Mark was on the hunt for a home his son, brother, and he could inhabit. Because the three of them wanted to have the option of existing collectively and separately in the home, we were looking for a house with a unique blend of individual and communal living spaces. Mark was able to visit Portland to explore neighborhoods and prepare to continue the search from a distance. After investigating a variety of homes from afar, we kept returning our attention to one of the homes we toured the first day of his trip. No other homes were coming close to competing with this move-in ready newer construction in the Arnold Creek neighborhood. Sometimes the right one is there from the very start. Congratulations, Mark! We know this will be the perfect space for you and your family.
Tag: buyer
Posts where the agent represented the buyer
JUST LISTED! Darling FOPO Bungalow!
7325 SE Insley St. Portland, Or. 97206
This darling FOPO bungalow sits on a quiet street that’s super close to happening Foster and Woodstock and just two blocks from Portland Mercado and Mt Scott park. Features original wood floors, high ceilings, Rejuvenation and Schoolhouse lighting, remodeled bathroom with Pratt & Larsen & subway tiles. Updated windows & plumbing, new 96.5% Carrier gas furnace, new electric water heater and fresh paint inside and out! Wonderful full length covered front porch, great sun exposure in massive fenced yard & garden space with mature plantings. 86 Walkscore & 74 bike!
MLS#: 20391238
$359,000
Grit, Grace and the Good Stuff
Congratulations to our First Time Home Buyers!
I met Megan and Natasha at one of my open houses last fall. They stopped by with their adorable daughter, Paloma, and as we started chatting I felt a connection with them right away. We learned they were in town from Santa Cruz to check out houses in the Portland market and after a few days checking out the city and going to open houses, were feeling really good about making the move! We made the plan to keep in touch and, as all Portlanders do, we recommended some of our favorite restaurants to check out while they were in town.
Through emails and conference calls, we were able to get to know each other surprisingly well, and by the time they arrived for their first in-person visit to tour homes together, we were ready to hit the ground running. We toured a lot of homes in many different styles and vintages, all the while going over the benefits and drawbacks of each. Megan and Natasha are thoughtful, research-oriented and very good at asking questions, and those qualities that make them a great match for us! So with an accelerated home buying education, they decided that new construction was the best choice for their young family.
We found the sweetest new construction home in the fantastic Woodstock neighborhood on a picture-perfect street. Given we are all staying home to be safe for now, these buyers will be moving up to Portland as soon as this whole Covid-19 thing settles down. Welcome home!
A Sweet House for Smart Cookies
A Sweet House for Smart Cookies
My assistant, Jasmine, was referred to a lovely young family in the market to buy a new home in SE Portland. I’ve seen quite of few of these new construction townhouse style homes around town over the past 5 years and I’m a big fan. First of all, they are obviously gorgeous but so much of their goodness comes from being Earth Advantage certified, required to be at least 15% more efficient and with better overall performance than a house built to code. Plus they have all the bells and whistles to boot! Needless to say, it was very easy to get on board and support these clients through their home purchase. We are over the moon and excited for our internet-private-type clients to make this house a home.
We Love Referrals!
A Brand New Place to Quarantine in Pleasant Valley
Congratulations to Bea and David on getting the keys to their new to the home in Pleasant Valley. From start to finish their transaction was 32 days, and during this time, the world turned upside down and our planet went to war. The seller was Opendoor, which if you are unfamiliar with is an Ibuyer company that buys homes for cash off market and undervalue, and then slaps some paint and caulk on the house and puts the house back on the market at market value. I was out of town for President’s Day weekend when Bea and David decided to check out a house in Pleasant Valley that piqued their interest. Since it was an Opendoor property, they were able to let themselves in without me and what they found was a home that had parquet wood floors throughout the entire house, a tri-level layout, and decks with views for days on all levels. They were in love, so we wrote up the offer while I was still out of town, and the next day Opendoor accepted their offer. The first time I saw the house was at their inspection, and our inspector warned us that all Opendoor does is slap some lipstick on problems, and she has seen a lot of sale fails because of the poor condition of homes and Opendoor not willing to negotiate credits or repairs. Thankfully the inspection went fairly well- still a lot of work will need to be done to fix some rotted siding, roof and gutter issues and a few plumbing repairs, but overall it was one of the better Opendoor homes our inspector had inspected. Getting Opendoor to offer any credits was like trying to pull teeth out of a live tiger, but I did manage to get them a couple thousand in credit, which was better than a poke in the eye. And then right after we finished that negotiation, poof- the whole world collapsed. Thankfully my buyers were far enough into the transaction that we had everything pretty much nailed down so they were able to sign their closing docs- though I was not allowed to join them. The sale closed, and rather then me meeting them to give them their keys my buyers were able to get the keys from the lockbox at the house themselves. This was the first transaction that I can remember where I didn’t get to hand over keys or go to the signing. And like everything else in this new world, it feels strange and sad. But my buyers are thrilled and really that’s all that matters. They can focus on moving from where they are sheltering in place at their rental, to quarantining themselves in their new home.
Just listed – Charming Richmond Townhome
2409 SE 51st Ave #2
Portland, Oregon, 97206
Beautiful post-war townhome located in one of Portland’s hippest neighborhoods. Some of the best restaurants, shopping, music venues, coffee shops and parks in town are within blocks. The home features beautiful hardwood floors, updated kitchen with granite counters, stainless steel appliances and cherry cabinets. Upstairs you’ll find a large master bedroom and second room or office plus tiled bathroom. Also comes with a large storage unit with washer/dryer and a deeded, secured parking space.
OFFERED AT $325,000
2 BEDROOM | 1 BATH | 948 SQFT
MLS #20137290 | TAXES: $3,874
A house years in the making
I helped Rhett and Jen move to Portland a couple of years ago, when they arrived in the middle of winter with a two month old son and needed a rental home. We were able to find them a sweet little two bedroom house in SE Portland, and they settled into it and started raising their family and finding their place in Portland. I’ve been in touch with them since, and through several starts and stops, they were finally ready to look start looking in earnest to purchase their first house.
We met and set up the parameters for their search. We talked about their must-haves and wishlists for what their dream home would look like. We went on a couple tours, and Jen added a house that was floating above their top end price point because it was just a couple blocks away from where we finished. The house had it all. A big yard, garage, family room for the kids, and extra space for their offices– in a great neighborhood to boot. We kept an eye on it, and after a couple of weeks they were planning on submitting an offer below asking. Simultaneously the sellers dropped the price right as we submitted their offer. It was a fortuitous moment, and with a strong explanation of their love of the house, the sellers accepted it right away.
My buyers were thrilled, and as anticipated the house was in excellent condition for the age of the home. We had a great team working on their behalf, from the lender to their escrow agent, and solid communication with the listing agent. We were able to get the most important items addressed from their inspections, and it was a true win-win for everyone.
It’s been a long road from that initial time of helping Rhett and Jen find their rental, but I’m so honored and thrilled to have helped guide them to closing on their first new home today!
You Know it’s “The One” When You Want to Throw Up
I met Molly at my coworker Bonnie’s open house. Bonnie had been working with Molly and her husband David to find the perfect home for their family, who had outgrown their small two bedroom apartment.
While at the open Bonnie turned to me and said, “Do you have buyers for this listing?” and when I replied that I didn’t she introduced me to Molly. Molly and I then walked around the home, where she let me know she liked the home so much it was making her feel nauseated. 🙂 So I tried my best to ease her nerves while we waited for David to show up.
Luckily, David approved and we were able to move easily through the offer and inspection process. Now they are the proud owners of a beautiful home with enough space for the whole family.
If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell a home in the Portland area, please contact Amanda Haworth at 503-453-7698 or amanda@livingroomre.com.
Beautiful Gated Townhouse for 1st Time Home Buyers
Adam and Mikey were first-time buyers ready to shift into investing, instead of spending money on rent every month. They contacted Living Room and were passed to me as a resident condo expert. We toured a number of condos around town but as so often happens, they kept coming back to this one, again and again, deliberating whether it suited their needs. In the end, this private townhouse won them over with the right price, 2 bedrooms and small private outdoor space. We were able to negotiate their closing costs to be paid by the seller along with a long closing so the current tenants could move out.
Built in 2008, this gated townhouse features beautiful hardwood floors and vaulted ceilings, tile and granite countertops and a fenced deck. Easy access to East Portland amenities, MAX and freeway access, bike paths, shopping, dining and parks made this the perfect transition for these first time home buyers.
A big congratulations to Adam and Mikey on their gorgeous new home!
Listed by Sam Crawford • Keller Williams-PDX Central
Listed by Emily Hetrick • Keller Williams-PDX Central
Petite Perfection In A Newly Built Affordable Home In Kenton
Molly and her son have been renting a below market rate home owned by a non-profit in NE Portland for years. With her rent about to rise, Molly made it her mission to buy a home to provide her and her son much needed stability. Through luck, timing and meeting the right qualifications, Molly qualified for a $90k down payment assistance loan through the Portland Housing Bureau. The loan is actually a silent second, which means there are no payments made on the loan, it accrues no interest and is forgivable after a certain number of years living in the home. Concurrently, Portland Housing Center’s LIFT program was unveiled and Molly was able to snatch up one of their $20k grants. With $110k in down payment assistance, Molly was able to buy a fabulously adorable new construction home on a quiet street in the heart of the Kenton neighborhood. The 2 bed 1.5 bath was built in what was an oversized yard of a house, and though only 800 sf, this home is a great example of how to use a small footprint to create a home that lives much larger than what you would expect with a home with less than 1/2 the square feet than your average new construction home. And with the smaller footprint, it kept the cost down and created an affordable option for home ownership in the thriving Kenton area. The transaction itself was smooth as butter with an awesome listing agent, Daniel Silvey with Knipe Realty, who also happened to own the home, a fabulous lender- Jennifer Leon at Umpqua, terrific escrow officer Mariah Yee with Ticor Title and lots of help and guidance of folks at both the Portland Housing Bureau and the Portland Housing Center.
An Alameda Mansion?
As I came home from work on a rainy Tuesday evening, I couldn’t wait to inform my family that I had successfully negotiated the purchase of one of Alameda’s most noteworthy properties. Collaboration with the other agent was seamless and an honest and transparent approach was well received by the sellers. Just weeks before they had been cut loose by a prior buyer so the initial dialogue was a bit tense, but I turned it around quickly.
That prior buyer’s loss was our gain and after successfully getting through negotiations for my client, my wife and I decided to show the home to our 8 year old daughter. Her reply was hilarious. She said, “That is huge! Is that a mansion?” We quickly told her it was a “Big old house,” and not necessarily a mansion. While I knew the home was special, seeing the awe and shock in an 8 year old’s eyes was priceless. After many years in this business and many successful negotiations, this will be one that I hold dear.
A Confluence of Factors
Congratulations to Sarah, Scottie and Piggers! Thanks to impeccable timing they were able to get $35k in down payment grants through the LIFT program and University of Portland’s down payment program designed to help full time employees buy their first home near the UofP. Within a week of having the LIFT reservation in hand, we found a great rancher in University Park that checked all the boxes including what we thought would be a difficult to find huge detached garage for Scottie’s blossoming contractor business. This was the week before Christmas, and knowing that the LIFT funds expired in 2 months, and that most likely they were not going to see a house that checked this many boxes in their price range anytime soon, I suggested they offer just a few hairs over asking in hopes that the seller would accept their offer prior to the weekend, and it worked! Three days before Christmas they had their offer accepted, which was just 2 days before I left town on vacation for 2 weeks. Thanks to my excellent colleague Lisa Avena at Living Room who took great care of them and handled their home inspection, I was able to enjoy my vacation knowing Sarah and Scottie were being well taken care of. The inspection turned up a few unexpected surprises in the crawl space, but having a contractor buying a house always makes me feel better when a house is going to need some work. Even though the seller (who was also the listing agent) wasn’t happy, we were able to get him to agree to fix the big stuff. And then the appraiser called out some dry rot on the garage. Grrrr. By this time we were in mid-January and the market had clearly turned a sharp corner. In the 4 weeks from when their offer was accepted to the time the appraisal came back, the market shifted strongly into a sellers market with little inventory and a ton of buyers out shopping. The seller was very aware of this, and reminded me a couple of times that he had someone waiting in the wings who wanted the house badly enough because of it’s huge garage, that this supposed buyer would have taken the property as-is. So when I told him that the appraiser had called out that the garage needed to be repaired before the lender would loan on the property, he refused to the garage repaired. This would have been the end for most buyers, but Sarah and Scottie were not daunted. Scottie knew he could take care of the issue himself in less than a day’s work, so we got the seller’s permission for Scottie to fix the issue and Scottie got to work. Between the 35k in funds, finding the right property at the exact right time, and having the literal skills and ability to fix a problem, this family of three were able to close on the perfect house for them.
Giving Back to My Community
My oldest daughter attends our neighborhood school of Scott Elementary in the Cully neighborhood. We have been so fortunate to be a part of this community, which has been made even better with the award winning PTA at the school.
In the past 4 years since we’ve been a part of the school, I’ve seen it change by leaps and bounds. This is in no small part due to the efforts of the PTA.
In an article written for pdxparent.com, Denise Castañon writes “Scott is one of the most diverse schools in Portland Public Schools. The school is home to a dual-language Spanish immersion program, and Latinx students make up 41 percent of the school’s population. Black students account for 18 percent of the population; Asian and Pacific Islanders account for 4 percent of the students; Native students make up 2 percent of the population; 7 percent of Scott students are multiracial; white students are just under 30 percent of the population. It’s also a high-poverty, Title 1 school with more than 95 percent of students on free and reduced lunch. In addition to Spanish and English, Vietnamese and Somali are spoken by Scott families.”
Castañon credits recruiting bilingual parent leaders as being crucial in bridging the divide between the different communities that make up the school. She also notes that PTA president Kristen Hoffman has been tireless in her efforts to bring our community together. And I concur! Kristen is not only a client whom I helped find a house for she and her family last year, but a powerhouse in our community.
This year I have decided to give back to my community by donating 1% of all of my commissions through the end of the 2019/2020 school year to the Scott School PTA. I believe in giving back to my community and I believe in the great work the Scott School PTA is doing to improve the lives of the children who go there.
If you or anyone you know would like to buy or sell a home in the Portland Metro area, and support a great cause, please have them contact Amanda Haworth at amanda@livingroomre.com or 503-453-7698.
Serene Sherwood Contemporary
JUST LISTED: 17770 SW Nels Dr
3 Bed | 2 Bath | 1686 SF | MLS# 20485972 | Taxes: $4,348 | HOA $120 Yr
17770 SW Nels Dr., Sherwood OR 97140
Offered at $439,000
OPEN HOUSE: Sunday 2/23 11pm-1pm
Gorgeous, contemporary single level home backing up to a serene wooded area. Only a handful of properties in this sought-after neighborhood offer such a gorgeous green backdrop! Situated perfectly in the Oregon Trail neighborhood with a play park, schools nearby and all Sherwood has to offer!
Upon entering you’ll notice vaulted ceilings and wonderful natural light. The floor plan flows easily into the formal dining room and formal living room, wonderful for entertaining and intimate dinners alike. You’ll love how the living room shines with an oversized picture window and soaring ceilings. Making your way into the heart of the home is the beautifully updated kitchen featuring ample counter space, storage galore and soaring ceilings. A dining nook and breakfast bar help to make this space feel both spacious and inviting.
Opening up off the kitchen you’ll find the large family room with many great features including a stunning mantle with a gas fireplace, custom cabinetry, pantry and a closet. Plus, custom wood blinds throughout the home!
Through the hall is a very large master bedroom with lofty ceilings and a wonderful en suite bathroom with double sinks. The adjacent bedrooms filled with natural light and provide ample closet space.
Rounding out the home is a nice sized laundry room and 2 car garage equipped with an electric car charger and plenty of storage. And don’t forget the newly updated furnace, hot water heater and dryer! The beautiful backyard is just perfectly private and spacious. The yard is fully fenced which makes this yard Fido friendly and a delightful space for gathering or enjoying on your own. Plus, soon to come, The Cedar Creek Trail with access points near the property!
VIDEO TOUR
A Chic & Modern New Condo for a Repeat Client
In the past few years, I have helped Gary buy and sell a gorgeous condo in the Pearl. He came back to me recently, having entered a new phase of life and looking for a home that better suited his needs and wants for the future. We found a beautiful custom built condo by Everett Custom Homes featuring totally modern conveniences—luxury finishes, slab quartz counter-tops, an open floor plan with high ceilings.
Sustainable, energy-efficient, and quality craftsmanship made this condo an easy choice for a new lifestyle across town.
Gary’s criteria for space and location were more than met, being within walking distance of Williams and Mississippi Ave. and their ample access to parks, top restaurants, shops and grocery stores. Most importantly, this condo allowed for flexibility with his payments so that he can continue his travels and rock climbing and yoga hobbies. This perfect condo is brand new and Gary will be it’s very first owner!
Listing courtesy of Jennifer Tran of Everett Real Estate Group
The Ross family finds the ONE!
Two years, one new baby and a lot of homes later, the Ross family has found the ONE! Sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince! My good friends, The Ross’s, needed more space for their family (of 6!) and set out to find the perfecthome a few years back. We ooh’ed over Hartung Farms beauties, Lake Oswego mansions and some 
of Bauer Woods’ best. In the end, the style of this 4,100 sq ft mid-century stunner won their hearts.
This home is so special for many reasons. It was built in 1950 and much of the original character is in tact. The wood paneling, angled ceilings and floor to ceiling windows really make the home shine. With 4 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms and much of the home on 1 level, there is room for the whole family. There is a bonus room and bar area with a garage door that opens to the patio and pool – perfect for summer entertaining. Upstairs, a loft area and bright room will serve as a bedroom for their oldest child.
Down a separate hallway, the master suite is spacious and private with views of the pool and landscape. Walk down a bamboo lined pathway behind the pool and find a secret hideaway equipped with a wine fridge, dart board and cable TV… the perfect man-cave or she-shed!
This family has big plans to make this home their own and I know that they will create magic with whatever they decide to do. I can’t wait to see the finished product and take a dip in the pool next summer!!! Thank you for trusting in me Ross’s! I am so excited for your family to make many memories at this gorgeous home. Congratulations!!!
Offer Wars ~ Winning Bids!
How do you get the seller to pick your offer?
Winning Multiple Offer Strategies
You just walked in to a house that feels like home right off the bat. You love the filtered light and would have chosen the finishes yourself. It seems too good to be true… Okay, maybe it is not totally perfect, but it is by far the very best place you have seen within your budget. Now what?!
The trouble is that lots of people like similar places and if your heart is throbbing for this gem of a property, in all likelihood you will have competitors. How do you fight to win?
Let’s be honest, nearly every seller is moved by the bottom line, but there is often more to the story. This is not to say you can overcome the obstacle of an offer with a significantly bigger price tag, or someone with a pile of cash when you have worked hard to save up a modest down payment.
There are, however, lots of things that can sweeten the deal enough that if your offer is neck and neck with another, or maybe even a bit lower, might make all the difference and get you the house you want so badly.
Here goes:
1. Show your finances are solid by including your pre-approval letter from a local lender that is well respected in the community and if you have a large down payment include proof of funds (don’t share your account number).
2. Write a sincere, authentic and heartfelt letter to the seller. Make it short and sweet. Express your appreciation for the homeowners and their property, share a few details about yourself that show who you are and include a fun pic or two (kiddos- canine, feline and human, or other species, make great subjects).
3. Work with a great buyer’s agent in that frequently does business in the area where you are shopping. Relationships in the industry can be critical. You are relying on your agent to communicate well with the sellers’s agent and be someone they are eager to work with. Visit prospective agent’s Zillow, Nextdoor, or other profile pages online to see their recent activity. Check agents out on Peer Reputation to see how colleagues view them, as well as reading reviews from consumers online.
4. Get advice from your agent about the myriad details that can make a difference. Consider some examples-
- Tighten up your inspection contingency by shortening the time frame, etc.
- If you’ve received the Seller’s Property Disclosure you can elect to waive the associated contingency if you are confident about your purchase.
- Increase the dollar amount of your initial earnest money deposit.
- Find out the seller’s ideal closing and possession dates and give them what they want.
- Can you let go of the requirement for the property to appraise for the sales price?
- There are many tweaks that can make a big difference…
5. Get creative! What can you bring to the table that others cannot?
Have questions? Let’s talk!
When You Love Where You Live
When you love where you live, but need more space, you just buy a bigger townhome! Jamie and Rachel were living in a two bedroom condo in their Happy Valley community with their children. As time passed they realized the space was just not big enough for their family. Luckily a larger townhome came to market just two doors down.
We looked at the townhome home during the summer and a few months later Jamie and Rachel decided it was time. They wrote an under listing price offer and after a few days of negotiation we had come to an agreement with the seller. One month later I was able to give Jamie and Rachel the keys and they started their move to a home with some much needed additional space.
The Highs! The Lows. Then LIFT!
With some buyers the journey towards home ownership takes a few more twists and turns then planned. My buyer Sydney had a few bumps in the road along the way, but through luck and good timing, reaped the reward of the perfect house for her.
Sydney was a Portland Housing Center client and enrolled in their matching savings program, and was in the know about the upcoming LIFT program that gives home buyers under a certain income $20,000 towards a down payment and/or closing costs. Registration for getting a coveted LIFT appointment was planned for the week before Thanksgiving, and on the morning of registration opening, so many home buyers were trying to get a golden ticket that within 90 seconds of the system opening, all reservations were gone. Sydney had really been hoping she would get a reservation, but sadly (or so we thought) she missed out. The second chance to snag a reservation was Dec. 13th, but once Sydney missed out on the first round, she decided she was going to put LIFT out of her mind and start looking for a home right away.
The week after Thanksgiving we went out and saw a few homes in her price range. One of those homes was a large 3 bedroom 2 bathroom mid-century right off Rose City Golf Course that had been sitting on the market for a couple of months. It did retain some basic mid-century charm- lovely hardwood floors, a couple of nice fireplaces, a great layout, and a large unfinished basement with high ceilings. To Sydney’s benefit, the previous owner didn’t have the greatest taste and had altered a lot of the rooms to suit a very specific taste- one bedroom was painted bright pink and had textured walls reminiscent of a frosted wedding cake, another bedroom had the ugliest wallpaper ever and someone had the brilliant idea of turning it into a true master with ensuite bathroom by blocking off the hallway entrance to the bathroom and cutting out an entry space maybe 18″ wide between the wall of the bedroom and bathroom so one wouldn’t have to walk around to the hallway to get into the bathroom via a proper door. Most buyers can’t see past the projects, but Sydney saw an achievable challenge and an opportunity for true sweat equity.
Sydney is a woman of vision and she was able to see past all of that wackiness and envision a mid-century marvel. For most first time home buyers, I would not necessarily recommend purchasing a house that needs as much work as this one clearly needed, but Sydney’s resources include her own handiness and handy contractor friends. The bones of the house seemed fine, but clearly work beyond just cosmetics were needed, so we wrote an offer for $10k under list price knowing that most likely the repair list was going to be long, and hoped for the best.
The seller was represented by a court appointed conservator, and accepted the offer and we moved onto inspections. I knew stuff would come up in the inspection, but I had no idea the extent of what needed to be done. After the inspection, the repair list included: sewer line needed replacing, oil tank needed to be decommissioned, electric panel and service line needed replacing, roof needed a full replacement, both bathrooms underlayments were so moisture damaged that one of them needs to be completely gutted down to the studs and support structure, and the other bathroom need the drains to work and the toilet to be re-attached to the floor, much of the wiring was dangerous and most of the plumbing was at the end of it’s life. Given the seller was being represented by a court ordered conservator, we had no idea where we would end up. Sydney was more than prepared to take on the cosmetic stuff and a few repairs on her own, but the totality of what else needed to be done was way beyond her scope both financially and logistically. Thankfully the listing agent was a true gem and understood that all of the repairs we were asking for were repairs that any buyer would ask for and was able to convey that to the seller’s representative.
Meanwhile, while we were in the midst of repair negotiations, Sydney found out through her contact at Portland Housing Center that not all of the LIFT funds had been reserved, and Portland Housing Center had a few more grants available they were releasing to their clients who were already under contract. Sydney registered online immediately and actually snagged one of the very last LIFT grants giving her $20k towards her down payment. This significantly changed the stakes because it meant that while we still needed the seller to do most of the repairs, it meant Sydney could use $20k that she had planned on putting towards her downpayment aside so she can get those bathrooms working and stylish. And with the exception of fixing the bathrooms- they gave her a small price concession instead, the sellers representative agreed to have all the necessary repairs done prior to closing.
So with the grant in hand, she was able to accept the seller’s counter on the repairs and we moved forward. Nearly 2 months after her offer was accepted, I handed Sydney the keys to her very own house. We couldn’t have planned it better with Sydney getting into contract before the unleashing of all of the other LIFT buyers, and then actually getting the $20k LIFT grant if we had tried.
The Best Little Farmhouse in Tigard
When Amy first contacted me about a move to Portland from Colorado, I knew we were going to hit it off. We both had 4-year-old girls and a wicked sense of humor. I liked her immediately.
We then had a series of whirlwind house hunting trips when she came out to Portland for a few days at a time. I think we saw around 20-30 houses, all told. We wrote several offers that ended up in back up position, due to the fact that Amy still needed to sell her house in Colorado. One of those back up offers was the home that was to become theirs.
When we first saw this home on a quiet street in Tigard, we fell in love. With that classic farmhouse style and huge wraparound porch, how could we resist? Once inside we saw that the kitchen and living room had been beautifully remodeled. Not to mention that the yard felt like it needed its own zip code it was so big. The perfect play zone for their daughter. Amy knew it was the one.
I can just picture them spending summers out on that beautiful porch, or enjoying the yard. I can’t wait to see photos of them all settled into their new home! Congrats Amy, Travis and Faye!
If you or anyone you know are looking to buy or sell a home in the Portland area, please contact Amanda Haworth at 503-453-7698 or amanda@livingroomre.com.
JUST SOLD: ORMANDY
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Tessa and Hayley shared with me their desire for privacy, and ideally a home that was perched among the trees. Portland has a handful of pockets that feature these types of homes, however they are by no means common. As luck would have it, we struck gold early when we discovered “Ormandy” in the first weeks of our search. After touring this contemporary southwest home for a second time, Hayley and Tessa were certain this was the place for them. It had some projects they were game to tackle, while giving them the bones and space to turn the key and settle in comfortably right away. I am grateful for their trust and confidence and feel lucky that my path has crossed theirs. I can’t wait to see them put their own touches on this great home!
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I am thrilled to start out the new year by helping Tessa and Hayley purchase their first home. After wrapping up their doctorate work and related training they decided to make Portland their home. Tessa is a professor at PSU and I was honored when one of her colleagues, a past client of mine, referred them my way.Light and Bright in Sherwood
JUST LISTED: Light & Bright in Sherwood
3 Bed | 2 Bath | 1497 SF | $4,222 Tax | MLS #20213123 | HOA $120/Yr
Offered at: $399,000
OPEN HOUSE: Saturday 1/18 12pm – 2pm
20759 SW Santa Fe Ter, Sherwood OR 97140
Welcome home! Step into this gorgeous, contemporary single level with a fantastic open floor plan!
Entering the foyer you are immediately greeted with vaulted ceilings, ample natural light and gleaming wood accents and millwork. A few steps further you’ll find a large den/office with a big picture window and plenty of versatile space. Easily imagined as the media room as well!
Make your way into the heart of the home and you’ll enjoy an open concept kitchen, dining and living room. Soaring ceilings, skylight and big windows overlooking the backyard make this space feel both spacious and inviting.
The kitchen is a generous size with a great layout and touts a gas range, ample counter space and an eating bar. The dining room flows easily between the kitchen and living room providing a wonderful space for entertaining and intimate dinners alike.
Make yourself comfortable in the living room in front of the gas fireplace. Plenty of room here for relaxation and gatherings.
The layout and flow throughout the home is easy to navigate and absolutely ideal for a home of this size. Through the hall you’ll find bedrooms filled with natural light plus a very large master suite with vaulted ceilings.
Rounding out the home is a nice sized laundry room and 2 car garage with plenty of storage.
A beautiful backyard offers flowering shrubs, established landscaping and a large patio surrounded by greenery, ready for lounging in the shade on hot summer days. The yard is fully fenced for privacy which makes this a delightful space for entertaining or enjoying on your own. Located in the coveted Oregon Trail neighborhood with a play park, close to schools and all the area has to offer!
VIDEO TOUR
Good Karma, Great Home
The first time I sat down with Aaron was the first week of June, 2019. He told me about his goal of buying a house and how he wasn’t sure about the process just yet. More importantly, he shared with me his motivations.
Aaron told me about his little brother who he had taken in just about a year prior. He is in middle school and adjusting well since his move up from TX. Aaron also told me about how he really wanted to move his mom up from TX to live with him to so he could live with her and make sure she is taken care of.
At this point I’m practically in tears about what a selfless and caring guy Aaron is. BUT THEN, he goes on to tell me about how he is into community building. He helps all these different people out in small and big ways all while working 10 hr or more days 5+ days/week. (I mean… if anyone deserves a home to call their own, it’s Aaron, right?) We continued to connect over a love of classic cars, he loves working on old Cadillacs and other cars. My dad has been restoring old Corvettes forever and my husband designs and builds custom motorcycles.
He hadn’t decided to hire me just yet, but I would be damned if I didn’t get to help him achieve his goals! I told him I would be honored to be his agent and would do whatever I could to help him get there. I explained how Living Room Realty stands by and truly lives out our values. I thought they would resonate with him and I think they did. Last, I asked if I could put him in touch with a great mortgage consultant and he agreed.
Aaron worked really hard after this meeting. I connected him with Carol Flanagan at Guild Mortgage and she assisted with him from that point on to repair and build his credit. He listened to her advice and by about Thanksgiving he had a pre-approval letter in hand. He qualified for the Oregon Bond Program, an FHA loan that provides down payment assistance to help buyers like him get into the market and start building equity.
Once he was ready, we went out and saw just about every home on the market that met his criteria in about 3-4 days. We wrote an offer right away on a turn-key ranch in SE that checked all the boxes. While there was another offer practically the same as his, he won out after bumping up his price just enough. I was also able to negotiate just over $2000 in closing credits, along with a home warranty paid for by the seller. We closed 35 days later, which was 7 months and 3 days after I first met with him.
Watching him sign his closing papers was emotional because it reminded me of why I love this job so much. Aaron worked really hard to get to the signing table. I am so proud of the work everyone did, especially Aaron, to get him the keys to his new home.
Congrats Aaron!
New Home and New Adventures in Portland!
Welcome to Portland, Josh!
A big warm welcome and congratulations to Josh! He was referred to Jasmine and I through a friend of hers and we are so pleased to have helped him buy a gorgeous home!
We connected Josh with our preferred lender, JJ Lee Kwai at Two Rivers Mortgage, and just like that we were on our way to a smooth transaction!
Josh is moving from Maryland ready for his next adventure in life! He has family here and is looking forward to living close to them again. We applaud his decision and know he’ll be happy in this fabulous home! Cheers!
Stacey and Graeme buy a real Stunner!
Congratulations to Stacey, Graeme & Roen!
I am so thrilled to have worked with Graeme and Stacey to purchase this beautiful home. I’ve known Stacey a very long time now. Before she was married and had the cutest son on earth, she was my roommate. That was back when Bernadette and I felt that having a roommate made paying the bills and our mortgage a bit easier.
A lot has changed over the last 10 years although Stacey and I have kept in touch! She met Graeme and they are, hands down, one of the most well-matched and adorable couples out there! I was honored to attend their fantastically gorgeous wedding about 5 years ago. Since then, they have moved to Canada for work and back, had their son Roen and decided to move back to Portland. Yay!!
Stacey and Graeme have some of my favorite character traits- optimism, realism, curiosity and humor. What great traits to work with when shopping for real estate! They were in the market for a comfortable home in a beautiful setting, not too far out in the country and not too close-in to the city, with a master on the main. As first time home buyers who are research-driven, we naturally looked at a lot of houses. And it was a blast! In the end, there was one that they just couldn’t get out of there mind and every home was then being compared to ‘the one’.
We wrote a very competitive offer and were soon in contract! The transaction went smoothly and they are now the proud owners of this gorgeous home! Cheers to Stacey, Graeme and Roen!
A Hallmark Original – Almost
Once upon a time on a beautiful fall Sunday in St. John’s two of my favorite friends were brunching with their folks and wandered into an open house. Little did they know they were about to fall in love. The soaring ceilings, beautiful box beams, large rooms and wood floors lingered in their minds for days… weeks really. Then it happened, there was a price drop. My phone started ringing – this house was now a possibility. Can we do it? Let’s call the lender!
Later that night I got the call, “Hey Shannon… any chance we can buy this house and sell ours?”
“Sure!”
“Also, we’re leaving for Germany in 72 hours, is that a problem?” We laughed and laughed.
But really, “Of course not, we’ve got this.”
And we did! We had their offer accepted a day later (contingent on the sale of their home), got their house on the market in 72 hours, found a buyer and now… finally, they are the proud owners of their dream home!
But it really wasn’t so cut and dry. The events kicked in to motion with the final sale of their house were really just the start. You see, the owners of this dream home – they were also contingent on their new home, and those people.. yep, contingent on their new home too, and those people – you got it. This is where the holiday miracle story should have been picked up on by the Hallmark Channel. Against all odds all of the REALTORS® were able to work together to ensure nothing went wrong and now there are 5 sets of people who just closed on their new homes just in time for the holidays!
When An Attached Home is the Answer
First time homebuyers Justin and Steve were pretty clear about what they did want- a 3 bedroom 2 bath home with little to no yard, spacious, something that didn’t need any work and was easy to maintain, located near a bus line in SW that travels downtown regularly and not a condo. In their minds, they were picturing themselves in a detached home, but given their budget, they weren’t sure if what they wanted even existed in their price range.
We sat down to meet in early September to talk about expectations, what they were looking for in a home and what they could reasonably expect. I mentioned that an attached home/ townhouse that’s not part of a condominium association might hit all of their wants and needs. At first they looked at me like I had a third eye, but within a few minutes I could see the wheels and gears churning in their heads. We talked about it some more and the more we talked about it, I think the more they realized that a townhouse really could be a great option for them.
Once they were ready to start shopping, I sent them a bunch of listings in their price range that at least met most of what they wanted which included a few townhouses. The first place we went to see was blocks from Multnomah Village. It was a townhouse built in 2015 the builder had built to rent out for a few years, then put on the market, so by the time it came on the market, it had been refreshed and was practically brand new. They immediately took a liking to it. It met every single item on their list, but given the higher property taxes, it was slightly over their budget. We then went and saw another town home in the area, and that one didn’t light a single sparkle in their eyes. After that we checked out a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom detached house in their price range, but compared to the first townhouse we saw, the detached one didn’t hold a candle and everything about it needed updating. When we finished our short but sweet tour, I could tell that they had fallen in love with the first place we saw.
The home had been on the market since February with only a fraction of a price reduction that whole time, so of course my buyers want to know what’s wrong with it, or what the issue is. When I spoke with the listing agent he said it came down to a seller who had drawn his line in the sand, and wasn’t going to accept anything below that line, despite what the market was repeatedly telling him. They had received other offers over the 9 months it had been on the market, but since the seller wasn’t moving the needle, it never went pending. Since it had been sitting vacant for so long, the seller was finally motivated to sell. Justin and Steve had their own line in the sand in terms of how much they were willing to pay for a monthly payment, and at it’s list price, it was $25,000 over what they were comfortable spending. We wrote up an offer, went through a couple of counters, and finally arrived at a combination of credits and price reductions that came in just three dollars under Justin and Steve’s bottom line. Thankfully the home was in terrific shape so we asked the seller to only fix a few tiny punch-list/blue tape items, which they agreed to do, and we closed on time. And when we met so I could hand over the keys, they seemed a shell shocked in a delightful way. They couldn’t believe it had been so easy, and for an agent, that’s the best response a buyer, particularly a first time buyer, can have.
It’s Closing Time
My buyer clients, Maria and Greg, just closed on this charming condo in the heart of Manzanita! This one was pretty straight forward until their loan became hung up in underwriting. Instead of extending close for a day, the buyers had to sign, fund, and record on the same day. What made this one interesting was that schedules and signing locally didn’t align. So, I did what any experienced broker would do, I drove to their signing 2 hours away and back with the signed docs in order for escrow to be able to record on time. This is when it is critical to use an experienced Broker who knows when to stand out and go beyond to get it done. I also want to give a big THANK YOU to the escrow officer, Sara Thurston and Jenni Townsend for rallying and getting this closed on time.
List Price: $469,000
Sold Price: $445,000
First Street
Manzanita, OR 97130
3 Bed | 2.1 Baths
1,404 SF
CLICK HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE HELP WITH BUYING A HOME IN MANZANITA
Troutdale: The Gateway to the Gorge, Alright
Hi Readers!
Recently, I had the pleasure of helping my client Bill sell the Troutdale home he raised his family in. They spent 26 years there, and now it’s home to a young family who will be experiencing all the great things that area has to offer. Growing up here, I would spend just about every winter weekend driving through Troutdale on my way up to ski Mt. Hood. Raise your hand if you’ve skied the Glade! Nowadays (till my boys are old enough to shred), we love to head to Thousand Acre Park for our Boxer/Boston Terrier/Pit Bull Roz to romp. In the summer months, it’s great to stop by Sugar Pine Drive In for a sandwich or soft serve. On colder days or after a Gorge hike, be sure to stop into Tad’s Chick N Dump. Don’t forget to hit the outlet mall, their Pendleton store has some great scores, and they’ve just opened up a Columbia Outlet, too.
I love this little pit stop on the way to the Gorge or Mountain, and it’s also got a terrific quality of life for living – schools, restaurants, a charming downtown and beautiful parks nearby. If you are thinking of getting out of Dodge and want a slice of country living, call me. This Woodland gal will show you the ropes, and take you to the Sandy to skip rocks, too.
#callgab
Till next time, high fives!
Charmed by the First
Sometimes when you know, you know. When Shani came to me to look for her “downsize” home after enlisting me to help her sell her Multnomah Village house, she sent me a list of what she envisioned her next home to be. It was as follows:
“My new home is quiet, private and surrounded by greenery. It has lots of natural light and its surroundings are friendly to birds, butterflies and other wild creatures.
The interior is bright and well-ventilated and has a living room, two bedrooms, 1-2 baths (including a bathtub) and a kitchen/dining area with room for a table for 6. There is generous closet space and the kitchen has efficient storage and ample counter space. Ideally it would have a wood-burning fireplace. It has reliable cell reception and internet service. It has in-unit washer and dryer, and it’s clean and lovingly maintained. There’s a pleasant outdoor deck or patio that accommodates a dinner party of 6. Any garden is compact and easily maintained.
It is situated on the west side of town, walking distance from one or more of the westside’s incredible trails (eg, Marshall Park or Multnomah Village/Council Crest/Washington Park/Hoyt arboretum areas). Ideally it’s also walking distance from a neighborhood center (eg, Multnomah Village or Hillsdale). There’s easy, convenient parking for me and my guests, and it’s convenient to I-5 (although not within earshot). My neighbors are quiet, friendly and considerate.”
At first I thought it might be a challenge to find all of those things, but on our very first outing we found exactly what she described. Well, except the fireplace was gas instead of wood-burning. We all make sacrifices. 🙂
After looking at a couple more duds that didn’t fit the bill, we came back to this beautiful unit nestled in the trees with many updates and beautiful built-ins. It was the perfect fit for her!
If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell a home in the Portland area, please contact Amanda Haworth at 503-453-7698 or amanda@livingroomre.com.
There‘s No Place Like Home… Except Grandma‘s
Congratulations to Robin!
As you may know, My business is nearly 100% referral based and this year has been full of wonderful referrals. And Robin was no exception!
I met Robin through her daughter, Joanna. I helped Joanna and her husband buy a wonderful home a couple of years ago to start a family. Fast forward to today, Joanna (and her husband Brendan) had their first child, Robin is a proud Grandma and she spends a lot of time with her Grandson. Another Grandchild is on the way any day now so Robin will help Joanna, even more, when the new baby arrives. It makes sense for Robin to live closer to Joanna and the family. She was looking for a nice, low maintenance home with as few stairs as possible and enough room for the kids to play.
Of course, one of the first things we suggest to Robin is to speak with a skilled lender and here’s my favorite part of this story- I referred Robin to one of our rock star preferred lenders, JJ Lee Kwai. It turns out JJ had originally referred me to Joanna as they knew each other growing up in Humbolt County. JJ was friends with Robin’s family as a teen in Northern California. In those days, Robin and JJ’s mom had been walking buddies. What a small world!
Jasmine and I worked closely with Robin to find the perfect home in the best location. We looked at many houses and after touring this one, she knew it was right! We loved working with her and excited for her cute new house!
A Real Tiny House For a Cat Lady’s Dream Life
I start
ed in real estate back in the wonder year of 2007 when I got a job at a non-profit home builder HOST Development. My background was in community development and affordable housing, and my new job at HOST was to do community outreach and sell homes built by the non-profit builder to first time buyers who made at or below the area’s median family income. When I started working at HOST, I was eased into my job by our most fabulous office/computer/everything wrangler Holly. Holly had purchased a HOST home herself, and liked the company so much she was hired as our office manager. Fast forward a couple of years and the Great Recession hit, and being the smart and savvy person she is, Holly jumped the HOST ship when the writing was on the wall, and found a job working for the State of Oregon. I rode that ship out until the last lifeboat left in 2009, and while it was sort of traumatic to lose a salaried job in the height of the recession, the biggest gift that job gave me was the realization of how much I love working one on one with buyers and sellers.
It’s been over 10 years since HOST closed their doors, and Holly is now a fancy tech person doing what she loves at a company that aligns with her values and skills. A few years ago Holly sold her old HOST home and rented apartments around town with her 2 cats. But once you’ve owned your own home, it can be hard to make that transition to being a renter in a building with other people who don’t share your wake/sleep hours, as well as being at the whim of a landlord in terms of what you are going to pay for your housing. So the itch for homeownership grew stronger and a few months ago Holly reached out to me because she had some questions about a few houses that had caught her eye. I gave her the skinny and she decided to pass. And then a sweet little cupcake of a bungalow came on the market that was sadly too underpriced. It was definitely swoon worthy and gave Holly butterflies, but unfortunately for Holly, lots of folks who were willing to pay more for it also had butterflies, so that ship sailed. Holly seemed to feel that was her last chance at a cute house closer-in under $300k, so she declared that she had closed the book on house hunting. I knew she would be back at it, and since Holly is such a fabulous person, even her cat sitter was on the lookout for the perfect Holly house. In late October she texted me a link to a tiny house- only 520 sf in the Roseway neighborhood that her cat sitter had sent her and by the time we tried to go look at it, it had gone pending. But then as luck would have it, that sale failed and it came back on the market.
While it was teeny tiny, the listing photos made it look quite spacious, so we went to see it and lo and behold, it was even lovelier in person. A few years back someone had bought it, gutted it, re-built half the house and created the most efficient, cute and warm 1 bedroom 520 sf house ever. The house had zero inches of wasted space, built-in’s everywhere, decent sized kitchen and bedroom, windows galore, and enough of a yard that Holly can flex her gardening prowess. We wrote up the offer, went through a small counter, and had a smooth transaction. Holly had considered buying a tiny-house on wheels but as cute and efficient as those homes are, they are not that efficient in providing a permanent spot to plant roots as they are considered mobile homes, and it’s hard to find a spot to legally park them where you are guaranteed to stay in one place for the long term. This house in Roseway is only slightly bigger than the tiny homes we all think of, but it sits on it’s own lot on a real foundation and isn’t going anywhere, and for the foreseeable future, neither are Holly and her cats.
Just Sold: A Spacious Lake Oswego Home
I met Mika and Craig over 10 years ago when they were still Portland newbies. In fact, the first time we went to see houses, I picked them up from a hotel! They found a great home near Multnomah Village and as their family grew, it was my privilege to help them grow that home to better fit their needs.
Recently they expressed their desire for a bigger yard and additional space for their two children. It’s always a joy to help clients as their needs change and after some searching, they decided on this beautiful, spacious, Lake Oswego home. Nestled on nearly an acre of land with an expansive deck and a private backyard, they knew they had found the perfect fit for their family.
Soon after, I helped them put their first home on the market and it went pending in 2 days with multiple offers! I always work toward a seamless transition for my clients and in this case their purchase and sale were just that. It’s been an honor to help Mika and Craig over the years and I’m so excited that they have found the perfect place to call their forever home.
A Bit of Parkrose Heaven
Congratulations Veronica & James!
First of all, hooray for great referrals!! Veronica and James were referred to me through past clients and I’m so thankful I met these bright and fun folks. We had so much fun checking out properties together! They knew what they wanted, got pre-approved with our preferred lender and bada-bing! they were in contract on this darling ranch.
Second of all, let’s hear it for Parkrose! So many cute ranches in this cozy area! Parkrose is perfectly located near Hwy 84 & Hwy 205, so commuting isn’t crazy (which they needed). Plus, this area tends to be with-in reach financially for more people. A total win-win!!
I love helping first time home buyers make their dreams come true! Yaay for Veronica and James!
The newest new home!
We started looking for a new home for the Greenes in early 2019. I’ve worked with many families to help find or build their dream homes and I always learn a little something along the way. Each situation and in this case, builder, is a little different. After the Greenes decided they’d really like a brand new construction home, we got to work, looking for the right community and builder to suit their needs and wants for their family. They just closed on their beautiful Holt Homes house this November and I asked them to share some of their thoughts on what they’ve learned through the process.
Here’s the list they came up with:
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Spend time in the neighborhood and try to connect with any new neighbors. We were lucky to have been the 4th home to be built in our cul de sac and even more fortunate to have connected early with the other three families. They shared important insights with us throughout the process!
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Ask about the plans for the full street or neighborhood. We did not think about parking when we started building our home because there were literally only a few other houses under construction at the time.
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If you are buying a home after seeing a “model home” – make sure you understand all the items within the house that would be considered an upgrade. Having this understanding, with costs listed, in writing is extremely important.
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Get every conversation in writing.
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Ask for access to the design options before you have your design meeting. We were surprised by the process at our “design center meeting” and had wished we’d had time to research options prior to the meeting.
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Understand the exterior masterplan for the street and ask for all of your options.
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If you’re interested in upgrades that include things like “hot tub prewiring” make sure you are also aware of the city codes/regulations that could affect the placement on your property.
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Look at and understand all the tiny details. Here are some things we did not think to ask about or look into: light switch placement, closet shelf paint, cabinet color next to trim color (ie: dove white cabinets next to pure white trim), countertop height in all bathrooms, and under-sink plumbing finishes.
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Ask for the exact placement of how your house will not only be placed on your lot but also how your house will align with any neighbors.
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The most important thing we learned is that it is beyond critical to have a trusted real estate professional by your side every step of the way who will advise you and be your champion throughout the process. Beth was able to share insights about what was normal and should be expected as well as hunt down answers for us and in a few cases, go to bat for us. Buying a home is stressful, Beth made it so much better for us and her expertise was invaluable in mansy situations throughout the process.
Quintessential Concordia Cutie
Congratulations Amy and Lori!
Amy and Lori were referred to me by our very recent buyers, Jess and Julie who also transplanted to PDX and bought a home a little while back. Amy and Jess work together and I’m so happy to have met them! They moved here recently from the Bay Area knowing they wanted to buy a house, but as first time home buyers, they weren’t ready to pull the trigger right away. They decided to rent for a while to get a feel for the area before buying (which is something I have recommended to many clients when possible). They rented a home in NE Portland and after months of feeling it out, decided they loved the area and were ready for the next step. Jasmine and I set up a buyers meeting to go over the details of the home buying process with them and we all immediately hit it off!
After a few rounds of touring properties together, they found a cutie in Concordia- what a gem! The house is so well maintained and pretty, and I can’t say enough great things about Concordia! So many fantastic destinations within walking distance: Fernhill Park, Extracto Coffee Roasters, The Kennedy School, New Seasons, Dame and Expatriate- just to name a few. I’m so happy for Amy and Lori to start putting down roots in this awesome house and in this wonderful neighborhood!
Cheers!
Rock Out Butte
I couldn’t have been luckier than to have helped Davey buy his first home. From the beginning he was informed, inquisitive and knew what he was looking for. My favorite kind of client!
We found him a great little house at the base of Rocky Butte, and he is STOKED! He can’t wait to set up a practice space for his band, Dry Wedding (facebook.com/drywedding), in the garage. In fact, during the repair negotiation process he was in the studio recording their new album!
It was an absolute delight to work with Davey, and I hope he’s happy in his new home for many years to come.
If you or someone you know is looking to buy or sell a home in the Portland area, please contact Amanda Haworth at 503-453-7698 or amanda@livingroomre.com.
Thanksgiving Turkey: Where to buy in Portland?
Ah, the Portland turkey. An integral part of any Thanksgiving meal in Oregon. And if you’re anything like the typical Portlander, you care where it comes from, who is raising it, and what it’s eating. You may even want to visit the farm.
Here are a few favorite places to grab your turkey in Portland, Oregon:
Gartner’s: Order the smoked turkey. Do it now, you won’t be disappointed. This place is old school in the BEST way and the butcher’s are incredibly friendly.
Green Zebra Grocery: Order ahead for the $10 off $50 coupon to use in the story. They’re carrying uncooked turkeys from Mary’s Family Farm, rated #1 by Cook’s Illustrated Magazine. Both organic and non-organic options, and all of them are non-GMO.
Nicky Farms: Nicky USA is the premier wholesale butcher and purveyor of high quality meats and specialty game in the Northwest. Open to the public with a minimum order of $125.
New Seasons: Reserve online and receive $15 off your order. Choose from a range of Diestel turkeys, all thoughtfully raised.
Halal Meat & Mediterranean: Longtime halal butcher shop offering beef, lamb and goat, as well as Mediterranean foods. You can also find turkeys here when the time is right.
Western Meat Market: For fresh turkeys, order ahead. And make sure to grab some jalapeno dip for an app.
Cason’s Fine Meats: Want to add something a bit different to the standard turkey set up? Swing by Cason’s for some ribs or smoked turkey tails or drumsticks.
Vintage Crawl in Portland this Saturday!
VINTAGE LOVERSSSSSS (Oprah voice)!
We are so excited to host the second vintage crawl THIS Saturday (11/16) (how is it already mid-November?!)!
We’ll start at Hollywood Vintage at 11am.
Address is 2757 Northeast Pacific Street in Portland. Parking can be a little tricky, so we encourage you to carpool or Lyft/Uber/bike/walk when possible. Check-in will be by the bus outside – it’s a gold school bus, you won’t be able to miss it!
You’ll be able to put any valuables you don’t want to lug around on the bus as well as grab a welcome beverage to get your shopping day started.
After Hollywood Vintage we’ll be having lunch at The Zipper across the street. There are a few lunch options in the building (all delicious): Basilisk, Wares, Slice Pizza, and Tight Tacos. Links included if you want to check out menus prior to Saturday.
We’ll then jump aboard the bus and head to Vintage Pink, followed by Hawthorne Vintage. The tour will drop off back at Hollywood Vintage around 3pm.
There will also be a few surprise giveaways along the way courtesy of our lovely co-hosts: Summer, Kel and Laura. Also, if you’re looking for something in particular, make sure to give these three a heads up. They’re vintage experts and amazing treasure hunters who can help along the way!
We are close to capacity, so if you know of any other friends that might be interested, please feel free to send them the event link.
And for any questions at all, reach out to Sophia at 503.936.7499!
Want to collaborate on something else design/creative related? Reach out!
We Wear Many Hats: Chapter 1
From an outsider’s perspective a career in real estate can seem like a dream. With HGTV cranking out series after series depicting agents showing a few houses one day, a short montage of renovation and a happy family reveal, it makes it all look so easy. With it’s flexible schedule and theoretically enormous income, what’s not to love?! Well, as with any job, there is more to being a REALTOR® than meets the eye. A truly dedicated realtor, in my mind, is far more than a salesperson. Although marketing and showing a home in it’s best light is indeed a much needed skill, a good REALTOR® is most importantly an advocate for their buyers and sellers and, as such, there is great depth to the job. All said and done, our work requires us to utilize a very diverse set of skills and this blog series lets you in on the nitty gritty of some of the less commonly acknowledged hats that we wear.
Real Estate Agent as a Project Manager:
You get what you pay for and when you opt to hire a full service realtor, such as myself, you can anticipate to not only receive vetted contractor referrals from me, I can also be highly involved with scheduling and oversight of these contractors.
For sellers, we formulate a comprehensive and strategic plan to guide them as they prepare to list their property. Working with the seller to execute the plan is one of my favorite hats to wear.
On the flip side, similar work is done on behalf of the buyer as they perform their due diligence on the property that they plan to purchase. Immediately after a buyer has had an offer accepted we jump into action scheduling important inspections to ensure that our client is making a well informed decision about the physical health of the house in which they are investing. Whether or not our buyer can be there we attend all inspections of which there are generally a minimum of four. In the case of Anna and Daniel, there was a lot of work to be done when they found their charming little cottage in Creston-Kenilworth. Keeping budget and location top of mind, they decided to dive into a fixer. As is often the case with a house that has deferred maintenance, there were a number of issues found during the inspections that needed further investigation. All said and done, I organized bids and repairs with 9 different contractors over the course of their purchase. Because I love learning new things, I truly enjoyed the process. Learning about the inner workings of this house through thorough investigation allowed for Anna and Daniel to be well informed but I also gained knowledge that contributes to even better service for future clients. Although I consider this coordination part of my job, I often forget that not all agents are willing to take on this role with the same level of commitment, it felt oh so good when, over a champagne toast at their new home, Anna and Daniel expressed their gratitude for this behind the scenes work on their behalf. It was a great reminder that going that extra mile really does matter.
Whether buying for the first time, selling a cherished family home or relocating to this fantastic city, it is truly an honor to see my clients through their transition and make the process fun and painless.
Cycling Into Victory
We met Petr and Heather on a beautiful sunny day which started off our meeting with bright smiles and good energy. They immediately made us feel good about working together because of their decisiveness and clear outlook on what this home journey was going to look like for them. They are both avid cyclist and being close to work so that they could commute by bike was important for them.
At first we were looking more at condos and then the home search took a turn for townhomes. Then one beauty came across their paths that was so close to Costco and the max which was a huge plus for them. Plus it had a 2 car oversized garage! Very rare for a townhome.
In order to get into contract we had a few round of negotiations upfront with the sellers and finally settled upon the terms that Petr and Heather felt good about. Negotiations didn’t stop there. After the inspections we spent a lot of time getting estimates and going back and forth with the seller to get concessions that Heather and Petr felt good about.
Heather & Petr were an absolute joy to work with and were so personable. We felt like we gained friends through the process of working together.
When we arrived at closing day it felt so good to see and feel the excitement from Petr and Heather to have a new home to call their own along with their beautiful pup Radar.
Cheers to you three! We are so honored to be part of the process of seeing you in your new home sweet home!
So Cal to OC (Oregon’s Coast)
John had recently sold his house in sunny Southern California and was making the move to Portland. After viewing several homes he decided to take a look at the coast…and that’s where I step in. His Portland broker called and let me know John had been looking in Portland but wasn’t finding the perfect house. He saw a couple of homes on the beach and decided to take a look. That afternoon we met at the coast to view a few properties.
John really liked one house that was a fixer. The location and the vibe of the area reminded him of the once small ocean side town in Southern California that he grew up in. It was a quick decision and he made an offer. However, it wasn’t so easy to get him into the house. He had a seller that didn’t really want to sell and a tenant that REALLY didn’t want the owner to sell. With this combination, it made for an interesting transaction to say the least. He was a trooper through all of the ups and downs and was able to close!
John saw the potential of the home and plans to renovate the interior and the exterior to make it his own…and I hear his family and friends from So Cal can’t wait to visit! Welcome to the Oregon Coast John!
Cool Cat Cinder Closes on Charming Condo
“Cinder” is the name of the very lucky cat who will be inhabiting my most recent sale. His new home will be a studio condo in a vintage building in NW Portland. It comes with four big, sunny windows that overlook a courtyard. Perfect for lounging in sun spots and spying on birds from. He hopes his mom, Sylvia, will build him a shelf with a rope to climb up to the top of the 9.5 ft tall ceilings. Now that she has a parking spot, she can get home from work quickly to play and give pets. Since there’s a storage unit too, he expects they will never run out of cat treats and toys, as she can keep it well stocked for him.
Unfortunately, I have not had the pleasure of meeting Cinder just yet. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with his family though. I helped his owner, Sylvia, and her parents Katelyn and Michael, buy his new home. We looked all over NW Portland for a building with 1920s vintage charm. Sylvia loves the vibe of these old buildings with their high ceilings and ornate lobbies. Katelyn and Michael love that they are able to secure Sylvia (and Cinder) a nice place she can make her own.
After not being able to reach an agreement with the seller of a condo in another building, I was thrilled to see they found one that was an even better fit! The location is incredible, and other residents of the building we met all had great things to say about living there. When Katelyn, Sylvia, and I met at this place, I knew it was the right one. I took finding this one as a reminder that while a sale falling apart, is a bummer, it usually means there is another place out that’s even better!
I was so excited to meet the whole family yesterday evening. We went up to the condo to set up a little wine and cheese plate to welcome Sylvia home with. She met us there and we cheers to their closing on this charming vintage studio!
From what I’ve heard, Cinder will love it.
Buying New Construction – Things to Look For
Recently, I helped first time homebuyers purchase a terrific new construction townhome in Concordia (btw, love Concordia). CONGRATS, Cory and Taylor!! Thought I’d share my impressions of what to look for from the builder/seller side of the fence, as this one was a great experience and one that I thought set the bar high.
- Access to Q&A with the builder: In this case, the builder met the buyers onsite once their offer was accepted to do an initial walk through to answer questions about the design, finishes and in general. Ceanne, from Caliber Homes, also did a thorough “pre-blue tape” walk through to see what kinds of dings and damage happened in the finishing touches of construction, creating a thorough log of repairs to complete, in addition to those that turned up in the inspection (which were few).
- Incentives: Don’t be shy about asking for any missing appliances or “extras”. Builders get great deals on appliances and if it means closing the deal, they’ll often install. In this recent case, I was able to negotiate the installation of an AC, washer dryer and a new fridge AND closing cost credit. Boom.
- Warranty: Most new construction comes with a builder’s warranty. Be sure to get a good understanding of what is covered, in addition to any home warranty coverage you should always ask for that is layered on top as part of the sale.
- After move in walk through: This was also a pleasant surprise – Caliber offered a walk through after the buyers moved in, so they could repair any paint, scuffs or other cosmetic dings that often occur at move in
- One year walk through: Caliber also will be performing a one year walk through to make sure all systems are operational. Pretty thorough service, if you ask me.
New construction definitely has its appeal – you are getting all new systems and appliances. And depending on the builder, great quality. What can be lacking is the soul and architecture of old Portland.
At any rate, if you’re thinking of buying new construction, give me a shout – we can walk through in more detail.
Till then, high fives!
Five Tips for Buying a Home Sight-Unseen
When my first-time home buyer clients called, they were on a (quick) mission: find a house in the Wilson High School zone that has 3+ bedrooms, 2+ bathrooms and is under $500k. Something move in ready, with a yard, a cute neighborhood, and preferably walkable. Extra bonus: a basement that could eventually be turned into a rental, or a place for their in-laws to stay when in town.
The caveat? They wouldn’t be here to tour any of the houses and likely wouldn’t be here until possession day. And they needed it to close in the next two months.
Here are five tools that got us through tours, an accepted offer, inspections and closing:
1. Facetime and YouTube:
When we toured homes we used Facetime so that they could see it live because as we all know, photos often don’t do it justice (or in some cases do it too much justice). When they weren’t able to see it in person, I video’d the home and loaded up the videos to You Tube so they could take a look when their schedules allowed.
2. Magic Plan App:
As tough as photos can be to gauge a house from, it’s equally tricky to understand the layout if the listing agent hasn’t provided a floor plan. Enter the Magic Plan App. For homes my clients were really interested in, I created a floor plan using the app so that they had a good understanding of room dimensions, ceiling heights and the overall layout.
3. A digital timeline:
I use a digital timeline with all clients, but in this case it was particularly helpful. The timeline I use auto populates my clients calendar with critical dates: earnest money deposit due date, inspection dates, inspection deadlines, etc. It’s helpful for keeping everyone on the same page.
4. An amazing Mortgage Broker:
Enter Rayko Diaz from Guild Mortgage. Rayko was in constant communication with the group, both as a whole and separately. He sent status updates weekly to let people know what was needed of them and when. Also: he’s a great guy.
5. An agent you trust:
This is a critical factor in buying something sight unseen. You want to know that the agent you use has style and tools to help you understand what you’re buying. Equally important is their access to phenomenal inspectors and sub contractors who can give you a really clear understanding of the home’s condition and the cost of any associated repairs that need to be done so you can adequately negotiate prior to the inspection contingency expiring.
I’m so excited for my clients as they enter the next chapter of their life! This house is a beauty, it’s in such a cute neighborhood and all the updates were in keeping with the mid-century charm.
Now comes the fun part: handing them the keys when they see it for the first time in person!
Want to talk Portland Real Estate? Reach out!
Townhome with Comfort + Style
JUST LISTED: 2248 NE Sheffield Ave
3 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 1837 SF | $3574 Tax | MLS #19437587
Offered at: $389,000
OPEN HOUSE: Saturday 11/2 12pm – 3pm
2248 NE Sheffield Ave, Hillsboro OR 97006
Welcome home to this immaculate, contemporary townhome, sitting high off the street on a corner lot, in a beautiful and quiet neighborhood!
As you enter the foyer, you’ll notice the high ceilings and open floor plan with vaulted entry, picture window and tile floor. Making your way to the main level, you’ll find yourself in the warm and inviting kitchen and main living area with gorgeous laminate flooring. The kitchen touts stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, gas range, ample counter space and breakfast bar flowing easily into the living room and dining area which provides comfortable space for entertaining and intimate dinners alike.
Relax in the living room with the gas fireplace, stylish mantle and built-ins or enjoy lounging on the deck balcony overlooking the trees.
Through the kitchen, you’ll find yourself in a spacious den with a big window and bookshelves.
Making your way up to the third level you’ll find a generous master suite and a second large bedroom with another full bathroom. Enjoy bright natural light in the bedrooms with high ceilings and generous closets. Conveniently there is a large laundry closet to complete this upper floor.
Head on down to the lower level and get cozy in the third bedroom with a large closet and ample natural light. Perfect for media room or separate guest quarters. Plus stay comfortable all year with central air conditioning and gas forced air heating.
From here, head through the sliding door where you’ll enjoy a lush and private back yard with a covered patio, fig tree, raspberries, herbs and raised garden beds.
You’ll appreciate how much storage this home will bring you, with ample closets and a tandem 2 car garage with large hanging shelves to maximize storage space.
Great location within walking distance to Orchard Park and just minutes to Washington Square Mall, Tanasbourne shopping center and Highway 217.
Fall in love with this captivating, move-in ready, townhome. It’s waiting for you!
2248 NE Sheffield Ave, Hillsboro OR 97006
VIDEO TOUR
Vision Board Workshop with Stylist Renee Lara
Join us for a Vision Board Workshop!
Wardrobe Stylist Renee Lara (recently featured on KATU2 sharing Fall trends) and Broker Sophia Rosenberg (Living Room) will be co-hosting a vision board workshop Saturday, November 9th from 11am – 1:00pm at the Living Room NE Office (1401 NE Alberta St).
Explore your style goals: both personal and home, before the hectic holiday schedules kick in.
Choose between print magazines or digital format and work with Renee and Sophia to identify and maintain style/design goals.
Lite bites and sips provided, with a creative, like-minded group of people. Get ready for a renewed take on how to tackle you holiday season with ease!
Hunting for a Unicorn
I love a good challenge and when Megan and Mali came to me with the goal of finding a family sized home, within their budget, with a half acre lot, in inner NE, I knew I had a tiger by the tail. Fortunately, we had plenty of time.
We looked for about a year and a half and had some near misses but nothing really fit the bill until. A home in their target location, with a great layout, updated kitchen, play room downstairs and, get this, a .41 acre lot, all for a number within reach. We were on it right away and started to develop a plan to get the home and get good value.
Long story short, Megan and Mali got their keys last Friday and the house appraised over the negotiated sales price. So much winning!!
Congratulations to you and your growing family!
I am honored to have been a part of fulfilling this dream.
If you are looking for sincere representation with your Real Estate goals with your interest in heart and an agent that is patient and keeps a steady focus please reach out and let me know. I love a challenge!!
Our Goal is Clients for Life!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FITZGERALDS!
I met Meghan around 15 years ago (but who’s counting!) Meghan helped me launch my real estate career and we became fast friends. Talk about a sharp cookie – she is one of the warmest, energetic, smart and fun people I know! Fast-forward through the years: she met her now-husband, Justin (he’s equally awesome) and they have 2 beautiful children, Amelia and Tristan!
This is the second time we have worked together. I helped them buy their family starter home in Beaverton several years ago. Happily, this year they were ready to upgrade to their dream home!
The Fitzgerald’s found a gorgeous country home in North Plains with plenty of acreage, gorgeous views, room for ATV trails, a horse pasture and a tractor (which they are excited to learn how to use!). They are thrilled their kids will grow up surrounded by nature and have acres to explore. They couldn’t be happier!
And… the sweet-as-pie ending to this story is the house has a father-in-law suite for Justin’s Dad. We love helping multi-generational families find homes they can live comfortably together in. The benefit to everyone is exponential!
Congratulations to the whole family!
Happily Ever After in a Milwaukie Mid-Century
I met Rachel and Rubin this past March. They had a matched savings account, an IDA (individual development account,) from Portland Housing Center and they were ready to buy a house. To say these two are delightful is an understatement- they are DELIGHTFUL and it’s people like these two that make my job so much fun. They are both from Portland and have lots of family in the area and knew they wanted to live near at least some of their family. They honed in on Milwaukie and SE Portland, and we set off looking at houses.
They were definitely attracted to vintage homes- mid-centuries and bungalows and it wasn’t long before we found a house that they really liked- just east of 82nd. A darling bungalow that oozed with charm, and even more importantly to Rubin, with a yard and garden to write home about. There were a couple of things about the house that weren’t perfect for them- the bedrooms were small and the location wasn’t ideal for them, but they loved the house enough to compromise on those issues. They are very budget conscious and knew they didn’t want to spend a dollar more than $400k, so they wrote an offer at a number they felt comfortable with. Another buyer wrote higher, and Rachel and Rubin got back-up position. At that time, they were disappointed they didn’t get the house, but were certainly not distraught. We picked up from there and kept looking at houses. A couple of weeks after they got back-up, I received a call from the listing agent letting me know that the first position buyers had backed out and did my buyers still want the house? I got in touch with them and gave them the good news, and their answer was an immediate yes. They moved into first position, and timelines were started. The next day we went back to the house just to make sure they still loved it, and while at the house, they felt the love again. But later that evening, the doubts began to creep in. Whenever a buyer expresses doubt about a house, I take that as a strong signal that this probably isn’t the right house for them, and the sooner they can back-out, the better for everyone. Calling listing agents to let them know my buyers are backing out is never pleasant for me, but I knew Rachel and Rubin were making the right decision. Thankfully that cute little house was back in contract within the week.
Right after they backed out of the sweet bungalow, we found another house in SE that was also charming but the biggest wow factor was that the house had a HUGE yard- something that was really important to them. The kitchen wasn’t great, but the yard was so nice that they felt that they could always remodel the kitchen at a later date. They wrote on that house, but so did a bunch of other buyers, and they lost out on that house. Again, they were disappointed, but certainly not crushed. Shortly after that experience, they decided that they wanted to take a break from house shopping for the summer- Rachel was going to take some intense courses towards becoming an accountant, and Rubin was hopefully looking at a job promotion, and they figured after the summer was over, they would be ready to resume the search. Sure enough, on the last day of August, they got in touch with me to let me know they were ready to house hunt again.
They had a short list of houses they wanted to see, so that week we went and saw a few more houses. And that’s when they found the ONE. A mid-century in the Ardenwald neighborhood in Milwaukie with a fireplace, 3 good sized bedrooms, an open kitchen, hard-wood floors and a double lot. And the house was listed nearly $35k below the other houses they had written offers on. And like the other houses they had written on, this house was also a hottie. But this time I could tell that if they didn’t get the house, they would be majorly disappointed- this house was perfect in every way for them. We wrote an offer that night, and within a couple of days, the house received 3 more offers. I had expressed how much Rachel and Rubin loved the house, and let the listing agent know to let me know if other offers came in, because Rachel and Rubin were more than willing to revise their offer upwards to get the house. Thankfully the listing agent was terrific, kept me in the loop, and with her sellers permission, told me they were fine with an escalation clause. We wrote up an addendum revising the offer, included an escalation clause, and boom, that did the trick. Interestingly, the house was listed at $360k, and even with 4 offers including our escalation, it only went for $9,500 over list. Because Rachel and Rubin are so delightful, the whole transaction was smooth with happy buyers and happy sellers in the end. The sellers are taking 2 weeks after closing to move out, and really all Rachel wanted was to be in the house by Halloween, and three days before Halloween I’ll be meeting them at the house to hand over the keys.
Family Matters in Happy Valley
Jason is a good son. The kind of child I would want to have one day. He started talking to me about purchasing a condo for his mother to live in last year. He had just purchased a home for himself and wanted to have her nearby. The search included a small area in Happy Valley to make sure he would be close by when she needs him.
We toured a few condos that all needed work or looked like the area was not as convenient as she wanted. Luckily the stars aligned and a condo came up in the complex she was renting in. After some negotation we were able to get Jason under contract on the condo below the list price. Two weeks later Jason’s mother visited the condo and fell in love. It was my pleasure to give Jason the keys to his mother’s new condo this week!
I Heart Referrals
CONGRATULATIONS TO ELAYNE AND JEREMIAH
Elayne and Jeremiah are down to earth, sweet people and we are so happy they reached out to our team to purchase their first home!Our business is referral based and we love working with referrals like Elayne and Jeremiah!
We are always ready to answer any real estate questions and we would be honored to work with your family and friends!
Sincerely,
Jasmine & Tracey
Lake Oswego Easements
So very excited for my clients who’s offer was accepted on this beautiful Lake Oswego Craftsman. Located in the idyllic Lake Grove community, this 3 bed, 2.5 bath home is one of those homes that you don’t want to leave (I got real comfy during inspections). It’s cozy and peaceful, and was a great deal because at $875k, it came with a Lake Easement. My clients wanted to make sure that they had year-round Lake access.
So, what is a lake easement?
Easements provide access to property owners in the City of Lake Oswego who have special deeded lake access privileges. It’s like a small, private club that allows members to access the lake for water activities like swimming, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding and boating.
Lake Oswego Corporation (LOC) owns 20 lakeside properties at various locations around the lake to allow eligible easement members to exercise lake access privileges. Each easement is governed by its own individual set of by-laws and has its own volunteer board of directors, which can be found online. The people we reached out to during our search were always so helpful and friendly. Facilities and rate structures vary from easement to easement. Some have gas grills, picnic areas and playgrounds, while others have boat slips (these usually come with a long waitlist!) and kayak racks. Initiation fees range from $500-$3000 and annual fees are typically $225-$1000.
There are over 3,000 homes in Lake Oswego whose residents are eligible to exercise lake access privileges. Sometimes agents don’t advertise that the home they’ve listed has an easement, but this site allows you to see if a property has access to any easements. Just type in the home address in the box at the bottom.
Easements can’t be sold or transferred. Lake Oswego residents do also have access to two swim parks, although these are only for swim and operate in the Summer months as opposed to year round.
Interested in Lake Oswego home with an easement? Reach out!
A home for Hazel
Hazel has a new home…with the best backyard a pup could ask for! High on Steph’s priority list for her new home was a yard big enough for her dog Hazel to be able to fetch and run. And we found it! We also found wallpaper and a green refrigerator in pristine condition. The care the previous owner took of this home is so obvious – this made Steph get the warm and fuzzies right away. There’s so much potential in this ranch style home!
Steph is so excited to make his home hers; put her own stamp on it – but hang on to the nostalgia of the avocado appliance. All while enjoying her backyard with Hazel.
Downsizing Texas to Portland
Everything is bigger in Texas, right?
Well that definitely includes beautiful big homes! Making the move from TX to PDX, Gary is downsizing his home and “up-sizing” his time with family.
This month, I had the pleasure of working with Gary from Texas and his kids. Together we found a beautiful home for him here in Gresham. Relocating from Houston, he was ready to make a move and the Portland area was an easy choice. In his sweet 50’s ranch with mature trees and landscaping, Gary will be close to friends and family. Zack, Sarah, and Jeremy, his son, daughter and her husband, all live less than 25 minutes from his new home. He also has ties to Tualatin, Lake Oswego, and more cities with friends and relatives throughout the PNW!
Buying a home sight unseen is a big deal.
Gary had his family here to be his “eyes on the ground” who knew what he’d like. I toured homes with them, and took lots of detailed video tours before we found this house. I knew it was the right one when I learned that the Gary had been referring to it as the house with the “happy tile”.
Gary was not in a hurry to buy and move. He was able to offer a 3 week rent-back to the seller so she could stay after closing. While we offered under-asking, this was a key term that helped us seal the deal. The seller of Gary’s new home was waiting for the owners of her new home to move as she had given them a rent-back period as well. With all of us making accomodations for the next person, we found terms and a price that worked. Even though he was out of state, we had a smooth and pleasant transaction. I took care of the details of the sale, logistics of a sewer line replacement, and attended all inspections with his kids. Then Gary, provided with detailed inspection reports, videos, and family input, made all the decisions. It worked great and he got a good deal on a great home.
I am so thrilled to hand over keys in a few weeks!
It will not only be the first time he sees his new home, but it will be the first time we meet in person! I know we’ll get along great though. Gary is a fellow foodie, and I’m looking forward to celebrating over dinner with the family at one of Portland’s amazing restaurants. Congrats Gary!
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I always love helping out of state buyers and sellers. It’s a joy knowing I can help provide some calm and extra insight to clients who are far away. It is also very gratifying to close a deal for an out of state client. I know how much trust they have placed in me to handle the in-person logistics for them and to work closely with their family or friends in the area if they have them. If you are out of state too, or have family or friends who need real estate help here in Portland, please reach out. I am always happy to just answer questions or help you get started on your move if you’re ready!
Multnomah Village People
Walkable to Spring Garden Park and Multnomah Village. This sweet house is just what this delightful young family was looking for. Wishing them so many fun strolls in the neighborhood!
If you would like help finding your perfect home give me a call. I’m happy to help.
Veronica Powell
503.936.3475
Charming Mt Scott Treasure
J U S T L I S T E D : 6412 SE 77th Ave
Offered at $335,000
3 BED | 1 BATH | 1760 SF | MLS# 19100546
Open House: Saturday 9/28 12am-3pm
This darling Bungalow is a real gem! Solidly built and well maintained, the layout and flow throughout the home is absolutely ideal.
An inviting and light-filled living room greets you with newly refinished wood floors and original wood molding. A fantanstic space for relaxing and entertaining!
Make your way into this darling kitchen with plenty of room to move and cupboards galore. Adjacent is a delightful dining room, equally perfect for entertaining as well as quiet mornings overlooking the backyard greenery.
Moving easily into the hall you’ll find the full bathroom and 2 charming bedrooms with generous closets, wood floors and ample natural light.
Carve out a place for yourself in the spacious, partial finished lower level, which lives large! Featuring an exterior door and one bedroom with good natural light and a generous closet. Easily imagine a home office, media room or guest room…
The backyard is fully fenced and private creating a delightful space for entertaining or lounging. Single car, zero-lot-line garage with electricity included for extra storage and ease of use.
Located on a quiet tree-lined street in an ideal close-in SE location near Mt. Scott Community Center, this charming home is a unique opportunity for someone looking for a turn-key charmer!
VIDEO TOUR
The trials and tribulations of a condo search
Congratulations to my client Matt, who just recently completed his purchase of his condo in the Avenue Lofts!
Matt was the type of client you dream of as a REALTOR®. A referral from a past client of mine, he was patient, understanding, made quick decisions, and was extremely flexible. It was needed, because our initial run of trying to get into condos during his search hit road block after road block. This probably can best be illustrated below, in the possibly real journal entries of a REALTOR® (events may or may not have happened exactly as described):
Week 1 – Had several homes to see. Attempted to get into the Pinnacle Condominiums. Could not get the listing agent to pick up and buzz us in. Went to get Coffee. Good chats were had. Went back to try again. Finally picked up. Got into building. Discovered that the HOA put a Fob lock onto the place where the lockboxes were. No instructions how to get into the place where the lockboxes were, without a fob. Called listing agent back. She was as confused as I. We decided to come back another day. Matt was amazingly chill.
Week 2 – Had several more homes to see. Got back into the Pinnacle unit we had issues with last week. Got into the unit to find it was undergoing a whole paint job. It may have been started a while ago. It was definitely not complete. We passed. Tried to get into North Park Lofts. Was given a heads up by the listing agent that the call box may not work. It did not. We waited 20 minutes for someone to let us in the building. Had several interesting conversations with the nearby occupants of the park benches while we waited. Decided to pass. Looked at Matt, still was cool. How did I luck out on this one?
Week 3 – Just a few more homes to see. Nifty combo lock on a unit in one building. Unfortunately someone locked the door handle portion that was not affiliated with the combo lock. Could not get in. Had to come back another day and get in. Tried to get into a unit in the Avenue. Lockbox was not present. Listing agent did not return any phone calls. Did get into another unit in the same building that had black ceilings, very stylized decor, which included a wooden horse as a piece of art. Nice green screen of trees out the window and decent amount of in unit storage. Matt seemed intrigued. I’ll take that over annoyed any day. At least we got into this one.
Week 3.5 – Got a call from Matt. “Let’s go for the Horsie one.” Boom! Horsie one it was. Here we go!
The unit was located in The Avenue Lofts, which is a historic condo conversion of the former Meier and Frank Warehouse, a 7-story building located at 14th & Irving. Originally built in 1923, with additions in 1956 and 1972, the building features 170 loft style one and two-story units, including 8 townhouses and 17 two-level penthouses. The conversion to condominiums was completed in the Fall of 2004. An open atrium is located in the center of the building on the 3rd floor, a Gym and Meeting room situated on the lower parking level. The best part of it (depending on your view point), is that the lobby hallway changes color.
Fast forward to putting him in contract, coordinating an inspection while I was out of state, getting through repairs and condo doc review, and coordinating a Buyer signing appointment while Matt was out of state for work, we somehow made it through in one piece. We luckily had Bill Dolan with Guild Mortgage in our corner working out the lending side of things for Matt, and he was the perfect person for this deal. Bill is a unit owner himself at the Avenue and was very knowledgeable of the building, the Pearl, and condos in general. I highly recommend him to anyone who is looking for someone a lender at the building or for condos in general.
Congrats Matt, you may not have decided to keep that Horse, but I feel you will put your own personal touch on your new home!
Elegant Clinton Beauty
JUST LISTED: 2933 SE 26th Ave
Offered at $625,000
3 BED | 1.5 BATH | 2522 SF | MLS# 19509630
Open House: Saturday 9/21 11am-2pm
Stunning Old Portland Farmhouse with dreamy features and character galore. Situated perfectly on the corner of one of Portland’s most sought-after neighborhoods you’ll be drawn to the classic front porch, fresh exterior paint and lovely original architectural features.
Upon entering into the classic foyer, you’re immediately surrounded by original mill work, distinguished light fixtures, original hardwood floors and a spacious, enchanting interior.
Pass through the foyer into the thoughtfully designed kitchen featuring soft close custom cabinetry + appliance garages, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, built in gas range, dishwasher, a deep double sink, eating bar, carbonized bamboo floors, and an abundance of storage!
The living and dining room invite you from the kitchen, showcasing the home’s character with 10ft ceilings, newer tall double hung wood clad Marvin windows and ample natural light. Partial open floor plan offers an elegant dining space, perfect for entertaining as well as intimate dinners at home. Gorgeous, original pocket doors bring you into a bonus room, easily imagined as an office, media room or simply extra space for entertaining or relaxation.
Follow the original wood banister up to the second floor where you’re greeted with a comfortable landing space. The master bedroom is ample with generous closet space and plenty of natural light. Two more bedrooms on this floor offer comfortable rooms for your family or hobbies alike. At the end of the hall is a stylishly remodeled, spacious full bathroom with dual shower heads, dual sinks, elegant tile and a view of the West Hills.
While retaining the original character this home features many upgrades including: owned solar panels, upgraded electrical panel, resurfaced walls and ceilings, insulated exterior walls and attic, pex plumbing, replaced sewer line, 95% efficiency furnace and central AC.
There is plenty of space in the full unfinished basement with an exterior entrance! All of this bonus space is ready for storage and projects.
Step outside into your garden oasis! Beautiful, established landscaping surrounds a darling patio, great for entertaining.
Rounding out the property is the matching, detached one car garage wired for your convenience. Walk score 92 & Bike score 93!
This stunning, classic home stands today as a testament to the timelessness of quality and impeccable design.
Welcome home!
VIDEO TOUR
Sherwood Score! $75k under original list price
The market has been softening, homes have been sitting and prices have been dropping. But, some are still nervous to write under ask (the list price). This Sherwood cottage is a lesson in always writing! If the Seller is eager, they will often counter. Especially in this market.
My clients loved this Sherwood cottage. It had been renovated after a recent fire and the finishes were STUNNING. Especially for a star baker (like my client!).
So what started out as a $530,000 house, ended up theirs for $455,000. $75,000 under the original list price! All because of great communication between both agents and a willingness to negotiate.
See below for some photos of this beauty and learn more about me (Sophia) here!
Interested in buying or selling in Portland, Metro (or Sherwood)?! Reach out! Or get social here.
Sometimes You Get a Second Chance
Every once in a while the stars align and you get a second chance at the right house. Ira and Ella emailed me about a home in SE Portland that they saw at an open house and loved. The one problem is they were leaving two days later for a month long European vacation. We discussed the hurdles they may face when purchasing a home while out of the county and in the end they decided to hold off.
Just two months later a home in the same townhome complex came to market. There are only four in the complex, so this was extraordinary. This one was also and end unit, but had a few more updates than the last one. Ira and Ella wrote an offer and were under contract within the first week on market.
While going through the purchase process on the SE Portland home they decided to put their current home on the market to try to sell before the end of the year. Buying, selling and moving with two young kids these two are rockstars!
What are you nuts? You want to buy a house the same month you get married?
Nicky and Nigel have been saving for years to buy a house in the spring following their wedding. With their wedding date set for late September, the last thing on their mind was buying a house in mid-August, especially following some challenging life transitions. But life has a funny way of rearranging our priorities, and never being one to shy away from a challenge, they decided they really wanted to buy a house right before they got married so they could have all the stressful things put to bed and roll through the holiday seasons in their new home as newlyweds.
When Nicky called me up and told me they wanted to go home shopping now instead of spring, I told her she was a lunatic! Doesn’t she know that buying a house is the second most stressful thing a person can do… second only to GETTING MARRIED! But they were determined so, armed with the knowledge and education they had been gleaning over the past two years, a list of expectations and a flow chart of the home buying process, off they went that very weekend!
The first day they went to four open houses on their own and together the next day we toured three, two of which they had seen the day before. But even before we left on our tour that day, I told them I thought the house for them was the last house we would see, a wonderful, modestly sized contemporary craftsman. Something told me, that this style of house, and maybe even this particular house was the one for them. I jokingly said we should just start there and be done with it! But, because I believe that seeing a variety of homes can provide the contrast needed to make an educated decision and Nigel & Nicky really really liked another house they had seen the day before, we stuck to the logical plan and set off to see all three.
The first was a non starter but the second stop was a lovely home with large open spaces and an yard full of incredible, Japanese style landscaping. They were ecstatic! They loved it and really wanted me to see how it was a good fit and they seemed like they were ready to write an offer. But always being the voice of reason, I had concerns. While I loved the yard, it seemed like a minimum of ten hours of work a week to maintain as it was, the home had some odd spaces and the flow wasn’t great. Plus it didn’t feel like it was well built, it sat on the corner of a busy street which can seriously affect the possibility for resale, and the owners had recently raised the price for no apparent reason other than they “decided it was worth more” after previously having lowered the price twice. This can sometimes be a sign that owners aren’t really committed to the process of selling and may be difficult to negotiate with.
I really wanted Nicky and Nigel to think twice before writing an offer on this one but their excitement was palpable as we headed off to see our last stop, the modestly sized, contemporary craftsman. It didn’t take long for both of them see the difference in the quality of construction, the more sensible layout, and to see and appreciate the possible benefits of a smaller, lower maintainance yard. Even so, I was surprised when they said… This is the one!
In just over four weeks later, with one of my smoothest transactions of the year, Nicky and Nigel were new home owners with 10 days to spare before getting married. Armed with determination, the proper information, a strong lender behind them and of course the help and guidance of a great Real Estate agent, I guess they weren’t that nuts to want to buy a house the same month the get married. Congratulations on both you two!!
The Big Green Brick House on the Corner
My buyers Daniel and Vinci contacted me after being exhorted (their words) by a mutual friend (and client) to contact me. They were living in my neighborhood, Hosford Abernethy, on a smallish house on a busy street and were thinking they were ready for a bigger house on a quieter street. The catch? They only wanted to live within a 15 square block area. They had been spending a large part of the summer visiting family in California, but a fixer located in their search area came on the market and they were intrigued. I had also just listed my neighbor’s house and it was getting a lot of action, so Daniel decided to fly up to Portland for an afternoon to look at these houses. In the meantime, there was another house in the neighborhood they had been keeping their eye on- a large brick house on a corner painted a bright and cheery green. This house had originally been listed nearly a year ago at a pretty far fetched price- nearly $200k more than it was currently listed at. Two weeks prior the house had a dramatic $75k price reduction putting it within reach for Daniel and Vinci. So on a sunny summer Monday three days after contacting me, Daniel flew up to Portland for a few hours. We took a grand tour of the 3 homes- all within a few blocks of each other, including the fixer, my listing and the big green big brick house. The fixer was too fixer-y, and my listing was a little too small, but the green brick house was a match.
The big green brick house has always been one of my neighborhood landmarks- I remember way back when, maybe 9 or 10 years ago, when it used to be white brick. The house happens to abut the SE Living Room office, and I had long admired its presence. Given the green brick house had been on the market for nearly a year, I didn’t know what to expect when we toured the interior. The listing photos were lovely, but it’s always hard to know if the truth matches the images. And from the exterior, it looked like the house didn’t have much in the way of a yard. Thankfully the house was just as lovely, and felt even more spacious, in person. And the house has a very private backyard retreat complete with a large pond and waterfall. The garage is prominent, but until you go inside, it’s hard to tell from the street how ginormous the garage really is- it’s wide, it’s deep and it has soaring ceilings- all the right features for turning the garage into an ADU, workshop, or both!
The transaction was smooth and after a couple of weeks of occupancy after closing, Daniel and Vinci will move 10 blocks from their current house to the big green brick house on the corner. Their family has a car-free lifestyle and have answered calls to help other folks move by bike, including our mutual friend’s recent move. Once the green brick house sellers have moved out, expect a grand bike move at the end of the month.
Multi-generational Living at its Best
Two families, two roofs, one gorgeous property…this is multi-generational living at its best! Situated on the border of the Cully and Beaumont neighborhoods, an area in NE known for larger lots, quiet streets, diverse housing options, and funky urban farms, all within walking distance to the thriving commercial area in Beaumont, the location couldn’t be better suited for three generations to find a permanent home.
For Emily and Chad, with their first baby coming in a few months, along with her parents Becky and Bruce, it was love at first sight of the property. The ADU in the rear of the property is ideal for the grandparents-to-be to enjoy their retired years in a modern, minimalistic home with everything they need. Not to mention, it’s absolutely stunning with floor-to-ceiling windows, high-end fixtures, and tons of personality. The front house is a classic bungalow kept in excellent condition with gleaming hardwoods, plenty of built-ins, and charm galore.
I couldn’t be happier for this completely lovely and wonderful family. I’m wishing them years of happiness in their new combined living situation. Congratulations!!
~Natalie Strom
Charming St. Johns Bungalow
JUST LISTED:
9417 N Richmond Ave, Portland OR 97203
Offered at $359,900
2 BED | 1.5 BATH | 1458 SF | MLS# 19293810
Open House: Saturday 9/7 & Sunday 9/8 11am-1pm
Dreamy Bungalow with character galore, situated perfectly in one of Portland’s most sought-after neighborhoods! You’ll be immediately drawn to the classic front porch, gorgeous landscaping and timeless features.
An abundance of natural light greets you upon entering. Classic molding, gleaming hardwood floors, custom-made wood plantation shutters, stunning fireplace and mantle contribute to this inviting interior. Get in contact with these roller shutter people that can assist you installing them on you property for more security.
The dining area provides plenty of space for entertaining and perfect for intimate dinners at home.
Lovely kitchen featuring gas range, dishwasher, stainless steel appliances, waterproof laminate flooring, island, and an abundance of storage.
Master bedroom suite with full bath and ample closet space!
Carve out a place for yourself in the spacious finished basement with 3 bonus rooms and a half bath! So many possibilities with the bonus space including media room, home office, art room or storage space. Plus a brand new hot water heater!
A beautiful garden oasis waits for you outside! Gorgeous, established landscaping surrounds a darling patio- great for entertaining! Plus, you’ll enjoy an exterior storage shed, fully fenced yard, garden beds and fruit trees.
A short walk to the heart of St. Johns restaurants, shops, farmers market and all that this wonderful neighborhood has to offer.
Welcome home!
VIDEO TOUR
Feeling the Love in SW Portland
Congratulations to Robin and Dave!
I must say, this transaction was so heartfelt and sweet, it confirms that I have the best job on earth!
I recently had the pleasure of helping my client Dave sell the townhome I helped him buy a few years ago, so he and his girlfriend, Robin could buy a house together! I’m overjoyed for the two of them!
It was wonderful touring houses with them; I’ve known Dave for many years (he’s a hoot!) and it was an honor to get to know Robin (she’s incredibly smart and funny!). Together we saw many beautiful homes in some of Southwest’s greatest neighborhoods and because they were so put together and clear on what they were looking for, everything quickly fell into place!
They found a gorgeous, brand new home that checks all the boxes! I wish them many years of joy in this new home. Here’s to a fresh start!
Home Town Proud
Small town kids grow up together, and stick together like family; we trust each other and have a bond that lasts a lifetime. David and his family had decided to move back to the Portland/Vancouver area for his his wife’s job and be closer to David’s mother. I am always honored to be chosen as someone’s REALTOR®, it’s an additional bonus when we’ve grown up together. We went back and forth about the difference of Oregon and Washington, the schools each area had to offer their three beautiful boys and the congested commutes to avoid. We looked at many homes, and I do mean many! Soon they had their mind set on Camas, though they knew how competitive the homes were because of location and highly ranked schools. It wasn’t long before I could see them starting to compromise with other areas in Washington. After viewing 6 homes outside of town, I eagerly pushed them back into Camas for our last showing of the day. I knew they were tired, and this home was out of the way.. after all, we had seen this house before so why was I pushing them so hard to go back? The first time we viewed the home, we had already fallen in love with another one that just wasn’t meant to be (thanks a lot bidding war). I had a feeling in my gut to view it again when I was out touring on my own, and decided to put it back on our list. As we all walked in, the feeling of “home” rushed over us. The layout is what David wanted, the master bath and closet were what Sam wanted, and the fenced backyard that peeked over to the friendly neighbors was perfect for the kids. As I handed over the keys on closing day, I glanced over with a nostalgic smile realizing some things never change.. Class clown, David was still at it! Congrats my fellow Pirate! I have no doubt you’ve chosen the perfect home.
D.C. JAN FALLS IN LOVE IN PDX
Jan had looked at many beautiful homes, and some not so beautiful but located in the neighborhood she was hoping for!
The WINNER was a lovely 1903 Farm House in Alberta Arts!
Meandering through the shops on Alberta and the cozy homes all around, she was intrigued by this lovely farm house for sale. The east facing sunny front porch for knitting and meeting with the neighbors, plus the large west facing backyard with a chicken coop and access to the alley, were what she had imagined for her New Portland Life!
We put this home #1 on our Tour the next morning! Upon opening the front door, Jan said “this is the one”! Just 14 days later, after inspections and negotiations, she moved in!
Portland now has a new, 78 year old Wonder Woman Educator in the mix, keeping things diverse!
Wishing Jan a truly, beautiful new life in PDX,
Patti Sue
Charming Pearl Condo
Just Listed: 1829 NW Lovejoy St #111, Portland OR 97209
Offered at $190,000
1 Bed | 1 Bath | 477 SF
MLS# 19256865 | Taxes: $2941 | HOA $372/month
Perfect Urban Living or Pied-a-Terre! Darling condo in one of Portland’s most sought after neighborhoods.
Nestled in the Royal Arms this picture-perfect condo touts 1 true, spacious bedroom, walk-in closet, large bathroom, ample natural light and an updated kitchen. Many great features including: new double-hung windows, efficient wall heaters, gleaming hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances. Plus internet & cable are included in HOA! This unit is located in a quiet set-back location with minimal steps to enter.
The building is very well maintained with a laundry room and locked bike storage.
Fantastic location in the Pearl next to the trolley line, shops, restaurants and groceries. Walk score 96! Bike score 95!
Welcome home!
Gorgeous Greenway Ranch
JUST LISTED: 8540 SW Parkveiw Loop, Beaverton Oregon
Offered at $495,000
4 BED | 2.5 BATH | 2024 SF | MLS# 19285315
Open House: Saturday 8/17 11pm-1pm
Come home in style! This is a classy split-level that lives large with ample natural light, tasteful updates throughout and a fantastic layout!
On the main level, the bright open floor plan surrounds you in style and comfort. Beautiful, updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, ample counter space and island. Convenient built-ins and pantry make this kitchen a chef’s playground!
The kitchen flows easily into the living room which is warm and inviting with plenty of space to lounge in front of the fireplace with a stunning mantle and picture window.
The lovely, formal dining room is ready for both entertaining and intimate dinners at home. From here, head through the sliding door onto the huge deck to take in the sun while overlooking the yard and greenery.
Continue through the main level to the generous master suite with an updated bathroom, big closet and plenty of natural light. Conveniently there are two more bedrooms on the main floor with ample closet space and gorgeous updated main bathroom with subway tile.
Carve out a place for yourself in the lower level with a huge family room, half bathroom, large laundry room and 4th bedroom.
Enjoy your summer days in the big back yard with ample space for gardening and entertaining. Sitting on an over-sized lot, this property backs up to Greenway park with trails galore!
Fall in love with this captivating, move-in ready and well-maintained home with wood siding and freshly painted exterior. This stunning home is waiting for you!
VIDEO TOUR
My Favorite Murderino!
My Favorite Murderino!
It was a day like any other; commute to work, do the work things, and post work gym session. What Tamra didn’t know was what was lurking for her around the corner.
She grew up in a wholesome family, surrounded by love and the common trials and tribulations of a young woman. Working her way into a solid career path with a well known ‘swoosh’ company, she was happy and feeling quite fulfilled.
On this particular day, Tamra received a chilling phone call from a family member. It was her brother, and he needed her to meet with him immediately. He’d known for awhile something wasn’t quite right in Tamra’s life. She’d mentioned that being a life long renter had created an empty hole in her heart. She’d grown more weary in recent years and wasn’t sure how much more of the Portland commute she could bear.
I became involved right away since this crucial life decision needed professional (free) representation. Tamra and I toured the property and discussed all the likely suspects that could come up during inspections. It was later, on inspection day, that I was made aware that she too, is a murderino!
After much negotiation, and long hours worked to compile all the data, appraisal report, and timelines, this home was hers!
Although not a murder house, or any suspect for a creepy seeded history, this home will be filled with many memories and stories to share. The only crime here was being guilty of making a great investment. If that’s a crime, this murderino is expected to be a repeat offender.
As always, SSDGM, and also, to heck with crazy work commutes!
Congratulations to my favorite murderino and new home owner!
503-840-2842
If you’d like help buying, selling, or small space planning, I’d love to be a part of your team too!
Drew & Jackie Move Back to This Side of the Pond!
Congratulations to Drew and Jackie!
I think a lot of us can agree that a big part of what we love about Portland is the abundance of high-quality food and amazing restaurants, and I am no exception. As much as I enjoy cooking, I also love dining out and even more than that, I LOVE introducing my favorite people to my favorite restaurants! And for this reason, I am thrilled to have been referred to Jackie and Drew, Portland’s newest foodies!
Originally from the East Coast, Drew and Jackie are relocating to Portland from Europe where they have been living and working for almost a decade. All in all, they were decisive clients and we quickly got them into contract on a well crafted, newer home in NE Portland. On the day of their home inspection, we decided to debrief over lunch at Tamale Boy on Dekum. The meal was amazing (!) and inspired us to start talking about our favorite restaurants and I quickly realized they are definitely moving to the right place!
My favorite restaurants to introduce people to are: Xico, Tusk, Arrosto, Firehouse, Shalom Y’All and Jacqueline. Looking forward to dining out with Jackie and Drew!
Sold! The Newest Milwaukie Master Gardeners Have Landed
When I first sat down to meet Elliot & Jessa we tasted some beers in the SE Living Room office. I stopped at New Seasons and thought I picked some good ones to impress my new, beer brewing and loving clients, but turns out Elliot was not impressed at all. I totally thought I had it! Thankfully he brought some beer he had brewed on his own and saved the day. It was SO GOOD! At least one of us did something right. They managed to look past my poor beer suggestions and here we are, goals accomplished, happy as ever, house in hand.
I learned about their very impressive garden visions, a bit about their families, what they do for work, and of course their home goals. These two have such hearts, let me tell you. We needed 3+ bedrooms with one on the main plus one bath on the main for the moms to stay in down the line- a very top priority. We needed about a quarter acre so they had room for their garden, chickens, and buns. And yes, we all happened to refer to bunnies (some might say rabbits) as buns. I knew right then it would be a good fit. We needed a good kitchen. We needed a space for brewing. We needed privacy!
Drum roll, please!….. We got it all 🙂 Plus two fireplaces, an already established multi unit chicken village, a plumb tree, a nice covered area to enjoy the outdoors year round, some great neighbors, and a big, welcoming front porch. Sometimes the stars align.
Jessa is ready to paint, paint, paint, and I seriously can’t wait to see what they do with the yard. Now I just need to convince them to share the plumbs with me until I get my own tree. And the beer, but forever.
Happiest REALTOR® of 2019. Position remains.
Clinton Division Darling
JUST LISTED: 2817 SE 18th Ave, Portland OR 97202
Offered at $499,900
2 BED | 1 BATH | 1893 SF | MLS# 19247675
Open House: Saturday 7/27 12pm-2pm
Here is the effortlessly stylish, close-in Victorian you’ve been waiting for! This charmer sits pretty with a darling front porch, tasteful exterior color palette and lovely, original architectural features- just steps from Division!
Upon entering through the original front door into a classic, Victorian foyer you’re immediately surrounded by gleaming hardwood floors and a spacious, enchanting interior.
Make your way into the inviting, light-filled living room showcasing the home’s millwork, high ceilings, tall windows and commitment to both elegance and simplicity. A bay window in the living room foreshadows your relaxing weekend mornings unwinding at home.
The living room eases into the dining room which offers enough charm for intimate dinners at home while spacious enough for large gatherings and entertaining.
Flowing nicely from the dining room you’ll enter into a lovely kitchen with modern comforts and classic vintage style. Featuring a gas range, dishwasher and plenty of storage. The breakfast nook is a sweet spot to enjoy your morning coffee.
As you head up the staircase to the second floor you are greeted with more vintage character in the original hardwood stairs, original wood railing and stairwell window. The second floor boasts two lovely bedrooms with tall ceilings, big closets and ample natural light.
This home carries it’s history with pride while touting many updates: electrical, tankless hot water heater, fully insulated exterior and some upgraded double pane, wood windows. Home Energy Score of 8!
The basement has a bonus room perfect for a home office, playroom or gym in addition to an abundance of storage space- PLUS a separate laundry room! An exterior door brings you from the basement to the large back yard, ready for gardening, entertaining or enjoying as you please.
Enjoy a stroll through the coveted Hosford-Abernathy neighborhood to cafe’s, restaurants, grocery stores, shops, bus lines and minutes to downtown! This is home is a bicycler’s paradise with a bike score of 100 and a walk score of 91!
VIDEO TOUR
Happiness is a Coral Door
Congratulations to Whitney and Brad!
In real estate, there is truly nothing better than a GREAT referral and I am thrilled to have been referred to Whitney and Brad by their friends who are also my wonderful clients!
The first thing we did was set up a buyer meeting with Whitney and Brad to establish what they wanted most: a home with enough room to grow as a family, vintage character, a beautiful yard and a garage. And with that, the search was on!
It turns out that this was not their first rodeo and I could tell, Brad and Whitney were smart buyers. They had a keen eye for potential in fixers and were thrilled when they found a super cute ranch with a Coral door! It checked all their boxes: extensive yard, decent garage and stylish character!
Whitney and Brad are now homeowners and I couldn’t be happier for them!
Storybook Ending in Hillsboro
Congratulations to Chad and Libby!
I love this story and helping buyers as their families grow!
I worked with Cool-as-a-Cucumber-Chad when buying his starter home years ago. Fast forward to today and now he is the luckiest man on earth because he’s married to the Lovely-and-Amazing Libby and they have the cutest one-year-old and are planning for more. Time for a bigger house!
The sale of Chad’s original home was smooth sailing, we negotiated a great rent back so Chad and Libby had some breathing room to begin the big house hunt! It was very important to them that the next house be close to their jobs and big enough that their family could comfortably grow. They didn’t want to move again for quite some time.
The hunt was concise and happily, after just a couple of showings, there was one home that really stood out. They knew they wanted to raise their family in THIS home. It had a huge family room addition with added bedrooms and bathrooms, a huge yard, plus a picture-perfect ADU on the garage for added income or family. This home fits their vision exactly!
Congratulations to Chad and Libby!!
Dreamy Midcentury
Sometimes you walk into a house and you just know it’s the one for you. That’s how this one went. I sent the listing to Pat first thing in the morning, he drove by within an hour, and pretty much knew it was the one before we even walked in the door a couple hours later. As we looked around the house, loving on the undisturbed midcentury vibe he looked at me and said, ‘Don’t let me not get this house.” Ummm Yikes! No pressure right? But ok, let’s do this! It was tense – he wasn’t the only person in love with this awesome house and we really had to shine. When we got word that his offer was accepted we practically (maybe literally, but that’s a secret) cried tears of joy.
Pat and I have known each other for many years as the result of sharing great friends. Over the last year we have been on an epic house journey together. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s definitely been worth it and just in time for summertime ping pong on the back porch!!
A Window Into Eastmoreland
We met Jen & Gil back in 2018 and have since become fast friends. Their quick wit and great sense of humor quickly drew us in. They wanted to become familiar with Portland before they fully bought in, quite literally. We picked Gil up from his hotel and in a day explored most areas of east side Portland. When we took him through Sellwood we could see that this area really would fit their needs in the beginning of the settling in process.
Jen came over shortly and also found that Sellwood had the charm and walk-ability that they both desired. After settling in they went to open houses and tried to decide which homes and areas would have the best resale potential in a market that is steadily rising in appreciation. We looked at moderns, bungalows, historical homes, etc. You name it, they saw it. What we truly appreciated about Jen & Gil, is that they knew that they couldn’t settle and that they both had to be equally as excited before they pulled the trigger. Another thing I truly appreciated about them was that they always welcomed our spunky daughter along with us during tours and joined me in bribing her with lollipops.
Then a home that they didn’t know if they would like based on the photos, quickly became the winner. It had the historical charm with a mostly updated interior and exterior in one of the most tranquil areas of Portland you could ask for, Eastmoreland. An early-twentieth century, tree-filled neighborhood in inner southeast Portland, Oregon, United States. Lush, spacious, quiet and close to amenities. A perfect blend of both of them and their previous homes combined into one home. Of all the homes I’ve toured, this one truly is special. There is a specific large picture window that makes you feel like you are in the Secret Garden. With a patio out front with a wooden bench that Sadé Bloom & I have already claimed as our own.
With 15 agent business cards on the table by day 2, we knew this home was priced very well for the location and condition in Eastmoreland and that we had to move quickly. Our clients had the representation they deserved all the way around with a stellar lender team, Dion Mancia w/ Caliber Loans, and Jason and I fighting on their behalf to beat out any competition that peaked its head around the corner. Just to make sure the cherry was on top Jen & Gill wrote the sellers a letter and we all personally introduced ourselves to the listing agent during the open house.
The listing agent said that putting a face to the names, the letter to the sellers and the excellent terms of the offer made it very easy for the sellers to go ahead and take the home off the market for our wonderful clients.
We were able to give them the good news that their offer was accepted while Jen & Gil were already celebrating at an open air concert.
Today is closing day and we couldn’t be happier for our friends Jen & Gil!
A Homebuyer’s Journey
Jon and Katie just bought a great house. It wasn’t quick or easy, but they scored a win in the end!
Over the course of 6 months they wrote 6 offers. Cash buyers kept edging them out of winning position. Jon and Katie were doing all the right things. They made strong offers and wrote personal letters to the homeowners and they worked with a great local lender. We tailored their offers to meet the sellers needs and schedules. We’ve all heard the phrase “Cash is King,” and that is a reality for homebuyers!
Sellers tend to favor cash buyers because a deal can close quickly without the challenges that sometimes occur with lenders, appraisals, and loan underwriters. Jon and Katie persevered with resilience and an optimistic attitude. They had a clear vision of what they wanted in a house and where they wanted to live. They appreciate old home style and character, and they were drawn to the Alameda neighborhood in NE Portland where Jon grew up.
In the end they were rewarded with the keys to a nicely updated Alameda home with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and a beautiful, private garden. Congratulations and welcome home!
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Interested in making Portland your home? Call Cheri Harney, at 503-319-4858.
From SE to NE Portland -They found the one!
After doing long distance for 18 long months, Michael and Shelby have found their first home in North Tabor! While planning a wedding they handled this process like pros.
The journey was not one without bumps along the way. After multiple bidding wars and back-up offers, they did not lose hope in finding the right home. With the focus being in SE neighborhoods, I was surprised to have a NE home come up as a home of interest.
We scheduled the appointment and within moments of walking through the doors, they were planning how they would decorate. This was the one.
Though they loved the home, the price wasn’t quite right. After some negotiating, we presented a strong offer with ideal terms. We had an accepted offer for lower than asking (yay!). Before we could have our inspector go out, we were notified that our back-up offer for the previous home was accepted. Since it was a backup offer, they were not obligated to move forward. This left them with a choice to make.
Having the choice solidified their confidence in their move-in-ready NE home. We were moving forward. The inspection revealed that the sewer line had issues, however after three professional opinions, the sellers took on the cost of replacing the entire sewer. Happy buyers to say the least.
They are looking forward to enjoying their first years of married life in their beautiful home with a backyard made for entertaining. Congratulations to my good friends Michael and Shelby!
Awesome Ardenwald Farmhouse
The very best call a real estate broker can receive is a call from a buyer where they let you know they were referred to you and want to work with you and they already found a house they want to write an offer on. In real life though, it’s never quite as easy as that sounds. When my buyer Brittney called me in late April she and her family had fallen in love with a house in Brentwood Darlington they just saw at an open house and they wanted to put an offer in, but she didn’t have a broker yet. Thankfully I was available and I high tailed it over to the house to see for myself, and then right afterwards met with Brittney and her partner at a coffee shop to discuss.
Later that evening we wrote up the offer and submitted it. Since nothing is quite this easy, the offer was sadly rejected. But it wasn’t all sad news because just a couple of weeks later, Brittney and her family found a sweet farmhouse in the Ardenwald neighborhood of Milwaukie that was overall a better fit plus it has a gigantic park-like yard. And thankfully this time her offer was accepted. Inspections went smoothly and with a great lender, we closed on time. Congratulations Brittney!
Overlook Decolow: When Bungalow and Deco Meet
Chris and Andrea are transplants from Los Angeles and after settling in the Pacific Northwest for the last six months, were sold on Portland and ready to start looking for their new home: what would turn out to be a 1942 Overlook Bungalow with some serious Deco flare.
Andrea is an architect and has an eye for design. They both wanted to be able to commute via public transportation – her to downtown and him to OHSU, so we began by looking at neighborhoods that would offer them a less than an hour commute via bus or train.
It was also important for them to have a house with character and a yard, no shared wall, bathtub, two toilets, fireplace and walkability. I loved that they knew what they wanted!
They basically manifested this darling Overlook Bungalow-Deco (Bungaleco? Decolow?) that had been sitting on the market for awhile.
We scooped it up for a great price, negotiated an additional credit and repairs, and they’re closing in time to enjoy Portland’s perfect summer. Bonus: the lender waived appraisal, which means it really was a steal.
Andrea has plans for the hardwoods and kitchen, and I’m so excited to see what they do with it. There are so many beautiful original details, but the deco doorways get me every time I’m there. And, they even had a view of the downtown from their Master attic space.
These two were dream clients: decisive, design-savvy, and witty. I find myself laughing every time I get to spend time with them (note to self: find more sarcastic/witty/dry clients).
Looking for a Decolow? Or to buy or sell in Portland? Reach out here.
Or get social with me here.
All Happy In Albany!
All Happy In Albany!
Robert & Koka are happy, the sellers are happy, the agents are happy! What more could you ask for? All happy in Albany also made possible by Steph Noble and her team at Guild Mortgage.
Buyers Robert and Koka have been renting a secluded estate in the hills of Washington county for over 10 years. When the owners decided to sell, they knew it was the time to dive back into home ownership.
Spanning their search from SW Washington all the way down to the Southern art scene in Ashland Oregon, they were looking for the right niche property to call their own.
Artisans by trade, their home needed to provide a serene energy.
When this secluded executive style property came on the market we quickly made the drive down to Albany, canceling other showings in the process. The moment Robert and Koka walked in the door you could see and feel their sense of connectedness to the home. A clean professional offer was packaged and presented to the sellers and we were in contract in no time.
Despite receiving another offer for a higher price,
the home owners had become attached to Robert and Koka because of the transparently heartfelt letter they wrote to accompany their offer. The Sellers in this case even wrote a heartfelt letter back to my clients and provided them a “how-to” home tour after closing.
All happy in Albany is exactly how the entire process went on this home purchase. When everyone involved comes from a place of gratitude like this it’s an experience dreams are made of.
Congratulations to my favorite artists and new Albany residents! Now onto plan our group kayaking trip to celebrate!
503-840-2842
If you’d like help buying, selling, or small space planning, I’d love to be a part of your team too!
Tigard in Comfort + Style
JUST LISTED: 9479 SW 92nd Ave, Tigard OR 97223
Offered at $335,000
3 BED | 3 BATH | SF 1551
MLS# 19270780 | HOA $190 Month
Open House: Sat 6/22 12pm-2pm
Step into this immaculate, contemporary townhome with fantastic layout! High off the street, the main level of the home is easy living with an open floor plan, 9ft ceilings, hardwood floors and ample natural light throughout.
The kitchen touts stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, gas range, ample counter space and breakfast bar. The dining room flows easily between the kitchen and living room and provides comfortable space for entertaining and intimate dinners alike.
In the living room, you can relax in front of the gas fireplace with stylish mantle or enjoy lounging in the sun on the private balcony overlooking greenery.
Plenty of comfort on the third level with a generous ensuite master and second large bedroom with full bathroom. Bright natural light in the bedrooms with ceiling fans for comfort and closet organizers for ease of use.
Carve out a place for yourself in the large suite on the lower level with a full bathroom and third bedroom. This level has so many options: private home office, the potential for ADU or separate living quarters for guests. Plus stay comfortable all year with central air conditioning and gas forced air heating.
Great location just minutes to Washington Square Mall, Highway 217 and the Sunset Corridor.
Fall in love with this captivating, move-in ready, townhome. It’s waiting for you!
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Newlyweds on Mississippi Ave
Oh, hey. Let me introduce you some of my favorite clients. Meet Emily and Jason!
Newly(ish) married and working professionals, these two wanted a low maintenance home in a walkable area. We looked at a few homes that were further out and they quickly realized that they wanted to be closer-in, and would sacrifice a yard for great restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. As long as there was space for a “shoe room.”
After I previewed the GORGEOUS condo on Skidmore and Mississippi, I emailed them both and said, “Newlywed Soph would be all about this one.”
Matt’s BBQ, Por Que No?, The Rambler, Paxton Gate, Pistils Nursery…the list goes on. All within walking distance too.
Jason was smitten as soon as he walked in (he showed up a bit earlier than Emily), and tried to stifle his excitement to allow her the ability to form her own opinion. She was quickly, equally as smitten.
I mean, the master bathroom looks like it belongs in a luxury hotel.
I’m so excited for these two! They are decisive, smart, kind and stylish and will make amazing neighbors. This was a perfect first buy for them.
Congrats, Emily and Jason! I can’t wait to come stay…errr, visit you!
Interested in buying or selling in Portland? Reach out!
ADU Magic is in the air, reach out and grab it!
We set out to find a small and stylish affordable home here in Portland area at a starter home price. There are, and were, a few really good options out there, but none of them had that spark the creates the excitement it takes to sign on the bottom line.
UNTIL! She found a home that fit the bill with an ADU for just a little over $100k more then the original price point we were looking in. Now, I know not everyone can do this, but if you can afford to, the rewards are there. Her plan is to live in one and rent the other. If she wants more room at a later time, she can switch from the small house to the larger one. If she wants her family to live with her for a time, they can have her own house. The flexibility is such a huge value and the rental income offset means her payments are significantly less than the mortgage for the home we were looking for when we started out.
I am so proud to help with this purchase, it’s a big step ahead in the financial stability of a good friend.
As the owner of a home and ADU, I want to express the value and flexibility that comes with this form of home ownership. If you can qualify for the purchase, the rewards are enduring.
Call me if you’d like to own a little piece of your own magic!
It’s Funny How Life Changes…
Over the course of a couple years Tiffany would casually reach out with questions about a property here, a house there. Perhaps only two or three properties in total. She had dreams of one day, someday, buying a house. She wasn’t serious about moving from her cozy St. John’s condo in which she’d lived for over a decade. Her three closest friends lived in North Portland, and aside from a daily commute to West Linn, all was well in her housing world.
That changed quickly however, when, in the span of a few month, those three friends moved away to Idaho, Vancouver and SE Portland. Although the first two locations were not viable options for Tiffany, SE Portland held great appeal, not only due to the proximity to her friend, but also on account of the drastically reduced commute time that it would guarantee. She had also, a year prior, adopted a sweet and energetic pup who longed to have a yard in which to frolic. Suddenly, Tiffany kicked her search into high gear and set out to find her own little plot in SE Portland.
Within a matter of weeks she identified a perfect little country house on which she placed an offer. She won despite two other competing bids. Sadly, during inspections it was found that various pests had been gnawing on the post, floor joists, and general foundation components, compromising it’s structure. Luckily, these issues were identified in inspections and she was able to decide against taking on these issues and this house.
Tiffany moved on to discover an even better fit – a tidy bungalow in the Woodstock neighborhood in very close proximity to New Seasons and popular restaurants. Although I was traveling when she found this gem, my fantastic business partner, Sean O’Feery, was able to get her purchase underway! By the time I returned less than a week later, we were sailing quickly into inspections which turned out to be far less “buggy” than those that came before. We were able to immediately get to work preparing her cute condo to sell! Congratulations Tiffany on your new home and the sale of your condo!
From this day forward..
I met with Mario and Lindsey back in January to go over the home buying process. They were first time home buyers that didn’t realize they could buy a home. To their surprise they were pre-qualified that week. Initially they intended to buy the home they were renting at that time, however the sellers had a change of heart and we were back to square one.
After taking some time to re-evaluate what they wanted, we found the perfect home in Battleground, WA. It only took moments after stepping into the front door that they knew this was the one. To get this home for lower than asking, we knew we had to win over the hearts of the sellers. Mario and Lindsey wrote a compelling letter that included their profession as school teachers. We later found out that the seller was also a teacher, which had an impact on our offer. The offer was accepted and we were moving forward!
The inspection brought up hurdles to overcome, but Mario and Lindsey handled this with ease. After the professional opinions of 5 contractors and extensive negotiating, we ended up with a brand new electrical panel and repaired plumbing. Happy with the result we were cruising ahead for a smooth closing.
Upon closing Lindsey brought a sign that she had saved from the first day they moved into their rental that read “ From this day forward, you’ll always have a home with me”, she crossed out “have” and filled in “own”. A special moment to say the least. Most importantly I received the update that their fur-baby Cal is adjusting very well to their massive backyard.
Congratulations to this incredible couple on their first home!
Pulling out all The Stops
Congratulations to Cissie!
I recently had a great experience helping one of the coolest ladies in Portland buy her first house! Cissie is sharp, kind, effortlessly cool and plays bass in a band called The Stops. She found a super cute single level ranch on a quiet street in NE Portland’s Hazelwood neighborhood with fruit trees and a big yard.
Also, because Cissie doesn’t drive, this transaction got me thinking about Portlanders who live without a car and are buying a house on a tight budget. Through the process of showing her houses and neighborhoods, I gained a lot of knowledge around which outer neighborhoods are best for car-less commuters. After working with Cissie I’m happy to report there are many great places in a modest price range with great transportation options!
Compared to most, Portland is a wonderful city to have a car-less lifestyle. The commute might be soggy from time to time, but definitely do-able. If you ask most people where a good place to live without a car in Portland might be, you might get an answer like: The Pearl or close in parts of the city. But prices are sometimes steep in those areas and competition is high. What I noticed is that parts of the Eastside as well as parts of North/Northeast Portland are perfect for public transportation and bike commuters and the price point is within reach for a lot of first time home buyers!
JUST LISTED: Tranquil One Level Ranch
5855 SW 202nd Ave, Beaverton OR 97078
Offered at $339,900
3 Bed | 1.5 Bath | 1275 SF | MLS# 19562235 | Taxes: $2,551
OPEN HOUSE: Sunday 6/9 11am-2pm
This well-maintained and inviting one level Ranch lives large!
Enter this lovely home into a large and inviting living room with wood burning fireplace and hardwood floors. Generous formal dining room is adjacent to the updated kitchen and flows into a private backyard and easy outdoor living.
The kitchen touts stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, ample counter-space, eating bar and a large pantry with washer and dryer.
This home has a great layout which includes a spacious master bedroom with ample closet space, hardwood floors and plenty of light-filled spaces throughout.
Slide open the back doors off dining room to a big back yard, perfect for entertaining. This yard offers established fruit trees, new tuff shed and gardening options galore- just in time for summer!
The oversized garage has plenty of extra room for storage or shop space. This home sits on a quiet street surrounded by trees and greenery with walking trails and parks nearby!
Fall in love with this charming home and enjoy a one-year home warranty for added peace of mind.
Librarians Rule!
Let the record show, I love all my clients. That being said, my Frient™ (Friend who’s also a Client), Katie is in a word “excelsior”.
Katie and I first started talking several months back when she told me she was ready to move out of her adorable condo. She had spent over a decade there and was ready to find herself a stunning Mid-Century Modern home with a yard for her dog, Willa (pictured… can you find her?). After a few unfortunate misses we found the ‘cream puff’; this Woodlawn MCM checked all the boxes and with a compelling, no regrets offer (She also wrote what may have been one of the best buyer letters I have ever read. Seriously.), we got Katie her dream home!
Did I mention Katie is a librarian? Librarians are pretty darn cool.
Kendra and Mitch were on the hunt for a project. Mitch is a contractor and Kendra is no slouch when it comes to real estate investments and creative vision.
When the two discovered this little cottage, tucked away in a hidden pocket in Overlook, they knew it’d be the perfect project to dive into. This sweet cottage, in the same family for over 40 years, needs some love. We are thrilled that it will soon have a new lease on life! I’m not sure about you, but I can’t wait to see what they do!
Cheers to our New Home Buyer!
Congratulations to first time home buyer Emily!!
Emily is the coolest! I met her through my assistant, Jasmine, who met her years and years ago while both of them were working hard to grow in their careers and bartending on the side. These days, both have hit their stride professionally and Emily is now an Environmental Engineer and killing it in her field!
Emily is a laid back person, an avid bicyclist and came to us looking for a sweet little house in N Portland. She lived with roommates and loves how financially beneficial that living arrangement can be. Her list of needs was very reasonable, said she could live with any kind of imperfection in a home as long as she had a great bike commute and the house was in move in ready. Easy enough! …And maybe too easy because low and behold the SECOND house we showed her was a true gem! The perfect size, in great condition, a garage for bike repairs and easy access to a bike path! We jumped on the opportunity and now Emily is the proud owner of a lovely home! She might even have enough space for puppy, yay!
Don’t be surprised if you see her cruising around St Johns on her bike with a huge grin on her face!
Someday is not a day of the week
Congratulations to Julian and his family!!
They say: kind people are the best kind of people to know and and that quote reminds me of Julian. He was referred to me by my fantastic preferred lender and I’m so glad I met him! He was great to work with and I’m thrilled we could get him into the house he had his eye on.
Julians home buying story is a simple one really… Julian saw a house for sale down the street from where he was living and he took a shot at making it his own! First things first, he went out and got pre-approved (everyone should be taking notes here! Ha!) The house was well loved although it had a few quirks. He was a very diligent buyer, kept an open mind through inspections and in the end both sides were able to see eye to eye in order to seal the deal!
The house is super cute, the yard is completely dialed in with lovely landscaping and he will be enjoying blueberries, raspberries and flowers from his garden. I hope Julian and his family have a great summer hanging out in the amazing yard and patio!
Patience Pays Off for Mother Daughter Dynamic Duo
Back in mid-March my buyer Valerie called me in somewhat of a panic because the new construction condo she had been in contract to purchase was a steaming pile of mess and the lender eventually pulled the plug on getting a loan for it. Turned out that the condo she had been in contract to purchase for months was part of a brand new complex and only 1 other condo out of twenty had sold since they officially went on the market 5 months prior. When there are that few sales on a new condo project, most lenders are going to deny a loan because the risk to the buyer of the whole stack of cards falling down is pretty real. If the rest of the complex winds up turning into rental apartments because the developer could not sell them as condos, it then it makes the units purchased by unfortunate buyers almost impossible to sell down the line- and that’s not a risk worth taking.
Valerie and her daughter April are first time homebuyers and with retirement on the horizon for Valerie, (distant but still definitely there) they were super motivated to find something decent in their price range in a location they liked and would be easy to maintain. They had been working with the Portland Housing Center for two years and had completed the matched savings program (IDA) so they had money in that account to pay for inspections and closing costs, and then they worked with Portland Housing Center and Home Street Bank to do what’s called a MAP 80- which is a loan where you get 20% of the purchase price from Portland Housing Center, and then 80% from Home Street using the below market rate program the Oregon Bond. The benefit to the buyer is low interest rates and no mortgage insurance.
Once Valerie explained the situation to me, I sent her all of the active listings in East Portland that fit their criteria. Included was an attached home (not a condo!) just a couple of blocks from a MAX station that was priced very well and looked great from the photos. We went to see it right away, and the minute we walked in I could feel Valerie and April just relax. The space was perfect for them, in tip top shape and had a nice sized private backyard with a reasonable amount of a well mowed lawn. By the time we left, there was no hesitation at all from Valerie and April that this was the home for them. We wrote an offer, had it accepted, sailed through inspections and closed on time. And yesterday I had the honor of giving Valerie and April the keys to their very own home, with their very own grass. In so many ways this home is better for them than the condo they had planned on buying- this home cost less, no HOA fees, and it’s own private back yard. Since the home didn’t come on the market until after Valerie and April found out that the condo was a no-go, it’s like it was just waiting for them to be ready to meet their home match.
A Giant Shadow: Did Wilt Chamberlain have a son? Levi may be living proof and he’s moving to Portland!
I’d like to share Bob and Hilda’s unique story for buying a home in Portland. Bob will be the first to say he lives in San Francisco but grew up in Eugene, Oregon. So, technically he’s an Oregonian. 🙂
They started out looking for a home in Portland because Bob’s best friend since they were 12 years old, Aaron Levi, has been priced out of San Francisco. They are currently neighbors in San Francisco.
Aaron is an artist and has a fascinating life story. https://www.si.com/nba/2015/03/04/wilt-chamberlain-aaron-levi-a-giant-shadow-son-secret
Bob and Hilda plan to rent the home to help him with the next growth stage of his life. He wants to come home to Portland and with our vibrant art community, he will certainly be welcomed.
Bob and Hilda experienced four highly competative multiple offer situations. During their visits they fell more in love with Portland, and were fascinated with Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s), they decided to purchase a second property with an ADU. It was a great pleasure to help them through the process of purchasing two Portland properties.
And some day, they will also return to Oregon.
Buyer in Back-up Wins Bridlemile Beauty
The day I walked into this beautiful Bridlemile home, I knew it was meant for Jewelia. It checked all her boxes. The location is close to work, to family, and things to do. The home has all the features she was looking for too! It has a fireplace, sunken living room, three beds, two baths, and nice sized yard. I knew it wouldn’t be on the market long, so I texted her immediately to schedule a tour.
My instincts were right, Jewelia loved the home too. We made an offer right away and while it was a strong offer, we were outbid. The seller’s accepted the other one, but I explained to Jewelia what a Back-Up Offer is and we asked if we could be put in back-up position.
Jewelia asked me how often back-up offers move to first position and become accepted offers. Even though she loved the house, she didn’t want to get her hopes up in case the first sale went through. I can’t say for certain how many times this happens because the home never goes off the market and then back on, it’s hard to track that data. All I could do was share my personal experience.
What is a Back-Up Offer?
A back-up offer is when the seller has accepted an offer already, but is willing to put your offer in “back-up”. This means that if the first deal falls apart, then the seller will notify you, and your offer is immediately accepted, or put into “first position”. You can continue to look for homes in the meantime, and just request to be taken out of back-up if they find something else.
This is also beneficial to the seller because the house never goes back on the market and they don’t have to worry about losing interested buyers who are now wondering if there was something wrong with the house. Houses that go pending, then go back on the market often don’t sell for as much as if the first sale had gone through.
Buying My Own Home
When I bought my first home, we made an offer that was rejected. Later, we saw the house come back on the market and made an offer again. This time we were put in back-up position. We thought there was no way we’d get it, but about a week later we learned ours was in first position! The house needed lots of work which is why it’s previous deals failed. But, our agent was a skilled negotiator and we bought it with some credits to put towards repairs.
I hoped sharing my experience would help, and Jewelia was put in back-up. A week or so later, she learned that she was put in first position! She was thrilled, as was I, and we moved forward with the purchase. The home had been very well maintained and there was little to negotiate. The transaction moved forward smoothly, and Jewelia closed on her first home last week! She went from back-up to getting the keys in just over a month!
It all started when Jewelia walked into our Multnomah Village office one day. She was curious about buying her first home. She and I were connected and I am so grateful we were. Getting to know her and help her through this important purchase was a joy. I can’t wait to see how she makes this house her home. Congrats Jewelia!!!!
Friend Referral – Thank you!
A few years ago I sold a home to a young man who inevitably became one of my dearest and closest friends. Sometimes I marvel at the way real estate can bring life long steadfast people to you. This last Thanksgiving we were invited to his home for dinner. 25 people were seated at a very long table, for the most part made up of his college friends. One couple really stood out to me for their kindness and irreverent charm + sense of humor.
Never did I expect that they would become real estate clients of mine. Spending time with them this Spring while looking for their first home has been a wonderful journey. Viewing homes and writing offers in our competitive market was made all the more enjoyable because they give you friendship + trust with a willingness to listen and learn. Eager to stop for juice, coffee or just sit and visit along the way I found myself looking forward to our house touring dates.
They are always so happy to accommodate my availability and thankful for our working relationship. They stand out and really shine brightly in evidence of how beautiful working together to find a home can be. Congratulations to them now, new owners of their first home!
Magical Letter to the Seller
Barb & Josh are some of our favorite people to work with. We recently sold their home and have been looking for months for their perfect new home they could call their own. Low and behold the home that was a near perfect blend of what they both envisioned came on the market. By day 1 we got in the home, and Josh & Barb knew it had to be theirs. So, we submitted our offer that day in the hopes to take it off the market before the sellers’ scheduled open houses that weekend. Our offer was above list price, but soon we felt the flurry of other offers coming on the table and suddenly we found ourselves sinking from the top place. Barb & Josh are wise and they knew the offer they submitted was their highest and best so they knew they had to pull some heart strings to get the sellers to choose theirs. Barb has what we call the magic touch for a seller letters, and her words were truly heart felt and convincing. That evening minutes before our offer expired, I received an accepted offer in my inbox along with a call from the listing agent congratulating us on our excellent presentation and killer letter. My face lit up with job to be able to deliver such amazing news. Barb & Josh were so relieved that they would have their new home days before both of their birthdays.
During our inspection people were still trying to view the property thinking it was still on the market because of how hot the property was, which sealed the fact that we were so blessed to have them in contract on this amazing home. Another victory was that we were able to negotiate a substantial credit for Josh & Barb. Barb & Josh stood their ground and asked for what they believed was fair. Time and time again I have seen good things happen to this pair and they were able to get a beautiful home with fair terms. Our hearts are so full today because it’s finally key delivering day, and we get to finally hand them a long awaited token of joy from all their hard work.
We love you Barb, Josh & Parker and are so excited to see what new adventures you both will continue to have together.
Stunning Clinton Abode
JUST LISTED: 2636 SE Tibbetts Street
Offered at $899,900
4 BED | 3.5 BATH | 2868 SF | MLS# 19273239
Open House Sun 5/5 1pm-3pm & Broker Open Tue 5/7 11:30-1:30pm
A rare find! Beautiful Old PDX style modern home, built both for efficiency and classic beauty. Perched up off the street this home offers light filled open spaces, gourmet kitchen, custom details and so much more.
Open plan living room, dining room and kitchen features soaring ceilings, wide-plank hardwood floors, big bright windows and a lovely gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances, gas range and island.
Main level bonus office with timeless built-ins.
Second level features hard to find hardwood floors and 3 bedrooms with treetop views, including a lovely master ensuite with generous bathroom and walk-in closet.
Spacious 3rd floor walk-up with spectacular city views is great for family or media room.
Lower level offers private bedroom and full bathroom. Plenty of storage and extra deep garage with more opportunity for storage and/or shop.
Gorgeous, landscaped yard perfect for gatherings and dinner on the deck. Plus huge, inviting front porch overlooking a quiet street. Walk to Clinton shops, restaurants and parks! This is perfection!
