There are many reasons why a person might prefer to live in a single level home. Some are purely by choice. Things like the easy of movement while carrying laundry, or the preference for vaulted ceilings. Others are truly out of necessity due to disabilities whether they be mobility problems, advancing age, or even blindness. But for many people, living in a 1-level home is their preference.
For these people, when they go to purchase a home, it means that they have a much smaller inventory of homes to select from. And for the seller of a 1-level home, it means that they have a very specific niche in the real estate market. So when a single level home comes up for sale, it is likely to be well received by buyers.
Some quick statistics: in the year 2000, the size of the U.S. population that was age 65 or older was 35,000,000 people or 12.4% of the population. It is projected that by the year 2030 that percentage will grow to 19.6%, or 71,000,000 people. This means that the desirability of a one-level home is only going to increase.
Now the twist, just as the demand for single level homes in increasing, the availability of land to build single level homes is decreasing, at least in Oregon. Every city and county has building codes that require specific distances, or set backs, from the property lines. A builder is simply restricted to foundations that fit within the set backs of any particular piece of property. Because a 1-level home usually has a larger foundation, it means that the smaller lots that are common in today’s developments do not have the area necessary to build 1-level homes. And this means that the land that is big enough to build a 1-level home will cost more because it is larger. It also means that the 1-level homes that currently exist will be high-demand and valuable into the future.
An important concept to understand when you are buying or selling a single level home is how the value compares to other properties. Why is it that a 1500 square foot, single level home, can sell for as much as a 2000 square foot 2-story home? This goes back to the construction of the building. The two most expensive components in building a home are the roof and the foundation. When you have a 2-story house, this big expense goes twice as far. So a 1-level home is more expensive to build per square foot, and through out it’s life of being purchased and sold it will continue to pass along this higher expense.
So if you are lucky enough to have a 1-level home, I hope that you feel good about your investment. If you are looking to buy a 1-level home, there are currently 70 of them for sale in Lake Oswego. The least expensive is 1346 square feet with 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, and was built in 1956. It is listed for $229,900. The most expensive is 5389 square feet, with 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, and was built in 1993. It is listed for $1,850,000. The other 68 single level homes for sale cover every sort of size and pricing.
Whether you are wanting to buy or sell, whether you want a 1-level or several levels, Linda and I are here to help. Please do not hesitate to give us a call or to drop us an e-mail.
Dianne
Spring is traditionally the strongest time of year to sell your home. If you want to sell, you need to get your home ready. You want to win the beauty pageant. The place to start, before you list your home for sale, is with proper home staging. The way you live in your home and the way you sell your home are two different things. It does add a layer of care to your already busy life, but it will payoff when you sell by getting your home sold more quickly and by helping you to get the best price possible.
At the top of this article is a photo of my listing in Mt. Park. I want you to compare that photo to the one that you find to the right. Can you see the big improvement? The photo to the right is how this room used to look. This was not a home with a problem of clutter. This was a house that needed to show case the homes features. The home owner moved the living room furniture to the other end of the room in order to showcase the wonderful windows. Where a TV cabinet had blocked windows, now what you see is light and sunshine. In addition, the owner replaced several windows that had broken seals. Now when you walk in, you step back and feel the wow factor. That is what sells a house.
Along with my own open house at 4447 Golden Lane, there are a total 17 opens planned for Lake Oswego on May 24th. I’d love to have you come by to see me tomorrow. My listings is a 1616 square foot townhouse in Mt. Park. Recent updates include gorgeous granite counters in the kitchen, laminate flooring, and new windows. It has 2 large bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. Probably the nicest feature is that it has huge, south-facing windows that look out across trees and well-cared for landscaping. It is also an end unit. It’s priced at $255,000. I’ll be there from 2 to 5pm. You’ll find my signs at the corner of Melrose and Fosberg and from there you can easily follow them into the complex on Thundervista.
La Provence is the youngster in the group. The founders of the restaurant, Pascal, Didier, and Alain came from France in 1996 wanting to share their passion for the French Patisserie, which is a bakery that specializes in pastries and sweets. Don’t be fooled by the outstanding selection of breads, tortes, cakes and croissants that are showcased as you walk-in. This restaurant offers first class food well beyond the temptations of sweets. When the restaurant first opened it specialized in breakfast and lunch. My favorite breakfast choice has long been the smoked-salmon hash. Served over crispy hash browns, the smoked salmon is topped by a poached egg and creamy dill sauce. The homemade bread makes delicious toast, and the coffee is outstanding. For lunch I recommend the French onion soup. It is the best I have ever had. And in the last year or so the restaurant has begun to stay open for dinner service. I recently had a wonderful dinner there at a time when they were offering live music. I consider the pricing to be affordable and the food highly reliable. The atmosphere is relaxed and sunny with bright splashes of color from the art work and provencial-style table cloths. Located at 15964 Boones Ferry Rd, you can find menus and more information at their website,
Next door to La Provence is Gubanc’s. Gubanc’s and I have something in common. We both came to Lake Oswego in 1976. I guess you could say that we kind of grew up together. Owned by Tony and Anne Gubanc, this restaurant is a neighborhood classic. The atmosphere is classy while being comfortable. Not too expensive, you’ll find the food to be Northwest with an interesting flair. The restaurant is most famous for its soups. They have 80 different varieties that were personally created for their menu. While the traditionals like clam chowder are available, you will also often find unusual selections like Chicken and Pear or Santa Fe Chicken with White Bean. Yum. A great deal at lunch is the Soup Board. For $7.50 you get a generous bowl of homemade soup with a side board of bread, cheese, and fruit. Dinner options include South Western Pork Wraps, Chicken and Dumplings, and Halibut Provencial. For dessert they are well known for their Fresh Fruit Cobbler. You’ll find it busy every night of the week. There is a full bar and I think there are quite a few regulars who eat dinner here several nights a week. To continue to fill the dining room night-after-night for over 30 years, you know they must be doing something right. Located at 16008 Boones Ferry Rd. For a copy of the menu and more information, visit Gubanc’s website at 
Finally, I want to brag about Riccardo’s. This is my favorite “special occasion” restaurant in Lake Oswego. Not that you would only want to go there on special occasions, like an anniversary or a birthday. I have gone there with friends for a casual lunch or dinner many times. It’s just that I’ve also celebrated many birthdays and anniversaries there. In my mind, it is a special place that provides just the right atmosphere for a special night out. Opened in 1980 by Riccardo and Georgette Spaccarelli, it is very fine Italian dining at it’s best. The Spaccarellis are known for their annual trips to Italy where they visit wine producers and make selections to offer with their food. The entire meal is extremely authentic. It’s also mouth watering and complex. My favorite item on the menu is the Penna Strozzapreti. Penna pasta with a sauce of cremini mushrooms, black olives, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes in a light cream sauce that is then dusted with parmigiano reggiano. That is comfort food to me and a real taste treat. There are two dining rooms. The inside room seats 55 and is very nice. But my favorite, and where I always make it a point to dine, is the outside patio. It seats 75 and is surrounded by high walls that in the summer are topped with flowers. There are terra cotta tiled floors and several fountains. The perimeter tables do have a roof over them and in cooler weather they have numerous heaters to keep you warm. No, I don’t think you’d be able to dine out there in January. But for most of the year you can. It is not only comfortable, you will feel like you’ve gone to Italy. Riccardo’s is just across the street from Gubanc’s and La Provence at 16035 Boones Ferry Rd. You can find their menu and more information at their website,