The place was packed from five to nine. Clients, friends and family packed the house. DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid kept the party moving. Anjali had just arrived back from India only a few hours before hand- the jet lag did not show, she was smiling and kept the records spinning. Little Green Grocer brought the champagne, wine and tasty food. Le Cookie Monkey made sugar cookies in the shape of modern dwellings. Thankfully a few were left when a guest needed a sweet bribe to get her two girls to leave the party and the kids craft table Daria had set up. The event was the same night as last Thursday. Our Art curator Bridgete Larrabee of Art Scout put together a portrait show featuring the photographs of  Jillian Doughty, Aubrie Legault, and Jen Bodendorfer. The night was a huge success and we have all our fabulous clients to thank for making it  memorable evening!

Check out a few of the fabulous portraits taken at last nights event.

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Determined and decisive buyers are always fun to work with and especially in this market where buyers are able to purchase in neighborhoods once thought unattainable.   This sweet couple and their young son were excited to find a charming home close in SE.   Education is fundamental in this family as dad works on his masters’ commuting in to PSU, mom is a school counselor and the little guy well, mom and dad are making sure he has the right start too.   After looking for sometime and not finding their dream home in North Portland this  SE house price reduced  and they pounced!  After becoming educated through the inspection process and feeling confident that they fully understand the home, we closed this sweet deal for $239,900!     Boasting 2108 sq ft,  2 bedrooms/1 bath and a full unfinished basement with room to grow.   All within walking distance of coffee shops, restaurants, and of course Trader Joes, this really was a score!

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NW Contemporary designed for modern living. You will be delighted by the light filled rooms, open floor plan, warm Brazilian hardwood floors made of forest certified Cumaru and the vaulted ceilings. The sellers did a gorgeous job updating the kitchen with concrete counters, glass tile backsplash, high end stainless appliances and custom cabinetry. The kitchen flows out onto a oversized deck that captures mountain and tree filled views and overlooks the huge backyard with Organic garden beds, play structure, built in hot tub and lower deck for entertaining. The family room downstairs has a fireplace and large slider to enjoy both indoor and outdoor play dates. The location is in one of my favorite SW neighborhoods. Tucked near Tryon and Marshall Park this forested area has access to the SW walking trails offering miles of hikes and adventures right outside your door. An urban oasis for sure, only a few minutes to freeway, Lewis and Clark campus, groceries, cafes and trendy Multnomah village yet insulated from the stress and chaos of the city. A beautiful place to come home and unwind!  Call to arrange a private showing. 10022 SW Balmer Circle. 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3100 square feet. Taxes $6110. Capitol Hill Elementary, Jackson Middle School and Wilson High School. Listed at $525,000.

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SMART! SMART! SMART!  Its not very often I think this when looking at infill new construction built on a skinny lot. Palazzo homes figured it out finally- how to build a functional new home that blends well with the existing neighborhood. The homes from the outside look like classic bungalows. One level homes with full basements. The trick is that the full basements are constructed with a clever floor plan that offer an extra bedroom, full bath, laundry, kitchen and separate entrance making them either a separate rental unit or open to the house an extra family room with all the extras. This NE Portland duplex has a great floor plan for roommates, older kids, renter or modern changing lives.

Our buyers JR and Kelly are a hip couple who have recently relocated with their two pooches from the bay area. JR works in special education and Kelly does job training for at-risk youth. They have also been dedicated long term mentors. Their busy lives meant they needed something in a convenient location that would be easy to maintain. The separate ADU (accessory dwelling unit) in the basement they plan to use to host their famous Friday night movie parties and hosting family and friends. Long term they may move on and this house will be a legal duplex that will provide extra income.

Sold at $289,900. Good investment. Smart infill design. Its a win win!

Welcome to the neighborhood!

As the weather gets better and better (not that it has really been that bad this winter!) I reminisce about a lovely trip my husband, Ben, and I took to NYC and Boston to visit friends and architectural sites last July. The weather was a perfect, if unusual, 75 degrees. We walked all over Manhattan- up and down, side to side, day in and day out- seeing everything from Renzo Piano’s NY Times building, at least twice, to Norman Foster’s Hearst Tower and Allied Works’ Museum of Art and Design, to the 2 week old (at the time) High Line Park designed by Diller, Scofidio + Renfro. This was the highlight of our visit! It is an amazing and unique elevated promenade on a trestle that was once a railway line for delivery of cattle, out of use since 1980. From this quiet perch, well above street level, framed views of the water and views straight down Chelsea streets abound. It is an urban sanctuary, a contemporary architectural fairy tale gesturing in the direction of Olmsted and Vaux’s Central Park. Bring a picnic, a bottle of wine, a special friend or your own silence and absorb the interface between the natural and urban fabric NYC has to offer. If you are still and observant, you might just be found by a fairy like we were by this one who then followed us home to our children…  If you find yourself in NYC, be sure to find the High Line Public Park! The second of three phases is due to open in the fall ’10. www.thehighline.org