Month: December 2008

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Market Activity for November 30th thru December 7th

Once again, thank you for your patience with our posting of the weekly activity report. We are still tweaking the set up for this posting. We know that there are quite a few people who look forward to seeing this and value your on-going patronage of the propertyblotter.

NEWLY LISTED (November 30 —December 7, 2008)

Address List Price # Bedrooms Total Baths Total SF Prop Type List Date
668 MCVEY AVE $144,000 1 1 627 CONDO 12/4/2008
3433 MCNARY PKWY $249,900 2 2.1 1,136 CONDO 12/4/2008
14431 SHERBROOK PL $349,950 4 3 2,605 DETACHD 12/2/2008
221 HIDALGO ST $399,000 3 2.1 2,628 DETACHD 12/3/2008
29 BECKET ST $399,950 3 2.1 2,288 DETACHD 12/4/2008
562 2ND ST $419,000 2 2.1 1,406 CONDO 12/7/2008
16913 Canal CIR $449,000 3 1.1 2,525 DETACHD 12/1/2008
1830 CLOVERLEAF RD $470,000 3 2 1,795 DETACHD 12/5/2008
101 3RD ST $474,900 3 2 1,447 CONDO 12/6/2008
11 BECKET ST $550,000 4 2.1 4,030 DETACHD 12/4/2008
7 CONDOLEA DR $599,900 3 3 2,388 CONDO 12/1/2008
13254 Twin Creek CT $689,000 4 2.1 3,470 DETACHD 12/1/2008
524 WEIDMAN CT $739,000 4 2.1 3,450 DETACHD 12/5/2008
426 7TH ST $778,950 4 2.1 2,902 DETACHD 12/5/2008
705 10TH ST $1,686,000 4 3.1 4,818 DETACHD 12/3/2008
13795 CAMEO CT $2,395,000 4 5.2 7,190 DETACHD 12/1/2008
13777 CAMEO CT $2,595,000 4 5.1 8,080 DETACHD 12/1/2008

PENDING SALES (November 30 —December 7, 2008)

ADDRESS LIST PRICE # BEDS # BATHS TOT. SQ FT PROP TYPE DOM
16250 PACIFIC HWY $228,850 2 2 1,324 CONDO 433
4211 WOODSIDE CIR $325,000 3 2 1,688 CONDO 439
1685 CLOVERLEAF RD $349,900 3 2.1 1,722 DETACHD 50
7050 CHILDS RD $398,000 2 2 1,693 DETACHD 552
5051 TUALATA LN $409,900 4 2 1,591 DETACHD 114
16750 PHANTOM BLUFF CT $485,000 3 3 2,267 DETACHD 288
13217 FOX RUN $550,000 4 3 2,706 DETACHD 160
1141 TROON RD $648,850 4 3 2,522 DETACHD 155
13581 GOODALL RD $650,000 3 2 1,220 DETACHD 455
3723 ELEANOR CT $724,950 4 2.1 2,736 DETACHD 145

SOLD (November 30—December 7, 2008)

Address O/Price Close Price # BR # Baths Total SF CDOM
68 WHEATHERSTONE CT $399,000 $312,500 4 3.1 2,465 299
1130 LAUREL ST $524,000 $420,000 4 2 2,800 86
4076 COLTSFOOT LN $680,000 $555,000 4 3.1 3,882 126
5384 Washington CT $769,900 $670,000 4 3.1 3,246 415
4378 ALBERT CIR $1,225,000 $805,000 3 3 3,735 263
104 3RD ST $1,050,000 $975,000 2 2 1,151 15
301 IRON MOUNTAIN BLVD $1,329,000 $1,150,000 4 3.2 3,004 136

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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Selling or buying a home during the holidays

I am frequently asked if the winter, and specifically the holidays, are a good time to be selling or buying a home. My answer is yes. There are several advantages to selling or buying at this time of year.

First, a home that is warm and decorated for the holidays is extremely inviting. There is such a contrast from being outside and coming in. It really makes the home embrace the buyer. However, this means that you need to make that extra effort to create this experience. Keep the house heated properly. Homes where the heat is turned down, or even left off if the house is vacant, can actually be colder inside than out. When this happens both the buyer and the Realtor will be in a hurry to leave and get warmed up back in the car. Also, turn on every light in the house and open every curtain or blind. Buyers want a house that has lots of light. Because so many of our days are gray, it is important that you create the best light possible. I have recently shown several homes to clients that were great values and in great condition, but ruled out because they gave the impression of being too dark.

Be on top of the holiday decorations. They can enhance the look of the house, but don’t over do it and allow the house to look cluttered or small because it is filled with too much stuff. Also, take them down in a timely fashion.

There are several advantages to the quality of buyers who are out looking at this time of year. While there are fewer of them, those who are looking are serious. People are busy at the holidays so a person who is taking the time to look at houses is a person who really needs to move. In addition, many corporations have fiscal years that match the calendar year. This means that they are trying to move their transferring executives before December 31st. This is a great time of year to be marketing executive quality homes. (I’d would characterize those as being homes priced at $400,000 or greater).

What about buying at this time of year? I think there are four pretty strong advantages. 1) Interest rates are historically at their lowest in the winter. As the market picks up in the spring, interest rates trend up. 2) There aren’t many buyers looking so sellers will really jump through hoops for you. You may be the only game in town and they will work very hard to sell you their home. 3) If a house looks good in the winter, it is going to be spectacular in the summer. You can really get an idea of the actual house in terms of the light it has and the condition of the property. And 4) this is the time of year when a home inspector can most easily find water issues. If the basement leaks, you’ll more likely learn about it in the winter.

It is completely understandable if you feel like you want to get the holidays behind you before selling or buying a home. But if you do need to move, you have quite a few strong reasons why this time of year can work to your advantage.

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Open Houses for Sunday, December 7th

What a gorgeous day today! I guess I need to check the weather for Sunday, but it could be a great day to look at Lake Oswego properties. Here’s what will be open according to RMLS:

18959 Kristi Way, $384,400, 3 Bd, 2 Ba, Open 1-3:30

14371 Holly Springs Rd, $427,500, 4 Bd, 2.5 Ba, Open 2-4

668 4th St, $439,900, 2 Bd, 2 Ba, Open 2-4

5807 Ridgetop Ct, $549,900, 5 Bd, 2.5 Ba, Open 1-4

624 Livingood Ln, $574,900, 4 Bd, 3 Ba, Open 1-3

605 SW Country Club Rd, $595,000, 5 Bd, 2.5 Ba, Open 11-1

4676 Winthrop Ct, $599,900, 4 Bd, 2.5 Ba, Open 2-4

17706 Marylbrook Dr, $699,900, 3 Bd, 2 & 2 1/2 Ba, Open 1:30-4

943 SW Atwater Rd, $1,225,000, 4 Bd, 2.5 Ba, Open 12-2

16359 Chapin Way, $1,439,000, 4 Bd, 3.5 Ba, Open 1-4

24015 SW Newland Rd, $1.695,000, 4 Bd, 4 Ba, Open 1-4

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An Amazing Market for Buyers…

What a market. Some of what CNN reports applies here locally and some does not, but no matter how you look at it, this is the time to buy if you’re so inclined. I am told by mortgage and financial planning experts that rates are not likely to go down, but only up (generally speaking) from here on out.

A professional I trust, Pat Goodell, with Prospect Mortgage, says:

“Aggressive measures to keep mortgage financing available for potential homeowners have been established now. This will help to stabilize housing prices and continue to make home ownership an affordable reality. HUD has created new programs to complement existing FHA options, and interest rates remain at very comfortable levels, fluctuating right now around 6% for 30-year fixed loans.

Appraisers in the Portland area are reporting values have leveled off – they are no longer seeing the significant drops in value we have seen in the last year.

Though there are still challenges in the economy and housing market, there are very clear steps being established to ensure that the consumer is able to purchase a home at affordable rates, while providing that the loan does not put them at risk in the future. The Four C’s of mortgage lending are important- Credit, Cash, Collateral (property), and Capacity (ability to make the payment), but there are still great programs available to allow the responsible person to get into a home with as little as 3% down, and even 0 down under the right circumstances.”

We here at the Blotter recommend that you talk to your real estate broker about the market, and assess your options if you have been thinking about buying but have been waiting for the “right moment”. We also welcome a call or an email to us too if you’re not working with anyone & want to talk about what buying would look like for you at this amazing time in real estate history.

Stay informed. Decide what is best for you. Knowledge + Discernment is the winning formula.

…….What a ride!

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Lake Oswego Real Estate Activity – November 24-30, 2008

Market activity typically slows down during the holidays and last weeks stats certainly reflect this.  Having said this, it is good to see that the market does have some activity.  7 new listings, 4 pendings and 4 closed sales happened last week.  While the market is slower, it is still very much happening.

NEWLY LISTED (November 24 —November 30, 2008)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
# BEDS
# BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
LIST DATE
3433 MCNARY PKWY
$214,900
2
2
1,008
 CONDO
11/27/08
3834 BOTTICELLI ST
$224,900
2
2
1,055
 ATTACHD
11/24/08
600 TIPPECANOE CT
$439,800
3
2
1,812
 DETACHD
11/24/08
1189 SUNNINGDALE CT
$724,000
3
2
2,056
 DETACHD
11/26/08
51 HILLSHIRE DR
$849,900
3
2.2
4,306
 DETACHD
11/25/08
1667 VILLAGE PARK LN
$899,900
6
3.1
4,743
 DETACHD
11/24/08
1055 COUNTRY CLUB RD
$1,000,000
3
2
2,804
 DETACHD
11/24/08

PENDING SALES (November 24 —November 30, 2008)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
# BEDS
# BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
DOM
668 McVey AVE
$144,850
0
1
485
 CONDO
740
455 10TH ST
$473,950
2
2
2,284
 DETACHD
180
17561 SHEPHERDS CT
$675,000
4
2.1
3,011
 DETACHD
287
13010 KNAUS RD
$1,249,500
4
3.1
4,312
 DETACHD
737

SOLD (November 17—November 23, 2008)

ADDRESS ORIG. PRICE SALE PRICE
# BEDS
# BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
DOM
4644 LOWER DR
$136,900
$129,000
2
1.1
1,170
 CONDO
30
4000 CARMAN DR
$149,900
$135,000
2
2
869
 CONDO
22
2435 PARK RD
$749,990
$480,000
4
3
2,940
 DETACHD
302
16 NORTHVIEW CT
$599,900
$495,000
4
3.1
2,962
 ATTACHD
419

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.