Tag: friends

REAL ESTATE NEWS: THE 6 D’S TOP REASONS WHY SELLERS SELL

Posted on by Aryne + Dulcinea

THE 6 D’S: 

TOP REASONS WHY SELLERS SELL

No matter the real estate market, people’s lives don’t stop them from needing to sell their homes. Here are the top six reasons people sell their home in any type of market. (We will start with the less happy reasons)

DEATH: A homeowner has passed and the family needs to sell the property.
DEBT: A homeowner can recover from debt by selling the property and using the profits to pay the debt.
DIVORCE: An uncoupling has taken place and the property no longer works for their new chapter
DIAMONDS: A couple has decided to marry or merge and selling their current property to buy a house together is how they proceed.
DIAPERS: A new family member has arrived and the current house just doesn’t support the homeowners anymore.
DISCOVERY: A homeowner has taken a job elsewhere or wants to move to a new location.

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PORTLAND LIFE: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Posted on by Aryne + Dulcinea

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024!

ANNUAL YEAR IN REVIEW COLLAGE

As 2023 comes to a close, we want to send thanks for your continued support! We have helped you find your dream home or your new chapter home and helped you sell your home. You have sent us your friends, and family to help with their real estate needs. We are ever grateful and are so lucky to have you in our lives!

THANK YOU!

GET YOUR GROOVE ON IN 2024

WITH THIS CHILL AND FUN PLAYLIST! 

SCAN BELOW OR CLICK HERE

CONTACT US

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PORTLAND LIFE: JOIN US IN SHARING WARMTH AND JOY

Posted on by Aryne + Dulcinea

JOIN US IN SHARING WARMTH AND JOY

CONTACT US

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PORTLAND LIFE: THE ART OF GRATITUDE

Posted on by Aryne + Dulcinea

THE ART OF GRATITUDE

This month we focus on gratitude. A time to give thanks and acknowledge the abundance we have in our lives. At Living Room Realty, we have eight core values, one being abundance. This value states that we: “appreciate and value what we have in order to create true generosity.”

 

Write someone a card, just because… 

One way we show gratitude and honor abundance is to write cards to our friends, family, and clients. Sometimes it is a short message, but we want to send it anyway. Who doesn’t like getting a little card in the mail – a message of kindness, friendship, or thoughtfulness? As Thanksgiving approaches, consider incorporating card writing as a holiday activity for the whole family. Some of our favorite local cardmakers are WATERKNOT and EGGPRESS.

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Vegan eating, shopping, and living in Southeast Portland!

Posted on by Bonnie Roseman

Where to get your (plant-based) munch on, broken down by quadrant: Part #2

We’re so excited to continue the Rose City tour with highlights from the Southeast – which is home to some of our top picks in all of Portland!
Known popularly for its cool & trendy vibe, you could certainly wander through the neighborhoods and discover any number of hip gastropubs and vegan delights. But if you want to live and eat like a local, read on for our personal recommendations and a couple of hidden gems!
We would be remiss if we did not give a special shoutout to Belmont Street. A lot may have changed since our Beloved Belmont post in 2019, but only for the better as it has become a veritable oasis of plant based culinary treasures!

Lilla

The only place to go when you are craving ethical Italian!
Where are they? 960 SE Madison Street
What do they offer?  The first fully vegan Italian restaurant since Portobello closed in 2016, Lilla is the creation of Indian-American chef Sanjay Chandrasekaran. Popularly known for his restaurant The Sudra (see Part 1 of the tour!), Chef Chandrasekaran prepares mouth-watering vegan temptations.
What do they value? Lilla is located in the spot where vegan Middle Eastern restaurant Tiny Aviv once sat. When Tiny Aviv closed, Chandrasekaran decided to continue the lease with a new concept, and Lilla was born! You can find the best Italian-style comfort foods, all while enjoying the fact that they are plant based and cruelty-free!
Menu – Click here
Lilla

Mirisata

Vegan Sri Lankan dishes of EPIC proportion!
Where are they? 2420 SE Belmont Street
What do they offer? Fully plant-based menu (plus brunch!) in casual atmosphere with counter service.
What do they value? Mirisata is proud to be worker-owned. They do not have a traditional “head chef” but instead collaborate on every dish to make original creations! Loosely translated from Sinhala, the name means “spicy curry” – and while not everything on their menu is spicy, you can be sure each item will be packed with flavor!
Our favs? First of all, prepare yourself for HUGE portion sizes! Our lunch there lasted all week, and Kendall took some to her non-vegan parents – they loved it! You have to try the Dolphin-style Kottu and Polos Cutlets.
Menu – Click here

Mirisata

Obon Shokudo

Meatless takes on Japanese comfort food
Where are they? 720 SE Grand Ave
What do they offer? Feel-good Japanese homestyle favorites that hit the spot!
What do they value? Obon owners Humiko Hozumi and Jason Duffany started their vegan concept by selling in farmers markets, then to the Morrison Market food hall, and finally to their brick and mortar location! Homestyle food is very important to them, with lots of house-made fermented foods and broths inspired by Hozumi’s family recipes.
Our favs? Hands-down, the Kakiage and the Kenchinjiru! They even have FREE dog sushi!
Menu – Click here
Obon Shokudo

Cultured Kindness

Vegan Cheese Shop
Where are they? 1217 SE Stark Street
What do they offer? Small-batch, ethically-sourced vegan cashew cheeses.
What do they value? From their website: Cultured Kindness conducts business as a socially responsible member of its community. Their mission is to spread ethical veganism by removing the obstacles that prevent people from choosing a vegan lifestyle. They believe that veganism is better for the planet, for individual health, and most certainly for the animals who suffer in the dairy industry.
Our favs? Cultured Kindness recently catered a Broker’s Open for us. We love the Mushroom Melt, as well as their cheese and cracker boards!
Menu – Click here
Cultured Kindness

Norah

Succulent seasonal Thai and pan-Asian fare!
Where are they? 3801 SE Belmont Street
What do they offer? 100% plant based pan-Asian food and inspired cocktails, with a menu that rotates seasonally. Nan and Prae are from southern Thailand, and draw inspiration from the region. (Norah’s sister restaurant is vegan-friendly Mestizo!)
What do they value? Norah is woman-owned. “The name Norah refers to a traditional dance reserved for celebrations and community gatherings in Southern Thailand where Nan and Prae grew up. The dance is a symbol of community vitality. We hope to bring that same energy of togetherness to the food we serve.”
Our fav? The Cauliflower Curry is INCREDIBLE! (roasted cauliflower, house curry & pickles, jasmine rice)
Menu – Click here
Norah

Plus – Bakeries and Grocery Stores!

Shoofly Vegan Bakery & Cafe

Local, fresh-baked vegan treats and wholesale items
Where are they? 2505 SE 11th Ave, Suite 101
What do they offer? An amazing concept, combining café and wholesale bakery – you can stop in to have goodies made fresh daily, OR buy their treats wholesale to sell in your own establishment! Click here to see all of the locations that proudly sell Shoofly products!
What do they value? It’s really important to Shoofly to use as many locally sourced ingredients as possible. You can be assured that their treats are made IN Portland, and with love!
Cakes & Special Orders

Shoofly

Cutiee Buys|Coffee Beer

Part convenience mart, part grocery store, everything delicious…and cute!

Where are they? 4138 & 4142 SE 42nd Ave
What do they offer? As the name might suggest, Cutiee Buys is a super cute convenience and grocery story…that’s ALL vegan! Next door at the iconic Coffee Beer, you’ll find…you guessed it…a selection of coffee and beer and plenty of tables indoors and outdoors to chat or simply relax.
What do they value? They value cuteness and kindness, and want everyone to feel welcome!
Coffee Beer menu
Cutiee Buys | Coffee Beer

Even More Vegan Favorites!

Eat, drink, and be ethically merry!
**At 8 years old, I had a revelation that animals meant too much to me to eat….then one day, I lost my vegetarian way. Years later, as I learned more about the planet and her inhabitants, I realized that, just as I avoid fossil fuels, I needed to wean myself off of animal products. While not everyone is ready to go vegan, in a city with such amazing options, perhaps it’s time for Meatless Mondays, or hey, how about Meatless March! – Bonnie

Just Sold– Light and Bright Rose City Bungalow

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Tahlia is a friend of mine and has been for over 20 years. We’ve been through it all, from playing music together and being one of four roommates in our twenties. It makes me so happy that she is beginning a new chapter. As a social worker, she is a helper and a giver by nature. And she’s going to continue her work at Duke University! Though it makes me sad to see you leave Portland, I cannot begin to express my excitement for you. I’m thrilled about on the sale of this adorable home, and for your new home in North Carolina. Congratulations, my friend. Can’t wait to visit!

Glimmer And Gold, A Hollywood Couple’s Story

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Kimmy and Frank are one of those couples you just swoon over because they are so perfect for each other. We remember tearing up on their wedding day seeing how much they loved each other and how they accept each other exactly for who they are. Frank is the steady solid type with an appreciation for spunk and spirit, which Kimmy has in leaps and bounds.

Jason and Kimmy knew each other in college. They both had a mutual love for music and dance. I remember when Jason and I started dating we went dancing with Kimmy, and I had such a fun time watching Kimmy and Jason both taking up the dance floor in their own worlds both dancing individually to the music. The other thing we appreciated about Kimmy was how incredibly intelligent she is. Speaking Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese and is now learning German to speak along with Frank and their two beautiful twin girls. Getting to know Frank has been such a treat and seeing how he co-parents with Kimmy just makes us all the more excited that these two finally found each other.

Kimmy started to help Jason and I with our taxes when we first started in real estate, and we remembered her asking us over lunch, “Will you be my realtors?” We were so honored and began touring homes with Kimmy and had quite an adventure doing that.  We remember one time viewing a home that the occupant hand written sign, “Beware” on one of the walls. It already felt creepy enough without that writing, but it was a sign to high tail it out of there.  To find the right one, it took a number of showing and a few offers until we landed at the right one back in 2016.

Kimmy told us that she dreamed of buying the home next door as well.  She formed a great relationship with her neighbors and one day her neighbor called her and organically the conversation happened where her neighbor told Kimmy that she was thinking of selling her home. It happened sooner than Kimmy expected, but she and Frank jumped on the opportunity and connected us with the listing agent to put the deal together.  It was an amazing opportunity for Kimmy, Frank and the girls and they were able to seal it up at an incredible purchase price.

Once in contract, we dug in and had their inspections and gathered bids.  From there we all pow-wowed and negotiated with the sellers for a number of needed repairs to be taken care of so that the sale ended on a great note.  In the midst of all the craziness the world is enduring this was a great light at the end of a tunnel for the Kimmy, Frank and the girls!

We are so impressed with you all and are so proud that our families get to do life together.

Cheers to you and your beautiful family!

 

 

 

Downsizing Texas to Portland

Posted on by Mel Marzahl

Everything is bigger in Texas, right?

Well that definitely includes beautiful big homes! Making the move from TX to PDX, Gary is downsizing his home and “up-sizing” his time with family.

This month, I had the pleasure of working with Gary from Texas and his kids. Together we found a beautiful home for him here in Gresham. Relocating from Houston, he was ready to make a move and the Portland area was an easy choice. In his sweet 50’s ranch with mature trees and landscaping, Gary will be close to friends and family. Zack, Sarah, and Jeremy, his son, daughter and her husband, all live less than 25 minutes from his new home. He also has ties to Tualatin, Lake Oswego, and more cities with friends and relatives throughout the PNW!

Buying a home sight unseen is a big deal.

Gary had his family here to be his “eyes on the ground” who knew what he’d like. I toured homes with them, and took lots of detailed video tours before we found this house. I knew it was the right one when I learned that the Gary had been referring to it as the house with the “happy tile”.

Gary was not in a hurry to buy and move. He was able to offer a 3 week rent-back to the seller so she could stay after closing. While we offered under-asking, this was a key term that helped us seal the deal. The seller of Gary’s new home was waiting for the owners of her new home to move as she had given them a rent-back period as well. With all of us making accomodations for the next person, we found terms and a price that worked. Even though he was out of state, we had a smooth and pleasant transaction. I took care of the details of the sale, logistics of a sewer line replacement, and attended all inspections with his kids. Then Gary, provided with detailed inspection reports, videos, and family input, made all the decisions. It worked great and he got a good deal on a great home.

I am so thrilled to hand over keys in a few weeks!

It will not only be the first time he sees his new home, but it will be the first time we meet in person! I know we’ll get along great though. Gary is a fellow foodie, and I’m looking forward to celebrating over dinner with the family at one of Portland’s amazing restaurants. Congrats Gary!

___

I always love helping out of state buyers and sellers. It’s a joy knowing I can help provide some calm and extra insight to clients who are far away. It is also very gratifying to close a deal for an out of state client. I know how much trust they have placed in me to handle the in-person logistics for them and to work closely with their family or friends in the area if they have them. If you are out of state too, or have family or friends who need real estate help here in Portland, please reach out. I am always happy to just answer questions or help you get started on your move if you’re ready!

Fight Like A Furumasu

Posted on by Living Room Realty

We met Beth & Chelsea (the dynamic Furumasu sisters), a few years back at a community group and shared our lives together. A few years past and we got a Facebook Message from Beth saying that she thought it was about time to start looking for a home and she would like to interview Jason and myself. We were honored that she reached out.

A few weeks later we met at our office to try to dazzle Beth with our professionalism.  : ) Since we were already friends, we knew that we needed to show Beth that we would take this role very seriously and could put on our REALTOR® hats and represent her with fervor.

We were honored to hear that we were the chosen ones and we quickly hit the pavement looking at homes.  Jason showed her a few and Beth and Chelsea went to look at a few open houses a week later. After their open house visit Beth messaged us to say that they thought they found the one.

Since Beth already had her pre-approval in place with her fantastic lender, Dan Barton w/ Caliber Home Loans, we went to work on the offer and Beth and Chelsea wrote a beautiful letter to the sellers so that the transaction felt more personal.  Soon we found ourselves in contract on this beautiful home beating out the competition!

Beth was wise and decided to do multiple inspections on her soon to be home. We were all surprised with the amount of repairs that were needed after all the inspections were completed. So, we came together as a team and got her the information she needed on the costs of the repairs to figure out what her bottom line was to present to the sellers.

Jason and I soon learned that the fighter spirit in our friends was Samurai like.  Our theme soon became ‘Fight Like A Furumasu.’ Beth stuck to her guns and ended up with the terms she needed to make this home the perfect investment for her and her sister to make shine with their vision.

We are so happy for you both Beth and Chelsea! And we can’t wait to see the sparkle you will bring to your new home!

Focused Friends Finding Milwaukie

Posted on by Andy Meeks

My friends and clients Jessie and Ruth just bought a house, and I’m honored to have helped them through the process. They are so focused, detail-oriented, and on-point that it made the transaction smooth, steady and fun. It all went so well that we were even able to close three days ahead of our thirty-day schedule. That’s a 10% time savings – and that’s pretty fast!

Jessie and I first met when she moved here more than seven years ago when she reached out to me for career networking advice as a fellow alum of Colby College. We quickly struck up a friendship and shared similar work experiences connecting people to environmental non-profit work here in Portland. I quickly learned that Jessie is an intentional, loyal, and kind person that does everything with maximum effort and passion. No goal was too big for her, and she consistently exceeded even her own lofty expectations. We stayed in touch through work and life changes, and I count her among one of my close Portland friends. Fast-forward a few years to when she introduced me to her partner Ruth, an art director who is warm, generous, and detail-oriented, with great vision and imagination and is always asking smart questions. Needless to say, Jessie and Ruth complement each other really well and make a great team.

So I was especially excited when they asked me earlier this year to be their real estate broker to help them buy their very first house. We met in early April to discuss goals, needs, timelines, and geography. Lucky for me, Jessie was already far ahead of most first-time homebuyers as she had attended classes organized by the Portland Housing Center, and had participated in a matching savings program that ended up paying for a significant chunk of their closing costs.

Jessie and Ruth have been living in southeast Portland for a few years, and were hoping to stay in that area, especially since it would be a good place from which both of them could commute to work. (Jessie works in Lake Oswego and Ruth works in downtown Portland.) But they explained to me how they realized that they didn’t need to live right in the heart of a classic, walkable, Portland neighborhood — and pay the premium property prices those neighborhoods can command — nor did they want to compromise on size, space, condition or quality. I’m hearing this sentiment quite often from smart, forward-thinking homebuyers who are tired of the Portland prices, limited inventory and frenzied bidding situations. Those folks are increasingly finding their way just a few miles south to the relatively calmer, quieter and less expensive — but no less charming — neighborhoods of Milwaukie.

Milwaukie boasts a desirable blend of affordability, accessibility, quality housing stock, and more spacious and quiet neighborhoods. Because of these qualities, Milwaukie has been, and continues to be, one of the hottest areas of the Portland metro region for home sales…average days on market are nearly 15-20% lower in Milwaukie than other neighborhoods/zip codes in SE or NE Portland. The Orange MAX line makes it easy to commute into the city, and there are lots of hidden and not–so–hidden gems that make this city a great alternative home base.

Well, after just one afternoon of looking at houses together (they had seen everything online, and attended lots of open houses together) they were ready to make an offer on an adorable 2 bed/1 bath bungalow in Milwaukie, with a sizable backyard/patio and large detached garage, just blocks from the historic downtown district. It was everything they were hoping for! We wrote an offer the next morning, and we promised a short inspection period and quick close. The offer was accepted that day, ahead of a scheduled open house the next day. We worked through some significant repair negotiations and received some sizable seller concessions, and closing day was here before we knew it.

They’ve been an amazing team, and all of the qualities I’ve briefly mentioned came into play to make this dream a reality. Congrats to Jessie and Ruth on their transaction, as well as to the City of Milwaukie for adding two super cool people to your ranks!

—

ANDY MEEKS
Living Room Realty

Licensed Oregon Broker  | Earth Advantage REALTOR®
andy@livingroomre.com | 971.400.0195 | PDX

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A Giant Shadow: Did Wilt Chamberlain have a son? Levi may be living proof and he’s moving to Portland!

Posted on by Living Room Realty

I’d like to share Bob and Hilda’s unique story for buying a home in Portland. Bob will be the first to say he lives in San Francisco but grew up in Eugene, Oregon. So, technically he’s an Oregonian. 🙂

They started out looking for a home in Portland because Bob’s best friend since they were 12 years old, Aaron Levi, has been priced out of San Francisco. They are currently neighbors in San Francisco.

Aaron is an artist and has a fascinating life story. https://www.si.com/nba/2015/03/04/wilt-chamberlain-aaron-levi-a-giant-shadow-son-secret

Bob and Hilda plan to rent the home to help him with the next growth stage of his life. He wants to come home to Portland and with our vibrant art community, he will certainly be welcomed.

Bob and Hilda experienced four highly competative multiple offer situations. During their visits they fell more in love with Portland, and were fascinated with Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s),  they decided to purchase a second property with an ADU. It was a great pleasure to help them through the process of purchasing two Portland properties.

And some day, they will also return to Oregon.

New house for an old friend

Posted on by Living Room Realty

As an Oregon transplant from Indiana, it isn’t too often that I get to work with someone who has known me for almost my whole life. Sara and I met in 1978 when I was four and she was three.  She rang my doorbell and asked if there were any kids her age who lived there, and that is how our friendship began.

 

As kids, we played together after school and on weekends with our little gaggle of friends from the neighborhood.  We collected lightning bugs in jars, rode our bikes to the neighborhood pool, and played Annie and V until dark when our parents would yell through the yards for us to come home.

 

Our neighborhood HOA discouraged fences so everyone’s backyards were open and our doors were always open, too.

 

Sara’s family moved away from Indiana to Kansas when Sara was 11 or 12 and we lost touch. Without Facebook I never would have known that my old friend had moved to Portland, too.  We reconnected shortly before she and her husband relocated to Hawaii.

 

I was so excited to hear that she was back in the Portland area this winter, looking to purchase some land outside of Portland.  It wasn’t long before we found her property in Tillamook.

 

Congrats, Sara.  Sorry for the old photos, friend.  It was the 80s. :