Portland, OR

Last night after numerous attempts at trying to get a good picture of myself using the built-in camera on my mac, I’ve changed my face on Facebook – and after all that “work” (picknik.com is a great tool), I still find myself wondering – wondering if I’m really connecting with my friends, family, fellow Realtors, and business partners (the term “clients” always seems so impersonal). I have a website, a Myspace & a Facebook account. I even Twitter (trying to learn anyway). But what does it mean to connect? Has “connecting” come to mean that we see each others words, pictures, websites, and perhaps if we get techie, hear a recorded voice or perhaps even better see a video? I sincerely belive that what all of us in business these days need is to help each other with referrals – I can help make times a little more survivable if I send a good referral to my insurance agent, (Pam Olson at Farmers) or to one of my trusted mortgage brokers, (James Adair) or to Margo Marver's Wellness Studio , or a good Italian Business Consultant, Max Corona , or even my wife, Monika @ Care Service Options, Inc. Those referrals can help pay their bills. And of course, as a Portland area Realtor, I need and appreciate your referrals – they can make the difference between my selling a house and paying my bills or using credit and not getting a home sold. However .. as much as I may use social networking, I also know we humans love to do business and to refer to those we know and care about.

Yes .. we need to utilize technology and social networking; however, picking up the phone, writing a personal handwritten note and being “odd-fashioned” and popping by and having a cup of coffee or a beer face to face puts a personality, a reality to Facebook.

Oh by the way .. (It's important that I ask).. if you know anyone seeking a good Realtor anywhere in the world, give me a call. I'm connected and personally know some Realtors that will exceed your expectations - that will make you proud that you referred your friend or associate to someone of quality. I'm never to busy for your referrals and to give them the quality personalized service you and they deserve.

Hello everyone! I have provided some of my Favorite happy hour places that are in the local area. All you have to do is click on the name of the restuarant to get more information at their website.

These are my Favorites in Portland and all are between $1.95-$6.00 happy hour choices.

The average being right around $3.95

If your on a late lunch or a tight budget, these are some wonderful places to go to.

I have tried to provide you with the happy hours they have to help you make you choices.

Have a happy hour meal soon!

Please feel free to bookmark or print this out for your use in the future.

Cheers!

The Benson

503-228-2000

M-F 3-7pm

The City

503-221-2489

M-F 4-7pm and 10pm to close

Hubers

503-228-5686

Daily from 4-6:30pm and 9pm to close

( A most go to, I started to go here in 1978)

Jax Bar and Restaurant

503-228-9128

M-F 3-6pm and 10-12pm

Sat 10-12pm

Sunday All Day

Kingston Bar and Grill

503-224-2115

Daily 5-7pm and 11pm to close

Old Town Pizza

503-222-9999

Daily 9pm to close

Ringside Steakhouse (burnside)

(1978)

503-223-1513

M-Sat 9:45 to close and Sun 4-6pm

Bridgeport Brewpub

503-241-7179

M-F 4-6pm

T-Thur 10pm to close.

Palamino

503-248-1690

M-F 4:30 -6:30pm and 9 - 11pm

Sunday all day

21^st avenue Bar and grill

503-222-4121

M-F 3-6pm

Bartini

503-224-7919

M-Sat 4-6:30pm and 9:30-close

Basta's Trattoria & Bar

503-274-1572

M-F 5-6:30

(meet Marco the owner and tell him Timothy sent you)

Gypsy

503-796-1859

M-F 4-6:30pm

Lucy's Table

503-226-6126

M-F 5-6:30pm

Muu Muu's

503-223-8169

M-F 3-6pm

Mint

503-460-0820

M-Sat 4-6:30pm

The Alibi

503-287-5335

M- F 3-7pm

Sat 12am free food buffet

Trebol

503-517-9347

Daily 5-6:30pm and 9pm -close

Gustav's Bier Stube

503-288-5503

Daily 3-6pm

Sun-Thurs 9pm-close

Fri-Sat 10pm-close

(Great German Food, Main Restaurant attached to it is the RHEINLANDER. I first went here in 1975)

The Hutch

503-235-4729

M-F 4-7pm

La Bodega Wine and Beer

503-943-6099

Daily 11am- 6pm

Pour Wine Bar

503-288-7687

Daily 4:30-6:30pm

The Goodfoot Lounge

503-239-9292

Daily 5-9pm

Night Light Lounge

503-731-6500

Daily 3-7pm

Sellwood Public House

503-736-0179

Tues-Sun 3-6pm

Stanfords (Clackamas)

503-653-9400

Daily 3-6pm

Sun-Thurs 9-11pm

Fri-Sat 10-12pm

Players

503-726-4263

M-F 3-6pm

M-Thurs 9pm-close

(Great games for the family here)

If honesty, integrity, market knowledge, trust worthiness Are important things to look for when choosing a real estate professional, then give me a ring.

Call Timothy 503-960-4589

Looking for a home to buy? Needing to sell your home?

Timothy S. Butterworth
Oregon Realty Company
215 SE 102nd Ave
Portland OR 97216

timothybutterworth@comcast.net

Permission given for reprint.

© 2008 Timothy S Butterworth, All rights reserved

What is the single greatest challenge to the Portland Oregon economy? Is it Jobs ? Is it Money for lenders as the national news would report? Or is it apathy and falsehoods?

Yesterday I was sitting down for a little rest and relaxation at a favorite hang out and heard someone in the background with a rather boisterous voice exclaiming to any and all who would listen to just how poor she thought the economy is.

On and on she went describing one debacle after another about others tales of doom and gloom. Not stopping long enough to give names or credibility to the short stories she weaved. Building into a crescendo as more and more interest grew from the surrounding group she blurted " and if your thinking about getting a home loan you can forget about that ! " " There are no home loans available that is unless you have a credit score in the high 700's and you have at least 25% down."

It was right there I had enough and rose up and said " That is just not true"suddenly the room became quiet and the attention swung to see me standing there confronting this purveyor of negativity. " What she exclaimed? "

"None of the things you say are true", I said. There are abundant home loan products available. " As a real estate Broker working in this state now for over 20 years I am finding no problem at all finding home loans for virtually anyone who wants one."

Just at that time a fellow who had been sitting close to me also stood up and said. " I agree completely!" He went on to say " I am a car salesman and have to combat this every day." He told us of a common story that happens in his business day in and day out. That of Buyers out looking and finding incredible deals yet reluctant to buy. When quarried their response is that they heard that there were no loans available. " It is just not true he said " " I have multiple financing options available and the rates have never been better"

All in all this is a great time to buy! If your looking for that next car or Your Next Home now is the time. Or you can always wait for prices to start to climb. Then you can sit back and say " Gee I should have bought when the market was down "

Let_your_next_Portland_home_find_you stop by or sign up direct at www.househuntportland.com you will be amazed.

Concerned about the environment, global warming, rising energy costs or home-related health issues? Are you aware that there are more and more homes that address these concerns? Did you know that Earth Advantage*, a regional leader in green home certification, has a realtor certification program, EA S.T.A.R. (Sustainability Training for Accredited Real Estate Professionals)? According to Sean Penrith, Executive Director for Earth Advantage, the program goal is to "equip realtors with the necessary knowledge and tools to educate their clients on products, features, building methods and values that make homes energy efficient, healthier, and green."

What might an EA S.T.A.R. certified realtor do for you? A lot!

They can point out features that are more efficient, such as Energy Star(r) appliances and give you information about the initial costs and long-term savings associated with them.

They can inform you about products that off-gas and what that means for your family's health and well-being. And tell you why linoleum is a better flooring choice for the environment than vinyl flooring. They can introduce you to suppliers and builders, architects and designers who focus on sustainable, durable and renewable products and materials. They can help you find a green certified home, or a home with green features. They also have information about financing, appraising and insuring a green built or remodeled home. And that's is just the tip of the information an EA S.T.A.R. certified realtor has.

Many work closely with and are Trade Allies of The Energy Trust of Oregon, a public-purpose organization dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy generation. The Energy Trust will schedule a free one-hour walkthrough of your home and give you personalized, energy-saving recommendations and tell you about Energy Trust cash incentives and programs.

If you have not scheduled such an energy review, please do. You will be amazed at how a few small changes will decrease your energy use, and save you money. Plus they will bring you some CFL's (Compact Flourescent Lightbulbs) - and that will result in a lower electric bill!

Talk to an EA S.T.A.R. realtor even if you aren't buying today, it's never too early to start thinking about how to live more sustainably. Talk to one to get information even if you plan to stay in your home a long while - upgrades you make now will help sell your home later. More and more people want energy efficient and healthy homes.

And yes, I am an EA S.T.A.R. certified realtor. Get in touch anytime you want more information about living green -- I love to share what I know.

*Earth Advantage, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, is a leader in the sustainable building industry in the Pacific Northwest. At a minimum, Earth Advantage homes are designed to use 15 percent less energy than houses built to standard code practices. Earth Advantage homes adopt the philosophy of holistic sustainability (4-pillar approach) and are accordingly certified for energy efficiency, healthier indoor air, resource efficiency and environmental responsibility. The organization has the ability to certify homes as Earth Advantage (Gold and Platinum levels exist too), ENERGY STAR®, or LEED for Homes® and certified close to 2,500 homes in 2006.

We all miss the dog days of summer and long for the next one, but now you can find out how your dog got to be your dog. If you are in Portland, Oregon, then you can visit the World Forestry Center now through January 4^th, 2009 and find out the story of dogs.

Also, while you are there, you can climb on Peggy the 1909 log train that you see in the picture below. Because they didn't have trucks that could handle the large loads of lumber until the mid 1940s, and horses didn't have enough strength either, they had to build this light weight train with lots of power. And thanks to Stimson Lumber you can see the train that they donated to the City of Portland to look into our past.

The Forestry Center is located at 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, Oregon, and is open from 10-5pm daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. There is a $2 parking fee added to the admission of $8 for Adults and $5 per child 3-18.

Todd Clark - broker
Kastings & Associates
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739