Portland

Portland Rose Festival: It wouldn’t be summer in the Rose City without this annual celebration. Highlights include the Rose Festival CityFair and RoZone, the Portland General Electric/SOLVE Starlight Parade, the Portland Rose Society’s 125th annual Spring Rose Show; and the Grand Floral Float Showcase. May 19-June 16; rosefestival.org

Multnomah County Fair at Oaks Amusement Park - Barnyard fun, family fun, mini-golf fun, and take-a-free picture-with-Bigfoot fun. Sat-Mon., 12 p.m. – 7p.m. FREE.

Wonder Northwest Festival – Sort of an equal opportunity pop-culture festival, Wonder NW lets you mingle with fellow geeks, gamers, film buffs and pirates. Here’s a schedule. $8 daily;$15/pass Tickets.

Zombie Prom at Bossanova Ballroom – The theme of this prom is “Night At the O-scares” — Hollywood glamour meets the undead. 8 p.m. 21+ $20. Tickets.

OMSI IMAX Film Festival – If you like your films to be considerably larger, more scientific and concise, then you are in for a treat. See films & showtimes. Thru July 1.

Kurt Vile at Star Theater – Philly based songwriter’s ‘Smoke Ring for My Halo’ was one of the highlights of 2011. See what all the fuss was about in the video below. 9 p.m. Tickets.

Sandy

Memorial Day Ceremony: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4273 hosts the event that features a program by Merle Stewart, post commander, the reading of veterans’ names and playing of taps at noon Mon, May 27. (Potluck 1 p.m. at the post, 38452 Proctor Blvd., Sandy.) Sandy Ridge Cemetery, Highway 211 next to Sandy Farms, Boring; free; 503-668-5211 or Merle Stewart, 503-705-0794

Candby

Canby Saturday Market:Vendors sell produce, flowers, plants, food, and arts and crafts. Weekly 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat, May 5-Oct. 27. Canby Cinema 8 parking lot, 252 N.E. Second Ave., Canby; free admission; www.canbysaturdaymarket.com or 503-680-5088 or canbysaturdaymarket@canby.com

Beginning Computer Classes: Weekly noon-1 p.m. Tue, through June 4. Continues with Internet Searching, May 21; Create a Free Email Account, May 28; and Navigating the LINCC Library Catalog, June 4. Registration required. Canby Public Library, 292 N. Holly St., Canby; free; www.canbylibrary.org or 503-266-3394

Live Music: The series continues with Carley Fairchild, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri, May 24; and Mark Seymour, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fri, May 31. Refreshments available for purchase. The Place To Be Cafe, 190 N.W. Second Ave., Canby; free admission; www.theplacetobecafe.com or 503-263-8293

Learn more about Alicia Dart and how she got into the business:

As the daughter of a real estate broker, I learned the ins and outs of this industry early on.  I have been a licensed Realtor since 1999.  Whether it’s finding the best deal for a buyer or getting the most for a seller, taking care of my clients is at the core of everything I do.

I thrive in difficult negotiations to arrive at the best outcome for my clients.  I believe that when you look for an agent the most important trait is finding one who has your best interests at heart.

I have built my business on the principle “and then some.” Do what is required “and then some.” It’s all in the details!

If you are like me and dislike long self-absorbed bios.  Here are some highlights about me.

Alicia’s Top 10

1. Family First – Don’t mess with my kids.

2.  Motto: Speak Kindly.  Give Generously. Care Deeply.

3. Adoption Rocks!  See our adoption story  here.

4. Pet Peeve – People that complain on Facebook

5. I love a good deal.

6. My home has a revolving front door.

7. Good eats: Chez Jose’s , Abella Italian Kitchen , PF Chang’s

8. Winter =  Mt Bachelor

9. Summer = Willamette River on the boat.

10. Starbucks : Grande Skinny Carmel Macchiato Stirred

 Learn About Bobbi Inman:

A native Oregonian I grew up living in a small neighborhood behind St. Vincent’s Hospital. My parents bought a fixer upper and we were constantly under construction. I watched as they worked relentlessly to remodel & restore our home. It was during this time that my love of homes sprouted and I learned a valuable lesson, one that has stuck with me through the years, Location is everything!

Expect the 2013 NW Natural Street of Dreams to be more impressive than ever before! You’ll visit nine innovative homes on beautiful acre-sized view lots. But this year, the amazing homes are just the beginning.  You’ll enjoy more fun, food and festivities at every turn. Start planning now to meet your friends on the Street of Dreams and see what the excitement is all about.

July 27 – August 25, 2013

Lori Fenwick was the ‘Words’ behind the video. Learn more about Lori and how she got into Real Estate:

At a young age,  Lori Fenwick made the courageous decision to leave behind a fruitful corporate career and dive into real estate. What she didn’t know was that it would quickly become her passion.  Her success as a broker means one thing; Happy clients!  Coming from a culturally diverse family, speaking two languages fluently, and being the youngest of five children, Lori picked up her drive and negotiation skills both naturally and through her life experiences.

From helping under-represented minorities with first home purchases, to seeking opportunities for experienced investors,  Lori has proven that she has what it takes to get everyone to the closing table!

Integrity, humor and cutting edge technology are just a few things she brings to every transaction.

Lori is a Portland native and lives in St. John’s with her husband, son and 3 tiny dogs, Juan, Pancho and Effie.  When she is not working hard for you,  she is volunteering at Holy Cross Catholic School, cycling around town or perfecting a new asana in hot yoga.

George Wiggins was the ‘Voice’ behind the video. He’s had some experiencing acting in the 90′s, and has been in some local commercials and infomercials. In the future, he’s hoping to get into Radio (after all he does have the perfect voice).

George has been in Real Estate since ’87. When he’s not doing Real Estate, he enjoys doing a variety of activities from hiking with his hound, photography, to glass work. He also enjoys his ’63 MGB car, which might just be the oldest one of its kind in the Northwest.

SELLER CONCESSIONS

What is it? Contributions that sellers kick in to help defray a buyer’s costs. They can include closing costs, inspections, appraisals and free upgrades.

What’s changing? The FHA proposes slashing allowable seller concessions in half, capping them at 3 percent of the home price instead of the current 6 percent.

Why? FHA analyses show a strong correlation between high seller concessions and high default rates, possibly because the concessions can lead to inflated home prices. The theory is that some sellers might make concessions only to add the cost to the price.

What does this mean to me? This buyer’s perk will soon become less generous. The proposal does not ban concessions above 3 percent. But concessions exceeding 3 percent would result in a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the home’s sales price and reduce the amount of the allowable loan.

CREDIT SCORES

What is it? Three-digit numbers that help lenders determine how likely a person is to pay back a loan in a timely manner. The FHA uses the most common scoring formula, called FICO, with scores ranging from 300 to 850. The higher the number, the better the rating.

What’s changing? This year, the FHA plans to impose a minimum credit score requirement: 500. Borrowers with credit scores below 580 would have to make a down payment of at least 10 percent instead of the usual 3.5 percent minimum.

Why? Low-scoring borrowers default at a higher rate than more creditworthy ones. As of January, the percentage of FHA borrowers who were seriously delinquent was three times as high for borrowers with scores below 580 than for those with scores above 580.

What does this mean to me? Lenders are already imposing tougher credit score requirements on FHA borrowers than the agency is proposing, which could explain why only 1 percent of borrowers with FHA-insured single-family home loans have scores below 580.

UNDERWRITING

What is it? Lenders must document information about the property (such as its value) and the borrower (such as income, debt, credit score) to assess whether the person is likely to repay the loan. Most lenders typically feed that information into an automated underwriting system for approval.

What’s changing? High-risk borrowers whose loans were flagged by the automated system could soon be subjected to a more in-depth manual review by the lender’s underwriting staff.

Why? The agency is trying to reduce its exposure to risk by limiting the discretion lenders have in approving loans.

What does it mean to me? Borrowers whose loans are manually underwritten would be required to have cash reserves equal to at least one monthly mortgage payment. Borrowers with credit scores below 620 would be more closely scrutinized. For instance, their overall debt would not be allowed to exceed 43 percent of their income.

SHORT REFINANCING

What is it? A new program that allows borrowers current on their mortgage payments to refinance into an FHA loan if they are underwater, meaning they owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth.

What’s changing? Borrowers who have no equity in their homes would be allowed to refinance into an FHA loan. The FHA would allow refinancing of the first mortgage only. If there is a second mortgage, the two loans combined cannot exceed the current value of the home by more than 15 percent once the first loan is refinanced.

Why? Many people are vulnerable to foreclosure because their home values have plummeted, making them unable to refinance or sell their properties if they lose their jobs or face a financial setback. This programs aims to help them.

What does it mean to me? Refinancing in this manner will probably hurt your credit, and qualifying won’t be easy. The lender or investor who owns your existing mortgage must voluntarily reduce the amount owed on that loan by at least 10 percent. Also, you generally must have about 31 percent or more of your pretax income available for the new monthly payment for all mortgages on the property.

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Here’s the rundown on more St. Paddy’s fun coming up:

The weekend starts with the Shamrock Fitness Fair at the Oregon Convention Center, which includes fitness exhibitors, Irish music and dancing, and a children’s area (11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday). On Sunday, the action shifts to booths and exhibits at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. After the 7:40 a.m. race, kick back with food, music and a win-your-weight-in-beer contest.

Innisfree Concert: In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, Brenda Scearcy and Jim Loewenherz perform Irish folk instrumentals and songs. 7-8 p.m. Friday. Cedar Mill Community Library, 12505 N.W. Cornell Road, Cedar Mill.

St. Patrick’s Day Zumba Party: Don your favorite green outfit and work out to fun Latin-inspired music led by Neylana Bezerra. 7-8:30 p.m. Friday. Milwaukie Center, 5440 S.E. Kellogg Creek Drive, Milwaukie; $5, or free for ages 12 and younger.

St. Patrick’s Day Storytelling: Ken Iverson offers Irish stories filled with laughter. For ages 8 and older. 7:30 p.m. Friday. Hipbone Studio, 1847 E. Burnside St., Suite 104; $5-$10.

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration: A two-day celebration with live music, Irish dancers, balloon-bending, face-painting and more. Performers include Chris Marshall & the August Light, Prairie Dog Brain Trust, Cody Beebee & the Crooks and others. Saturday-Sunday; see website for schedule. McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 S.W. Halsey St., Troutdale; free.

St. Patrick’s Parade: Murphy’s Furniture produces the 35th annual parade the day before St. Patrick’s Day. Parade participants meet at 9 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot across from Hare Field at Northeast Grant Street in Hillsboro; parade starts at 11 a.m. Entry fees benefit the Hillsboro Boys & Girls Club. Call for details. Hillsboro; $20 parade entry fee, free for spectators; Mary or Kathy, 503-640-1124

Sellwood-Moreland St. Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade: A 5K fun run (11 a.m.) kicks off the festival. Parade (noon) through Sellwood-Westmoreland ends at St. Agatha Catholic School. Old-fashioned carnival in school gym features Irish beer, food, dancing and live music in a heated tent; carnival games until 3 p.m., Catholic Mass 5 p.m., music and food available for purchase until 8 p.m. 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday. St. Agatha Catholic Church Parish Hall, 7959 S.E. 15th Ave.; free admission.

ComedySportz St. Patrick’s Day: Irish-themed comedy with improvised folk songs, games and Irish beers. Family-friendly show. 8 p.m. Saturday. ComedySportz, 1963 N.W. Kearney St.; $15; www.portlandcomedy.com or 503-236-8888

St. Patrick’s Day Skate: Noon-4 p.m. or 7-10 p.m. Sunday. Wear your green and get a free “pickle shot” (pickle juice). Gresham Skate World, 1220 N.E. Kelly Ave., Gresham; $5.75 day session, $3.75 night session.

All-Ireland Cultural Society’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival: The All-Ireland Cultural Society offers Irish dance groups, bagpipe music, drumming and traditional foods. Family event open to all ages. Noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Holy Rosary Hall, 376 N.E. Clackamas St.; $5-$10, ages 11 and younger free.

St. Patrick’s Fun Day at the Carousel: Scavenger hunt, Irish bagpipe performance and more. Noon Sunday. Salem’s Riverfront Carousel, 101 Front St. N.E., Salem; free.

St. Patrick’s Day Concert and Dance: The Portland Dixieland Jazz Society presents a jazz concert sprinkled with your favorite Irish tunes played by the Calamity Jazz Band. The decade-old Eugene group features Vicki Cox (trumpet), Bill Kick (trombone), Jeff Bryant (reeds), Meg Graff (bass saxophone), John Bennett (piano) and Ron Leach (drums). Food and drinks available for purchase. Dance on the hardwood dance floor. 1-4:30 p.m. Sunday. Milwaukie Elks Lodge, 13121 S.E. McLoughlin Blvd., Milwaukie; $10 jazz society members, $15 others.

St. Patrick’s Day Concert: The women of Northwest Harmony Chorus offer a barbershop-style St. Patrick’s Day concert. 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Cornell Estates, 1005 N.E. 17th Ave., Hillsboro; free.

Reorganize the Furniture

One of the most ideal ways to transform a home is by reorganizing your furniture. You can open things up by taking pieces out or rearranging them to create additional walking space. If you’re looking for a more intimate setting, you can arrange your furniture more closely together and center it round the fireplace or T.V. You can add excitement to your bedroom by placing your furnishings on the opposite walls and adding interesting accent pieces such as plants, vases and artwork.

Go Feng Shui

Going Feng Shui brings about balance and spirituality to your home through Eastern philosophy. Through the placement of objects and the addition of meaningful colors, you can improve your home’s appeal through these inspirational ideas. Start by focusing on one of the essential power spots and move up from there.

Clean

If you have unwanted items or useless furnishings lying around, get rid of it. You can either have a yard sale or donate the belongings to a charitable organization. Getting rid of clutter is an obvious way to transform your home and give it a fresh look for free. Go through linen closets, the basement, attic space and closets and toss away anything that you no longer use. Place the items that you’ll be keeping in neat and tidy storage containers or on shelving units.

Natural Plants

Plants can provide a home with an assortment of benefits that includes brightening up your living space and providing a home with oxygen. If your schedule is busy and chaotic, you can select plants that require little maintenance and upkeep. Plants and flowers are fragrant and can bring a soothing atmosphere to your dwelling.

Invest in New Carpet

New carpeting can be a costly expenditure, but it can totally change the atmosphere of your home. Stick to neutral colors and select something stain resistant and durable. To keep your investment looking brand-new, hire a professional service to keep your rugs clean and spotless.

Have additional ideas?  Let us know what they are in the comments section below.

What does this mean for a buyer? 

What does this mean for a seller? 

For the kids:

You can make your own Valentine bookmark, magnet or card during Family Day at the Washington County Museum on Feb. 13.  The event was created for “kids of all ages” and packed with not only arts and crafts, but history activities, too.

You can listen to the Oregon Symphony Kids Series and share your love of music with your children.

If Monster trucks are your thing, the Monster Jam will be at the Rose Garden. The show will feature fan favorites Grave Digger, Donkey Kong, Blue Thunder, Iron Man, The Patriot, Tropical Thunder, Obsession and Captain USA.

For the adults:

Want to take a romantic bike ride with thousands of other cycling fans? The quirky annual tradition of the Worst Day of the Year Ride will hit the roads on Valentine’s Day. The 18-mile ride goes through Portland and ends at the Lucky Lab with some hot cocoa, doughnuts and other treats.

Here are some other night time activities -

• Wanderlust Circus Pyromance @ Bossanova Ballroom | Fire, Swing Music, Circus Performances
• Funny with Your Honey @ Helium Comedy Club | Comedian Tom Rhodes, Food, Drinks
• Valentine’s Day w/ Roberta Flack & Oregon Symphony | Grammy Award-Winning Songstress
• Toujours L’Amour – A Valentine’s Evening of Jazz @ Vie de Boheme | Easy-Listening Jazz, Wine, Food
• I’ve Got A Hole In My Soul Valentine’s Day Ball @ Holocene | Soul, RnB Dance Party
• Valentine’s Day @ East Burn | Beer Belly Dinner, Dinner Reservations, Music, Flowers, LobsterValentine’s
  
• Day Kiss & Tell @ Portland Story Theater | Live Storytelling, Champagne, ChocolateValentine’s Day w/ Stone in Love @ Star
  
• Theater | Journey Tribute, Catered Dinner