OK, I have been thinking about this for some time. The only thing stopping me was I wasn't sure how to start it. I also didn't know exactly how to end it. As a matter of fact, I wasn't exactly sure what to put in the middle either. But, other than that, I knew exactly how I wanted it to go. I want to discuss finding your BLISS. I want to talk about what makes you happy. I want you to look at things a bit differently and not be down because of what is happening around you. I know this is a stressful time in the Real Estate business, but we can make it through it. I had it all written an hour ago, finally got my thoughts together and my computer decided to reset itself. All gone. Hopefully, this will even be better than the original.   First of all, let me explain that I have had my share... 08/10/2008

The Jasper Extension, renamed the Bob Straub Parkway, should be done this fall when connection is made with Jasper Road. As an Oregon native and knowing who Bob Straub was (Governor 1975 - 1979), I am quite surprised that anything is named after him, except for a small rest area somewhere remote. If you search Bob Straub, you won't come up with much on him, which is pretty appropriate for a real do nothing governor. To be honest, if you search Robert Straub, you get more, but he was still a pretty ineffective governor in a pretty long line of ineffective governors. However, the extension of I-105 through Thurston (Springfield)  connects with Jasper Road while opening up a substantial portion of Thurston to development. Springfield is a growth community and is looking for ways to expand ... 08/10/2008

Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend, Springfield, OR, is the newest, most state of the art hospital in Oregon. It has to be the newest, because it doesn't open until tomorrow. The staff has been working to get everything ready for the opening, including doing dry runs to transfer patients. There will be an explosion of ambulance and helicopter traffic tomorrow as the approximately 200 patients are moved from the current hospital location in the University District of Eugene to the Gateway area of Springfield.   As part of the construction, Pioneer Parkway in Springfield was extended to the RiverBend location. It has the distinction of having one of the few roundabouts in Lane County, and the only one that is two lanes each direction. "The move day plan allows for moving up to 300 p... 08/09/2008

Here is yet more motivation to get out there and get those buyers off the fence.  The Federal Open Market Committee decided to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 2 percent.  There was one dissenter on the committee who said that he recommended that they raise the target by a quarter.  More importantly, they used the dreaded "I" word, Inflation.  Recently, any time the "I" word is mentioned you can see rates go quickly shooting up for approximately a week.  The market should cool down by next week, but in my opinion by the time the next meeting happens, the dissenter is probably going to be able to start rallying support for the idea of raising the target rate in order to stave off the "I" word. In the "What does this mean to me?" category:  You should be targeting all of your... 08/06/2008

In the City of Eugene, it is called HAP. In the City of Springfield, it is called SHOP. Both of them are programs to help low to moderate income purchasers get into their first home. The State of Oregon operates a similiar program called PAL for outside of Eugene/Springfield but it is out of money, again. Outside the Eugene/Springfield urban growth boundry, the USDA Farm Home Economic Development loans are available to 100% financing. Eugene HAP, homeowner assistance program, and the Springfield home ownership program, are designed to help first time home buyers with the down payment and closing costs in their purchase. Each offer up to a $10,000 interest free, payment free second mortgage for this purpose. The loan is accepted by FHA as a viable method of obtaining down payment money a... 08/04/2008

The above mural is what you see when you pull up to the Springfield Farmers' market. The market is open every Friday (during the growing season) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The market is located between 5th & 6th Streets on Main Street in downtown Springfield. It is being held in the Springfield Museum parking lot. When I was there today, there weren't very many vendors, but the ones there seemed to have a lot of great produce that was grown locally. I purchased some yellow grape tomatoes and lemon cucumbers. I guess it was my day to go yellow. Personally, I can't wait until sweet corn and ripe red tomatoes are on the list of available produce. There were red tomatoes available, but weren't ripe, so I passed. For me, there is nothing better than Willamette Valley sweet corn on the cob. Of co... 07/25/2008

In a recent post, I said I would post one more of my pictures of my wife's flower garden. I don't have nearly as many flowers this year as previously because my wife isn't here to plant them. I am doing my best to keep things growing though and keep the weeds down. It amazes me how a weed can grow on a rock but a flower not only requires good soil to grow in, but it also requires regular watering, fertilizer and plenty of space, so it isn't choked out. Weeds though, only require you not to pull them. I know that if I tried to grow dandelions, they wouldn't grow, because I was trying, but since I am not, they do quite well, thank you! Here is the last installment of flowers, I hope you enjoy them as much as Elaine did!   I truely hope you enjoy this last installment. Have a wonderful wee... 07/24/2008

Today is my wife's birthday. Unfortunately, I lost my wife after more than 40 years of fighting diabetes last November. We had been married for 35 years and I miss her an unbelievable amount. This post is just for me to tell everyone how much she meant to me. This picture is of her last Christmas with her puppy and two of the most important things in the world to her, Rheannon & Gage, our son & daughter-in-law's children. Family meant a lot to her because she had lost so much of hers. I have posted pictures of her Thurston flower garden in the past and I invite anyone to look at the color. I will post final one soon. It was too soon to lose her, but our memories will live on. Her name was Elaine and I loved her very much, but like most married couples, there were times we didn't like ea... 07/21/2008

It is time again for the Springfield Board of Realtors Great Chili Cook Off. The final judging will be done about noon Friday (July 18) in Springfield's Island Park. Just follow you nose to the competition. There are six competitors scheduled this year, but once they smell my chili, they may all drop out. The competitors, beside me, are: Ann Ross, Equity/GMAC Realty; Steve Ouellette, Equity/GMAC Realty; Sherry Waters, Equity/GMAC Realty; Dave Mara, D.C. Real Estate; and Erin Gangestad, Western Title and Escrow. This promises to be a hard fought battle as the six competitors go head to head for the title of champion chili cooker for all of the Springfield Board of Realtors, a hugely coveted title. Early odds with the Las Vegas syndicate show a slight favoritism for Steve Ouellette, but ... 07/16/2008

I promised more pictures of my flowers, so I guess I have to deliver. The Willamette Valley is one of the finest places in the world to grow things. I have a lot of plants that grow even without my help. Those, I consider weeds. My wife and I had a disagreement as to what constituted a weed. I said if it grew where it wasn't planted, it was a weed. She said it if bloomed, it was a flower. My easy win was to point out the poor dandylion. It blooms, but it is always a weed. I think the only thing it is good for is wine. LOL Well, here are the latest floral examples:       I will add more flowers later. I just want to stress that flowers grow here, abundantly. 07/10/2008

Three years ago, my wife and I bought a new home in Thurston (Springfield). It came with nothing for landscaping. My wife (who I lost last November) loved flowers and we have far more flowers than we have grass. Now, there are still a lot of flowers, but not nearly as many as when she was alive. I just want to share her favorite flowers with you from last year:                 This wouldn't be complete without my wife surrounded by her flowers. There are a lot more pictures which I will include another time. For now, enjoy the color. 07/02/2008

I just wanted to post this as a reminder that things are looking up in Springfield, Oregon...Please remember to support your hometown when planning your Fourth of July outings...Market is on this Friday from 9am-3pm before the Island Park celebration gets started at 4pm. 07/02/2008

Hello everyone!I would like to invite you to come by the Regional Sports Center located at 200 S 32nd Street in Springfield (off Main street).When: (3 Days to choose from)Friday May 2nd from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.Saturday May 3rd from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.and on Sunday May 4th from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.                        Why or What for:There will be a "Fiesta" to celebrate Cinco de Mayo (5th of May). If you would like to see a real "Fiesta", stop by on one of the days and enjoy some fine Authentic Mexican food from our local Mexican restaurants. While you are enjoying a Tamale, Burrito, or some Tacos, or whatever you decide to try, why not wash it down with a nice COLD Cerveza.....  Over the three days there will be entertainment such as a Soccer tournament, live Mariachi, Com... 04/30/2008

Untitled Document <!-- .style4 {font-weight: bold} --> The signs were are clearer in February that the Lane County real estate market is leveling out. While the median price for a Lane County home fell 6 %, compared to a year ago, to $220,000, according to the Regional Multiple Listing Service,the number of pending sales was flat in every neighborhood across Eugene and Springfield, compared to a year ago. This after nearly every month for the past 12 months we have seen declines in pending sales. With a estimated nine month inventory at 1,925 homes on the market — even some of the most optimistic real estate professionals don’t expect the prices now being fetched by existing homes to hold forever. A lot has changed since June 2007 when Lane County witnessed its pinnacle median price... 03/19/2008

Springfield, Oregon is in a fight with 14 other "Springfields" across the US to host the Simpsons Movie Premiere. We need your vote! Please go to:  www.usatoday.com/life Look for the Simpsons Movie Contest Icon and Click on it. Look for the Star that says "Oregon" and click on it so it becomes Purple View the Oregon Simpsons Movie and see why Springfield, Oregon is the "True "Thank you for your support "   Mark Metzger, VP/GM KLSR-FOX & KEVU-MyTV 2940 Chad Drive * Eugene, OR 97408 (541) 681-3170   07/05/2007