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And When the Boat Sinks, Buy a House

January 31st, 2012 by Jaime

As an engineer who assesses risks for a living, Robin could probably tell you the percent chance that a hurricane could sink a boat, and as a television news producer, Chris could help cover the story. Or maybe he could do a little bio piece to tell the story of their own boat sinking. Which may have been a launching pad to the question, where to go next? In the last seven years their love for travel had taken them across the US. They resided not only in Florida, where they spent sunny days soaking up the rays and surfing, but also in Colorado, Texas, and Georgia. Tracking their past addresses for the loan application process was a bit of a Where’s Waldo experiment, minus the candy cane sweater and medieval horses of course.

Then, Robin and Chris welcomed their baby girl, Tallulah, into the world and the concept of where to raise a family was then in play. Hugo, their loving and loyal mutt, was flexible to any living situation. He had already lived on a boat after all. But where was a good place to plant some roots and raise a daughter? And by plant roots, that’s exactly what they meant. Robin decided it was time to trade her days in the salty sea for days among soil and seeds. Gardening was the next adventure, and Portland was calling them home.

Adjusting to “life on land”, they spent their first six months in Portland renting a basement apartment and looking for the perfect place to call their own. Then one day, there it was. A charming old Portland style Montavilla home with original unpainted woodwork, great natural light, a roomy front porch, and 3 upstairs bedrooms. The additional bedroom on the main floor could double as an office, the double car garage would make winters in the Northwest much more tolerable, and the possibilities of what could become of the semi-finished basement just added to the list of what made this one a keeper. The double lot and big yard would leave plenty of room for Tallulah to play, Hugo to explore, and a garden to flourish. Within walking distance to Country Cat, the seasonal Farmers Market, The Observatory and more, this is where their new adventures would begin.

I assess the likely-hood that this family will be happy in Portland is pretty high, and the experiences of Tallulah’s first years will be fun breaking news stories for their friends and family. And Hugo? Well, he has no complaints.

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The Story of the Fearless Buyers

January 20th, 2012 by Laura

My buyers and I had looked at a lot of houses. Everyone thinks being a first time home buyer is hard but sometimes having bought and sold a couple of houses makes it even harder. You don’t want to make any mistakes! No kitchens that are really too small once everyone crowds in when you’re cooking…no living room that doesn’t really allow you to arrange furniture…no dinky storage (even though we all want to live minimally-stuff happens). And of course there’s all the goodies you wish you had – walk-ability, beautiful finishes, original woodwork, an amazing fireplace with great built-ins. You get the idea.

We were getting discouraged – the nice houses that had been fixed up weren’t necessarily to their taste and they didn’t want to redo work that had just been done. We looked at fixers but my clients are a busy working couple with a young child and they just didn’t have the time to take on a project. Then we stumbled on to the perfect situation – a house in Ladd’s Addition across of one of the rose gardens that was just starting renovation by the Portland Development Group. My clients could still pick out finishes and make some layout changes and it would all be done in record time.

Here comes the fearless part – which you’ll only understand if you’ve found yourself standing in a sea of tile or paint, grabbing the arms of strangers passing by to ask which tile they like best. My clients picked colors for the entire house (with the invaluable help of Nancy Alwin – color consultant extraordinaire), tile, light fixtures (we had a great time at the new School House Electric showroom ), rearranged two bathrooms and added a doorway to open the kitchen…all in about three days. There should be a medal for this. The house is getting the finishing touches but see below for some of the great picks!

Laura Wood
Broker
Cell: 503.545.9912
laurawood@livingroomrealtors.com
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Portland vs San francisco

January 19th, 2012 by Laura

Portland vs San Francisco

A very good friend of mine (we worked together for many years at Dove Lewis) moved away to San Francisco for a job. At first it was all good – obviously San Francisco is a great city with a lot going on, right by the water and all those views of the beautiful bridge. But the longer Steve lived there the more he missed having a garden, a yard for a dog, going out to dinner and being able to park his car. He was renting a small apartment for more money than seemed legal. He wanted friendly city vs big city, Mt Hood views vs Golden Gate, a couple of hours drive to mountains or coast vs endless traffic, the best summers on earth vs the city that inspired Mark Twain’s famous quote (the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco), no earthquakes vs….well, let’s leave that one alone.

Steve wanted to come back to Portland and I was thrilled! We found him a close-in rehabbed North Portland house with three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, an oversized yard, garage, remodeled kitchen, dining room and a basement complete with Tiki Bar. The basement alone is bigger than his San Francisco apartment and the mortgage cheaper than his rent. Let the gardening begin!

Portland won, hands down.

Laura Wood
Broker
Cell: 503.545.9912
laurawood@livingroomrealtors.com
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New neighborhood….with an awesome kitchen.

January 19th, 2012 by greg

One of my favorite roles as a realtor is helping buyers discover new Portland neighborhoods that they were not previously familiar with. Then they fall in love with its character and then decide to make it their new home. A neighborhood that they will spend the next year exploring to find their Saturday coffee shop hangout, favorite boutiques and restaurants, and their own secret happy hour spots.

Bruce and Jenna were first time home buyers who were really open to exploring areas of town that were new to them, so we started out with the broad search criteria of all of Eastside Portland. They were also open to most styles of homes, but soon realized after a few tours that a newer construction home was a better fit for their busy schedules. An obstacle with newer construction homes located in close-in Portland is finding one built on a decent sized lot as many are built on divided lots, leaving not much of a yard. We contacted many home builders inquiring about lots that were slated for future construction without finding one that was a both good fit for their criteria and also in a location that spoke to them.

Then we came across an Alberta Arts house that was easy to get excited about. A newer construction home that ended up being perfect fit that included both a yard and a spacious 2 car garage. I loved it myself and immediately became envious of their great kitchen that featured a full sized commercial style refrigerator and freezer.

They have already started exploring Alberta’s many shops and restaurants as we celebrated handing off the keys at a restaurant within walking distance of their new home. I assured them we would be bumping into each other next summer at many of Alberta’s last Thursday’s events that have to be seen to be believed. Congrats Bruce and Jenna!

Greg Sobotka ABR, GRI

503-804-0315

Entertainers Dream House

January 16th, 2012 by chandra

I never thought that Glenn, Diane and their daughter Nancy would settle on a home built in 2003. From the get go their preference in homes tended to be older homes, with character. Diane loved the built-ins and the charm, Glenn liked the quality and the layout. Nancy was just concerned with a good tree for climbing and space for a golden retriever. We looked at houses for months, had one disappointing miss, and then it seemed like we had seen everything on the market. I got a little desperate. Glenn is a phenomenal chef. He wanted to have a gas range. I sent them homes that were out of their usual taste/preference, newer but with nice kitchens (all gas ranges). They liked “the one with the red door”. We went to look, and upon entering everyone realized “this is it!”.

It seems that it had what everyone was looking for, The kitchen is perfect, so much space, so many outlets. There is a perfect reading nook for Diane and there is a tree for Nancy’s swing and a place for her future dog. The layout is perfect, all the bedrooms and laundry room upstairs, a great open living room, dining area, kitchen on the main, and a game room with full bath in the daylight basement! The Brazilian cherry hardwoods are stunning. Add to this great views, being next door to a park, and jacuzzi in the master bath and you have a perfect fit!

I am very pleased that Glenn, Diane and Nancy found a house that makes them happy! I cannot wait to eat Glenn’s delicious food at their house warming party!!

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Chandra Ashford
Broker
Cell: 503.933.6538
chandraashfordrealtor@gmail.com
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A New House makes a New Home for the New Year....

January 9th, 2012 by Jaime

Living in a condo in the energetic and busy Northwest Portland can be exciting and downright fun, but for some folks there comes a point when peace and quiet, and the ability to stretch your legs in your own living room become much more enticing. For David and Larry that stretching is taking place in a beautifully crafted 2595 square foot OsterCraft home in the Northeast Rose City Park neighborhood.

Locally owned and operated, OsterCraft Homes, a father/son duo with unparalleled craftsmanship and ever present creativity has been providing Portland with exceptional homes since the early 1970′s. This particular jewel is an energy efficient Earth Advantage Certified Home with an upgraded heat pump, installed at the new owners request, to take eco-friendly one step further. The original plan was to find a vintage home, but after growing quite accustomed to the carefree condo lifestyle, the reality of old home maintenance issues seemed less and less appealing.

Upon approaching this shiny new penny, seeing the gleam of the gorgeously stained concrete front porch, these buyers accepted that for them the idea of purchasing a vintage home was indeed a thing of the past. The fantastic details inside the house confirmed this decision as they walked through the large, open gourmet kitchen with an Italian gas range, a bonus room well suited to become a home gym, indoor theater, or spacious guest room, a separate office space, 3 bedrooms, and 3 full baths. The magic happened when they discovered a hidden door doubling as a bookcase. It turns out this new home had vintage charm after all, and come on, who doesn’t need a secret passageway?

David and Larry are now centrally located in historic Northeast Portland and nestled amongst beautiful parks, quaint dining spots, the Rose City Golf Course and so much more. I can think of few better ways to ring in 2012!

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Ramblin' on home

January 6th, 2012 by Heather Lamkins

Simply fabulous rambler seeks loving family to call home~

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Michelle came to me looking for a roomy home to purchase that would host not only herself and her daughter, but her retired parents as well. Although her folks were moving in, Michelle still wanted her own privacy–some sense of separation and 2 living areas. As luck would have it, there is a well kept secret in NE Portland, it is a sweet neighborhood called Parkrose Heights, just east of Rocky Butte. Convenience is yours in this location, where the 84, Halsey, and the airport are easily accessible. The neighborhood is speckled with mid century ramblers and sweet ranches. There is very little traffic, the streets are wide, the houses are large and comfortable and it just simply feels serene. Michelle grabbed the renovated 1958 family home of her dreams with 2 sprawling levels including a daylite basement, 2 kitchens, 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 fireplaces, pellet stove, 2 car garage, a massive private sun room and over 3000 of finished sq feet (not to mention a sprawling landscaped 0.2 acre lot). This home was move-in ready with newer furnace, electrical, plumbing, & fresh paint–the list went on and on. And the price tag?–an affordable $245,000!!! Jealous yet? Congratulations Michelle!

Interested in your own mid-century steal of deal? Contact Heather at (971)255-9868

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Heather Lamkins | Living Room Realtor | www.pdxrealestatebroker.com | pdxrealestatebroker@gmail.com | 971.255.9868

Selling Your Home . . . Don't hold out 'till Spring!

January 5th, 2012 by Diane

Holidays are behind us and now you are ready to sell your home. Conventional wisdom tells us to wait until the flowers are blooming and the yard looks great. Makes sense . . . but why not get ahead of the pack? While Sellers are readying their homes for market, waiting in earnest for the tulips and lillies to appear, restless Buyers are in anticipation of every new listing . . . hoping it will be ‘the one’.

This sweet Rose City Bungalow was listed in August and had two accepted offers before the weather turned cold. In both cases, fickle Buyers - changed their minds. The Sellers assumed their home would languish over the holidays and not see another Buyer until Spring. But the reality is People Buy Homes in Every Season. Those who are looking in the cold, holiday crazed winter months are very serious buyers. Sure enough they accepted an offer the first week of December and while it made holiday decorating and tear down a little more challenging . . . these Sellers have sold their home!

So, rather than waiting for your tulips to bloom . . . get your home on the market. Anxious Buyers ask me everyday “Will I have to wait until Spring to Buy?” I certainly hope not.

If you are planning to sell your home in the near future. Let’s chat, I’d love to help you beat the Spring rush of new listings

Diane Moreau 503.680.5836

Diane@LivingRoomRealtors.com

Perseverence Closes the Deal!

December 19th, 2011 by Diane

When it came time to sell this sweet little Bungalow we were all in agreement there would be challenges. Having to climb fifty steps to view the property did cause many prospective Buyers to opt out of even looking. Certainly there was the option of riding the chair lift, as the owner had done for over forty years, but more than not wanting to climb stairs, very few wanted to appear lazy and ask for a ride. While a few did make the trek up . . . it just wasn’t for them. So we waited . . . and waited . . . and then they came! The views of the Willamette River, Sellwood Bridge and Mt Hood put on quite a show and they were hooked! Not only were these Buyers willing to climb stairs, they could definitely see the the potential in this great house and were excited to make it their own.

Once in transaction the stairs were the least of our worries . . . broken sewer line, easements, leaky oil tank, slope stability. You name it . . . we dealt with it. Lots of Professionals came in to advise – geo techs, water geologists, retaining wall engineers, foundation inspectors, sewer and oil tank contractors even a Representative from the City got involved. But through it all both Buyers and Sellers never panicked, never gave up, always made the effort to find common ground and just this past Saturday the Sellers welcomed the Buyers to the neighborhood. Did I mention they are now next door neighbors.

Challenging home purchases happen more often then most realize. But calm heads and experienced professionals can guide even the most difficult deals to a successful close.

Diane 503.680.5836

It's About the People Inside the Houses

December 7th, 2011 by Teri

Ray and Dorothy built their home in Parkrose Heights in 1957. According to county records the house was built in 1958 but Ray insists, and I will not argue, the house was built in the fall of 1957. The homes around them all sprung up about the same time. This was the birth of Parkrose Heights. Ray and Dorothy took a lot of pride in their new home. It was here they raised their children, Julie and Dale, where they took shelter, celebrated birthdays, ate, slept, and loved each other.

We share an interesting history, Ray and I.

When Ray’s son Dale married my aunt Merry, I was the flower girl in the wedding. Dale and Merry’s first home was in Cully. Twenty years later, and several owners in-between, that was my first home, by total coincidence. During the time his son and daughter-in-law owned the house Ray helped put a lot of sweat equity into that home. When my partner & I took possession of the home, Ray’s mark was still there. The security lighting he had installed, the brickwork, the cabinetry, all still there. But by then Dale and Merry were divorced and I had not seen Dale in years.

In 2010 Dale tracked me down and asked me to come take a look at his parents’ house. They were moving into assisted living and needed to sell their home. It was nice to see my uncle and his parents again, after all those years. They are sweet, modest and hard-working, salt of the earth types. Though not related by blood, I felt a need to do all I could to help them sell. Dale took the lead in working with me on prepping the house, paperwork and negotiations, on behalf of his parents. We strategized pricing and marketing together.

Deeply affected by surrounding foreclosures, short sales, and a serious buyer’s market, it took awhile to sell. The buyer of this home got a great deal! As time passes she will realize that Ray and Dorothy didn’t take any shortcuts. Everything they put into their home was with an eye towards quality and with loving care. This home is not the Taj Mahal but it was everything to them.

In the year since the house was put on the market, so much has changed. Dorothy passed away last December. Then, very unexpectedly, Dale passed away in February. It was up to Ray to take over the job his son had started. If you don’t think real estate is emotional, think again.

Together, Ray and I have spent many months forming a new friendship and a working relationship. I worried about his cross-country travels over the summer. He turned 90 in September. We ate strawberry ice cream together. We reminisced. We plotted the sale of his home. And now it has sold. And if you think I can just walk away, think again. He has gotten under my skin. I care for this guy.

In the spring, when I was weeding the flower beds at Ray’s house, I was reminded of the work he had done on my first house. I was finally able to return the favor.

Life is circular like that.

This is dedicated to the memory of Dorothy and Dale Stark, may they rest in peace.

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NE OFFICE : 1422 NE ALBERTA ST

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And When the Boat Sinks, Buy a House

The Story of the Fearless Buyers

Portland vs San francisco

Portland vs San Francisco

New neighborhood….with an awesome kitchen.

Entertainers Dream House

A New House makes a New Home for the New Year....

Ramblin' on home

Selling Your Home . . . Don't hold out 'till Spring!

Perseverence Closes the Deal!

It's About the People Inside the Houses