Category: Neighborhoods

The Neighborhoods of Lake Oswego, Oregon

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Featured Neighborhood: Rosewood

Lake Oswego has 25 unique neighborhoods, each of which has a panel of volunteers who help steer the direction of the neighborhood with the city and with the county. Today, I want to tell you about Rosewood.

Bounded on the West by Lakewood Blvd and 65th Ave, on the North by Jean Rd, on the East by Bryant Woods Nature Park, and on the South by Childs Rd, it is a neighborhood of quiet streets, large lots, and a mixture of housing. It contains Rivergrove Elementary School and Pilkington Park.

In the last 6 months 24 properties have been offered for sale: 2 are currently active listings, 3 are in pending status, and 19 are closed sales. The least expensive property is a pending sale that was built in 1964. Very dated and needing repairs, it is pending for $475,000. It has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms within 1226 square feet. The most expensive house is new construction that is currently for sale. Listed for $2,300,000, it has 4129 square feet, 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. The average list price is $733,095 and the average sold price is $742,117. Average market time is 21 days on the market.

If you like to get more information on Rosewood, click here.

I hope that this information is useful. As always, thank you for reading the blotter.

Dianne

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Lake Oswego Neighborhoods

I got a call asking for information on Lake Oswego neighborhoods this week. It reminded me just how nuanced and varied the different areas of this little hamlet are. The Property Blotter has a whole section devoted to write-ups on individual neighborhoods which you can access on our home page under…”Neighborhoods” : ) if you’d like an in-depth look at any of them. In any event, this is a casual look at the areas & neighborhoods of Lake Oswego~

You’ve got the older part on the State St side, and the newer part on the Boones Ferry Rd side, and corresponding zip codes of 97034 & 97035, generally speaking. Of course everyone thinks of First Addition on the older side with it’s carefully laid-out grid: A, B, C, D, !st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th…you get it. First Addition was originally designed as a “company town” in the early days & is now one of the most sought-after neighborhoods with it’s proximity to everything Lake Oswego & otherwise. Palisades is up the hill on the southern/opposite side of town with it’s little town center, hilly views of the Willamette River & Lake, public golf course and easy access to Hwy 205, Hwy 43 (w/a 15-minute trip into downtown Portland), and South Shore Blvd meandering in a luxurious commute to the newer side of Lake Oswego to the west. Hallinan is next to Palisades, also hilly and has it’s own feel with walking trails & a beautiful park. The older side also has Northshore with it’s train & bridges & island, Lakewood on the south side of Lakewood Bay, Evergreen on its north side, Riverfront with the Iron Smelter and Waterfront Parks on the Willamette, Country Club, Red Fox Hills bordering Tryon Natural Area, Forest Hills which is close to First Addition, Glenmorrie heading our towards Marylhurst near the Willamette and Southshore along the south side of the lake. You also have Dunthorpe and Riverwood at the very north end of the area, which are communities/destinations of their own.

The “newer” part of Lake Oswego is bounded by Mountain Park on the northwestern edge which was built as a planned community with hills and walking trails and a community pool as well as other benefits shared by the residents. Lots of the best opportunities for condo living are found in Mountain Park. Uplands is nestled against Country Club, but edges out to Boones Ferry, so it’s kind of part of the older area, but in the middle. Lakewood which is a little peninsula, Westlake which sits on the western edge of Lake Oswego and offers both beauty and the easy connection to Kruse Way, I-5 and all things “west end”. Lake Forest enchants with its wooded splendor, West Bay nestles on the west side of the lake, Bryant is charming with it’s restaurants, services & lovely neighborhoods, Westridge is hidden away with its sleepy streets built around the elementary school, Blue Heron & the Canals are enticing with their unusual living opportunities on the water, Rosewood & River Grove offer relaxed charm on the very south end of Lake Oswego.

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Featured Neighborhood: Evergreen

There are 25 distinct neighborhoods in Lake Oswego. 23 of the 25 have active neighborhood associations, including Evergreen. These are not Homeowners Associations. They don’t have rules and regulations or charge dues. Rather, they give neighbors a place to discuss the character of their community and organize as a group when issues arise.

Located South of A Avenue, West of 10th Street, North of the lake, and East of State Street, the primary feature of this neighborhood, in my opinion, is it’s easy access to restaurants, the Farmer’s Market, and downtown LO.

Housing includes condos, townhouses, detached homes and apartments. There are currently just two houses for sale. Both are new construction of about 5,000 square feet and pretty expensive: $3,600,000 and $3,825,000. There are two houses in escrow: a 1952 “fixer” for $875,000 and a lakefront house on Cabana Lane for $2,498,000. In the last 6 months 4 houses have been sold. The least expensive was fairly large house built in 1958 that sold for $864,000 and a 2022 built house that sold for $2,095,000.

Cabana Lane is one of my favorite streets in Lake Oswego. The houses are built on stilts over the water of the lake. They are very close together and have small front yards, but their back yards are, literally, the lake. Most of these houses have attached boat garages. This truly is lake living.

It’s a very walkable neighborhood with quiet streets and abundant, large trees. I personally love to take walks in the Evergreen neighborhood. I park my car at Foothills Park and then take the Curlicue Trail up into the Evergreen area. My walk includes the loop around Lakewood Bay. It’s mostly flat and just really lovely. As a bonus, I can take a break for coffee at Peets, or lunch at one of the many restaurants in the area.

To learn more about the area, here is a link to the Evergreen Neighborhood Association. https://sites.google.com/site/evergreenneighborhood/

I hope you enjoyed learning about another of LO’s great neighborhoods. As always, thanks for reading the blotter.

Dianne

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A Stroll Around LO

Today I thought that I’d share with you some of the sights I enjoyed on this morning’s walk

Bryant Woods Nature Park
Blue Heron Canal

This is such a gorgeous community! Enjoy the beautiful weekend!

Dianne

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Featured Neighborhood: Westlake

Westlake is probably the most classic “American” neighborhood in Lake Oswego. Developed in the 1980’s it is winding, quiet streets of lovely homes that just beg you to take your dog for a walk, or your kids to get on their bikes and spend the day outside. It is truly a wonderful neighborhood.

It’s also unbelievably convenient. Located at the very Western edge of Lake Oswego, it is bounded by I-5 on the West, Melrose St on the North, Fosberg Rd on the East, and Kruse Way on the South. It is literally at the junction of I-5 and Hwy 217. I remember when it was being developed there was a big sign that said “If you lived here, you’d be home right now”. This is because as you leave the freeway, it’s right there. If you live in First Addition, you’ve got another 10 minutes of driving to get home. If you live in Palisades, you’ve also got another 10 minutes of driving to get home. It’s just super convenient.

Westlake has 2 parks, Westlake Park and Southwood Park. Southwood Park is more of a nature area with green lawns and walking paths. Westlake Park is more of a recreation area with a huge playground and an athletic field for baseball and soccer. It is also the sight of the August portion of the Lake Oswego Summer concert series. In a non-covid 19 world, there is a free outdoor concert every Wednesday evening in the month of August.

Westlake Elementary School is also adjacent to this neighborhood, which makes it close enough for kids to walk or ride their bikes to school.

Do you see what I”m saying about a classic “American” neighborhood. It’s like something straight out of a movie. The American dream. A family home and everyone enjoying recreation and friendships.

The housing in Westlake is primarily single family residential. There are some apartments, but no condos. There is also a very small commercial area with a dozen businesses and a pizza restaurant.

There are currently 8 houses for sale in Westlake. The least expensive is 1861 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, built in 1986, the interior is mostly original and would benefit from updating. It’s priced at $549,900. The most expensive is 2976 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, built in 1985, it is beautifully updated and priced at $995,000.

Homes in Westlake sell fast. Because of everything I have shared here, it is a wildly popular place to live and buyers are watching and waiting. When the right house comes onto the market, they jump on it. This makes it not only a great place to live, but owning a home there is also a great investment.

The photos shared here are of homes that I have recently sold in Westlake. I know the neighborhood and would love to help you realize your dream of living in a classic “American” neighborhood.

As always, thanks for reading the blotter.
Dianne

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Listing Your Property

Hey everybody!  Its a privilege to be able to coalesce around this town we all love so much and bring you great real estate & local Lake Oswego content.

March is the month I often recommend to my clients interested in listing their homes at the best time. Weather is starting to get sunnier, flowers are starting to bloom, and though it started earlier this year, people start to get out in earnest if they want to buy a house or condo this year. So, if you’re thinking of getting your home on the market, this time of year gives you a few months of high season (things start to taper off after July 4th when a lot of people take the fam off on vacations to other locales).

If this is you, here are a few items to tick off your list:

  • Realtor~ Engage an energetic, experienced and skilled Real Estate Broker.  I’m partial to Dianne and myself, so you can always call either of us (!!) and/but make sure you find someone you enjoy being with and trust, then strongly consider their advice all along the way. A Realtor who really understands your neighborhood and how to price & market in your niche is key. They are there to help you achieve your goal, and that’s what they’ll do if y’all remain committed to the goal and making good decisions all along the way.
  • Cosmetic Prep~ Obviously you want to clean up your home. Polish and shine it… dress it in its cozy-but-sparse finery. Enlist your Realtor for staging tips and or help in that regard. Think of getting things packed up and maybe start stacking some boxes in the garage… you’re going to be moving soon, so might as well get a head-start. Rooms look bigger with less, and folks can imagine themselves in your home as their own if you have a warm but open & clean feel to your rooms. Lawns mowed, shrubbery trimmed, drive and walkways pressure-washed…  Your Realtor will give you tips specifically catered to your property.
  • Repairs~ No home is perfect.  You should talk to your Realtor about any known “issues”. Some things can be left to see what the Buyer may want to do about them, others might be advisable to just take care of prior to listing. Your Realtor will be able to advise you what likely falls into which category and give you options on how certain items can be addressed. They will also likely have some great resources for you when you need a good contractor to get the job done right.  Some people choose to have a home inspection done prior to listing just to be in the know about everything- Be advised that this can be a great tool if you plan to address everything that comes up in the report prior to listing (that’s a good idea anyway). That inspection report WILL be a “Disclosure”, however, and handed to any Buyer who comes in good faith.  It can be a good marketing tool to be able to hand that report to a Buyer and tell them that the issues contained therein have been remedied.  If the prospect of this makes you nervous, know that a Buyer will almost always have their own inspection done anyway, and if you’ve familiarized yourself with your own home and disclosed everything you know about it, the items that come up and that a Buyer *may* choose to ask you to address will probably not be a surprise. There is a negotiation period where items of concern to a Buyer can be worked through and resolved either monetarily, by repairing prior to Close, or by the Buyer deciding to proceed and take on those items themselves. Its all very specific to the individual home, issues and people involved. ……..Which is another reason you need a good Realtor.
  • Setting Expectations~ Your Realtor will  discuss how life will be once your property goes on the market.  You have choices- times for showings (9-6? 7-7? Remember: people work). You can have all calls or texts to schedule showings go to your Realtor or you can take those calls/texts yourself & handle it more directly. If you have a pet, some thought need to be given to that. You can expect that you’ll be inconvenienced a bit, and on the first weekend I usually recommend a nice, short trip to the coast, or somewhere you love. That way you’re not bothered by people wanting you to leave for a 1/2 hour or so at a time on your weekend, and Buyers & Agents then have easy access to showing your home (***This is the best recipe for getting the most potential Buyers to consider yours). My aim is always to get the home sold that first week, and though market conditions have made that not as common as in past years, in this current hot market and time of year its happening more often. That said, depending on the price you’ve decided on with your Realtor’s help, and other conditions/factors particular to the house or condo that may reduce your Buyer pool, you could possibly be in for a wait for “The One”.  Just know that your sale will happen, and try to think of these intrusions as opportunities to share how amazing your beautiful home is with each potential Buyer.

After all….  You are on to new adventures!

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Featured Neighborhood: Lakewood

Lake Oswego has 24 recognized neighborhood associations. Having a neighborhood association is not the same as having a Home Owner’s Association. While some neighborhood associations do have HOA’s many do not. This means that the neighborhood association is not so much about organizing or restricting home owners, and it is more about organizing as a group to communicate with city planning and simply as neighbors to coordinate ideas and activities. Today we are going to take a look at the Lakewood neighborhood.

I don’t think it is the smallest neighborhood in Lake Oswego, but it is certainly one of the smallest. My estimation is that it has about 200 single family homes and another 200 condominiums. The boundaries are State Street on the East, McVey Avenue on the South, West Point Rd on the West, and the junction of Northshore Blvd and Cabana Lane on the North.

Geographically it is pretty much a peninsula. The water boundaries are Lakewood Bay and the main lake.

It very much has a European village feel. The peninsula is taller in the middle with the streets tightly meandering around the curvature of the elevation as well as the water. It is an old neighborhood and has many grand homes that date back nearly a hundred years. Mixed into these houses are new homes that have been built, and that will continue to be built, as the smaller homes age out and become out-of-character to the changing surroundings.

The center piece of the neighborhood is the Lakewood Center for the Arts. Built in 1928, this was originally Lakewood School. It was the original school of Lake Oswego serving, I believe, kindergarden to 8th grade. My information is based upon what I found on line but also on my Mom’s best friend, now in her 80’s, who attended Lakewood School as a child. In the early years kids from LO had to take a bus into Portland to go to High School before Lake Oswego High was built in 1951. Today the Lakewood Center is the home of the Lakewood Theater, theater classes for all ages, the Festival of the Arts, and a second hand store that serves as a funding source for the art center.

While most of the homes in the Lakewood neighborhood are right on the lake, those that are not on the water enjoy the proximity to the Lake Oswego swim park, which is located in this neighborhood.

The walking score for homes in this neighborhood are some of the best to be found. On the Eastern edge you can literally walk across the street to restaurants and shopping. Living on the Western edge adds about half a mile to that distance. It is also a short walk to the Farmer’s Market, Millenium Plaza and the Lake Theater and Cafe for first-run movies.

Pricing is at the extreme ends for Lake Oswego. Looking at what is currently offered for sale, the least expensive is a 2 bedroom and 1 bath condo that was built in 1948. It has been nicely updated and is very clean and bright. It has 914 square feet with views of the lake and an assigned carport. The asking price is $284,000. The most expensive homes are typically right out on the point of the peninsula. They have expansive views that look down the lake but also look out on each side to be truly panoramic. The most expensive house currently listed is a 1936 mansion that has 6337 square feet. It has been fully updated and remodeled to today’s highest standards, yet the remodeling has been done with respect and preservation of the historic glamour of the home. It has 4 bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths. The asking price is $4,300,000.

The Lakewood neighborhood is really special. It’s quaint, yet exquisite, a rare combination. Please let Linda or I know if you would like more information.
Dianne

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Hallinan House

Hello Property Blotter Readers!!!

I just thought of you this morning because I have an out-of-town cash Buyer looking for a property in the Hallinan neighborhood.  ***If you are thinking of selling your home in Hallinan, please contact me ASAP, and I’ll give you more details of what they’re looking for to see if we have a fit!

Enjoy the increasing sunshine~

Very Best,

Linda

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Holiday Lights

I think my favorite part of the holiday season are the lights in the evening. It get’s dark by 5pm. The lights coming on actually gets me excited for the dark evenings. So today I thought I share some photos I took yesterday evening at Millennium Plaza Park.

I also highly recommend driving about to view the neighborhoods at this time of year. Probably the most well-known for light displays is Westlake. Edenberry Dr has been named by Redfin as one of the top 5 streets to view the Christmas lights in the Portland area. Then there is First Addition. The City of Lake Oswego is holding a light contest this year. Homes will be judged this evening starting at 5pm. They are giving a special medallion and a $75 gift certificate to the winning home.

I’m also enamored with the variety of lights that are now available. From the old-fashioned bulbs, to multi-striped icicles that flicker in a digital pattern. It’s lovely.

My thanks to the home owners who make the effort. You make the short days and long nights a pleasure.
Happy Holidays!
Dianne

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Featured Neighborhood: Lake Forest

IMG_1034Today I want to introduce you to the neighborhood in Lake Oswego where I live, Lake Forest. There are 25 specific neighborhoods in Lake Oswego, each with unique aspects and, for some, a neighborhood association.

Lake Forest is bound on the North by Kruse Way, on the South by Boones Ferry Rd, on the West by I-5, and on the East by Carman Dr and East Waluga Park (approximately). For many years most of the neighborhood was in unincorporated Clackamas County. Some of it still is. I would say the single most distinctive characteristic are the large stands of towering Douglas Fir trees. Because some of it is unincorporated Clackamas County, many of the homes are still on septic systems. The lots on septic are not sub-dividable. Lake Oswego requires that if a septic system fails that is within 300 feet of the city sewer system, then the house has to connect to the sewer. This is gradually happening. Over time it is likely that all of this area will be brought into the city. It is a slow and gradual process that will take many years. In the mean time the large trees and large lots are a feature of the area.

fit_spot_1There is one park in the Lake Forest neighborhood, West Waluga Park. This park features a covered picnic area, a play ground for kids, a library book return drop box, and a fit spot workout station.

The area is super convenient to I-5 and Hwy 217. It is also extremely walkable with Albertson’s and Zupans only about 1-2 miles from even the farthest reaches of the neighborhood. Then there are the many Starbucks. Not exaggerating, there are 6 Starbucks within a mile of my house.

IMG_1035There are currently 15 houses for sale in the Lake Forest neighborhood. The least expensive is a 1258 square foot home that was built in 1970 and is listed for $475,000. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, and sits on .58 of an acre. The most expensive is a brand new house that is currently under construction and listed for $875,000. When finished it will have 2824 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 3 baths.

I actually consider the Lake Forest neighborhood to be one of the more affordable parts of Lake Oswego.

Personally, I love living in the area. I really like the convenience, but I also like the mix of housing. Older more modest homes are mixed in with new construction and more luxurious homes. Then you add in the flock of Peacocks that live on Bonaire and, well, it’s what I call home.
Dianne