condo Archives - Property Blotter

March 16, 2022March 16, 2022

Attached vs Condo, What’s the Difference?

I think that most people think that the word attached (also commonly called townhouse) is based upon the design of the property. Either one or two story with no neighbor above or below. That is not the case. Attached does mean that you don’t have a neighor above or below, but, more importantly, it means that you own the dirt underneath. Because you own the dirt, you are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the crawl space.

There is a huge advantage to purchasing an attached home. Besides not having someone living above you, it is much easier to finance, which makes it easier to sell. Lenders treat attached houses just like any other house.

With a condo you own the interior walls and everything inside of those walls. The exterior walls, crawlspace, and roof are all part of the limited common areas of the home owners association.

Condos can be a little bit problamatic when it comes to financing. Federal lending guidelines requre that at least 50% of the units be owner occupied, and one individual or entity can not own more than 10% of the units. Additionally, to be FHA financeable, the HOA must apply for and maintain their FHA eligibility. This is often neglected by the HOA and so it is not always availble. Because condos tend to be more affordable, they are often purchased by first time home buyers. With out FHA financing, it can be too hard for first ime buyers to come up with enough of a down payment to purchase in communities that don’t have FHA approval.

When Linda and I do the Market Activity Report, we always indicate if a property is Detached, Attached, or a Condo. I thought it would be helpful if you understood the differences.

As always, thanks for reading the Blotter,

Dianne

February 18, 2022February 18, 2022

Radon and Granite Countertops

At Oregon First we have a gmail group called Haves and Wants. A recent discussion happened about the topic of radon and granite countertops.

Radon comes from granite. When you purchase a home, you should alway do a radon test to see if the radon levels in the house are higher than the EPA limit of 4.0 picocuries. (The World Health Organization recommends a level of not more than 2.7 picocuries.) Generally speaking the granite is in the form of boulders underneath the house, in the ground. You just don’t know whether the house is built over granite boulders or not, so you always test the radon levels.

So if radon comes from granite, what about granite countertops?

This subject came to my attention about 15 years ago. So I dialed up my favorite radon mitigation company and asked if I should be concerned. I was told that, generally speaking, the radon given off by granite countertops was not at a level high enough to be concerned.

Here is the offical EPA information. Click here.

White kitchen design features large bar style kitchen island with granite countertop illuminated by modern pendant lights. Northwest, USA

The bottom line is that you should be concerned about the possibility of radon in a house. Always get it measured. Even if you aren’t buying a house. If you live in a home where you have never measured it, get it measured. You can buy a do-it-yourself test at your local home improvement store, and there are numerous companies who perform this service. The cost to test is $60-$150. Cheap for the peace of mind. If radon is found, the cost to mitigate it is $1500-$3000, generally speaking. Again, cheap for the piece of mind.

I also think that when planning a remodel, don’t assume that just because it is available for purchase it has no issues. Do your research. There are alternatives to granite that are also gorgeous.

I hope that you find this useful. Thank you for reading the blotter.

Dianne

February 17, 2022February 17, 2022

Market Activity Feb 7-13, 2022

I once had a client who had statistically figured out the the prime weekend of the entire year to put your house on the market is the weekend following the super bowl. With 19 pending sales in Lake Oswego last week, that certainly feels like good advice. We also had 6 new listings and 10 properties that were closed sales.

See below for further RMLS data.

New on the Market Feb 7-13, 2022

Address	Type	Price	BR	Baths	Sq Ft
4 Touchstone Dr #150	Condo	$225,900	2	2	984
4631 Lakeview Blvd	Condo	$250,000	1	1	753
45 Eagle Crest Dr #513	Condo	$253,500	2	1.5	1056
48 Eagle Crest Dr 4A	Condo	$475,000	2	2	1489
668 McVey Ave #10	Condo	$540,000	3	1	992
16758 Graef Circle	Detached	$669,000	3	1	1295
5353 Lakeview Blvd	Attached	$1,119,000	4	3.5	2900
2650 Overlook Dr	Detached	$1,250,000	4	2.5	3030
21 D Ave GPH	Condo	$3,269,200	3	2.5	3399
807 Ellis ave	Detached	$3,600,000	4	4.5	4964

Pending Sales Feb 7-13, 2022

Address	Type	Price	BR	Baths	Sq Ft	CDOM
89 Galen St	Condo	$199,000	1	1	552	3
45 Eagle Crest Dr #312	Condo	$229,000	1	1	780	16
200 Burnham Rd #206	Condo	$349,000	2	1	1199	62
3974 Carman Dr	Attached	$380,000	2	2.5	1107	0
34 Condolea Dr	Condo	$475,000	2	2	1420	3
750 1st St E27	Condo	$479,900	2	2	1350	162
5062 Foothills Dr G	Condo	$485,000	2	2	1252	98
2806 SW Orchard Hill Pl	Detached	$649,000	3	2.5	2324	5
18561 Kristi Way	Detached	$649,950	3	2.5	1450	68
48 Hillshire Dr	Detached	$795,500	4	3	3034	5
93 Tanglewood Dr	Detached	$799,900	3	2.5+.5	3111	21
6 Grouse Ter	Detached	$850,000	3	3	3653	4
2777 Evergreen Rd	Condo	$895,000	3	3.5	1950	2
2719 Greentree Rd	Detached	$985,000	5	3.5	3886	5
14711 Uplands Dr	Detached	$1,695,000	4	4.5	3327	3
21 D Ave #13	Condo	$1,993,200	2	2.5	2304	8
21 D Ave #4	Condo	$2,067,000	2	2.5	2431	86
2305 Glen Haven Rd	Detached	$2,275,000	5	4	3632	82
1845 Highlands Loop	Detached	$2,995,000	4	3.5+.5	5306	3

Closed/Sold Feb 7-13, 2022

Address	Type	List Price	Sold Price	Sq Feet	DOM
4 Touchstone #94	Condo	$248,000	$238,000	1351	7
30 Crestfield Ct	Condo	$290,000	$300,000	989	1
16200 Pacific Hwy #9	Condo	$524,900	$500,000	1190	0
1118 St	Detached	$650,000	$650,000	1320	12
8 Da Vinci St	Detached	$779,000	$845,500	2,906	4
16538 Maple Circle	Detached	$1,550,000	$1,750,000	2854	4

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.

February 6, 2022February 6, 2022

The Importance of a Great Backyard

Backyards are truly something to be enjoyed. They expand the living area of a house and are the location for making memories in solitude, as well as with friends and family. When I show houses and we walk outside to find a really great backyard, it is the cherry that tops the cake of a great house. Here are 8 ideas for creating that great backyard.

Connect the indoors to the outdoors with big windows and easy access doors. From inside, you’ll enjoy looking out and having the opportunity to enjoy the yard every day of the year.
Create an outdoor workspace. Trees and landscaping make a wonderful backdrop to Zoom meetings. In addition, working outside on a nice day is a bit of a gift that you can give to yourself. To do this, you’ll need strong wifi, an exterior electrical outlet, and a sturdy table.
Let’s talk al fresco. I reguarly do large dinners for my family in my yard. When we gather there usually about 15 people. I put tables end to end to create one large dining table. I then use linens and my good china. It feels so luxurious! A covered area in which to dine, along with an outdoor heater, makes this possible any month of the year.
Add some entertainment potential. Again, a good table for board games, and perhaps a mounted television to watch football and movies.
Establish a wildlife habitat. I no longer feed the birds (there was a certain squirrel incident), but I do put out water. I have 5 birdbaths. If they go empty, the birds will literally sit on the rim and squack at me. Landscaping is also a great idea for attracting birds.
Make your yard pet friendly by fencing it. Today the fencing choices are plentiful, including fences that barely obstruct your viewing of the entire yard.
Just like the rest of the house, clutter is a big no no. Store the clutter elsewhere. Particularly when selling the house, it needs to be tidy.
Privacy is super important. If you have a house that looks into your yard, plant a tree or a hedge. In my case, my husband built a privacy screen that goes about 20 feet. Just enough to block my neighbors windows.

I hope that you have found this helpful. Thanks again for reading the blotter!

Dianne

November 19, 2021November 19, 2021

Market Activity Nov 8-15, 2021

The market is moving right along. I feel like the 12 new listings, 19 pending sales, and 16 closed sales is actually pretty active for the holiday season. People buying or selling this week are hoping to be moved before Christmas. Timing is pretty motivating.

See below for RMLS data

New on the Market Nov-15, 2021

Address	Type	Price	BR	Baths	Sq Ft
58 Galen St	Condo	$224,900	1	1	689
7155 Childs Rd	Condo	$278,000	2	1	916
572 S State St 8C	Condo	$324,900	2	1	914
1400 Bonniebrae Dr	Condo	$425,000	2	1	890
1695 Meadows Dr	Detached	$698,000	4	3	2219
3777 Rivers Edge Dr	Detached	$1,095,000	4	2.5	2875
18168 Westminster Dr	Detached	$1,099,000	5	3.5	4220
17908 Blue Heron Dr	Detached	$1,799,000	3	4	4172
752 8th St	Detached	$1,877,000	5	3.5	4032
2245 Glen Haven Rd	Detached	$1,950,000	4	4	3830
17367 Lake Haven Dr	Detached	$2,849,000	4	3	4225
14655 Uplands Dr	Detached	$3,300,000	5	4.5	5000

Pending Sales Nov 8-14, 2021

Address	Type	Price	BR	Baths	Sq Ft	CDOM
4 Touchstone #78	Condo	$216,999	3	2.5	1351	30
204 Cervantes	Condo	$305,000	3	1.5	1138	3
4000 Carman Dr B23	Condo	$307,500	2	2	866	3
4429 Thunder Vista Ln	Condo	$459,900	2	2.5	2002	81
17347 Ashley Ct	Attached	$650,000	4	2.5	2117	5
5352 Kenny St	Detached	$665,000	3	2	1596	6
3225 Tempest Dr	Detached	$799,000	3	2.5	2231	12
1638 Pine St	Detached	$800,000	4	3	3105	4
14145 Redwood Ct	Detached	$825,000	4	3	2519	5
755 Ellis Ave	Detached	$829,000	5	2	2248	5
507 Ash St	Detached	$849,000	5	4	4666	3
6073 Carman Dr	Detached	$899,900	3	2.5	2751	54
890 Devon Ln	Detached	$999,900	4	3.5	2826	7
1844 Oak Knoll Ct	Detached	$1,125,000	3	2.5	3028	25
5492 Yorkshire Pl	Detached	$1,130,000	4	2.5	2462	4
19317 Lorna Ln	Detached	$1,599,000	5	4.5	4634	186
1155 Crestline Ct	Detached	$2,095,000	5	4.5	7438	17
2101 Wembley Park Rd	Detached	$2,750,000	5	4.5	4710	19
736 Southview Rd	Detached	$4,195,000	4	3.5+.5	4639	6

Sold/Closed Nov 8-14, 2021

Address	Type	List Price	Sold Price	Sq Feet	DOM
210 S State St #9	Condo	$525,000	$526,000	1642	19
7 St Helens Circle	Detached	$599,000	$600,000	1275	15
4455 Chapman Way	Detached	$726,000	$718,000	2262	15
15450 Partridge Dr	Detached	$800,000	$795,000	2624	4
1631 Ash St	Detached	$750,000	$795,000	2,227	3
12751 Sierra Vista Dr	Detached	$799,900	$865,000	2097	4
2915 Dellwood Dr	Detached	$899,900	$890,000	3690	8
6413 McDuff Ct	Detached	$1,035,000	$1,055,000	3091	37
5532 Bay Creek Dr	Detached	$995,000	$1,100,000	2869	3
13280 Sandalwood Ct	Detached	$1,050,000	$1,101,000	3080	5
16645 Fir Ln	Detached	$1,100,000	$1,290,000	3066	6
17975 Ridge Lake Dr	Detached	$1,199,000	$1,350,000	2835	2
18365 SW 65th Ave	Detached	$1,290,000	$1,375,000	3331	22
3411 Lake Grove Ave	Detached	$1,675,000	$1,590,680	4434	47
3330 Cedar Ct	Detached	$1,649,000	$1,625,000	4467	12
1051 Forest Meadows Way	Detached	$4,149,000	$3,850,000	5597	63

September 10, 2021September 10, 2021

Market Activity August 30-September 5, 2021

This is the time of year, as school starts, when the market typically starts to let off the gas a bit. I just don’t see that happening. Last week in LO we had 10 new listings, 32 properties (!) move into pending status, and 32 closed/sold. We are winding down the summer in an all steam ahead fashion.

See below for RMLS data.

New Listings Aug 30-Sept 5, 2021

Address	Type	Price	BR	Baths	Sq Ft
4 Touchstone #157	Condo	$224,900	2	2	984
200 Burnham Rd #402	Condo	$355,000	2	2	1305
750 1st St E27	Condo	$615,900	2	2	1350
6472 Dawn St	Detached	$695,000	3	2	1032
4848 Lower Dr	Detached	$822,000	4	3	2531
658 Boca Ratan Dr	Detached	$967,000	4	3.5	3593
17001 Westview Dr	Detached	$968,500	3	2	2005
16164 Parker Rd #1	Detached	$1,395,000	5	4	3257
548 4th St	Attached	$1,524,900	3	4.5	3186
1913 Cheryl Ct	Detached	$1,895,000	4	4.5	5341

Pending Sales Aug 30-Sept 5, 2021

Address	Type	Price	BR	Baths	Sq Ft	CDOM
100 Kerr Pkwy #31	Condo	$185,000	1	1	617	5
100 Kerr Pkwy #43	Condo	$214,900	2	2	823	41
96 Cervantes Circle	Condo	$230,000	2	1.5	912	7
36 Crestfield Ct	Condo	$279,900	2	1	921	3
4000 Carman Dr E70	Condo	$299,900	2	2	974	3
4652 Lower Dr	Condo	$350,000	2	1.5	1170	4
5101 Jean Rd	Condo	$475,000	3	1	1012	5
16691 Bonaire Ave	Detached	$499,900	3	1	1110	3
4528 Lower Dr	Condo	$525,000	3	2.5	1786	9
8 Bolivar St	Detached	$640,000	2	2	2149	2
16 Walking Woods Dr	Detached	$649,000	3	2.5	2897	11
14 Preakness Ct	Attached	$669,000	2	2.5	2190	6
3065 Royce Way	Detached	$750,000	4	2.5	2726	46
15509 Partridge Dr	Detached	$789,900	4	3	2299	3
4545 Black Forest Ct	Detached	$799,000	4	2.5	2168	2
759 Timberline Dr	Detached	$835,000	4	3	2928	70
19431 Kokanee Ct	Detached	$849,900	4	2.5	2214	4
17994 Saint Clair Dr	Detached	$900,000	5	2.5	3916	3
920 York Rd	Detached	$985,000	4	3	2026	2
2936 SW Orchard Hill Pl	Detached	$989,000	4	2.5	4089	61
4261 Cobb Way	Detached	$1,089,000	4	3	2362	1
13536 Streamside Dr	Detached	$1,150,000	4	3.5	3033	7
15776 Inverurie Rd	Detached	$1,299,000	3	2	2352	49
14495 Pfeifer Dr	Detached	$1,299,900	4	3	3944	21
1687 Village Park Ln	Detached	$1,399,000	4	3	3362	74
4721 Firwood Rd	Detached	$1,425,000	4	3	3236	0
4531 West Rd	Detached	$1,429,000	3	3.5	3926	54
16650 Fir Ln	Detached	$1,898,000	4	3.5	3860	8
940 Upper Devon Ln	Detached	$1,945,000	4	3.5	4848	59
929 Cumberland Rd	Detached	$2,495,000	5	6.5	5129	3
1199 Fairway Rd	Detached	$3,498,000	4	4.5+.5	5527	33
259 Pine Valley Rd	Detached	$4,000,000	4	4.5	4640	0

Sold/Closed Aug 30-Sept 5, 2021

Address	Type	List Price	Sold Price	Sq Ft	CDOM
4 Toushstone #69	Condo	$220,000	$220,000	1351	33
3433 McNary Pkwy #302	Condo	$285,000	$265,000	1,208	12
5058 Foothills Dr A	Condo	$420,000	$418,000	1252	8
1 Peacock Pl	Detached	$529,000	$500,000	1336	30
17500 Pilkington Rd	Detached	$460,000	$500,000	1050	8
17 Aquinas St	Detached	$599,900	$660,000	2139	6
13198 Peters Rd	Detached	$695,000	$677,750	2630	29
605 7th St	Detached	$775,000	$750,000	2035	3
4 Sherwood Ct	Detached	$825,000	$757,000	2870	16
16901 Lakeridge Dr	Detached	$724,000	$762,500	2080	3
1033 Spruce ST	Detached	$765,000	$775,000	1,663	4
18260 Indian Creek Dr	Detached	$759,000	$790,000	2082	11
17730 Marylbrook Dr	Detached	$850,000	$840,000	2951	14
17211 Robb Pl	Detached	$790,000	$840,000	2085	5
491 Country Club Rd	Detached	$865,000	$850,000	2486	97
14121 Redwood Ct	Detached	$696,900	$867,500	2827	24
4987 Bilford Ln	Detached	$799,900	$890,000	2302	5
19531 River Run Dr	Detached	$899,900	$975,000	2440	5
13060 SW Elk Rock Rd	Detached	$1,178,000	$1,100,000	3681	9
13207 Deerfield Ct	Detached	$1,175,000	$1,125,000	3801	35
17543 Lake Haven Dr	Detached	$1,185,000	$1,125,000	2333	9
12730 Adrian Ct	Detached	$1,295,000	$1,178,000	3014	24
5428 Royal Oaks Dr	Detached	$1,200,000	$1,200,000	4994	7
151 3rd St #1	Condo	$1,499,000	$1,475,000	3278	37
2805 Southshore Blvd	Detached	$1,300,000	$1,553,050	2623	3
3155 Upper Dr	Detached	$1,599,900	$1,720,000	3297	1
2165 Ridge Point Dr	Detached	$2,100,000	$1,828,000	4749	29
2572 Glen Eagles Pl	Detached	$2,595,000	$2,300,000	6532	107
18000 Eastridge Ln	Detached	$2,495,000	$2,495,000	5610	6
17575 S Crestline Dr	Detached	$3,500,000	$2,925,000	7496	48
3328 Lakeview Blvd	Detached	$6,398,000	$6,175,000	6675	18
4210 Virginia Way	Detached	$1,549,000	$1,365,000	3508	58

April 25, 2021

3D Printed Houses

This is a bit of a divergence from the usual posts that Linda and I write where we try to focus on Lake Oswego Real Estate. Instead I decided to share something that I find just fascinating: 3D printed houses.

A company in Texas, ICON, is 3D printing houses. The company set a goal of finding a way to build houses that are more affordable, resilient, and that can be built faster. Their first house was built in 2018. it was 350 square feet and took 48 hours to print out. It was built in Austin, Texas, a place with very strict building codes. The house was fully permitted.

The printer is quite large, as you can imagine. It’s called a Vulcan II. It extrudes a cement compound called Lavacrete. It pours out 5-7 inches per second. Today, a 400-500 square foot house can be built in 24 hours.

Today, houses can be built up to 2000 square feet.

I say “built”, but I think that is a rather a loose term in this enstance. Once the shell of the house has been “printed”, it is set on a foundation and the components, like windows, doors, plumbing, etc., are added.

The printer can do more than build square boxes. It can be programed for things like curved walls and vaulted ceilings.

The cost savings is approximately half of a traditional stick built home. Partnering with Mobile Loaves and Fishes, ICON is working to build housing for the homeless.

I just love the inovation and found this entire concept intriquing. For more information, click here.

I hope you found this as fascinating as I did, and, as always, thanks for reading the blotter.

Dianne

September 4, 2008September 4, 2008

Featured Home – 4447 Golden Lane

This week, we’re pleased to highlight a new listing in Lake Oswego’s Mountain Park neighborhood.

There are certainly great deals to be found in the current real estate inventory, and this new listing is one of them.

Located in Mt. Park, this townhouse is an end unit with expansive, South-facing windows. The outlook is to trees and landscaping and it is surprisingly private. The walls of windows flood the interior with light so that the entire house is bright and pleasant.

Recent updates include new granite counters, laminate floors and carpeting.

There are 2 large bedrooms with vaulted ceilings. The master has a walk-in closet and a full bath. The second bedroom has a loft that could be used as additional living area. There is a 2-car garage, a large storage closet, and an indoor utility room. You will have plenty of space for your hobbies and your collections. The house also has central air to keep you cool on those hot summer days. There are 2 1/2 bathrooms. The main living area is a greatroom with a large dining area and kitchen that are all open to the living room.

Mt. Park is a fabulous planned community with 15 miles of walking paths, a large rec center with weight rooms and sauna, tennis courts, and great community activities. It is conveniently located with easy access to both Interstate 5 and Highway 217.

The townhouse will be held open on September 7th, 2008 from 2pm to 5pm. Please come by and see this great property.

4447 Golden Lane., Lake Oswego, OR 97035
ML# 8079838 | Map
2 bedrooms, 2-1/2 bathrooms, 1,616 sq. ft.
Listed at $284,900

For more information or to schedule a showing, please contact us with an email.

Listing courtesy of Dianne Gregoire at Advanced Real Estate Services.