MLS# 24039034 | Taxes: $3,614 | Lot Size: .10 Acre
1912 Bungalow with a neighborly front porch is nestled just blocks from downtown Kenton. If you’ve always wanted to live in the shadow of Paul Bunyan and Babe, here’s your chance! Convenient for those who prefer public transport with Max and bus lines are close by. The floor plan includes an eat-in kitchen, bonus room upstairs and sunporch. Outside you’ll find a full lot with a blank slate yard ready for your ideas and projects. This home has been a great rental and most recently fetched $2250 per month, but it is now ready for its next chapter. A great sweat equity home. CM2 Zoning provides lots of use options. Buyer to do their own due diligence on usage.
Nestled in peaceful Hazeldell, just 5 minutes from Cedar Hills Crossing and 10 minutes from downtown Beaverton, this charming 2-story townhome offers a sunlit open kitchen, refreshed cabinets, a cozy gas fireplace, and a private, newly poured patio with space to entertain and for the green-thumb, potential for raised-bed gardening.
Upstairs, the primary bedroom features tall ceilings, an en suite bath and walk-in closet, with two more bedrooms and a handy 2nd-floor laundry. Modern comforts include central A/C, a 2023 furnace, and a user-friendly Google Nest Thermostat for seamless control. A new roof was added in 2019. Low HOA’s!
Nearby, explore the lush gardens and winding trails of Jenkins Estate, unwind in the Northridge Nature Preserve, or treat your furry companion to the Hazeldell dog park. Convenience is key, steps from Hazeldell Elementary, with shops, restaurants, and major employers like Nike and Intel nearby. Your dream of comfortable living with access to nature and amenities awaits! Don’t miss out on this gem!
Colorfully adorned historic home with original high ceilings and pocket doors, in contempo regalia ~ cork flooring, cherry cabinets, a BlueStar range and Marvin windows. Cuddle up on your custom built-in sofa by the gas stove. Lounge under the glow of the Mouille inspired light fixture. Dine in the spacious dining room or al fresco, enjoying delicacies prepped in your gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances, porcelain/glass countertops and sky high tiled backsplash. Imbibe at the endless eateries lining the surrounding business districts- Belmont, Kerns, Hawthorne and more or a Laurelhurst Park picnic! Dream floor plan: entry hall, party-sized living spaces, powder room and access from the kitchen to the yard, the oak staircase leads you to a private, upper level with a primary bedroom suite with walk-in shower and soaking tub, two closets, and a vanity, plus two more darling bedrooms and a vintage styled hall bath. Heated bathroom floors! Fenced yard, garden, deck, shed and patio with a gas fire pit. A basement for crafty projects, off street parking, a stellar, quiet location with prime walkability, years of loving care and a robust permit history, you cannot beat this singularly smashing abode!
As a photographer, realtor and extrovert and I love finding the intersections of work and play. I am using color film to photograph people in front of their home. For many, home is more than just a photograph. It brings a sense of belonging, growth, family stories and secrets, laughter, tears and more. Knowing why someone calls a place “Home” is the root of this project and how it was born.
Your home doesn’t have to be the fanciest on the block, you don’t need to dress up and have perfect smiles, or tilt your head every so slightly to the left. My aim is to take a couple semi candid shots with color film of you, your family, and/or your pets out in front of your home. What do you love about where you live? Is it the architecture, the yard, the community and neighbors, the memories, or is it that indescribable feeling you got when you walked in the door for the first time? Whatever it may be, I would love to hear about it.
All participants will receive a digital copy of the photograph via email. I will be featuring the photos and blurb on social media and on the Living Room blog. For privacy, I will not include last names or full addresses. For more information or questions about the project, please reach out to me.
If you find the current Portland real estate market overwhelming, you’re not alone. The good news is, new spring listings are popping up every day! Just not as many homes are available as there are buyers for them. Inventory is low and that creates a lot of organic competition, especially for the “best” properties. Homes that have been freshly remodeled, have a lot of style, and/or are in prime locations command attention, premium prices and aggressive terms. Many buyers feel priced-out after being out-bid in multiple-offer situations. Avoid Buyer’s Burn-out!
It can be hair raising!
Fortunately, we’ve been at this a long time, and have assisted clients through every possible market on the spectrum.
Tips for nabbing your next home using creative shopping strategies:
I am not kidding about this- visit homes with ugly pictures! Beyond all the clutter and poor lighting you may find your treasure, hidden in plain sight and overlooked by most.
Consider properties that are showing a bit of wear and take on the project yourself to make it really shine. Sweat equity is real, but be honest with yourself. What resources will you have available to spruce up your new place. Is watching a how-to YouTube enough to help you handle the fixes, or will you need to hire experts? Skip wonky staircases, wacky floor plans and locations near freeways, bus stops, and busy streets. Buy smart!
Look at homes priced well below your budget to give you room to fight and be the winning bidder!
Shop slightly above your current price range. Consider properties that have been on the market a while (translation: homes that are likely over-priced).
Explore less expensive locations.
Re-evaluate your priorities and consider smaller homes and yards, homes without recent updates, etc.
How we can help!
Bonnie Roseman and Trish Sunderland, Dynamic Real Estate Duo in Portland, OR
There are a few things we are doing behind the scenes for our buyer clients to help get them to the finish line. We scour Coming-Soon listings on the regular. We hustle to get our buyers into homes as soon as they hit the market. Pro tip: It’s not unheard of to persuade a seller to accept a compelling offer on day one on the market, thus avoiding a bidding war. We review old and expired listings and contact off-market homeowners who might consider selling. We leave no stone unturned to help you find your next home!
What can you do?
Get organized and prepare yourself. Consider your financing options and make a decision early in your journey. Where you will obtain your new mortgage? Your lender is your partner, just like your Realtor, in the homebuying process, so make sure you choose trusted advisors! Submit all of the needed documents and ask your lender to run your file through underwriting. Keep in touch with them and make sure you are crunching numbers using current interest rates and realistic estimates for property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. Don’t fall in love with a home only to discover the cash you need to close the deal, or to carry the monthly payments, are beyond your comfort level –OUCH!
If you have the good fortune to be paying with cash, make sure you have proof of funds at the ready!
Financial readiness means your documentation is ready to go!
If you are a cash buyer, or have a large down payment, have proof that the funds required for your purchase are in a checking or savings account in your own name. Believe it or not, mutual funds, ETFs, gifts and the like are NOT considered cash!
Engage a lender early, then obtain an up to date mortgage pre-approval letter that reflects the current interest rate and the property tax amount for each specific property you are considering. Your lender will also help you crunch the numbers so you know you are comfortable with the amount of cash you will need to close your purchase and cover the monthly carrying costs. If you love your lender- wonderful! If you don’t have one picked out yet, have no fear, we can connect you with a personal referral to a top notch local pro.
On your mark
Drive, bike or walk by exciting new listings the first day on the market. Let your Realtor know right away when a place shows possibility and make yourself available ASAP to get inside. After all that hurrying, be prepared to wait patiently. Many of the most desirable properties will have due dates for offers a while out and you will need to bide your time.
Understand pricing
Be prepared for newly-listed homes to sell for significantly more than the asking price, sometimes by a wide margin. If the listing has been on the market for 10-20 days it will probably go for right around asking price, and if it has been sitting for more than a month without a recent price reduction, a bigger discount may be in the cards.
You can stay up-to-date with current market conditions with the weekly Portland report from Altos Research.
Average sales price in Portland, OR
Offer Terms- Price is not the only thing that matters to home sellers. Sometimes having the best terms can keep you in the running, or at least get you the opportunity to modify your offer without it being rejected out of hand, even if your offer isn’t the highest bid. Consider including terms that give the seller confidence in choosing you as their buyer.
When we work with our buyer clients, we discuss many creative ways to strengthen an offer. Two of the key items that can often make a difference are:
Repairs
When it comes to repairs, sellers want to know that they will not be nickel-and-dimed during the inspection process. While most buyers are not in a position to make totally as-is offers, it IS possible to limit the risk to the seller without leaving yourself wide open. One strategy is to commit to accepting responsibility for needed repairs that fall below a certain threshold. This way the seller knows you will only attempt to negotiate if something big comes up.
Appraisals
As prices increase, it can become very challenging for appraisers to find past home sales (AKA “comps”) that keep up with current values. This does not mean the value is not there, but rather that the data is not keeping up with rapid increases in market values. When a home appraises for less than the contract price, this is known as an “appraisal gap” because lenders base financing on the appraised value, not the purchase price.
Sellers want to know that you will close the transaction, even if there is an appraisal gap. You can solve this by adding cash to your down payment. Another approach is to keep your loan amount and down payment as planned, but preparing yourself for an adjustment in the Loan-to-Value ratio. This may have a small impact on your monthly payments in some cases. In others, it may have no impact on you at all!
Here’s an example:
If you are paying $100,000 for a home, putting down $8,000 and borrowing $92,000 (92% Loan-to-Value), but your appraisal comes in at $95,000, you could still borrow $92,000 – it would just be underwritten at a higher Loan-to-Value because the LtV is based on the appraised value.
100,000 sales price x 92% = $92,000 loan amount.
95,000 appraised value x 96.8% loan-to-value = $92,000 loan amount
The down payment is $8,000 either way!
Ready, Set, Go!
We pride ourselves on assisting clients to be selective in their home purchase decisions and writing offers with a high chance of acceptance in order to avoid a roller coaster ride. When you or your peeps are ready to buy – or even just thinking about buying in the future – it is always in your best interest to prepare ahead of time, with a solid team in place for when it’s time to make the leap. Drop us a line us at portland@realtor.com to get on our dance card! Thank you for trusting us. Your new home awaits and we WILL get you to the finish line!
I had the pleasure of meeting Jon in early Autumn of 2022 at a wee condo in SW Portland while hosting an open house. It was a lovely condo: very modern, floor to ceiling windows, two levels, 700 square feet. The downside being the many pet restrictions, and a high HOA. The $360,000 price tag looked good; however it didn’t quite work for Jon. Fast forward about six months later, and they were ready to begin in earnest as first-time homebuyers. Off to a coffee date we went where I had the pleasure of meeting Kevin, talked shop, made a plan, and we began. After talking to a lender and exploring neighborhoods around the city, they were seeing just how much home they could buy.
And then…we found THE one.
With Jon and Kevin, it was discovering that by doing their research, planning ahead, and getting all of their dogs in a row, (only because they have four of them, it couldn’t be ducks, and I couldn’t resist.), they landed this gem of a house. Instead of a 700sqft condo with the teeniest patio, they closed on their first, nearly 2,000sqft two-story house in the Montavilla neighborhood, 1940’s floor to ceiling windows included! It also has an enormous and private backyard for all their doggos.
This happened it seemed in a blink of an eye. (Another reason why it’s SO, SO important to prepare). When I got the call that they were ready to go, we immediately began to plan our house tour. It was so much fun! Only one day of touring several houses before we found THE house. Newly price reduced and it was within their reach. Of course, they weren’t the only ones who loved this house, and we competed with multiple offers. That’s often how it goes with price reductions, or corrections as we say. They drum up buyers to act. And act and win we did!
Prepare, my friends, prepare! The preparation for owning your first home takes time, patience, and sometimes a strong constitution. With every client I meet, I advise them to do the research, while I help guide them along the way. Get your advocates together, whomever that may be, whether it’s your bandmate, therapist, barista, pal, family, your people! Talk about it. Get excited about it! You’re about to take the plunge into homeownership, on to the adventure of building equity. Then find your cheerleaders/master negotiators – your LENDER and your AGENT. Once all of that is in order, the house hunting begins in earnest, and life changes completely. It’s an exciting ride first-timers!
A multitude of identities exist in this world; I should know — being a queer, non-binary, & transmasculine person of color myself. I am so grateful to live in a city like Portland where these attributes tend to be typically embraced and honored. Partaking in queer commerce comes naturally to me in both my personal and work life. As a licensed broker, I aspire to represent individuals of any and all marginalized communities; especially those that identify on the queer spectrum.
This is why queer representation matters. Being able to guide those who live similar lives and ultimately being in community with one another. We see each other in more ways than one; a deep understanding that transcends words even. I cannot begin to describe the deep bond my queer clients and I share in their homebuying journeys. Knowing I have their trust as not only their real estate agent but as their queer confidant means the world to me. I am grateful to have had many recent experiences with fellow queer people who saw a bit of themselves in me. How harmonious it is to not only guide them in one of the biggest investments of their lives but to also contribute to creating a safe sanctuary; especially in a system that wasn’t initially meant for us to succeed in.
My name is Río Palomares. I am your proud, queer realtor. Let’s make community together!
Thoughtfully renovated bungalow with modern floor plan and high-end finishes and fixtures. Light filled entry and living room opens to dining room and gourmet chef’s kitchen. Main floor also includes a family room, a bedroom/bathroom combo and laundry to accommodate one level living. Spacious primary suite on second floor with deluxe bathroom and beautiful built-in storage. Fully finished lower-level studio offers great flexibility for bedroom suite or media/guest room combo and boasts storage galore — ideal for inter-generational living! Fully fenced private back yard with sweet patio. New windows, paint, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, insulation, seismic and sewer. Perfect Dolph Park street —close to schools, shops, restaurants and parks!
Leah Rutz was Carly’s client and I had the privilege to work with her briefly in the purchase of her condo. As Carly always did, she stayed in contact with thoughtful notes and timely calls and they became friends as often was the case with Carly. When Leah called me to help with the sale of that same condo and the purchase of a new home that would accommodate herself and her partner, now both working from home, I was honored to be on the team.
To serve Carly’s people has always been a privilege AND fun, now more than ever it is an honor. I miss Carly and it is actually really nice to have someone to share stories with. It makes me feel closer to my friend. Carly loved her work and, maybe even more, she loved her clients. It feels good to care for Carly’s peeps.
Key Day is always a big deal, but these keys in particular were a big hit with little Elliott. With the keys to their new home in her hot little hands she was ready to unlock every door in sight!
Unfortunately, this little family won’t be moving in for a few weeks. One of the terms that helped get their offer accepted was an agreement to allow the seller to occupy the home after the closing date.
That delayed possession can be a little frustrating for excited new homeowners. But in this competitive market a willingness to provide sellers with that flexibility can help get your offer accepted.
I’ll be celebrating with with these happy homeowners again in a few weeks when they take possession of their home and finally get to use those keys on the front door.
One of our favorite real estate “niches” is helping new doctors purchase homes when they move to Portland to start their residency. We usually get a call around March 16th which is the day after “matching day” when fourth year med students learn where they will serve their residency. After the initial “woo hoos” and high-fives, their attention quickly turns to figuring out how to pack up their life and report to a new town and new job by June 1st. For the especially savvy, this includes purchasing a home, and that’s where we come in!
When Carley and Cory called us to tell us they were moving to Portland for Carley’s residency and wanted to buy house, we got to work right away. We referred them to several lenders that specialized in home loans for physicians. We spend time via Zoom discussing the Portland housing market and the home buyer process in general. Then, Cory and Carley came to Portland for an epic weekend tour of homes! We had done enough preparation in advance that when they found “the one,” they were able to make their offer sweet enough to seal the deal!
Tuesday was move in day and it was joyous — hard to believe that it was less than three months from start to finish. We are so happy for Cory and Carley. We know their Portland years are going to be special, and Portland will be a better place because they are here!
Are you a physician looking to purchase a home in the Portland area? We can help you even if you’re not physically in Portland. Call us!
KUDOS to Bill and Sara for closing on this property with HUGE potential. Bill was on his way to pick up his son from golf lessons when he stumbled across three adjoining properties for sale. Bill immediately saw the potential and called his wife Sara. Well, actually first he called us, and then he called his wife, Sara, but he sounds like a much better husband the first way. We were able to help him get an offer accepted right away (despite multiple offers from other buyers — beginners’ luck!).
Bill is “two thumbs up” excited! Sara? Maybe a tepid one thumbs up, but she is taking a leap of faith and believes in Bill’s vision. We know that this property will shine when they have completed their vision. We are looking forward to seeing the end results. Does this all sound a little vague and mysterious? Well, that’s because the first rule of rehab club is . . . . Well, you know!
Are you looking for inspiration? Have dared to let yourself dream about investment opportunities? We want to help make your most daring dreams come true. Call us!
Home-buying is competitive lately, but newlyweds, Eamon and Pam were successful with the 3rd offer they submitted. We went in strong with an offer at 5% over the listing price and they included a commitment to move forward with the purchase as long as the home appraised for at least the listing price. That did the trick. Inspections took place during the chaos of the February ice and snow. Despite the crazy weather we got the job done and negotiated seller credit to cover some important repairs for the home.
The South Tabor home has been owned by the same family for 90+ years, since it was built in 1930. There’s a nice big yard that overlooks another neighbor’s even larger yard. The setting almost feels like it backs up to a park. Rarely do we find a small home with grand house features like this one. The living room has charming leaded glass windows and a fabulous fireplace. Built-in cabinets add old-world charm. The bathroom is spacious with cool vintage tile and hardwood floors run throughout the main floor. Clearly the house has been lovingly cared for by it’s original owners, but there’s great potential for the buyers to invest some sweat equity and polish things up a bit. Maybe someday they’ll finish off the basement. But for now they are picking out paint colors, planning a garden and settling in nicely to the South Tabor neighborhood. Congratulations to my favorite pandemic newlyweds!
You may see one happy new homeowner in this photo, but there are two more to come! 2020 dealt our lovely clients, Chris and Jamie, and their mother, Shari, some tough blows. Needing a reset and reconnection with family, they decided to move to Portland from Los Angeles together. They called us and, almost immediately, we found this darling home in the Overlook neighborhood, which is a perfect fit for the three of them. In this fast real estate market, the great houses don’t last long, so thankfully, Chris and Jamie were quick learners and took our advice on the various ways they could make their offer most attractive to the sellers. They ended up beating out 12 other buyers to land the house. Cut to 30 days later and their swift and decisive efforts paid off. Shari pulled up with her moving van to collect the keys to their new house. Chris and Jamie will follow soon and this family will get the fresh start it deserves!!
Congratulations Chris, Jamie and Shari – we know you will enjoy your beautiful new home and Portland life!!
When I received the call from Lillian to work with her mother it was so excited. To be referred to a family member in this important business of finding a home, is truly the highest honor.
Thank you to Lillian and Justin for the referral! They are friends and clients I have gotten to work with twice and now. Barbara, Lillian’s mother, just sold her Belmont townhome to move to a lovely home in the Mt Tabor neighborhood with a yard of her own. It was a pleasure to see where your grace and poise come from.
Thank you, Barbara for being on top of it all: prepping your home for a great sale, document transmission, email communication, lenders requests and the 100 other things that it takes to have a smooth sale and then to purchase a new home.
I was honored to be on point for you and look forward to having you as a neighbor. Congratulations on your new home!!
If you are looking for a trusted Real Estate Agent don’t hesitate to call.
We just helped Matt and Shannon purchase this GORGEOUS Laurelhurst home. It is fully updated with a modern, open floor-plan, a stunning kitchen with an island that goes on and and on, and a private owners’ suite that will be the perfect sanctuary for these two busy working parents!
It is truly a homecoming for them, as Shannon grew up around the corner and Matt’s sister (also a HouseLovePDX client) lives only blocks away. We first met Matt and Shannon last December, when they were here visiting family. They were living in the Bay Area and were excited at the thought of leaving California behind for the quality of life that living in Portland, surrounded by family, might bring. Then the global pandemic hit. Thud. Fast forward to July, when two things became clear: (1) Covid was here to stay (at least for the foreseeable future) and (2) they still wanted to move. They noticed this beautifully updated Laurelhurst home as soon as it hit the market and called us. We provided them with many virtual and online resources so they could learn as much as possible about the house. We provided them with an in-depth video tour so they could investigate every closet, nook and cranny. We gave them our honest assessment of the location, quality of construction and price. They made an offer, sight unseen. It was a true LEAP OF FAITH!
That “leap” was the reason Matt and Shannon’s PDX dreams came true. We were able to celebrate with them in person last week (outside, of course), and it was so sweet to be able to see their smiles in person.
The global pandemic has altered the way people buy and sell homes — it is hard to see us “going back” to the way things were pre-Covid. One byproduct of this is that it has never been easier to purchase a home from afar. We have so many virtual tools and we have developed great systems to help our out-of-town buyers comfortably purchase homes here in the greater Portland area! If you, or someone you love, wants to re-locate to the Portland area, give us a call — we’d love to help!
I was contacted by Mitch and Stacey early this year. They were very good friends of a very good friend in northern California. I was initially told that they were considering a move to Oregon some time next year. One of my favorite things to do is to meet people, get to know them, and get to know where their priorities lay to help them decide where to buy. It is one of the ways that I get to exercise my social worker muscles.
I quickly realized from our chats that Lake Oswego would be a great fit. During their first visit in the early spring, they fell in love with the south side of the lake and to my surprise, they wanted to bump up their move to this summer.
They had their beautiful Eicher to sell in Marin, which shouldn’t have been a problem. They started getting their house ready to sell when COVID flew in and, as a result, real estate in northern California came to a screeching halt. No occupied homes were allowed to be photographed or shown. They drove up one night after seeing images of a beautiful contemporary home with views of the lake from each level.
They had initially wanted a turn key property, but they opened their search to get the location they desired and found a beautiful contemporary home on Maple in need of updating. They decided to take a risk and fly up to see it.
We didn’t even know if we could get them in. The seller had stopped all showings and asked if we could just look through the window. I reassured the listing agent that my clients were serious, and we got in!
While here, I also introduced them to the design team at Vanillawood who I knew could help give Mitch and Stacey a sense of how they could make this home their dream home while roughly estimating the cost. I’m looking forward to seeing the transformation!
The health of our community is very important to us. Keeping agents, buyers and sellers safe is our top priority. There is a video tour to experience this home from the comfort of yours via link at the bottom of this post. Private video walk-through tours can also be made available by request to thoroughly vet this home before an in-person tour. We will be offering a handwashing station at the home and will be utilizing Showing Time to ensure only one party is touring at a time. Please be safe out there!
High above the street, this newly painted St. Johns home has room to live. With a coveted open floor plan, warm, wide plank wood floors, and plenty of light, this home lives easy. With all square footage above grade, all of the space is light and bright.
Open the French Doors from the kitchen to seamlessly expand your living space to the large covered deck and back yard. Fully fenced, private yard with raised beds, fire pit and shed for all your toys.
Don’t want your dirty self/pet/child/partner coming in from the yard through the French doors? No problem! Come in from the back yard through the generous mud/half bath/laundry room and keep the mess contained.
Newly updated On-suite bedroom on main floor makes a great office, guest suite or whatever your heart desires.
Two spacious, airy bedrooms with lofts, bathroom and a bonus area upstairs make a great separate area for imagining, working, reading, fort building, indoor treehousing, storing or exercising.
We’ve had a new level of togetherness with the people we live with, being roommates, partners, or families. But we also have had lots of time in our home. We are using our homes in new ways-rededicating rooms for school space, home gyms, dance studios, and more.
We’ve been hearing from you…lots of stories of how people have had enough and it’s time to move out or they have decided to love their homes and get to work with projects. Take a look at some of the fun things our clients are doing at their homes.
Our client is a world-class dancer who a few years back became a chiropractor. She has decided to bring healthfulness into her living space and first up was a large outdoor sauna.
For this family, the sunny days equal enjoying the extra space their new house and yard offer, while they shelter in place. This shot was taken by the koi pond they inherited when they purchased this gorgeous property that is somehow both in the woods and under the sun. They didn’t know much about fish or how to maintain their pond when they moved in, but since then they’ve become quite the amateur pisciculturists with three hearty koi luxuriating in their pond.
Our other clients took their unique modern Mediterranean and transformed it to a relaxing haven for both lazy and productive days at home. A basement transformation from unfinished concrete to fabulous teen suite complete with lounge, bedroom and bath offers privacy and ambiance. The redesigned patio sits between house and garage and makes for an outdoor room ready for dancing under the moonlight, relaxing by the fire or soaking up the sun.
Had enough of your space? Let us know and we can discuss if moving out to a new home would be the best move for you.
About Us: Over the course of their professional partnership, Aryne + Dulcinea have helped over 200 clients prosper in their new lives. During this time, they have prided themselves in their top-notch selling abilities, with homes outperforming market standards, consistently exceeding list price while most of their listings sell in under 7 days. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, Aryne & Dulcinea will work in collaboration to guide you in investing in your future and reaching your real estate goals.
A condo that can be a home away from home with the potential to rent as an AirBnB. Who does not want one of these?!? The problem is finding one. Sure you could do it with a single family home but that comes at a price, a price my Seattle residents/Portland hometown buyers did not have. The hunt was for a condo, or more specifically a HOA, that would be in the price range, be truly walkable, in a desirable location and allow for this specific type of rental. It is not hard to find an HOA that will allow for 30 day minimum rentals, but the true short term, the lucrative holy grail of 1 or 2 or 3 day AirBnB, that proved to be a challenge. But once it was found, we were on it. We zeroed in on a one bedroom unit facing Mississippi Ave on the third floor and locked it in at touch under the listing price- with 24 months of free parking. A tidy piece of negotiating, if I do say so myself.
Congratulations to Eden and Zach on your cash flowing home away from home here in your hometown. I could not be happier for you both!!
If you are looking for something special and want a focused & professional Real Estate Agent to bird dog for you, give me a call!
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!
Is this Lake Tahoe? Nope, its Milwaukie! You’d be surprised how similar the feeling is driving up to this 1920’s A-frame bungalow in Oak Grove. As you’re driving down the street you catch a glimpse of the Willamette River and feel the crisp air, surrounded by mature evergreens. This craftsman style bungalow has a huge covered porch, carefully crafted rock chimney, and southwest facing deck for a day full of sun. The best part of this house is that the primary living area is on one level. One level living and a bay window seat for the kittens to sun bathe. The plan was to find land to build and she found house plans for a bungalow she loved- but sometimes the stars align and a home with all the right things comes into sight. Instead of starting from scratch, you can find good bones and make it your own. You can feel it when it’s the right move. She has a love for vintage homes and many ideas for this great house. I can’t wait to see it come together!
Congratulations Iris! It is THE BEST to see a friend so excited about finding the right home. I am grateful to have been part of this adventure with you. Enjoy your coffee on your very own covered porch:-) Cheers! #lovewhereyoulive
JULIA ROBERTSON | Broker Licensed in Oregon & Washington
She came all the way from Australia, it was Summer there. Her people had a nice apartment in the big big city of Sydney and she was happy. Her people wanted to be closer to their families in some place called the United States. She loves her people and even though she had to leave summer for a wet winter half way around the world she decided for them, she would do it.
The second she landed in Portland and could smell all the new smells and could sense how happy her people were she knew she had made the right decision! Her people bought a car – this was definitely a plus, they didn’t need one in Sydney but hanging her head out the window and driving by PARKS – so many Parks she knew life was going to be even better than she had hoped.
Her people looked at a lot of houses, so many houses but Filly was particular. She didn’t want just any yard it had to be perfect. Turns out her people are pretty smart, and they found a great house with all the things that were important to them as well as the yard of young Filly’s dreams. It’s big, it has a front and a back and it is one block from her favorite place Irving Park!
Jenna and Issac called Kristin and I to let us know they were thinking about buying a house at the end of summer and were curious as first time buyers if they could go check out open houses to see what was out there and start gaining intel and educating themselves on the Portland Market. Of course we thought that was a great idea and figured we would start actively looking in July. They went to one open house that afternoon and called us after telling us they wanted to write an offer! We put them in touch with one of our favorite lenders and we had pre-approval and offer ready to go Monday morning. One month later we closed and these two amazing first time buyers are moving into a beautiful home. Sometimes you just know I guess.
These two even used all the information in our buyers folder to educate themselves and keep track of due dates and inspections! Gold stars all around.
