Norm Rice, (Realtor) CRS, ABR, SRES, e-Pro

Can we get your help? Relocation packages offered by Title companies, Chambers of Commerce & Realtors come in all sizes, shapes, and methods. Some may be found on-line that can be downloaded; others offer to mail a DVD while some may mail out a packet of information. What would you like or expect to find in a Relocation Package and what method of delivery would you prefer? Or, are they even needed in today's Google world?

As a member of the Board of Directors for our local Chamber, I've been asked to head a committe to help develop such a Relocation Package that would be helpful to people moving into our local Portland, Oregon area. Rather than simply duplicating something that someplace else has done, our goal is to develop a package that will indeed meet the wishes and needs of our receivers. So, we turn to you. What in your experience is helpful, what is not, and if you were moving to a new area, such as Portland, Oregon, what would you hope to receive in terms of content? What type of information would you want? Let us also know what method would be most helpful to you and your movers - a mailed DVD - on-line PDF' documents that can be downloaded, simply a website filled with the information, or a mailed package of information.

Thanks for your valuable input and assistance.

By the way ... if you know someone wishing to move to the livable, walkable,, bike-friendly and uniquely spirited community of Portland, Oregon, give me a call. I'm never to busy for your referrals. You can be assured they will receive the type of service you give and deserve.

Imagine yourself knowing that you had the opportunity to save your hard earned savings, or loose it all. Imagine yourself in 1855 wearing the boots of a French-Canadian cattle trader living in Oregon, Louis Remmer, who had just overhead while having coffee in a San Francisco coffee shop that the $12500.00 that he had just deposited in Adams Express company Bank was about to be lost. (in 1855 that was a lot of money) You knew that there was no such thing as FDIC , nor Twitter, Facebook, or even telegraph. You rush to the bank to save your deposit and hear the announcement being made that the Bank has gone under. Realizing that there was a branch in Portland that would only hear of the news to stop handing out any more money to depositors was by steamboat. The steamboat had just left port for Oregon and would take at least 5 days. The only way to save your fortune was to beat that steamboat to Oregon. Could you, or would you, make it by horseback – through dangerous territory, snow covered February mountain passes and rivers with no bridges. Would you be so determined to save not only your fortune, but the commitment you had made to the love of your life to provide security and the warmth of a home for years to come? ( a great novel - Race for the Gold by Thorn Bacon)

Perhaps we are wearing similar boots today. There is here in Oregon real estate gold not only in Portland, Salem, Milwauie, but also in small communities such as Boring, Oregon. Our real estate has had it’s share of devaluation, foreclosures and short sales. With interest rates low, there is the opportunity to not only save our nest eggs, but to perhaps even double them in the future. The Portland metro area’s future and destiny is bright – population growth, economic growth and prosperity is predicted to take off in 2009, as indicated by one of many recent reports entitled Greater Portland Prosperity – a Regional Outlook. Portland remains a quality economic and desirable Northwest hub.

Word travels quicker than in 1855, in fact some are already discovering the incredible buyer investment opportunities found throughout our Portland metro area neighborhoods. (Discover some for yourself at PortlandRealEstateSearch.com) Others however are sipping their coffee or micro brews deciding to wait to capitalize on their well-earned credit and savings. Among those fence sitters found sipping their Starbucks or Black Rabbit Porters are Realtors – hoping times will get better, that buyers will find them.

Perhaps the story of Louis Remme, that determined Oregon investor, would have ended differently had he simply continued to sip his California coffee.

If you are determined to put on your boots, and with the help of a focused Realtor negotiate through and to the Oregon Territory, I’m prepared to help you race for the Oregon Gold found in these hills and valleys.

P.S, In Oregon we now have updated our communication methods to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, e-mail and phones that will be answered.

An Oregon Pionner & Realtor

Norm Rice

1800-339-0980

Boring, Oregon. There is excitement in the air the home of a Portland metro area Realtor, a home overlooking Highway 26 and an equestrian center in the small but exciting community of Boring, Oregon. At approximately 6:30, AM on December 1st, the greetings and ringing of the cow bells could be heard across the Boring valley as Edgar (keep tuned – someday he will show his face) proclaimed: “The New Year Has Begun – Happy New Year”

As we look back over the past year there has indeed been good news and bad news, but “today, at the beginning of a New Year, we look ahead to the opportunities and exhilaration one finds as they bike, hike or snowboard in the regions around this great Northwest area of Oregon” Edgar proclaimed. With many-faceted goals set, with an attitude of prosperity and good cheer, our cabinets almost full, real estate a plenty, our interest rates low, let the doors open wide to take advantage of the 13 month New Year. Let the New Year begin. Why wait for everyone else?

Throughout our villages, our hamlets, our communities across America this morning, senior care-givers took a brief moment for perhaps a cup of coffee as they prepared to focus their day on caring for our seniors. Day in and day out, these givers nourish,, encourage, bath, shave, dress, feed, and embrace those that in the past did the same for us. I often wonder how much appreciation they get.

In Portland, Oregon alone, there are over 600 Adult Family Homes, woven into the fabric of our neighborhoods. Within these homes reside up to 5 seniors. In California there are of 6500 Adult Family Homes scattered throughout the state. Imagine the amount of care being given right now as you read this. These care-givers will most likely never make the news – only if they fail or make a mistake.

Today you may also drive by a larger community of seniors – perhaps an Assisted Living Community or Retirement Home. Beyond the fancy facades, the elaborate entry ways designed to make us want to move in ourselves and be waited on, are again more care-givers, many who are being paid minimum wages doing what you or I would only do if it was for our kids. Sure, it is their job – they like us are trying to feed their families, but, don’t they also deserve some praise and thanks?

How can we realistically appreciate them? There are those traditional ways of going to nursing homes or Assisted Living facilities during the holidays. But what about year around? Perhaps an occasional note of thanks to a care-giver you have met in one of those facilities – perhaps taking the time to visit one of the smaller neighborhood Adult Care Homes in your neighborhood. Just be sure when you knock on the door, that you let them know right away you are there not to judge but to support and thank them. At first they may think you are a county inspector looking for problems or a reason to fine them. How do you discover them in your community? Perhaps The Senior Care Guide can be a help.

Someday, you may know of a friend, or perhaps it may be someone in your family, who needs to find quality senior care. Encourage them to get help from local professionals within their community. These local professionals constantly screen and support the quality homes and facilities within our communities – they take the time to know more about the homes and communities than their facades or entry ways. They will take the time with you or your friend to help with an appropriate care match – much like how a Realtor takes time to professionally match their clients with the right neighborhood or new home. These professionals are known as Placement & Referral Agencies. In Portland, Oregon, a local company called Care Service Options, has assisted families and their seniors for over 22 years – providing a free community service. Why use such a referral and placement service rather than just going out on your own and picking the closest to you? One way to give Thanks to our Seniors – and to those that care for them as well, is to make sure we match appropriately our seniors with the type of home, personality or care-giving spirit they need. Let's not ask care-givers to take care of seniors that are "placed" in a home simply out of conveneince to a family member rather than considering whether it is truly an match for both the senior and the care-giver.

Thank you for taking the time to extend your thanks to our pioneers, and to those who provide their care. Your sincere appreciation year around make a difference!