Android

Cost: Free

Homesnap is another MLS app with an added feature: Snap a photo of any home across the nation to get instant property details, including home values, when it last sold, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, taxes, lot boundaries, local school ratings, similar listings, and nearby sales. If a home is currently on the market, you may be able to see interior photos. When you are ready to buy a home (or put yours on the market), you can use the app to contact a real estate agent to schedule a showing or to add your home to the MLS. This app draws on the same listing information used by realtors to provide timely, accurate real estate information. Or if you're looking for a quick and easy way to find information on any property for investment purposes, do it with a single photo via Homesnap.

House Hunter

Platform: iOS

Cost: Free

It’s hard to keep track of all the details when house hunting, but House Hunter does all the hard work for you by providing a scorecard that organizes notes and photos of potential homes. You can choose from more than 80 different home features to score potential homes and access a quick note feature to enter information about the homes.

 

Fund the Home

Mortgage Apps: Trulia Mortgage Calculator, Trulia Home Loan Rates, Zillow Mortgages, etc.

Platform: iOS, Android

Cost: Free

If you are like most homebuyers, you will need a mortgage to purchase your new property. Mortgage apps, such as Trulia's Mortgage Calculator, Home Loan Rates and Zillow Mortgages, help you determine how much house you can afford, calculate your monthly payment and shop for real-time rates. You can also see side-by-side customized loan quotes from a number of lenders, compare lender ratings and reviews, and directly contact a lender from your mobile device to learn more about a specific quote. These apps also include refinancing calculators so you can see if/how much you'll save monthly and in total by refinancing.

Credit Karma

Platform: iOS, Android, CreditKarma.com

Cost: Free

Before searching for a home, it's important to be sure you can get financing (unless you're paying cash). A lot of realtors will even ask for a pre-approval letter from a bank before they will begin showing you homes. Credit Karma is a great tool that's available for free and can give you an estimated score that's provided by TransUnion, as well as an overview of how your score was calculated. What a bank sees may be a little different but the general consensus has been that Credit Karma is fairly accurate and generally within a few points. I pulled my own credit and then checked with my bank and both were within 10 points of each other.

If you need financing, you need Credit Karma.

The Dictionary of Real Estate Terms

Platform: iOS

Cost: $2.99

Buying a home can be confusing, especially if you aren’t familiar with real estate jargon. The app, which costs $2.99, has more than 3,000 real-estate specific terms to help navigate conversations with brokers and real estate agents.

Fix-Up the Home

Houzz

Platform: iOS

Cost: Free

It’s hard to picture a fixer-upper in its final state, but Houzz will do all the imagining for you. Claiming to be the largest database of home design ideas on the Web, the Houzz app has more 500,000 high-resolution photos to give you remodeling ideas for out-dated homes. You can browse by style, room and location and save them to a virtual idea book.

Handy Man DIY

Platform: iOS

Cost: $1.99

For many home buyers, a new home comes with a list of required improvement projects. If you don’t want to hire a contractor you can get your own virtual one with Handy Man DIY and it’s only going to cost you $1.99. This app lets calculate and store room dimensions, figure out floor and wall square footage and create shopping lists for projects. The app also has how to videos and instructions to guide you through various projects. 

Sherwin Williams Color Snap app

Platform: iOS, Android

Cost: Free

Picking out paint colors can be tough but the free Color Snap app makes it a little bit easier. See a color you like in a photo, someone’s house or in a flower, all you have to do is snap a picture and the app will show you colors of Sherwin Williams paints that match. You can also browse hundreds of colors and adjust them to get the shade you want.

For Sellers!

If you are preparing to sell your home there are also some great apps available to help! Check out the one below and stay tuned for more ideas in the future!

Home Value Pro

Platform: iOS

Cost: Free

Eager to sell your home but not sure where to price it? This app lets you view property values, foreclosure information and housing trends in neighborhoods across the country. The app lets you analyze housing data by ZIP code, provides 12 month median home price trends, foreclosure rates and home sales trend activity that can help you properly price your home. 

Article compiled from articles on investopedia.com, imore.com, and foxbusiness.com

Stop Throwing Away Money - 10 Simple Ways To Winterize Your Home

Looking for ways to take advantage of the amazing fall weather we are having and get your home ready for the winter months? Look no further...here are a few tips to get you started!



Dodge the draft

dietcokejunkee via flickr

Problem: Cold air is rushing in from underneath your door, and warm air is rushing out.

Solution: The draft snake, adopted during the Great Depression era, is one of the easiest ways to cut back on energy waste. A draft snake can be easily made by rolling up a towel or filling up a pouch of fabric with kitty litter or sand, advises The Daily Green. Or you can buy one pre-made.

Money/Energy Saved: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drafts can waste 5 to 30% of energy use per year.


Bubble wrap your windows

RossBridger via flickr

Problem: You suspect your windows are as old as your grandparents and cold air is leaking through the cracks.

Solution: Tape bubblewrap on your windows to trap the pockets of air that cool down your home. Although it may look funny, the bubblewrap will still allow light to come through and you'll be saving some major dough, advises Life Hacker.

Money/Energy Saved: Taping up bubblewrap can avoid drafts which waste 5 to 30% of energy usage per year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.



Caulk any gaps

mtsofan via flickr

Problem: Little gaps in windows, doors, or cracks in the walls are letting cool air in, raising your energy bill.

Solution: The Daily Green offers a test to find out where to seal these gaps: Have a friend stand outside the suspected window/door/wall with a blow dryer while you hold a lit candle inside. If the dryer blows the candle out, then it's time to seal those cracks using caulk.

Also check the caulk around your doors and windows outside to see if they've deteriorated over time.

Money/Energy Saved: Sealing up drafts will save you to up to 30% of energy use annually, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.



Change the direction of your ceiling fans

tamaradulva via flickr

Problem: The air in your home feels hot and trapped, but turning on a fan only produces cool air.

Solution: If you have any ceiling fans inside your home, know the rules: Counter-clockwise rotation produces cooling breezes and clockwise rotation produces warmer air.

Money/Energy Saved: This method will cut your heating costs by 10%, according to The Daily Green.




Install storm doors 

ipeterson via flickr

Problem: The cracks in your door are increasing the air flow in and out of your home, letting warm air out and cold air in.

Solution: Installing a storm door can seal those drafts and help reduce air flow.

Money/Energy Saved: A storm door can increase energy efficiency by 45%, according to The Daily Green.





Control your thermostat

butkaj.com via flickr

Problem: You want your home warm so you keep the thermostat high, but your wallet is suffering from the high energy bill.

Solution: Set your thermostat to 50 or 55 degrees when you go to bed and work. You won't enjoy the warmer temperature while you're asleep or away from the house, anyway. You can also purchase a programmable thermostat.

Money/Energy Saved: Turning down your thermostat 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a day can save 10% per year on your energy bill, according to Brighter Planet.



Pile up on insulation

Jack Amick via flickr

Problem: Heat is rising right out of your home, leaving you cold and miserable.

Solution: Loading up on insulation is one of the best ways to save your energy bill so add more between your walls, attic floor, and basement ceiling to stay toasty.

Money/Energy Saved: An insulated home loses a quarter of its heat through the roof, according to Energy Savers.





Get rid of that window A/C unit

jasconeppink via flickr

Problem: You suspect cool air is sneaking through the cracks of your window A/C unit.

Solution: During winter, you most likely won't be using your window A/C unit so remove it from your window or purchase a quality tarp to cover the outside of the unit, says Wisebread.

Money/Energy Saved: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drafts can waste 5 to 30% of energy use per year.




Turn off your A/C water valve

FTMyersMarketing via flickr

Problem: You have an A/C with a water valve that you suspect has been leaking, which can clog up your water pipes.

Solution: Shut off the A/C water valve to prevent excess water from collecting in the equipment. Drain all air conditioning pipes, says The Green Daily.

Money/Energy Saved: Doing this during the winter will save you from having to buy a new A/C unit next summer.




Lower your water heater's temperature

rd76pag via flickr

Problem: You've unknowingly kept your water heater on the default setting.

Solution: Conventional water heaters are typically set at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but most households only need a setting of 120 degrees to be comfortable. Check your water heaters and lower them to 120 degrees.

Money/Energy Saved: Lowering it by 20 degrees will save about 6 to 10% on your bills, says Energy Savers.



Originaly posted by Vivian Giang at www.businessinsider.com

Furniture Share Needs Your Help!

Furniture Share is a volunteer based non-profit 501(c)(3) agency that collects and redistributes donated furniture and household items to underprivileged populations at no cost within Benton, Linn and surrounding Counties. Furniture Share helps to serve our two fold mission to protect our environment by keeping reusable furniture out of the landfill.

Your donations of gently used furniture are redistributed directly to individuals and families within the Benton, Linn and surrounding County communities. Furniture Share relies solely on community donations and volunteerism to get the job done. We value preserving the dignity of clients and providing services in a timely and cost effective manner that honors the donors who keep our doors open.


As of October 1, 2014 Furniture Share has 103 kids on the wait list for a bed and on average receives 30-40 requests a week for beds. 

During the month of September we provided 109 kids with a bed of their very own. Every donation of $40 will help us provide a bed to a child in need. Can you help?

Please pass this along to others so we can get these 103 kids a bed of their own to sleep on.

To donate online go to
www.furnitureshare.org 

over the phone
541-754-9511

or by mail at
Furniture Share 
PO Box 2224 
Corvallis, Oregon 97339

This week in Corvallis!

This Week in Corvallis, Oregon

Here's a pretty shot of Oregon State University, from takethelimit

We’re looking forward to some fun stuff this week. Tonight we’ve got a talk at the Corvallis Public Library about the future of health care, and Wednesday is Lotions and Potions, a ladies’ night out event with Second Street Chic. The reception for Vistas and Vineyards is also Wednesday evening.

Three Below is at the Majestic Theatre on Thursday, and the Emerald City Jazz Kings have a show on Friday at the LaSells Stewart Center.

The Nomadic Theatre Circus is performing “Science Circus: the Physics of Fun” on Saturday, and in the afternoon, you’ve got a chance to meet authors Travis Mossotti and Kerry James Evans. John McCutcheon is in concert Saturday evening, and the 24th Annual Great Pumpkin Run is coming up Sunday!

Check our events calendar to see everything that’s coming up this week, and keep an eye out for new events being added.

Originally posted on www.corvallisoregon.tumblr.com. Thank you Visit Corvallis for keeping us up to date!

Sunday Open Houses!

You won't want to miss these Open Houses this weekend! 

Plan to stop by one, or all, of these amazing Corvallis homes! 

Sunday, October 5th, 2014 
hosted by Lee Eckroth,
Town & Country Realtor/Broker

11:00 am - 12:00 pm
4921 SW Roseberry, Corvallis, OR 97333 

An outstanding, updated single-level home in a desired SW Corvallis neighborhood! That is a great description for this 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom + office home that includes new floor coverings, new interior wall paint, new exterior paint, new stainless steel appliances, new counter tops, vaulted ceilings, master bedroom with walk-in closet and ensuite, and more! It even includes the washer/dryer, refrigerator, and window blinds. Just a short distance from the Sunset shopping center, the countryside, 2 parks, bike paths, the bus line and more – this is a must visit home. 


12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
3220 SW Cascade Avenue, Corvallis, OR 97333

How often do you find a 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath, very nicely updated single level home located on .34 acres in SW Corvallis. Today you did! This move in ready home has new carpet & laminate, new SS appliances, new interior paint, new sinks/faucets, new tub/shower, new toilets, furnace installed in 2013, w/heater just 3 years old, roof just 5 years old, new light fixtures, new electric panel, newer driveway & 2 fireplaces. With a park like setting & just a short distance to downtown, OSU & more! 




2:00 pm-3:00 pm
3462 SW Hil-Wood Place, Corvallis, OR 97333 

NEW PRICE!!  Amazingly remodeled, this single level home near OSU, shopping & more will WOW you. Located in desirable SW Corvallis on a spacious park like .24+/- acre lot.  The current owners made a significant investment in remodeling this home to make it move-in ready for you. Updates and remodeling includes a new kitchen with cherry finish cabinets, granite counters & SS appliances, updated bathrooms with granite counters & tile floors, new main level flooring, lots of new paint, new light fixtures & much more. From the bonus loft & fireplace to the newer roof (5 years old) , shed & garage with storage - visit today!



3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
1705 NW 29th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333  

Desirable NW Corvallis single level home located on a 1/4 acre corner lot across the street from Cloverland Parks. This home comes loaded with 5 bedrooms, 2 updated bathrooms, wood floors, updated kitchen, living room with fireplace, family room, vinyl windows, crown moulding, a fantastic backyard with shed & more. Home is preinspected by Amerispec & good to go. Don't wait. Take a tour today!






Also on Sunday, October 5th, 2014
New Listing in Stoneybrook!
Open House hosted by Tom Rondeau,
Town & Country Realtor/Broker,

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
5037 SW Hollyhock Circle, Corvallis, OR 97333 

This desirable single level 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, plus office in desirable Stoneybrook neighborhood awaits you. Built in 2006, this sought after "Taylor" floor plan provides easy living. From the gracious master suite with a large soaking tub, separate shower & double sink vanity, to the separate guest suite with a complete bath - this home has it all. Enjoy your private den with double glass doors, private patio, 2 car garage & extra closet spaces. This is living the great life. HOA approx $127 per month. Check out this home today!