Wilsonville Living Magazine December 2022

HOMETOWN HERO

Renee & Jason

James

REAL ESTATE Beltran Properties Group

Published by Active Media Publishing Group

PO Box 672 · Aurora, OR 97002 info@ActiveMediaUSA.com 503.825.2111

ADMINISTRATION

Matthew Nelson, Publisher

Catrina Nelson, CFO

Tara Weidman, Executive Assistant Donovan Darling, Content Manager

PRODUCTION

Jeremy Okai Davis, Art Director

Stacy Benner, Sr. Graphic Designer

Holly Darling, Sr. Graphic Designer

Shawn Schmidt, Sr. Graphic Designer

Hilary Berg, Sr. Graphic Designer

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tyler Francke Dennis McNabb

David Bates Robert Matsumura

Patti Jo Brooks Olive Gallagher

Angie Helvey Sherry Dorn

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Carly Carpenter Kara Langley

Laurel Bice Hayley Starkey

Malaina Kinne Angie Helvey

Brittney Waterman Henry Schifter Andrew Sambuceto

ADVERTISING SPECIALISTS

Don Ormsby Bill Kistler

Stephanie Baker Jim Belan

Peggy Jacobs David Long

Chris O’Brien John Zobrist

Brad Marti Shelley Zeman

Tina Toney Darren Dwyer

Ashley Berotte

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Lumera Regenerative Medicine

A Healing & Healthy Well-Being

Biologique Recherche TM & More State-of-the-Art Treatments

By Barbara Sherman

The Proverbial Fountain of Youth Has Landed In Tualatin. In June 2020, Dr. Roberta Huang opened Lumera Regenerative Medicine, which focuses on hormone imbalance in the body that can cause fatigue, weight gain, mood changes, and low libido. They offer skincare, including micro-needling with PRP (platelet-rich plasma) that stimulates collagen production, laser treatments, Botox and fillers, biologique recherche™ facial treatments, Emsculpt Neo™ treatment, and treatments for sexual wellness.

After 20+ years as an obstetrician/gynecologist, Dr. Huang grew frustrated with 15-minute patient visits. “In short visits, you just can’t cover everything,” she said. “People like having extra time to talk about deeper issues. This is our opportunity to do a deeper dive.”

Dr. Roberta Huang MD, FACOG

Our team of medical specialists and certified Aestheticians have years of experience. They have been trained in the latest technology specifically to help our patients get the results they want.

LUMERA

Another technique to foster more sexual sensitivity involves drawing blood and spinning it in a centrifuge to produce PRP that is reinjected into sexual organs. Wherever PRP is injected into the body, the body starts healing that area. “We call it the P-Shot™ for men and O-Shot™ for women, and there is minimal discomfort,” Dr. Huang said. “It works, but insurance doesn’t pay for it. The beauty of these things is that they are minimally invasive and don’t require surgery.”

Another technique places pellets under the skin that slowly release hormones over four months for women and over five months for men. Postmenopausal women who have not had breast cancer receive a mixture of estrogen and testosterone that “can really help through those rough years,” Dr. Huang said. “I have seen women in their 60s and 70s who are still having hot flashes.”

Which led to her founding Lumera Regenerative Medicine. “I actually started with sexual enhancement and then fell into the hormone side of medicine. A lot of people don’t realize that there are many options available to help with sexual issues. That’s how we hope to brand ourselves. And hormones are especially helpful with menopause and peri-menopause.”

Dr. Huang is one of two providers in Oregon who use the “diVa™ laser” that rejuvenates the vagina and helps with incontinence, vaginal laxity and lubrication, and she has an Emsella™ chair that uses magnetic energy to exercise and strengthen the pelvic floor to help with sexual arousal and incontinence.

According to Dr. Huang, healing and healthy well-being start at home. She said, “The pillars of well-being are a good diet, exercise, and getting enough sleep, plus having a healthy psyche that includes good social interaction.

Outside of medicine and true to her word about well-being, she enjoys gardening, painting, listening to and playing music, preparing memorable meals for family and friends, and enjoying the splendor of the Pacific Northwest outdoors with her family.

Lumera Regenerative Medicine is located at 6464 SW Borland Road, Suite C3, in Tualatin. For more information, visit lumeramedical.com or call 503-852-9680.

Choosing to Live Your Passion

Iwanted to write a different article this time. Hopefully, I’ll be able to contain my words to my word limit, so I’ll reach that one person who needs to hear this.

As a successful esthetician and spa owner, I am asked a lot on how to become an esthetician, how to start a spa, and why I chose this industry in the first place.

Licensed Esthetician Owner of Divine Complexions Spa Award-Winning West Coast Regional GloSkinBeauty Makeup Artist NW Regional YUMI Lashes Educator

To answer the latter questions first: If I already had all the money in the world and didn’t need to work, what would I do ... Still exactly this! I’d still be an esthetician. It’s the thing I get so excited about and am willing to get up extra early in the morning for and stay up late after putting the kids to bed to work, year after year. I used to do people’s makeup for free just because I loved doing it so much.

Simply, it’s my passion, using the tools of the esthetics industry, like skincare treatments and makeup, to inspire and uplift others to feel their best. It wasn’t an easy start though. I was told not to do this career over and over. But eventually, I listened to my heart, and even though I was terrified to fail like everyone said I would, I knew I deep down I was making the right choice. I was willing to bet on myself because esthetics, especially wedding makeup, is what I love.

Fast-forward to a successful esthetics career. I learned you work harder when you’re happy, when it doesn’t feel like work. You can be very financially successful in any career, especially esthetics! Add a passion to a purpose (raising soon-to-be six kids), and it is a lot. One of those jobs is enough, but what keeps me going and succeeding to greater heights each year is that it’s all what I truly love.

I say live your life for yourself, not for others. Find a way to do what you love most and define your own version of a successful life. If you decide to follow your heart, it isn’t void of fear or an easier path, but it’s a path that will be worth it!

Maybe you love makeup and skincare, or the thought of popping pimples is exciting to you. Maybe you’re like me as a teenager just begging everyone to let me do their makeup. Or you’re 45 and have a nagging desire to follow your passion — just do it!

Becoming an esthetician is easier than you think. It’s what comes after that’s harder and separates the successful ones from not. In Oregon, estheticians have to attend an esthetics program that is either “clock hour” or “competency based,” which means you go to school for a certain number of hours or you learn and test out to the next subject — kind of. There are better schools than others in my opinion, but it’s where you go after you graduate that matters.

After your schooling and passing state licensing tests, you want to find a mentor. If you really want to be successful, learn from those who are just as passionate as you and want to share their wisdom and help you succeed. People who are truly successful and passionate are not afraid of helping others — remember this. We have nothing to prove and nothing to fear in helping others succeed, too — we enjoy it! A good mentor isn’t always the easiest person to find, but just know coming out of school, you’ll have a lot of learning still to do.

So maybe it comes down to taking extra classes after graduating or learning from a mentor, or just learning on the job, but plan to continue striving after that final passed test. Maybe you find out it’s not your passion, but hey you tried!

But if you do fall in love with the esthetics industry, just know there’s enough room for everyone. Following your passion will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make, plus there will be even that much more glowing skin in the world. So, shine on!

Christine Lewy

SoakBox

A Space For Body and Mind Wellness

By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer Photos by Carly Carpenter

Technology is an amazing thing. In its constant and meteoric advancement, it has provided us with endless conveniences and levels of efficiency. What it has not provided is a solution to time management. Particularly here in America, improved efficiency doesn’t equate to more free time. We just add to our to-do lists, and increase our expectations regarding what can be accomplished. We say we’re too busy, but it’s self-imposed, and we never allow time to just be. In our hectic, fast-paced world, it has become an imperative to make that time; to consciously slow down, reconnect and recenter. Once we’ve realized this and made the commitment, the next step is finding the right place. Locally, there’s no better space for body and mind wellness than Soak Box here in Wilsonville.

Owners Sally Novitsky and Katie Green, united and established Soak Box under a common goal: to build something substantial and unique unto themselves while also serving others. As friends prior

to going into business, they recognized in each other a shared passion for health and wellness. Katie’s was born out of necessity. 2018 ushered in some very unfortunate developments: her mother was diagnosed with ALS and her son with cancer, and Katie was not the type to stand idly by. Sally’s passion was born out of innate interest. She had already earned a degree from Oregon State in Exercise and Sports Science, and worked for many years in both the fitness club industry and the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. Together, their passion, experience, and genuine desire to bring wellness to the masses was a match made in heaven.

Still, it was a long road to get to where they are today. Katie had discovered float therapy in her earlier research, and when she introduced the idea to Sally, they agreed that was the direction they wanted to go in. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. There was so much more research!

There was locating a space, having it built out to their specifications, vetting new partners, finding the right equipment; the list went on. But today, eight months after opening, they couldn’t be more excited or grateful for the response they’ve gotten from the community. In their own words, they’re “just a couple of single moms who built a small business from scratch.” Although, more accurately, they should probably be referred to as two highly intelligent, driven, and compassionate single moms with an undying resolve to help others.

So, what can you expect from a Soak Box experience? In a word, nirvana. Entering its wonderfully tranquil setting and abandoning yourself to the process is nothing short of life altering. Treatments are broken down into 3 key categories: the Soak (Salt), the Sweat (Fire), and the Plunge (Ice). “The Soak” refers to float therapy as mentioned above. This therapeutic and relaxing treatment consists of exactly what the name describes: lying in a saltwater tank and floating. The water is body temperature and the tank is designed to deprive you of outside stimuli; no sound, no light. It’s like floating on air! And while the benefits are significant for both mind and body, it can take some getting used to for some. Sally and Katie are well-versed in setting first timers up for success. Going in with the right expectations is essential.

“The Sweat” is an infrared sauna which warms the body in the same manner as the sun. Unlike traditional saunas which heat the air and make it difficult to breathe, infrared saunas heat the body directly and provide deeper tissue penetration without all the hot air! Receive the benefits—sweating is our body’s natural way of detoxifying—without the many, sometimes harmful drawbacks of regular saunas. Infrared is not just safe, it’s part of the natural world and it’s essential for life. Customize your experience with Chromotherapy or Color Therapy or boost your results with their exclusive and free add-on, Red Light Therapy. Connect your device via bluetooth for a guided meditation, podcast, or music.

“The Plunge” consists of immersing yourself in a crystal clear cold water bath. The temperature is set to

a bracing 50 degrees for an exhilarating and invigorating dip. The tub itself is fitted with a robust filtration system (UV, ozone, and a 5-micron filter) to ensure the purest water possible. There are a multitude of benefits: immune system support, increased blood flow, reduced chronic pain, boosted metabolism, and improved sleep function, among others!

Sally and Katie are simply two local moms with a shared passion for health and wellness, and a dream to make a difference. Since opening in April of this year, they have seen a steadily growing clientele; people whose lives they have touched in a positive way, and they couldn’t be more thrilled. Daily affirmations from their loyal base of wellness seekers have confirmed what they’ve believed all along: that these particular carefully-vetted alternative treatments can offer real and impactful change for the entire community. Katie works full time operating and managing the spa, while Sally remains behind the scenes–employed elsewhere in the healthcare industry, but she can still be seen at the spa on certain evenings and weekends.

In parting, here is just one testimonial from a grateful member named Laura: “Soak Box is an anchor in my week that helps me reset. Floating helps me let go of held tension in my body while the sensory deprivation is so calming for my scattered brain…a full hour to JUST BE! Fire & Ice is a weekly date night with my spouse. An hour to connect with each other while building my ability to calm my nervous system in times of stress. Cold plunging is invigorating and addicting. When I arrive, I am usually frazzled, but always leave feeling centered. Before and after chats and laughs with Katie, Sally, and Amy, are just the icing on the cake. So grateful to have this awesome place!”

Support local businesses and develop a practice of mindfulness in the process. Visit Soak Box today at 30060 SW Boones Ferry, Suite #32 in Wilsonville, or check them out online at soakbox.com.

Sally Novitsky

Katie Green

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from the Wilsonville Chamber Board Members &

- Kevin Ferrasci O’Malley ,CEO

Renee & Jason James

By Olive Gallagher, Contributing Writer

There are all kinds of heroes. Like the neighbor who rushes into a burning building. Or a passerby who rescues a dog from the river. There are also quiet, unsung heroes who give their time and attention daily to others through small gestures of kindness and caring.

Folks like the married team of Renee and Jason James. Ask anyone who knows them, either at work or in the Wilsonville community, and you’ll hear similar adjectives: “Kind. Caring. Helpful. Generous. Fun. Dedicated. Hardworking.”

They were both born and raised in the Midwest–she in Minnesota, he in Michigan–and grew up in small-town, farmland country. They learned early the importance of being a good neighbor, caring about others, and understanding when anyone was in need, and everyone came together to help. They also learned being heroic wasn’t just about bravery. It was about character that rested upon a foundation of honest intentions, commitment, and selflessness.

However, the couple arrived at their values in different ways. Renee was the youngest of two. As she grew up, she was inspired by her family and a friend’s dad who was a dentist, who encouraged her to pursue her passion for medicine and healing. For Jason, it was the opposite. Youngest of three, he learned to sit and watch, valuing quiet over chatter. He enjoyed being part of his high school’s hockey team, learning hard work from hours on the ice.

They met while working at a spine institute in Reno. Renee had earned her master’s degree in physical therapy, and Jason was in the middle of his studies that eventually culminated in a doctorate degree in physical therapy. In 2008 after moving to Wilsonville, they began working at a Salem clinic and commuting daily. Then in 2018, the couple decided to open their own Wilsonville clinic close to home so they could be near their young daughters who were just starting school.

“He’s The Sugar, I’m the Spice.”

Along with running their full-time business and making certain to be available to their children, the couple found time to volunteer and participate in many community organizations and sports events. Today, Renee serves as an Ambassador for the Wilsonville Chamber and manages the girls’ school and sports projects. Jason is an assistant coach to the boys’ golf team at Wilsonville High School, works with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and serves as Deacon at their church. The couple also enjoy skiing, running, and biking, and Jason is a lifelong golfer.

Acknowledging they’re a good combination, Renee puts it succinctly: “he’s the sugar, I’m the spice!” How this couple finds the time to go about their days, providing care and attention to others, and doing it all so cheerfully is a wonderment, and the Wilsonville community is richer for it.

Family Storytime

Wednesday, Dec 7 Thursday, Dec 8 10:30am Oak Room

Profiles:

Charles Dickens The Man Who Invented Christmas Wednesday, Dec 7 11am-12:30pm

Zoom

Charles Dickens has famously been called “The Man Who Invented Christmas ” Inspired by the writings of Washington Irving earlier in the 19th century, Dickens wrote five Christmas novellas Sign up online to receive the Zoom meeting code.

Space Talk: The Last Men on the Moon (Apollo 17) Saturday, Dec 10 11am-12:30pm

Oak Room

50 years ago, on December 7th, five massive F 1 rocket engines rumbled to life. Hear an eye witness account of that spectacular event, and travel along on the very last flight to the Moon with the astronauts of Apollo 17 who stayed the longest, drove the farthest, and collected the most lunar samples of all the Apollo flights! Presented by Donn Anderson, docent at Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum.

Toddler & Baby Time Tuesday, Dec 6 & 13 10:30am & 11:15am Oak Room

A legacy of vision and hope

The History of Timberline Lodge

By Robert Matsumura, Contributing Writer

What trip to Mount Hood is complete without a visit to Timberline Lodge? As an Oregonian you are likely familiar with this iconic landmark nestled at the base of the state’s most prominent mountain, but are you aware that this historic alpine retreat was developed as a symbol of hope during one of the bleakest periods in American history?

Under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was established in 1935 as a program to boost the economy by funding state and city projects. These public works projects generated jobs for millions of unemployed Americans victimized by the catastrophic economic downturn triggered by the stock market crash of 1929—known today as the Great Depression.

Timberline Lodge was conceptualized by a number of individuals including Jack Meier of the Mount Hood Development

Association, Francis E. (Scotty) Williamson Jr. of the United States Forestry Service, and Emerson J. Griffith, the WPA Director for Oregon. Timberline Lodge was envisioned as a triumphant symbol of the WPA, and a shining example of what it could achieve.

After funding approval from the WPA in December of 1935, Gilbert Stanley Underwood was selected as the lead architect for the project. Underwood had already successfully designed lodges at many national parks, including Yosemite and Bryce Canyon. Similar to the other lodges Underwood had completed, Timberline was planned as a rustic, asymmetrical structure with a rough-hewn style reminiscent of the region’s early pioneers. Underwood also suggested the lodge incorporate native materials, and that decorative elements be implemented honoring both the area’s Indigenous peoples and the pioneer settlers who had arrived on the Oregon Trail.

Constructed between 1936 and 1938, the total cost of Timberline Lodge was $695,730, of which 80 percent of the cost went to labor. Skilled trade workers made ninety cents an hour, and unskilled laborers received fifty-five cents an hour. A number of

Timberline Lodge, summer

Ironwork at Timberline, Courtesy Oregon State Library

the stonemasons were Italian immigrants and had been brought over from their homeland to work on the Historic Columbia River Highway. Workers were housed in a nearby tent city at Camp Zig Zag and Summit Meadow.

Two key goals of the WPA were to foster independence through training and to encourage private enterprise. Ray Neufer, who was in charge of the Oregon WPA woodworking shop, explained that many of the men who crafted the newel posts (support pillars for stairwells) were inexperienced as carvers. Neufer recalled: “Most of the men came in from construction projects and they didn’t know they could do some of the things they did. Most of them had been out of work a long time, then on construction jobs, and they had lost their self-confidence.”

Material costs for the lodge were kept to a minimum by utilizing recycled materials. Female seamstresses wove upholstery, drapery, and bedspreads. Hooked rugs were fashioned from old Civilian Conservation Corps camp blankets. Discarded cedar utility poles became lodge posts, their crowns hand-carved in the shape of seals, birds, and bears. Tire chains were welded into fireplace screens. And the signature iron work, as well as andirons, were crafted from railroad tracks.

The decorative and stylistic elements of Timberline Lodge were directed by Margery Hoffman Smith, the Oregon Arts Project Administrator for the Federal Arts Project. Smith created many of the beautiful patterns for the textiles and rugs, and she designed the iconic “Snow Goose,”

the 750-pound bronze weathervane perched atop the lodge. Smith’s inspiration for the forms and motifs resplendent throughout the lodge are derived from the art of the Tenino, an Indigenous people of the area. Smith, too, recalled how many of the workers on the project successfully transitioned their skills into new areas: “Carpenters became cabinet makers, blacksmiths became art metal workers, and sewing women became expert drapery makers.” For her work on Timberline Lodge, Smith earned the title of “Grand Dame” of the Arts and Crafts style, and in 1979 Governor Vic Atiyeh awarded her the Governor’s Award for the Arts.

While on tour of government projects in the Western United States, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated Timberline Lodge on September 28, 1937, five months before its opening to the public. He and his First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, arrived at the lodge via an open touring car, escorted by a motorcade of forty vehicles. As they wound their way up the Mount Hood Loop Road, horsemounted Forest Service personnel lined the roadway to salute and wave. From the terrace overlooking the main entrance, Roosevelt addressed a gathering of 1200 community members. “This venture was made possible by WPA emergency relief work,” he said, “in order that we may test the workability of recreational facilities installed by the government itself.” To this day, Roosevelt’s dedication on a bronze tablet is set in stone on the lodge terrace.

Following completion, Timberline Lodge was turned over to the U.S. Forest Service in January 1938, and opened to the public on February 4th of the same year. The Magic Mile chairlift was completed by the Riblet Tramway Company, and the WPA built the Silcox Warming Hut at the top of the lift.

Timberline Lodge was closed during World War II, but reopened again in 1945. However, discovering that the lodge and ski facilities had not been maintained properly, the U.S. Forest Service revoked the operating permit. Months later, Richard L. Kohnstamm was awarded an operating permit. He successfully restored the lodge, re-established ski education programs, and oversaw the construction of an outdoor swimming pool. In 1975, convention facilities were also added, and in 1981 the

Wy’East Day Lodge was built across the parking lot to serve the recreational skiers. Although Kohnstamm passed away in 2006, his family continues to operate the lodge through R.L.K. and Company.

Not surprisingly, Hollywood also found Timberline Lodge appealing. The exterior views of Timberline Lodge were used in the movie The Shining. Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of the bestselling Stephen King novel depicted Timberline Lodge as the fictitious Overlook Hotel.

In 1975, the Friends of Timberline organization was formed to celebrate and preserve the heritage of Oregon’s signature mountain retreat. Two years later, on December 22, 1977, Timberline Lodge was designated as a National Historic Landmark, and the finest example of WPA mountain architecture. The next time you find yourself bound for Mount Hood, be sure to stop by Timberline Lodge. Stand atop the terrace where FDR stood, and appreciate the vision, commitment, and labor of the many men and women who made this grand concept into a reality, which generations of Oregonians have held so close to their hearts.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated Timberline Lodge on September 28, 1937, five months before its opening to the public.

Timberline Lodge interior

Timberline Lodge plaque

Winter Wonderland

The jaw-dropping display of 200,000+ lights will return, transforming the fairgrounds’ idyllic Fir Grove into a magical wonderland of festive sights and sounds, but this year’s rendition will also feature an indoor Holiday Market with more than 25 local vendors set up in the Main Pavilion. “Canby is a place where people still really like to shop locally for the holidays,” Fairgrounds Vendor Coordinator Trina Smith says. “I see that everywhere. Canby is one of the towns that really sticks to that.” Fairgrounds Executive Director Brian Crow agrees, “We support our own here.”

As an additional treat, the Fairgrounds is working with local schools to supply children’s choirs, bands, orchestras and ensembles to serenade the market throughout the holiday season. “So you’ll be able to grab some hot cocoa from Gimme Some Sugar, watch your child perform, then just head out and enjoy the lights,” Brian says. That’s where the real magic happens. “The experience will start as soon as you step outside the pavilion onto the fairgrounds,” Brian says.

This year’s redesigned experience will return all the standout favorites from last year’s walk-thru, including a 166-foot-long tunnel of cascading, multi-colored twinkles; a 200-foot-long LED light curtain on the east side of Ely Arena; and a delightful, 20-foot-tall dancing Christmas tree that forms the centerpiece of the Fir Grove.

Other scenes will capture images and memories the Fairgrounds are most associated with, like the Cowboy Corral and festively decked out horse trailer. “A lot of our scenes out in the Fir Grove will be rodeo or fair-themed,” Brian says.

The Winter Fair will also bring back a staple of the event since it first debuted in drive-thru experience in 2020: Santa

and Mrs. Claus. The Festive First Couple of the winter holiday season will be back at a new North Pole/Santa’s Workshop-themed corner of the Fairgrounds brought to life by Canby resident and designer Stephanie Anderson, whose home in Northwood Estates is known for its elaborate Halloween and Christmas displays.

The jolly old elf himself, Santa, will visit the village to talk and take photos with children until 8 p.m. every night the fair is open.

“It’s a lot of work, and it’s not cheap, but we do this for the community,” Brian says. “Our goal is to continue to develop events like the Winter Fair, the Canby Haunt, and our County Fair so we’re really maximizing the use of the facility. This is a great facility with tons of potential.”

Clackamas County Winter Fair kicks off December 2, running every Friday and Saturday through December 17, as well as December 22 and 23. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and teenagers and $5 for children ages 4 to 12. Children 3 and younger are free.

Clackamas County Fairgrounds and Event Center is located at 694 NE 4th Ave. in Canby. For more information or tickets, visit ccwinterfair.com.

Story and photos by Tyler Francke

10 THINGS BUYERS SHOULD AVOID in

BELTRAN PROPERTIES GROUP at eXp Realty

By Dennis McNabb, Contributing Writer

By this time, anyone reading our magazine should be familiar with our friends Jaimy and Sherine Beltran and their entire team at Beltran Properties. They have not only kept us all informed every month regarding the ever-changing status of the real estate market, but they have also educated us and provided us with invaluable advice, proving time and again why they are the preeminent realtors in the area. This month, as a companion piece to last month’s article regarding pitfalls for sellers, Sherine has provided us with a highly-practical and extremely beneficial list for those who are considering buying a new home.

10 things buyers should avoid, according to Sherine Beltran:

1. Do not wait for an anticipated market crash. There has been some talk recently which has suggested that the inflated prices we’ve witnessed over the past few years are going to come crashing down; that the “bubble” is going to pop. Anticipating the market, however, particularly for non-professionals, is a dangerous game, and the other side of the argument places a heavier focus on the interest rates. Regardless of pricing, interest rates are rising, and that will affect your payments and affordability far more than you may realize. Ask your mortgage professional to run some scenarios and you will quickly recognize that waiting could cost you! Additionally, buying now means receiving the tax benefits of paying on a loan sooner rather than later.

2. Do not wait for spring when the assumption is that there will be more listings on the market. More listings does not equate to better deals! Sellers who list in the fall and winter months are typically far more serious

about the business, and often more willing to negotiate. Many seasoned investors seek out properties and buy during this time, just for that specific reason.

3.

Do not ignore or write excessively low offers on homes you think are overpriced. There is a tendency for some buyers to think more expensive homes are simply outside their grasp. That’s not always the case though. A good agent will know what homes in the area are selling at versus where the listing is. Sometimes homes sit on the market because they’re overpriced, and your agent can guide you towards making a reasonable offer that could be accepted even though it’s under list. Don’t throw away the opportunity to own that home of your dreams

4.

Do not consider price as the end-all-be-all of purchasing factors. There are so many other important pieces of the puzzle, and you never know what’s most important to the seller. Maybe they require “rent back” or an extended close date or some other specific terms while the pricing is more negotiable. Always seek counsel from your agent. They should be reaching out to the listing agent to discover which terms are most critical to the sellers, and negotiations can be adjusted accordingly.

5.

Do not restrict yourself to limited search areas. We all have preferred sections of town we’d like to live in, but in such a limited inventory situation, expanding your search and broadening your parameters can uncover hidden gems that may suit you just as well. First-time home buyers, and those with flexibility regarding commutes and school districts, can especially benefit.

6. Do not wait to see what’s new hitting the market without actively taking in all of the existing

today’s real estate market!

inventory. Tour open houses. Check out new construction. Considering every option and being educated about what’s available puts you in a position of power when it comes to competing with other buyers on a particular property.

7. Do not go on a spending spree before you lock in your new mortgage. Any and all debts affect your ratios which then affect your purchasing power. Be sure to speak to your mortgage professional before making any large purchases that could affect your credit or your debt-to-income ratios.

8. Do not be intimidated by the current market. The last few years have been skewed heavily in favor of sellers. But that is finally changing! Buyers are gaining leverage, and now’s the time to take advantage of that while those lacking professional guidance are panicking. This is how people build wealth!

can get creative with; even things such as seller financing. Again, seeking the advice of mortgage professionals is imperative, but also keep an open mind regarding unique or unusual options.

The American Dream of homeownership is still alive and well. You just need a good agent who is willing to have the “difficult” conversation with you, and be honest regarding these types of concerns listed above.

Locally, there is no better realtor than Beltran Properties at eXp. Contact Jaimy Beltran today at 503-502-3330.

9.

Do not remain ignorant of the market. If you are someone who’s never purchased a home, or if you’ve never educated yourself on the process, now is the time to do so! We employ agents and we seek their advice, but the only way to know we are getting the best home under the best terms is to understand the market ourselves! How do we do that? Not by reading the salacious headlines in the news, but by actively getting out there, doing the footwork, and speaking to proven, seasoned professionals. Panic comes from ignorance. Avoid both!

10. Do not assume homeownership is out of reach just because a rate hike affected your level of affordability. There are sometimes other options which a good agent

By Donovan Darling, Staff Writer

Klaus (2019)

A SpanishAmerican movie written and directed by Spaniard Sergio Pablos, this is a wonderful alternate origin story of Santa Claus. In the movie, Klaus is a reclusive toymaker living in a fictitious 19th-century island town in the Far North who’s befriended by a mail man misfortunately stationed there. The animations are slick and fantastical, the characters well-voiced and sympathetic, and in this moody yet romantic world a heartfelt mystery unfolds. And the movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the first animated Netflix film to ever be nominated. Starring Jason Schwartzman, J. K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso, Norm Macdonald, Joan Cusack, and more. This is a newer must see for the whole family. Rated PG.

Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

One of my all time favorites, this Ron Howard flick stars Jim Carrey in yet another “how did he do that?” stellar performance. Based on and expanding from the book,

this movie brilliantly recreates the Who world in all its magic, humor, and whimsy. We learn the Grinch’s new origin story as a bullied child who retreats to his mountain cave, and many years later he returns as he’s nominated to be the Holiday Cheermeister. A classic Us vs. Them, it’s also a tale of love, inclusion, community, and redemption, and a lovely expansion from the original movie and book. This star-studded cast also includes Taylor Momsen, Christine Baranski, Molly Shannon, Jeffrey Tambor, Bill Irwin, and more. A classic movie that’s great for the whole family. Rated PG.

Jingle All the Way (1996)

Produced and co-written by Chris Columbus (Home Alone), this is a lesser known cult classic begging to be watched. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, Phil Hartman, Rita Wilson, Jake Lloyd, and cameos from Jim Belushi and Robert Conrad, the uncanny cast carries the thinly-plotted movie about sell-out toys and the commercialization of Christmas. Howard (Arnold), a father and husband who chooses work over his family, soon learns his lesson when he delays and discovers his son’s Christmas toy of choice has sold out. From there, it’s a hyperbolic romp of Howard and Myron (Sinbad) maniacally running all over town in a flurry of hijinks, pranks, and fatherly desperation. It’s fun, silly, and emphasizes the importance of family over material goods for Christmas. A tad violent in a cartoony way, it’s rated PG but views like a soft PG-13.

Fatman (2020)

Pitch black, violent, and cynical, it’s a gritty postmodern Christmas movie just for adults. Chris Cringle (Mel Gibson) is a down-andout Santa barely surviving–kids have become so ruthless that half of them are on the naughty list, toy production has succumbed to outsourcing, and the U.S. government has halved their subsidy. This forces Chris to take on a shocking new government contract of production to pay the bills. After Christmas, a ruthless rich kid who, after justifiably receiving coal, hires a hitman (Walter Goggins)–who eerily and obsessively collects and stores Santa-made gifts–to kill Santa. All culminating in an ultimate showdown. It’s dark, serious, and surprisingly entertaining. Not for the faint of heart. Rated R.

Christmas movies to also include in your movie marathon: Die Hard (1988, R), Scrooged (1988, PG-13), Home Alone 2 (1992, PG), The Family Man (2000, PG-13).

Stream these movies where available, or rent from your local movie store, library, or rental kiosk.