Tag: Lake Oswego real estate

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Green Water (ing)

perennialThough you wouldn’t know it today to look out my window (cloudy & some drizzle), it is summer, sunbeams have been out in force, and temps have been shooting up along with the plants in our yards and gardens. Some of this has to do with the heat, and some has to do with the fact that we are watering things while there is heat. At this time of year, and especially during a recession, we all need a refresher course on watering, and Lake Oswego is only too happy to oblige!

7dees2Water conservation experts from the Regional Water Providers Consortium (RWPC) are visiting Lake Oswego for a session with local residents where they plan to hand out free water gauges and lots of good tips for water-efficient landscaping and maintenance. This event will be held this Saturday, June 13th, at Dennis’ 7 Dees Garden Center, 1090 McVey Ave., from 10 AM to 2 PM.

The Consortium has an amazing website that reminds me how much there grass4is to learn. I remember thinking, when I was much younger and of course knew much more than I do today (or thought I did), that being a native of Southern California (Hey… No ribbing… I’ve been here since 1978!) , I had a very hard time believing that there was truly any need to conserve water in Oregon… I mean come on! With all the rainfall, the huge river running through town, the snowy mountain peaks dribbling water through Portland all year long… How was I supposed to believe that we actually needed to pay much attention at all to water consumption? Well, in recent years we have all learned how integral our activities are to maintaining the living environment we so cherish and want to hand to our children. There really are limits to what nature can provide us in our current numbers & given the constraints of our infrastructure. Then, there is that money thing… Practical tips for saving money while saving water? I’m all ears!
Among the vast array of uselful material to be found at the RWPC site are the following good pieces of information:

  • Use Mulch! It is important to know what kind to use however: –Organic Mulches (aged manure, bark chips, wood chips) and compost material will significantly decrease the amount of water you will need for plant health. Specifically, the addition of as little as 5% organic material can quadruple your soil’s ability to store water, decreasing the watering needed. – Inorganic mulches like stones, concrete and gravel can be great for creating landscape patterns etc., but also “re-radiate” the sun’s heat and cause an increase in the amount of water needed to care for surrounding plants.
  • Create Watering Zones – These would be areas of your property wherein similar types of plants reside hopefully having similar watering requirements. (Lawn areas, rose garden, annual garden, perennial garden etc) This way you avoid the “one system fits all” mentality and the over-watering that results for some garden areas.
  • Adjust Watering Schedules Frequently – As the temperatures shift during the summer, you will want to adjust your watering schedules accordingly.
  • Managed Stress in the Landscape – There are all sorts of seemingly complicated formulas to help you determine how much to water a lawn at any given temperature. The RWPC site simplifies this information and helps you understand the “Stressing” concept, which basically means watering as little as possible forcing lawns to use their natural coping mechanisms and give you a green lawn all summer without the heavy over-watering that is so prevalent.
  • Water Plants Thoroughly but Infrequently – This causes roots to go deeper and therefore be more drought resistant/require less watering.
  • Water When Temps are Cooler – Preferably before 10:00AM or after 6:00PM.
  • Use Drip Irrigation Where Possible – Large water droplets close to the ground are much more efficient than sprinkler systems which lose a lot of water to evaporation.
  • Don’t Water in the Rain – Use rain sensors and gauges to eliminate unnecessary automatic watering when it is raining.
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Open Houses for Sunday, June 7th, 2009

There are currently 31 homes scheduled to be held open in Lake Oswego on June 7th, according to the RMLS:

100 SW Kerr Pkwy, $97,900. 1 BR, 1 BTH, 617 sq. feet, open 1:30-3:30

4465 Golden Lane, $275,000. 2 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 1980 sq. feet, open 2-4

5094 Galen, $299,999. 3 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 1438 sq. feet, open 1-3

4 Weatherstone, $224,950. 3 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 1692 sq. feet, open 1-3

3009 Wembley Park Rd, $379,900. 3 BR, 1.5 BTHS, 1754 sq. feet, open 1-4

16824 Inverurie Rd, $389,900. 3 BR, 3 BTHS, 1896 sq. feet, open 2-4

16950 Lakeridge Dr, $479,000. 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 2305 sq. feet, open 2-4

41 Hillshire Dr, $494,000. 4 BR, 3 BTHS, 2670 sq. feet, open 1:30-3:30

14412 Meadow Grass, $500,000. 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 3563 sq. feet, open 1-3

624 Livingood Ln, $549,000. 4 BR, 3 BTHS, 2596 sq. feet, open 1-4

5400 Bay Creek Dr, $550,000. 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 2856 sq. feet, open 1-3

4736 Amherst Ct, $589,000. 3 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 2800 sq. feet, open 3-5

4691 Chelsea Ln, $599,000. 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 3102 sq. feet, open 1-3

11 Cellini Ct, $599,950. 5 BR, 3 BTHS, 3392 sq. feet, open 11:30-2:30

1322 Glenmorrie Dr, $725,000. 3 BR, 3 BTHS, 2752 sq. feet, open 1-4

4625 Firwood Rd, $899,900. 3 BR, 3 BTHS, 4976 sq. feet, open 1-4

511 6th St, $928,950. 5 BR, 3.5 BTHS, 4000 sq. feet, open 1-3

17878 Hillside Dr, $970,000. 5 BR, 3 BTHS, 3462 sq. feet, open 3-5

2304 Oswego Glen Ct, $995,000. 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 3896 sq. feet, open 2-4

17178 Cedar Rd, $1,195,000. 5 BR, 3.5 BTHS, 4209 sq. feet, open 2-3:30

17404 Bergis Farm Dr, $1,198,000. 5 BR. 4.5 BTHS, 5394 sq. feet, open 1-3

12819 Alto Park Rd, $1,225,000. 4 BR, 4.5 BTHS, 3944 sq. feet, open 2-4

2625 Summit Dr, $1,289,900. 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, 4212 sq. feet, open 12:30-2:30

2326 Oswego Glen Ct, $1,295,000. 4 BR, 4 BTHS, 4178 sq. feet, open 2-4

17464 Ridgeview Ln, $1,298,950. 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, 4407 sq. feet, open 2-4

664 Oak Meadow Dr, $1,355,000. 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, 4198 sq. feet, open 2-4

657 Oak Meadow Dr, $1,395,000. 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, 4371 sq. feet, open 2-4

16737 Maple Circle, $1,400.000. 3 BR, 3 BTHS, 1683 sq. feet, open 12:00-1:30

17364 Ridgeview Ct, $1,425,000. 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, 4436 sq. feet, open 2-4

17433 Ridgeview Ln, $1,495,000. 4 BR, 4.5 BTHS, 4704 sq. feet, open 2-4

975 Lake Front Rd, $1,695,000. 3 BR, 3 BTHS, 3232 sq. feet, open 2-3:30

Have a great weekend!

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Home Staging Tips

goldendiningroom1Spring is traditionally the strongest time of year to sell your home.  If you want to sell, you need to get your home ready.  You want to win the beauty pageant.  The place to start, before you list your home for sale, is with proper home staging.  The way you live in your home and the way you sell your home are two different things.  It does add a layer of care to your already busy life, but it will payoff when you sell by getting your home sold more quickly and by helping you to get the best price possible.

Start by standing out at the street.  This is your buyer’s first impression.  Can you see the front door?  Can you see all of the windows?  Is the lawn green?  Are flower beds free of weeds and bushes nicely trimmed?  What about the color of the paint?  Is it one of the popular shades used today or something from when you moved in in 1996?  Is the roof clean and free of moss?  If you said no to any of these questions, then you’ve got work to do.  Too often homeowners let trees and bushes become over grown and drown the house.  Over-growth makes you house look like a big blob.  Do you want to buy a blob?  Neither does a buyer.

Next stand at your front door.  I believe this is the most critical moment for a buyer.  Remember that they will pause here for a minute or two while the Realtor gets the key from the lockbox and opens the door.  Your buyer will have time to look around and get a close-up look at everything around the front door.  I truly believe that they make a decision at this point.  If they like what they see, they will enter the house with a positive attitude and look for positive input to reinforce what they already believe.  If they get a bad impression, they’ll be critical as they go inside and look to find fault; again to reinforce what they already have decided.  The front door is usually a small area.  Here is what you need to do.  Wash or freshly paint the front door and the windows around the door.  Sweep or pressure wash all of the walls and ceiling around the door to get rid of spiders, webs, moths, and bug stuff.  Scrub the weather stripping at the threshold so that there is not one speck of grime.  Make sure weather stripping is in good shape, but that the door opens and closes easily.  Make sure the lock works!  Now add some color.  A couple of pots with flowers, a wreath on the front door.  Please, no holiday decorations that are months old, or pots of dead easter lillies.  Splurge and spend $20 on some nice flowers, then be sure to water them.

You’ve done it!  You’ve gotten your buyer inside.

You are moving, right?  Why not get a leg up on the job and start packing BEFORE you put your house up for sale.  You want to de-personalize your home.  Take down personal momentos, collections, most family photos, all of the stuff on the refrigerator.  It should be like a model home that you want to move right into.  And all of your very personal stuff keeps your buyer from feeling like it is “their” house.  I recommend that you do this one room at a time.  Just make a big pile in the middle of the room that you want to either store or donate/toss.  It is ok to have a few family photos.  For instance, a bookshelf with a combination of a few framed photos, some books, perhaps a small piece of art work or decorative glass, that is fine.  But that hallway photo gallery showing Joey, who is now 35, in every grade of school he ever attended:  take it down.

Less truly is more.  As you clean out clutter and stream-line each room, you will make them look larger.  A small home, well staged, can look bigger than large home full of clutter.

This is also true of furniture.  Make sure you store away anything that gets in the way in hallways, at the top of stairs, as you enter rooms, and on stairway landings.  The fact that you had no where else to put the furniture just screams “This house is too small!”.  In addition, they could actually be a safety hazzard when you have a group of people seeing the house together and unable to maneuver on the stairs.  Another important thought with furniture is do not cover up a homes features.  Don’t place TV’s in front of windows, or dressers across closets, or a couch across the fireplace.    Move the furniture around and show off each rooms best feature.  Make sure to not have too much furniture.  A few pieces in each room is all you need.  For a living room: a couch, a chair, a love seat, and a coffee or similar table is plenty.  If you have a piano, don’t be afraid to store the couch or the love seat.  You want the room to feel big and not to be dwarfed by the furniture.

The kitchen and bathroom counters are the toughest to empty and also the most important.  Many a buyer has ruled out a home because either the kitchen or the bathrooms seemed too small.  You can make them big, with a little effort.  As much as possible, but things away in cupboards.  A few things may be impossible to put away because they are constantly in use.  Hello?  The coffee pot?  With things you just have to have handy, cluster them into one group.  So if you have the coffee pot, the decorative decanter of olive oil, and the pepper mill tastefully gathered in one corner, and nothing else anywhere on the counter, you’ll get away with it.  Take away the cluster and string the three items around the kitchen and suddenly you got clutter.  Bunching is a wonderful thing.  The same thing holds true in the bathroom.  I also highly recommend baskets or decorative boxes.  If you use a container, you can pretty much fill the container and still keep things attractive.

The areas to focus your attention are:  the entry, the living room, the dining room, the family room, the kitchen, and the master bedroom and bath.  Do the whole house if you can, it will pay off.  But if you have limits to your ability to take on this project, at a minimum, get to these rooms.

Now for those of you who are after the best money and the quickest sale, you’ll take it to the next level.  Clean out closets and fold and stack everything in an orderly and tidy fashion.  Get your kids on board helping you.  Those big tubs that are made to hold toys are great.  Tell them that when they are finished playing, just throw everything in the tub.  It makes for a pretty quick clean up.  Go around the house and wash all of the windows and clean out all of the window tracks.  The pickiest buyer I have ever worked with did three things:  checked the window tracks for dirt, looked inside the oven to see if it was clean, and opened the dishwasher to look at the outer framing of the door.  If these areas were clean, she knew the rest of the house would be too.

Speaking of clean, it is absolutely the cheapest thing you can do to make your house show ready.  No one, not one buyer out there, wants to buy someone else’s dirt.  It just doesn’t happen.   Pay attention to the bottom of cupboards, the baseboards, around the bottom of the toilet.  Yep, everywhere.

You’ll need a place to store all of the stuff you are packing away.  If you can, rent a storage unit or get one of those PODS that allow you to pack things and then have them stored off-site.  If you can’t pay for storage, use your garage.  I would rather have a staged home with a garage that is stacked wall-to-wall and top-to-bottom than an empty garage and a messy house.

There are a couple of good websites I found that will give you ideas and perhaps be helpful:

From the National Associaiton of Realtors, click here.

From US News and World Report, click here.

And to visit Barb Schwartz’s website, click here.  Barb Schwartz is the queen of home staging.  She has been teaching Realtors techniques of home staging since before I was a Realtor (over 22 years).  I used to refer to staging a home as “Schwartzing” a home.  That’s how ingrained in my head this lady is.

goldenoldlrAt the top of this article is a photo of my listing in Mt. Park.  I want you to compare that photo to the one that you find to the right.  Can you see the big improvement?  The photo to the right is how this room used to look.  This was not a home with a problem of clutter.  This was a house that needed to show case the homes features.  The home owner moved the living room furniture to the other end of the room in order to showcase the wonderful windows.  Where a TV cabinet had blocked windows, now what you see is light and sunshine.  In addition, the owner replaced several windows that had broken seals.  Now when you walk in, you step back and feel the wow factor.  That is what sells a house.

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First Time Home Buyer? ~ What to Expect:

house

I was reading an article recently regarding the $8,000. tax credit for first time home buyers, and the writer expressed shock at how many people are completely unaware of it. I have noticed in my own practice recently that the larger PR machine has evidently not been doing a very good job at educating the public, as some of my clients reveal innocence on this subject as well when they discuss their leisurely plans to purchase “sometime in January of next year” etc. (the tax credit is only applicable if the home purchase is completed before December 1st of this year.) I also have heard more & more folks lately talking about attending “First Time Home Buyer Classes” presented usually by Realtors and Mortgage Brokers as a service to the public.

It seems to me that there is a real need for information out there right now. I thought I’d give a little primer below on at least the basics of what to expect during your first home-buying experience. Hope you find it helpful!

(Note: The sequence below does not apply to each and every transaction as each is individual and scenarios/time lines obviously vary. Your Realtor will be doing many more things behind the scenes than I indicate below as well, but I am sticking to outlining YOUR experience and how you can expect that to unfold… generally speaking.)

  • Retain services of a mortgage professional (lender) to give you best options for financing, and have an approval letter ready for you when you make an offer. Discuss “closing costs” with your mortgage professional, and review the “good faith estimate” that they will provide to you. (If you have a relationship with a Realtor first, ask them to recommend good resources for you.)
  • Work with your Realtor to find the home that meets your needs.
  • Work with your Realtor to determine appropriate offer & details/then write it up.
  • Realtor submits offer to Seller along with approval letter from lender and earnest money check. Note: The EM check is to show good faith, and is applied to the sale should your offer be accepted and proceed to close. Talk with your Realtor about what amount will put your best foot forward. (*Sometimes Promissory Notes may be used, and/but I highly recommend using an EM check to be taken most seriously.
  • Receive response/acceptance/counter from Seller in time frame you specified on the offer (in a normal transaction you typically ask for response within 24 hours, but if it is a “short sale”, the process of hearing back that you are indeed accepted by all parties concerned can take months.)
  • Upon mutual acceptance (usually within 1-3 days), schedule an inspection ASAP (you have 10 business days to conduct inspections & may back out if concerns arise during this time). Your Realtor will help you with this- Ask him or her for good resources to guide you through the process of inspecting the home. Prices vary, but a 2000 square foot house will often run around $400. more or less, and size as well as other factors come into play in the cost of an inspection.
  • Upon mutual acceptance, your earnest money check is sent to the Escrow Office, and held by them on your behalf until closing, or until nullification of the offer if this occurs within your inspection period.
  • Realtor writes and negotiates any Inspection Addendum items during this period according to your wishes (you will work with your Realtor to discuss and determine any give and take in the negotiation process that may occur. Your Realtor will offer you information and give professional advice, negotiating on your behalf and with your permission. You are in the driver’s seat, and you make the final decisions albeit under good counsel.
  • Upon mutual acceptance & reaching the end of your inspection period, your Realtor notifies the lender who orders the appraisal.
  • Your Realtor continues to work with the lender as the lending process moves forward. As long as the appraisal comes back at or above sale/offer price, you will proceed to closing through the underwriting process of the lender. Should the property not appraise for at least the sale amount, the lender will bring this to your attention and there will be some decisions for you to make around the sale price and your desire for the home (you are not required to pay any monies over and above the appraisal amount, and lenders will not lend more than the appraised value generally speaking.)
  • You may be requested by the underwriter to provide additional information on a case by case basis. Your Realtor will work with you and help in any way possible and appropriate to facilitate the flow of information required from you, but you are in the driver’s seat as far as responsibility to provide the necessary information to the lender.
  • When all underwriter/lender requirements have been met, the file is signed off by the underwriter, and passed to Escrow. The whole lender process usually takes around 3-4 weeks.
  • Escrow processes all paperwork, title insurance, and all distribution of funds between you and the seller as per the contract provisions agreed upon between you and the Seller. Documents are drafted, and a “signing date/time” is scheduled. (“Signing” is not the same as “Closing”.)
  • Your Realtor will often attend your signing with you to help with any questions that arise, and to offer moral support. (Frankly, I just love being a part of the exciting culmination of the home buying adventure!)
  • Escrow will then send signed documents back to the lender, and to the county. The transaction will then “close” or “fund & record” in 1-2 days after signing, at which time you will receive a call that you are a homeowner!
  • Your Realtor will usually meet you at your new home and deliver you the keys. (More fun!)
  • The whole process from offer to close usually takes around 30 days… sometimes 40-45. It can take a little longer depending on the lender, and sometimes it takes less time than that. You and your Realtor will assign a “no later than” date on your offer in conjunction with talking to the lender about their current load & closing time line. All parties are then obligated to “perform” within that time frame, or draft an addendum extending the closing date if that proves necessary and IF all parties agree to do it. (Because there always exists the possibility that one party may not agree to sign an extension addendum, and the contract specifically states “on or before” a particular date, the closing date is a binding contractual agreement and should be taken very seriously. As a buyer, your earnest money is at stake if you should not “perform” to contact terms.)

The above may be missing some pieces of the puzzle as each transaction is different, and various issues can arise during the process, but hopefully this give you a basic idea of how it will go!

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Market Activity for May 18-24, 2009

Lots of houses continue to come onto the market, as is typical in the spring. Even with the holiday weekend there were 25 new listings in Lake Oswego. We also saw 21 houses receive offers and go pending and 2 closed sales.

Here is the latest market activity for Lake Oswego (see below the tables for additional notes):

NEWLY LISTED (May 18—May 24, 2009)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
LIST DATE
Address List Price # BR # BTHS Total SF Prop Type List Date
100 KERR PKWY $94,900 1 1 617 CONDO 5/21/2009
45 EAGLE CREST DR $139,900 1 1 768 CONDO 5/20/2009
86 KINGSGATE RD $149,900 2 2 849 CONDO 5/20/2009
276 CERVANTES $183,000 3 2 1,209 CONDO 5/21/2009
235 CERVANTES $188,000 2 2 1,100 CONDO 5/21/2009
16250 PACIFIC HWY $220,000 1 1 841 CONDO 5/19/2009
16428 SW BONAIRE AVE $269,950 3 1 1,240 DETACHD 5/19/2009
16250 PACIFIC HWY $274,500 2 2 1,305 CONDO 5/19/2009
4 WHEATHERSTONE $334,950 3 2.1 1,692 CONDO 5/18/2009
6321 ALYSSA TER $339,000 3 2.1 1,582 ATTACHD 5/18/2009
14141 GOODALL RD $389,900 3 2.1 1,907 DETACHD 5/22/2009
19221 REDWING CT $397,500 3 2 1,374 DETACHD 5/22/2009
147 6TH ST $425,000 3 1 1,584 DETACHD 5/18/2009
668 MCVEY AVE 425000 – 450000 3 1.1 992 CONDO 5/20/2009
16950 LAKERIDGE DR $479,000 4 2.1 2,305 DETACHD 5/23/2009
4938 MULHOLLAND DR $529,900 3 2.1 2,498 ATTACHD 5/19/2009
4959 BILFORD LN $547,500 3 2.1 2,456 DETACHD 5/19/2009
475 COUNTRY CLUB CT $549,000 3 2.1 1,705 DETACHD 5/18/2009
5400 BAY CREEK DR $550,000 4 2.1 2,856 DETACHD 5/22/2009
686 SUNNY HILL DR $569,500 4 2.1 2,300 DETACHD 5/21/2009
4305 UPPER DR $749,000 4 2.1 3,474 DETACHD 5/20/2009
1755 SOUTHSHORE BLVD $949,000 5 3.1 4,757 DETACHD 5/21/2009
943 SW ATWATER RD $975,000 4 2.1 3,874 DETACHD 5/21/2009
14480 KRUSE OAKS BLVD $1,149,000 4 3.1 4,661 DETACHD 5/18/2009
18042 SKYLAND CIR $1,499,000 4 3 4,800 DETACHD 5/22/2009

PENDING SALES (May 18-May 24, 2009)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
DOM
Address List Price # BR # BTHS Total SF Prop Type CDOM
45 EAGLE CREST DR $134,900 2 1.1 1,056 CONDO 6
4000 CARMAN DR $149,900 2 2 925 CONDO 699
4000 CARMAN DR $179,900 2 2 1,100 CONDO 72
1602 BONNIEBRAE DR 224900 – 254876 2 1 864 ATTACHD 256
103 KINGSGATE RD $299,900 3 2.1 1,352 DETACHD 56
18543 LONGFELLOW AVE $305,000 3 1.1 1,279 DETACHD 97
5918 SEVILLE AVE $315,000 4 2 1,752 DETACHD 14
45 TANGLEWOOD DR $345,000 5 3.1 3,166 DETACHD 71
15 MASARYK ST $349,900 3 3 3,680 DETACHD 131
111 3RD ST $399,900 2 2 1,206 CONDO 276
815 10TH ST $399,950 3 2 2,190 DETACHD 298
606 2ND ST $420,000 4 3 3,022 DETACHD 34
17825 SARAH HILL LN $464,900 4 2.1 2,525 DETACHD 5
2 PIMLICO TER $479,900 4 2.1 2,301 DETACHD 21
14412 MEADOW GRASS ST $500,000 4 2.1 3,563 DETACHD 364
5026 HARTFORD PL $524,900 5 2.1 3,253 DETACHD 319
17445 LAKE HAVEN DR $539,900 4 3 2,949 DETACHD 9
1245 BAYBERRY RD $559,000 3 2 1,728 DETACHD 342
5590 KODERRA AVE $599,900 4 2.1 3,072 DETACHD 10
5322 Langford LN $759,000 4 2.1 3,218 DETACHD 178
17970 ROYCE WAY $995,000 4 4.2 5,226 DETACHD 285

SOLD (May 11-May 17, 2009)

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ADDRESS ORIG. PRICE SALE PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
DOM
Address O/Price Close Price # BR # BTHS Total SF Prop Type CDOM
4724 SW FIRWOOD RD $299,900 $279,900 3 1.1 1,240 DETACHD 296
13805 REGENCY CT $419,000 $373,000 4 2.1 2,045 DETACHD 29

Criteria: Homes in the 97034 and 97035 zip code, listed, pending or sold between the dates listed above as reported by the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS). DETACHD refers to Single Family Detached Residence, MFG refers to manufactured housing, and ATTACHD refers to single-family residences with some portion of the structure attached to another property, but not constituting CONDO ownership. DOM stands for days on market, or the number of days from when the listing became active and when it received an acceptable offer, with CDOM standing for “cumulative days on market” accounting for “refreshed” listings.

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Open Houses for Sunday, May 24, 2009

goldendiningroomAlong with my own open house at 4447 Golden Lane, there are a total 17 opens planned for Lake Oswego on May 24th.  I’d love to have you come by to see me tomorrow.  My listings is a 1616 square foot townhouse in Mt. Park.  Recent updates include gorgeous granite counters in the kitchen, laminate flooring, and new windows.  It has 2 large bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths.  Probably the nicest feature is that it has huge, south-facing windows that look out across trees and well-cared for landscaping.  It is also an end unit.  It’s priced at $255,000.  I’ll be there from 2 to 5pm.  You’ll find my signs at the corner of Melrose and Fosberg and from there you can easily follow them into the complex on Thundervista.

Joining my open house on Sunday are these properties:

16824 Inverurie, $389,900. 1896 sq. feet, 3 BR, 3 BTHS, open 1-3

41 Hillshire, $498,500. 2670 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3 BTHS, open 1:30-3:30

17393 Grandview Ct, $649,900. 3672 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 1-3

2814 Vale Ct, $719,900. 3192 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3 BTHS, open noon-3

730 8th St, $799,000. 2395 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3 BTHS, open 2-4

17215 Lowenberg Terrace, $850,000. 2819 sq. feet, 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, open 12:30-3:30

511 6th St, $928,950. 4000 sq. feet, 5 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open noon-2

1015 Andrews Rd, $999,900. 3367 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3 BTHS, open 2-4

900 Fairway Rd, $1,094,000. 3508 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open noon-2

17464 Ridgeview Lane, $1,298,950. 4407 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

622 Oak Meadow Dr, $1,325,000. 4171 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

16359 Chapin Way, $1,349,000. 4158 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 1-4

664 Oak Meadow Dr, $1,355,000. 4198 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

657 Oak Meadow Dr, $1,395,000. 4371 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

17364 Ridgeview Ct, $1,425,000. 4436 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

17433 Ridgeview Lane, $1,495,000. 4704 sq. feet, 4 BR, 4.5 BTHS, open 2-4

Along with enjoying the sunny weather and a great day of visiting open houses on Sunday, let’s also be sure to take a moment to reflect on those who have given their lives for our country.  Having a son currently in the military, and having a brother-in-law who was lost to us while serving, Memorial Day holds a particularly deep meaning in my heart.  It is an important day for reflecting upon those who make our freedom possible.

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Finding a Great Restaurant

For some time now I’ve been wanting to highlight some local restaurants and places that I enjoy frequenting here in Lake Oswego.  Today I want to let you know about 3 wonderful restaurants on the Lake Grove side of town.  All 3 are practically institutions in the area, having been in business for many years.  They are also located in a cluster along the same stretch of Boones Ferry Rd, the main road through the West end of town.

la-provenceLa Provence is the youngster in the group.  The founders of the restaurant, Pascal, Didier, and Alain came from France in 1996 wanting to share their passion for the French Patisserie, which is a bakery that specializes in pastries and sweets.  Don’t be fooled by the outstanding selection of breads, tortes, cakes and croissants that are showcased as you walk-in.  This restaurant offers first class food well beyond the temptations of sweets.  When the restaurant first opened it specialized in breakfast and lunch.  My favorite breakfast choice has long been the smoked-salmon hash.  Served over crispy hash browns, the smoked salmon is topped by a poached egg and creamy dill sauce.  The homemade bread makes delicious toast, and the coffee is outstanding.  For lunch I recommend the French onion soup.  It is the best I have ever had.  And in the last year or so the restaurant has begun to stay open for dinner service.  I recently had a wonderful dinner there at a time when they were offering live music.  I consider the pricing to be affordable and the food highly reliable.  The atmosphere is relaxed and sunny with bright splashes of color from the art work and provencial-style table cloths.  Located at 15964 Boones Ferry Rd, you can find menus and more information at their website, www.provence-portland.com/

gubancsNext door to La Provence is Gubanc’s.  Gubanc’s and I have something in common.  We both came to Lake Oswego in 1976.  I guess you could say that we kind of grew up together.  Owned by Tony and Anne Gubanc, this restaurant is a neighborhood classic.  The atmosphere is classy while being comfortable.  Not too expensive, you’ll find the food to be Northwest with an interesting flair.  The restaurant is most famous for its soups.  They have 80 different varieties that were personally created for their menu.  While the traditionals like clam chowder are available, you will also often find unusual selections like Chicken and Pear or Santa Fe Chicken with White Bean.  Yum.  A great deal at lunch is the Soup Board.  For $7.50 you get a generous bowl of homemade soup with a side board of bread, cheese, and fruit.  Dinner options include South Western Pork Wraps, Chicken and Dumplings, and Halibut Provencial.  For dessert they are well known for their Fresh Fruit Cobbler.  You’ll find it busy every night of the week.  There is a full bar and I think there are quite a few regulars who eat dinner here several nights a week.  To continue to fill the dining room night-after-night for over 30 years, you know they must be doing something right.  Located at 16008 Boones Ferry Rd.  For a copy of the menu and more information, visit Gubanc’s website at www.gubancspub.com.

riccardosFinally, I want to brag about Riccardo’s.  This is my favorite “special occasion” restaurant in Lake Oswego.  Not that you would only want to go there on special occasions, like an anniversary or a birthday.  I have gone there with friends for a casual lunch or dinner many times.  It’s just that I’ve also celebrated many birthdays and anniversaries there.  In my mind, it is a special place that provides just the right atmosphere for a special night out.  Opened in 1980 by Riccardo and Georgette Spaccarelli, it is very fine Italian dining at it’s best.  The Spaccarellis are known for their annual trips to Italy where they visit wine producers and make selections to offer with their food.  The entire meal is extremely authentic.   It’s also mouth watering and complex.  My favorite item on the menu is the Penna Strozzapreti.  Penna pasta with a sauce of cremini mushrooms, black olives, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes in a light cream sauce that is then dusted with parmigiano reggiano.  That is comfort food to me and a real taste treat.  There are two dining rooms.  The inside room seats 55 and is very nice.   But my favorite, and where I always make it a point to dine, is the outside patio.  It seats 75 and is surrounded by high walls that in the summer are topped with flowers.  There are terra cotta tiled floors and several fountains.  The perimeter tables do have a roof over them and in cooler weather they have numerous heaters to keep you warm.  No, I don’t think you’d be able to dine out there in January.  But for most of the year you can.  It is not only comfortable, you will feel like you’ve gone to Italy.  Riccardo’s is just across the street from Gubanc’s and La Provence at 16035 Boones Ferry Rd.  You can find their menu and more information at their website, www.riccardoslo.com

There are other great restaurants in LO.  I’ll work on giving other recommendations in the future, but this is a good starting point for a new resident in the area.  And just like the long-time residents, you’ll go back again and again.

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Market Activity Report ~ May 11 – 17, 2009

This last week Lake Oswego saw 23 new properties placed on the market, Pending sales at 12 and 4 Sold/closed. We’re still seeing buyers out for all price ranges, and the trend continuing of newer listings selling as well as homes that have been on the market for extended periods… it is one or the other it seems!

Here is the latest market activity for Lake Oswego (see below the tables for additional notes):

NEWLY LISTED (May 11—May 17, 2009)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
LIST DATE
Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type List Date
45 EAGLE CREST DR $134,900 2 1.1 1,056 CONDO 5/14/2009
3433 MCNARY PKWY $157,500 2 2.1 1,208 CONDO 5/11/2009
86 KINGSGATE RD $159,900 2 2 924 CONDO 5/11/2009
45 EAGLE CREST DR $259,900 3 2 1,348 CONDO 5/13/2009
222 CERVANTES $259,990 3 1.1 1,464 CONDO 5/15/2009
16850 CORTEZ CT $285,000 4 1.1 1,232 DETACHD 5/12/2009
16501 LAKE FOREST BLVD $319,900 3 1 1,429 DETACHD 5/13/2009
13024 ROGERS RD $389,900 4 1 1,826 DETACHD 5/15/2009
12519 27TH PL $399,000 3 2.1 1,975 DETACHD 5/11/2009
4181 COBB WAY $429,900 4 3 2,248 DETACHD 5/14/2009
17825 SARAH HILL LN $464,900 4 2.1 2,525 DETACHD 5/15/2009
14 TANGLEWOOD DR $499,999 5 3 3,384 DETACHD 5/14/2009
2062 CEDAR CT $525,000 3 1 1,800 DETACHD 5/15/2009
17445 LAKE HAVEN DR $539,900 4 3 2,949 DETACHD 5/11/2009
4040 VIRGINIA WAY $595,000 4 2.1 2,484 DETACHD 5/11/2009
18490 RAY RIDGE DR $679,900 4 3 3,426 DETACHD 5/15/2009
17455 BLUE HERON RD $850,000 3 2 2,572 DETACHD 5/13/2009
3967 CANAL RD $1,150,000 4 4 3,800 DETACHD 5/12/2009
2625 SUMMIT DR $1,337,500 4 3.1 4,212 DETACHD 5/11/2009
624 ATWATER RD $1,438,000 5 3.1 4,465 DETACHD 5/11/2009
18977 BARTON RD $1,695,000 4 3.1 4,648 DETACHD 5/15/2009
397 FURNACE ST $1,850,000 3 2.1 2,864 DETACHD 5/13/2009
13701 GOODALL RD $2,475,000 4 4.1 6,028 DETACHD 5/14/2009

PENDING SALES (May 11-May 17, 2009)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
DOM
Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type List Date CDOM
1897 BOCA RATAN DR $237,100 3 2.1 1,739 ATTACHD 4/13/2009 33
5101 JEAN RD $242,000 3 1 1,012 DETACHD 1/22/2009 233
200 Burnham RD $264,850 2 2 1,313 CONDO 6/30/2007 682
1615 HALLINAN ST $279,000 3 1.1 1,500 DETACHD 2/17/2009 86
1107 CEDAR ST $324,999 4 3 2,485 DETACHD 5/11/2009 4
18307 LONGFELLOW AVE $329,900 3 2 1,457 DETACHD 5/7/2009 262
18929 TERRY AVE $356,950 4 2 2,065 DETACHD 3/30/2009 44
2317 STONEHURST CT $749,900 4 2.1 4,455 DETACHD 5/1/2009 374
13874 TAYLORS CREST LN $750,000 4 2.1 3,701 DETACHD 5/11/2009 3
5513 RACHEL LN $799,999 4 2.1 3,149 DETACHD 4/16/2009 435
18224 Bella Terra DR $1,294,000 4 4 4,050 DETACHD 4/11/2008 397

SOLD (May 11-May 17, 2009)

ADDRESS ORIG. PRICE SALE PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
DOM
Address O/Price Close Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type List Date CDOM
4 TOUCHSTONE $93,000 $86,000 2 2 979 CONDO 4/10/2009 10
5235 OAKRIDGE RD $324,900 $290,000 3 2.1 1,576 DETACHD 11/18/2008 129
5441 DENTON DR $599,000 $599,000 3 2.1 3,331 DETACHD 1/26/2009 242
17706 MARYLBROOK DR $685,000 $623,500 3 2.2 3,039 DETACHD 12/14/2008 392

Criteria: Homes in the 97034 and 97035 zip code, listed, pending or sold between the dates listed above as reported by the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS). DETACHD refers to Single Family Detached Residence, MFG refers to manufactured housing, and ATTACHD refers to single-family residences with some portion of the structure attached to another property, but not constituting CONDO ownership. DOM stands for days on market, or the number of days from when the listing became active and when it received an acceptable offer, with CDOM standing for “cumulative days on market” accounting for “refreshed” listings.

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Lake Oswego Open Houses – Sunday May 17th, 2009

There are 41 great properties to see on Sunday in Lake Oswego. No matter what price level or type of home you are looking for, you will be sure to find some fun options on the list below! Enjoy a beautiful Sunday!

Here are those that will be held open according to RMLS:

100 Kerr Pkwy #35 $97,900 1 Bd, 1 Ba Open 1:30-3:30

45 Eagle Crest Dr #315 $134,900 2 Bd, 1 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

4465 Golden Ln $275,000 2 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-4

5094 Galen St $299,999 3 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

18543 Longfellow Ave $317,500 3 Bd, 1 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

800 Woodway Ct $339,000 4 Bd, 3 Ba Open 2-4

1685 Mapleleaf Rd $365,000 3 Bd, 2 Ba Open 1-4

17311 Ashley Ct $385,000 4 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 12-2

3009 Wembley Park Rd $395,000 3 Bd, 1 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

3 Cellini Ct $449,000 4 Bd 2 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

41 Hillshire Dr $498,500 4 Bd, 3 Ba Open 1:30-3:30

17088 Rebecca Ln $499,000 4 Bd, 3 Ba Open 1:30-3:30

3745 Tempest Dr $499,900 4 Bd, 3 Ba Open 1-3

161 C Ave $524,900 2 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-4

17445 Lake Haven Dr $539,900 4 Bd, 3 Ba Open 1-4

624 Livingood Ln $549,000 4 Bd, 3 Ba Open 1-4

4114 Glacier Lily St $579,000 4 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 12-2

16920 Greentree Ave $579,000 4 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

400 Lake Bay Ct $579,900 3 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

952 A Ave $599,000 3 Bd, 2 Ba Open 1-3

364 Northshore Rd $674,900 4 Bd, 2 Ba Open 1-3

580 Weidman Ct $695,000 5 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

13768 Knaus Rd $699,000 3 Bd, 2 Ba Open 1:30-3

4076 Orchard Dr $719,000 4 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

2688 Rivendell Rd $835,000 4 Bd, 3 Ba Open 1-3

511 6th St $928,950 5 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 2:30-4:30

17211 Blue Heron Rd $939,900 3 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 3-5

1785 Palisades Terrace Dr $960,000 5 Bd, 4 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

17878 Hillside Dr $970,000 5 Bd, 3 Ba Open 1-4

301 Iron Mountain Blvd $999,000 4 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

943 SW Atwater Rd $999,500 4 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

577 Middlecrest Rd $1,045,000 4 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

17512 Greenbluff Dr $1,074,900 4 Bd, 4 Ba Open 1-4

18106 Pilkington Rd $1,095,000 4 Bd, 4 1/2 Ba Open 12-2

17464 Ridgeview Ln $1,298,950 4 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

622 Oak Meadow Dr $1,325,000 4 Bd 3 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

664 Oak Meadow Dr $1,355,000 4 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

657 Oak Meadow Dr $1,395,000 4 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

17364 Ridgeview Ct $1,425,000 4 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

17433 Ridgeview Ln $1,495,000 4 Bd, 4 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

17554 Greenbluff Dr $1,499,900 4 Bd, 4 & 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-4

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~ The Dog Whisperer ~

valerie_3There is such a panoply of amenities in Lake Oswego that Dianne and I have been talking about incorporating profiles of local favorites from time to time. I thought I’d begin with a very special person who I would be lost without… my local “dog-whisperer”, Valerie Pulley.

Ever notice that periodically certain topics tend to pop up any time you turn on the television or are in conversations with different groups of people? Lately itnyree1 seems it has been the subject of pets, and dogs in particular. We all know what a Portuguese Water Dog is now, thanks to “Beau” at the White House. I know our own friend & blogging cohort, Ron Ares, wrote a post most recently about his own dog, Nyree (left), adopted by the Ares family to save her from becoming a casualty of foreclosure. I’ve seen pieces on local and national news about the amazing number of dogs that have been abandoned or taken to shelters as fallout from the current economy, and it is heartbreaking to consider.

Recently, a friend of mine who has been experiencing the stress of the economy herself, told me a story that made me race out the door, camera and notepad in hand. My friend’s dog was badly in need of grooming, being a breed that really needs some professional upkeep. It had been awhile, and though she felt horrible about it, she just didn’t have the funds to spare. We both frequent the same wonderful dog groomer, Valerie Pulley, and she told me that Valerie was so concerned about her pooch that she called & asked my friend to please just come in and consider it her gift. Valerie knew the dog needed her attention, and decided that this was the most important thing. Well… word about special people like Valerie spreads quickly in a community like Lake Oswego, and while I don’t want to encourage others to solicit favors : ) I DO want folks to know about her, and others like her, and so a few words about this exceptional person:

Valerie has been a professional dog groomer since 1994 when she completed her schooling in Phoenix. Her mother was a dog breeder, and Valerie’s plan in the beginning was simply to assist her mother. It didn’t take her long to realize that she had a special talent, and wanted to make this her career. Valerie just loves dogs, and they tend to sense it. Her ownkato1 Staffordshire Terrier, Fedore, is her pride & joy, I’ve been taking my crazy black Standard Schnauzer, Kato (right) , to Valerie for years, and she is the only one who can calm him down enough to let his toenails be clipped. Turns out others have noticed this talent as well, and dog owners from far and wide bring their “hard to handle” pets to Valerie for tender loving care. Valerie mentions that “Some dogs have been kicked out of every grooming salon in Portland for biting, scratching, and generally squirming and freaking out. They bring them to me because I am the only one they’ve found to be able to handle them.” I valerie_4ask her why she thinks this is, and she says “I’m just not afraid of them, and I care about them.” She has been working in the Lake Oswego area for around 12 years now, spending some of her career at the Lake Oswego Dog Shoppe, and now is working for Groomingdales in Tualatin on Nyberg Rd., just about five minutes from my house & a toe over the Lake Oswego borderline. A customer notices that I am interviewing Valerie and volunteers “I come here all the way from Sherwood. They’re so nice & so good I wouldn’t go anywhere else.” For my part, I’ll go anywhere Valerie is… and Kato is very grateful.

You can reach Valerie at: 503 692 WOOF (9663).