When Location is EVERTHING!

April 20th, 2012 by Hope Beraka

Oh sure, there’s a couple of other issues like condition, size and price but seriously, for Karen, location was EVERYTHING! A busy enterpreneur who has lived, walked and worked in the same zone around SE Hawthorne for over 20 years, Karen knew that the number one driving force was LOCATION!

I have certainly had clients who have been very specific about location. I’ve had Piedmont buyers that wanted to live within 8 square blocks of a certain spot and Ladds Addition clients that won’t even leave their street! When home extends far beyond the walls of your house into the streets you walk, the place to grab coffee and of course the neighbors you meet, it’s a unique home search. It’s challenging in this hot eastside market to wait out a new listing and hope that you can bring the best offer among competition ranging from 3-10 offers, but if you know what you want and what you are willing to do to get it, you are most of the way there!

Karen called me about a recent listing I had just listed in Hawthorne but the property went pending the second day on market and was no longer available. When she described her desires, I recalled that I had met a neighbor at the open house who mentioned there was a new listing coming available in the next couple of weeks. She had given me the rough location and a description so I dropped a card and asked if their agent would call me. Once I connected with the agent it was quickly underway. The Seller finished up the final details preparing the home for sale and we were there (with about ten other people) the first day it hit the market. Of course Karen had walked by once or twice (or twenty times) so she didn’t need much to fill in the blanks. Super light and airy, the perfect size and beautiful sun filled yard with *gasp* a re-built garage (in Hawthorne?). This was the one. We assembled a strong offer and hoped for the best. After reviewing multiple bids, the Sellers were moved by Karen’s passion for the property and her deep roots in the community and they accepted her offer!

But it gets better. This was not just the right location, but a gold standard of a home with significant upgrades and period restoration. Smooth sailing through inspections and the loan process and Karen is tickled! So am I.

1732 SE 35th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97214

Home sold in wine country

April 19th, 2012 by Greg Sobotka

No this picture is not of the winery I just sold in Sherwood. This is a picture of the Vista Hills Winery very close to the house I just sold in Sherwood. The Lee family absolutely loves their new home and my wine collection now has some fantastic Pinot Noirs that were discovered on the many trips to the area.

If you find yourself in wine country, be sure to stop by Vista Hills and let the tasting room manager Mark show you around. Absolutely do not miss the recently released 2009 Vista Hills Treehouse Pinot Noir that was produced by Dave Petterson of Panther Creek Vineyards.

I love my job!

Onward to the "House of Tomorrow"!

April 19th, 2012 by Heather Lamkins

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.

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* 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 Kim Miasian Sparks

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.

A long journey home...

April 12th, 2012 by Jaime Arb Haessig

I met Mark and Amy over a year ago when they were living in The City by the Bay with dreams of a new home in Portlandia. The catalyst was a new career challenge for Mark and for Amy it meant being close to family. My challenge was to find these two the perfect home. The list of requests seemed very reasonable: an updated 3 bedroom 2 bath home with vintage charms but modern updates and open spaces. There were two big MUST HAVES, a gourmet kitchen and a great neighborhood for walking to dinner or coffee. We can find that, right? I looked high and low, took videos and chased down pocket listings not yet on the market. The reality was they were looking for something a lot of buyers right here in Portland wanted as well. Understandably, this was making it hard to snag houses that only last a day on the market when the buyers are unable to get here in time. We were all trying very hard to make this happen, it just wasn’t looking so good. Then we saw a house on NE Garfield. Could it be true, had we found the one? It was brand new and they were in Portland. It was perfect, almost. The spaces were right, the location was okay, the finishes and fixtures were wrong but could those be changed. We all talked, they considered, Mark and Amy decided to write an offer! I get the news there will be multiple offers. I submit it for them with a letter telling of their charms and desire to buy the (almost) perfect home. They didn’t get the house.

Instead, the builder offers them the opportunity to essentially have a home custom built for them! In Concordia too, just blocks from Kennedy School, Yakuza, and Extracto! What an opportunity, but they needed to be in Portland by the holidays. Move twice, really? After much research, conversation, and contemplation, they decided to go for it! That was in October. They found an apartment and got right to work. The house was under construction the holidays came and went, work piled up for both, their free time was spent choosing fixtures and finishes. The builders worked in the rain and wind. It was beginning to take shape, a foundation, walls, a roof, lots of rain, a garage, interior walls, flooring, paint, it’s all coming together. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t recommend this process for all clients but Mark and Amy handled it like pros. Now after several months and thousands of decisions, Mark and Amy are living in their new Energy Star efficient, classic exterior, modern exterior home with a beautiful kitchen and open spaces! Now, THAT is EXCITING!

Side note, not all things are always easy in buying and getting financing for a new construction home. This is one of things that happens behind the scenes and Mark and Amy enlisted the help of a pro. Jen Bell at Rose City Mortgage went above and beyond for these buyers. She walked them through the process explaining every step but arrived at the signing to answer questions and hand deliver the paperwork back to the lender. Without Jen being there and on game, Mark and Amy would have been living in an apartment even longer than necessary. Now, maybe Mark and Amy can get to enjoying the slower life of Portland.

Goodbye Rental Market, Hello Home Sweet Home!!

April 10th, 2012 by Daria Crymes

Karl and Cassandra came to me open to just about any option available to someone exploring the real estate market.
1.) Being modern design afficionados the first option was a small footprint house that could be built onto/doubled in size (something akin to new construction but without cash necessary & the fees) with their architect Ben Waechter,
2.) The next to consider- a medium sized house that could have a small addition or a wing built on,
3.) And heck, how about a move in ready option in case we all get tired and decide to take advantage of someone else’s work.

Well, we tried them all out, starting at the top. We wrote 3 offers and eventually settled at number three but not because anyone was tired, in fact we were having loads of fun! It is a beautiful, fully renovated and updated, meticulously maintained, Portland Foursquare house turned condo that captured their hearts. The fir floors are gorgeous, the woodwork stripped clean, smooth, & painted, the windows all glide with out a hitch, the abundant light and ceiling height lend a spaciousness not commonly found in a condominium. It also boasts a newer kitchen, a heat pump, & updated systems. There is plenty of storage space, a basement and garage, and there is a third floor romper room.

Knowing that there would be many other buyers hot on our tails in the door of this place we wasted no time making a very strong offer and working with the Seller to get a few things done in the inspection period and then headed straight for the home stretch. That back up offer never even had a chance! Now Cassandra and Karl are saying “Goodbye rental market, Hello Home Sweet Home!”

Sold and sold fast in Alberta Arts!

April 9th, 2012 by Jake Goodson

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
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1839 N Kilpatrick

April 8th, 2012 by Laura Wood

There’s no place like home….

My buyers lived in Kenton right off the main drag where they could walk to coffee, restaurants and the Max. They were renting a house with a remodeled kitchen, three bedrooms and two full baths, a dining room, great yard with room to garden and their dog (a much beloved German short haired pointer) but they decided it was time to buy their first home.

We spent the next several months looking at 1,729,312 houses (I counted!) to make sure there was nothing better out there. There wasn’t and we bought their rental from their landlord. There’s no place like home.

Laura Wood
Broker
Cell: 503.545.9912
laurawood@livingroomrealtors.com
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A Walk in Education

April 6th, 2012 by Jaime Arb Haessig

As Anton Chekhov once said, “Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.” Well, after Claire and Henry attended a first time home buyer course and educated themselves on their available resources, they began practicing by walking into my office and looking for an agent to help them find a new home to call their own, and let me tell you, these two are really on their game!
They had been working with Hacienda and The Portland Housing Bureau researching their qualifications for a special down payment matching program. Indeed, they did qualified for a program that would access an Oregon Bond Loan for their purchase. Of course I had heard of said loan, and the DPAL (Down Payment Assistance Loan Program), but this was my first time walking thru a transaction utilizing these resources. Albert Einstein, (perhaps you’ve heard of him), had his own theory on knowledge, “The only source of knowledge is experience.”
I must say, I agree. Not only did I have the honor of helping Claire and Henry find their new home, but I learned quite a bit in the process as well.
This savvy couple was able to make all desired updates on their home excluding cosmetics after their purchase with the help of the first time home buyer program, and it also allowed them to buy a much larger home than they could have initially afforded. Now, Claire, Henry and their daughter Paloma, are nestled into their new home, having put their first time home buying skills to use. Looks like good things don’t just come to those who wait.

Trading Mid-Century Tabor for Traditional Westside

April 6th, 2012 by Tim Pitts

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

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