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Lake Grove

apple-sculpture.jpgLake Grove is located West of Oswego Lake and East of Interstate 5. It includes a vibrant business district along Boones Ferry Rd with many shops, offices, and restaurants. The neighborhood was platted in 1912 and grew as a result of the Goodin Station train stop between Oswego and Tualatin. The old train station and market were long ago converted to a very charming residence and can still be found today. If I were trying to find a word to describe Lake Grove it would be “diverse”. There is just simply a very wide variety of housing and businesses in Lake Grove.

Housing is both modest and grand. On the modest end of the spectrum are condominiums starting at about $135,000 and single family homes starting at $289,900. On the grand end is a newly built home that is currently for sale for $1,790,000. That’s a pretty broad range of housing! Architectural styles include 1920’s bungalows, mid-century homes of the 1940’s and 1950’s, ranch-style homes from the 1960’s and 1970’s, and the more large-scale homes that became popular in the 1980’s and are still being built today.

With so much diversity Lake Grove has known for years that a plan was needed to be put in place to create some harmony. The Lake Grove Neighborhood Plan was adopted in 1998 to guide development of open spaces, historic and natural resources, economic development, housing, and transportation.lake-grove-street.jpg

The look of the neighborhood is characterized by large stands of very tall fir trees. Much of the area has a woodsy feel to it. Most residential lots are large. Some parts of Lake Grove are actually not incorporated into the City of Lake Oswego, but are considered to be in Clackamas County. The pockets of unincorporated land enjoy Lake Oswego addresses and city services such as water and schools, but are served by the County Sheriff rather than Lake Oswego police.

boones-ferry-rd.jpgThe City of Lake Oswego has spent the last decade doing a major overhaul of its commercial districts. Millenium Plaza Park and the Village Center at the East end of town were completed through this revitalization effort several years ago and have been wildly successful. A similar effort is just beginning in Lake Grove. The Lake Grove Village Center Plan calls for improved pedestrian access and extensive landscaping improvements. It has been in the planning stage for several years with actual construction scheduled to begin soon.

By far one of the great advantages to living in Lake Grove is the easy access to I-5 North to downtown Portland or South to Salem, Hwy 217 West to Beaverton, and Hwy 205 East and North to Mt Hood and the Portland airport. There are two large shopping areas nearby: Washington Square and Bridgeport Village. It is just simply a very convenient place to live.

So if you like a neighborhood that is not a subdivision, where there is a mix of houses and house styles, where there are large lots and big trees, and where you have easy access to shopping, restaurants, and the Westside’s main highways, Lake Grove just may be the neighborhood for you.

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First Addition

first-addition.jpgFirst addition is one of the Portland area’s most charming and desirable places to live. It was platted in 1888 and is actually Lake Oswego’s second oldest neighborhood. (The oldest is the historic old town area near George Roger’s Park). The neighborhood was the first growth outside of Old Town as the economic focus of the town shifted from the production of iron and steel to the pursuit of recreation. The neighborhood has about 30 blocks of historic homes. A tour of homes will allow you to see Gothic, Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Vernacular, and English Cottage styles.

One of the great features of the location is that it is a short walk to many of Lakelo-library.jpg Oswego’s most popular attractions. The neighborhood hosts the Lake Oswego Public Library and the Adult Community Center. It is also adjacent to the Village Center with its boutiques and restaurants, as well as Millenium Plaza Park which is the location of the Farmer’s Market. As if that weren’t enough, directly North of the neighborhood is Tryon Creek State Park with its miles of trails for hiking, jogging, and even horse back riding.

First Addition has a very active Neighborhood Association that works to preserve the historic flavor of the neighborhood, to keep the area pedestrian friendly, and to preserve the many large trees. There is a 100+ year old sugar maple tree on the corner of 3rd and C Avenues that is beyond spectacular when its leaves turn orange in the fall.

adult-community-center.jpgAdding to the convenience of living in First Addition is the fact that it also contains Lake Oswego’s Tri-Met transit center with bus to downtown Portland and the rest of the metropolitan area.

In 2006 Cottage Living Magazine named First Addition one of the ten best cottage communities in the United States. It raved about the quaint homes, the easy walk to attractions, and the “jewel box gardens winking from behind picket fences”.

First Addition is an awesome place to live that features quaint and historic homes along with easy convenience to many great attractions. When you buy a home in First Addition, you are not just buying a house, you are buying a lifestyle.

For our regular subscribers, if you would like to access past articles in our archives, please click here.

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Lake Oswego Real Estate Activity – April 21-27, 2008

In an effort to bring you the most accurate information possible about the Lake Oswego real estate market, we’ll be changing our reporting methods for Pending Sales and Closed Sales.

New Listings will continue to be displayed for the previous week. However, we’re going to delay reporting the pending and closed sales an additional week to ensure that the MLS records have been updated fully. The good news: you’ll be seeing more pending and closed sales in our reports.

With that explanation, here our latest Lake Oswego real estate market activity report (look to the bottom for definitions and research criteria):

New Listings (April 21-27, 2008)

Address List Price Tot Beds Tot Baths Tot Sq Ft Prop Type List Date
32 CRESTFIELD CT
$185,000
2
2
995
CONDO
4/20
214 RIDGEWAY RD
$259,900
2
1
914
CONDO
4/22
668 MCVEY AVE
$299,000
1
1
626
CONDO
4/20
17570 MARDEE AVE
$324,950
3
1
1,050
DETACHD
4/25
152 RIDGEWAY RD
$349,900
2
1.1
1,794
CONDO
4/20
68 WHEATHERSTONE CT
$374,900
4
3.1
2,465
CONDO
4/21
11 BLOCH TER
$375,000
3
2.1
1,972
ATTACHD
4/24
15256 BOONES WAY
$387,500
2
2.1
1,600
ATTACHD
4/24
820 BOCA RATAN DR
$397,000
4
3.1
2,810
DETACHD
4/20
5355 GREYSTOKE DR
$425,000
3
2.1
1,975
DETACHD
4/20
7050 CHILDS RD
$449,000
2
2
1,693
DETACHD
4/22
4760 LOWER DR
$472,500
3
3
3,252
DETACHD
4/20
14584 WILMOT WAY
$489,000
4
2.1
1,939
DETACHD
4/25
7210 CHILDS RD
$499,000
3
2
1,542
DETACHD
4/23
420 G AVE
$579,900
3
2
1,813
DETACHD
4/21
4731 AMHERST CT
$599,000
3
2.1
2,928
ATTACHD
4/22
5474 BAY CREEK DR
$639,900
3
2.1
2,322
DETACHD
4/24
16695 GLENWOOD CT
$649,900
4
3
3,104
DETACHD
4/22
313 3RD ST
$659,000
3
3.1
1,960
ATTACHD
4/21
16920 GREENTREE AVE
$679,900
4
2.1
2,830
DETACHD
4/23
19415 SW SYCAMORE AVE
$699,900
4
2
2,188
DETACHD
4/21
4608 CHELSEA LN
$719,000
5
2.1
3,092
DETACHD
4/20
860 MCVEY AVE
$719,000
8
5.1
3,648
DETACHD
4/25
14855 Twin Fir RD
$849,900
3
1.1
1,639
DETACHD
4/20
18220 RIVER EDGE CT
$899,000
3
3
3,365
DETACHD
4/21
3885 UPPER DR
$899,900
4
2.1
3,122
DETACHD
4/25
18280 DELENKA LN
$924,950
4
3.1
4,405
DETACHD
4/24
2317 STONEHURST CT
$945,900
4
2.1
4,455
DETACHD
4/23
13561 SW GOODALL RD
$995,000
4
2
2,484
DETACHD
4/22
4685 SW UPPER DR
$999,500
4
2
3,341
DETACHD
4/21
161 FURNACE ST
$999,990
2
2
2,401
CONDO
4/26
16818 ALDER CIR
$1,390,000
3
2
1,674
DETACHD
4/26
14001 GOODALL RD
$1,799,000
4
3.1
5,397
DETACHD
4/25
1175 LAKE SHORE RD
$1,875,000
3
3.1
2,878
DETACHD
4/25
670 IRON MOUNTAIN BLVD
$2,275,000
4
3.2
5,208
DETACHD
4/24
2500 GLEN EAGLES RD
$2,699,500
5
4.5
5,565
DETACHD
4/21
243 10TH ST
$2,795,000
5
4.3
6,794
DETACHD
4/26

Pending Sales (April 14-20, 2008)

Address List Price Tot Beds Tot Baths Tot Sq Ft Prop Type DOM
6929 SW MONTAUK CIR
$159,900
2
1
968
CONDO
233
3852 SW Botticelli ST
$229,900
3
2
1,224
ATTACHD
33
15486 BRIANNE CT
$299,947
2
2.1
1,246
ATTACHD
44
15115 Twin Fir RD
$349,900
3
2
1,392
DETACHD
14584 DORIS AVE
$399,900
3
2
1,500
DETACHD
44
960 BULLOCK ST
$448,900
3
2
2,550
DETACHD
8
1440 CHERRY CREST AVE
$539,900
3
2.1
1,938
DETACHD
14
2934 TOLKIEN LN
$765,000
5
3.1
3,851
DETACHD
462
2188 GLENMORRIE LN
$850,000
5
3
3,200
DETACHD
73
701 OAK MEADOW CT
$1,095,000
5
3.1
4,055
DETACHD
230

Sold Properties (April 14-20, 2008)

Address Sale Price Tot Beds Tot Baths Tot Sq Ft Prop Type DOM
16250 Pacific Hwy (Hwy 43)
$199,850
3
2
1,626
CONDO
609
668 McVey AVE
$250,000
3
1.1
985
CONDO
16200 PACIFIC HWY
$315,000
2
2
1,200
CONDO
622
18620 INDIAN CREEK DR
$387,500
3
2
2,064
DETACHD
21
1098 CHANDLER RD
$1,800,000
4
3.1
3,696
DETACHD
63

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.

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Lake Oswego Open Houses – April 26-27, 2008

A lot of large Lake Oswego homes on the open house tour this weekend. Here’s the list:

Date Time Address List Price Bdrms Baths Total SF
4/27/08 1-4pm 4458 THUNDER VISTA LN
$339,500
3
2.1
2,200
4/27/08 1-3pm 152 RIDGEWAY RD
$349,900
2
1.1
1,794
4/26/08 12pm-3pm 68 WHEATHERSTONE CT
$374,900
4
3.1
2,465
4/26/08 11am-1pm 5322 CHARLETON CT
$399,990
3
2.1
1,633
4/27/08 12-3pm 1480 HEMLOCK ST
$488,850
4
3
2,246
4/27/08 1pm – 3pm 17 ABELARD ST
$519,000
3
2
2,070
4/27/08 12:00-2:00 5079 W SUNSET DR
$519,850
2
2.1
1,760
4/26/08 1-3pm 5497 Willow CT
$549,900
3
2.1
2,438
4/27/08 1-3pm 5497 Willow CT
$549,900
3
2.1
2,438
4/27/08 1 to 3p 1123 ERICKSON ST
$599,000
4
3
2,893
4/27/08 1-4pm 8 CAMELOT CT
$650,000
5
3
3,080
4/26/08 1-5pm 4608 CHELSEA LN
$719,000
5
2.1
3,092
4/27/08 1-5pm 4608 CHELSEA LN
$719,000
5
2.1
3,092
4/26/08 1-4pm 15837 ALLISON PL
$749,000
4
2.1
3,502
4/27/08 1-4pm 15837 ALLISON PL
$749,000
4
2.1
3,502
4/27/08 1-4pm 435 8TH ST
$749,900
4
3.1
2,505
4/26/08 1-4pm 15815 ALLISON PL
$759,000
4
2.1
3,534
4/27/08 1-4pm 15815 ALLISON PL
$759,000
4
2.1
3,534
4/26/08 11am-5pm 18086 JENIFERS WAY
$779,000
3
2.1
2,566
4/27/08 11am-5pm 18086 JENIFERS WAY
$779,000
3
2.1
2,566
4/27/08 1-4pm 17755 TREETOP LN
$789,000
5
3.1
3,864
4/27/08 2-4pm 5855 STEWART GLENN CT
$830,000
4
2.1
3,758
4/27/08 1:00 – 3:00 4118 GLACIER LILY ST
$888,000
4
3.1
4,452
4/27/08 1-3 PM 18036 SKYLAND CIR
$899,000
3
2.1
3,159
4/26/08 1-3pm 827 8th AVE
$999,000
5
3.1
3,852
4/27/08 1-3pm 827 8th AVE
$999,000
5
3.1
3,852
4/27/08 1-3pm 13744 KNAUS RD
$1,095,000
4
3.1
3,476
4/27/08 2pm-4pm 2080 RIDGE POINTE DR
$1,200,000
5
4
4,587
4/27/08 2-4pm 4316 UPPER DR
$1,258,950
4
3.1
4,376
4/27/08 1-3pm 622 OAK MEADOW DR
$1,325,000
4
3.1
4,168
4/27/08 1-3pm 17464 RIDGEVIEW LN
$1,348,950
4
3.1
4,407
4/27/08 1-3pm 17433 RIDGEVIEW LN
$1,495,000
4
4.1
4,659

Please note, dates and times are subject to change without notice. This list may not contain ALL open houses in the city, but represent those that agents have publicized in the multiple listing service as of Friday afternoon.

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Searching… Searching…

Magnifying GlassOn a recent Broker’s Tour in Lake Oswego, my cohorts and I were discussing how important it is to include accurate information in listings, and we noted how easy it is to inadvertently choose the wrong “field” when entering data etc. I thought it might help the prospective home seller or buyer to know a little about how agents search for houses, specifically in using the basic search fields provided to them on the MLS.

Agents are able to search on the MLS for properties on behalf of a client using several methods, including:

  1. Address Searches – Agents can search a specific area defined by their clients using street addresses and number ranges on specified streets, or a particular house using a specific address.
  2. Area Searches – The MLS now allows agents to search a geographic area by providing a map on which an agent can “draw” boundaries of a search range defined by a client.
    MLS# Searches- Agents can search MLS #’s provided by a client, and generate addresses for either drive-by viewing (prior to a client deciding to take a look inside), or for agent pre-viewing on behalf of a client.
  3. Advanced Searches – This is where I want to focus today, as this is the most common search method utilized in order to find properties that most specifically meet a client’s stated preferences. There are a large number of available search criteria that can be utilized by a listing agent when inputting data in order to present a home in the best light possible, which is of course a good thing… as long as it is accurate information.

When using an Advanced Search, available options include, of course, bedrooms, and the # of baths, but also whether a property has a fireplace (gas or wood?), what the map grid location is, total square footage of the home, approximate square footage of the lot, neighborhood, zip code, year built, style of home, levels, where master bedroom is located (on which level), and many, many more categories including garage description (attached? 2-car?), square footage of bedrooms, accessibility, exterior features, elementary school, etc. The more defined and narrow the search parameters, the fewer homes will appear as options… so, many times only the most important specifics to the client are used in order to provide a variety of choices.

“Property Type” is one important category- options are: Attached (meaning a townhome), Condo, Detached (meaning a separate residence/house), Houseboat, In-Park (meaning a manufactured home in a park), Part-owned, and Residence/Manufactured. A few months back these options were changed and made more detailed so that, for instance, a manufactured home would not appear in a search wherein the client had specified a separate residence/house was what they wanted.

A common example of a simple error is the mistake of referring to a home in the “Style” field as a “Tri-Level” as opposed to the actual appropriate category of “Split-Level”. A tri-level actually has three levels to the home… a split has an entry area, one level down, and one level up.

Bottom line, if you are the Seller, your agent is describing your home in the listing in ways that accentuate its great points while reflecting it accurately. If you are the Buyer, your agent is doing their best to provide you with choices that match your needs, and using the information provided by the listing agents in good faith.

So, if you show up at a property and it was described in the listing in a fashion that makes you feel as if you’ve just wasted your time… you may want to ask your agent to speak to the listing agent about any mistaken data about the home. They will most likely be grateful, and of course, other agents and buyers will benefit from any needed correction.

If you are the Seller, encourage your listing agent to be as creative as possible in selling your home (this is, of course, their job!), but do check for accuracy when reviewing the data to be provided to prospective buyers in your listing.

Happy buying and selling!

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A Birds-Eye View of Lake Oswego Home Construction

Whether you’re in the market for a home in Lake Oswego or not, check out this cool mashup of maps and home construction history.

Developed by online real estate listings site Trulia, this application, called Hindsight, plots a sampling of an area’s home construction dates on top of a Microsoft Virtual Earth map. A timeline automatically starts scrolling from around the turn of the 20th century and as homes were built over time, they ‘bloom’ on the map.

Trulia Hindsight Map of Lake Oswego

The screen image shown here isn’t particularly evocative of the animation, so click on the image or here to experience it.

The Hindsight viewer shows the peak construction periods in Lake Oswego to be the mid 50’s, then throughout the ’70’s, and finally, a boom in the 90’s.

The best way to view this is to stare at the middle of the screen and let your peripheral vision absorb the data as the timeline scrolls. Zoom in for a little more detail, or zoom out to see the Portland metropolitan area.

Is this useful? Well, if you’re not familiar with Lake Oswego, you can pause, then slowly advance the scrollbar on the timeline to see where the homes of your preferred era have been built. For example, if you’re looking for the highest ratio of homes built in the 90’s, you might be attracted to the Westlake area. First Addition might appeal to vintage homeseekers.

Use it for research, or just for fun. Link to Lake Oswego Hindsight map

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Lake Oswego Real Estate Activity – April 14-20, 2008

Sale activity has slowed to a trickle in Lake Oswego, as far as last week goes, anyway. Just 10 properties opened or closed escrow.

Here are the Lake Oswego real estate market statistics for the week April 13 through 20 (look to the bottom for definitions and research criteria):

New Listings

Address List Price Tot Beds Tot Baths Tot Sq Ft Prop Type List Date
4624 LOWER DR
$178,900
2
1.1
1,170
 CONDO
4/16
4087 JEFFERSON PKWY
$260,000
2
2.1
1,851
 ATTACHD
4/13
6167 SW FERNBROOK ST
$289,900
4
2
1,232
 DETACHD
4/13
18 WHEATHERSTONE PL
$293,000
3
2.1
1,692
 CONDO
4/17
4512 LOWER DR
$339,000
2
2.1
1,636
 ATTACHD
4/17
668 MCVEY AVE
$349,900
1
1
627
 CONDO
4/13
16061 Waluga DR
$384,500
1
1
676
 DETACHD
4/16
5687 SW BONITA RD
$389,950
3
2.1
2,048
 DETACHD
4/16
4964 GALEN ST
$399,950
3
3
1,879
 DETACHD
4/17
4960 GALEN ST
$425,000
2
3
1,772
 DETACHD
4/16
1588 CHERRY LN
$425,000
3
2
2,001
 DETACHD
4/14
10 PREAKNESS CT
$435,000
4
2.1
2,270
 ATTACHD
4/14
3269 PHYLLIS CT
$439,900
3
1.2
1,818
 DETACHD
4/13
5221 ROSEWOOD ST
$464,900
3
2.1
2,226
 DETACHD
4/19
16018 SW WALUGA DR
$499,000
4
2
2,024
 DETACHD
4/17
13340 AUBURN CT
$559,900
3
2.1
2,451
 ATTACHD
4/16
29 DEL PRADO ST
$565,000
3
2
2,972
 DETACHD
4/17
4729 CAMBRIDGE CT
$648,000
2
2.1
3,056
 ATTACHD
4/13
18212 INDIAN CREEK DR
$692,500
4
2.1
2,313
 DETACHD
4/14
17445 LAKE HAVEN DR
$695,000
4
3
2,949
 DETACHD
4/15
13222 DEERFIELD CT
$719,000
4
2.1
3,022
 DETACHD
4/18
17706 MARYLBROOK DR
$724,900
3
2.2
2,977
 DETACHD
4/13
30 WILBUR ST
$775,000
3
2.1
2,664
 ATTACHD
4/13
17454 CANAL CIR
$789,900
4
3
2,475
 DETACHD
4/18
5855 STEWART GLENN CT
$830,000
4
2.1
3,758
 DETACHD
4/17
5437 ROSALIA WAY
$929,000
4
2.1
3,369
 DETACHD
4/16
15459 VILLAGE DR
$949,000
4
3.1
3,059
 DETACHD
4/13
1643 VILLAGE PARK LN
$1,195,000
4
3.1
4,505
 DETACHD
4/16
2200 PRESTWICK RD
$1,200,000
4
2.2
3,356
 DETACHD
4/14
2080 RIDGE POINTE DR
$1,200,000
5
4
4,587
 DETACHD
4/17
4316 UPPER DR
$1,258,950
4
3.1
4,376
 DETACHD
4/14
622 OAK MEADOW DR
$1,325,000
4
3.1
4,168
 DETACHD
4/14
1555 BAY VIEW LN
$1,560,000
4
4.1
5,145
 DETACHD
4/13
581 OAK MEADOW DR
$1,579,900
4
4.1
4,680
 DETACHD
4/14
1075 CHANDLER RD
$2,495,000
5
5
5,946
 DETACHD
4/14
333 NORTHSHORE RD
$3,299,500
4
4.1
4,998
 DETACHD
4/17
961 TERRACE DR
$3,895,000
4
4.2
5,796
 DETACHD
4/16

Pending Sales

Address List Price Tot Beds Tot Baths Tot Sq Ft Prop Type DOM
6929 SW MONTAUK CIR
$159,900
2
1
968
 CONDO
233
3852 SW Botticelli ST
$229,900
3
2
1,224
 ATTACHD
33
15486 BRIANNE CT
$299,947
2
2.1
1,246
 ATTACHD
44
960 BULLOCK ST
$448,900
3
2
2,550
 DETACHD
8
1440 CHERRY CREST AVE
$539,900
3
2.1
1,938
 DETACHD
14
2934 TOLKIEN LN
$765,000
5
3.1
3,851
 DETACHD
462
2188 GLENMORRIE LN
$850,000
5
3
3,200
 DETACHD
73
701 OAK MEADOW CT
$1,095,000
5
3.1
4,055
 DETACHD
230

Sold Properties

Address Sale Price Tot Beds Tot Baths Tot Sq Ft Prop Type DOM
18620 INDIAN CREEK DR
$387,500
3
2
2,064
 DETACHD
21
1098 CHANDLER RD
$1,800,000
4
3.1
3,696
 DETACHD
63

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.

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Lake Oswego Open Houses – April 19-20, 2008

Home seekers had nearly eighty-degree weather for last weekend’s open house tour. This weekend, though, you’d better bring your parka!

It’s also the weekend for the Oregonian’s Ultimate Open House New Home Tour.

Here’s this weekend’s Open House list for Lake Oswego real estate offerings:

Date Time Address List Price Bdrms Baths Total SF
4/20/08 2pm – 4pm 4087 JEFFERSON PKWY
$260,000
2
2.1
1,851
4/20/08 1:00-4:00 11 SUMMIT RIDGE CT
$319,000
2
2.1
1,576
4/20/08 2-4 pm 4070 VIRGINIA WAY
$350,000
4
2
1,728
4/20/08 2-4 pm 800 WOODWAY CT
$425,000
4
3
2,066
4/19/08 12:00 – 2:00 820 MCVEY AVE
$434,500
3
1.1
1,446
4/19/08 1-4pm 17870 DEERBRUSH AVE
$449,900
3
2.1
1,912
4/20/08 12-3pm 1480 HEMLOCK ST
$488,850
4
3
2,246
4/20/08 1-3pm 3 MASARYK ST
$599,000
4
3
4,283
4/20/08 1 to 3 3254 DUNCAN DR
$649,000
4
3.1
3,997
4/20/08 1-3pm 2584 PARK RD
$679,000
4
2
2,302
4/20/08 1-4 PM 435 8TH ST
$749,900
4
3.1
2,505
4/19/08 10-5pm 18086 JENIFERS WAY
$779,000
3
2.1
2,566
4/20/08 10-5pm 18086 JENIFERS WAY
$779,000
3
2.1
2,566
4/20/08 1-3PM 770 5TH ST
$779,000
3
2.1
2,721
4/20/08 1-3pm 5437 ROSALIA WAY
$929,000
4
2.1
3,369
4/20/08 1-4pm 17644 WOODHURST PL
$974,000
4
2.1
4,539
4/20/08 1-3pm 161 FURNACE ST
$999,990
2
2
2,134
4/20/08 2-4 PM 17075 OLD RIVER DR
$1,095,000
3
3.1
3,237
4/20/08 2-4 PM 15540 VILLAGE DR
$1,099,000
5
2.1
3,780
4/20/08 2-4pm 1835 CEDAR CT
$1,169,000
3
3.1
3,148
4/20/08 1:00 -3:00 1630 COUNTRY COMMONS
$1,184,000
4
2.1
3,776
4/20/08 1-3pm 622 OAK MEADOW DR
$1,325,000
4
3.1
4,168
4/20/08 1-3pm 17464 RIDGEVIEW LN
$1,348,950
4
3.1
4,407
4/20/08 2-4pm 1501 COUNTRY CLUB RD
$1,425,000
4
4
4,687
4/20/08 1-3pm 17433 RIDGEVIEW LN
$1,495,000
4
4.1
4,659
4/20/08 2-4 PM 670 IRON MOUNTAIN BLVD
$2,275,000
4
3.2
5,208
4/20/08 2-4pm 1673 CHERRY LN
$2,350,000
4
4.3
5,732

Please note, dates and times are subject to change without notice. This list may not contain ALL open houses in the city, but represent those that agents have publicized in the multiple listing service as of Friday afternoon.

Posted on

Why those little lots?

vineyard.jpgIf you prefer a newer home, but also want a big back yard, then you will find yourself in a quandary. There are new houses, and there are large lots, but they just don’t seem to be found together. What’s up with that?

Those little lots are a direct result of Oregon’s land use laws. In the 1970’s a statewide commission was formed, the Land Conservation and Development Commission, also known as LCDC. The purpose of this commission was to develop a plan to conserve farm and forest land and keep Oregon from experiencing urban sprawl. Oregon’s greatest fear, at that time, was becoming California. And California was full of urban sprawl. There was talk that some day Portland would stretch south to Salem and there’d be no open fields: just miles and miles of strip malls and suburbs. The LCDC developed the statewide Urban Growth Boundary. This boundary is basically a line that is drawn around all urban areas. Inside the line the urban community is allowed to develop with residential housing and all of its supporting infrastructure. Outside of the boundary is mandated to be preserved for farm and forest use. This forces the infill of the property inside of the urban growth boundary. Every single city and town in the State of Oregon has an urban growth boundary. Compounding the issue is the 2040 Plan. This is a plan, developed in 1992, that projects the population growth of the state to the year 2040 and requires municipal planning departments to control new construction to accommodate those projected population needs.

So the State of Oregon has limited the supply of residential land and at the same time required planning to allow for future growth. Thus, the requirement that new homes be placed onto smaller lots. Even if a builder wants to build houses on larger lots, the planning process will likely force him to build on small lots, or his plans will not be approved.

There has been some back lash to the strict land use laws in the form of two recent ballot measures. Both ballot measures were designed to benefit people who had owned property since before the land use laws went into effect in the 1970’s. Ballot Measure 37 was passed in 2004. It allowed people who have owned property since the 1970’s to either develop the land as they saw fit or be reimbursed by the government for the loss of value that they had experienced from the land use laws. Ballot Measure 49 was passed in 2007. It modified measure 37 to allow for development of up to 4 home sites easily and more than 4 home sites to be a much harder process.

Oregon is the champion state for land use planning. It’s a highly charged subject that can stimulate rather heated conversation. But this is Oregon and that’s just how it’s done here. And those big new houses on smaller lots are what we often find as a result.

On a side note, there just isn’t much land left in Lake Oswego for the building of new homes. This has got the builders buying up old homes and tearing them down to build new houses on the old lots. In this case, the lots are very often not only large but in beautiful, established neighborhoods. And, yes, you do see quite a bit of this in Lake Oswego.

Posted on

Lake Oswego Real Estate Activity – April 7-13, 2008

At a steady, albeit slower, pace than last year, the Lake Oswego real estate market continues to plug along.

Nineteen properties either sold or went pending (under contract), while 38 new listings appeared. Total active listings in the Lake Oswego market now number 588.

Here are the Lake Oswego real estate market statistics for the week April 7 through 13 (look to the bottom for definitions and research criteria):

New Listings

Address List Price Tot Beds Tot Baths Tot Sq Ft Prop Type List Date
4615 LAKEVIEW BLVD
$137,500
1
1
753
CONDO
4/6
42 OSWEGO SMT
$139,900
1
1
764
CONDO
4/7
47 EAGLE CREST DR
$152,500
2
1
932
CONDO
4/6
4640 LOWER DR
$164,000
2
1.1
1,170
CONDO
4/8
210 Ridgeway RD
$199,900
1
1
778
CONDO
4/11
15210 BOONES WAY
$235,000
2
2
1,124
CONDO
4/10
1543 BONNIEBRAE DR
$270,000
3
1.1
1,303
ATTACHD
4/12
11 SUMMIT RIDGE CT
$319,000
2
2.1
1,576
ATTACHD
4/7
31 ORIOLE LN
$349,000
3
3
1,968
DETACHD
4/7
642 EVERGREEN RD
$395,000
2
1
800
DETACHD
4/8
55 NORTHSHORE RD
$399,000
1
1
1,478
CONDO
4/12
960 BULLOCK ST
$448,900
3
2
2,550
DETACHD
4/7
13395 VERMEER DR
$469,698
4
2.1
2,461
DETACHD
4/8
4761 LAMONT WAY
$475,000
3
2
1,816
DETACHD
4/10
2955 WEMBLEY PARK RD
$499,000
4
2
2,620
DETACHD
4/8
15547 SW PARTRIDGE DR
$544,900
4
3
2,266
DETACHD
4/11
5746 CHARLES CIR
$649,000
4
2.1
2,737
DETACHD
4/9
19664 RIVER RUN DR
$649,000
4
2.1
3,051
DETACHD
4/6
4786 AVERY LN
$684,000
4
2.1
2,927
DETACHD
4/6
279 EVERGREEN RD
$735,000
3
3.1
2,136
ATTACHD
4/6
18086 JENIFERS WAY
$779,000
3
2.1
2,566
DETACHD
4/10
18020 JENIFERS (Lot 7) WAY
$825,000
3
2.1
2,600
DETACHD
4/8
1273 WELLS ST
$899,900
3
3
4,001
DETACHD
4/6
5525 RACHEL (Lot 3) LN
$985,000
4
2.1
3,200
DETACHD
4/8
17997 BRAEDEN (lOT 5) CT
$999,000
4
1
3,300
DETACHD
4/8
1630 Country Commons
$1,184,000
4
2.1
3,776
DETACHD
4/10
4311 HAVEN ST
$1,200,000
5
4
3,816
DETACHD
4/6
18253 Siena DR
$1,274,500
5
4
4,281
DETACHD
4/10
18231 Siena DR
$1,425,000
4
3.2
4,064
DETACHD
4/10
18224 Bella Terra DR
$1,495,000
4
4
4,050
DETACHD
4/10
18209 Siena DR
$1,525,000
5
4.1
4,400
DETACHD
4/10
2943 LAKEVIEW BLVD
$1,569,000
4
3
3,794
DETACHD
4/12
2495 PALISADES CREST DR
$1,585,000
4
3.1
5,700
DETACHD
4/6
13701 SW KNAUS RD
$1,595,000
5
4.1
5,730
DETACHD
4/9
18110 Siena DR
$1,650,000
4
3.1
4,311
DETACHD
4/10
448 COUNTRY CLUB RD
$1,750,000
4
3.1
4,565
DETACHD
4/6
3102 DOUGLAS CIR
$1,794,000
5
4.1
4,618
DETACHD
4/6
17555 UPPER CHERRY LN
$1,799,000
5
3
6,000
DETACHD
4/12

Pending Sales

Address List Price Tot Beds Tot Baths Tot Sq Ft Prop Type DOM
16584 SW ROOSEVELT AVE
$199,000
2
1
1,188
DETACHD
4/10
15254 BOONES WAY
$368,850
3
2
1,600
ATTACHD
4/9
4630 WILDWOOD ST
$429,900
3
2
2,067
DETACHD
4/10
1307 CEDAR ST
$447,500
4
3
2,162
DETACHD
4/7
17380 CANYON DR
$522,722
4
2.1
2,526
DETACHD
4/10
5808 BAY POINT DR
$599,900
4
2.1
2,860
DETACHD
4/6
17878 HILLSIDE DR
$625,000
5
3
3,449
DETACHD
4/9
2445 PARK RD
$659,900
5
3
3,200
DETACHD
4/8
165 FURNACE ST
$829,000
2
2.1
2,175
CONDO
4/8

Sold Properties

Address Sale Price Tot Beds Tot Baths Tot Sq Ft Prop Type DOM
48 OSWEGO SMT
$187,350
2
2
1,140
CONDO
133
6301 ALYSSA TER
$335,000
3
2.1
1,546
ATTACHD
17
1530 ASH ST
$374,000
3
2
1,887
DETACHD
11
3 TANGLEWOOD DR
$407,500
3
3
2,879
DETACHD
10
4958 GALEN ST
$435,000
3
2.1
2,190
DETACHD
361
12883 SIERRA CT
$500,000
4
3
2,996
DETACHD
382
785 9TH ST
$610,930
3
2.1
2,477
DETACHD
313
13348 LESLIE CT
$1,125,000
4
2.1
3,500
DETACHD
267
635 IRON MOUNTAIN BLVD
$1,450,000
5
3.1
4,658
DETACHD
148
1584 VIEW LAKE CT
$1,550,000
7
7.1
7,009
DETACHD
18

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.