Clean Energy Works Oregon – up to $3,700 Rebate

Posted on April 13, 2011 by admin

For a limited time Clean Energy Works Oregon is offering up to $3,700 in Instant Rebates depending on how much energy you will save.

Home Energy Assessment = $500

* 15% Energy Savings = $1,500
* 20% Energy Savings = $2,200
* 30% Energy Savings = $3,200

Total Savings = Up to $3,700

Costs & Financing
With Clean Energy Works Oregon (CEWO), making your home more energy efficient and comfortable is finally within reach. A Home Energy Remodel through CEWO may reduce your home’s energy waste by 15%, 20%, 30% or even more. No money down, no fee financing means there are no out-of-pocket upfront costs, while a fixed Annual Percentage Rate (APR) as low as 5.99% keeps monthly payments low. Some of our lending partners can even place loan payments on your heating utility bill, so you won’t have extra bills to pay. For many homeowners, the energy they save even offsets a good portion of their monthly loan payment.

 Learn more

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I love Oregon Wine Country

Posted on April 12, 2011 by admin

Dundee Hills Passport Tour
Saturday & Sunday, April 16 & 17, 2011
Event Link

Enjoy the benchmark wines and spectacular views of this exciting wine growing region. You'll also learn from experts about the unique climate, red volcanic soil, geology and earth-friendly farming practices that make this appellation so special.

Accomodations

The Award-Winning Allison Inn.  The Allison was recently awarded our LEED Gold Certification for its green design. One of only twenty two hotels in the world qualify for this rare environmental distinction. 
Link

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Case-Shiller Press Release

Posted on April 11, 2011 by admin

Home Prices Off to a Dismal Start in 2011

New York, March 29, 2011 – Data through January 2011, released today by Standard & Poor’s for its S&P/Case-Shiller1 Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, show further deceleration in the annual growth rates in 13 of the 20 MSAs and the 10- and 20-City Composites compared to the December 2010 report. The 10-City Composite was down 2.0% and the 20-City Composite fell 3.1% from their January 2010 levels. San Diego and Washington D.C. were the only two markets to record positive year-over-year changes. However, San Diego was up a scant 0.1%, while Washington DC posted a healthier +3.6% annual growth rate. The same 11 cities that had posted recent index level lows in December 2010, posted new lows in January.

Press Release

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How to Wreck Your Credit Score

Posted on April 9, 2011 by admin

Don't underestimate the harm that even one missed mortgage payment can do to your credit score—especially if you had good credit to begin with. The severe consequences underscore that you shouldn't shrug off even an accidentally missed payment. Instead, you should pay it and call the lender right away, begging for forgiveness before it mars your credit record.  In an unusually specific commentary to lenders, Fair Isaac, the creator of the FICO score, recently spelled out the severe consequences to the credit scores of borrowers who are 30 days late on their mortgages—as well as the long-term impact of failing to repay the whole mortgage.

It isn't a pretty picture.

Being 30 days late on a house payment—even if it is an accident—can knock 100 points off a pristine 780 credit score, moving you from qualifying for the very best interest rates to the edge of subprime territory.  The actual numerical drop is less severe if your starting credit score is 720 or 680, but the impact is greater, since your new score is likely to sink to a level where new credit is hard to get and very expensive.  The FICO score ranges from a low of 300 to 850, with scores of about 750 or higher generally qualifying for the best loan terms. Read more

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Portland Business Journal Women of Influence

Posted on April 8, 2011 by admin

The Portland Business Journal honored 25 area business women at its annual Women of Influence luncheon on Thursday.

Awards were given to four "Woman Executive of the Year" winners:

* Martha Wyrsh, president of Vestas Americas, in the large business category.
* Bess Wills, general manager of Gresham Ford, in the medium/small business category.
* Sattie Clark, co-owner and director of marketing and sustainability for Eleek Inc., in the entrepreneurial category.
* Margie Harris, executive director of Energy Trust Oregon, in the nonprofit category.

Read more

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Earth Month Giveaways

Posted on April 8, 2011 by admin

Target kicks off Earth Month by offering consumers ways to make a difference in their homes. The celebration includes opportunities to win hundreds of sustainable products, including a $50,000 home makeover.

The "Refresh Your Nest" home makeover features Target's home style expert, Sabrina Soto, a LEED-certified accredited designer.

Enter Sweepstakes

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What’s your Walking Score?

Posted on April 7, 2011 by admin

NAR Study Finds Americans Favor Walkable Communities

Americans favor walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods, with 56 percent of respondents preferring smart growth neighborhoods over neighborhoods that require more driving between home, work and recreation. That’s according to a recent study, the Community Preference Survey, by the National Association of REALTORS®.

“REALTORS® care about improving communities through smart growth initiatives,” said NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “Our members don’t just sell homes, they sell neighborhoods. REALTORS® understand that different home buyers are looking for all kinds of neighborhood settings and that many home buyers want walkable, transit-accessible communities.”

Walkable communities are defined as those where shops, restaurants, and local businesses are within walking distance from homes. According to the survey, when considering a home purchase, 77 percent of respondents said they would look for neighborhoods with abundant sidewalks and other pedestrian-friendly features, and 50 percent would like to see improvements to existing public transportation rather than initiatives to build new roads and developments.  Read more

2011 Community Preference Survey

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Unemployed? Look for a green job!

Posted on April 6, 2011 by admin

The mission of our publication is to cover the news and issues of interest to businesses that are engaged in the sustainable economy. For Oregon, sustainability has become the watchword for economic development work. It’s become a differentiator for our businesses and a passion for the people they employ. Our goal is to provide both a hub for news and a forum for the exchange of ideas on topics of vital interest for people who care deeply about sustainable business. At the same time, Sustainable Business Oregon maintains a store of resources and serves as a starting point for anyone in business who wants to learn about how sustainable practices can make a difference in both their daily operations and their bottom line. Easy-to-use resources also include our research snapshots, free job listings and events calendar.  Green jobs

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New Construction Limited Tax Exemption (LTE) Program

Posted on April 5, 2011 by admin

Ten-Year Limited Property Tax Exemption

The LTE program offers eligible homebuyers, who purchase newly constructed homes in certain parts of Portland, a ten-year limited property tax exemption. The exemption dramatically reduces the annual property taxes the eligible homeowner has to pay throughout the exemption period. The annual property taxes on an LTE home are much lower because they are based on the assesed value of the lot, but not the assesed value of the improvements (all structures on the property). While the program does provide the homebuyer considerable savings during the exemption period, the property taxes become fully assessed once the ten year exemption period is over. The exemption period cannot be extended. It is also important to note the home must be owner occupied in throughout the exemption period.    Read more    –    Homebuyer Opportunity Area

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Tax Time – Benefits of Home Ownership

Posted on April 4, 2011 by admin

“Owning a home offers myriad benefits throughout the year, but some of the financial advantages of home ownership are most apparent at tax time,” said NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “As many of today’s hard-working American families are feeling a financial squeeze, the tax benefits that can come from owning a home can be a welcome relief.”

A number of tax deductions and credits are still available for home owners; these include deductions – with specific limits – for mortgage interest and capital gains on home sales, and credits for certain energy-efficient home improvements. Even with these benefits, home owners pay 80-90 percent of all U.S. federal income taxes.

“It’s been suggested that many of today’s tax incentives for home ownership primarily benefit wealthy individuals, but that’s simply not true,” said Phipps. “As today’s public debate continues about what home ownership means for families, communities, and the nation’s economy, there’s no question that for many, owning a home is still the best way to begin building wealth.”

Ninety-one percent of home owners who claim the mortgage interest deduction earn less than $200,000 a year, and the ability to deduct the interest paid on a mortgage can mean significant savings at tax time. For example, a family who bought a home in 2010 with a $200,000, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, assuming an interest rate of 4.5 percent, could save nearly $3,500 in federal taxes when they file this year. Read more

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