Author: Dianne Gregoire

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I am Thankful

indexThanksgiving is my favorite holiday, no question. It is simple and pure. It’s about family, friends, and giving thanks.

Being my favorite holiday, I thought I’d share some of the things I am thankful for.

Professionally

I am thankful for our improved economy. The 5 years prior to this one have been tough. Not just because the market was down, but also because so much of my business involved counseling people with distressed properties. Do you have any idea how hard it is to meet with people and tell them their house has LOST value? This year has been wonderful. Values are up and people are selling because they want to and not because they have to.

I am thankful for Linda Rossi. Linda is smart, honest, reliable, beautiful, talented, and a steadfast partner. She and I have found our rhythm. Week in and week out she is my partner blogger. Thank you Linda. Without you, this blotter would have been toast long ago.

I am thankful for my change to Oregon First. I feel supported by brilliant and knowledgeable people. Mickey, Nick, Dawn, and Tanisha, thank you for all you do to help me to be successful. You all have smiling faces and positive attitudes. I enjoy you so much. Thank you.

Personally

As a six-year breast cancer survivor, I am thankful for my health. The old adage that without your health you have nothing is so incredibly true.

As the mother of a Marine who was shot in Afghanistan in 2010, I am thankful for my family. Going through my personal health scare, during a recession, while my son was serving in the USMC, well, that is just too full of a plate. This year my plate is small. I am in great health. My kids are home and thriving. I feel showered by blessings.

I am thankful for the wonder of each and every day. It’s pretty simple. Live in the moment. Don’t dwell on the past or live for the future. Today, this moment, is what we are given. Today, embrace nature’s beauty, life’s gifts, the wonder of our friendships.

I have so much that I am grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving!
Dianne, and Linda too.

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Market Activity Nov 11-17, 2013

Last week in Lake Oswego there were 14 new listings, 14 pending sales, and 9 closed sales.

Here is the breakdown of activity according to RMLS:

NEW LISTINGS (Nov 11-17, 2013):

Address Type Price BR Bths SF
48 Eagle Crest Dr 4A Condo $169,000 2 2 1489
3894 Botticelli St Attached $184,900 2 1.5 1132
1561 Bonniebrae Dr Condo $249,900 3 2 1393
105 Rosewood St Detached $319,000 3 1 1848
5785 Carmand Dr Detached $344,900 5 2 1934
18341 Fernbrook Ct Detached $379,900 4 2 1872
920 York Rd Detached $415,000 4 2.5 2701
18978 Indian Springs Cir Detached $424,900 3 2 1900
231 Laurel St Detached $435,000 3 3 2244
6 Yorick St Detached $495,000 5 3 1964
3541 Red Cedar Way Detached $539,000 4 3 1964
1830 Cloverleaf Rd Detached $599,000 3 2.5 1857
5616 Grand Oaks Dr Detached $619,000 4 3 3096
1495 Oak Terrace Detached $2,279,000 4 4 3983

PENDING SALES (Nov 11-17, 2013)

Address Type Price BR Baths SF DOM
47 Eagle Crest Dr C31 Condo $94,000 2 1 1009 400
15938 Quarry Rd 4-A Condo $139,500 2 1 991 17
4 Touchstone #62 Condo $149,500 3 2.5 1351 46
5164 Lakeview Blvd Detached $246,000 4 2 1120 10
2440 Greentree Rd Detached $349,900 3 1.5 1850 28
4271 Woodside Circle Attached $360,000 3 2 2126 99
17310 Canal Circle Detached $375,000 4 2 1633 21
340 4th St Attached $399,900 2 2.5 1731 2
10 Juarez St Detached $500,000 3 2.5 3740 161
18042 Jenifers Way Detached $649,950 4 3 2946 109
280 E Ave Detached $699,000 4 2.5 2500 289
3826 Upper Dr Detached $739,900 4 2.5 3194 14
14530 Uplands Dr Detached $899,000 4 3.5 4080 409
735 7th St Detached $939,000 3 3.5 2945 125

SOLD (Nov 11-17, 2013)

Address Type List Price Closed Price Sq Ft CDOM
15495 Brianne Ct Attached $235,000 $235,500 1292 35
1784 Bonniebrae Dr Attached $270,000 $248,000 1393 36
720 Pebble Beach Ct Detached $405,000 $390,000 1957 62
1250 Hemlock St Detached $399,950 $398,450 2,656 90
4979 Bilford Ln Detached $467,590 $468,000 2200 7
14058 Chatham Ct Detached $519,900 $525,000 2235 4
5555 Fieldstone Ct Detached $589,500 $569,500 2664 153
5780 Childs Rd Detached $669,000 $610,000 2770 149
622 Carrera Ln Detached $995,000 $825,000 5446 84

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 11/17/13

There will be 17 open houses this Sunday in Lake Oswego. Enjoy!

Address Price Type Bedroom Bath Open
1602 Greentree Rd $399,950 Detached 4 2 1 to 4
3595 Tempest Dr $424,900 Detached 3 2 1 to 3
67 Tanglewood Dr $434,900 Detached 4 2.5 1 to 3
231 Laurel St $435,000 Detached 3 3 1 to 3
1571 Woodland Terrace $474,500 Detached 3 2 12 to 4
5101 Dawn Ave $574,000 Detached 5 3 11:30 to 3
3435 Lake Grove Ave $595,000 Detached 4 3 1 to 3
5522 Royal Oaks Dr $598,950 Detached 4 2.5 1 to 3
14920 Twin Fir Rd $599,500 Detached 3 1.5 1 to 4
1830 Cloverleaf Rd $599,500 Detached 3 2.5 2 to 4
14 Del Prado St $599,999 Detached 5 3.5 1 to 3
2322 Stonehurst Ct $600,000 Detached 4 2.5 12 to 3
18020 Jenifers Way $609,880 Detached 4 2.5 2:30 to 4:30
13374 Hidden Bay Ct $699,000 Detached 4 2.5 1 to 3
144 Leonard St $699,900 Detached 4 3.5 1 to 4
18499 Old River Rd $819,000 Detached 4 3.5 1 to 4
18430 Tamaway Dr $899,999 Detached 4 2.5+.5 1 to 4
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Do Houses Sell in the Winter?

When counseling people at this time of year, particularly people who are thinking of selling their homes, I am commonly asked if this is a good time to sell a house. Here is my take on the timing for both selling and buying.

For People Selling a Home
While the real estate market typically slows down during the winter, and particularly during the holidays, the fact remains that houses sell all year around. I see several advantages to selling at this time of year.

First, there are fewer houses for sell, so there is less competition. A well priced and well staged home will really stand out. The time of year also gives you some staging opportunities with holiday decor and lighting. It needs to be done tastefully. You don’t want your house to look like a holiday garage sale. Choose your decorating carefully and don’t over do it. Please do turn on every light in the house for showings.

Second, if a corporation aligns its fiscal year to the calendar year, it means that more executives get transferred at this time of year. Corporations like to plan for the year end and expense out as much as possible. So if you are a seller at this time of year, you may find more highly qualified executives on the move.

Third, people who are shopping for a house at this time of year are MOTIVATED. It is certainly easier to move during nice weather and when your time is not consumed by holiday obligations. So while there may be fewer buyers, the quality of buyers is quite high.

"A Walk in the Rain", Marcel Germain
“A Walk in the Rain”, Marcel Germain

For People Thinking of Buying a Home

This is an absolutely optimum time of year to buy, for several reasons.

First, historically interest rates are lower in the winter than at other times of the year. Mortgage companies need to be making loans to be making money. When the market slows down, lenders tend to lower interest rates to make lending their money more attractive to buyers. So you may be able to get a better rate at this time of year than you will next spring.

Second, there is no better time of year to do a home inspection. If there is a water issue, it will be more likely found during the active rainy season. That is not to say that a good home inspector won’t find evidence of water issues in the bone dry days of July. Water does after all leave water marks and stains. But in the full throws of winter, water is actively engaging with the house and it can be very easily seen and figured out.

Last, if a house looks good at 4:30 on a gray November day, it is going to look sensational on a 75 degree day in May. Seriously, a house that looks good in the winter will knock your socks off in the summer.

What it really boils down to is do you need to be making your move now? If you do, don’t hesitate to get into the market to either buy or to sell. This is a great time of year to do both.

Dianne

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Market Activity Oct 28-Nov 3, 2013

I really enjoy doing this report. It gives me time to really look at trends and see the basic numbers of what is happening in the market. While the market has slowed a bit, which is completely normal at this time of year, it remains strong for selling. This is because the number of homes coming onto the market remain slightly less than the number that are going into pending status. Last week in Lake Oswego 11 new listings came onto the market, 12 went into pending status, and 16 became closed sales.

New Listings October 28 to November 3, 2013

96 Oswego Summit, a condo, 1 BR, 1 Bath, 764 SF, $79,900

15938 Quarry Rd 4-A, a condo, 2 BR, 1 Bath, 991 SF, $139,500

3101 McNary Pdwy #12, a condo, 2 BR, 2.5 Baths, 1726 SF, $223,400

1531 Bonniebrae Dr, a condo, 3 BR, 1.5 Baths, 1303 SF, $244,900

5164 Lakeview Blvd, detached, 4 BR, 2 Baths, 1120 SF, $246,000

61 S Condolea Terrace, a condo, 3 BR, 2.5 Baths, 2373 SF, $395,000

751 Briercliff Ln, detached, 4 BR, 3 Baths, 2534 SF, $508,500

885 Lake Forest Dr, detached, 4 BR, 3 Baths, 2186 SF, $575,000

3333 Royce Way, detached, 4 BR, 3 Baths, 2697 SF, $609,007

3826 Upper Dr, detached, 4 BR. 2.5 Baths, 3194 SF, $739,900

13276 Deerfield Ct, detached, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, 3066 SF, $749,000

Pending Sales October 28-November 3, 2013

86 Kingsgate Rd C204, a condo, 2 BR, 2 Baths, 938 SF, $100,000, 10 DOM

4000 Carman Dr #60, a condo, 2 BR, 2 Baths, 866 SF, $131,000, 198 DOM

45 Eagle Crest Dr #409, a condo, 2 BR, 2 Baths, 1214 SF, $150,000, 60 DOM

1484 Boca Ratan Dr, a townhouse, 3 BR, 1.5 Baths, 1403 SF, $199,990, 115 DOM

16250 Pacific Hwy #64, a condo, 2 BR, 2 Baths, 1305 SF, $249,000, 60 DOM

6025 Kenny St, detached, 3 BR, 1.5 Baths, 1254 SF, $309,900, 99 DOM

719 Timberline Dr, detached, 3 BR, 2.5 Baths, 2176 SF, $349,000, 3 DOM

4763 Hastings Pl, detached, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, 2442 SF, $549,000, 4 DOM

13601 Twin Creek Ln, detached, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, 3156 SF, $599,500, 12 DOM

19342 Riverwood LN Lot6W, detached, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, 2806 SF, $604,900, 282 DOM

1055 Country Club Rd, detached, 2 BR, 2 Baths, 2908 SF, $749,000, 73 DOM

4153 Westbay Rd, detached, 4 BR, 3.5 Baths, 3374 SF, $1,349,000, 132 DOM

Closed Sales October 28-November 3, 2013

100 Kerr Pkwy #41, a condo, original price $105,000, closed price $104,000, 822 SF, 57 DOM

159 Oswego Summit, a condo, original price $179,000, closed price $170,000, 1506 SF, 103 DOM

16291 Lake Forest Blvd, detached, original price $269,950, closed price $225,000, 762 SF, 118 DOM

837 Country Club Rd, detached, original price $425,000, closed price $320,000, 1729 SF, 138 DOM

4200 Westbay Rd, detached, original price $419,000, closed price $345,000, 944 SF, 101 DOM

2530 Orchard Hill Pl, detached, original price $377,500, closed price $377,500, 2208 SF, 2 DOM

18759 Hillside Way, detached, original price $417,000, closed price $394,000, 3926 SF, 61 DOM

4361 Albert Circle, detached, original price $449,900, closed price $430,000, 2472 SF, 19 DOM

895 York Rd, detached, original price $479,000, closed price $440,000, 1924 SF, 39 DOM

1 Hidalgo St, detached, original price $448,500, closed price $448,500, 2489 SF, 97 DOM

14101 Redwood Ct, detached, original price $605,000, closed price $501,000, 2629 SF, 8 DOM

246 Greenwood Rd, detached, original price $589,900, closed price $540,000, 1899 SF, 73 DOM

4848 Hastings Dr, detached, original price $535,000, closed price $542,500, 2174 SF, 1 DOM

832 Hoodview Ln, detached, original price $699,000, closed price $680,000, 2456 SF, 10 DOM

18024 Skyland Circle, detached, original price $1,000,000, closed price $900,500, 3960 SF, 136 DOM

2240 Summit Ct, detached, original price $2,595,000, closed price $2,375,000, 5036 SF, 93 DOM

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 11/3/13

This Sunday in Lake Oswego there are 24 open houses scheduled. Enjoy!

44 Eagle Crest, a condo, $123,900, 2 BR, 1 Bath, open 1 to 3

6397 McEwan Rd, a house, $289,900, 3 BR, 2 Baths, open 1 to 4

1602 Greentree Rd, a house, $399,950, 4 BR, 2 Baths, open 11:30 to 1:30

1571 Woodland Terrace, a house, $498,900, 3 BR, 2 Baths, open 12 to 4

5101 Dawn Ave, a house, $574,000, 5 BR, 3 Baths, open 11 to 2

11 Masaryk St, a house, $585,000, 5 BR, 4 Baths, open 1 to 3

18343 Anduin Terrace, a house, $599,000, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, open 2 to 4

14 Del Prado St, a house, $599,999, 5 BR, 3.5 Baths, open 1 to 3

3435 Lake Grove Ave, a house, $604,900, 4 BR, 3 Baths, open 1 to 3

19524 River Run Dr, a house, $618,950, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, open 1 to 3

5522 Royal Oaks Dr, a house, $624,500, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, open 1 to 3

621 Country Club Rd, a house, $625,000, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, open 11 to 1

17632 Woodhurst Pl, a house, $699,900, 5 BR, 4.5 Baths, open 2 to 4

144 Leonard St, a house, $725,000, 4 BR, 3.5 Baths, open 1 to 3

13276 Deerfield Ct, a house, $749,000, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, open 1 to 3

18112 Westminster Dr, a house, $750,000, 5 BR, 4 Baths, open 1 to 4

2070 Wembley Park Rd, a house, $850,000, 5 BR, 4.5 Baths, open 12:30 to 2:30

18325 River Edge Ln, a house, $919,000, 3 BR, 3.5 Baths, open 1 to 3

19463 Lorna Ln, a house, $920,000, 3 BR, 3.5 Baths, open 1 to 3

735 7th St, a house, $939,000, 3 BR, 3.5 Baths, open 1 to 5

752 E Ave, a house, $998,500, 3 BR, 3 Baths, open 12 to 2

624 Atwater Rd, a house, $1,069,000, 5 BR, 3.5 Baths, open 2 to 4

13310 Atwater Ln, a house, $1,295,000, 5 BR, 4 Baths, open 3 to 5

17353 Canal Circle, a house, $1,590,000, 5 BR, 4 Baths, open 11 to 1

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Featured Property: 17856 Robin View Ct

Robin View 033I am proud to introduce you to 17856 Robin View Ct. Full disclosure here: this house is just South of the Lake Oswego city limits and is actually located in West Linn. However, it is waterfront property and I do believe a person shopping for a house on the water in Lake Oswego would also likely look at this property.

This is a truly special house. Designed by Walter Gordon, it was built in 1956. Walter Gordon was a well-known Northwest Architect who at one time was the Director of the Portland Art Museum as well as the Dean of the School of Architecture at U of O.

The current owner has respected the significance of the original design and the architectural integrity remains intact.

Robin View 026You enter the house through an understated entry that then opens into an amazing clerestory greatroom that features a floor-to-ceiling stone and copper fireplace. The greatroom includes the main living area, the dining room, a den, and a library. All are paneled is rich wood. There is a wall of windows that looks out to the Willamette River.

The house is situated on a private .68 acre lot that has river frontage on the Willamette. There is a level grass area near the water for recreation. The house itself sits up off of the river and has river views from most major rooms.

Robin View 005Here are the specifics:
Built in 1956
3735 square feet
4 bedrooms (2 are non-conforming)
3 baths
Greatroom + Familyroom
Cedaroak Elementary
Rosemont Ridge Jr High
West Linn High
Offered at $895,000

I will be holding this house open this Sunday from Noon to 2pm. Please follow the signs from River Road.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday,
Dianne

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Market Activity Oct 14-20, 2013

New listings seem to have slowed down last week with just 12 houses entering the market, but pending sales remained strong at 22, and closed sales at 14.

New Listings

86 Kingsgate Rd C204, Condo, 2 BR, 2 Baths, 938SF, $100,000

3808 Botticelli St, Condo, 3 BR, 2 Baths, 1288SF, $189,900

210 S State St, Condo, 2 BR, 1 Bath, 1284SF, $225,000

28 Greenridge Ct, Attached, 3 BR, 2 Baths, 1900SF, $294,950

2440 Greentree Rd, Detached, 3 BR, 1.5 Baths, 1850SF, $349,900

2275 Glen Haven Rd, Detached, 3 BR, 1.5 Baths, 1800SF, $399,000

3595 Tempest Dr, Detached, 3 BR, 2 Baths, 2126SF, $424,900

1571 Woodland Terrace, Detached, 3 BR, 2 Baths, 2400SF, $498,900

17575 Blue Heron Ct, Detached, 3 BR, 3.5 Baths, 2972SF, $599,900

13601 Twin Creek Ln, Detached, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, 3156SF, $630,000

1168 Andrews Rd, Detached, 3 BR, 3 Baths, 1851SF, $725,000

17224 Cedar Rd, Detached, 3 BR, 2 Baths, 3098SF, $850,000

Pending Sales

47 Eagle Crest, Condo, 3 BR, 2 Baths, 1026SF, $119,900, 153DOM

15938 Quarry Rd B-4, Condo, 2 BR, 1 Bath, 991SF, $138,000, 184DOM

143 Oswego Summit, Condo, 3 BR, 1 Bath, 1212SF, $146,000, 24DOM

17500 Pilkington Rd, Detached, 3 BR, 1 Bath, 1050SF, $204,900, 119DOM

5813 Kennycroft Way, Detached, 3 BR, 1 Bath, 1182SF, $265,900, 107DOM

29 Greenridge Ct, Attacahed, 3 BR, 2 Baths, 1730SF, $279,900, 5DOM

4281 Cobb Way, Detached, 3 BR, 2 Baths, 1626SF, $349,900, 3DOM

3285 Childs Rd, Detached, 4 BR, 3 Baths, 2780SF, $350,000, 28DOM

643 2nd St, Attached, 2 BR, 2 Baths, 1457SF, $400,000, 39DOM

23 Da Vinci St, Detached, 3 BR, 2.5 Baths, 2024SF, $425,000, 8DOM

18321 Wood Thrush Circle, Detached, 3 BR, 2.5 Baths, 2333SF, $458,500, 71DOM

16838 Wight Ln, Detached, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, 2364SF, $464,500, 85DOM

830 4th St, Detached, 3 BR, 2 Baths, 1690SF, $528,000, 63DOM

15677 Fieldstone Dr, Detached, 3 BR, 2.5 Baths, 2527SF, $546,500, 69DOM

4121 Hedge Nettle Ct, Detached, 3 BR, 2.5 Baths, 2307SF, $552,500, 244DOM

17973 Saint Clair Dr, Detached, 4 BR, 3 Baths, 3323SF, %550,000-$565,500, 27DOM

5780 Childs Rd, Detached, 4 BR, 2 Baths, 2770SF, $629,000, 149DOM

13520 Knaus Rd, Detached, 4 BR, 3 Baths, 2641SF, $699,000, 15DOM

19363 Riverwood Ln, Detached, 4 BR, 3 Baths, 2984SF, $719,000, 783DOM

17342 Ridgeview Ct, Detached, 4 BR, 3.5 Baths, 4240, $1,250,000, 66DOM

13050 Knaus Rd, Detached, 4 BR, 3.5 Baths, 4821SF, $1,395,000, 9DOM

425 G Ave, Detached, 4 BR, 2.5+.5 Baths, 3890SF, $1,400,000, 91DOM

Sold Listings

70 Galen ST, Condo, listed $135,000, Sold $99,000, 923SF, 231DOM

3836 Botticelli St, Attached, listed $138,000, sold $100,000, 1055SF, 315DOM

86 Kingsgate Rd #27, Condo, listed $107,500, sold $107,500, 938SF, 6DOM

5056 Foothills Dr D, Condo, listed $259,000, sold $205,000, 1252SF, 195DOM

6241 Wayzata Ct, Detached, listed $270,000, sold $245,000, 1232SF, 67DOM

17833 Central Ave, Detached, listed $339,000, sold $324,000, 1533SF, 25DOM

17140 Wall St, Detached, listed 455,000, sold $455,000, 3711SF, 6DOM

810 9th St, Detached, listed $535,000, sold $535,000, 2510SF, 0DOM

4836 Hastings Dr, Detached, listed 630,000, sold $600,000, 2855SF, 32DOM

14370 Uplands Dr, Detached, listed $699,000, sold $683,000, 3036SF, 42DOM

547 Middlecrest Rd, Detached, listed 699,000, sold $683,000, 3036SF, 116DOM

17555 Brookhurst Dr, Detached, listed $710,000, sold $710,000, 3846SF, 1DOM

17878 Hillside Dr, Detached, listed $754,900, sold $750,000, 3594SF, 1DOM

19575 35th Ct, Detached, listed $1,135,000, sold $997,000, 6081SF, 43DOM

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 10/20/13

This Sunday there will be 28 Open Houses in Lake Oswego. We are having a glorious, sunny weekend, so it should be a great day to tour. Enjoy!

45 Eagle Crest #409, 2 BR, 2 Baths, $150,000, Open 1 to 3

3595 Tempest Dr, 3 BR, 2 Baths, $424,900, Open 12 to 3

87 Ash St, 3 BR, 2 Baths, $429,900, Open 1 to 3

16038 Reese Rd, 3 BR, 3 Baths, $449,000, Open 1 to 3

5456 Willow Ct, 3 BR, 2.5 Baths, $469,000, Open 1 to 3

6192 Harrington Ave, 5 BR, 3 Baths, $479,900, Open 12 to 2

15677 Fieldstone Dr, 3 BR, 2.5 Baths, $546,500, Open 12 to 2

3435 Lake Grove Ave, 4 BR, 3 Baths, $604,900, Open 1 to 4

18020 Jennifers Way, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, $609,889, Open 12 to 3

19524 River Run Dr, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, $618,950, Open 12 to 2

2478 Marylview Ct, 5 BR, 3 Baths, $619,000, Open 1 to 3

14412 Meadow Grass St, 5 BR, 2.5 Baths, $619,900, Open 2 to 4

5522 Royal Oaks Dr, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, $624,500, Open 12 to 3

113601 Twin Creek Ln, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, $630,000, Open 1 to 3

421 Middlecrest Rd, 3 BR, 2.5 Baths, $645,000, Open 1 to 3

18042 Jenifers Way, 4 BR, 3 Baths, $657,950, Open 12:30 to 3

5831 Suncreek Dr, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, $659,900, Open 1 to 3

18064 Jenifers Way, 5 BR, 3 Baths, $667,950, Open 12:30 to 3

5728 Bay Creek Dr, 5 BR, 2.5 Baths, $719,900, Open 2 to 4

13562 Peters Rd, 4 BR, 3 Baths, $875,000, Open 2 to 4

4540 Lamont Way, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, $899,950, Open 3 to 5

2801 Lakeview Blvd, 3 BR, 3.5+.5 Baths, $925,000, Open 12 to 4

2671 Glen Eagles Rd, 3 BR, 3 Baths, $950,000, Open 1 to 3

14110 Goodall Rd, 4 BR, 3.5 Baths, $995,000, Open 12 to 2

2943 Lakeview Blvd, 4 BR, 3 Baths, $1,095,000, Open 1 to 3

853 D Ave, 4 BR, 3.5 Baths, $1,250,000, Open 2 to 4

16777 Phantom Bluff Ct, 4 BR, 2.5+.5 Baths, Open 1 to 3

67 Nansen Summit, 6 BR, 4 Baths, $1,500,000, Open 1 to 3

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14 Mistakes that can Hurt Your Home’s Value

ST359S_PICMSN Real Estate recently had an excellent article on things people do to homes that actually devalues them. I thought the list was pretty spot on, and so I want to share it with you here. I will also give you my take on each item.

Over Developing for your Area
Your home is directly affected by the surrounding homes in your area. That old adage location, location, location really does hold true. So don’t expect to get all of your money back if the surrounding properties are selling for significantly less.

Inconsistent Remodeling
My personal pet peeve is when a great old house gets gutted and made “up-to-date”. 1980’s kitchens in 1920’s bungalows and just horrible. When you remodel, try to respect the style of the home and work within it’s parameters. You must have liked it at least a little, otherwise you wouldn’t have bought the house, right?

Fully Enclosing a Front Porch
While it may be a good way to create an entry space, it really has a huge impact on the curb appeal of the house. Consider doing a partial enclosure, or perhaps screened porch.

Too Much “You” in Your Home
I once toured a house with about a 100 dolls displayed. They were having little tea parties and sitting on doilies. This creates a total distraction that most people don’t relate to. It certainly puts off potential buyers.

Messing Up the Floorplan
A floor plan should be easy to maneuver in. You shouldn’t have to go through rooms to get to other rooms such as adding a bedroom to the back of a bedroom. If it seems odd, it is.

Keeping an Above-Ground Pool
No one wants to have to remove and take away other people’s abandoned toys. They are also a bit of a monolith to look at. Get rid of it.

Tackling Big Projects Yourself
While the temptation to save money may be strong, you could actually loose money in the end. Get it done right. It needs to look like it was professionally done.

Over-stuffing a Remodel
Less can actually be more. Over-filling a space will make it feel small and cramped. Declutter to enlarge rooms. They should feel spacious and bright.

Too Trendy
This is a tough one. If you are buying a new home, building an addition, or remodeling an existing home, you are restricted by what you can find to purchase. So the show rooms and stores are going to have what is current and popular today. I see 2 solutions: stick with classic colors and styles, or consider shopping at stores that recycle and resell house parts. The author of the article that I obtained this list from specifically mentioned the little skinny tiles currently being used in counter back splashes. It is true that they just scream 2013. But if you like them, use them. Just know that in a few years they’ll we need to be replaced.

Converting the Garage
If you do a garage conversion, leave the door and door tracks in place so that it can be easily converted back. This will preserve the curb appeal of the house and allow a future owner to retain the garage.

Not Getting Permits
Don’t even think of doing remodeling without proper permits. Not only will it create an obstacle at the time of resale, but it could have serious consequences if you ever make a claim with your home owner’s insurance.

Keeping Brass
Brass that was so popular in the 1990’s is out, out, out. You can buy bathroom conversion kits for things like shower doors, and then go after changing out the hinges, knobs, and light fixtures. This sort of project is rather labor intensive. Consider doing it a bit at a time so that after a few months it’s complete. I think this is one of the single easiest items to do to improve value.

thOver-the-top Colors
No, purple is not a good idea. Over-powering decorating is a total distraction. Having said this, don’t be afraid of color. All white is not currently very popular either. My advice is to go and visit some new neighborhoods with model homes. Builders hire designers to tastefully select colors. You’ll get some good ideas that should be pretty safe.

Ignoring Flaws
This one is a bit like the frog in the pan of slowly heated water. We live in our homes and get used to them. When the house is listed for sale, all of those little things you have grown used to may be just the combination that keeps the house from selling. And the single biggest flaw that is easily fixed is cleaning the house. Clean it top to bottom, every window, every closet. Make it sparkle.

I hope you find this helpful.
Dianne