Veneta, OR

One of the biggest things stopping people from participating in the American Dream today is the ability to come up with the down payment. While talk of a credit crunch keeps some buyers sidelined because of credit problems, many others with good credit are able to get the best deals in years including programs with no down payment!

The program leading the way in no down payment requirements (for non veterans) is the USDA Rural Development loan. This loan is available right now for Veneta, and who better to show you homes in this community than Nicola Calvert with Real Estate by Design in Eugene.

To qualify for the program (it is income limited), a family of four cannot have a total household income of more than $70,750 per year. That is a pretty liberal guideline.

If you are interested in property in this area and would like to see if the address falls within the USDA "footprint" click here.

So - THE TIME IS RIGHT! We have many properties on the market, we have MONEY TO LEND, and the Federal Government is giving First Time Homebuyers a $7500 tax credit if they purchase prior to next summer!

For more information on USDA loans, and to see if your household income qualifies for this NO PMI loan, please click here. If you want to get the mortgage qualification process started, either call me at 541-342-7576 or fill out an application on line here.

Authored by Fred Chamberlin, a mortgage loan consultant, Eugene/Springfield Oregon

I travelled to Veneta a couple of weekends ago to visit the Faerieworlds Festival in Veneta Oregon. It was a perfect Sunday in August, not to hot with a few fluffy clouds in the sky. It has been a couple of years since I have been there, and I was looking forward to checking out the fabulous costumes, handmade gifts and a fun afternoon with my girls.

Real Estate in the World of Fae! No inspections, no lenders!

Crimson Faerie

Chrystal Crown Faerie

The Bleu Faerie Babe

White Land Strider

Brian Froud signs his artwork

Sunset Faerie

For the past three years Secret House Winery has played host to Faerieworlds . This year’s line up looks like another great show.

Come be enchanted by the people, vendors, musicians and honored guests. This year will see the return of hosts Brian, Wendi Froud and son Toby. If you have ever seen the movie The Empire Strikes Back you will know Wendy’s work immediately.

Designed Yoda she did, yeeeesss!

Brian and Wendy have designed characters for The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth while working with Jim Henson and have a following of admirers for their Faerie artwork and books. Lady Cottington’s Pressed Fairy Book is a personal favorite. As a child, Toby was in the movie, Labyrinth with David Bowie. It is a cult classic and is one of my girls favorite flicks.

Kendra, Toby and Kelsey

My daughters and I enjoy people watching and this is a great venue. Many people choose to leave the real world behind and escape to a fantasy world of fairies, goblins and trolls. The costumes are amazing. Many vendors sell costumes, faerie wings, and other handmade treasures you will never see in any store. Truly, you can come to the festival a mere human and leave looking like a fantasy creature.

Honored guests include artists Amy Brown and Jessica Galbraith. Other featured artists and authors are Jody Bergsma, J. Corsentino, Jan Delyth, Maxine Gadd, and Diana S. Zimmerman.

One of the best things about the festival is the music. There are three stages and world class performers. This year’s Festival performers come from Germany, Spain, and many parts of the U.S. and will feature Trillian Green, Woodland with the World of Froud Good Faeries Lightshow, Gaia Consort, Qntal and the World of Froud Bad Faeries Lightshow and many more.

Food and Drink are plenty and a trip to the festival would not be complete without trying a cool cup of Goblin Grog.

Tickets are on Sale now and an sell out crowd is expected. Faerie Blessings!

One of Lane County's best kept secrets has got to be the Oregon Country Fair. However, for a best kept secret, we sure have a lot of people show up for it each year. The fair started today and runs through Sunday. Here is a map from their website on how to get there:

I will include a link to their website at the end of this blog, but I just wanted to give a bit of a head's up for those that haven't been there before or heard about it. The Country Fair is a private gathering and probably had the largest collection of old VW buses in one place at one time in the world. Hippy may be out of style, but it is in vogue at the Country Fair.

Also, clothing is fairly optional. The entertainment is outstanding and the sights and sounds are beyond imagination. There are crafts galore, many of them outstanding. The venue is so different than most anything you have ever experienced. The craft booths are cut out of the "jungle" of the location.

So, come and enjoy. Here is that link:

http://www.oregoncountryfair.org/index.php