Tag: scott shoji

Priced to Sell! The Encore Condominiums #515

Posted on by Living Room Realty

THE ENCORE CONDOMINIUMS

949 NW OVERTON ST #515
Portland, OR 97209

Offered at $435,000

   1 BEDROOM+DEN |  1 BATH |  1,026 Sq Ft
MLS #24319105 | 2023-2024 TAXES: $7,105.56
HOA DUES: $687/month

Link to Property Website: The Encore #515

This home is priced to sell, so move quickly on it as it will not last. Listed at $435,000 ($423/SF), which is lower than the last 2 recent sales in the building: Unit #604 sold at $430,000 ($483/SF) and #606 at $447,000 ($449/SF).

This gorgeous contemporary home is located on the 5th floor of the building. An efficient 1 Bedroom + Den layout, this home is unique in that it is the only home in its stack in the building that features a balcony that runs the length of the unit. Oriented to the southeast, you can enjoy the sunrise with your morning coffee or a glass of wine in the evening while taking in the views of the Willamette river & cityscape. Expansive windows in the living room allows great natural light into this corner unit, while the contemporary kitchen features stainless steel appliances, gas range, & quartz countertops. Off of the kitchen, you will find a den with sliders that allow you to close off the space & use it as an office or 2nd bedroom, with enough space to fit a queen-sized bed if desired. Storage closets in the entryway allow for plenty of storage. The bedroom is spacious & features a walk-in closet with built-in organizers. The bathroom is modern and features a glass-enclosed shower & a stackable laundry closet with added built-in storage. Deeded parking space & storage cage come included in the sale, both of which are located in the secure underground garage.

The Encore Condominiums offers a range of amenities, including a 3rd floor fitness room and community room. Take advantage of all the wonderful offerings the Pearl District has to offer. Walk to the River and down to the riverwalk, head to the 3 parks within blocks of the building (The Fields Park, Tanner Springs, & Jamison Park), grocery store close by, easy access to freeways, Streetcar & bus lines for transportation, while restaurants & shopping are blocks away.

 

 

 

 

BUILDING HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Secure FOB Controlled Building with Callbox Entry
  • Meeting Room (3rd Floor)
  • Workout Room (3rd Floor)
  • Secure Parking Garage with deeded parking space & storage unit

CONVENIENCE AT YOUR DOORSTEP

  • The Fields Park is at your doorstep, Tanner Springs Park is 1 block away, and Jamison Park is 3 blocks away. Green spaces all around you!
  • Close to the in the Streetcar Line, with the closet stop a block away.
  • Close proximity to the Broadway Bridge for quick access across the Willamette River to East Portland
  • Portland Union Station is a few blocks away.

PEARL DISTRICT OFFERINGS

  • Food and Dining all around (Ovation Coffee at the base of the building, Can Font, Momoyama, Piazza Italia, Sisters Coffee Shop, Lovejoy Bakers, Carlita’s, Fields Bar & Grill, Andina and so much more!)
  • Breweries, Wine Tasting & Refreshing Sips (Deschutes Brewery, 10 Barrel Brewery, Backwoods Brewing, Von Ebert, Erath Tasting Room, Olive & Twist and more)
  • Safeway Grocery & Basics Market a few blocks away, & Whole Food towards to South End of the Pearl District
  • Shopping galore (Powell’s Bookstore,  Anthropologie, Room & Board, MadeHere, Madewell, Posh Baby, to name a few)

 

 

 

Sold: Rare Pearl District – single level, 3 bedroom Condo

Posted on by Living Room Realty

THE METROPOLITAN CONDOMINIUMS

1001 NW LOVEJOY ST #1210
Portland, OR 97209

Sold at $1,090,400

   3 BEDROOM |  2 BATH |  1,824 Sq Ft
MLS #23335801 | 2022-2023 TAXES: $21,596.59
HOA DUES: $1311.40/month

Link to Property Website: METROPOLITAN #1210

Sometimes the sale of a home is closing a chapter for some. In this circumstance I was contacted by the representatives of the Estate of my client. There were several decision makers involved with in aiding the Estate sell the properties that were a part of the Estate, but the contacted me about aiding in the sale of their condo in the North End of the Pearl District. The condo was located in the Metropolitan Condominiums, an incredibly amenity rich building, within blocks of 3 of the Pearl’s green spaces (Tanner Springs Park, Jamison Park, and The Fields Park).

Serendipitously, I had originally assisted in the original purchase of this home, so had met the Seller before his passing. His partner still lived in the home, and she was gracious enough to tour me through and give me some context of the property before she moved out. It had some wear and tear, but finding a true 3 bedroom home that was not a penthouse, was unique across Pearl Condo’s. We prepped it for the market, got painting and touch up work done, had it staged thanks to Marta of Polka Dot Interiors, and were ready for the market by the Summer. We were optimistic about it, but also knew that there were several homes in the building for sale and the condo market has not been robust for a while now. It took a few months, before we got our first offer. While we hoped for the best in that deal, it was not to be. Those buyer’s opted to terminate the transaction, and buy a similar home that had more recent updates. Sometimes persistence and patience is key, and my client’s stuck with me throughout the shifting markets. Entering our 2nd Summer, things seemed on the uptick. Showings were coming more frequently, optimism about the downtown core recovering from the pandemic seemed to abound, and it seemed the Pearl District was coming back to life. The fountain at Jamison was running again, and the splashes of children enjoying summer echoed up into the open windows of the surrounding buildings.

Soon we had 2 parties circling on the home, after several months of deliberation. One decided to write, and both myself and the representatives of the Estate felt good about their offer, so we accepted and were under contract. It takes a good broker on the other side of a transaction to navigate bumpy waters, while trying to keep both parties of a transaction from feeling those bumps. This one came with the unique challenge of the building manager for the Association Management Company leaving the company, and not giving us a point of contact to address the numerous questions, updates, and most importantly, delivery of the condo documents in a timely manner. To complicate things, the Personal Representative for the Estate was never assigned access to the owner’s portal, so he had no way of obtaining the documents on his own. Thankfully, a new building manager was assigned, 2 days prior to us going into contract and we were suddenly wading through what appeared to be a lot of delayed updating from the building document side, as well as the new manager familiarizing herself with the building and trying to find the information we were looking for.

I was lucky enough that my co-op broker on the other side of our transaction was the wonderful Dana McKillop of Windermere Realty Trust. Her level of communication while we attempted to gather the requested information for her client’s was second to none. Working together to come up with solutions, navigate those bumps, and get all contractually obligated information to her client’s was a hurdle, that was ultimately accomplished. Last Friday, we were able to get this home closed and sold. What was the end of a chapter for some, will be a new one for others.

To my client’s, Joe & Carsten, thank you for your patience and understanding throughout what was a lengthy sale. Your level headed dispositions and trust in me helped us get here, and I appreciated it immensely.

To Karen, thank you for your grace in allowing us to tour your’s and Howard’s home while you were still living there and processing your loss. I appreciate your kindness and understanding in what I know was a difficult time.

To Dana, I hope your client’s love their new home and am excited for them to make it their own. I truly do hope we get to work together again in the future, as I know whoever you are representing will be keenly looked after and represented by the best.

Cheers to all involved and Thank you.

PROPERTY DESCRIPTION

Unique opportunity to own a single level, 3-bedroom home in the prestigious Metropolitan Condominiums. This SW Corner unit features 3 true bedrooms & 2 bathrooms. Inside you will find a chef’s kitchen with gracious pantry, gas cooktop island, and Viking stainless steel appliances. A large living room with a gas fireplace in the corner and built-in bookcases for extra storage are highlighted by wonderful light and expansive 12th Floor views. The large covered deck allows you to step outside and look over into Jamison Park and catch views of Mt Hood to the east. 2 deeded parking spaces (P-118 & 119), & 1 deeded storage unit (S-69) are included. The Metropolitan Condominiums is an amenity rich community, which features the following for the community: secure lobby with concierge service, wine storage room, gym, lounge, meeting room, & 2nd floor rooftop outdoor space with guest suites available for owners to rent out when needed. Surrounded by Tanner Springs Park a block to the North, The Fields Park 3 Blocks to the North, and Jamison Park 2 blocks to the South, you have access to outdoor green spaces in abundance. Right on the Streetcar Line, Bus Routes, easy access to Freeways and you can quickly cross over the Broadway Bridge to make it to the East Side of Portland. Grocery Store and Markets a few blocks away, and the Pearl District’s finest shopping and dining are minutes away. Come find out what Pearl District living is all about!

 

BUILDING HIGHLIGHTS:

AMENITY RICH BUILDING

  • 24-Hour Concierge Service in a secure Lobby
  • Lounge/Library
  • Meeting Room
  • Wine Storage Room
  • Rooftop Deck on the 2nd Floor, leading to Guest Suites
  • Workout Room
  • Secure Parking Garage, that has the ability to have EV added to parking at cost to Owner

CONVENIENCE AT YOUR DOORSTEP

  • Right in the Streetcar Line, with stops a block away
  • Close proximity to the Broadway Bridge for quick access across the Willamette River to East Portland
  • Portland Union Station is blocks away

PEARL DISTRICT OFFERINGS

  • Food and Dining all around (Can Font, Momoyama, Piazza Italia, Sisters Coffee Shop, Lovejoy Bakers, Carlita’s, Fields Bar & Grill, Andina and so much more!)
  • Breweries, Wine Tasting & Refreshing Sips (Deschutes Brewery, 10 Barrel Brewery, Backwoods Brewing, Von Ebert, Erath Tasting Room, Olive & Twist,
  • Safeway Grocery & Basics Market a few blocks away, & Whole Food towards to South End of the Pearl District
  • Shopping galore (Powell’s Bookstore, REI, Anthropologie, Room & Board, MadeHere, Madewell, Posh Baby, to name a few)

 

SOLD: The Fontaine Condominiums – 1220 NE 17th Ave #14D

Posted on by Living Room Realty

THE FONTAINE CONDOMINIUMS

1220 NE 17TH AVE #14D
Portland, OR 97232

SOLD at $285,000

   2 BEDROOM |  1 BATH |  807 Sq Ft
MLS #23583888 | 2022-2023 TAXES: $3,803.19
HOA DUES: $477/month

Link to Property Website: THE FONTAINE CONDOMINIUMS #14D

Congrats Ariel on the sale of your condo at the Fontaine! I loved walking into this home, and feeling your personality abound! I love that the new  owner’s also felt that same connection when seeing it. Here is to hoping that this helps facilitate the next steps for you! Cheers!

PROPERTY DESCRIPTION

Step into vintage charm in this mid-century modern condo, located in the iconic Fontaine Condominiums. New solid bamboo floors, with pops of a bold, retro color palette. Recently upgraded windows provide an abundance of natural light & frame the city, with views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams & Mt. St. Helens. Efficient mini-split system for heat/AC, storage aplenty, deeded parking, & additional storage cage. Community laundry for each floor, rooftop community room, BBQ area, water features at building entry & community garden. Located where Sullivan’s Gulch and the Lloyd District meet, the neighborhood features an abundance of shopping, restaurants, and strategically located near Freeways and Light Rail Transit routes.

 

 

BUILDING HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Secured Entry System & Lobby
  • Ground Floor BBQ, Picnic Area & Garden
  • Rooftop Common Room
  • Gated Parking area
  • Community Washer & Dryer is available for each floor. HOA does allow washer& dryer hookups to be added in unit, with HOA approval

CONVENIENCE AT YOUR DOORSTEP

  • Near Max Line Stops, Streetcar Line, and Easy Access to Freeways
  • The Lloyd Center is blocks away
  • Grocery Stores, Restaurants, & Shopping are all within close proximity to the building

 

Just Listed: Unique Residential or Commercial Condo at The Mosaic Condominiums

Posted on by Living Room Realty

THE MOSAIC CONDOMINIUMS

1410 SW 11th Ave #104
Portland, OR 97201

Offered at $295,000

   LIVE/WORK RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL CONDO
2 STORY CONDO | 1 BEDROOM |  2 BATHS |  876 Sq Ft
MLS #23660398 | 2022-2023 TAXES: $6,662.86
HOA DUES: $645/month

Link to Property Website: Mosaic Condominiums #104

Unique opportunity to own a ground floor Live/Work condominium in the Mosaic Condominiums! This property is one of only a few in the building that allows it to be used as a Residential Unit or a Retail/Commercial/Office space per the HOA documents. Prior use was for retail purposes, so it is currently built to retail spec (no dedicated kitchen build-out, only refrigerator, dishwasher and utility sink is present). Seller open to accommodating a kitchen build-out for residential purposes as needed, but list price would be increased to do so. Bedroom, Bathroom, and living area with fireplace upstairs, which includes a small outdoor deck which is rare for this building. Ground floor location, with the unit having direct access to the street level. Main level can be office, retail, or living area space with a 2nd fireplace and bathroom off the back. Make the space live or work exactly how you want it! The Mosaic Condominiums is in the heart of the Cultural District of Portland, and blocks away from Portland State University, The Portland Art Museum, The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and the South Park Blocks. Conveniently located along the Streetcar Line, Bus Lines, and easy access to freeway entrances, 1 Block away from Safeway, dining options and coffee shops abound.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just Listed: The Avenue Lofts #417

Posted on by Living Room Realty

THE AVENUE LOFTS

1400 NW IRVING ST#417
Portland, OR 97209

Offered at $359,000

   1 LOFT-STYLE BEDROOM |  1 BATH |  838 Sq Ft
MLS #23444529 | 2022-2023 TAXES: $5,544.59
HOA DUES: $429/month

Link to Property Website: The Avenue Lofts #417

Walk in to this light filled Pearl District condo in the Avenue Lofts. A loft-style bedroom, with 1 bathroom that includes washer/dryer hookups, open kitchen with new countertops & sink and a kitchen island that gives ample room to cook. The expansive living area has plenty of room & storage to live in. High ceilings make the home feel open and airy. Deeded parking space in a secured garage. Building amenities include fitness room, lobby, & 3rd floor courtyard. Easy access to shops, dining, transit lines & freeways.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just Listed: Incredibly Charming Broadway View Condominium

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Broadway View Condominiums

859 SW Broadway Dr. Unit #44

PORTLAND, OREGON 97201

Come home to this incredibly charming, light-filled two-story condo with vaulted ceilings, a large primary bedroom, tons of storage space & two expansive balconies with lots of room to garden, bbq and relax while looking out at views of Mt Hood. New flooring throughout (except for the kitchen & bathrooms), new Washer/Dryer, oven, & dishwasher. New kitchen peninsula & bottom cabinet, & new primary bath vanity. Deeded Parking space #5 comes included.

LISTED AT $305,000

2 BEDROOM | 1.1 BATH | 928 SQFT
MLS# 22459636 | 2021-2022 TAXES: $3,900.61 
HOA DUES: $459.25/month

Link to: VIRTUAL TOUR

Just Sold: Beaverton Condo for an incredible Client

Posted on by Living Room Realty

JUST SOLD

13050 SW Allen Blvd.
Beaverton, OR 97005

SOLD AT: $310,000

2 BED | 1 BATH | 1092 SQFT
MLS# 22618624 

I was introduced to Doug by way of referral from the amazing Sharon Bloudek, agent extraordinaire! He was looking for a condo within a very specific area of Beaverton and she was hoping I would be able to help him find that.

I am so glad she made the introduction, because Doug is the kind of client that everyone wishes for. He was looking to relocate from California to Oregon, to be closer to his family and grandkids, after the recent loss of his wife. To add to the weight of wanting to help him out, his late wife was a Realtor in California and had been a strong presence in all their previous sales and purchases. This added more gravity to make sure that I did my utmost best to represent him and help him out in his search.

Sometimes, we as brokers, want to make sure we prove our worth in a transaction. We explain strategies for helping get in contract, give our opinion when conducting the inspection on what is a reasonable ask for a repair request, or what might be of potential importance to a Buyer when reviewing condo docs. But in this case, Doug gave me a lesson that sometimes we may get in the way of a smooth transaction. Doug was level headed in his search, and when we did find the right condo for him, he was even keeled about what he wanted to write when it came to the offer to insure he got it. Doug was using Cash to purchase this home, so when we were able to find a home that had been on the market for longer than what the average days on market was showing he had the opportunity to attempt to negotiate on price or terms. Even with this ability to potentially flex some buying power, Doug opted to make sure he wrote an offer that was appealing to the Seller and that no one would come in and take it from him at the last minute. His clear, concise thinking made sure that we were able to get an accepted contract. This approach helped during the inspection period as well, as he was very realistic about what was a major concern to him and what something was that he could take care down the line. This helped us write a reasonable repair addendum of things he would prefer not to take on himself, and that was mostly accepted by the Seller. His forward thinking helped us through a very smooth transaction and successful closing, that enabled him to be close to his children and grandchildren.

Handing him his keys was extra special, because I knew he would be an amazing addition to the Beaverton community, of which I am a part of. I truly hope this move has helped him find happiness and closeness with those he loves.

Congrats Doug, you were everything a Realtor could ask for in a client and I truly appreciate you giving me some life lessons in the process.

Cheers!

 

    

all photos courtesy of Debra Neal of Windermere Realty Trust

Just Sold: A Streetcar “Loft” Called Desire

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JUST SOLD

1030 NW 12th Ave #210
Portland, OR 97209

SOLD AT: $299,900

STUDIO | 1 BATH | 610 SQFT
MLS# 21593452 

I met Austin by way of introduction by my colleague Bonnie Roseman. She was in a pinch and needed some assistance with someone familiar with condos. Austin was only in town for a weekend trip, and had set aside one day to do a tour-de-force of condo tours and I was lucky enough to be available to take him around the urban core of Portland and see a variety of homes that fit his budget and needs. We ranged from the Central Business District, to the Waterfront, Old Town, the Pearl District, NW Portland, Lloyd District, and areas of SE Portland as well. Austin was able to weigh the pros and cons of the various buildings, the associated HOA amounts (which varied greatly), and the difference between something built from the ground up in the last 20 years vs apartment conversions which ranged to almost 50-100 years old. The great thing about Austin was that he absorbed everything I relayed to him evenly, and processed it in a very thorough analysis of what worked best for him.

When we wrapped up, he landed on the decision to make an offer on a studio loft at the Streetcar Loft Condominiums in the North end of the Pearl District. Built in 2001, this iconic building sits along NW Lovejoy and features the large letters “GO BY STREETCAR” displayed on a corner of the building. Perfectly situated along the streetcar line, a few blocks away from grocery stores, shopping, and restaurants, this was a perfect mix of what Austin was looking for. It was also built to newer standards, than many of the other conversions we had seen, and included a rooftop garden, gym, and common room as part of the building Amenities.

We worked with Ethan Sackfield of the Mike Maier Mortgage Team with Fairway Mortgage on the financing side, and he hit it out of the park. His communication to all parties kept us up to date on where things were from their side, and had loan docs out and were ready to close early if we desired. In Real Estate transactions, we tend to get a bit jaded and expect the sky to fall any minute, but that was never the case here and it was a welcome change (and feeling) to not have to worry about anything at the 11th hour.

Lauren Sheehan and her team at the Sheehan Home Group of EXP Realty, LLC. did a wonderful job representing the Seller and were great on communication, follow-up and ability to put a deal together. I hope I have the chance to work with them again.

Congrats and welcome home Austin!

 

 

 

all photos courtesy of Lauren Sheehan of EXP Realty, LLC

Just Sold: Woodburn New Construction for First Time Homebuyers

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JUST SOLD

1070 Kennedy St, Woodburn, OR 97071

LISTED AT: $399,000 | SOLD AT: $400,000

3 BEDROOM | 2 BATH | 1,302 SQFT
MLS# 21573099 

Persistence pays off! I first met Marcus when he choose to intern at my previous brokerage. He had recently graduated college and wanted to explore some career paths for himself. He was an incredibly bright young man at the time with the world in front of him. He opted not to go into real estate, and decided to pursue a career with a finance company.

Fast forward to the fall of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic,  when he approached me about finding a home for himself and his family. He was now married, and the father of a young daughter. They wanted to find a place for their family to grow and call their own, but desired to keep their budget to under $400k. We began their search in the Portland Metro area, but ran into limited inventory, questionably habitable homes, or Townhomes which had HOA amounts or special assessments that made their price point lower in order to keep they monthly payments the same as a detached home. We wrote offer after after, only to lose out over and over.

Still Marcus and his wife, Maddeighy, remained undaunted. We keep looking, slowly expanding our search out to Hillsboro and Beyond, Newberg, deep East Portland, and finally South towards Woodburn. What you got as you went out was not much better, but at least there were more options. We keep searching through the Winter, Spring, and into the Summer, when they informed me that they were expecting their 2nd child and really did need space for 4. They were due in November, so we hoped to be in contract on something before their new daughter came. They hunt progressed.

We finally came across some new homes that were under construction in the Woodburn area. Marcus works in Wilsonville, so the commute was not that bad in comparison to some of the deeper east and west areas we had looked at. There were 3 properties all under construction, all for sale, with 1 of them pending. They pounced and we wrote an offer, in the hopes that the home would be as envisioned when they were all complete. This was a leap they had to take, as there was no flooring, countertops, appliances, concrete outside, or landscaping done when we viewed it. They decided it was better than most other things they had seen, and after a few negotiations with the listing brokers on the minutiae of the sale, we were in contract.

New construction is an exercise in patience, and despite writing our closing for 45 days (we were told they thought they would be done in 30 days), nothing is ever as planned. At 45 days, we were told the final building inspection by the county still needed to be completed, and no Certificate of Occupancy would be ready, so we pushed out a week. 1 week lead to 2. 2 weeks turned into 3. We hoped no more delays would occur, and thankfully, the day before  Thanksgiving we were given word that the Final Inspection had occurred, the building permit had been signed off on, and Certificate of Occupancy had been issued. The day had arrived, and despite the hope that they would have a home ready to move into before their 2nd daughter arrived, they would be now have a home for her and her sister to grow up in and call their own.

Cheers Marcus, Maddeighy and Family, I hope that you make many lovely and wonderful memories in your new home!

 

Chasselton Charm for these First Time Homebuyers

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JUST SOLD

The Chasselton Condominiums
701 NE 28th Ave #31
Portland, Oregon 97232

SOLD AT: $427,500

2 BEDROOM | 2 BATH | 1,344 SQFT
MLS# 21427447 

Today I am reminded of why I truly get fulfillment in my career. Yesterday I had the pleasure of handing over keys to two of the most genuine and deserving people on the close of their very first home. Jen and Matt were referred to my by their lender, and I am so glad he did. Real Estate is a journey, and many times we as agents are as much along for the ride just as our client’s are. We walk each home with them, talk about the pros and cons, envision what a home could be like in the future, savor it when we win the bid, and take the sting when we get beat out on offers. So when you and your client’s get along so well together and seem to be on the same page with the good and the bad of each home they see for themselves, you are exultant when they find the one just right for them.

We started our search seeing 10+ properties a day, weekend after weekend, and threw in some weekdays for fun as well. To say we saw a lot of homes is an understatement. Jen and Matt took it upon themselves to really educate themselves about the market, what seemed like a good deal and what clearly was not. We started looking at condos, but after seeing some of the HOA dues that came with them, we diverted to detached homes and townhouses without HOA’s. We saw so much in their price range, wrote a couple of offers, only to be beat out, and finally ended up in contract on a home in Milwaukie that they felt would right for them. It was flipped prior to the current owners purchasing it, and it had all the trappings of a charming home, with the old bones of a a turn of the century property. We had our inspection, and things started out bad (no sewer cleanup) and ended up worse (inspector pulling me aside to have a very candid conversation about the condition of the crawlspace). After a laundry list of major red flags, Jen and Matt decided to terminate. I remember my words to them: “Sometimes, it is okay to walk away and start again. We will find you the one.”

I headed out of town for a last bit of summer vacation, and we talked about one of the condos they had seen early on in our search. It had just had a major price reduction, and they felt it was finally at a price they could feel comfortable with making an offer on. As soon as I got back into town, we made the offer and after some great dialogue between the listing agent, we were able to craft a deal between both parties that seemed to be a win-win. The condo was located in the Chasselton Condominiums, a converted apartment building in NE Portland originally built in the 1920’s, but recently converted to Condominiums in 2007. This unit was unique in the building, as it is the only one that was 2 units that were combined over different floors. This space would allow Jen and Matt enough space to have a several bedrooms and a bonus room, to have an art studio and game room for their hobbies and more importantly, allowed AC in the space, which their previous apartment did not allow and the major reason why they started their search! So here is a photo of the two East Coast transplants, outside their very first home purchase, after being Renter’s in Portland for over 20 years!

Thanks to Michael Larson at Principal Mortgage Group for his wonderful referral and his excellent work on the financing side for Jen and Matt.

Many thanks to the List Agent, Victoria Jayne of Jayne Realty, LLC for her exceptional work on the other side of this transaction. She was on top of everything on the Seller’s side and her communication and ability to put a deal together was second to none. I truly do hope to cross her path again and work together on another transaction.

Cheers to all parties involved and Congrats Jen and Matt!

Another Contingent Offer, Another Success Story

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Dillon and Lindsey came my way via referral and were looking to make a move to Portland from the East Coast. They were transparent about their needs for finding a home, but had to have it contingent on the sale of their home back East to be able to make it work. Contingent offers are never an easy proposition in a Seller’s market, so we had to keep our eyes peeled for the perfect home for themselves and their 4 boys. We came across a home in Ashcreek, sandwiched in between Multnomah Village and Garden Home, that fit the bill for them. On a cul-de-sac, 4 Bedrooms, den, and most importantly, in Portland, where family already was. This home had been on the market longer than the average, so we felt that it might be a good candidate for entertaining a contingent offer.

Dillon and Lindsey were the model of great communication, and after a FaceTime tour of the home, we made an offer. After some finessing of the timing for them to put their home on the market, we were able to get their contingent offer accepted. They navigated their timelines to list their home, get it on the market with their Realtor back East, and quickly accepted an offer and went pending. That began our timelines for their purchase, and we proceeded to conduct inspections, navigate repairs, have appraisal conducted (and it appraised!), and we had their financing ready to go for a timely closing. Thanks to Matt Jolivette at Associated Mortgage Brokers for his work on that side of things.

Cheers Dillon, Lindsey and Family! I hope your new home in Portland brings you the nearness to your family you were hoping for, and some extra set of hands for the boys!

JUST SOLD

6317 SW Bently Ct

Portland, Oregon 97219

LISTED AT: $658,000| SOLD AT: $658,000

4 BEDROOM | 2.1 BATH | 2,316 SQFT
MLS# 21379299 

photo courtesy of Eric Zechenelly of Willamette Equity Brokerage LLC

Just Sold/Just Bought: Contingent Purchases can happen in this market!

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Congratulations to my client’s, Whitney and Peter, on the sale and subsequent purchase of their homes! This one is special, as my client’s happen to be family members and we were unsure if this would come together cleanly. We found their new home, which was marketed as a For Sale by Owner, and beat out another offer. We were not sure if a contingent offer would be entertained by the Seller’s in a competitive market and against another offer, but we put our both terms forward and were able to get them in contract. Step 1 down!

We had 10 Business days to prep and list their current home, and they were champs in prepping it for photography and to list. Their home was special, and many family get together’s were had over the years at their almost 3/4 of an acre property overlooking Claggett Creek in Keizer. The incredibly talented photographers with Ruum Media worked their magic and highlighted the property incredibly with their lenses. Step 2 down! Once we hit the market, we allowed for 6 days of market time to get Buyer’s through the property, host an Open House, and review offers. 11 Offers came in Total for my Buyer’s to review. We decided to choose that one that gave us the most assurances on closing the deal, as Whitney and Peter wanted to make sure they were able to complete the sale of their purchase.

We accepted the chosen offer, and away we went through the pending process. We hit a few bumps along the road, but that happens in any transaction. The easy communication with my client’s made it easy to figure out different scenarios (in this one, a low appraisal) and how to keep our deal together. We worked with Jackie Willems with AmeriTitle (Salem) on both transactions, and this made it incredibly easy to navigate when it came to closing. We were able to record on their sale and fund on their purchase on the same day, thanks to the smooth Lender interactions with Joshua Hauser at OnPoint Community Credit Union (Happy Valley),and my client’s now have a comfortable free possession after closing to pack and make their move.

Cheers Whit and Pete! Can’t wait to for you to make new memories in your new home!

 

LISTED & SOLD

5253 Verda Ln NE

KEIZER, OREGON 97303

Country Living, in the heart of Keizer! This wonderful midcentury single level home, boasts tasteful updates, arching ceilings, plenty of light throughout, & peaceful views from the backyard. Situated on 0.69 Acres, the home itself sits at the top of a slope, with a private terraced back yard extending down. 4 Beds/2.1 Baths, w/Main Bedroom on opposite wing as other bedrooms for. Large 2 car garage, w/attached workshop. Listing Broker related to Sellers.

LISTED AT: $474,900 | SOLD AT: $550,000

4 BEDROOM | 2.1 BATH | 1,974 SQFT
MLS# 21258454 | 2020-2021 TAXES: $3,979.72

JUST SOLD

2584 Quartz St NE

KEIZER, OREGON 97303

LISTED AT: $749,900 | SOLD AT: $755,000

3 BEDROOM+DEN | 2.1 BATH | 2,115 SQFT
MLS# For Sale By Owner 

 

Just Listed: Orenco Station Townhome with Amenities Galore!

Posted on by Living Room Realty

 

East Village at Orenco Station Condominiums #1409

1160 NE Horizon Loop #1409

HILLSBORO, OREGON 97214

Location is everything! Welcome to this lovely townhouse style condo in the East Village at Orenco Station (EVOS) Condominiums. This lovely 2 Bedroom/2 Bathroom home features updated kitchen appliances, including a new refrigerator, induction range, dishwasher & microwave, new flooring & AC. 1-car attached garage. Amenities galore! The HOA includes a Community center, pool/hot tub, 2-level gym, theatre room, racquetball court, library room, piano room, tanning room, playstructure & more! Located in the Heart of Orenco Station! Blocks from the Max station, restaurants, shopping, parks/dog parks, trails, Intel & more!

LISTED AT $349,000

2 BEDROOM | 2 BATH | 1,241 SQFT
MLS# 21232217 | 2020-2021 TAXES: $2,916.98 | HOA DUES: $331/month

  

 

 

  

  

  

  

  

Just Sold: Historic Embassy Studio Condominium

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Embassy Condominiums

2015 NW Flanders St #106

PORTLAND, OREGON 97209

The Historic Embassy Condominiums is located in Portland’s historic Northwest Alphabet District at the corner of NW 20th Avenue and NW Flanders Street. It is one of the few examples of early 20th century Georgian style architecture remaining in Portland. The Embassy was built in 1923 and designed by noted architect Carl L. Linde.
Previously Luxury Apartments, it was converted to Condominiums in 2005 by developer Robert Ball and included the renovation of 69 units, varying from 430 square feet to 778 square feet. 44 parking stalls were sold with the larger units, and a communal gym, laundry facilities, and storage were done as well.  On the National Historic Register for many years, there was a tax abatement in place until 2019.

SOLD AT $178,000

STUDIO | 1 BATH | 455 SQFT

Congrats to my client Ardyn, on the purchase of this adorable pied-à-terre at the Historic Embassy Condominiums. Her desire for simplistic living, in a home where she had easy access to walk her dog, and could live debt free, is now a reality.

Ardyn was a Buyer who knew enough to be cautious and and did her share of due diligence when it came to reviewing condo docs, potential issues that may arise in an almost 100 year old building, and what that might mean for her down the line.

I appreciated her desire to talk things out over the phone and discuss what all the information she was reviewing meant to her. Not all client’s take the time to pour over the things they receive, but Ardyn did. This helped in how I was able to advise her and discuss possible options and scenarios of what might be in store down the line.

Handing her the keys to her new home, was a wonderful feeling for me in the short time I had to get to know her. I truly hope she enjoys the simplification of her life and the vibrancy and life of the neighborhood that she now lives in. Cheers!

Just Sold: Historic Charm meets Efficient Living

Posted on by Living Room Realty

HAMILTON ARMS CONDOMINIUMS #402

709 SW 16th Ave #402

PORTLAND, OREGON 97205

The perfect mix of elegance & efficiency in the heart of Goose Hollow. This charming home features recently refinished hardwood floors, pine kitchen floors, new custom window blinds, fresh paint, radiant heat, & an abundance of built-in storage. Onsite laundry and bike storage. Only a block from public transport and close proximity to the Alphabet, Cultural and Pearl districts, makes this a perfect place to enjoy local shopping and dining. Built in 1928, the Hamilton Arms Condominiums is a part of Portland’s storied history and elegance. Converted to condominiums in 2005, this 5-story building combines elegant historic elements with modern convenience. Located in the Goose Hollow neighborhood, and blocks away from premiere shopping, dining and transportation. Catch a Timbers game at Providence Park, walk to museums or theatre in the Cultural District or enjoy shopping or dining in the Pearl District, NW 23rd or downtown. Freeways and the Portland streetcar are nearby, and you’re right on the MAX and bus lines, getting to where you need to go is easy and convenient.

Sold at $170,000

STUDIO | 1 BATH | 458 SQFT
MLS# 21617317 | 2020-2021 TAXES: $3,263.52

Congrats to my client Judy on the sale of her adorable condo at the Historic Hamilton Arms Condominiums.  It was a pleasure working with my colleagues Cristen Lincoln, Quinlin Langford and the rest of their Team, who brought the Buyers on this one. Their ability to be able to put together a deal and navigate some bumps in the road, were just what this needed to see it to conclusion. I truly hope their Buyer’s are happy with the end result and are able to enjoy this wonderful spot in the city.

Cheers!
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Just Sold: Tigard Townhome with views of Fanno Creek Park

Posted on by Living Room Realty

9291 SW Hill Street

TIGARD, OREGON 97223

Townhome living without the HOA! End unit of a 4-unit complex, backing to the quiet green space of Fanno Creek Park, and minutes away from downtown Tigard! 3 Bedrooms, 2 up & 1 down, with 3 full en-suite bathrooms & powder room on the main level. 3 Decks, with a large one off of the kitchen for outdoor deck living. Hardwoods on the main, new carpet on the upper & lower levels. Extra long garage for tandem car parking. Vaulted ceilings for great light and no HOA dues.

LISTED AT $380,000 | SOLD AT $396,000

3 BEDROOM | 3.1 BATH | 1669 SQFT
MLS# 20168859 | 2019-2020 TAXES: $4,426.08

 

Steve and Gayle came to me by way of a referral from an old colleague of mine. A rental property for a number of years for them, they originally bought it for their daughter while she was living in Portland. Looking to do an exchange into a different property, we discussed the different options for them and how best to get the most out of their investment property.

With the Sellers living out-of-state, we had to do some coordination to make sure I was able to see the property prior to listing, give my opinions on the work needed to be done once the tenants moved-out, and then properly prepare it to come to market. Thankfully Steve and Gayle took all my advice to heart and were able to get the proper contractors through to prepare the home to list.

We allowed for 5 days on market for proper market time for all interested parties to make it through the home, ended up with multiple offers on the property, and at the end of it all, my client’s selected the Buyers who were represented by a fabulous Living Room Realty agent, Ella Gray.

I am always appreciative of solid co-op agent, and this time I had a stellar one in Ella. Ella’s communication, ability to direct her client’s on making a competitive offer, and the follow through during the negotiations once in contract were exceptional and a big part of why we are closing today. In addition, having Bill Dolan with Guild Mortgage on the Buyer’s side for lending, the communication was in abundance and I knew where we sat through the entire process, a huge thing from the Listing Side.

Congrats to all parties involved!

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Just Sold: My Blue Heaven – Hazelwood Mid-Century Ranch

Posted on by Living Room Realty

434 NE 130TH PL.

PORTLAND, OREGON 97230

Single level living at its finest! Updated Mid-century Hazelwood Ranch on a large corner lot. Recently remodeled bathroom, brand new upgraded electrical panel (200amp) & mast, central air conditioning, updated kitchen, new back patio, new French doors, newer roof, vaulted ceiling with wonderful interior light, laundry room, new partial siding and vinyl windows, exterior tool shed, & exterior storage. Easy access to public transportation, grocery stores, shopping, parks & Glendoveer Golf course.

LISTED AT $330,000

SOLD AT $358,000

3 BEDROOM | 1 BATH | 1320 SQFT
MLS# 20590226 | 2019-2020 TAXES: $3,357.61

 

Congrats to Cyril and Laurel on the sale of their dialed Mid-Century Ranch home! When you ask for clients who listen, they must have been had these two in mind for ideal clients!  They spent months prepping for this one to come to the market, and went above and beyond in its preparation. When we hit the market, we had over 40 showings, that culminated in 11 offers, over 6 days on the market. Their hard work had clearly paid off and it garnered the attention we were hoping for. The Buyer’s Broker on this one, Jon Lawson of Living Room Realty, was extremely communicative, thorough and most importantly advised his client well on how to make a competitive offer amidst a very competitive Buyer’s market. The terms they came in with made my clients feel comfortable and happy with going into contract on this one.

They can now move on to their next steps on their future home, currently being built.

Cheers to the, and all the best on the next steps of their journey!

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

 

 

 

Sold: A Pearl in the Pearl

Posted on by Living Room Realty

323 NW 13th Ave #406

PORTLAND, OREGON 97209

A Pearl in The Pearl – Contemporary 2008 Penthouse (4th Floor). Heart of the Pearl, sits atop historic warehouse building! High ceilings, open floor plan, amazing light, wall of windows opening onto oversized, South facing private patio. Includes 1 deeded parking space and storage in secure garage. Well insulated, quiet units. Rare opportunity to live in this unique small community where a vibrant urban lifestyle is just outside your door!

SOLD AT $398,500

1 BEDROOM | 1 BATH | 784 SQFT
MLS# 20258146 | 2019-2020 TAXES: $5,976.40 | HOA: $342/mo.

 

 

 

 

Congrats to Paul and Larry on the sale of their condo! Best wishes on your future endeavors!

 

Stunning Mt. Tabor Detached Condo for these great Clients

Posted on by Living Room Realty

The detached home market in Portland continues to remain hot and competitive. Flying under the radar are some incredible new construction homes that remain on the market, with some of these are being detached condos that live exactly like their traditional residential counterparts, and in some circumstances, better.

I was introduced to Sean and Shannon by way of company referral. We initially began their search looking at condos in the Pearl District and Slabtown/NW PDX and expanded to inner SE Portland for proximity to Sean’s work. Originally from California, Sean has lived in Portland for several years, coming here for work. Shannon was still based down in California and spending part of her time in Portland. We needed a property that worked for both of them, that was clean, had modern aesthetics, and needed the ability for two home offices. What we discovered was many new construction homes on the east side were priced similarly to condos in the Pearl, but had a lot of bells and whistles that you did not have with some of the older properties we had started looking at. We had interest in several of these homes and wrote on a few, right as COVID-19 began making its presence known in the states. We wrote offers on 2 places prior to the home they found, each having been on the market for a bit, and each having much optimism for what they could sell for. We also discovered the wide range of what builders constituted an ADU and what they felt that was worth. (Hint: Putting a mini-fridge in a lower level room and an exterior door in there, while trying to call it a full ADU is going to hurt you when competing against a fully plumbed kitchenette, separate entrance, bathroom and washer/dryer area )…just in case there are any builders or brokers out there wondering what should I do here on my next project.

I was blessed by Sean’s no-nonsense approach to offers, and Shannon’s meticulous attention to detail, but when things did not pan out on properties 1 and 2, we found this wonderful property at the Tabor Terraces Condominiums, built by Ethan Beck Homes and listed by Eric Hagstette with Inhabit Real Estate. It was under $1M, stunning and functional interior, 3 Bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and Laundry on the top level, Kitchen, Living Spaces, Bonus Bedroom/Office on the 2nd level with access to 2 outdoor decks, and a full bedroom and bath + recreation room on the entry level. You could walk up SE Yamhill and head off the trails into Mt. Tabor Park, or head down and cut across a walking path and be on SE Belmont. Eric’s easy going approach to the Sale Agreement was a refreshing change from what we had encountered in the past, and we had the opportunity to meet the builder and walk the property with them, discuss some options built into our offer, and as with many new construction homes, we had the opportunity to do a walk through with the Project Super and get any items that cropped up on the inspection taken care of. I tell some of my clients, the longest repair addendum I had ever written was on a New Construction property. This was primarily because the home was not ready for us, and we had to call out many things just for the sake of completion. This inspection was anything but that, and perhaps the cleanest one I had ever had. This speaks a lot to the builder, the quality of construction and the diligence that his team takes in following up on items. If you are curious, they still have one left for sale and I would love to get into it! Here is a link to the project for those who are curious as to what the project looks like: http://www.taborterrace.com/

I have to thank Bill Dolan with Guild Mortgage, who jumped through a lot of hurdles in making this happen with the financing side of things and competing against the Builder’s preferred Lender. Bill has always been extremely great in communication and updates, and it was well appreciated and needed for the successful on time closing of our transaction.

Cheers and welcome home Sean and Shannon! I truly hope you enjoy your place here in Portland.

From Seattle to this North Portland Charmer

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Some closings are better than others. This one, is one of the good ones. A little over a year since I helped him sell his condo downtown, I got to help my good friend Matt and his partner Libby, on their purchase of this wonderful North Portland Stunner.

If you haven’t gotten the memo, it’s been crazy out there in the Real Estate Market. Matt and Libby started their search in the midst of this Pandemic and right at a time that the limited inventory and pent up Buyer demand came to a head and everyone on the West Coast started to shop for a home in Portland. They made offers on 3 homes prior to this, all multiple offer situations, all ones they lost out on, with the last one coming close and they were offered back-up position. While waiting for that one to sort itself out, they saw this one hit the market and it spoke to them. Stunning updates, amazing back yard, fairly quiet pocket in an area that most people would not have considered. The made the drive down from Seattle to check it out on a long weekend of looking at properties and this was the best of the bunch. Tasteful updating, and a backyard that you felt like you were in your own garden oasis. Another positive, I happened to know the listing broker on this one, one Gabrielle Enfield of Living Room Realty, my colleague who happened to start at LRR at the same time as I did. To date, we had not had an opportunity to do business together, but here was our chance. I can confirm what I already knew, Gab is an extremely hard working professional and a master at her craft. She knows the North Portland market well and I was pleased to have her as my counterpart on this transaction.

Due to the nature of what needs to be offered in the current market, my clients will take possession in early September, so this post will be updated at that time when I can give you their happy faces in front of the home. Until then, enjoy the stunning photos of this lovely property and Congrats to Matt and Libby! I can’t wait to hand you keys!

 

 

 

 

Just Sold: Benson Tower 1-Bedroom in the Heart of Portland’s Cultural District

Posted on by Living Room Realty

BENSON TOWER CONDOMINIUMS

1500 SW 11th Ave. #407

PORTLAND, OREGON 97201

Come home to this updated SE Corner home in the desired Benson Tower Condominiums. New Brushed Oak Tidewater Flooring, Stainless Steel Kitchen Appliances, True Bedroom, and Covered Balcony overlooking a canopy of trees. Large  living room, which could be used as second bedroom or den. The building features secured access, common room, gym, outdoor courtyard, hot tub, lobby, & bike storage. A block from Safeway, Portland State/Saturday Market, & MINUTES from the Max/Streetcar, Museums, with easy  freeway access. 1 Deeded Parking included in secured parking garage.

OFFERED AT: $355,000 | SOLD AT: $355,000

1 BEDROOM | 1.1 BATH | 708 SQFT
MLS# 20446165 | 2019-2020 TAXES: $4,974.79  | HOA: $462/mo.

VIRTUAL TOUR: Click Here

 

 

 

 

 

The Power of Staging and The Gift of an Amazing Client

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Craig came to me by referral from Sharon Bloudek, another agent at Living Room Realty. She thought we might match well and I might be able to use my condo knowledge to help him sell his property. I met Craig at the property, shortly after his tenants had moved out, and while familiar with other units in this complex, I did not expect to walk into a property that transported me to the Mediterranean. I’ve been in many condos in Portland, but I am always in awe when I get caught by surprise and see a unique property. This was definitely it, but had been a rental for Craig for a number of years and had some of the wear and tear issues that come with rental property. The finish choices were a very personal color palette, that does not always translate to favorable showings, but could be extremely cool if presented with some supporting staging. Craig had lived here early on in his ownership, and still have a lot of attachment to it, the decor and finishes. The question was, how best to present and market it to a diverse Buyer pool.

Enter the ladies of Crush Staging. Tiara Gunstone and Rachel Robichaud, are the wonders behind Crush, and who I had the pleasure of being introduced to when I joined Living Room as a number of agents spoke their praise. They have staged a number of properties for me now and are a delight to work with, making it simple, easy, and effortless. On this one, they came through, gave a number of suggestions we could do outside of just staging the property, and presented it to us in a way that was easy to digest. We took them up on the staging portion, and as they say, they “Crushed It”. This is why I suggest staging to my client’s when discussing how best to market their properties. This combined with the power of professional photography, makes

The condo market in Portland has slowed substantially over the past year and a half. A global pandemic usually does not help the cause either. Once we did go live, we had more showings here, than any other property I had on the market at the time. Sometimes having a place that stands out and is unique, drives interest that even I do not forsee coming.

The property had some challenges to navigate, and Buyer confidence seemed to be low, as we navigated through 2 sale fails. Right before our last sale fail, I got a call from Craig, and he relayed to me that his wife’s job was a casualty of the COVID-19 shutdown and he was going to be looking for other avenues for income. He thought it best to try and get it re-rented and to de-stage the property. I completely understood the reasoning and arranged for Crush to remove the staging and prepared to remove it from the market. The day before we de-staged it, we had a showing, and it seemed there was interest. It took a number of days, and thankfully Craig gave me his patience, as the offer came in and we were back into contract.

Both of us had some unease, as neither of us had any experience with selling a property amidst a statewide shutdown and global pandemic. There were some contingencies we had to navigate, some gives that may not have happened if business was running as usual, but in the end, we had found the right Buyer’s for the property and Craig was able to sell a home he had a lot of sentimental value to.

Congrats Craig, you were a wonder to work with and your perseverance throughout this process was extremely appreciated.

839 SW Broadway Dr. #76

PORTLAND, OREGON 97201

City Views, Mountain Views, River Views! If views are what you seek, this condo has them all! Mediterranean vibes abound in this unique 2-level condo! Custom built-ins in the Master Bedroom & master closet, lofted space that can used as a sitting area or additional bedroom, fireplace, sub-zero refrigerator, gas cooktop, & towering windows that showcase the views. Minutes away from downtown Portland, PSU, OHSU & freeway access.

SOLD AT $270,000

2 BEDROOM | 1 BATH | 875 SQFT
MLS# 19555142

BEFORE:

 

AFTER:

 

 

  

 

 

 

The trials and tribulations of a condo search

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Congratulations to my client Matt, who just recently completed his purchase of his condo in the Avenue Lofts!

Matt was the type of client you dream of as a REALTOR®. A referral from a past client of mine, he was patient, understanding, made quick decisions, and was extremely flexible. It was needed, because our initial run of trying to get into condos during his search hit road block after road block. This probably can best be illustrated below, in the possibly real journal entries of a REALTOR® (events may or may not have happened exactly as described):

Week 1 – Had several homes to see. Attempted to get into the Pinnacle Condominiums. Could not get the listing agent to pick up and buzz us in. Went to get Coffee. Good chats were had. Went back to try again. Finally picked up. Got into building. Discovered that the HOA put a Fob lock onto the place where the lockboxes were. No instructions how to get into the place where the lockboxes were, without a fob. Called listing agent back. She was as confused as I. We decided to come back another day. Matt was amazingly chill.

Week 2 – Had several more homes to see. Got back into the Pinnacle unit we had issues with last week. Got into the unit to find it was undergoing a whole paint job. It may have been started a while ago. It was definitely not complete. We passed. Tried to get into North Park Lofts. Was given a heads up by the listing agent that the call box may not work. It did not. We waited 20 minutes for someone to let us in the building. Had several interesting conversations with the nearby occupants of the park benches while we waited. Decided to pass. Looked at Matt, still was cool. How did I luck out on this one?

Week 3 – Just a few more homes to see. Nifty combo lock on a unit in one building. Unfortunately someone locked the door handle portion that was not affiliated with the combo lock. Could not get in. Had to come back another day and get in. Tried to get into a unit in the Avenue. Lockbox was not present. Listing agent did not return any phone calls. Did get into another unit in the same building that had black ceilings, very stylized decor, which included a wooden horse as a piece of art. Nice green screen of trees out the window and decent amount of in unit storage.  Matt seemed intrigued. I’ll take that over annoyed any day. At least we got into this one.

Week 3.5 – Got a call from Matt. “Let’s go for the Horsie one.” Boom! Horsie one it was. Here we go!

The unit was located in The Avenue Lofts, which is a historic condo conversion of the former Meier and Frank Warehouse, a 7-story building located at 14th & Irving. Originally built in 1923, with additions in 1956 and 1972, the building features 170 loft style one and two-story units, including 8 townhouses and 17 two-level penthouses. The conversion to condominiums was completed in the Fall of 2004. An open atrium is located in the center of the building on the 3rd floor, a Gym and Meeting room situated on the lower parking level. The best part of it (depending on your view point), is that the lobby hallway changes color.

Fast forward to putting him in contract, coordinating an inspection while I was out of state, getting through repairs and condo doc review, and coordinating a Buyer signing appointment while Matt was out of state for work, we somehow made it through in one piece. We luckily had Bill Dolan with Guild Mortgage in our corner working out the lending side of things for Matt, and he was the perfect person for this deal. Bill is a unit owner himself at the Avenue and was very knowledgeable of the building, the Pearl, and condos in general. I highly recommend him to anyone who is looking for someone a lender at the building or for condos in general.

Congrats Matt, you may not have decided to keep that Horse, but I feel you will put your own personal touch on your new home!

 

 

 

 

Just Listed: Benson Tower 1-Bedroom in the Heart of Portland’s Cultural District

Posted on by Living Room Realty

1500 SW 11th Ave. #407

PORTLAND, OREGON 97201

Well appointed 1-Bedroom/1.1 Bathroom in the desired Benson Tower Condominiums. New Brushed Oak Tidewater Flooring, Stainless Steel Kitchen Appliances, True Bedroom, and Covered Balcony overlooking a canopy of trees. The building features a common room, gym, outdoor courtyard, spa, lobby, and bike storage. A block from Safeway, Portland State/Saturday Market, and MINUTES from the Max/Streetcar, Museums, and WITH EASY freeway access.

OFFERED AT $423,800

1 BEDROOM | 1.1 BATH | 707 SQFT
MLS# 19212621 | TAXES: $4,828.50 | HOA: $450/mo.

 

 

 

 

From Piedmont to Woodstock – A Renaissance Home for my Buyers

Posted on by Living Room Realty

I had helped Ivan and Heather sell their Piedmont home back in November and they had been living with relatives ever since. When I received their call about being ready to begin their home search, it was the start of Spring and things were beginning to trickle in on the market.

They were far out on the West side and wanted back over on the East side of the River.  Open to anywhere from St. Johns all the way down to SW Portland, but their ideal home was located close in NE or SE Portland. A home that they could enjoy with their young daughter and ideally have family members stay with them from time to time. They stressed that a multi-generational house was ideal, one with a kitchen where they could share their love of cooking with their daughter, and a place for Ivan to work from, as he worked from home a few days out of the week.

Ivan is a Commercial Banker and his knowledge of how interest rates affect buying power was key to getting the home they wanted. As our search progressed from Early Spring to Late Spring, then from Early Summer into late Summer, we felt like we had exhausted everything on the market. Their price point started in the low $400k range, but due to lowering interest rates, they were able to keep increasing their price point and as they did, new types of homes started opening up. More importantly, homes that were in their target areas. Most Buyer’s aren’t sure how fluctuations in interest rates can affect the monthly payments, but Ivan did, and he was keenly aware of how a shift of a 1/4 percentage down, increased what they could purchase.

Enter this lovely 2014 built Renaissance Home located in the Woodstock neighborhood. It was at the absolute top of my client’s price point, but it stood out amongst the turn of the century homes and tall skinny builds littered through the city that we had toured. We needed a few rounds of negotiation to get the property at a point where it worked for my clients, but with an extremely professional Listing Team from Home Team Realty, we were able to get the parties into an agreement and a month later, Ivan and Heather became homeowners once more.

Congrats to Ivan, Heather and Olivia on their new home. I hope it brings many happy memories in the years to come!

 

 

Live Timbers & Thorns Games from your own Living Room

Posted on by Living Room Realty

A hearty congratulations are in order to my client, Joel! He recently completed his purchase of a condo in the Civic Condominiums.

Joel came to me as a Living Room referral when I first made the move to Living Room Realty. We spent the next few years touching base until the time was right for him to fly out and take a look at some condos that he was interested in. He was coming from Arizona, had a REALTOR® in his family, and was hoping to go with VA financing in his purchase. Joel works in logistics, and if ever there was someone who was made for that industry, it is him. He was perhaps the most organized client I have had and was on top of things before they even came on my radar. When he flew into town for a week, we toured over 30+ condos in the close-in Portland area. New, Old, Large, Small, Parking, No Parking, Converted Apartments, New Construction…we saw it all. So when it came time to make an offer, Joel was ready, able, willing and informed. We went into contract on a home that was a converted building off of NW Overton. It was small, quaint, and charming. The downside…not VA approved. Thankfully Joel had enough down to switch to a conventional route. We made an offer, went into contract after some negotiations, conducted our inspection, and were ready to finalize the sale.

A quick word about condos. The most important thing I can emphasize is an evaluation of the condominium documents to determine the financial health of the HOA, the potential or existence of any special assessments/litigation and how the building as a whole is holding up through the years. Does the HOA have a plan to replace systems as they get older? Have they budgeted for those in their reserves? Are they conducting an any reserve study to forecast these items. Other big items are, what type of financing are you using? VA? FHA? Conventional? It matters. A condominium building has to be FHA or VA approved to use that type of financing. If it isn’t, it can change, but the lender has to work with the HOA and it could take several months for that approval to happen. Most Sellers do not want to wait that long, so it behooves a Buyer using either type of financing to know the pros and cons of what happens when they find a property that may or may not be approved for them.

During our inspection of the condo docs, we discovered the HOA had to take out a loan to replace a failed fire escape and a special assessment was passed on to the owners of each unit. There was roughly $10,000 to pay off for this assessment. We began to negotiate having the Seller address that as a part of moving forward with the transaction. Then the appraisal came back…$10,000 under our agreed contract price. We debated whether to appeal the appraisal or not with some new information or not, but ultimately it was too much of a risk for Joel to take on and he decided to walk away from the property.

Within a day, another unit had come on his radar and the best part of it was the building was VA approved at the Civic Condominiums. Joel had left town already, but he had checked out the area it was in prior to leaving town and asked me to do a Facetime walkthrough of the unit with him. Technology proves it’s worth once more. With the building being VA approved, this allowed Joel to get a rate of almost a 1/4 percentage lower than a convention rate, allowing him to up his purchase price, in a newer, larger condo. We came in with a strong offer, put it under contract, and things moved rapidly from there. Joel officially closed yesterday and I had the honor of handing him the keys to his new home and got to watch him see it in person for the first time. This is the stuff I work for and is what makes what Ido more rewarding than anything I could imagine. Now he can sit back, look out his window overlooking Providence Park and take in a Timbers or Thorns game from the comfort of his living room.

 

Congrats Joel, I hope you truly enjoy your home in Portland. Welcome to the City!

 

 

Civic Condominiums  Providence Park Entrance Civic Condominiums