SE OFFICE : 2625 SE 26TH AVE

NE OFFICE : 1422 NE ALBERTA ST

Follow us on Twitter Find us on Facebook! Find us on Yelp! Email Us
Living Room Property Management

livingroomrentals.com

Living Room Active Listings

Start Your Home Search

We Are Proud of Our Sustainability Certification!

Silver Status Sustainability at WorkLearn more about the program and find other businesses who have achieved this recognition.

Resources

We have been asked every question imaginable from where to shop, send kids to daycare, crime statistics, home repairs, dog walkers, you name it. We do our best to connect our clients with the right people, answers and services when they need our help.
We have created a resource guide full of the people and phone numbers we turn to when we need those answers. Feel free to download a copy and please let us know if you have a business you think deserves a space within those pages. We update the guide once a year and would be happy to check out your referral.
Living Room Realtors Resource Guide

Links

NW Architecture
Green Homes
Street of Eames
Portland Green Building Tour
Earth Advantage Certified Agent
Energy Trust Ally
USGBG Cascadia Chapter
Mid-Century Modern League
Alicia Blue Gallery
Spring Newsletter
Photography by Jillian Doughty

A first time for everything

May 1st, 2012 by

First time buyers are kinda the best. They are happy and excited.  They see no road-blocks. Unsullied by past negative experiences, all they see are opportunities. If you don’t get inside their heads and make them basket cases then you can cruise along as if you aren’t skipping through a mine field. We had our setbacks, and even a disappointment or two: but we all kept cool heads and got these first time buyers a house that is perfect for them. Congrats Dave and Maggi!

Jake Goodson
Broker
Cell: 503.730.8677
jake@livingroomrealtors.com
View Jake's Profile

Onward to the "House of Tomorrow"!

April 19th, 2012 by

Birkmeier, Burkmeier, Birkemeier, Birkenmeier, Birkmeir, or Birkeemeier?—SURVEY SAYS… Birkemeier!

collage by Doug Decker

Kenneth L. Birkemeier, 1905-1996, was an innovative and thoughtful designer and builder of homes.  He had his hand in approximately 700 homes and apartment units constructed in Portland, Oregon from 1932-1952.  Kenny Birkemeier, like many designers, evolved through time and presented a thoughtful portfolio of work that spanned Colonial, English, and conventional ranch style homes.  But the style most recognizable today, and perhaps the most sought after, is the “Birkemeier Modern” or as Kenny may have said, the “House of Tomorrow”.  Birkemeier took special care to make each home unique and most often built “on spec” for challenging or interesting sites.  Birkemeier was fond of whimsical details and curves which repeated in his work throughout the years.  Fortunately, this leaves behind some distinguishable features to help identify his work.  So without further ado–

How to spot a Birkemeier*:

  • Complex overlapping roof lines
  • Roman brick on the facade
  • Oculus (or round window)
  • Rough brick patterns on exterior
  • Rock terracing materials, especially for hillside homes
  • Curved exterior walls &/or walkways
  • Curved rails of wrought iron
  • Brick fireplace or Roman brick fireplaces
  • Interior stone work
  • High peaked vaulted ceilings
  • Large front-facing windows
  • Open, flowing floor plans
  • Well-crafted wooden built-ins
  • Natural unpainted fine grade wood beams, trim, built-ins, closets, &/or cabinetry
  • Basement wet bar
  • Large 4” hexagonal tile counters
  • Same color large 4”x8” subway backsplash
  • Light turquoise/sea foam green kitchens
  • Light turquoise/sea foam green and pink bathrooms
  • Linoleum kitchen floors
  • Pass-throughs from kitchen to dining room
  • Curves: scalloped cabinetry trim, crown moulding, kitchen counters, front door entry trim, wooden closet pulls, living room ceiling beams, you name it–it’s curved.

Let me take a moment to congratulate two friends and clients for their recent Birkemeier purchase.  Congratulations Laura & Tommy!.  Dreams can indeed become a reality, please enjoy your architectural gem!  Here are some photos of their tastefully updated Birkemeier in NE Portland, Oregon.

*  This list is not to be construed as the end all, be all, yet it is my own compilation of observations of what Birkemeier has left behind from the entire length of his career.  There may be omissions and certainly this is not to be construed as a complete list.  Many of Birkemeier’s homes differed in style and many had overlapping elements.  In other words, buyer to do own diligence.  ;)

Have something to add?  Please contact Heather at (971)255-9868 or pdxrealestatebroker@gmail.com

References:
Doug Decker
Jack Bookwalter
Lynette
Lynette
Brian Libby

A Sweet Mid-Century for a Sweet Family

April 17th, 2012 by

I was introduced to Jodi, Brett & Finn by Jodi’s sister-in-law, who was a former RE client and is now a friend of mine. I was excited to work with this lovely family and help them find their first home. We spent a lot of time up front getting all of the financing in order so when we found ‘the’ home we would be in the driver’s seat. We looked at four squares, foreclosures, short sales, new construction condos, and town homes in NoPo, NE and SE. It was easy to figure out what this family did not want. When this sweet mid-century came on in their price range they were thrilled. One look at it inside and out and they were ready to write the offer. With the offer accepted and inspections cleared it was just a matter of time. I was sad not to see Finn every weekend. He would ask Jodi and Brett “Kim, houses?” Thank goodness Jodi sent me a photo to hold me over. It is always a bittersweet reward to find my client’s homes. I am SO happy for them and giving them their key is an AMAZING feeling, but I will miss Finn’s shiny face. I can’t wait to see what this sweet family does to their new, first, sweet home.

Kyle Moves into his Dream Home: A John Storrs Mid-Century Modern!

April 15th, 2012 by

I’ve got to hand it to Kyle, he has impeccible taste! About 2 months ago, I got a call from my excited friend about a house for sale in the Cedar Hills neighborhood. The house that caught his attention wasn’t just any old house, it’s a architecturally signigicant John Storrs design circa 1955. This house had been for sale for some time and hadn’t quite found it’s next owner yet. Kyle was interested in the house for both it’s exceptional design and the fact that the seller was open to a lease-option. It was exactly what Kyle was looking for.  Congratulations, my friend, on your new home for your family. I can’t wait for the house-warming party!

 

 

 
Tracey Henkels
503.715.6140

 

Tree Huggers Become Sophiticated

April 13th, 2012 by

Recently the kids and I were looking to upgrade our tree house. I thought a roof might be kind of fancy and the kids thought we might need walls, windows and doors. As I entertained that slightly overwhelming thought we came across this site for the Treehotel in Sweden’s Lapland 40 miles from the Arctic Circle. Now we’re talkin’! First we’ll go check it out, learn the ins and outs, and then we can create one of our own- no wait- one for each of us! And remember the sauna!!

Sold and sold fast in Alberta Arts!

April 9th, 2012 by

What just happened? Sometime over the holidays it goes from a buyers market to a sellers market. Boom just like that. I listed this re-hab at the end of January and it sold in days with multiple offers…No open house required, that way I could enjoy my slightly haggard Sunday…  It did take a while to close but that is another symptom of the market: the banks (i.e. underwriters) flubbing deals right before close.  Everyone kept a cool head and we made it happen in the end.  Keep an eye out for a new pre-school called First Impressions http://www.firstimpressionspreschoolpdx.com/right on Alberta Park!

Jake Goodson
Broker
Cell: 503.730.8677
jake@livingroomrealtors.com
View Jake's Profile

On the Sunny Side of the Street

April 6th, 2012 by

 

11047466-1

On the Sunny Side of the Street

My clients lived in Hillsdale and wanted to stay in the area.  They loved the convenient commute, the cute Hillsdale downtown, the hills and trees.  The only problem was they lived on the dark side of Hillsdale and were hungry for sun.  They had an eye for design and were firmly on the Midcentury bandwagon. The very first house we looked at was a somewhat remuddled 50s daylight basement ranch.  Underneath all the mistakes were good bones and an amazing view.  We continued looking but kept coming back to the sunny ranch.  Every time we walked in we’d gravitate to the wall of windows and the beautiful SW view.  During the inspection we had  all the contractors for the impending remodel come by for bids and everyone forgot the fireplace, flooring etc. for a minute while they stood in front of that view.  Luckily even on a cloudy, rainy day (not that we’d know anything about those) the house was bright.  Life can be so sweet.

On the Sunny Side of the Street

 

 

 

Laura Wood
Broker
Cell: 503.545.9912
laurawood@livingroomrealtors.com
View Laura's Profile

Trading Mid-Century Tabor for Traditional Westside

April 6th, 2012 by

Pam and her kids loved their house in Southeast Portland. The mid-century modern ranch sits three houses from Mt. Tabor, on a quiet, dead-end street, with views of protected greenspace out the huge windows on the front of the house. The neighbors are awesome and they had been very happy there. But Pam’s job and the kids’ school are all on the Westside, and Pam got tired of living in the car. So she decided to explore a move to the Westside.

I knew from the moment I saw her house near Tabor that it would sell quickly; some mid-century fan would snatch it up. So we needed to go ahead and shop for Pam’s new Southwest house before putting it on the market.

After seeing a few houses that weren’t quite right, we found a 2001 traditional-style house in a small planned development. The house had a lot of charm, plus the things you only get in a newer house: open kitchen / living room, master suite with massive bathroom, and extra-high ceilings on the main floor. It was perfect for them.

But then came the hard part–getting the seller to accept an offer that would be contingent on selling Pam’s house.

Pam wrote the strongest offer possible. I added a cover letter to the seller, who had moved to the Mirabella, telling her all about Pam and her family, trying to tug on some heartstrings. I presented the offer in person to the listing agent, so that I could convince her that Pam’s house would sell quickly.

Apparently, the personal letter about Pam did the trick; the listing agent said her seller wanted to sell to my client based on the letter alone. We were in business.

A few days later, Pam’s house hit the market. With a big marketing push, we had a ton of activity, and got a cash offer a few days later. This was the best-case scenario, since Pam needed a quick sale so that she could close on the Southwest house before a buyer without a contingency came along and took the house, which could happen.

And that’s exactly what happened- -another buyer surfaced and made a strong offer on the Southwest house. This is where the stars really aligned for Pam- -the seller stayed on board with her, rather than take the new, non-contingent offer. Whew!

Pam’s sale and purchase have now closed, and Pam is excited to spend more time at home, in her new home.

Tim Pitts
503-317-4312
tim@livingroomrealtors.com

6315 SE Harrison Street

7329 SW 64th Place

Modern Living in Alberta!

April 4th, 2012 by

 

Toured this 1910 remodel. Nothing 1910 about it. It lives modern and easy. The upstairs great room is the best place in the house with high ceilings and tons of light. I would’ve liked to stay here all afternoon. If you buy this house, you can and I’ll join you with a cup of tea. Listed with Dana Griggs of Windermere. Call me if you would like a private showing.

Andrea Debnam 503-407-5263

Timing is everything...

April 4th, 2012 by

 

My absolutely darling client Racheal wanted nothing more than to live in The Strand, where she was currently renting.  She loves the South Waterfront, being near the water and her commute to work downtown. Her lease was coming to an end and it was time to start looking for a place to purchase.  There had been nothing for sale in her building in ages and we had to start looking elsewhere.  We came up with a long list of condos, downtown, the Pearl District, SE, NE, covering all the options.  Just before heading out on our tour, I gave one last look to make sure there was nothing new we needed to add.  And there it was.  The exact unit Racheal was renting in her building, 3 floors down, and right in her price range.  We rushed over, wrote an offer, had it accepted and closed easily.  I love it when things fall into place that way.  Without question, it was meant to be…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Older Entries »