There has been a lot of talk about what will happen to interest rates when the government halts the purchase of mortgage backed securities at the end of the month. Obviously, any rise at all, even in this era of historically low rates, could have an effect on the housing market. This video link, supplied by one of my preferred lenders, Clayton Scott of Windermere Mortgage Services, explains the situation in an easily understandable way.
Blueberry Hill
Blueberry Hill is a true estate home and is currently owned by one of the Schnitzers, the prominent Portland family known for Schnitzer Steel and their local philanthropic work. Sitting on six acres, the home is over 10,000 square feet, has six full baths and three half baths, has a pool, tennis court and separate guest house (no room in the house?) All joking aside, the home was a pleasure to tour- the owners have imparted their taste on the decor which imparting a sense of home and whimsy, no matter the grand size of the home. Many interior windows feature views of strategically placed sculptures about the grounds. The entry way a stunning, round, with a gorgeous staircase circling upwards. All the doorways surrounding the entry are large and curved. Another staircase leads from the kitchen to a level that probably held the servants quarters. One really wishes it could be purchased with the extensive art collection which includes a Chihuly chandelier over the dining room table. A gorgeous study, which is also outfitted as a media room has a graceful mezzanine with more built ins for your library above. Another charming feature is a large powder room near the front door- it features a long built in table with a mirror- perfect for nose powdering, and a small alcove with a door that holds a telephone for those private calls. A rare opportunity to own one of the finer homes of Portland in the Greenhills neighborhood. $7,850,000
Summit Drive
Continuing the tour of the west hills, this Roscoe Hemenway colonial has many of the features one expects from this fine architect: a stately feel, a great floor plan with an understanding of how people use their homes, and an openness to the outdoors- this one through multiple decks to the rear of the home. There are many places to spread out- the great room on the kitchen has a warming fireplace. A small paneled study has a cozy fireplace as well and feels like the perfect reading spot. The living room is a wonderful size for entertaining, and the finished downstairs holds a bright family room as well as the sweetest little studio spot- the current owner is a quilter and the space holds the most gorgeous fabric swatches. While there is ample decking off the back of the home, there is no lawn- but hey, my kids rarely used the lawn I bought my first house for. Seems a tad high at $895,000 Link to photos.
Portland Heights Short Sale
This home sits right across from Ainsworth Elementary which is a plus or minus, depending on whether a chorus of children's voices at recess is music to your ears. The entry space is a bit awkward, and the home has quite a rustic feel in it's finishes- the interior perhaps reflects the falling into hard times of the seller, but I see a lot of possibility for bringing out the charm with some TLC this fine 1906 home deserves. It has a rare four bedrooms upstairs, all respectably sized, but no master bath. Perhaps a master suite can be contrived with three bedrooms? Another rare feature an actual back yard. Sadly, it is a short sale, but this could be an opportunity if one has the time and guts for the process. $700,000
Portland Heights MCM
This mid century modern opportunity in Portland Heights has about the best views possible of the city. While the pictures online do not do this 1956 home justice, it has mercifully been spared any 1970's and 80's remodeling with much of the flat paneled surfaces and 1950's glazing left intact and the exterior featuring an asian design influence.. The kitchen and baths have been updated, but tastefully and in keeping with the period for the most part. The floor plan is not for everyone, probably better suited to older children as the master is on the main and two other bedrooms are on the lower level. Call me if you'd like to see it- I would love to take another look myself. $650,000
Ready Made Discount: $100,000 off Your Purchase
I've worked on this transaction several months off and on, for an out of town buyer looking for a second home here in Portland, the sometimes intense negotiations going back and forth between the purchaser, 937 and myself. Besides just negotiating a sales price, I also was involved in poring over the (often) daunting sales agreements that new construction sales offices produce and insist on using- often to their benefit, and locating and deleting possibly damaging clauses. In this day the condo developer is more forgiving of changes to their contract.
I'm pleased to say that I have negotiated $105,000 off of the sales price. The developer and their bank are also offering $18,000 in closing costs which can be used for a substantial buy down of the interest rate the first two years before going into a 30 year fixed rate, substantially reducing the payments the first two years. And did I mention a complete blind system for the gorgeous floor to ceiling windows?
The only problem is the buyer is now gone.
The 937 has a great location, at 9th and Glisan and some of the best natural light from just about any condo I've been in. The building is working towards Platinum LEED certification, the highest and best use of the materials available today with the building using 40% less energy than condos built before 2001. Low VOC materials and paint were used in the interiors for healthy air with Caesarstone slab used on the countertops in the baths and kitchen surfaces. The finishes are all first rate. Windows are gorgeous- floor to ceiling- and often open to the surprising red decks. Many have gorgeous views of the west hills, bridges or Mount Hood. Review of 937 by Brian Libby of Portland Architecture.
While the buyer may be gone- the opportunity is not- so please give this a forward this to someone interested in buying a beautiful condo for a great price. The unit has two bedrooms, two full baths and is 1300 plus square feet and includes a secure parking space.
Sriracha: Ready for Your Tattoo?
We- like so many, love the ubiquitous perfect hot sauce known as Sriracha, or "Rooster Sauce". My kids and I were curious how fast we would go through a whopping jar of it, purchased at the amazing Uwajimaya in Beaverton, so I "sharpied" a date on the sauce which we just finished almost exactly a year later.All the while the same little dribble of Heinz ketchup sat shoved up in some corner of the refrigerator collecting that icky water on the top. This article from the NYTimess came to mind, which was published awhile ago, but was so good I'm happy to have any excuse to share it, a mixture of sauce trivia with a great American success story. This stuff is so popular it has more than one Facebook page. High end chefs use it. Appleby's serves it. One person even mailed the Bay Area company a photo of the rooster tattooed on his leg. He was from Portland. I wouldn't go quite that far, but do think it has great flavor with a very respectable amount of heat that will doctor up the dullest bowl of emergency dinner ramen that I buy about once a year. The NYTimes article.
Tilde in Sellwood
Wandering though Tilde in Sellwood, I just marveled at all the clever things I had never seen anywhere else. The editing is top notch. From jewelry to handbags vases, cards and ceramic decorative objects there has got to be a gift here for just about anyone that has any taste at all, but especially if they tend towards mid-century or scaled down. The price range is wide as well. I knew my husband J, would be pretty darn excited (that's how strong his language gets) about these Pantone cups- it was like shopping for my favorite crayon colors.
Even better, the store is located next to a great bank of food carts so you can feel absolutely absolved from your little spluge when you can buy lunch for two so inexpensively. Bruce Lee's food cart suffers a bit signage wise, but the owner has an amazing full size gas range inside and whips up a mean red curry stir fry as good as any I've had in town at a sit-down restaurant.
I must say, I do not some of the antique stores of the past making way for an updated neighborhood feel.
Multnomah Village Farmhouse
It seems like most buyers I take out now are looking for a community to live in and a town center to be able to walk to- and a move-in ready home- and something they can fall in love with. This listing of mine hits the trifecta with the easy walk to Multnomah Village, a home that's been remodeled yet with all it's vintage charm intact. And did I mention it's on an almost quarter acre lot? Plenty of rooms to hang out in, with a sunporch, den and an upstairs play/media area with the always appreciated three bedrooms together upstairs. The dining room and living room share one great space together reflecting in the glow of the CVF (clear vertical fir) original floors. Imagine having a fire here in the winters while enjoying your dinner. The home has a garage that has been converted on one side to a shop and a studio on the other. There is off street parking, but if you must, go ahead and convert back to a garage. The level yard is used for play, gardening and a sport court. $399,950 View more pictures.
"Ugliest House in Connecticut"
That's what neighbor, Bill Blass remarked to Joan Rivers when she announced her intention to buy a property near his country home in Connecticut. Yet Joan did buy the home on 84 acres and converted it into her ideal getaway, a place to bring her grandson and "friends having nervous breakdowns."
Like many homebuyers with vision, Joan overlooked the fact that the current home on the lot "looked like a Denny's" and instead saw it's potential in it's sweeping views. In the meantime she figured she could "just stand at the front door and hand out menus".
I don't care how much surgery Joan has had- she makes me laugh. Read the NY Times article and watch a slide show of the home.
Schoolhouse Electric
When clients Andrew and Yellena James recently gave me a gift certificate to Schoolhouse Electric, I was thrilled. Besides being a generous gift, I had always wanted to visit- and as a triple bonus, the talented Yellana has been chosen as the first artist in a series of exclusive designs and her work was not only prominently displayed in the store, it graces the front of their most recent catalogue.
The building itself was more recently a storage area for the nearby Miller Paint Company- thankfully the current owners removed the brick covering the lovely facade and brought the room back to life. Schoolhouse lighting is made completely in the United States, the designs originating from vintage molds as well as designed in-house here in Portland. The components are finished and assembled just two blocks up the street. The era runs from historic to mid century.
I'm so looking forward to hanging my light- and to spending more time in this delightful local resource known as Schoolhouse Electric.
See more of Yellena Andrew's work. Yellena has an upcoming solo show in Barcelona this year, has designed snowboards for K2 that are in stores now, and is working on some "kicks for Keds".
History of Alameda
Some of his neighbors have perhaps thought he was a nut case when Doug Decker has knocked on their door- just to share with them a historic picture of their home. Alameda has an amazing history and Decker, resident of twenty years has uncovered a trove of it. He has looked up census information, permits pulled, and hunted down previous owners of many homes. He's researched microfilm, old Oregonian ads, and has conducted countless interviews with now and past residents. And he has a day job with the Department of Forestry.
Today in a packed presentation at the AHC, Doug brought Alameda alive. Starting with a plat map showing Alameda before it's existence, the site of trees and a dairy farm at the city limits of Portland (then at NE 33rd St), he presented a pictoral history with the developers first buying the property in 1909 and bringing in the streetcar line and infrastructure. By 1934, most of it's homes had been constructed, with some prominent builders such as Frank Read, Harry Phillips and Ken Birkemeier involved in multiple homes in the neighborhood. Several of those homes including the pictured Keller House are on the National Historic Register.
Decker's information gleaned from early census materials showed the neighborhood's inhabitants changing fortunes. While many homes in the 1920's had live in servants such as Irish maids and nannies, the 1930's ousted much of the paid help and brought in boarders and older relatives into their homes. Oregonian ads revealed more information- when the area was first being developed, there were was no Broadway Bridge, roads, or streetcar to get to the site, so the developers offered potential buyers "a ride in our autos" and writing enticingly about Alameda- as if it had already been built. Later, the neighborhood having been designated as strictly residential got up in arms when a church tried to build within the neighborhood boundaries. The Alameda Park Community Church was forced to move just beyond the outskirts but eventually won over the neighborhood by running youth summer camps popular with Alameda's children. The church is now known as the Subud House, still on Regents Drive.
Visit Decker's comprehensive website, Alameda History. He hopes to write a book on the history of the neighborhood, and accepts research projects on behalf of homeowners looking to their home's past.
The Unknown Tax Credit
While many people are aware of the first time home buyer's tax credit of up to $8,000 and that it was extended recently. What most people aren't aware of is a tax credit for homeowners who currently own a home now. A credit for 10% of the purchase price, up to $6,500.
A few caveats: You must have lived in your current home for five out of the last eight years, and there are income qualifications- up to $225,000 for a couple of their adjusted gross income and $125,000 for single filers. You also must be in contract by April 30th and close by the deadline of June 30th of this year.
If you or a friend are considering selling this year, it may make sense for you to sell now and take advantage of keeping some major money in your hands.
First Time and Step Up Buyers Tax Credit (Full Document)
Fascinating Class
What does a former executive from Proctor and Gamble have to teach me as a realtor? It turns out- quite a lot. During his twenty five year stint with Proctor and Gamble, he negotiated billions of dollars worth of contracts up and down their supply chain, ended up teaching negotiation skills internationally for ten years and eventually developed a course for the real estate industry.
When I had the opportunity to attend a two day small class with him, I couldn't pass it up. Today's real estate market, as everyone well knows, has gotten a lot tougher. While everyone is aware of fewer sales in a depressed market, what most people are not aware of is how tough negotiations can be from the smallest home to the largest. Both buyers and sellers have much at stake right now, and that makes negotiating one of the skills one has to bring to their clients for a successful transaction.
Topics covered included creating opportunities to interact and dialogue with the other side, ascertaining the best techniques with which to persuade and influence, and understanding different types of negotiation and when to use them.
While my husband commented that "he may never get his way again" I believe most of my clients will appreciate my new designation of CNE.
December Market Action
We've experienced a pretty steady inventory in Portland- for months we've stayed around seven months worth and December had us at 7.7. Month to month, December 2008 to 2009, sales were up 52%. However, last year showed an average of 12% loss of value for the year, which of course means some areas suffering more and others less so.
Nationwide, our market is also somewhere in the middle, with Las Vegas at a 26% decline, but San Diego with a 2.7% yearly decline in the latest Case-Schiller report.
Digging in a bit deeper, DOM (days on market) in Portland seem to be a mirror of the average sales price with SE Portland having the most closed sales with an average price of $237,00 at just over 100 days on market. West Portland follows with an average sales price of $400,000 and 185 DOM, with the leader in both areas at 235 DOM for West Lynn and Lake Oswego with a average sales price of $538,000. Interest rates are still historically low and buyers need to see good value to bring a home from "active" to "pending". Price well and prepare well if listing.
Seattle Getaway
Without lessening my love for Portland at all, can I just say how much I love visiting Seattle? In just a few hours one can get away to a completely different town with many more dangerously delicious restaurants to try and re-visit. This makes our third stay at the modern boutique Hotel Andra, and the rates are great now, especially if you can get an additional discount. The Seattle Art Musuem (SAM) almost always has some great exhibits, and luckily this trip there were three- Michelangelo's sketches for the Sistene Chapel, an Imogen Cunningham photography exhibit, and a really charming show of Alexander Calder that displayed several of his larger mobils as well as a film of his "Circus" .
There was accidental shopping at a consignment shop that sold Chanel next to Bannanna Republic pieces. We dined well at a few old favorites, Le Pichet an intimate bistro, and Cafe Campagne (best Croque Monsieur stateside). Restaurant Zoe had some lovely dishes for dinner, but our best new find was at Spring Hill for brunch- featuring a homemade corned beef hash with poached eggs. Located in West Seattle, the short drive from the city offered some great industrial views of the city.
In an unexpected turn, the (much younger) server at Le Pichet directed us to a bar called Bathhouse Gin after our meal. It felt a bit dodgy, in a dark alleyway and signed only with a plaque beside the door- but in the mood for adventure-and another drink, we managed to find what did seem to approximate a speakeasy during prohibition- but with better alcohol.
We finished up at Chartruese Modern, our favorite modern furnishing store- you'd be surprised what we can fit in the back of Jeff's Audi, although we didn't press it this trip. They have new and vintage pieces mixed together, as well as some fun Marimekko fabric pre-stretched and framed.
With the second coffee of the day in hand, we headed back to dear Portland, feeling not the least bit remorseful for having cheated on her. It was only for a weekend. More food and city shots.
Parry Center Cookie Party
Thirty five children enjoyed decorating cookies last month at the residential care facility known as the Parry Center. For the third year I hosted the party with the help of my two gorgeous daughters and our good friend Marianne. The kids ranged in ages between six and sixteen but there was no difference in the enthusiasm they showed in using pounds of sprinkles and icing on their creations.
For over ten years I hosted a cookie party in my home for friends and their children, where I would bake several hundred cookies, make decorative icing and put multi-colored sprinkles on the table for a decorating free for all. Towards the end of that period I started thinking about sharing the tradition with children that didn't have the same opportunities as my own children. A co-worker put me in touch with the Parry Center, a wonderful facility where children could receive counseling, getting care for their mental, behavioral or abuse issues- a place of healing.
The tradition has grown with my Fir Grove Garden Club members generously helping me bake all the cookies for the event in one marathon evening. They truly seemed to enjoy the baking as much as the kids did the decorating.
When I learned that many of the children arrive at the Center with just the clothes on their backs, I began collecting pajamas so that everyone would get their own pair. This year, the goal was exceeded and 60 pairs of pajamas were donated from my office, neighbors, friends, family and clients.
When I was taking pictures at our party, the kids insisted I take a picture of every single one of their cookies. No pictures of the kids are included for privacy reasons, but here are some of their cookie creations.
Brentwood Before & After
Truly, no two real estate transactions are alike whether buying or selling. Not one. So I approach my buying and selling clients with all the experience I have gathered, skills polished up for service, and a great deal of flexibility depending on how things evolve. Any one that has had a baby knows the unpredictability of that situation. Same thing.
This home had out of state sellers, a wonderful family whose profession required them to transfer across the country, and when the transfer didn't bring them back- well, a sale was necesarry. When they moved, the market was hot. Before they left, strangers approached them at the curb, offering to buy. With just a bit of polishing, they were very hopeful their home would sell easily.
But it is a different market today. It was evident very soon that we needed to adjust to it and the sellers decided to do what needed to be done to attract a buyer in this highly competitive market with fewer buyers in a tough price range. But living across the country, how was that to happen? And of course, there was a limited budget.
Luckily, I have been entrusted with quite a few of these projects over the years. Within a week I assembled the team to remove wallpaper, carpet and old lighting. Multiple bids were furnished. Floors were refinished, cabinetry was removed and painted. Lighting was updated and added. Dated tile was replaced with granite tile. Gallons of paint, and elbow grease was applied. For three weeks the driveway and streets around the home were coming and going with workers. The neighbors were pretty curious.
The house was re-listing and sold within two weeks, interestingly to some purchasers that I had showed it to previously. It was very rewarding for me to have a vision of what could be done and execute that successfully. My husband has suggested I go into design. But I already am. See more pictures of the home before and after.
Hawthorne
It's so nice to see prices become more affordable, and though not cheap, this home has much to offer. The downstairs floor plan is open from the front to the back windows, so the home glows with natural light. Floors are lovely, and the kitchen is updated, but just as importantly, insulation, new windows and a newer furnace with A/C make the home comfortable. A small room downstairs could serve as a study or bedroom, with three more up. The main floor has a full bath so the one bath upstairs that is so typical doesn't have to take on all the morning rush. No garage, but plenty of off street parking, a partially finished basement and cute backyard. I'd love to help you make an offer on this home and understand the owners are ready to move on. $459,000
Alberta Arts
A wonderful balance has been struck between modern and historic in this turn of the century Craftsman. Gorgeous box beam ceilings in the dining room meld beautifully with the tastefully executed modern touches in the kitchen. Speaking of which, this will no doubt be the gathering point for the household- that and the lovely backyard with it's paved and grassy areas. Three bedrooms upstairs make it a nice family layout, and there looks to be room to expand the square footage both in the attic and the basement, which is good because the living room is pretty tiny and one has to hide that big screen TV someplace. The exterior has a lovely paint palette and the siding is in beautiful condition on both the home and that two car garage. Ornamental barge rafters are a pleasure to see intact after 100 years. Just a block north of all the action on Alberta. $499,000