Tag: first-time homebuyers
Keep the Faith People: A Success Story of a Zero Down Payment, First Time Home Buyer Experience
The Perfect Little House in the Shadow of Mt Tabor
My clients Elizabeth and Tom contacted me in early October. They were getting all their ducks in a row to start the home buying process within the first 6 months of 2021. After we spoke, Elizabeth got in touch with a great lender and it was after she spoke with the lender that they realized they were actually a lot closer to making home ownership a reality then they had anticipated. Once pre-approved, they realized that with rates below 3%, buying a home sooner then later to take advantage of the low low low rates was within their reach. Besides staying within their budget, location was the most important feature, and they knew they wanted to be as close-in as possible, preferably west of 82nd and within walking distance of places you would want to walk to and near transit so once the pandemic ends Elizabeth could easily get downtown to her job at Mercy Corps.
On our first outing to see homes, we saw a few homes and found a couple that they really liked. One in particular, in Madison South just a few spits east of 82nd seemed to check all the boxes. It was a home that has just been flipped, so from what I could see when we saw the house in person, it looked ok. There are always 2 parts of a house that I can’t see during a showing, and it’s those 2 parts that tend to have the most issues. The crawl space and attic. I always warn my clients up front that the crawl space and attic will make or break a house. Armed with the knowledge that the house was a flip and that I could not see the attic or crawl space, they decided to take their chances and write up an offer. For a house listed under $400k that looked to be in decent shape on the interior and had a nice floor plan, surprisingly it only had one offer. This is usually a sign of not great things, but hey- it meant no competition and since it had just been listed, they wrote their offer at just list price and not over asking. Their offer was accepted and we scheduled the inspection to happen within a couple of days. When we arrived at the house to go over the report with the inspector, I could tell by the look on my inspectors face that the house was a dud and all my concerns about it just having been flipped were validated. The crawl space and attic were total wrecks. Rats had chewed through a ton of the wiring, had made nests everywhere, even in the house ductwork. Rodent feces was out the wahoo and all the other terrible things that happen when rats move in were present. It was so bad that our inspector wasn’t able to inspect the whole crawl space or attic. We were all incredulous that the flippers who listed this house didn’t even bother to do any clean up or even try to cover it up. And it just added more fodder for my hesitancy in recommending recently flipped houses to first time buyers. My buyers terminated that very afternoon.
A couple of days later a cupcake little mid-century ranchalow just west of 82nd on the east side of Mt. Tabor in the SE part of Montavilla came on the market. Painted a perfect light blue/teal with scalloped siding frosting the front of the house, the curb appeal was delicious. This one hit all the same boxes as the Montavilla house, and this one felt even more warm and cozy. This house was not a flip and had been well taken care of by the previous owners. After sleeping on it, and before they even had their earnest money back in their pockets after terminating on the first house they had been in transaction with, they decided to go for it. This house did receive multiple offers and Elizabeth and Tom were able to rise to the top with a small escalation clause. For the second time in a week, they had an offer accepted on a great house. This house sailed through the inspection, and with just a couple of needed repairs that we were able to negotiate, the transaction was smooth from start to finish.
2020 wasn’t only full of crap!
2020 wasn’t only full of crap!
Proud Ground and Columbia Ecovillage for the Ultimate Co-housing Opportunity
My clients Laura and Umar contacted me in mid-October because they had just been approved to purchase a home at Columbia Ecovillage through the local community land trust, Proud Ground. I absolutely love what Proud Ground does and any chance I get to work with a family who has been approved to purchase one of their homes I jump on the opportunity.
Land trusts provides permanently affordable home ownership opportunities for families making at or below 80% of the area median income level. The land trust legally splits the home from the land. The “land” remains in the trust in perpetuity, while the home can be bought and sold as long as the new homeowners make below the 80% median family income at the time of purchase. By taking the land value out of the equation, the price of the home remains affordable. Columbia Ecovillage is a multi-generational co-housing community in Cully made up of 37 condominiums and situated on nearly 4 acres of splendor. The units rarely become available, but earlier this year a unit did come on the market, and a couple of long term Columbia Ecovillage residents decided they wanted to have a family sized unit be part of Proud Ground. This couple purchased the unit and donated it to Proud Ground to sell, and bringing another housing unit into the land trust.
Umar and Laura had moved to China from Portland a couple of years ago when Laura got a job doing mental health work for an English-speaking school there. This past February, they decided to go to Cambodia for a 2-week holiday. While they were there, coronavirus starting surging in China and around the world, and their family wound up getting stuck in Cambodia and were not allowed to return to China. After weeks in SE Asia it became clear they would not be able to return to China to their home for an unknown amount of time- probably months. They decided to go with plan B which involved making their way back to Portland. They left behind most of their belongings in China, including work and personal computers, and someday they hope to return there to recover their stuff. Once they arrived back in Portland, thankfully they found a fully furnished apartment to land in. Laura was able to keep her job in China working remotely from Portland, but it did mean her hours were late given the time zone difference.
Umar is from Uganda and growing up in Uganda, daily life was lived more communally. When they heard about Proud Ground and found out about the unit for sale at Columbia Ecovillage, it seemed like the perfect fit. They stopped by and were welcomed in and given a tour by some fantastic residents there. They fell in love with the idea of moving into this village space with beautiful shared gardens, community spaces, a communal kitchen and large old home that the residents use for gatherings, meetings and socializing and being a part of a close-knit community. They applied with Proud Ground and were accepted into the program and the unit at Columbia Ecovillage was reserved in their names. And that’s when I entered the picture after Laura called me. We wrote up the offer, and of course it was accepted. As we were writing up the offer, Laura and Umar learned who the benevolent sellers were who purchased the unit to bring into the Proud Ground stable, and it turned out the sellers were the very same people who had given Laura and Umar and their 4 year old son a tour and spent time talking with them about the community, and it all made sense. Everything was smooth sailing until it came time for the final employment verification. With Laura’s employer based in China, it did make for some tense moments and caused a slight delay in closing getting that final verification, but in the end, the sale closed and Umar and Laura and their son joined Columbia Ecovillage as the newest residents.
The Mullet House
This is an interesting home: Built in 1922 it’s your standard small, maybe even a “tiny” home when it was originally built, with some updates like the open kitchen, new appliances, refinished wide plank floors, etc. Then in 2019 the seller built an addition to the back of the home that added a master suite that is larger than the size of the original home! Business in the front and a party in the back!
I had taken Jamie on approximately 65 showings. A record in my books that I’m not mad about. We had our ups and downs throughout the summer, making offers and getting rejected were definitely the “downs” but the “ups” were a longer term item for me. Working with a first time home buyer, newish to Portland, really needing my advice and guidance, while making sure we were a good fit all turned out to be my “ups” in the end. Throughout this process we narrowed our focus and felt like we were in the movie Groundhogs Day. We then took a much needed break from our search for about 4-5 weeks. I called Jamie up and said that since we’re entering the winter season here in Portland it may be easier to get our offer accepted if she fell in love with something enough to make an offer. She was excited but with some doubt and on our first showing since “getting the band back together” we made an offer that was readily accepted and she is now the new homeowner of this awesome home in a great neighborhood!
Another WIN for First Time Homebuyers!
Congratulations to David and Mireille who closed on their first home on Monday. This is the ninth time (insert Ferris Bueller joke here!) we have helped first time homebuyers purchase a home in the last 4 months! Yes — low inventory and low interest rates makes this a sellers’ market, BUT the low interest rates work in our buyers’ favor too — they can afford to pay more for a house while keeping payments at a comfortable level. Moreover, first time homebuyers usually have an edge over competition as they don’t have a home to sell. They have good flexibility when it come to when they can close and take possession.
David and Mireille were flexible when it came to location, which is another hallmark of many of our successful first time homebuyers. Because they chose to consider homes in a broad swath of Southeast Portland, they found a cute and well maintained home in Brentwood Darlington that checked most of their boxes: three bedrooms, open concept living and dining, updated systems, and lovely outdoor spaces. It even has a a fun dining room peninsula from which their beloved cats can slink, play and pounce!
We know David and Mireille (and their kitties!) will have many happy years in their new home. Are you considering purchasing a home for the first time? Now is a great time to explore your options — Call us!
First-Time Buyer Snags Centennial Charmer
I’ll start off by saying that the market in Portland is tough for first-time buyers right now. Honestly, it’s tough for all buyers right now! We have the lowest inventory we’ve ever had, so buyers are struggling to find the right property, and when they do, they have to fight for it. Centennial is one of the outer east side neighborhoods that are still affordable with home prices averaging $341,000 and rising rapidly. Home values in Centennial have gone up 8.81% in the past 12 months!*
My buyer, Isak, was in the same boat as a lot of other buyers out there. Some wonderful clients of mine who had also just bought their first home in Lents last year referred him to me (thank you!). Isak was ready to take advantage of the great mortgage rates and buy his first home. He is smart about it as well. His plan is to get a roommate or two to help offset the mortgage and possibly keep it as an investment property one day.
Along the way, we found, made offers on, and lost out on a few homes. We were up against investors with large cash reserves, sellers who were reluctant to work with buyers on necessary repairs, and multiple other buyers writing offers just as competitive as his. Isak took his time finding the right home and wasn’t one to jump on the first home that came around. He was lucky enough to have to move right away, so wasn’t in a time crunch to find something. This worked to his advantage. We were able to look at lots of homes that could work but ultimately didn’t feel ‘right’.
When we came across ‘the one’ Isak knew it was special. This 3bd/2ba home in the heart of Centennial checked a lot of his boxes. The house has an extra room that could be made into a 4th bedroom, music room, or office. It also has a basement for projects or storage and a two-car garage with a separate workshop area. To top it off, it sits on a large lot with a big front-yard filled with giant Douglas Firs providing shade and privacy. The house itself is cosmetically dated, but overall in great condition with a functional layout. The previous owners lived there for over 30 years and took excellent care of it. This is perfect for Isak because he can focus on the fun and creative updates.
We close today, and I’m so excited to hand over the keys to his home. Congrats Isak!
*Source: NAR RPR (Realtor’s Property Resource) https://www.narrpr.com/
Winning the Multiple Offer Game in Kenton on the Perfect House
Nowhere in Portland proper on the east side is competition for what few decent homes are on the market fiercest then in N/NE Portland, and in particular Kenton, Overlook and Arbor Lodge and Concordia. Any decent home listed under $500k WILL get multiple offers. Going into the house hunting search, I warned my buyers Josie and Brandon of what to expect if they wanted to buy a house in those parts of town. First weekend we went out looking they found a house that was full of charm and had a great location. After seeing it, they went home, slept on it and decided to put in an offer. It was an a cute house but had an awkward layout, so they were only willing to offer so much. And unsurprisingly, they lost out on that house. And then a couple of weeks later another sweet vintage home in Concordia came on the market that checked most of the boxes. After we saw that one, they went home, slept on it and decided to put in an offer. And same story on this one- they were not willing to pay as high as it was going to go, so they lost out on that one.
We kept looking at houses and then a sweet vintage bungalow in the heart of Kenton came on the market. We went to check it out and the entire time we wandered around Josie kept repeating that this was their house, and they were willing to give it their all to get THIS house, and those other 2 houses were just practice houses. And because it was super cute, in great condition and in a stellar location- the ultimate trifecta- it received 7 offers. We put in an escalation clause and threw in some other carrots and thankfully the seller accepted Josie and Brandon’s offer! Transaction went smoothly and here they are- one month after having their offer accepted!
The One and Only
As it has been said before, buying a home is no easy process. Especially when it is your first home, there is a global pandemic, wildfires, and many other motivated buyers in the market. This is why choosing a dedicated buyer’s agent to work with is so important!
That said, here is the story of my clients, Jack & Julia. Together we navigated the challenges with ease and emerged victoriously!
All together we toured roughly 20 homes ranging from 900 sqft cabins in Rhododendron, sprawling 1+ acre lots in Sandy, to the more traditional 3 bedroom and 2 bath properties in Gresham and Troutdale, as well as everything in between.
After getting a solid idea of what the market had to offer, Jack & Julia decided to write and offer on the best home of all. This was a great 1960’s single-level positioned in SE with a lot that backs right up to the park! This was the first offer that my clients had decided to write, and they were in love as the property checked every box on the list.
At first, it seemed like we had just missed the boat. We were outbid by a small margin but due to good communication when writing the offer and strong first impressions, we had the opportunity to move into back-up position. This allowed us to continue looking, but also remain on-deck should things change.
Lucky for us, this worked out in our favor and our back-up offer was soon accepted. Just like that, we were under contract on the one home that my clients wanted out of more than 20+ that we had seen.
While this was their first offer and we were initially placed in back-up position, it was a success! Despite all the environmental and unforeseen challenges, my clients were rewarded with the one and only home that they wanted which makes for a happy ending and an exciting new beginning as we approach 2021!
Jack & Julia, I genuinely appreciate your trust and belief in me as your Realtor. I look forward to some killer post-pandemic parties and to helping you build that backyard sauna!
Washington County Treasures
For Buyers looking for more affordable property taxes, or just more options in our current low inventory market, searching slightly further west can still get you a relatively “close in” property. With lower property taxes, it can also give you a little more buying power. Many of these homes are still within city of Portland boundaries, even though they are within Washington County tax jurisdiction (vs Multnomah County). If Beaverton feels, or sounds, too far out, there are options! This lovely home in the West Slope neighborhood was just the right fit for my Buyers.
I’m happy to share all of these little pockets with you to help you find just the right fit for your needs. Give me a call if you’ like to discuss what you are looking for in your next home.
Veronica Powell
503.936.3475
Veronica@ LivingRoom RE.com
Get Out Your Favorite Pens Folks Because We Are About To Check ALL THE BOXES
Congratulations to Nathan & Isabelle!!
My clients are some of my favorite people! I’m proud to say my business is entirely referral-based which means there is a high level of trust naturally built-in to our relationship from the beginning. Nathan and Isabelle were no exception. They were referred to me by Nathans’s sister, Jenn, who has been a client for years. As expected from already knowing Jenn, Nathan and Isabelle are some of the sweetest people on the planet. They were looking for a cute house with a yard and an oversized, clean garage. Nathan’s hobby is car racing so he needs a nice space to work on cars.
Nathan and Isabelle saw a good number of homes that didn’t quite hit the mark, but they were troopers and stuck with it. They knew exactly what they wanted and they were not willing to compromise. So, when this cutie popped up they knew it was the ONE and they were ready to jump on it!
The market is very competitive right now and Nathan and Isabelle were on board to put together a very competitive offer that was accepted without hesitation! I think it really helped that they had seen a lot of houses already, so they knew a gem when they saw it and were ready to fight for it. This house couldn’t be a better fit for Nathan and Isabelle! Seriously, it almost seems as if they manifested it, that’s what a great fit it is. They did the right thing by waiting for something that checked all the boxes!
Here’s to their new home!
To Be Young Again
It was so much fun helping Alex and Jessica find their first home and start their life together. They have been married for 2 years, living with roommates as they saved for this. All their hard work and patience to make their dream come true was supported by appreciation, eagerness, and excitement, which I simply found so refreshing and a privilege to be a part of. Now they have a space for their big couch (a couch they bought together and love) and a yard for a new puppy!
Triumph Over the Beetles
Way back in May- just barely into the pandemic, my buyer Elizabeth contacted me to see about working together. She picked me because my profile photo has me holding my Italian Greyhound pup, Pinto, because Elizabeth also has an Italian Greyhound mix pup named Whiskey. She gave me the basics of what she was looking for, but what was really important was to be in her own home by election day. Given it was only May, that seemed like an achievable goal.
The first time I met Elizabeth in person was when I showed her a darling little house over in Brentwood Darlington that she loved. We then went to look at a couple more houses, but none fit the bill like the first house we saw. We wrote up a full priced offer which the sellers accepted right away. Then came the inspection. I usually have a pretty good eye for seeing what might come up in an inspection and can prepare my buyer. But if there is weird stuff going on in the crawlspace or up in the attic where I can’t see, I’m as blind to the house’s charms as my buyer. When Elizabeth and I showed up to the house to go over the report with the inspector, it became clearer by the moment by the look on her face that she was not that going to be buying this house. The house had been flipped a few years before, and the seller bought it either not having had an inspection, or not having a very good one. You see, most of the framing underneath the house was powdering away and crumbling because the house was so infested with wood boring beetles. And the chimney was supported by a few pebbles. And the whole roof structure needed to be replaced. And there was some other stuff too, but there was enough stuff wrong with the house even if the sellers agreed to fix all of it (which was looking easily in the $25k or higher range) it wasn’t a house Elizabeth felt good about buying anymore, so she terminated the transaction.
After that experience, she decided that she wanted to save up more and sort of see what happens with the world before going back into the market. Three months later Elizabeth felt ready again to hop back on the house buying horse. We looked at a couple of duds, and then a super cool rancher in NoPo that had been on the market for a couple of weeks had a price drop that put it within Elizabeth’s reach. It had been thoughtfully renovated and had a ginormous yard- something that she really, really wanted. It’s on a busy street, which even though the market in NoPo is fierce, probably kept this house on the market. Everything looked great about the house and no red flags jumped out, so we wrote up an offer that day and the sellers accepted a couple hours later. And then came that inspection. And once again, beetles. Beetles had eaten through a good chunk of some of the sill plates, had gotten into the sub flooring and some important beams. Though this time it wasn’t as bad as the other house, and other then the beetle damage, this house was in otherwise good shape. Elizabeth was really and truly in love with this one and the yard and the thought of terminating again was probably more anxiety producing to her then the beetles. We had originally written the offer with a 30 day close, but given the extensive work needed, we were able to get the inspection period extended while we waited for contractors to come out to get us bids. Once we had bids, the sellers agreed to do the work, so we wound up extending closing another month so the work could be done prior to closing.
The work finished up and we finally closed after a 2+ month long transaction. I handed over the keys the day before Halloween, which gave Elizabeth a couple of days to settle in just in time for the election.
Knowledge is power
Amber wanted a place of her own, but in the height of the summer market, competing at her price point was tough. Luckily, Amber’s open mindedness helped clarify an accessible niche in the market for her. She began her search with the preconception that HOA fees would rule out condos, but after digging a little deeper into the reality of condo expenses, her fears were alleviated and it became clear that not all HOAs are equal. This created an opportunity for us to seek condos with HOAs that carry enough costs to offset the additional fees and with enough space to live like a single family home. We were able to secure a spacious condo for Amber that will bring her closer to her work, to family, and at an ideal price point that will allow for more financial freedom. We are thrilled for her!
Keep Calm and Believe in Your Home Destiny
You know that feeling of calm when something just feels right? That’s what this transaction was like for my friend and client Camille. We had only looked at one house before this one that she liked but just not quite in the right location. I called her a couple of days later when I saw this listing. I had a great feeling about it by looking at the photos and then… bonus! Ross Seligman at Living Room Realty was the listing agent. I thought it could be a perfect fit.
We walked in and immediately she felt it. That feeling when you know this is the right place at the right time and it feels like the universe is speaking to you… was this destiny? From the Japanese maples in the front yard, to the beautiful fireplace, the spacious kitchen, wonderfully updated bathroom with subway tiles and the private back yard. She was in love. It checked off everything on her wish list. We spent probably 45 minutes in the house just feeling the vibe and talking about how much she loved it. She wanted to make an offer. We came in with our best and crossed our fingers.
With 11 other offers on the table I was nervous, but Camille was calm. And then we got the news that our offer would be in the backup position. It was not the winning offer but backup is better than rejection every time!!! Then after about a week, DESTINY! I got a call from Ross telling me that the first position buyer had decided to back out. Our offer was accepted!
What a pleasure to work with friends and see them living their dreams. What an honor to be a part of this process with her! She never waivered, never felt anxious or scared because she just had the feeling that this was her future. After a challenging year she can move into the new chapter of her life in a home that was destined for her.
Finding The Elusive Unicorn In Record Low Inventory
Eva and Ben are a young newlywed couple looking for their first home. When I first met them we hit it off right away. They were eager but they needed guidance. I knew I could help them find their first home where they could build their lives. They asked to see a home right down the street from their current rental. They already loved their neighborhood in Milwaukie and the move, should they get the home, would be a cinch!
Because they were just starting out in their journey, I hooked them up with my favorite mortgage banker at OnPoint, and as a result they received their approval in a matter of days! Sadly, the house that we had seen in their neighborhood that they loved had gone pending. This market is FAST, y’all! I sent them other listings for a few weeks but they just couldn’t get that first home out of their minds. Then, out of what seemed like kismet the house came back on the market! They quickly called me to go see it again. That was it. The second look just confirmed that they loved the home, the location and the layout. They wanted to make an offer.
Now, this rarely happens that the first and only home a client sees is the one that they make an offer on and it is accepted right away, especially during this tough market for buyers. But this was the unicorn agents and buyers are always looking for! Offer accepted! As first time home buyers, I made sure to walk with them every step of the way. Thanks to their perseverance, quick decision making and hiring themselves an agent that goes the extra mile they finally have a place they can start their lives as a married couple after saving for so long! Congrats to my wonderful clients!
First time home buyer? I’m here for you! Contact me 503.267.0923 or savanna@livingroomre.com
A Neighborhood Favorite Finds an Adorable Bungalow
Congratulations to Tim & Artie!
Tim and I have known each other for long time. He is a dear friend and, as the owner of Little T American Baker on SE Division, a beloved part of our community. He is beyond kind and very thoughtful. Good vibes lead the way in everything he does. That charm led the way for Tim to find a very special home!
Firstly, Tim found a house that wasn’t even listed for sale, all on his own! A friend of his knew another friend was planning to sell her cute Bungalow in the Hawthorne district. Seemingly a red carpet rolled out in front of Tim because shortly thereafter we were inside the house taking a look around. It was a perfect size, had ideal updates and was in fantastic condition!
Another part of what made this transaction special was the seller and her agent. They were clear, prompt communicators and a pleasure to work with. Buying a home is a big deal, and it’s always going to bring a little stress along with it. But when both sides can work toward a shared goal and with mutual respect, it can be a great experience!
I’m over the moon for my dear friend Tim and his new house!
Work Hard & Be Kind
Congratulations to Maggie and Hoyt!
Work hard and be kind really sums up my whole work philosophy, and for that matter, probably my whole LIFE philosophy! It also sums up Hoyt and Maggie!
I love working with other hard workers. Maggie and Hoyt are a great example of how hard work, kindness, and trust can take you a long way down the road of life.
I first met Hoyt and Maggie years ago when they were purchasing their first home. And oh how time flies! Fast forward to 2019 and their family has outgrown that lovely ranch and is ready for more room.
One of my favorite parts of being a Real Estate Broker is helping clients prepare their homes for sale. It’s very rewarding to suggest updates and tweaks that prove to have a big impact on the outcome of the sale. Maggie and Hoyt worked super hard and did an amazing job updating their home. Their kitchen remodel looked fantastic! And because of all that hard work, they were extra jazzed when they received 6 offers on the house!
So, you can imaging that after all the work Hoyt and Maggie had just done to sell their home they now wanted to buy a home that didn’t require much updating while big enough for a growing family. Plus, they have fantastic style, so that was a given! After a few near-misses, we found the CUTEST, remodeled home on a corner lot in Piedmont. The big yard is full of potential and garden space, with plenty of room to improve the value.
I am so grateful to have hard-working and kind clients such as Hoyt and Maggie!
When The Playbook Calls For An Audible…
A couple of real estate truisms…
1). The clearest path to success for our clients is often found by following a well thought out blueprint (a specialty of mine, as it just so happens).
2). We collaborate and honor our client’s wishes.
My latest listing in SE PDX is an interesting example of the above. While prepping a listing for a photo shoot the other day, I asked the homeowner if she meant to have left her BLM sign in the front window of her house. She said she was unsure if it was a good/bad idea and then asked my opinion. Having helped this person buy the home several years earlier, we’ve built our relationship on trust and candor, so I dive in “Well, umm, errr”, but then “The conventional rule of thumb in real estate marketing is to present a Seller’s home in its most attractive light to the widest audience possible. Again, just generally speaking, creating a space that a prospective buyer can imagine themselves inhabiting is the goal, so keeping personal items (like a Seller’s family photos) out of sight might help ensure that a potential buyer’s own vision doesn’t get obstructed. After all, anything that could limit a home’s audience could mean less demand & less bottom line for the Seller. However… There is also a scenario wherein a personal statement will attract and/or compel an even higher bid. Ultimately, there is no one correct answer here. After all, much like with a person’s social media account, at some point there’s usually a conscious (and very personal) decision on whether or not to try and maintain a neutral presence, or to just lean into yourself hard.” In the end, the Seller instructed me to include an image of her house with the sign proudly posted, just not the lead shot on Zillow though.
What a great little property and it went under contract (with several offers for well over list price) within 72 hours!
I’ve a blueprint available for your home too.
Navigating with integrity
Most things can be fixed, even if they are dead!
With time, patience, and a little (or a lot of) money, most things can be fixed. Question is, should you have to?
John is a young tradesmen eager to buy his first home. John was willing to take almost any home, in an ok neighborhood, that feels strong in its bones. 33 your old rusty water heater? No worry, my brother does that for a living. New roof? No problem, I’ve got a buddy. Dead animals in the crawlspace? No problem, I have a friend who will do that for a six pack of beer. Garage walls are a little bowed? Not to worry, with the installation of wall corner protectors and a few more foundation fixes, my brothers and I can fix that over a weekend.
His eagerness and enthusiasm were sometimes infectious but I had to slow him down many times on what condition issues were reasonable to accept from a seller. He was so excited to move into a new house, he was willing to take on most problems if the seller wouldn’t.
The seller was a “contractor“ who was really only interested in doing the minimum amount possible in the quickest way. Needless to say, this is rarely the path to a good resolution. It took many attempts at repair lists, many re-inspections and many considerations to get through the repair contingency period but eventually we negotiated for money instead to move on to the next phase.
But, even all through all that, when it was all said and done, John was moving into his new house exactly 4 weeks after our offer was accepted.
First Time Buyers and a Piedmont Cutie
Lisa and Matt and their 4 year old son had been renting an apartment in Irvington and were ready to branch out and buy their own home. Their needs were pretty simple- at least 2 bedrooms, cute/vintage, reasonable condition, a yard to play and garden in and relatively close to where they had been renting in inner North/Northeast. And a basement would be the cherry on the top. We looked at a few homes and even a condo that was a condo conversion from a 1960’s complex that was similar to what they had been renting. We found a great home that met all their needs within a few days. A house that had been sitting on the market with no action for nearly 3 weeks. We wrote up a great, full priced offer, and what do you know- someone else decided that day to put in an offer as well. The house seemed to have some condition issues and the other buyers offered a 2-week close, meaning it would be nearly impossible to negotiate repairs, let alone have any repairs done, prior to closing. So when Lisa and Matt’s offer was not accepted, there was a little heartbreak which was quickly dealt with via some condolence vermouth. But then, the very next day, a cuter-then-a-cupcake circa 1940 bungalow came on the market in Piedmont. We went to see it and I could tell my buyers were in love. Given it was cute, well priced, and in a fabulous location, it did receive multiple offers and Lisa and Matt were able to beat the other offers with a super clean offer and a small escalation clause. The inspection revealed a few issues including the need for a new roof, furnace and other old house stuff that was past it’s useful life. Thankfully the sellers were great and we were able to negotiate a fair credit amount and a small price reduction to account for the work needed. And then my favorite day in the whole transaction arrived- closing and key day!
Light-filled Belmont Bungalow
Light-filled Belmont Bungalow
718 SE 32nd Ave | Portland, OR 97214
Offered at $585,000 | ML #20262880
3+ Bedrooms | 1 Bathroom | 2,607 SF
Winter is coming! What better way to beat the Oregon grays than with a home filled with windows and light? Perfectly situated within blocks of Laurelhurst Park, Sunnyside Environmental School, H-Mart, Stumptown Coffee, The Liquor Store and some of the city’s best dining and shopping, this west-facing charmer sits high up off the street and features a covered front porch, hardwood floors and period built-ins. A light and bright living room with wood burning fireplace flows to a formal dining room with a built-in window bench with storage, which in turn opens up to the beautifully updated kitchen, finally transitioning to the back yard via french doors with a large deck and patio area for outdoor dinners and grassy area for kiddos and pets. Large hedges provide privacy galore. Working from home? There is a large upstairs workspace perfectly appointed for your home office needs. Basement has loads of potential with a workshop space and room for an ADU or anything you can dream up.
Click here for Virtual Tour
JUST LISTED: Darling Lents Ranch
JUST LISTED: 6134 SE 102ND AVE
6134 SE 102ND AVE, Portland OR 97266
Offered at $319,000
3 Bed | 1 Bath | 943 SF | MLS# 20344559 | Taxes: $3319
OPEN HOUSE: Saturday 8/15 11am-1pm
VIDEO TOUR
Wow! This well-maintained and inviting one level Ranch is cute as a button and lives large! Situated on an oversized lot with a large front and back yard you’ll notice the open feel right away. This home has been carefully maintained with the added bonus of a newer roof, furnace, hot water heater, and double pane vinyl windows!
Entering into the heart of the home is an airy living room with classic hardwood floors, plenty of natural light and a wood-burning fireplace for cozy evenings. Nestled between the living room and kitchen is an excellent dining area, perfect for entertaining and intimate dinners at home.
Flowing easily into a freshly updated kitchen touting new countertops, eating bar, stainless steel appliances, ample counter space, vinyl flooring, new light fixtures, fresh paint, and a lovely garden window.
The layout and flow throughout the home is absolutely ideal for a home of this size. Through the hall, you’ll find three bedrooms filled with natural light and ample closets. Also, a roomy bathroom with double sinks and stylish updates.
There are a generous laundry room and mudroom in the garage for your convenience.
Rounding out the home is a huge, fully fenced backyard with plenty of room to roam and tons of potential! A great space for gardening and outdoor entertaining. And, Fido-friendly too!
The garage offers room for storage and with two full driveways, you’ll have the extra space you need for RV or boat.
This home sits on a quiet street close to multiple parks and offers easy access to HWY 205 and all the shopping the heart of Lents offers.
Poster Children for Perseverance Prevail in North Portland
My buyers Shay and Mike contacted me in mid-April, about a month into quarantine, and a couple of weeks after my last pre-covid transaction had closed. They were living in a rental, had a 2 year old and were pregnant with their second child. Shay had just started a new job but due to Covid she had never even been into the office of her new company. They figured with the second kid on the way, now was as good a time as any to find a new home. They had just gotten pre-approved in mid-April one month into quarantine. We had no idea what the Portland market was going to do. Everything had come to a stand still in real estate and we as a collective body of real estate agents did not know how long the pause would last. Would it be for a couple of weeks? A couple of months? Forever?
Their ideal house would be in North Portland- in Arbor Lodge, Overlook or Kenton. Their ideal home would have 3 bedrooms. Their ideal home would have more than 1 toilet. Their ideal home would have plenty of room to garden and a real dining room. And their ideal home would have lots of light and a space that could work as a home office/studio.
As soon as Shay and Mike were ready to go by the end of April, I finally met them in person at a house we went to look at. It was smaller then they were hoping- a 2 bedroom 1 bath house, but it had a full basement that could be finished and turned into a home that worked for them. They loved it and decided to write an offer. And that’s when we realized that the market was going bananas. It was a smaller 2 bed 1 bath home over in Concordia, and we knew it was getting multiple offers, so Shay and Mike wrote a little over asking, but didn’t go crazy over. And then we were told it had 7 offers and the sellers accepted an offer for about $25k over list. They got over their heartbreak of losing that house, and we continued on. Over the next 2 months, they wrote on five additional homes, and on all of the homes they wrote for over asking- and some homes they were writing $40k-$50k over asking, offering to make up appraisal differences if the appraisal didn’t come back at sales price, offering rent-back for free to sellers and offering other carrots. But we couldn’t get anything to stick. And this was hard. Really hard for them. And with Shay being pregnant, that just added to the heartbreak that kept compounding with every offer rejection. I kept telling them that every one of my buyers always buys the best house possible in the end, so even though they had been rejected 5 times, it was only because the house they had not yet written on a house meant to be theirs.
About 3 months into the search, several homes came on the market at the same time that seemed like they could work. The first one was a cute little bungalow in the Creston neighborhood in SE. It met most of their needs, and while it wasn’t in a part of town that they had originally wanted to live in, if their offer had been accepted they would have happily moved in and that would have been that. At the same time, another house right in Arbor Lodge came on the market that seemed too good to be true. It was a true 2 story house plus a full partially finished basement with 4 real bedrooms above grade, a large living room, separate dining room and roomy kitchen. It had a full bathroom on the main floor and a half bath in the basement. The basement also had a fantastic room with a fireplace that with a few cosmetic upgrades could be an ideal playroom/family room. And to top it all off, it had a detached garage in great shape. Both the SE home and the N Portland home seemed underpriced, so they felt they had a better chance of getting the SE house given it was priced lower then the No Portland house, and the SE house was looking at offers sooner then the N Portland house. They wrote up a great offer- their 5th- on the SE house and got into back-up position, which felt like progress! In the meantime, that North Portland home beckoned and with a Hail Mary, they threw their all into writing an offer on that house totally not expecting that a house so perfect could be theirs after all they had gone through.
And then I got the best call a buyer’s agent can get- your clients offer was selected! I immediately called Shay and Mike and they just about fell down on the floor. I don’t think they believed me at first. This house where the seller had accepted their offer on was by far and away the best possible house out of all the houses we looked at and they wrote offers on, and now it was going to be theirs. Transaction was smooth and house only needed a couple of repairs which the seller agreed to do, and 30 days later, the transaction closed! Had they not continued to stick with it and keep pounding the pavement, their perfect forever dream house would have eluded them. The seller is spending a week after closing moving out, Shay is due in less than 2 weeks and all is as well as could be in Shay and Mike’s world.
Beaverton Beauty- SOLD!!!
The market (and the weather) are both HOT, HOT, HOT! This beauty sold in just 4 days with multiple offers.
If you’ve been considering selling, now is the time!!! Inventory is low and multiple offers over asking price are the norm.
If you have a house that you would like to sell, or are looking to purchase, I would be happy to help.
Veronica Powell
503.936.3475
Veronica@LivingRoomRE.com
Patient, Smart and Persistent
First time homebuyer Alix hit the sweet spot. Patient, smart, and persistent, she had just the right combo of traits to make this happen, and in this market, it was no easy feat. We pounded the pavement all the way from Brentwood-Darlington to Kenton and lots of places in-between. Not too picky, but a few must haves were on the list. Decisive and eager, it was also easy to get disappointed in this market, but Alix was amazingly persistent and wanted to pick it right back up. After getting in back-up position three times, it turned out the third time really was the charm. Situated on a quiet cul-de-sac in South Tabor, she hit the jackpot with a straightforward purchase and a really great house in an easy and quiet little community.
Coaching first-time homebuyers is really fun when your buyer wants to do their homework and show up with smart questions. That’s Alix. Always cool and collected, we wanted to be sure to make good, solid financial decisions and to have a head’s up about what is coming down the pike next.
It was a real pleasure working alongside her and partner Drew, and I wish them and their little dog Arthur many years of happiness here!
~Natalie Strom
First Time Home Buyers Get Their Keys!
Keys in hand, whoop whoop! Congratulations to David and Emily on the purchase of their first home together! This lovely couple chose a sweet SW Portland townhome with a DIY project or two in mind–perfect for the soon-to-be newlyweds. Congratulations, you two, and thank you for letting me be a part of this big step in your lives!
First Time
After nearly 15 years as a REALTOR®, I still love helping first time home buyers. John and Shannon’s excitement and eagerness to understand the current market was awesome. They took on this competitive market with realistic expectations and an attitude of gratefulness. It’s not easy entering the Portland Market, but it is a privilege, and one they never lost sight of. Way to go!
Jessica
Educator, Advocate, REALTOR®
Trust + Perseverance = Magic
Congratulations to our First Time Home Buyers!
A big hooray for my lovely first-time homebuyers, Ashley and Cody who charged ahead with patience and grace in Portland’s competitive real estate market.
Firstly, these are some of the sweetest people I know! They have big hearts, sharp minds and were a joy to work with. And they are expecting their first child later this year!! See the small baby bump?
Over the course of a couple of months, we submitted 4 offers and came in just barely below the winning offer each time. Not easy and super frustrating! But I knew there was magic was in our mutual trust and open communication. We regularly went over strategies for being competitive in a strong seller’s market and they had plenty of determination.
In the end, sticking with it has forever changed their lives because… bada-boom bada-bing, the 5th offer was accepted and are new homeowners for the first time!
The house has a ton of updates and was so well maintained that we enjoyed a smooth transaction. And the huge yard, trees all around and vintage apple tree are the tops!
‘Twas Meant to Be in Overlook
Josh and Evayn were referred to me by some great past clients of mine. We met for the first time via Zoom and we talked about the current state of the market and what to expect as a home buyer looking to purchase a home in close-in North or Northeast Portland. I explained how despite the pandemic, real estate was as busy as it’s ever been with nearly every good house getting multiple offers and almost always going over asking. Having caught them up to speed on the state of the market they were prepared for the worst, or at least prepared that it might take a while before they found the perfect house and had an offer accepted. We discussed what they were hoping to find, and they mentioned that they had seen a house listed in Overlook that seemed to check all their boxes. It had just gone pending so unfortunately that was off the table as an option. Or was it?
We went through the available listings to select a few homes to see, and pickings were as slim as a dry noodle. They did find a few that seemed worthy of seeing, if only to get a sense of the kinds of houses on the market in their price range. We went on our first house seeking adventure, and they found one house that with a lot of imagination and sweat equity might work. As they were considering that house, lo and behold their dream house that they had told me about came back on the market. We zipped over there and saw it that evening to see it and it was as perfect in person for them as it was online. A sweet little 2 bedroom 1 bath mid-century on a dead-end street just a couple blocks from happenings on Interstate with a great fenced and private yard for their mutt Peabody and a stellar garage that is the perfect set-up for one day converting it into an ADU. The interior sported gleaming hardwood floors, fabulous paint colors in every room, a perfectly intact vintage mid-century kitchen and a huge laundry/storage/utility room.
The first time this house came on the market it had multiple offers and went for slightly over asking. This time around the seller was super motivated to get it back under contract and didn’t want to wait around for a pile of offers to maybe appear. We wrote up a great full price offer, submitted it right away and thankfully the seller was super motivated to get the house back under contract and accepted Josh and Evayn’s offer pretty quickly. The previous buyer had already done the sewer scope, radon test and we had the tank information, so we scheduled the inspection and the house passed with flying colors. Everything else went smooth as butter and six weeks after we first met via Zoom, they had the keys to their new home in hand.
Josh & Karley couldn’t be happier!
Josh & Karley couldn’t be happier!!
Their needs for a first home were simple. A solid, minimum two bedroom, one bath home, in a good neighborhood. One that will have solid resale value in a couple of years when they are ready to move up to their next home.
Josh really doesn’t like the city, especially the Portland, Vancouver area so we set our search further north. Our search eventually landing us Longview. We were able to find them a sweet house, a few blocks from the lake that has a number of recent updates but still room for Josh to add some sweat equity.
With a strong offer, some persistent negotiation, and a good lender we were closed in less than 30 days!
As you can see, Josh & Karley couldn’t be happier.
I’ll tell you what you’re looking for…
All the Single Ladies, All the Single Ladies
Put your hands up for Jess!
She just bought the perfect townhouse in NE Portland for her and her dog Luigi.
Let’s take a minute to celebrate being single! There is so much strength in creating and appreciating your own space, and Jess is over the moon in this townhouse!
This year I have helped a lot of single ladies buy homes, condos, and townhouses. It’s inspiring to see the commitment they have to themselves and creating their best life.
I love helping all people buy homes and this feeling has amplified in the pandemic. So many people are realizing just how important their home is in relation to working from home, quarantining, homeschooling, etc..
Perfectly Vintage 1910 Creston-Kenilworth Bungalow
Kat was referred to me in mid-May by a former client of mine, about two months into the pandemic. Like a lot of first time home buyers, being home all the time with roommates while also running a business had lost a lot of appeal after two months into Covid. Kat is an artist and has developed a successful business selling dice for role playing games and was looking for a cozy vintage home that also had a large enough space to move her business operations into. She also wanted to live as close-in as possible. We looked at a few houses to give her a feel for what was on the market, and nothing was close to ringing her bell. And then like magic, the perfect little 1910 bungalow with a nice front porch and porch swing on the back porch popped up in Creston-Kenilworth. It is sweet as a bell in the sunshine with high ceilings, a true to period re-done kitchen and bathroom and vintage charm galore. And the basement set up is perfect for running her business out of with an outside entrance that will allow her sweet pooch to run in and out of all day long. Like a lot of houses listed these days, it was unfortunately listed under market. In this frenzied market, even buyers with great down payments, over asking offer amounts and fantastic terms are having to write offers on multiple homes before one sticks. I had prepped Kat for this, and so we wrote up a really strong offer and then just bit our nails while we waited for the seller to review the 7 offers they received. Thankfully they did select Kat’s offer. A home run on the first hit for Kat. The sellers had done all the hard stuff so the inspection went well and a month after her offer was accepted, I got to meet Kat at the house to hand over keys.
Fresh Beaumont Craftsman
JUST LISTED
3606 NE 43rd Ave, Portland OR 97213
The health and safety of the community is our top priority. Please be sure to see and share this virtual tour to get a feel for the home prior to showing. Please follow posted COVID protocols and contact Tracey with questions. Thank you!
Offered at $899,000
4 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 3112 SF
MLS# 20173576 | Taxes: $8,568
OPEN HOUSE: Saturday 7/4 12-2pm
VIRTUAL TOUR
Light abounds in this Beautiful Craftsman home, built both for efficiency and classic beauty! Perched up off the street this home offers charming open spaces, chef’s kitchen, custom details and so much more.
It’s possible you’ll fall in love with this home even before entering! Fresh coat of paint inside and out plus a dreamy oversized porch greet you upon arrival. Entering this lovely home you will find a formal entry with built-ins!
Continue through the main floor featuring soaring ceilings, hardwood floors, big bright windows and a lovely gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances, custom cabinetry, gas range and beautiful island. Ample dining room is perfect for both intimate dinners and entertaining. The living room glows with big corner windows and a stylish fireplace with mantle for cozy evenings.
The second level features a gorgeous master en suite with 2 additional bedrooms, ample closets and classic woodworking throughout.
Spacious 3rd floor walk-up with spectacular tree-top views and generous ceiling height is great for family or media room.
Lower level offers plenty of storage and extra deep 2 car garage with more opportunity for storage and shop.
This Energy Star Certified home features a high-efficiency furnace and A/C and tankless hot water heater.
Gorgeous, low maintenance landscaped back yard perfect for gatherings and dinner on the deck. A lovely walk to Fremont shops, restaurants and parks! Great schools, biking score and public transportation! Welcome home!
When Should a New Homeowner Remodel, Now or Later?
We got the house!!
Now what??
- The issues of living in a home and living through the remodel with a young family
- The idea of getting to know how the house lives and what becomes your priorities after being there for some time. Does that knowledge and insight outweigh the inconvenience of living through a remodel?
Tracy and Barley are Having a Dance Party!
Congratulations to Tracy and Barley
They just bought the cutest condo in Hillsdale and now Barley is having a dance party to celebrate!
I had a great time helping Tracy and Barley find a nice condo to call home. They found a darling place with high-end finishes, new cabinets and appliances. Plus the location is fantastic and they can walk to some of their favorite places! I’m so lucky to work with wonderful people like Tracy (and wonderful dogs like Barley!!).
Affordable home on Large lot
Opportunity knocks in Lents! Cozy 3 bedroom on large lot awaits your personal touch! The front porch welcomes you to this light filled home. 2 bedrooms on the second floor, one on the main plus bonus room for office, TV or crafts. The large yard is ripe for an urban farm, and there is a large detached garage for storage or hobbies. Build equity with a livable project! Dead end street. Lot next door with Pool is not included. Click here to take a Virtual Tour
Helping the whole family move to Newburg
I’ve know Amelia since she was around 10 years old. God, that makes me feel a little old! I saw her grow up and celebrated with her, Brad and the whole family at their wedding a few years back. I attended to their baby shower and adore their little bean, Charlotte. And just this month, I had the honor to help them achieve another milestone in their life, buying the first home! I have to say we had some fun even in the middle of a pandemic!
We honed in on Newberg pretty early on and there was no looking back. Newburg is a wonderful place for this family because they love the schools and the smaller town feel. Next, I’m helping her parents move from Bull Mountain to Newberg so they can all be close to one another.
Congratulations to Brad, Amelia and Charlotte, you are like family to me!
Adventures in Real Estating: Selling During Covid
This dreamy South Tabor farmhouse of infinite possibilities just sold in the midst of covid panic at $52k over asking with 7 offers in just 3 days. Many congratulations to my client — all his hard work getting this gem ready for market paid off big time!
Before covid began, we met to discuss how he could best prep his home for the market. I always recommend scheduling a consult and walk through with your REALTOR® before embarking on home projects. This can save you lots of time and money, as we are able to identify which changes will have the greatest impact on your sale in the current market. In this case, most of the work was focused on the exterior, but inside, fresh white paint and top notch staging brought the house to life in a whole new way!
Here is the living, dining area and kitchen before…
And after!!
It was as if the whole house sprang to life! I remember walking through after it was painted and could practically feel the walls beaming and calling out for the next stewards of home.
One of the aspects I love most about this home is the SPACE! All kinds of spaces for all kinds of imaginable fun. Outside there is not only a nice sized grassy backyard + side yard perfect for garden beds, but also a hot-tub cabana, big locking bike shed and a carport with storage and workbench. Inside, the 3 bedroom/2 bath home also includes a den and office upstairs while the basement offers a finished bonus room, laundry area and unfinished space for storage or projects. But I think my FAVORITE space is the upstairs bathroom ~ clawfoot tub and Mt. Tabor views? Yes, please!!
My seller put a lot of love into creating a lush grassy backyard where an old blank deck lived before and added many sweet details and upgrades to the exterior to boost curb appeal and honor the 1910 vintage of the home.
When the time came to list, we had just hit the 1 month mark into this new covid reality and I offered my best advice on competitive pricing as things were still feeling a bit uncertain in the market of pandemic proportions. Covid protocol for all potential buyers meant current preapproval letters, masks, shoe covers and hand washing at the beginning and ending of each showing. No more than 3 people in the house at a time and 30 minute showings with 15 minute buffers. When the listing went live we had immediate interest and within 48 hours over 40 showings were scheduled. Three days later, my seller went pending with a solid offer that beat out 6 others at $52,000 over asking and stellar terms.
Throughout this transaction, both my seller and the agent on the other side were excellent communicators, easy to work with, and at the end of the day everyone wrapped up feeling really happy about the outcome. I am deeply grateful to my client for his ease in trusting my expertise and putting in the time and energy to give his house the best possible outcome in our market.
These are the stories that really light up my spirit: feeling the energy of a home brighten up with a little bit of love and elbow grease ~ the house that calls in its new owner like a match that was meant to be ~ clients’ joys of new beginnings ~ and navigating through unprecedented times with presence, awareness and clear communication. If you are curious about the market in these times, or are looking at buying or selling now or down the road, I am happy to chat over some socially distanced coffee or tea. Let’s connect!
Stay safe out there, be gentle with yourself, and take care of each other ~ we will get through this ❤️
Many Blessings,
Sarah
Sweet Cully Ranch With “Wow Factor” Yard
4629 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97218
OFFERED AT $475,000
3 BEDROOM | 2 BATH | 1,174 SQFT
MLS #20683865 | TAXES: $4,272.30 (2018)
Bright and cheerful remodeled ranch on large (possibly dividable) lot that backs to a community garden. Cozy up to the wood-burning fireplace in the living room, or gather around the kitchen island in this open floor plan setting. Remodeled kitchen features stainless steel appliances and tiled countertops and connects to the dining area that opens to screened-in back porch. Hardwood floors lead you to the bedroom spaces which feature an en suite master bedroom and 2 more bedrooms with guest bath. Large yard includes beautiful outdoor spaces with a covered porch and deck, a patio space for outdoor dining, fire pit, chicken coop and a fenced garden area with raised beds. Many established fruit trees and bushes mean many opportunities for canning or freezing fruit for year-round enjoyment. Home has large, 2 car garage and ample parking space in driveway. Nearby to one of Portland’s great commercial districts on NE 42nd Ave with shopping and dining, and is down the road from Fernhill Park.
If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell a home in the Portland area, please contact Amanda Haworth at amanda@livingroomre.com or 503-453-7698.
5 Things Buyers Should Avoid
When buying a home, be careful to avoid these common pitfall that can sabotage your home-buying process.
1. Working with multiple REALTORS®
Some buyers think it is efficient to work with multiple agents to find the right home. They believe that their home search will be shorter and they’ll have more assistance if they use multiple agents. The reality is that working with multiple agents can cause a great deal of frustration and confusion and ultimately hurt the buyers. Interviewing, getting to know, and committing to one agent is always the best way to start your home search. You’ll build rapport with the agent, and the agent will get a clearer idea of what you are looking for and be better able to assist you. As you continue to work as a team, you gain trust in your agent and your agent can fine-tune your search, having a good sense of your preferences and criteria.
2. Not having the home inspected
Amazingly, many home buyers want to skip the home inspection in order to save on costs. This is a critical mistake that can be costly, even devastating. Even on newly constructed homes, a home inspection is important to find any issues to have them repaired before purchasing. In older homes it is even more necessary, as home inspectors go top-to-bottom in the home and can alert you to hidden and important issues that would otherwise go unnoticed. Imagine buying a home and then learning that the sewer line needs to be replaced and that the roof is leaking! Instead, learning of this beforehand allows you to address these problems before they become your problems. Then your agent can negotiate and either make price adjustments, ask for credits from the seller, have repairs done, or terminate the transaction. Ignorance is not bliss.
3. Using the wrong lender
Just as important as choosing the right agent is choosing the right lender. Local banks outperform large national banks in service, availability, knowledge of local fees, and flexibility. Also, local banks and loan officers are often available on nights and weekends, when you need them the most, whereas larger national banks likely wouldn’t be. With a local lender, you can sit down face-to-face with an individual, get to know them, and often even call their cell phone after hours. Local banks will be more involved in the community and will work hard to earn your loyalty and trust.
4. Being cheap on home insurance
Don’t be fooled, insurance providers are not all created equal. Buyers who spend time researching and comparing insurance providers will be rewarded when an accident or a natural disaster happens. Cutting corners on your home insurance policy could leave you crippled at a time when you’re already devastated and need to file a claim. Investigating a carrier isn’t as daunting as it sounds; these companies can be found on the Better Business Bureau and other insurance forums. Look at their financial rating in with the state, practices for paying claims, and financial stability. It’ll be worth it in the end.
5. Not having a final walk-through
One of the critical steps at the end of the buying process is the final walk-through inspection. Its purpose is to ensure that the home is in the same condition, with nothing missing, and no new damage or surprises. Many REALTORS® tell stories of items being stolen from the home right before closing, break-ins, water damage, etc. Once a buyer closes on a property, there is little that can be done about these issues. The final walk-through should be done right before closing, or even on the way to closing.
Having an excellent team in place will help you avoid these costly mistakes and will ensure that your transaction goes smoothly as possible. Your team should consist of a top agent, home inspector, and lender. Having top professionals work for you will help you avoid mistakes that many buyers unwittingly make.
Brentwood-Darlington Rehab Opportunity
Situated in SE Portland’s Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood, this ready-for-rehab home offers comfortable living spaces and natural light. Detached garage has been used as shop and has electricity. Tool shed in private, fenced back yard for storage. Several city parks, community gardens and the large food cart pod “Cartlandia” nearby. Easy access to shopping, restaurants and I-205.
Cookie Gets Her Own Yard in Mill Park
Cindy and Oscar got in touch with me in what feels like a lifetime ago- mid January of 2020. They were eager to become homeowners, and after having gone through the process of trying to buy a home last year only to have it implode with a very low appraisal, they were ready for a fresh start. New agent (me), new lender (Umpqua) and a new year. They love mid-century homes and were looking for a home that wasn’t in perfect cosmetic condition. They love to garden and were looking forward to having a yard for their beloved pup Cookie. In late February we looked at a a 1960 tri-level in a picture perfect mid-century block in Mill Park. The home hit most of their marks- it was in good enough shape to move into, had hardwood floors, mid-century charm, and a beautiful yard. They also wanted a home that would work for multiple generations for parents to move into eventually and kids in the future, and with the tri-level layout, it had the perfect floor plan for being able to do so. It also needed a face-lift, something Oscar and Cindy actually wanted to do on a home. It had been on the market for almost 2 months, and while it was priced lower than what neighboring homes had recently sold for, it definitely needed some vision and felt overpriced considering how much work it needed. They decided to keep looking and found another great mid-century home in Milwaukie that they loved and decided to put an offer in on. That home had multiple offers and went for way over listing price, so they did not get that house. But all the while, the sweet tri-level in Mill Park kept calling to them. So a little over a week after they first saw it, we wrote up an offer for $25k under list price. The sellers countered back with $20k under list and my buyers accepted.
The following week everything in the world was still “normal” and we had our home inspection. The inspection turned up a few unexpected things and a lot of expected things. The house needed a new roof, a new electric panel and other assorted repairs and upgrades. Even though my buyers were under contract to purchase the home for $90k less than the house 2 doors down that went on the market and went pending in 2 days after my buyer’s offer had been accepted, we were able to negotiate a credit for a new roof and the seller replaced the panel. By the time we were at the end or our repair negotiations, the quarantine order was in place, and thankfully everything went smoothly and Cindy, Oscar and their pup Cookie were able to close on time.
Hemstreet Heights Mid-Century Beauty
They came, they saw, they wrote. A hot mid-century in a great neighborhood, near all that Raleigh Hills has to offer.
With a total of only 7 Days on Market, this one was courted by many but one lucky Buyer gets to call this sweet house…home.
In a time when we are all spending our days in our houses, this one offers convenience, comfort and beauty.
SOLD: 4/8 at $573,000
If you would like a home like this or have a home to sell, I’d be happy to talk you through the new climate in Real Estate in times of COVID.
Veronica Powell
503.936.3475
Veronica@LivingRoomRE.com
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
Light, Bright & Airy!!
JUST LISTED!
This contemporary styled two bedroom home has soaring vaulted ceilings that give it a light, bright and airy feeling. Spacious bedrooms each have double closets plus a bonus loft looking over the main living area. Two full bathrooms! Large laundry room off the kitchen with space for pantry or storage. Fenced, low maintenance yard & patio.
Great HOA! Low dues include garbage, sewer, water etc.
16611 SE Naegeli Dr. 97236
$250,000
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
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!
JUST LISTED! Multnomah Village Charmer!!
Lovely 1970s home with tons of original charm. Great floor plan, lovely yard with mature plantings and a large deck for spring and summer entertaining. Solid home just waiting for your personal touch. Newer siding, windows and roof. Just a half mile to all the cuteness of Multnomah Village and its great shops & restaurants!
7327 SW 27th Ave. Portland, Ore. 97219
$375,000
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!
Leaps of Faith
Hi Readers!
By now, you probably realize I really enjoy writing and sharing the stories of my client partners. In this case, I’m going to let
THIS VIDEO do the talking.
My first time buyer August is smart, diligent, stubborn, fun and funny. Basically, dream client. And, I promised them I’d go skydiving, since they took a leap of faith with me. More on that one later.
Congrats on your beautiful new home, August. It’s been one helluva fun ride.
Till next time, high fives,
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.
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.
Need a politically themed Piñata?
First time buyers feel like they hit the jackpot. Adorable 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo with no units above or below, beautiful grounds and a pool in outer SE Portland under $150,000! But the Supermercados Mexico @17420 SE Division is the cherry on top! This place can ease anyone’s winter blues with fresh papaya, mangos, coconuts, plantains, and nopal cactus. It even has a little frutas stand in the back serving fresh fruits in a cup doused in lime and chili. Come for the freshness but stay for the tacos and guisados and pollo al carbon, followed by a delicious tres leches cake straight out of the deli case.
The staff is incredibly helpful and friendly. Need to find that yummy seasoning you had while traveling in Tulum? They have it and know it by the description and location, same with salsa and hot sauces. Need party supplies? They have you covered there too, piñatas, streamers and even coolers to keep your El Sol cerveza icy cold!
Moral of the story there are great homes in Portland under $200,000 with great restaurants, shops and markets waiting to be discovered.
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.
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
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!
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!
Firehouse Row – Living History
Brendan and Mary landed a piece of the past!
At the corner of SE Harrison and 7th Avenue a number of Victorian era homes have been carefully preserved. Originally built in 1893 as rental homes, shortly after East Portland was annexed by the booming City of Portland. One of the renters, Lee G. Holden, designed the adjacent fire station (circa 1913) and these houses were often home to firefighters who worked at Engine No. 23 and their families. The firehouse itself later made history as Oregon’s first medical cannabis dispensary and now their bud tenders offer medical and recreational weed. They have maintained the original facade and some of the other architectural features of the old station. Commonly called Firehouse Row, the official name of this little enclave of Queen Anne lovely ladies, added to the National Historic Registry in 1989, is The George P. Lent Investment Properties. George, who was born in Portland in 1852 to the eponymous Lents family, of the Lents neighborhood, built the now famed homes.
Then and Now
When Brendan and Mary described their wish list for a first home of their own, this beauty with its turret, colored glass and other historic architectural details came right to mind. It was love at first sight. Navigating a VA loan, with all the extra requirements regarding property conditions, on an 1893 historic home, was a bit of a battle. Also, the home was being used as a short term rental, further complicating inspections and repairs, because we had to schedule all of our appointments around guest bookings. In the end we got it all successfully squared away.
Gracing the walls of the Airbnb, the sellers had some very old mounted photos of the house and neighborhood on display. As a wonderful gesture they left them for Brendan and Mary to enjoy. A very sweet gift! The block is still intact, providing a rare site of old, old Portland housing.
On their project list is repainting the exterior. Mary and Brendan contacted Bob Buckner, famed color expert of The Painted Ladies Revisited and other works on Victorian homes and he coded photos of the house to guide them through how to get the paint job just right. I cannot wait to see it!
References: Multnomah Pioneer Obituaries, Wikipedia, Placeandsee.com, https://www.cannablissandco.com/firestation-23-portland-or
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.
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:
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 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!
To every season turn , turn, turn . . . .
Chris, Nicole and five year-old Alma came to us last Spring with fresh enthusiasm as first-time home buyers. Having rented for many years in a home and neighborhood they loved, they had never been super motivated to buy. They had also been intimated by the stories of the “cut throat” sellers’ market of prior years. But, with the start of elementary school for Alma “right around the bend,” they thought the timing was right to make the plunge into home ownership. Unfortunately, despite all of the talk of a cooling market, they found competition at every turn. Turns out they have GREAT taste in homes — they seemed to like the same houses that everyone else did!
Their Summer disappointments were “not for nothing” however. They learned to evaluate their priorities, readjust their expectations, and became experts at acting quickly when a house peaked their interest. We had a feeling that Fall would be the sweet spot for them in terms of timing. With Alma enrolled in Kindergarten at a K-8 school they loved, they could open up their location parameters to include other adjacent neighborhoods with less desirable schools. Moreover, even though there is usually less inventory in the Fall/Winter months, there are usually less active buyers as well, and sellers who weren’t able to sell in the summer are motivated!
In mid-October, we leaned that this DARLING Rose City Park home was going on the market. It was perfect for Chris, Nicole and Alma in all ways — right layout, lovely yard, excellent condition AND in their dream neighborhood. It was literally around the corner from their rental house. They toured it as soon as it hit the market and made an offer right away. Once again, there were multiple offers, but with their summer experience under their belt, Chris and Nicole decisively made the terms of their offer very attractive and wrote a kick-ass letter to the seller about their connection to the neighborhood and what they loved about the house. They stretched their comfort zone in calculated/low risk ways. Their were tears around (realtors included) when we got the word the house was theirs.
Nicole and Alma received the keys to their new home last week. (Chris was at work!) Alma quickly made the house their “home” by placing her artwork on the refrigerator. It was a joyous day indeed, and, while moving during the holidays is less than ideal, their willingness to wait for the right season earned them the house of their dreams!
Congratulations Nicole, Chris and Alma — it was a pleasure guiding you through the seasons!
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!
So many questions, so little time…..
Home shopping can bring up many potential issues, ideas for home improvement and remodeling projects and TONS of questions about previous choices that past owners have made. Not just the usual, where do I want to live? How many bedrooms do I need and whether or not a yard is important.
But also things like, gee whiz, with as many HUGE cracks as there are in the foundation, and as much settling thats occurred in the driveway and backyard, will this 1920s house’s basement leak? Stand another 50 years? Why would someone re-roof an entire home except the 50 year old addition that just needs a little TLC? Why would you spend so much money on high-end appliances and countertops and yet do you such a mediocre job on the window and door trim, use two different sizes of the same tile, in the same row on the bathroom wall and let your 7 year old do all the caulking in the bathrooms?
Also, more important questions like, what would it take to refinish the wood floors, strip the wallpaper, repaint the homes entire interior and reconfigure the kitchen? How much is a new furnace? Is that mold on that wall? These and many other questions can be incredibly important to find answers to BEFORE committing to purchase property. While I’m not a contractor and I can’t answer all these questions for you, I can and will point you in the right direction and help you find the answers to any questions you might have whether you’re buying or selling your home, building or multifamily property!
Please, give me a call and let me help.
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.
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!
Hidden Gems
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!
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.
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
Make Your Own Luck
Jorge is the kind of guy that things just work out for. I have been helping him buy and sell investment property for years and I have literally never seen him upset. That isn’t to say that we haven’t been in some tough situations; we definitely have. But every time I see Jorge he has a smile on his face. He’s the kind of guy who makes his own luck.
I helped Jorge buy a house to renovate and sell a couple of months ago. Instead of going on the market he decided to try to sell for under market value to some friends of his that needed a new home. He customized the house for their needs and did everything in his power to make this purchase work for them. Unfortunately, it didn’t. Which left Jorge in the position of having to list his investment in an inferior market, just because he had been trying to be a nice guy and help someone out. Did that stress him out? If it did he certainly didn’t act like it. He was nothing but smiles and positive energy as we prepped the home for market.
One day I got a phone call from someone standing outside of the property who had seen the sign in the yard. He was really interested in taking a look. Because I don’t represent both sides on principal I reached out to one of my amazing colleagues at Living Room and put them in touch. A few days later we had an offer: all cash, no contingencies. And could we please close in five days? I presented it to Jorge. “Sounds good.”
It turns out that this family who loved the house had had some hard times of their own. Having this property would allow them to stay in the same school district. It would be an amazing thing on a number of levels. So Jorge put the intention out there of renovating this property to help a family out and that’s what he got. What a cool experience!
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.
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
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
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!
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
With a Little Help from My Friends!
Congratulations to Jess and Julie on their Home Purchase!
This transaction was a great example of community and team effort! I would like to take this opportunity to give a shout out to the team of preferred professionals that have helped my business grow and thrive over the years. It means so much to me to support the businesses of folks to support me and my clients. I truly believe in that business model and I believe in contributing to my community in that way.
Firstly, Jess and Julie worked with my preferred lender JJ Lee Kwai at Two Rivers Mortgage and she is the definition of a rock star mortgage lender! She walked Jess and Julie through everything and even came to their signing to make sure she was right there in case they had questions or if there was an issue. I know this means a lot to clients and that’s why I love working with her. Time and time again my clients sing her praise and she deserves every ounce of it.
A big shout out to Uli Sommers, my favorite inspector. Working with Jess and Julie on this house, Uli was very thorough in her work and thoughtful in her delivery and advice. Uli had a few recommendations for repairs and once those were complete, she happily came back out to re-inspect and put my client’s minds at ease. I know that everyone who works with her is going to get the best service at the best price.
Mike Reed from First American Home Warranty is my go-to person for home warranties! Jess and Julie are very pleased to have a home warranty from First American. He is very customer service oriented thanks to all the services he gets from companies like Salesforce and it shows!
My assistant, Jasmine, played a huge role in this transaction! She was right there to help Jess and Julie with all aspects of the transaction including showings and inspections. Together we provided a higher level of service than I could have on my own. I genuinely appreciate her hard work, dedication and commitment to my clients!
Jess and Julie have the coolest pup in town, his name is Luigi. They also have a sweet kitty named Oliver and I hear that he’s going to be getting the swankest catio in town!
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!!
JUST LISTED: Adorable 1950’s Cape Cod
6611 SW Garden Home Road, Portland 97223
OFFERED AT $399,900
3 BEDS | 1 BATH | 2130 SF | 0.12 ACRE LOT
ML: #19025640 | TAXES: $2,714
Beautiful 1950’s Cape Cod style home in SW Portland. Updated bathroom and kitchen with high-end, stainless appliances and granite countertops. Retains original details like built ins, hardwood floors and glass knobs. Master on main floor and two large bedrooms upstairs. Spacious, fully fenced backyard and flagstone patio perfect for entertaining. Blocks from Old Market Pub and convenient to Multnomah Village, Gabriel Park and downtown!
This one belongs in the Schoolhouse Electric catalogue!
OPEN HOUSE:
JULY 13, 2019: 11am-1pm
JULY 14, 2019: 11am-1pm
Interested in buying or selling in Portland? Reach out to Sophia: 503.936.7499. Or learn more about her background and experience here.
HAPPY VALLEY HOTSPOT
14925 SE Elm Park Drive
CLACKAMAS, OR 97015
Built in 2003, this townhome sits in one of the most central pockets of Happy Valley just minutes from local restaurants, grocery stores, parks, the local library and nearby schools. Featuring over 1,450 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms across two well appointed floors- this property is something special! When you enter the home you are greeted with a spacious foyer that could be used as a sitting area, office or even a formal dining room. Beyond the foyer is the main living space which features tall ceilings and an open concept kitchen with a view to the beautiful landscaped backyard.
As you make your way upstairs, you will notice the updated black matte balustrade and brand new carpet. Off of the first bedroom sits a balcony sheltered by trees which creates a great ambience for taking in your morning coffee or a good book. Down the adjacent hallway lies a master suite, third gracious bedroom, second full bathroom and laundry closet.
Beyond the interior, is a rare, large backyard with extensive landscaping. A tiered topography includes gorgeous plantings, and a newer shed in addition to a lower deck and hot tub which offer wonderful opportunities to entertain. As a sought after end unit with added sound-proofing, zero homeowners association fees and an amazing central location in Happy Valley, this townhome is one to take note of.
OFFERED AT $315,000
3 BEDROOM | 2 BATH | 1,475 SQFT
NO HOAS! | TAXES: $3,415.60 (2018)
Stonewater Stunner – Opportunity in Hillsboro
Move right into this freshly updated McKenzie floorplan condo! Situated in a peaceful, park-like setting, you’ll enjoy brand new, bright interior paint and new carpet in main level bedroom/den (no closet). Gorgeous cherry hardwoods greet you at the entry and continue through thegreat room, kitchen and dining area. Both a private patio and a shared courtyard are perfect for outdoor entertaining. There are 2 bedrooms upstairs plus a loft. All appliances are included and there’s a two car garage! Great proximity to Orenco Station & Streets of Tanesbourne shops & restaurants, Max lines, parks & trails. This is is the Urban community outside of Portland.