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Where is Cottage Grove located? What's the population of Cottage Grove? What does a person do for work in Cottage Grove? We have kids, how are Cottage Grove Schools? What about recreation in and around Cottage Grove? I've heard of the covered bridges, what's up with those? I'm told it rains a lot in Oregon, what's the weather like in Cottage Grove? Is it difficult to arrange for an owner to carry part or all of the mortgage? What interest rate can I expect to pay on a mortgage? How do I prequalify for a loan? What's the advantage of a pre-approved loan?
Where is Cottage Grove located? We are 55 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, 20 miles south of Eugene, Oregon's second largest city. Situated between the Coast Fork of the Willamette River and Row River at an elevation of 650 feet. back to top What's the population of Cottage Grove? Our approximate population is 7,600, and including the outlying areas such as Dorena, Culp Creek and Lorane we have roughly 26,000. back to top What does a person do for work in Cottage Grove? Fortunately, Cottage Grove is only a 20 minute drive from Eugene so when you live here you have the best of both worlds; the job market of the second largest urban area in Oregon, and the ambiance of a rural lifestyle. The economy of this region is driven by agriculture, higher education, high technology, forest products, recreation, RV manufacturing and tourism. Locally, we have over 600 businesses including WalMart and the second largest Safeway in Oregon. back to top I've heard of the covered bridges, what's up with those? Lane County was the first county in Oregon to build covered bridges on a large scale and still counts the largest number of roofed spans in the State. During the construction days, County engineers used a truss and housing design furnished by the State Highway Department and as a result most of the County's bridges are similar in appearance.Beginning in the 1870s, two local builders, Nels Roney and A.S. Miller & Sons competed for construction contracts during those early decades of bridge building. During and after WWI steel was in short supply but wood was plentiful, so the County kept right on building them. The craftsmanship of both of these builders was testimony to their dedication and skill. All of the Roney bridges were replaced in the early 1900s with bridges built by County crews under the direction of Bridge Superintendent Art N. Striker. Because covered bridges attract a large number of tourists to the area each year, the County is reluctant to remove them. Sixteen bridges owned and maintained by Lane County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Fourteen of these bridges are still open to traffic, a testimony to timely rehabilitation and good on-going maintenance. You may acquire a guide to these historic sites at our office. back to top I'm told it rains a lot in Oregon, what's the weather like in Cottage Grove? A modified marine climate. Average temperatures range from 30 to 78 degrees. We enjoy a 168 day growing season that accommodates apples, plums, pears, peaches etc. Our annual rainfall is between 35 and 45 inches per year. back to top We have kids, how are Cottage Grove Schools? We have both public and private grade schools, junior high, and high school, and a branch of the Lane Community College. back to top What about recreation in and around Cottage Grove? We have two beautiful lakes, each located only minutes from town. They offer fishing, boating, water skiing, you name it! We also have two public golf courses and let's not forget our numerous rivers and creeks. Our area also enjoys having the Bohemia Mining District nearby. There are many marked claims and if you go all the way to the top of Bohemia Mountain, you are presented with a most fabulous view. We are also only 1-1/2 hours away from the coast and it takes about the same amount of time to reach our nearby mountains for snow activities. back to top Is it difficult to arrange for an owner to carry part or all of the mortgage? Boy, that's a question that can only be answered during the negotiation phase of the offer. Often the seller is not in a financial position to carry even a small part of the balance. And yet other times the seller prefers not to receive the full pay-out at the time of the sale. Each situation is typically just a little bit different from the others which is why we, together, write the best offer we can, up-front, which incorporates the terms best suited for you as well as the seller. back to top What interest rate can I expect to pay on a mortgage? Ah, now that's one of those questions to which the answer can change daily. When you are ready to buy, your lender will advise you of the current interest rate available to you. Remember, in the first few years, most of your payment wll be paying off the interest on the loan and this amount is deductible off your income taxes. If you ask the owner to carry, that interest rate will be negotiated by me on your behalf with the seller. back to top How do I prequalify for a loan? This is done either by telephone or in person. It's purpose provides the loan officer insight to your income, monthly debt, credit history and other information unique to you situation. This process typically takes about 10 minutes and is a free service. back to top What's the advantage of a pre-approved loan? The advantage of a pre-approved loan is that you will have more negotiating power when making an offer on a house. Plan on spending about an hour and a half with your loan officer at the home loan pre-approval meeting. I can advise you on the items you should bring to the meeting such as paystubs, prior years' tax returns, valid drivers' license, etc. back to top |
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