Tag: Lake Oswego

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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.

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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.

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Lake Oswego Open Houses – April 12-13, 2008

Should be a decent weekend to tour some open houses, so here is the PropertyBlotter’s Open Houses in Lake Oswego list. Be sure to say hi to our very own Linda Trotta at 1448 Greentree Circle on Sunday from 2 to 4pm.

Date Time Address List Price Bdrms Baths Total SF
4/13/08 1:00 – 3:00 4000 CARMAN DR
$175,000
2
2
925
4/12/08 1-4pm 11 SUMMIT RIDGE CT
$319,000
2
2.1
1,576
4/13/08 1-3 PM 39 ORIOLE LN
$345,000
2
1.1
1,310
4/13/08 2-4 pm 4070 VIRGINIA WAY
$350,000
4
2
1,728
4/13/08 1-3pm 4902 SW CHILDS RD
$385,000
3
1.1
1,370
4/13/08 1-3pm 19250 SW MAREE CT
$395,000
3
2.1
1,519
4/13/08 1-4 pm 16443 SW LAKE FOREST BLVD
$397,000
3
2
1,474
4/13/08 1-3PM 17650 ARBOR LN
$419,000
3
3
2,043
4/13/08 2-4pm 1448 GREENTREE CIR
$588,000
4
2.1
2,587
4/13/08 11:00-1:00 3355 UPPER DR
$599,900
4
2
3,205
4/13/08 1-4pm 5772 BAY CREEK DR
$674,500
4
3
3,242
4/13/08 1-4PM 34 HILLSHIRE DR
$740,000
4
2.1
3,822
4/13/08 1-4pm 435 8TH ST
$749,900
4
3.1
2,505
4/13/08 12:00-3:00 3211 ALBER SPRING CT
$825,000
4
2.1
2,993
4/13/08 12-3pm 161 FURNACE ST
$1,024,900
2
2
2,134
4/13/08 2:30-4:30 17075 OLD RIVER DR
$1,095,000
3
3.1
3,237
4/13/08 1pm – 3pm 17760 LAKE HAVEN DR
$1,169,000
4
2.1
2,051
4/13/08 2-4pm 1835 CEDAR CT
$1,169,000
3
3.1
3,148
4/13/08 1-3pm 622 OAK MEADOW DR
$1,325,000
4
3.1
4,168
4/13/08 1-3pm 17464 RIDGEVIEW LN
$1,348,950
4
3.1
4,407
4/13/08 1-3pm 17433 RIDGEVIEW LN
$1,495,000
4
4.1
4,659
4/13/08 3:30-5:30 670 IRON MOUNTAIN BLVD
$2,275,000
4
3.2
5,208

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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Lake Oswego Real Estate Market Results – Q1 2008

The 1st quarter Lake Oswego real estate results for 2008 are in the books. Heading into the prime buying and selling season, how did the market fare?

For home sellers, the news wasn’t particularly heartening. Over the first quarter of 2008, Lake Oswego sold 125 condo, attached, and single-family homes. That figure is down 40% from the same period in 2007.

Across all property types, the average price came in at $591,131, which is up 7% from last year. The median (middlemost) value in the range is $495,000 (vs. $449,000 in 2007).

Following is a breakdown of property types by average sale prices, market time, and size:

LAKE OSWEGO MARKET ACTIVITY – JANUARY 1 – MARCH 31, 2008

PROPERTY TYPE
QUANTITY SOLD
AVG SALE PRICE
AVG SQ. FT.
SALE PRICE VS. ORIG. LIST PRICE
AVG MARKET TIME*
Condominiums
31
$223,935
1,156
88%
113
Attached Homes
6
$481,187
2,149
96%
24
Single Family Detached Homes
88
$727,981
2,808
92%
82
SUMMARY
125
$591,131
2,367
92%
87

Conclusions?

Do the results suggest that prices in Lake Oswego are still rising? In 2007, single family detached homes made up 56% of the total housing mix; this year, it’s 70% of the mix, having a much greater influence on the overall housing average. Looking just at single family homes, the average sale price is down 4% from last year’s first quarter.

A note of caution: Final sale prices on single family homes are coming in at 92% of the original list price, suggesting that sellers may be better off starting their pricing at a level reflective of a slowing market.

* Market time or Days on Market (DOM) refers to the number of days between the time the listing becomes active in the multiple listing service and the date of when an offer has been accepted by the seller.

Data courtesy of RMLS.

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Market Activity – March 31-April 6, 2008

The post-spring break real estate rush is definitely on, with 46 new home listings coming on the market in the past week. Fortunately, 24 properties closed escrow or received an acceptable offer (sale pending).

Later this week, we’ll take a look at the first quarter results for the Lake Oswego market.

Here are the Lake Oswego real estate market statistics for the week March 31 through April 6 (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
368 CERVANTES CIR
$159,900
2
1
882
CONDO
4/1
15938 QUARRY RD
$187,000
2
1
991
CONDO
4/3
165 OSWEGO SMT
$209,900
2
2
1,383
CONDO
3/31
216 RIDGEWAY RD
$259,900
2
1
914
CONDO
4/3
343 5TH ST
$319,500
2
1
910
CONDO
3/31
4458 THUNDER VISTA LN
$339,500
3
2.1
2,200
CONDO
4/1
210 S STATE ST
$339,900
2
1.1
1,495
CONDO
3/30
150 KINGSGATE RD
$359,900
3
2
1,477
DETACHD
4/3
4161 COBB WAY
$419,800
3
2
1,915
DETACHD
3/30
1307 CEDAR ST
$447,500
4
3
2,162
DETACHD
3/30
13050 BOONES FERRY RD
$449,000
3
2.1
2,320
DETACHD
4/2
5142 ROSEWOOD ST
$449,900
4
2.1
1,784
DETACHD
3/30
17101 CHAPIN WAY
$509,000
3
2
1,949
DETACHD
3/31
4688 OAKRIDGE RD
$525,000
3
2
1,788
DETACHD
4/4
1440 CHERRY CREST AVE
$539,900
3
2.1
1,938
DETACHD
4/2
14251 SW CAMDEN LN
$540,000
3
2.1
2,179
DETACHD
4/1
5497 Willow CT
$549,900
3
2.1
2,438
ATTACHD
4/1
14300 CAMDEN LN
$550,000
4
2.1
2,346
DETACHD
4/2
5475 Willow CT
$569,900
3
2.1
2,438
ATTACHD
4/1
5431 Willow CT
$569,900
3
2.1
2,400
ATTACHD
4/1
5453 Willow CT
$569,900
3
2.1
2,400
ATTACHD
4/1
17777 BLUE HERON DR
$575,000
4
3
2,609
DETACHD
4/3
3355 UPPER DR
$599,900
4
2
3,205
DETACHD
4/1
4722 HASTINGS PL
$649,900
4
2.1
2,151
DETACHD
3/31
7190 SW CHILDS RD
$675,000
3
3
2,316
DETACHD
3/31
557 EVERGREEN RD
$685,000
2
2
1,598
DETACHD
4/3
4031 Old Gate Road
$699,900
4
4
3,704
DETACHD
4/5
14218 KIMBERLY CIR
$749,000
4
2.1
3,205
DETACHD
3/30
770 5TH ST
$779,000
3
2.1
2,721
DETACHD
4/1
165 FURNACE ST
$829,000
2
2.1
2,175
CONDO
3/30
19177 35TH PL
$838,000
4
2.1
3,459
DETACHD
3/31
547 MIDDLECREST RD
$849,900
2
2.1
1,881
DETACHD
3/31
307 DURHAM ST
$965,000
3
2.1
2,600
DETACHD
3/31
14135 EDENBERRY DR
$979,000
4
2.1
3,174
DETACHD
4/3
17606 WOODHURST PL
$1,049,000
5
3.1
4,488
DETACHD
3/30
3540 RED CEDAR WAY
$1,159,000
4
3.1
4,000
DETACHD
3/30
1606 BAY VIEW LN
$1,169,000
5
3.1
4,288
DETACHD
3/30
1835 CEDAR CT
$1,169,000
3
3.1
3,148
DETACHD
4/4
5587 CARMAN DR
$1,175,000
4
3.1
2,591
DETACHD
3/31
950 OAK TER
$1,220,000
4
2.1
3,714
DETACHD
3/31
3407 LAKE GROVE AVE
$1,298,000
4
3.2
4,475
DETACHD
4/1
4063 CANAL WOODS CT
$1,299,900
4
3.1
4,563
DETACHD
3/30
5250 SW Dawn ST
$1,390,000
4
3.1
4,333
DETACHD
4/1
17538 BROOKHURST DR
$1,450,000
4
5.1
5,451
DETACHD
4/2
1340 CHERRY LN
$1,950,000
4
4.1
5,795
DETACHD
4/2
4011 WESTBAY RD
$1,990,000
5
3.1
4,518
DETACHD
3/30

Pending Sales

Address List Price Tot Beds Tot Baths Tot Sq Ft Prop Type DOM
8 CRESTFIELD CT
$144,900
1
1
689
CONDO
30
18620 INDIAN CREEK DR
$399,900
3
2
2,064
DETACHD
21
17200 CANAL CIR
$430,000
2
1.1
1,814
DETACHD
124
1711 HIGHLAND DR
$449,000
3
2.1
1,926
DETACHD
2
5511 ROYAL OAKS DR
$449,900
3
2
1,898
DETACHD
4
1982 PARK FOREST AVE
$519,900
5
3
2,692
DETACHD
11
1091 BICKNER ST
$625,000
4
2
2,510
DETACHD
76
490 IRON MOUNTAIN BLVD
$649,000
2
2
2,246
DETACHD
27
5642 LA MESA CT
$699,000
4
2.1
3,361
DETACHD
153
2340 PARK RD
$724,900
3
3
3,200
DETACHD
131
15737 TARA PL
$779,000
4
2.1
3,057
DETACHD
206
17912 MEADOWLARK LN
$799,000
4
3
3,087
DETACHD
410
17237 Lowenberg TER
$999,900
3
2.1
3,095
DETACHD
2070 RIDGE POINTE DR
$1,149,900
4
5
5,400
DETACHD
32
1098 CHANDLER RD
$2,000,000
4
3.1
3,696
DETACHD
63

Sold Properties

Address Sale Price Tot Beds Tot Baths Tot Sq Ft Prop Type DOM
93 GALEN ST
$134,000
1
1
689
CONDO
68
16200 PACIFIC HWY
$312,500
2
2
1,200
CONDO
633
13457 AUBURN CT
$512,500
3
2.1
1,937
CONDO
110
1991 SUMMIT DR
$539,900
3
3.1
2,395
DETACHD
267
11 TANGLEWOOD DR
$550,000
4
3
3,148
DETACHD
206
1322 GLENMORRIE DR
$710,000
3
3
2,771
DETACHD
110
17970 ROYCE WAY
$899,900
4
4.2
4,207
DETACHD
273
140 FURNACE ST
$950,000
4
3.1
3,633
DETACHD
228
15420 BOONES WAY
$1,169,000
3
2.1
3,364
ATTACHD
0

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 – March 8-9, 2008

Fridays will be the day we provide another regular PropertyBlotter feature–the Open Houses in Lake Oswego for each weekend.

Please note, dates and times are subject to change without notice. The list below 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.

We’ll talk more about buyer agency in future posts at PropertyBlotter, but for now, if you’re looking for a dedicated guide to take you through these and other Lake Oswego properties, be sure to contact us.

So, get out there and see some real estate!

Date Time Address
List Price
Bdrms
Total Bath
Total SF
3/9/2008 1-4pm 668 MCVEY AVE
$249,000
2
1
836
3/9/2008 1:00 – 3:00 16 Aquinas ST
$334,900
3
2
1,569
3/9/2008 1-4pm 14433 CAMDEN LN
$480,000
3
3
2,023
3/9/2008 2:30-4:30 666 3RD ST
$494,950
3
1.1
1,759
3/9/2008 11-1pm 762 LAKE FOREST DR
$620,000
4
3
2,310
3/9/2008 1-4pm 5400 BAY CREEK DR
$625,000
3
2.1
2,856
3/9/2008 1 to 3 3254 DUNCAN DR
$649,000
4
3.1
3,997
3/9/2008 1-4pm 8 CAMELOT CT
$650,000
5
3
3,080
3/9/2008 1-4pm 15815 ALLISON PL
$759,000
4
2.1
3,534
3/9/2008 1-4PM 34 HILLSHIRE DR
$760,000
4
2.1
3,822
3/9/2008 12:00-2:00 569 7TH ST
$849,950
5
4
3,186
3/9/2008 1-4pm 4125 CASEY CT
$974,950
4
3.1
3,728
3/9/2008 1-3pm 1864 CAMPUS WAY
$997,900
5
4
4,142
3/9/2008 1-4pm 15446 BOONES WAY
$1,289,000
3
2.1
3,364
3/9/2008 12:30 – 3 622 OAK MEADOW DR
$1,325,000
4
3.1
4,168
3/9/2008 12:30 -3 17464 RIDGEVIEW LN
$1,348,950
4
3.1
4,407
3/9/2008 1pm to 3pm 567 10th ST
$1,350,000
4
3.1
4,470
3/9/2008 1-4pm 2300 SW CHILDS RD
$1,400,000
4
2
3,183
3/9/2008 2 – 4 pm 13322 LESLIE CT
$1,450,000
4
3.1
4,449
3/9/2008 12:30 -3 17433 RIDGEVIEW LN
$1,495,000
4
4.1
4,704
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About Oswego Lake

Lake Oswego MarinaOswego Lake is a 405-acre lake around which the City of Lake Oswego has grown.

The natural lake is fed by the Tualatin River at the West end and spills over a dam, down into Oswego Creek and into the Willamette River at the East end. There is a natural lake that was originally about 150 feet deep with steep cliffs on the South side. Over time, the lake was made larger by damming its waters and by excavating canals. There are several canals with homes that have access to the main lake as well as two bays: West Bay at the West end and Lakewood Bay at the East end.

The lake is privately owned and managed by the Lake Oswego Corporation. It is a navigable lake with a private boat launch at the East end. Being privately owned and managed, use of the lake is strictly controlled. The right to use the lake is deeded through property ownership. Obviously, those who live on the lake have use of it. However, there is a one-time initiation fee of $5,000 to activate lake usage when waterfront property is purchased. In addition, most citizens of Lake Oswego do have use of the lake, and this is accommodated in two ways.

First, many homes that are not on the lake have deeded lake rights through lake easements. Put simply, years ago when there were lots for sale on the lake, the developer of a neighborhood could buy a lot and deed it to an entire neighborhood. These lots are called lake easements. All of them have membership associations who collect dues and maintain the easements. Most easements have boat slips, picnic facilities, canoe storage, and docks.

To use an easement, you must pay dues into the easement association. Upon paying dues, you will usually receive a key that allows you to open the gate at your easement. Use of boat slips at easements usually requires waiting for a slip to become available and can sometimes take several years. Properties with boating rights, but no available boat slips, can put boats in for day use through the Lake Oswego Corporation. In addition, you may be able to rent a boat slip at the small marina maintained by the Lake Oswego Corporation.

The second way to use the lake, even if you don’t have a waterfront home or a lake easement deeded with your house, is to go to the public swim parks. There are two of them, one at each end of the lake.  The swim park on the East end of the lake, 250 Ridgeway Rd, is operated by the City Parks and Recreation Department.  It is open to all residents of the City of Lake Oswego and is open July and August, noon to 6pm, daily.  There are life guards on duty and there is no charge for admission. Info on this park is easily found at the City Website.   At the other end of the lake is the Lake Grove Swim Park, 3900 Lakeview Blvd.  It is open June thru Labor Day.  It is operated by the Lake Oswego School District and is available to all households that are within the school district boundaries for the old Lake Grove School District.  This is the most confusing of the two swim parks as the boundaries no longer reflect school attendance area at the West end of the lake.  Newer neighborhoods on the West end, such as Westlake, didn’t exist during the time that the Lake Grove School District was active and so many newer neighborhoods do not have access to this swim park.  This swim park does not appear to have a website, but you can get information about whether or not your home is located to allow you to use the park by calling 503-635-0355 or 503-534-2000.  The first time you go one of the swim parks, bring identification and proof of residence and, if you are eligable,  you will be issued a membership card. The swim parks have swim areas that are restricted so that young children are contained and life guards are on duty. Swim lessons, snack shacks, volley ball, and picnicking are just some of the amenities.

Any vessel put into the lake must be registered with the Lake Oswego Corporation annually. This includes motor boats, sail boats, canoes, and even surf boards. The lake is patrolled by The Lake Corporation with hired security who confirm vessel registration, enforce speed limits, and see to the safety and well being of those who use the lake.

About every 5 to 10 years the water level of the lake is dropped by releasing water through the dam into the Willamette River. The lake does not completely empty, but it does drop quite a bit. This allows property owners along the edge of the lake to build and repair sea walls, docks, and boat houses. The draw-down of the lake is always done in the winter and lasts for several months before being refilled in time for warm weather use. The last draw-down of the lake occurred in 2006.

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Lake Oswego: A History

Lake Oswego SmelterThe Clackamas Indians originally inhabited the area now known as Lake Oswego. The Indians called the lake Waluga, meaning wild swan.

Lake Oswego is only about 15 miles North of Abernathy Green, the historic end of The Oregon Trail. Being so close to the destination of those traveling West, the earliest settlers brought a scattering of homesteads and farms.

The town of Oswego was founded in 1847 by Albert Durham who named it after his hometown of Oswego, New York. In the early days of the town the lake was known as Sucker Lake and the creek from the Tualatin River that fed into the lake was known as Sucker Creek. Albert Durham built a sawmill along Sucker Creek.

Waterways were the main means of transportation and commerce and Lake Oswego was very much a part of that. Goods could be transported down Sucker Creek, across the lake, and down to the Willamette River. This allowed river traffic to circumvent the falls along the Willamette River that are next to Oregon City. Today you can see evidence of this river traffic in the ferry crossings and ferry launches. One of the old ferry launches is still visible in downtown Lake Oswego at George Rogers Park, and there is still an active ferry crossing South of Lake Oswego between West Linn and Canby.

The first blast furnace on the West coast for the smelting of iron ore was built in Lake Oswego in 1865. At the time, the early industrialists hoped to turn Lake Oswego into “The Pittsburg of the West”. This may very well have happened if not for the advent of railway.

The coming of reliable trains had two huge impacts on Lake Oswego. First, better quality and less expensive iron ore could be manufactured elsewhere and quickly transported where needed, which pretty much doomed the iron ore industry in Lake Oswego. And second, the railroad made travel between Portland and Oswego easy and affordable. At the height of the rail service between Portland and Lake Oswego, in 1920, there were 64 trains daily. This same rail line is still in use today and known as the Willamette Shore Trolley. It remains a lovely way to see the river and enjoy a leisurely ride into Portland.

With transportation convenient between Lake Oswego and Portland, the town of Oswego blossomed. The lake drew people down for the weekend. To this day you will see a mix of small cottages that were built in the 1920’s and likely used as summer recreation homes for people who lived in Portland. Again, as transportation continued to improve with good roads and the ownership of cars, people were able to not just vacation in Lake Oswego, but also to live in Oswego and work in Portland.

The “City of Oswego” became the “City of Lake Oswego” in 1960 when the city annexed the town to the West, Lake Grove. The two names were combined to create Lake Oswego. And for clarity, the city is “Lake Oswego” and the lake is “Oswego Lake”.

The draw that has always made people want to live here is the same now as it was when the city was founded in 1847. It is next to the Willamette River and has a huge lake in the middle. The scenery is gorgeous and opportunities for recreation are plentiful. The close proximity to a major city with a major port allows people who live here to be near good jobs. And the town has always been a well-loved and well-cared for by the community. New residents are nearly always overheard mentioning how wonderful it is to live in a community where people really care, and where participation in everything from schools to local government is so full and vibrant.

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Market Activity: February 25 – March 2, 2008

We’re pleased to introduce a weekly feature here at PropertyBlotter that will help you keep in touch with the real estate market in Lake Oswego.

Every Monday, you’ll find the real estate activity for the previous week: properties listed, homes with sales pending, and finally, sold properties (along with the final selling price) for all condos, attached, and single-family homes in Lake Oswego. The active listings will have convenient links for additional information about each property.

Without further ado, here are the Lake Oswego real estate market statistics for the week February 25 through March 2 (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
121 OSWEGO SMT
$149,500
1
1
764
 CONDO
2/28
16584 SW ROOSEVELT AVE
$229,000
2
1
1,188
 DETACHD
2/25
215 CERVANTES
$229,900
2
2
1,100
 CONDO
2/25
750 1ST ST
$254,900
2
2
1,350
 CONDO
2/28
18966 SW LONGFELLOW AVE
$346,950
3
2
1,782
 DETACHD
2/29
6301 ALYSSA TER
$349,900
3
2.1
1,546
 ATTACHD
2/26
5275 OAKRIDGE RD
$349,900
3
2
1,267
 DETACHD
2/28
4211 WOODSIDE CIR
$375,000
3
2
1,688
 CONDO
2/25
3190 DUNCAN DR
$389,999
3
2.1
2,401
 DETACHD
2/27
1101 HEMLOCK ST
$397,000
3
2.1
2,092
 DETACHD
2/29
4648 REMBRANDT LN
$410,000
3
2.1
1,793
 DETACHD
2/24
100 LEONARD ST
$438,900
2
2
1,364
 ATTACHD
2/24
19210 SW MAREE CT
$450,000
3
2.1
1,634
 DETACHD
2/24
6187 FROST LN
$475,000
3
2.1
2,107
 DETACHD
2/27
1602 GREENTREE RD
$485,000
3
2
1,708
 DETACHD
2/27
428 ASH ST
$497,900
5
5
4,380
 DETACHD
2/29
4191 CHAPMAN WAY
$525,000
4
2.1
2,610
 DETACHD
2/27
17 ABELARD ST
$539,000
3
2
2,070
 DETACHD
2/24
2104 WEMBLEY PARK RD
$565,000
4
3
2,052
 DETACHD
2/24
4231 SUNSET DR
$574,900
3
2
2,852
 DETACHD
3/1
5562 ROYAL OAKS DR
$624,900
4
2.1
2,342
 DETACHD
2/25
200 BURNHAM RD
$629,000
3
2
1,894
 CONDO
2/27
3745 TEMPEST DR
$649,876
4
3
2,743
 DETACHD
2/29
178 PINE VALLEY RD
$699,900
4
3.1
2,999
 DETACHD
2/29
1 BRITTEN CT
$699,950
4
3
2,325
 DETACHD
2/27
5853 SOUTHWOOD DR
$769,900
5
2.1
3,707
 DETACHD
2/28
435 8TH ST
$799,000
4
3.1
2,505
 DETACHD
2/29
1710 SW Glenmorrie Terrace
$799,000
4
3
3,110
 DETACHD
2/26
3886 TAMARACK LN
$799,900
4
3.1
4,010
 DETACHD
2/24
14101 REDWOOD CT
$824,900
3
3.1
2,629
 DETACHD
2/26
18720 WESTVIEW DR
$878,888
4
3
3,244
 DETACHD
3/1
18220 RIVER EDGE CT
$899,000
4
3
3,335
 DETACHD
2/26
19320 SW Lorna LN
$949,000
4
4.1
3,660
 DETACHD
2/25
5435 WASHINGTON CT
$1,049,900
4
3.1
3,323
 DETACHD
2/26
4725 SW UPPER DR
$1,200,000
3
2.1
2,600
 DETACHD
2/29
720 6TH ST
$1,300,000
3
3.1
4,217
 DETACHD
2/27
18284 MEADOWLARK LN
$1,559,000
4
4.2
5,648
 DETACHD
2/26
688 IRON MOUNTAIN BLVD
$1,689,000
4
4.1
4,143
 DETACHD
2/24
18990 SW BARTON RD
$1,699,000
4
3.2
4,592
 DETACHD
2/27
19007 EASTSIDE RD
$1,839,000
4
3.1
4,651
 DETACHD
2/24
4502 Lamont WAY
$1,950,000
4
4
3,838
 DETACHD
2/28
14001 GOODALL RD
$1,975,000
4
3.1
5,397
 DETACHD
2/24
13083 SW KNAUS RD
$3,295,000
5
4.1
6,435
 DETACHD
2/27

Pending Sales

Address List Price Tot Beds Tot Baths Tot Sq Ft Prop Type DOM
86 KINGSGATE RD
$174,000
2
2
849
 CONDO
13
668 McVey AVE
$199,850
2
1.1
976
 CONDO
668 McVey AVE
$299,850
3
1.1
985
 CONDO
1402 PARRISH ST
$329,000
3
2.1
1,880
 CONDO
215
4537 HERITAGE LN
$329,900
3
2.1
1,619
 DETACHD
96
1647 DEVON LN
$389,900
4
2.1
2,494
 DETACHD
304
1491 KOAWOOD DR
$424,900
3
3
2,510
 DETACHD
60
16200 PACIFIC HWY
$439,850
2
2
1,200
 CONDO
622
4333 ORCHARD WAY
$564,000
4
2.1
2,897
 DETACHD
49
2311 PARK RD
$649,900
4
3
2,658
 DETACHD
303
544 9TH ST
$699,000
3
3
2,088
 DETACHD
2
1130 OAK TER
$859,900
4
3.1
3,729
 DETACHD
123

Sold Properties

Address List Price Tot Beds Tot Baths Tot Sq Ft Prop Type DOM
56 Galen Street
$185,000
2
2
995
 CONDO
14636 DORIS AVE
$360,000
3
2
1,861
 DETACHD
68
1405 CHERRY CREST AVE
$529,000
4
3
2,590
 DETACHD
30
5625 SOUTHWOOD DR
$630,000
4
2.1
3,301
 DETACHD
136
26 GROUSE TER
$637,000
4
3
3,857
 DETACHD
112
15915 Waluga DR
$750,000
3
2.1
2,939
 DETACHD

Criteria: Homes in the 97034 and 97035 zip code, listed, pending or sold between February 25 – March 2, 2008 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.