About Union County, OR

La Grande Winter Weather Finally?

Snow is coming down sideways and I couldn't be happier about it! We seem to have missed the snow this year having mainly just cold tempuratures, but it looks like we might finally have some accumulation today and tonight!

Check out the photo of downtown I just snapped!

Lets hope for a foot on the ground tomorrow! Happy New Years!

Jeff Clark

La Grande's Realtor

Be sure to check out this clean MFG 4/2 home on 47+/- acres just outside of Summerville Oregon. The place has water rights, three creeks, a shop, a bar, a hay barn, and a couple storage buildings. The home is very clean and still within financing age.

Lovely updated dbl-wide mfg home on beautiful 46.84 acres.Lots of wildlife!.New windows and deck for entertaining & enjoyment.Picturesque stocked pond. insulated 36x36 shop with 220&110srv,air compressor lines, 2 overhead 10' doors.RV&machine storage.Large hay barn&loafing shed. Chicken house.Water rights on spring(1000 gal holding tank with booster pump),also well.

This home is for sale for $379,900.

Don't hesitate to call Jeff @ 541-805-8274 with quesions about this property.

www.JeffDClark.com

La Grande Community Information | Union County Arts, Culture, Music, Food, Happenings

For all those folks new to La Grande Oregon or the greater Union County, you might find it challenging to find an up to date place to view and find information about the area. Well, aside from my blog and website, which more often than not focuses on Real Estate related matters, please be sure to check out www.LaGrandeLife.com!

This is a comprehensive and modern site which features everything you need to know about our area! It is run by Cold Coffee Media, a web design and creative marketing company in La Grande owned by Mike Surber and Chris Jennings. Both these men are on the ground and constantly networking to bring everyone the latest information about La Grande.

On La Grande Life you can find info about food, bars, music, movies, events, outdoor rec, virtually everything in a blog based format! And if you happen to know of something cool in our area that we don't know about, guess what? You can blog about it yourself!

Hope you find this link informative and bookmark it!

Thanks,

Jeff D Clark

La Grande's Realtor

www.JeffDClark.com

La Grande/Union County Market Action Report for November 2009 | La Grande Real Estate Report

"But wait Jeff, it's December," you say. Well it takes our MLS server a month to compile data about the previous month, so here are some stats for the La Grande and Union County area for November.

Sales activity in Union County is up compared to November of 2008. Closed sales rose 46.7% and pending sales were about the same. New listings dropped however 25%.

The average sales price for November 2009 was up 5.1% compared to November 2008, while the median sale price dropped 0.3%.

Comparing November 2009 with those in October 2009, the average sales price in Union County dropped 2.6% ($160,100 v. $164,300) and the median sales price was down 9.6%.

These data are showing a gradual decline in the market as we approach the winter season. This is natural and I have seen data consistent with this for many years. Looking at the graph I have (email me for a copy of the PDF) you can see that the high for pricing was in August this year. Again, quite consistent.

We will most likely see prices decline for a while longer, then they will once again pick up steam as spring hits. The big question mark for me is what will happen when the first time buyer tax credit runs out in summer? It has truly stimulated the market in Union County.

Thanks for reading and don't hesitate to email with questions: Jeff@JeffDClark.com

www.JeffDClark.com

La Grande Oregon Downtown Corridor | Mainstreet Program

La Grande has maintained a strong and vital downtown in spite of the economic recession. Many of our large beautiful brick buildings are intact, we have plenty of trees, and the sidewalks are great for walking and shopping.

The recent addition (or adoption) of the Mainstreet Program and the injection of Federal Funds have sent a shock of revitalization through the La Grande downtown corridor. Many of the awnings were showing the wear and tear of time, and these funds helped replace many of them. New windows have been installed in several shops, and the funds helped pay for new bike racks featuring our famous face of Mt. Emily.

Downtown festivals have finally emerged and have been quite fun. Great bands from both in and out of town, terrific beer and wine gardens, and plenty of shopping are a great new twist on the party.

This is not to say some folks aren't having trouble in our small town. Several vacancies have emerged as the big box stores draw customers out of the heart of our city and into the big parking lots if the big stores. A troublesome parking system has frustrated out of towners visiting the downtown as they are greeted with a ticket as they come out of a movie.

But solutions are on the way. The Mainstreet Program is filling the vacant storefronts with info about things to do in our valley. Outdoor recreation, the dinner train, paintings by kids; anything is better than a blank window. An uproar from the community has the local government looking at possible ways to solve the parking problem.

As we move out of this economic funk, I look forward to seeing the downtown continue to become the thriving heart of our area.

Jeff D Clark

Jeff@JeffDClark.com

www.JeffDClark.com

La Grande's Realtor