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Springfield, OR Real Estate News

By Fred Chamberlin, Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant
(Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA)
Todd Clark (Realtor), GRI (Your Washington Co. Real Estate Expert) : Helping Families Home - Your Oregon Real Estate Blog, has tagged me with an interesting MeMe, a Christmas one. The idea behind the Christmas MeMe is that if we could get just one present, what would it be? I would be happy with a lot of things, but the one really special, unbelievable, unreal, without a doubt killer, one present above all would be......drum roll please.....a small fishing trip. I guess, maybe small might not be the right discriptive word, because I would like to fly into a fishing lodge in Northern Canada or Alaska and I would like to have my entire family with me. I would like to be able to help my grandson pull in his first salmon. I would like to help my great grandaughter catch a 10 pound lake trou...
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By Fred Chamberlin, Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant
(Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA)
Springfield Christmas Parade, December 2008 by Fred Chamberlin, Springfield/Eugene Real Estate Loan Officer
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By Fred Chamberlin, Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant
(Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA)
I joined Active Rain in June and made my first "barely" adequate post on June 27 but between then and the end of the month, I posted 13 times and got 2 comments. Obviously I was the hit of the neighborhood. The bright spot was I picked up my first associate and subscriber, Leslie Stewart who has been a loyal reader since then. Boosted by such rave reviews of my writing, I posted 62 blogs in July and actually had people reading them, not many, but some. Over the months since then, I have made some exceptional A/R friends and at least one enemy. The friends have made my progress informative and fun. To see good things written about your information is very fulfilling. I recommend that anyone that has been wondering if it is worthwhile, to stick in there and work on quality and quantity. I...
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By Fred Chamberlin, Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant
(Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA)
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By Fred Chamberlin, Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant
(Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA)
Since it is the end of a long weekend, I thought I might end it with a photo essay and a few fun things to celebrate thankfulness. For those that don't know, Three Dog Night was a term used for how cold it was. On a particular cold night, three dogs would be invited into bed with your, therefore, a cold night was a three dog one. I can only go for a two dog night, since I only have two dogs: Now, the band make several sucessful recordings over the years, but my ATF (all time favorite) was Joy to the World, better knows as Jeremiah was a Bullfrog. So, this afternoon, I went looking to see if I could find Jeremiah and guess what? I did. Not just one, but two of them. There are other frogs in my garden. Maybe next time, I will introduce you to some others. Be sure and click on the frog abo...
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By Fred Chamberlin, Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant
(Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA)
I thought a long time (for me anyway) about whether to write this blog or not. I didn't want to come across as if I were tooting my own horn just to hear it toot. I changed my mind about that when I was talking with a Realtor® that I really trust on the Springfield Board of Realtors® and she convinced me that it was the right thing to do, so here it is. On Tuesday, the Springfield Board of Realtors® (SBOR) announced their 2008 Affiliate of the Year and it was me. To say that I was surprised was an understatement. For one of the very few times in my life, I was speechless. All I could say was, Thank You! For those that know me, I am as wordy in person as in my blog. Why is this important? I joined the SBOR, not as an affiliate member as part of my company, but as me. At the time, I was w...
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By Fred Chamberlin, Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant
(Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA)
While I was at the Fiesta Latina Saturday night, I tried a night view of the bridge over the Willamette River. I think it came out better than I expected. Needless to say, taking this kind of a picture with flash doesn't work. So, what do you think, is the picture worth the space? Our rivers are beautiful, day or night. Come for a visit! I got an extra bedroom. :-D Carolyn, this eye candy is for you!  
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By Fred Chamberlin, Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant
(Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA)
Viva La Fiesta!A celebration of Latin music, food, art and dance at Springfield's Island Park Friday and Saturday. Bienvenidos!   Bands played, dancers danced, food vendors fed patrons, car nuts saw the inside of low riders and found out how the heck they could jump up and down. Take a look at what that takes: Here is an interesting steering wheel: The display of art was wonderful. My favorite is this one: Of course, if you were hungry, you could try some bananas: There was an excellent selection of food. Tried the enchiladas from Guatemala, the rellena from Peru and some wonderful tamales from Mexico. The green was spicy and better than the red. I was kind of surprised that the other food was actually kind of bland. I thought the cost was a bit steep for what was being offered, but I m...
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By Fred Chamberlin, Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant
(Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA)
I know there will be many people that will post basically this same blog today, but I still want to be one of them. I was getting dressed in the bedroom in Boise Id while watching Fox News (yes, I am one of those conservative types.) When all of a sudden, the program was interruped with a scene so unbelievable that my wife and I stopped getting ready for work and were glued to the TV. We saw what had happened to one of the twin towers and while we were watching a second plane crashed into the other. What in the world was happening? The heroics of the passengers aboard Flight 93 will always be part of America. The people we lost from these attacks will be missed in our communities. One question that everyone was asking was very well summed up by Alan Jackson with this song. My concern no...
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By Fred Chamberlin, Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant
(Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA)
I got a call yesterday from my 6 year old granddaughter. She is the apple of her Grandfather's eye and knows how to make this gruff (sometimes) old man melt. I took her and her little brother to Disney World just after New Year's and am their favorite grandparent. Now, I don't know if Disney World earned me the title or it is just because I am so warm and cuddly, but whatever the reason, I like it. She called because she has to write about her favorite grandparent for a school assignment and needed to interview me for the assignment. She needed to know my favorite hobby (I said grandchildren but it is probably fishing with grandchildren), my favorite book, The Walking Drum by Louis L'Amour and my favorite food, chicken. Then I thought about this song and hoped that the time would come t...
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By Fred Chamberlin, Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant
(Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA)
Bright Oak Meats, on the corner of 7th and Main Street in downtown Springfield Oregon is a real find. I didn't know about it until word of mouth reached my ear, and I had driven by it many times.  See, I am not just about flowers and vegetables. I like meat too. Local meat and different meat than you find in Safeway or Albertsons is what is available at Bright Oak Meats. But, what brought me in the door was the jerky. I love jerky and they make their own. Also, they have several different flavors of jerky. Great price on the scales, but that is for pepperoni, not jerky. Fast, friendly, helpful service. My favorite flavor of jerkey is the sweet and spicy. Although, I tried the buffalo last time and it was very flavorful, if a bit on the dry side. Now, that is funny, jerky on the dry sid...
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By Fred Chamberlin, Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant
(Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA)
Herrick Farms, a great place for fresh produce I love this time of year in Oregon. There is nothing better than fresh sweet corn on the cob and fresh field ripened tomatoes. Add a bit of cantaloupe and peaches for desert and you are in heaven. There are several places in and around the Eugene/Springfield area to get your fresh produce. The most advertised and well known are Thistledown Farms and Lone Pine Farms (no not loan pine). It is a long drive from Thurston to get to either of them and still quite a jaunt to get to Johnson Farms off of Game Farm Road. But, it is just a little way down to road to get to Herrick Farms in Walterville. Just head out 126 toward the mountains and right after you cross the McKenzie River, look for Herrick Farms on the left. The have great produce all thr...
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By Fred Chamberlin, Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant
(Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA)
I have two dogs, Peanut (minature poodle) and Princess Grace (Shi-tzu) and overall, they are good companions. This story is about Gracie. Now, when you think about Gracie, remember she is a Shi-tzu, with the emphasis on the first syllable. Gracie won't be one until November and has been an interesting addition to the household. I got her to keep Peanut company and she does a good job at that, but she is very, very, very hard headed. Apparently, that is not unusual for the breed. Peanut on the other hand is very compliant and obedient. Gracie is neither, most of the time. She has been (and is) very hard to house train. Nothing seems to work on her, but I keep trying. The latest episode was yesterday. I guess it is my fault because I didn't see the signs. I never knew that Gracie was reli...
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This post is meant to be a signal to all Realtors dealing with First Time Home Buyers, as well as first time home buyers themselves.  Beware of the loan officer that tells you that everything is going to be like a walk in the park.  Truth is, you are going to need to document everything that has affected your income over the last two years, also everything that has affected your bank account for the last two months.  Good credit, stable employment and a good property are no longer the end all be all answers to mortgage loan approval.  Understand that if you are working with the right loan consultant, who will shoot straight with you, and you can trust, the process will be bearable.  It will take longer than you have heard your friends talking about when they bought their house.  Your lo...
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