Author: Dianne Gregoire

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Market Activity June 15-21, 2015

Inventory seems to have picked up this past week with 26 new listings, however, sales continue to outpace the inventory with 36 houses going into pending status. We had 17 closed/sold sales.

See below of further explanation of the RMLS data.

New on the Market (June 15-21, 2015)

Address Type Price BR Bths SF
47 Eagle Crest Dr #27 Condo $129,000 2 1 947
3964 Carman Dr Condo $229,800 2 2.5 1129
109 3rd St Condo $249,000 2 2 1016
12828 Boones Ferry Rd Attached $320,000 2 2.5 1136
7 Saint Helens Circle Detached $335,000 2 2 1275
39 Condolea Ct Condo $375,000 3 3 2198
14328 Holly Springs Rd Detached $439,000 4 2.5 1939
15948 Quarry Rd Detached $464,000 2 1 920
5895 Burma Rd Detached $474,900 4 2.5 1781
674 Lexington Ct Detached $574,000 3 2.5 2477
213 Hidalgo St Detached $575,000 4 3.5 3964
2302 Overlook Dr Detached $579,000 4 2.5 3125
1097 C Ave Detached $599,000 3 2 1650
13254 Twin Creek Ct Detached $749,900 4 2.5 3470
16717 Sylvan Ct Detached $749,999 4 3.5 4949
19133 Megan Pl Detached $774,500 4 3.5 3724
14205 Edenberry Dr Detached $792,500 3 2.5 3051
18383 Old River Dr Detached $895,000 4 4.5 4548
4948 Hampton Ct Detached $939,000 3 3.5 3434
17622 Lake Haven Dr Detached $1,089,000 2 2 1400
18347 Lothlorien Way Detached $1,098,000 5 3.5+.5 4141
3820 Southshore Blvd Detached $1,295,000 5 4 4855
16847 Greenbrier Rd Detached $1,895,000 3 2.5 2304
2025 Cedar Ct Detached $2,200,000 3 4 4062
674 Livingood Ln Detached $548,900 4 2.5 2714
5413 Langford Ln Detached $759,995 3 2.5 2879

Pending Sales (June 15-21, 2015)

Address Type Price BR Baths SF DOM
16 Crestfield Ct Condo $95,500 1 1 550 36
10 Condolea Dr Attached $240,000 2 2 1312 33
668 McVey Ave #24 Condo $249,900 1 1 626 70
750 1st St #14 Condo $250,000 2 2 1350 11
4851 Madrona St Detached $299,900 3 2 1434 14
1033 Hallinan St Detached $309,900 3 2 1128 134
234 Greenridge Attached $329,900 3 2 1492 2
236 Greenridge Attached $344,900 3 2 1492 2
5861 Benfield Ct Detached $379,000 4 2 1557 36
6145 McEwan Rd Detached $399,000 2 2.5 1850 3
1600 Ash St Detached $399,900 3 2 2037 8
4965 Suntree Ln Detached $399,900 3 2.5 1572 5
11 Churchill Downs Detached $430,500 4 2.5 2336 81
7 Hidalgo St Detached $439,900 3 2.5 2408 57
14594 Wilmot Way Detached $448,000 3 2.5 1710 10
4793 Auburn Ln Attached $450,000 3 2.5 2083 20
643 2nd St Attached $450,000 2 2 1457 2
16889 Wight Ln Detached $459,000 4 2.5 2579 65
1500 Woodland Terrace Detached $486,000 3 2.5 2645 42
2550 Greentree Rd Detached $499,000 4 3 2852 53
4124 Orchard Way Detached $549,000 4 2.5 2700 4
16873 Cherry Crest Dr Detached $550,000 4 3 2394 4
2250 Park Rd Detached $559,900 3 2 2072 98
5045 Greensborough Ct Detached $569,900 4 2.5 2107 9
4311 Orchard Way Detached $585,000 4 2.5 2804 20
1511 Woodland Terrace Detached $599,900 5 2.5 3439 78
820 Lake Forest Dr Detached $599,950 4 2.5 2676 29
16750 Phantom Bluff Ct Detached $614,500 3 3 2267 7
18420 Deer Oak Ave Detached $629,900 4 3 2476 1
930 Cumberland Rd Detached $715,000 4 2.5 2960 3
321 5th St Detached $719,000 3 3.5 2737 158
251 D Ave Detached $849,000 4 2.5+.5 2635 8
2024 Palisades Terrace Dr Detached $975,000 4 3.5 4819 6
19320 Lorna Ln Detached $1,100,000 4 3.5 4192 208
1578 View Lake Ct Detached $1,499,000 4 4.5 4476 35
16645 Graef Circle Detached $1,549,000 4 4.5 3075 56

Sold/Closed (June 15-21, 2015)

Address Type List Price Closed Price Sq Ft CDOM
15 Oswego Summit Condo $131,000 $100,619 1212 373
19 Crestfield Ct Condo $157,900 $154,000 923 19
17780 Hill Way Detached $275,000 $275,000 960 4
18651 Don Lee Way Detached $399,000 $399,000 1,630 21
14145 Redwood Ct Detached $539,000 $508,000 2452 64
4725 Firwood Rd Detached $569,900 $575,000 2557 6
4263 Sunset Dr Detached $625,000 $615,000 3250 27
2464 Marylhaven Pl Detached $610,000 $630,000 2898 4
8 Cellini Ct Detached $705,000 $671,920 3494 19
5626 Grand Oaks Dr Detached $749,000 $741,000 3387 21
5955 Sunbrook Dr Detached $759,000 $759,000 3110 5
18120 Delenka Ln Detached $759,900 $759,900 3157 14
17583 Shepherds Ct Detached $774,900 $770,000 2997 47
18430 Pilkington Rd Detached $795,000 $795,000 2946 18
2764 Rivendell Rd Detached $819,000 $812,000 3220 0
17620 Blue Heron Rd Detached $1,198,000 $1,150,000 4041 67
2322 Knaus Rd Detached $1,595,000 $1,539,000 4875 19

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.

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Open Houses

Open houseIt has been a hectic 5 days (2 new listings, both sold within days, whew!) so I apologize for the lateness of this posting. I had intended to do this last week.

Believe it or not, open houses are actually fairly controversial among Realtors. Years ago I worked in an office where one of the agents had a large sign he used at listing appointments. It had the words “Open House” with one of those big red “O’s” with a line through it. In other words, he let people know right up front he would not be doing any open houses. That is one side of the argument, that they don’t work. I am on the other side, I think that they do work.

For some real estate agents I think they feel it is a waste of time. It is true that the Internet is way more affective to generate interest in a house. The other thing that’s affective is correct pricing. And as someone who has spent many, many hours in open houses, it can feel like a waste of time. But I do them anyway.

Why? Because they work. Not every time. In fact, not most of the time. But they are a tool. Why not use every tool available? In 28 years of selling houses, I have held open houses for every listing I have ever had if it stayed on the market for more than a week. This means I do open houses nearly every weekend and sometimes 2 in one day. But you know what? I sell a house off of my open house efforts every now and again. I am writing this post because I sold a listing off of an open house about a week ago.

Now a word of caution. When an open house is held, the listing agent has no control over who attends. This means that the public is coming through the house. As a home owner, you need to put away any tempting items that could be pilfered: jewelry, little clocks and collectables, money, watches, and prescription medications. As a Realtor, you need to not allow anyone to use the bathrooms and you’ve got to keep an eye on the people who come through by going through the house with them and watching them.

In a nutshell, I don’t think open houses are a waste of time. Because I do them, I have seen them work. If I didn’t do them, well that would doom them to failure from the get go.

So here’s wishing you some happy house hunting on a nice, sunny afternoon like today.
Dianne

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Market Activity May 25-31, 2015

We are definitely in the full throws of the spring market. It is hectic! Last week in Lake Oswego there were 21 new listings, 19 houses that went pending, and 22 closed sales.

Following is the breakdown for you according to RMLS for last week:

New on the Market (May 25-31, 2015)

Address Type Price BR Bths SF
3812 Botticellil St Condo $239,000 3 2 1200
17780 Hill Way Detached $275,000 2 1 960
36 Wheatherstone Condo $300,000 3 2.5 1692
15112 Quarry Rd Detached $364,900 3 2 1968
820 Boca Ratan Dr Detached $399,000 4 3 2220
4793 Auburn Ln Attached $450,000 3 2.5 2083
5431 Willow Ct Attached $475,000 3 2.5 2465
15941 Inverurie Rd Detached $495,000 4 2 2611
37 Berwick Rd Detached $510,000 3 2 2198
4311 Orchard Way Detached $615,000 4 2.5 2804
760 Timberline Dr Detached $624,500 4 3 3058
5335 Carman Grove Ln Detached $695,000 3 2.5 2316
17024 Canal Circle Detached $785,000 3 1 1267
2221 Overlook Dr Detached $799,000 3 2.5 3628
5590 Koderra Ave Detached $828,800 4 2.5 3289
3788 Southshore Blvd Detached $900,000 3 3 3224
769 2nd St Detached $1,150,000 5 2.5 3308
610 9th St Detached $1,200,000 4 3.5 3690
3914 Edens Edge Dr Detached $1,745,000 5 5.5+.5 6891
129 Furnace St Condo $1,995,000 4 4.5 5772
3142 Lakeview Blvd Detached $4,350,000 4 5 5554

Pending Sales (May 25-31, 2015)

Address Type Price BR Baths SF DOM
4 Crestfield Ct #4 Condo $145,000 2 1 923 14
19 Crestfield Ct Condo $157,000 2 1 923 19
226 Ridgeway Rd Condo $170,000 1 1 756 5
5276 W Sunset Dr Detached $319,000 2 1 840 23
5340 Chinook Ct Detached $374,500 3 2 1801 5
1637 Devon Ln Detached $399,900 4 2.5 2494 7
15921 Kimball St Detached $499,900 3 2 2309 3
147 Del Prado St Detached $519,000 3 3 2790 31
17101 Chapin Way Detached $519,000 3 2 1949 74
17820 Westview Dr Detached $524,900 3 2.5 2407 25
4736 Amherst Ct Attached $575,000 3 2.5 2812 4
1982 Park Forest Ave Detached $585,000 4 3 2765 24
14309 Meadow Grass St Detached $599,999 4 2.5 2620 1
2737 Tolkien Ln Detached $699,000 4 3.5 4397 3
5864 Stewart Glenn Ct Detached $790,000 4 2.5 3224 4
18430 Pilkington Rd Detached $795,000 4 3 2946 18
851 9th St Detached $999,900 4 2.5 2699 6
15451 Village Dr Detached $1,075,000 3 3.5 4154 12
3140 Douglas Circle Detached $1,395,000 4 3.5 4333 54

Sold/Closed (May 25-31, 2015)

Address Type List Price Closed Price Sq Ft CDOM
44 Cervantes Cir #44 Condo $132,500 $125,000 912 21
16250 Pacific Hwy #67 Condo $149,900 $140,000 841 45
191 Oswego Summit Condo $150,000 $100,000 1506 304
16200 Pacific Hwy #21 Condo $269,000 $259,000 1,190 113
15434 Stephanie Ct Attached $315,000 $320,000 1566 2
7 Condolea Dr Condo $380,000 $380,000 2388 23
44 Northview Ct Attached $385,000 $385,000 2340 7
4972 Galen St Attached $430,000 $421,000 1942 175
5189 Tualata Ln Detached $475,000 $440,000 2422 150
683 5th St Detached $450,000 $450,000 2100 0
556 6th St Detached $450,000 $450,000 1560 0
1297 Hide a Way Ln Detached $525,000 $522,000 1832 6
18728 Bryant Rd Detached $544,995 $524,995 2736 45
3170 Royce Way Detached $539,900 $535,000 3193 6
5326 Childs Rd Detached $549,901 $538,000 1801 57
17650 Westview Dr Detached $579,900 $555,000 2849 101
3009 Wembley Park Rd Detached $598,500 $570,000 1704 122
4201 Haven St Detached $649,900 $625,000 2678 33
77 Garibaldi St Detached $829,000 $817,000 3023 49
496 8th St Detached $879,000 $850,000 2899 35
1901 Summit Dr Detached $899,000 $899,000 3444 7
720 Kenola Ct Detached $1,200,000 $985,000 3727 53

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.

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Attitude is Everything!

I have been spending the last several weeks getting my 84-year-old Mother ready for a move to a new home. In all of the sorting and cleaning, I came upon a printout of an early propertyblotter post that my Mom had saved. It is one of my very favorite posts. Feeling sentimental, I thought I would share it with you again. Enjoy.

Please remember this was written in January of 2009, early in the Great Recession.

You may have noticed that both Linda and I tend to approach our careers in real estate with a pretty positive attitude. We share a world-view that allows for positive outcomes. I don’t know about Linda, but I do know that I have received criticism for maintaining this perspective while so much that is going on in the world, particularly in the current economy, is just so terrible. Because we are beginning a New Year, and I intend for 2009 to be a great year, I thought this would be a good time to share with you where I learned my positive attitude.

For those of you who know me, you also know that my mom was a Realtor before me. She was my mentor and role model not just in life, but also as a Realtor. And she is the one who taught me to have a positive attitude. She taught it by example. Her story is really quite remarkable.

My mom, Audrey Slater, was 24 years old the summer of 1954. She lived here in Lake Oswego and was the mother of a young child. She was one of 8 people who were residents of Lake Oswego who contracted polio that summer. For such a small town, it was considered to be an epidemic. 3 of those 8 people died. My mom was one of the lucky ones. She wasn’t killed by it. But she was paralyzed from the chest down. At that time there was no vaccine to prevent polio and there was no proven treatment. Fortunately she was well cared for. The nurses and doctors wrapped her in hot, wet, wool blankets and regularly moved her to help prevent muscle atrophy. When she recovered her future was uncertain. She was told she could quite possibly never walk again. She absolutely refused to accept that possibility. She spent the next several years of her life regaining her strength and learning to walk all over again. She went from her bed to a wheel chair and then to crutches and finally to walking on her own. She went on to be the mother of 3 additional children, including me. I clearly remember her overcoming many challenges that being a polio survivor brought, and foremost in my mind I remember her on-going insistence on maintaining a positive attitude.

This was the era of Norman Vincent Peale. The author of “The Power of Positive Thinking”, he spread a message of hope and good living through books, letters, and his work with people.

My mom took it to heart. She used it to overcome so much. Today, after raising a family and being a very successful Realtor here in Lake Oswego for 28 years, she is such a fine example of a life well lived and a life that has been lived to its fullest, despite tremendous challenge.

Are these times hard? Sure they are. Do they amount to the sum of our human existence? Absolutely not. This is a moment in time: a moment in history. And, frankly, there is much to be hopeful and optimistic about. It is our challenge to choose how we approach the day. Are we going to make it a good day? Or are we going to surrender to negativity and allow it to become a bad day? Will we allow news reports to keep us from moving on with our lives? Will we allow fear to keep us from noticing all the good things about this point in time relating to real estate…like record-low interest rates and prices? I would argue that a positive mindset allows for more rational decision making when coupled with an assessment of the variables.

This does not mean that I am unwilling to be realistic about facts and the current economy. It does mean that I will approach the current market and find a way to make it work to my clients’ benefit, whenever possible. It also means that even when the situation is tough, I will pledge to handle it with grace and good humor.

Finally, I have a video I want to encourage you to watch. Think of it as a little New Year’s gift. This is a video of a man who has overcome adversity so far above and beyond anything that most can imagine. To view it, click here.

I would like to wish you a positive and prosperous New Year.

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Market Activity May 4-10, 2015

Another great week in real estate has come to pass. Last week Lake Oswego had 20 new listings, 29 pending sales, and 11 closed sales.

Following is the breakdown for you according to RMLS for last week:

New on the Market (May 4-10, 2015)

Address Type Price BR Bths SF
47 Eagle Crest DR #43 Condo $124,900 2 1 932
19 Crestfield Ct Condo $157,900 2 1 923
5849 Fernbrook Circle Detached $275,000 3 1.5 1239
16173 Lake Forest Blvd Detached $335,000 3 1 1334
208 Greenridge Dr Attached $337,500 3 2 1392
5276 W Sunset Dr Detached $349,000 2 1 840
44 Northview Ct Attached $385,000 2 3 2340
17902 Meadowlark Ln Detached $519,900 3 2.5 1950
17820 Westview Dr Detached $524,900 3 2.5 2407
1500 Woodland Terr Detached $559,000 4 2.5 2798
1982 Park Forest Ave Detached $585,000 4 3 2765
17336 Hunter Ct Detached $609,900 3 2.5 3023
18295 Westview Dr Detached $624,950 4 3 3580
55 Northshore Rd #11 Condo $749,000 2 1.5 1910
14053 Pilkington Rd Detached $795,000 4 3 2946
18493 Ray Ridge Dr Detached $1,125,000 4 3.5+.5+.5 4401
4350 Lords Ln Detached $1,199,000 5 4 3888
2464 Palisades Crest Dr Detached $1,199,000 4 2.5 3897
583 2nd St Condo $1,250,000 2 2.5 2304
14053 Amberwood Circle Detached $782,500 3 3 3126

Pending Sales (May 4-10, 2015)

Address Type Price BR Baths SF DOM
104 Oswego Summit Condo $99,000 1 1 764 4
44 Eagle Crest Dr #26 Condo $136,500 2 1 908 0
4000 Carmen Dr G101 Condo $149,900 2 2 869 12
3892 Botticelli St Condo $225,000 3 2 1288 32
1316 Cedar St Detached $230,000 1 1 1594 0
48 Eagle Crest Dr 3D Condo $248,000 2 2 1434 20
16200 Pacific Hwy #21 Condo $269,000 2 2 1190 113
668 McVey Ave #76 Condo $274,900 2 1 836 14
5860 Lakeview Blvd Detached $289,900 2 1.5 1435 14
4324 Woodside Circle Attached $309,900 2 2 1216 3
13985 Sundeleaf Dr Detached $359,990 3 2 1278 23
18651 Don Lee Way Detached $399,000 4 2 1630 21
14710 Davis Ln Attached $399,999 2 2.5 1680 3
16953 Greentree Ave Detached $420,000 4 3 1941 4
4596 Lamont Way Detached $424,900 4 2 2236 7
18481 Waxwing Circle Detached $453,000 3 2.5 1840 52
16915 Crestview Dr Detached $459,000 4 2.5 2180 8
5221 Rosewood St Detached $469,000 3 2.5 2226 18
6276 Frost Ln Detached $489,900 4 3.5 2304 17
4725 Firwood Rd Detached $569,900 4 2.5 2557 6
17833 Hillside Way Detached $575,000 4 3 2668 32
2464 Marylhaven Pl Detached $610,000 4 2.5 2898 4
17244 Fernwood Dr Detached $649,900 4 2.5 2617 7
17065 Tualatin St Detached $739,000 3 2.5 2733 9
5955 Sunbrook Dr Detached $759,000 4 3 3110 5
15195 Lily Bay Ct Detached $898,000 4 2.5 4099 66
3301 Upper Dr Detached $1,295,000 4 3.5 4555 29
2322 Knaus Rd Detached $1,595,000 4 3.5+.5 4875 19
1495 Oak Terrace Detached $1,995,950 4 4 3983 542

Sold/Closed (May 3-10, 2015)

Address Type List Price Closed Price Sq Ft CDOM
15938 Quarry Rd A5 Condo $164,900 $159,000 996 7
668 McVey Ave #33 Condo $284,900 $270,000 852 58
3 Condolea Dr Condo $325,000 $296,500 2198 146
13901 Sundeleaf Dr Detached $399,000 $378,000 1,900 60
629 5th St Detached $529,000 $425,000 1122 266
1981 Summit Dr Detached $647,500 $490,000 2579 630
18640 Tualata Ave Detached $463,500 $525,000 2076 4
238 5th St Detached $725,000 $635,000 2134 69
17656 Woodhurst Pl Detached $825,000 $760,000 4597 51
13554 Peters Rd Detached $899,850 $885,000 3036 36
3131 Westview Ct Detached $1,150,000 $1,120,000 4688 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.

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Economic Recovery

The great recession of 2007-2013 is now well in the past with just a few lingering elements. I thought it would be helpful to share some insight on how this may affect your decision to buy or to sell a home.

Is it time to become a homeowner, again?

I am now seeing folks who lost their home to foreclosure, shortsale, or perhaps went through a bankruptcy getting back into home ownership. This chart was given to me by Ginny Schider, a wonderful loan officer at Pacific Residential Mortgage (503-319-3646). It shows the wait time necessary before you can be eligible for a new mortgage if you have experienced one of these events:

Loan Program Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Shortsales Foreclosure
or Deed-in-liew
Fannie Mae
Insured Loans 4 years from discharge 2 years from discharge 4 years 7 years
4 years from dismissal
Feddie Mac 5 years 5 years 4 years 7 years
Insured Loans
FHA 2 years from discharge 12 months acceptable 3 years 3 years
payment history
USDA 3 years 3 years 3 years 3 years
VA 2 years from discharge 2 years from discharge 2 years 2 years

I have worked with folks in this situation and I’ve got to say it one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had as a Realtor. Seeing folks who have been through hard times getting back on their feet and moving forward with the ability to rebuild their lives.

Still a few lingering foreclosures and shortsales
It’s referred to as the shadow inventory. These are distressed properties that banks have been holding onto. They simply did not want to release too many foreclosures all at the same time. Foreclosures and shortsales tend to sell for less. So if too many happen all at once, they tend to cause declining home values. Banks addressed this by not putting them on the market. Some are vacant homes that are just sitting in neighborhoods because the house has already been foreclosed upon. Others are home owners who know their house is in foreclosure, but the bank has not finalized it. I am aware of people who have been living in homes, not making mortgage payments, but not being kicked out, for years. I believe banks choose to allow this to happen because if the person in default is still in the house, then the house is being heated and watched over. It is simply safer for the property.

I don’t know how long it will take for these hold out foreclosures to be sold, but they are continuing to trickle onto the market.

Shortsales have become much less common. This is because as values have come back, many home owners are now no longer under water with a mortgage that is greater than their home value. This is not to say that they are not still happening. It is simply less frequent.

So, while the recession is technically over, effects from it are still happening. And if you are someone who went through a bankruptcy, foreclosure, or shortsale, the good news is you may be approaching the time when you can become a home owner again. Don’t hesitate to give Whitney, Linda, or myself a call if you need a good Realtor!

Dianne

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Market Activity April 13-19, 2015

We are continuing to see more houses selling than houses coming on the market. This means inventory is tight and it is more of a seller’s market. The majority of houses are selling quite quickly, but there are still a few that have had extended market time. This reflects how important it is to get the pricing right when you list your house for sale. Priced right it will sell fast!

Last week in Lake Oswego we had 19 houses come onto the market, 26 move to pending status, and 24 closed sales.

Following is the breakdown for you according to RMLS:

New on the Market (Apr 13-19, 2015)

Address Type Price BR Bths SF
48 Eagle Crest Dr 3D Condo $248,000 2 2 1434
13985 Sundeleaf Dr Detached $359,990 3 2 1278
18651 Don Lee Way Detached $399,000 4 2 1630
17270 Bryant Rd Detached $399,000 3 3 2619
13431 Vermeer Dr Detached $499,000 3 2.5 2700
13951 Shireva Ct Detached $499,900 4 3 2185
5695 Washington Ct Detached $515,000 4 2 1769
5600 Dogwood Dr Detached $525,000 3 2 1908
5554 Royal Oaks Dr Detached $539,000 3 2 1861
4979 Galen St Detached $579,900 4 2.5 3298
221 6th St Detached $625,000 3 2 1508
2699 Tolkien Ln Detached $670,000 4 2.5 3115
13010 Sierra Vista Dr Detached $774,900 5 3.5 3450
4055 Orchard Dr Detached $795,000 5 3.5 3354
16987 Alder Circle Detached $839,000 3 2.5 1987
1821 Oak St Detached $899,000 4 3.5 5510
17353 Ridgeview Ct Detached $1,285,000 4 3.5 4032
14 Dover Way Detached $1,485,000 5 3.5 4593
2322 Knaus Rd Detached $1,595,000 4 3.5+.5 4875

Pending Sales (Apr 13-19, 2015)

Address Type Price BR Baths SF DOM
48 Eagle Crest Dr 1C Condo $99,900 2 2 1370 231
16250 Pacific Hwy #82 Condo $150,000 1 1 841 17
4 Touchstone #89 Condo $155,000 3 2.5 1351 72
1400 Bonniebrae Dr Attached $185,000 2 1 864 4
45 Eagle Crest Dr #219 Condo $189,000 3 2 1537 5
4107 Jefferson Pkwy Condo $237,500 2 2.5 1367 7
4283 Woodside Circle Attached $359,900 4 2 2032 10
1878 Mapleleaf Rd Detached $399,900 3 1.5 1347 5
5866 Ridgetop Ct Detached $407,500 3 2 1866 2
5210 Coventry Ct Detached $510,000 3 2.5 2135 2
1901 Woodland Terr Detached $519,000 4 3 2944 1
1119 Oak St Detached $529,900 4 2.5 2123 99
5326 Childs Rd Detached $549,901 3 2.5 1801 57
17650 Westview Dr Detached $565,000 4 3 2849 101
238 5th St Detached $657,000 3 2 2134 69
15 Nansen Summit Detached $685,000 3 2.5 3098 17
4125 Hedge Nettle Ct Detached $715,000 4 2.5 2890 6
4123 Chad Dr Detached $795,000 4 3.5 3833 186
18977 Barton Rd Detached $875,000 4 3.5+.5 5076 30
49 Briarwood Rd Detached $950,000 3 2 2162 138
13017 Knaus Rd Detached $1,249,000 4 3.5 46990 329
1059 Bayberry Rd Detached $1,399,950 4 3.5 3550 89
2410 Summit Ct Detached $1,595,000 3 3.5 3750 0
2493 Southshore Blvd Detached $2,895,000 5 5.5 7112 458
1780 Ridgecrest Dr Detached $3,750,000 4 5.5 6000 35

Sold/Closed (Apr 13-19, 2015)

Address Type List Price Closed Price Sq Ft CDOM
44 Eagle Crest Dr #1 Condo $134,900 $134,900 908 3
48 Eagle Crest Dr Condo $184,900 $152,500 1623 65
5225 Jean Rd Condo $170,000 $165,000 1100 10
900 Cornell St Detached $314,000 $295,000 1,300 24
668 McVey Ave #72 Condo $325,000 $325,000 1184 2
44 Oriole Ln Detached $389,000 $393,000 2156 6
134 Kingsgate Rd Detached $399,000 $397,100 1794 5
732 Clara Ct Detached $499,900 $402,500 2935 713
14201 Dolph Ct Detached $449,000 $432,500 1864 53
13855 Verte Ct Detached $449,000 $450,000 1835 12
1725 Fernwood Dr Detached $479,000 $460,000 1580 13
18768 Wood Duck St Detached $599,900 $477,500 2940 346
13721 Regency Ct Detached $509,500 $492,500 2311 102
18706 Bryant Rd Detached $519,995 $499,995 2400 23
6 Northview Ct Attached $532,500 $522,000 3200 14
1015 Southshore Blvd Detached $629,000 $603,500 3882 43
5665 Grand Oaks Dr Detached $780,000 $720,000 4226 1
1785 Palisades Terrace Dr Detached $799,000 $735,275 5052 227
2109 Wembley Park Rd Detached $795,000 $795,000 3154 73
2726 Rivendell Rd Detached $849,000 $849,000 3315 2
816 4th St Detached $949,900 $949,900 2699 9
703 5th St Detached $979,000 $979,000 2,719 4
17335 Canal Circle Detached $1,050,000 $1,050,000 2092 0
17138 Cedar Rd Detached $1,569,000 $1,410,000 3017 89

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.

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Tree City USA

“The wonder is that we can see these trees and not wonder more”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

This year Lake Oswego is celebrating 26 years as a designated Tree City USA! This is given to cities that demonstrate a strong commitment to managing and caring for trees by the National Arbor Day Foundation. With Arbor week being April 5-11, it seem appropriate to do some bragging about the beautiful trees in Lake Oswego.

trees 002The Natural Resources Advisory Board for the city designates significant trees in the city as “Heritage Trees”. Four new trees are being given this designation this year: two sycamores at 16584 Roosevelt Avenue, a giant sequoia at 14145 Redwood Ct, and a madrone at Oswego Pioneer Cemetary on Stafford Road. That brings the total number of trees with this designation to 35.

In honor of Arbor Week, the city has got some pretty fun events planned:

Free the Trees is a concept that began in Springbrook Park. The idea is that while it is hard to clear all of the English Ivy out of the Park all at once, if it’s done gradually it gets done over time. English Ivy, left to grow unchecked, kills trees. People who take walks through the park were asked trim and remove the ivy around one tree while on their walk. It worked! If you would like to join in the effort, you can get more information by contacting Babs Hamachek at bhamachek@ci.oswego.or.us.

trees 003Stafford Grove Tree Planting & Poetry Reading. Thursday, April 9, 1:30-2:30, 1061 Sunningdale Rd. Join the Forest Hills/First Edition Neighborhood Association in planting a tree, and then listen to former Oregon Poet Laureate Paulann Peterson reading poetry.

Barnyard Tales & Heritage Tree Walk. Wednesday, April 8, 10-11am at Luscher Farm, 125 Rosemont Road. Lynne Bacon, a renowned storeyteller, will be holding a story time on the farm followed by a visit to the Heritage Trees that are located on the farm. Space is limited, so you need to register, although it is a free event. Register on line at www.loparks.org, use activity code #10646.

Blossoming Tree Craft. Saturday, April 9, 2-4pm, LO Library, 706 4th St. Make beautiful blossoming tree crafts. For all ages of tree lovers.

I personally have 4 HUGE trees in my yard, 3 firs and a glorious English walnut. They really enhance the feeling of sanctuary that I feel about my home.

Trees
-Joyce Kilmer
“I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree…….”

As always, thanks for reading the blotter,
Dianne

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Market Activity March 23-29, 2015

It was exactly 28 years ago today that I got my real estate license, no foolin’! I have always found amusement in the anniversary. I can not believe it has been 28 years, seriously. I’ve gone from being the young new agent to the seasoned “mature” agent. I love it!

Just 12 new listings last week certainly reflects that it was spring break. People were likely out and about vacationing and enjoying their families. 22 pending sales is also a refection of the holiday from school that freed up families to look for a new home. We also had 20 closed sales.

Following is the breakdown for you according to RMLS:

New on the Market (March 23-29, 2015)

Address Type Price BR Bths SF
47 Eagle Crest Dr #52 Condo $89,000 1 1 666
100 Kerr Parkway #52 Condo $105,000 1 1 617
4 Touchstone#107 Condo $158,000 3 2.5 1351
3970 Carman Dr Condo $219,900 2 2.5 1129
5062 Foothills Dr H Condo $250,000 3 2 1252
5364 Rosewood St Detached $449,900 4 2.5 1980
4711 Rembrandt Ln Detached $450,000 3 2.5 2050
6192 Harrington Ave Detached $489,000 5 3 2817
18530 Bryant Rd Detached $514,995 3 2.5 2400
1426 Greentree Circle Detached $545,000 4 3 3216
639 Carrera Ln Detached $849,000 5 3.5 4305
19300 Stafford Rd Detached $1,995,000 4 2.5 6065

Pending Sales (March 23-29, 2015)

Address Type Price BR Baths SF DOM
320 Cervantes Circle Condo $123,000 2 1 832 44
44 Eagle Crest Dr #3 Condo $145,000 3 2 1065 25
15938 Quarry Rd A-5 Condo $164,900 2 1 996 7
48 Eagle Crest Dr Condo $166,500 3 2 1623 65
5530 Bonita Rd Detached $398,000 3 2 1200 34
134 Kingsgate Rd Detached $399,000 3 2.5 1794 5
13901 Sundeleaf Dr Detached $399,000 4 3 1900 60
4909 Lower Dr Detached $425,000 4 2.5 1992 72
17280 Westview Dr Detached $429,000 4 3 2324 6
103 Garibaldi St Detached $479,000 3 3.5 3322 1215
18582 Bryant Rd Detached $499,995 3 2.5 2400 7
1119 Oak St Detached $529,900 4 2.5 2123 76
980 C Ave Detached $539,900 3 2 1312 65
279 Evergreen Rd Attached $639,000 3 3.5 2136 9
2189 Fernwood Circle Detached $650,000 4 2.5 2921 4
4945 Parkhill St Detached $659,900 5 2.5 3302 0
1670 Pine St Detached $675,000 4 3.5 3286 17
667 3rd St Attached $679,000 6 6 3120 10
15947 Waluga Dr Detached $725,000 4 2.5 3370 18
4405 Sundew Ct Detached $789,000 5 3.5 4820 11
715 4th St Detached $1,015,000 3 2.5 2762 3
4077 Westview Rd Detached $1,748,000 4 4 3644 17

Sold/Closed (March 23-29, 2015)

Address Type List Price Closed Price Sq Ft CDOM
106 Oswego Summit Condo $165,000 $165,000 1140 5
16805 Gassner Ln Detached $225,000 $225,000 1092 7
1260 Hallinan St Detached $298,000 $298,000 1325 4
4287 Haven St Detached $375,000 $375,000 1,200 1
3402 Lake Grove Ave Detached $414,900 $395,000 1686 102
7 Bernini Ct Detached $549,000 $420,000 3314 376
12836 Sierra Vista Dr Detached $449,000 $425,000 2166 19
5926 Dove Ct Detached $435,000 $450,000 1807 2
886 9th St Detached $469,500 $450,000 860 23
18929 Terry Ave Detached $499,900 $480,000 2441 20
1710 Glenmorrie Terrace Detached $499,900 $505,000 2865 135
3285 Childs Rd Detached $599,900 $612,000 2693 3
4258 Albert Circle Detached $689,000 $625,000 2745 197
19242 Indian Springs Rd Detached $749,900 $745,000 3365 35
5488 Southwood Dr Detached $799,000 $788,500 3280 112
1136 Westward Ho Rd Detached $1,190,000 $780,000 3344 324
568 9th St Detached $925,000 $900,000 2825 85
12810 Alto Park Rd Detached $944,000 $981,000 3834 97
18224 Bella Terra Dr Detached $1,225,000 $1,160,000 3834 97
2490 Summit Dr Detached $2,200,000 $2,020,000 3000 212

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.

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Home Warranties

Home warranties have become a common part of the majority of real estate transactions. It is basically an insurance policy that covers the home system components and some of the appliances. My most simple description is that if you think about items that have energy or movement in them, it is more likely to be part of the policy. Each policy is slightly different, so please consult the companies who offer them, but what is usually covered are furnace, water heater, plumbing and electric elements. What isn’t covered are stationary elements like the roof, the foundation, the walls.

When policies are purchased, they are good for one full year from the date of purchase and can then be annually renewed thereafter. I have twice had clients who received the policy when they purchased their home and then kept it the entire time they owned the house.

There are numerous companies who offer these policies. I am going to tell you about the three that I see most used in our area.

ahs_logo_176x65American Home Sheild is the big boy in this field. They were the first company I heard of and they do a big percentage of the plans that are sold. They have 3 plans: Esssential, Plus, and Complete. The numbers I am going to give you here are as of this day, and do not include quite a few options that could be added on. It is based upon a home that is single family, in Oregon, 10+ years of age (newer homes are slightly less expensive) and does not include air conditioning (which could be added on).

The Essential Plan does not cover any appliances. It does cover the furnace, water heater, plumbing and electric. It costs $380. The Plus plan covers the appliances, including the refrigerator and the washer and dryer, and it costs $510. The complete plan adds to the coverage things like the garage door opener, the door bell, and ceiling fans. It costs $565.

To use the policy you simply call an 800 number to make a claim. American Home Shield contracts locally and sends a technician to your home. There is a $75 charge for each service call.

It is possible to place the policy on the home at the time it is listed for sale. I highly recommend this. It is not paid for until the house is sold. If the house is never sold then there is no charge for the coverage unless the policy is used and that charge is just $60. So it is really affordable and the policy could potentially be used to deal with home inspection issues.

logoFirst American Home Buyer Protection Corporation is another well known company. They have two plans: Basic and Value+. Basic covers the home systems including the dishwasher and the range, but no refrigerator or washer/dryer. It costs $290. The Value+ plan adds air conditioning and it costs $420. Other items can be added to this plan, as it can be added to the other two, such as septic systems, swimming pools, the washer/dryer and the refrigerator. The service call to make a claim is $60. First American Home Buyer Protection also offers 180 days of coverage to the seller when the house is listed for sale at no charge, unless the policy is used and then the house is not sold, then there is a charge of $60.

home_warrantyLast I will mention Fidelity National Home Warranty They offer two plans: Standard and Comprehensive. The Standard plan does not include air conditioning and it costs $260. The Comprehensive plan does include the air conditioning and it costs $360. Both plans cover the dishwasher and the range, but neither cover the washer, dryer or refrigerator, which can be added on for an additional charge. The service call to make a claim is $65. Coverage for the seller at the time the house is listed for sale is available at no charge.

I think it’s pretty easy to see why purchasing one of these policies makes sense. For someone selling it may help cover repair issues and it certainly helps the buyer have a better comfort level with the home. For buyers, who usually spend most of their money on the down payment and the closing costs, it helps them to feel like they have a financial cushion for the first year that they will own the home.

Who pays for the policy? It’s negotiated between the buyer and the seller. I think it depends a lot on how long the house has been on the market without an offer, and also on how close to the asking price the buyer is offering.

I want to encourage you to do your research before you make or receive an offer. Figure out which plan you like and make sure it covers the elements that are of concern to you.

I am not an expert on these policies. I want to encourage you to contact these companies yourself to get exact information. Here is the contact info:

American Home Shield, 866-406-0440, www.ahs.com

First American Home Buyer Protection Corporation, 888-875-0533, www.homewarranty.firstam/Default.aspx

Fidelity National Home Warranty, 800-308-1420, www.homewarranty.com

Do not hesitate to get in touch with Linda, Whitney, or myself, if you have any questions about real estate!
Dianne