Golden Realty Blog

Your Home – arguable your family’s most important asset. Did you know your equity is at stake? During the last five Oregon Legislative sessions there have been 10 attempts to impose a new REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX in the State of Oregon. This tax is an additional tax that would essentially impose taxes twice on the same piece of property. Think about it. Oregon homeowners already pay high property taxes each year. This Real Estate Transfer Tax would be implemented on a purchase or sale of a home based on a percentage of the sale price (typically between 0.1% – 4%), whether or not there is a profit on the sale. Therefore, when you sell your home there could be multiple layers of taxation on a single taxation. You, as a home owner lose hard earned equity just to pay more taxes.

A real estate transfer tax will hurt Oregon’s economy and YOU, making it harder for people to buy or sell a home, adding thousands of dollars to the cost of housing and forcing home prices and rents higher which will make Oregon less attractive for growth, which means fewer jobs. The affect of such a tax will be detrimental to the overall economy of Oregon and the livability that we Oregonians are so proud of.

But the good news…there is something that YOU can do. The Oregon Association of REALTORS are leading an effort to place a measure on the November ballot that will amend the state constitution that will permanently prohibit the imposition of a real estate transfer tax here in Oregon. We must collect 150,000 signatures of registered Oregon voters, to qualify for the ballot. Click here for more information and resources about this important issue.

If you would like to help protect your equity, jobs and our overall economy, please sign the pledge. Together we can Stop the Double Tax.

Many more people are working at home than in the past, either starting their own businesses or on work-at-home contracts with their employers.

But while the idea of commuting 10 feet to your office in your pajamas sounds wonderful, there are some things to bear in mind in order to make the experience successful.

Office Space

It’s important to divide your working space from the rest of your home as much as possible. Ideally, you will have an office in a separate room, but if that’s not possible, try to dedicate within a room a space that’s just for business, perhaps using a screen or divider to separate your desk from the rest of the room.

If you live in a noisy house, try to find somewhere quiet where you can talk on the phone, otherwise you will find it difficult to project a professional image.

Office Hours

Schedule and maintain specific office hours rather than let your work time overflow into your personal time. Doing this will help present a professional image to your clients or employer and also stop your workplace stresses from interfering with your private life. Imagine ’shutting the door’ on work at the end of the day and not going back until you are due to start again.

Family and Friends

Sometimes, people believe that if you’re working at home, they can interrupt you whenever they like. Tell your loved ones that even though you are at home, you are working and that they should not disturb you.

Limit Input

Minimize the amount of exterior stimuli including outside calls, email and even music when working from home.

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Are you one of the millions of last minute tax payers? Don’t worry, you are not alone. If you feel the stress and need a break here are a few tax related quotes to help put that smile back on your face:

Isn’t it appropriate that the month of the tax begins with April Fool’s Day and ends with cries of ‘May Day’!? ~ Rob Knauerhase

Taxes, after all, are dues that we pay for the privileges of membership in an organized society.  ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

Did you ever notice that when you put the words “The” and “IRS” together, it spells “THEIRS?”  ~Author Unknown

Taxes grow without rain.  ~Jewish Proverb

A person doesn’t know how much he has to be thankful for until he has to pay taxes on it.  ~Author Unknown

Taxes…of life’s two certainties, the only one for which you can get an automatic extension. ~Anonymous

People who complain about paying their income tax can be divided into two types: men and women. ~Anonymous

The only thing worse than paying income tax, is not paying income tax. ~ Donald Macleod

Intaxication (n.):  Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

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Designated as a Green Realtor, I have learned that the term Green is way overused and is often times regarded as an elitist mind set. Unfortunately, the typical US home is where the majority of energy, and therefore money is wasted. There is no doubt that “Going Green” encompasses a plethora of choices and options that can help save money and energy. But the key to achieving savings is to start by making small changes.

Here are few simple tips that will let the savings begin:

• Air dry dishes instead of using the dishwasher’s drying cycle.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120 degrees.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Clean the lint out of your dryer after every load to improve air circulation.
• Install a programmable thermostat.

Energy efficient home improvements can not only make your home more comfortable, but yield long term financial rewards as well.

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Selling a home with a pet in residence can be a difficult undertaking.

Many home buyers - even those with pets of their own at home - can be put off by yours. 

Pets Can Make Visitors Nervous

No one thinks of their own pet as scary. But even the mildest mannered cat or dog (not to mention snakes or mice!) can make a visitor nervous.

Perhaps the most common response from a home seller about the “threat” posed by their pet is denial: “Buffy is a sweetheart. She won’t hurt anyone.”

But no owner can be certain of how a pet will respond when strangers enter the home in their absence.

An unexpected reaction could frighten potential buyers away before they’ve even looked at your home.

Ask Friends for Help

The safest course of action is to remove a pet from the home while it is listed for sale.

Ask friends or family members to care for the pet, or board it at a nearby facility.

If this is not possible, put your pet into a carrier during showings and alert visitors not to disturb it.

Remove Stains and Odors

Buyers also frequently take issue with a pet’s impact on the cleanliness and condition of the home.

Pet stains, odors and damage are a big turn-off and can significantly decrease your home’s value in the market.

Use the Professionals

To help your home bring the highest possible price, remove stains and repair any damage your pet may have caused.

Consider having your home professionally cleaned, and have a friend verify that your home doesn’t have an objectionable odor.

Store pet accessories out of sight.

The goal: to create a positive first impression with potential buyers.

“Spring forward…Fall back”. Does that help you remember when and which direction to set your clocks? On the second Sunday in March, we set our clocks forward one hour – Spring Forward – and “lose” and hour. Then, on the first Sunday in November, we set our clocks back one hour – Fall Back – and “gain” and hour. Confused yet? Why do we do this and how did it all start?

According to NASA, Benjamin Franklin has been credited for the concept of Daylight Saving Time which was first implemented in the United States during WWI, to save energy for war production and take advantage of the longer daylight hours in the months of April – October. During WWII the government again required states to observe Daylight Saving Time. Between and the wars and after WWII, the states and communities could chose whether or not to observe the time change. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which subsequently standardized Daylight Saving Time. In 2007, with the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Daylight Saving Time was extend four weeks, with the premise that it would save 10,000 barrels of oil each day, by reducing the use of power by businesses during daylight hours.

The only states who do not observe Daylight Saving Time are Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and American Samoa. These states are located closer to the equator; therefore the days are more consistent in length throughout the year and does not make sense to adjust. It should also be noted that any state can opt out of Daylight Saving Time by passing a State Law.

So this weekend March 14^th at 2am, is the magic moment. Set your clocks forward one hour and start taking advantage of the longer and later daylight hours.

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Goldie the Golden Retriever

Age 12

Registered Pet Partner with Delta Society and PAAWS member since January 2004

R.E.A.D dog since 2006

Goldie really is an angel with fur. Through her soft spirit and giant heart, her aura soothes and calms the mood where ever she is.

Goldie loves the kids. She gets a spring in her step and an extra sparkle in her eye when she knows it is time to “READ with the kids.” During the school year, on every other Thursday, I drive Goldie to Holt Elementary School to R.E.A.D with the kids in the After School Program. One girl saw Goldie at the beginning of this year and couldn’t believe Goldie was “still alive”, since she read to Goldie when she was in kindergarten, and now she is in 3rd grade.

During the summers, Goldie and I walk to Morse Ranch Park to R.E.A.D with the kids at the Summer Camp. One autistic child, who couldn’t focus on a single word in a book let alone read, was still able to experience reading time with Goldie. After two summers of R.E.A.D time, my heart melted as I witnessed this child sit by Goldie and read through an entire book. Goldie was very proud of him too, and wagged her tail like it was falling off.

During the months of the Library R.E.A.D program we try to go to the library at least one Saturday. As the kids wait their turn to read, they create artwork which usually gets presented to Goldie as a gift. Goldie has accumulated this art and now has a large collection of colored pages and thank you notes.

When Goldie is not listening during R.E.A.D, she is working hard as the official SpokesDog for Golden Realty. She really is a calming presence in the work place, where she resides by the foot of my desk waiting for the next opportunity to be the stress reliever. And of course Goldie is always on call for visits to those in need of a little therapy.

In her spare time, Goldie loves to go to the trails with her two Golden sisters and explore all of nature. Most of the time she will carry a Kong on a rope in her mouth while she is running around and swimming. I say ‘most of the time’ because the only time she really drops the Kong, her favorite toy, is to chase the squirrels up the trees. THAT, besides R.E.A.D, is by far Goldie’s favorite thing to do. Although she tells me she doesn’t want to hurt the squirrels, she just wants to smell them and be their friend.

Goldie "R.E.A.Ding"

Golden Realty co-Owners, Kim Heddinger and Lynell Stokes recently visited the new Adoption Center for the non-profit Animal Rescue group, Save the Pets. “We found the new center to be an inviting and warm environment where the animals and people can interact in a non-threatening and safe space, thus increasing the adoption rate and finding loving homes for the homeless animals in our community.”

The primary goal of Save the Pets - to eliminate pet over-population in Lane County - is aided by increasing the adoption rates in the community and by educating people on the importance of spaying and neutering their pets. Save the Pets has helped local shelters and other rescue groups by creating a venue to showcase animals available for adoption at off-site adoption events.

Save the Pets is run solely by volunteers who advocate for the rights of animals to be treated with the respect and kindness they deserve. Since the inception of Save the Pets in April 2007, over 1000 animals have been placed into loving homes.

Now, with the addition of the Save the Pets Adoption Center at Gateway Mall, Save the Pets is averaging one adoption a day. The Adoption Center also serves as a rehabilitation center for the unfortunate animals that have never been inside a home, or are fearful from past experiences or confinement. The safe environment allows the animals to thrive and, in some cases, regain their loss of trust. The center offers a home-like atmosphere where cats are free to roam in a specially equipped “cat room”, and dogs can lounge on soft, warm beds, take a walk and even go home with a volunteer or staff member for “doggy sleepovers”.

Our motto at Golden Realty is Because Everybody Deserves a Good Home…and Save the Pets, is an organization who we believe lives that motto everyday, as they exist for the purpose of finding loving homes for the homeless animals. Golden Realty lends our support to this wonderful organization. If you would like to help you can contact Save the Pets by clicking on the logo below, or visit their new Adoption Center at 3000 Gateway Mall Suite 202, Open Everyday 11am – 5pm.

The proverbial door has been kicked wide open! Potential buyers have their personal invitations in hand. Right now IS the time to walk through the door, come join the party and take advantage of the tremendous opportunities the current market has to offer.

No matter what a blog post says, or the tonality a blog is trying to convey, readers will only be compelled to take action if the action results in a huge benefit to them. To convey this urgency and show the benefits of buying now, we are providing the PROOF. You can draw your own conclusions.

First, take a look at this historical view of interest rates since 1974, signifying that we really are hovering at all time low rates. If the interest rates continue to climb will you be able to afford the house you want?

Secondly, here is a snapshot of the latest Market Trends in the Greater Eugene Area, showing that local inventory is presenting an unprecedented opportunity for buyers RIGHT NOW!