Southern Oregon Living

Speechless Sunday - You Won't Find Me Dangling From a Tree!

Some people just don't mind hanging out on a limb!  Not this Southern Cali/Oregon Gal.  You won't find me dangling from a tree.  Just hanging out with friends on a lovely Sunday afternoon :)

Get Your Chocolate Fix Today in Southern Oregon!  Feeling a little chocolate craving coming on?  Well, today is your lucky day in Southern Oregon.  Two chocolatey events are taking place today; The 6th Annual Oregon Chocolate Festival at the Ashland Springs Hotel in Ashland Oregon, and the Cocoa Loco Chocolate Tasting Event at Harry & David in Medford Oregon.

Both events are sure to get those chocolate taste buds going.  From assorted chocolate truffles, chocolate brownies (my fav), chocolate fondue, chocolate dipped strawberries, to yummy chocolate cocoa.  It's chocolate lover's dream today in Southern Oregon.  You can get your chocolate fix today!  

Don't waste time diddle daddling on household chores or mowing the lawn, as both of these Southern Oregon events end today at 4pm.  So, get your chocolate fix now!  See you there!

From one Chocolate Lover to another!

Here are the latest Grants Pass Southern Oregon Real Estate Statistics for February 2010.

900 - Active Residential Listings

43 - Homes Sold

53 - Listings Pending

136 - Average Days on Market

$188,019. - Average Sold Price

Statistics provided courtesy of Real Estate Cafe.  Source of information is Southern Oregon MLS - Monthly NAR Statistical Report.  Information provided herein has not been verified and is not guaranteed.

Click Here for more information regarding Grants Pass Southern Oregon Real Estate

We May Not Have It All Together... but together, we have it all.  This is a saying on a quilt that hangs over the fireplace in our office at Real Estate Cafe.  It speaks volumes to those who walk through our red door.

Real Estate Cafe is a quaint boutique-style real estate office situated in a historic building in Grants Pass Oregon.  Real Estate Cafe employs 8 real estate agents who previously worked for various other real estate franchises including RE/MAX, Prudential, Keller Williams and ERA.  On average, our agents have more than 10 years experience in the business and are top producers in real estate listings and sales.

More importantly, we enjoy working together in our quaint office located near downtown Grants Pass.  We would love for you to stop by and visit us sometime.  The coffee is always on :)  

We may not have it all together... but together, we have it all.

Would You Buy a Home with a Creepy Past?  A great article appeared on MSN's homepage this morning about homes with sordid pasts.  Murder, suicide, and homes with dark histories can be difficult to sell.  But, there is always someone out there that doesn't seem to mind. 

For instance, Chris Butler said yes to a house in Bath, Ohio, which happened to be the childhood home of serial murderer Jeffrey Dahmer.  It didn't seem to matter to Chris that this home was where Jeffrey Dahmer committed his first murder in 1978.

Many states do not require disclosure regarding murders, suicides or any other gruesome events which may have occurred in a home.  It is up to the Buyer to educate themselves and become an investigator.  While disclosure may be lacking with stigmatized properties, the price of a stigmatized property may be favorable for Buyers.  Typically homes, where crimes have occurred, often sell for less than market value.

Would You Buy a Home with a Creepy Past?

Reasons to Buy a Home in Grants Pass Southern Oregon

If the picture above doesn't grab you, here are some more reasons to move to Grants Pass Southern Oregon.  Southern Oregon, otherwise known as the Rogue Valley, is nestled between two mountain ranges (Cascade & Siskiyou) and is considered the "banana-belt" region of Oregon, offering breath-taking mountain views and mild year-round weather.  There are two Counties in Southern Oregon, Jackson and Josephine, which are comprised of 20 smaller cities including Ashland, Applegate, Cave Junction, Central Point, Eagle Point, Gold Hill, Grants Pass, Jacksonville, Medford, Merlin, Murphy, Phoenix, Ruch, Rogue River, Shady Cove, Selma, Sunny Valley, Talent, White City and Williams. 

Many people who visit Grants Pass Southern Oregon for the first time are surprised to learn that it doesn't rain all the time, like its metropolis counterpart in Portland, Oregon.  The Rogue Valley is actually in the south western region of the state, offering four beautiful seasons.  Southern Oregon is considered Nature's Playground for the outdoor enthusiast with the Wild & Scenic Rogue River that runs from Crater Lake through Shady Cove, Gold Hill, the town of Rogue River, Grants Pass, Merlin, and finally into the Pacific Ocean.  Southern Oregon also offers wonderful golf courses, bike trails, greenway paths, fishing, rafting, and skiing.

If you are considering relocating to Grants Pass Southern Oregon, let's chat.  Originally a transplant from Southern California, I have lived in Grants Pass Southern Oregon for over 10 years and I haven't regretted the move one single bit.  I can identify with the stresses of moving from one state to another, so I can offer some valuable assistance in making the transition easy and more enjoyable.  And, don't worry, high pressure sales is not my style.  There will be no arm-twisting here, just good ole' fashioned shoot-from-the-hip Realtor talk from this Grants Pass Southern Oregon gal.    

Noah's Ark on display in Schagen, Netherlands!  The massive central door in the side of Noah's Ark was opened the first crowd of curious townsfolk to behold the wonder.  This replica of the biblical Ark was built by Dutch Creationist Johan Huibers as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible.

The ark is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide. That's two-thirds the length of a football field and as high as a three-story house.  Life-sized models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold.  

A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine. Biblical Scholars debate exactly what the wood used by Noah would have been.  Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools and with occasional help from his son Roy.  Construction began in May 2005.  On the uncovered top deck - not quite ready in time for the opening - will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs and chickens, and goats, and one camel. 

Visitors on the first day were stunned. 'It's past comprehension', said Mary Louise Starosciak, who happened to be bicycling by with her husband while on vacation when they saw the ark looming over the local landscape. 

When People are Fearful, be Greedy!  This is a now famous quote from billionaire Warren Buffett in the fall of 2008.  Buffett said, "When people are fearful, be greedy, and when people are greedy, be fearful."  Critics who have mocked the Billionaire's investment strategies, have had to (as The Wall Street Journals puts it) sit down for their traditional three-course meal: humble pie, their own words and a little bit of crow.

Warren Buffett was featured on MSN's home page today in an article written by The Wall Street Journal discussing the "Billionaire Basics."  The world's most famous investor lays out his basic principles of investing in this year's annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders.  Here are the top 6 tips he recommends for investors in todays' market.

1.  Stay liquid.

2.  Buy when everyone else is selling.

3.  Don't buy when everyone else is buying.

4.  Value, value, value.

5.  Understand what you own.

6.  Defense beats offense.  

In my mind, Warren Buffett's quote rings true in any real estate market.  When people are fearful, be greedy.  And, when people are greedy, be fearful.  There is something to be said for listening to this intelligent old-timer!

Pulling a Late-Nighter!  Tonight, I am stuck at the office sorting through piles of paperwork.  I have already stopped once for dinner, and some occasional comments on Active Rain.  I just can't seem to focus on the task at hand.   

Do you ever feel buried in mounds of paperwork?  Why do we need all this paper anyway!  Are your contracts getting longer each year?  It seems like there is always one more piece of paper to process on every deal.  And, the fact that we must store these files for 6 years for the Agency... Arghhhh!

Okay, enough ranting.  I am off to tackle some more piles.  For those of you who are relaxing on the sofa with a warm cup of tea and perhaps a slice of chocolate cake for dessert.... hhhhhmmmm, I will be sitting here pulling a late-nighter and thinking of you! 

31 Flavors is sounding pretty good right now!  Focus!