Author: Dianne Gregoire

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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.

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Open Houses for Sunday November 23rd

For those of you who like to tour open houses, here is what the RMLS is listing as open this coming Sunday:

4206 Woodside Circle:

$284,900, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, open 1-3

18959 Kristi Way:

$384,900, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, open 1:30-4

3486 Ponderosa Loop:

$429,000, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, open 12-4

1980 Alpine Dr:

$664,900, 6 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, open 1-3

21463 Rosepark Ct:

$690,000, 5 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, open 1-4

3030 Westview Ct:

$959,000, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, open 2-3

3540 Red Cedar Way:

$989,000, 5 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, open 1-3

16359 Chapin Way:

$1,439,000, 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, open 1-4

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Market Action Report for November 20th

Data represents activity from November 10th to November 20th.

DOM (days on market) represents cumulative days and may represent more than one listing period.

Of particular note, to me, was finding the closed sale at 2870 Park Rd. This was a 1973 built home that was described as a cosmetic fixer. With 2380 square feet, it’s a nice size home and in a very nice neighborhood, Palisades. What is remarkable is that it sold in just 4 days and for $17,000 more than the asking price. It shows that when a property is priced right it will sell quickly, and perhaps for more than the list price. Our market still has a pulse.

New Listings

Address Type bed/bath Sq. Feet List Price

44 Eagle Crest Condo 1b/1b 798 $134,900
91 Galen St Condo 1b/1b 680 $135,000
47 Eagle Crest #12 Condo 2b/1b 932 $149,900
16790 Lake Forrest Detached 2b/1b 780 $199,900
12846 Boones Ferry Rd Condo 2b/2.1b 1136 $249,000
5063 Foothills Dr Condo 2b/2b 1031 $259,000
3433 McNary Parkway Condo 2b/2.1b 1156 $275,000
3797 Lanewood Detached 3b/1b 2560 $309,000
5235 Oakridge Detached 3b/2.1b 1576 $324,900
5354 Lower Dr Detached 3b/1b 1565 $339,000
4761 LaMont Detached 3b/2b 1816 $379,900
4051 Virginia Way Detached 3b/2.1b 1658 $389,500
7050 Childs Rd Detached 2b/2b 1693 $398,000
5051 Tualata Ln Detached 4b/2b 1591 $409,900
18978 Indian Spring Cir Detached 3b/2b 1900 $414,900
1265 Rockinghorse Ln Detached 4b/3b 2402 $444,000
6109 Summer Woods Detached 4b/2.1b 2331 $449,000
1307 Cedar St Detached 4b/3b 2054 $459,900
111 3rd St Condo 2b/2b 1206 $474,900
8 Hotspur Detached 3b/2.1b 1966 $475,000
785 5th St Detached 3b/2b 2208 $480,000
805 Country Club Rd Detached 5b/2b 2722 $489,900
1009 Cumberland Pl Detached 4b/3b 2294 $525,000
19664 River Run Detached 2b/2.1b 3051 $559,900
17784 Treetop Detached 4b/3b 3468 $599,900
4676 Winthrop Ct Detached 4b/2.1b 3112 $639,900
18212 indian Creek Dr Detached 4b/2.1b 2313 $649,000
17141 Wall St. Detached 4b/3b 3540 $699,500
615 Lake Bay Ct Detached 3b/3b 2542 $699,900
19285 Megly Ct Detached 4b/2.1b 2587 $699,900
19263 Megly Ct Detached 4b/2.1b 2743 $749,900
2545 Dellwood Detached 5b/3.1b 3843 $809,900
19266 Megly Ct Detached 4b/2.1b 3025 $789,900
19245 Megly Ct Detached 4b/2.1b 2884 $789,900
4349 Lakeview Blvd Detached 3b/3b 3678 $849,000
5435 Washington Ct Detached 4b/3.1b 3323 $849,900
772 8th St Detached 4b/2.1b 3161 $899,000
17649 Woodhurst Pl Detached 5b/4.1b 5793 $899,000
3030 Westview Ct Detached 4b/2.1b 3415 $959,000
18094 Pilkington Detached 4b/3/1b 3509 $999,000
17600 Upper Cherry Detached 4b/3.1b 3867 $1,299,000
18990 Barton Rd Detached 4b/3.2b 4592 $1,369,000
2809 Arrowhead Ct Detached 3b/3b 2624 $1,699,000
18735 Bryant Rd Detached 4b/3.1b 5597 $1,750,000
3114 Douglas Circle Detached 4b/4b 5465 $2,195,000
670 Iron Mntn Blvd Detached 4b/3.2b 5208 $2,250,000
333 Northshore Rd Detached 4b/4.1b 4998 $2,650,000
3530 Lakeview Blvd Detached 4b/3.1b 4200 $2,950,000

Pending Sales

Address Type bed/bath Sq. Ft. List Price DOM Original Price

4 Touchstone Condo 2b/2b 984 $115,000 42 $125,000
44 Eaglecrest #11 Condo 3b/2b 1085 $148,700 31 $154,900
5478 Tualata Detached 3b/2b 1200 $279,000 122 $330,000
16651 Lake Forest Detached 3b/1b $1,230 $207,000 59 $350,000
4 Othello Detached 4b/3b 2184 $434,900 9 $434,900
5453 Willow Ct Detached 3b/2.1b 2400 $449,000 146 $495,000
600 Maple St Detached 4b/2.1b 2422 $499,000 126 $529,000
2584 Park Rd Detached 4b/2b 2302 $524,900 229 $679,000
435 8th St. Detached 4b/3.1b 2505 $649,900 565 $929,000
104 3rd St Detached 2b/2b 1151 $1,050,000 15 $1,050,000

Closed Sales

Address Type bed/bath Sq. Ft. Sales Price DOM Original Price

4000 Carman #35 Condo 2b/2b 869 $135,000 22 $149,900
3680 Spring Ln 2B Condo 2b/2.1b 1152 $187,000 220 $219,000
595 6th St Detached 3b/1b 1520 $257,050 40 $314,800
22 Condolea Dr Condo 2b/2b 1454 $275,000 36 $339,900
2870 Park Rd Detached 4b/2.1b 2380 $396,000 4 $379,900
13340 Auburn Ct Attached 3b/2.1b 2451 $485,000 222 $559,900
1012 Andrews Rd Detached 3b/2b 2246 $495,000 133 $590,800
16 Northview Ct Attached 4b/3.1b 2962 $495,000 419 $599,900
3240 Upper Dr Detached 4b/2.1b 3410 $712,500 56 $749,950
114 3rd St Detached 2b/1b 1140 $730,000 19 $750,000
17760 Lake Haven Dr Detached 4b/2.1b 2051 $800,000 224 $1,169,000

Thank you for your patience while we work out a couple of software issues. We hope to have our Market Action Report back in fine form ASAP.

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Rainfall in Lake Oswego

I think it is fair to say that the rainy season has begun. A Russian immigrant, who has become a good friend of my family, once commented to me that Oregon only has two seasons: wet and dry. If you are following the blotter from out of the area, and perhaps even considering moving here, I think it is only fair to be completely honest with you about our weather.

As you have read in several recent posts, we have a glorious fall with the trees turning colors and sunshine that is bright. It is also in the fall that the transition happens from mostly sunny days to mostly rainy days. The rain will dominate the forecast until about April. Then the transition will happen back to mostly sunny days.

Our rainfall is unique in that it seems to fall in a steady mist. While we do have days that the rain falls heavily, for the most part it is a soft and steady drizzle. I have heard it compared to the rainfall in Ireland. Because it is usually a gentle rain, you might be surprised to learn that umbrellas are used infrequently. Oregonians generally just put on a good coat and go out in it. It is really quite lovely, once you get used to it and quit seeing it as an inconvenience. It is also really good for maintaining lovely skin.

The information below gives high and low temperatures, as well as average rainfall, for Lake Oswego. The information is courtesy of www.countrystudies.us. Temperatures are listed in Fahrenheit.

Lake Oswego Weather

US Geography / US Weather / Oregon Weather / Lake Oswego

January:

Average High 46, Average Low 32, Mean 38, Average Precipitation 6.0 inches

February:

Average High 51, Average Low 34, Mean 44, Average Precipitation 4.6 inches

March:

Average High 55, Average Low 36, Mean 46, Average Precipitation 4.1 inches

April:

Average High 58, Average Low 38, Mean 50, Average Precipitation 2.8 inches

May:

Average High 66, Average Low 44, Mean 55, Average Precipitation 2.3 inches

June:

Average High 74, Average Low 48, Mean 62, Average Precipitation 1.7 inches

July:

Average High 78, Average Low 52, Mean 66, Average Precipitation 0.7 inches

August:

Average High 80, Average Low 52, Mean 66, Average Precipitation 1.0 inches

September:

Average High 74, Average Low 48, Mean 62, Average Precipitation 1.8 inches

October:

Average High 64, Average Low 41, Mean 54, Average Precipitation 3.3 inches

November:

Average High 52, Average Low 37, Mean 45, Average Precipitation 6.3 inches

December:

Average High 46, Average Low 34, Mean 40, Average Precipitation 6.9 inches

So we get very little rainfall in the summer and quite a lot of rainfall in the winter. However, in my experience, there are always surprises. The summer after Mt. St. Helens erupted never happened. It was cold and gray with very little sunshine. And it also seems to me that February tends to have many sunny days. Perhaps that is because after November, December, and January, the decreasing rain is so noticeable. I will also tell you that when the sunny weather starts again in the spring, people really make the most of it. On that first nice day everyone spends the day outside: walking, gardening, going to the coast, and just generally taking advantage of the nice conditions.

I have learned to love the rain. The sound of it makes me sleep better at night and I credit it with giving us our lush landscaping. When I visit other states that don’t get this kind of rainfall, I can’t help but feel like they just don’t have the beauty that Oregon does. I’m a fifth generation Oregonian. I guess it is just in my blood.

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Lake Oswego Library Receives National Recognition

Kudos to the Lake Oswego Library which was ranked the best library in the state of Oregon by the American Library Association, and the 7th best library in the Nation amongst towns with populations of 25,000 to 49,999 people.

Considerations to receive this distinction included staffing, reference services, collections, and the number of items checked out by the public. Lake Oswego’s per capita circulation is 33.2: more than 4 times the national average.

Visit the LO Library website by clicking here.

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Worth the Drive

I want to make sure you know about a spectacular tree on the corner of 3rd and C Avenues.

It’s an ancient Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) and at this time of year I always make sure that I drive over to look at it. It’s not quite at it’s peak. When it is in it’s greatest glory, in another week or two, it will be the most vibrant shade of orange that I have ever seen in a tree. It is also just huge. The trunk is gnarled and gorgeous.

It was designated a Heritage Tree by the City of Lake Oswego in 1998. Check it out. It is well worth the drive.

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Mortgage Options

While we may currently be in turbulent economic times, I want to make it known that solid and safe mortgage options still exist.

I must also state that the mortgage industry has changed. There are no longer no-income qualifying loans, and 100% financing is almost non-existent. What it reminds me of is the financial climate that existed when I first obtained my real estate license in 1987. Back then you pretty much had to have at least 3% down and you had to provide full documentation to show your ability to repay your loan. That is a good description of today’s mortgage market. But even in this tight climate, there are some interesting options.

First is FHA. FHA is a mortgage option that is backed by the Federal Government. It is intended to help people become homeowners, but it is not limited to first-time buyers. The necessary down payment is just 3%, although this is increasing to 3.5% in January. The purchase price can be as high as $362,790 in Clackamas, Multnomah or Washington Counties. There are no pre-payment penalties. It is fully assumable. The mortgage insurance premiums are typically lower than those available on conventional mortgages, and the interest rate offered is typically very competitive. As of 10/18/08, there are 34 houses for sale in Lake Oswego that are priced within the FHA loan limit.

If you are a veteran, you will enjoy your veteran’s benefits when you buy a home because you are one of the few borrows who can still get 100% financing. For a purchase of up to $417,000 you can finance 100% of the purchase price. If the purchase price is over $417,000, you can go as high as $1,500,000 if you have a 25% down payment for the amount that exceeds $417,000. There is no mortgage insurance and the interest rates are always on the low end of what is offered. As of 10/18/08, there are 69 houses for sale in Lake Oswego that are within the VA loan limit for 100% financing.

My resource for the information about FHA and VA loans is Robin Cusma, a senior loan officer at Northwest Mortgage Group. I think of Robin as my miracle worker. If you are looking for a good loan officer, I highly recommend her services. She can be reached at rcusma@nwmortgagegroup.com.

So what if you don’t have 3% down and you are not a veteran? Can you still get 100% financing? Yes, you have two options that I know of. First is the Guaranteed Rural Housing Program. This is a government sponsored loan to assist rural communities. The catch is that the town that the house exists in has to have a population of less than 25,000 people, so it won’t work in Lake Oswego. The other program is offered exclusively at Key Bank. It is the Key Community Mortgage Program and it’s pretty amazing. Not only is it 100% financing, but it has no mortgage insurance. In order to obtain this loan, one of two criteria must be met. The property must be located in a targeted area (and Lake Oswego is not in a targeted area, to see the targeted areas click here) or the household income of the borrower must be 80% or less of the medium income for the county. In Lake Oswego/Clackamas County, the medium income is $65,000 and 80% of that is $52,000. So could you buy a house in Lake Oswego using this program? Probably not. House prices in Lake Oswego remain substantially higher than the $162,000 sales prices that would be the top-end purchase price with the income restriction. However, I think it is a good program to be aware of and it may be something that a borrow would want to consider using in other parts of the metro area. My source for information about the Key Community Mortgage is Lori Randall, a mortgage advisor at KeyBank. For Lori’s website, click here. Or you can contact her at lori_e_randall@keybank.com .

Finally, not focusing on low-down payment options, there remains traditional conventional financing. With 5% or more down, conventional loans remain available to qualified buyers with good credit. Because of the high value of houses in Lake Oswego, a jumbo mortgage may be needed. Are those available? Yes.

A jumbo mortgage is a mortgage that is greater than $417,000. It typically has a slightly higher interest rate than a “conventional” mortgage (that is a mortgage amount of $417,000 or less). When the mortgage crisis first began a year ago, jumbo loans were the most drastically affected. There were a couple of weeks when they simply were unavailable. The jumbo market has since stabilized. A jumbo loan can now be obtained with as little as 10% down if the borrower has a credit score of at least 700 and for loan amounts up to $650,000. Remember that with less than 20% down, there will be mortgage insurance. The old habit, to avoid having to pay mortgage insurance, was to get a combined loan that was an 80% first mortgage and a 10% second mortgage. The borrower ended up with 90% financing, but didn’t have the additional monthly cost of mortgage insurance. There are rumors that these sort of combined loans may be coming back. We will have to wait and see.

The source of my information for jumbo loans is Naida Paris at Valley Mortgage. I have known and worked with Naida for over 20 years. There is no lender with greater integrity than Naida. I highly recommend her services. Naida can be reached at naidaparis@yahoo.com .

While the economic times may be troubling, the mortgage industry has not come to a total standstill. If you find yourself at a point in your life where you need to buy or to sell a home, there are good mortgage options available.

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Where did the Lake go?

Sewer CoverOne of the things that I always explain to anyone buying a home in Lake Oswego, and particularly a lakefront home, is that the lake has a history of routine maintenance that occasionally requires a draw down of the water level.

For years this was done every other winter. Remember that while there is a natural lake area that is fed by the Tualatin River, much of the lake was enlarged by man and the water level is controlled via the in-take gate at the Tualatin River and the dam along McVey Avenue.

In the past the reason for the draw down was to allow homeowners to repair seawalls and do maintenance on their boat houses. It was also used as a way to flush the lake of water that had grown stagnant and re-fill it with new water to help control the build up of algea.

Then a few years ago the Lake Corporatation installed aerators that added oxygen to the water and lessened the need for such frequent draw downs as a means of keeping the lake clean. So it has been awhile since there has been a draw down of the lake water.

That will be changing in the fall of 2010.

Beginning this fall, the City of Lake Oswego is in the preliminary stages of what is known as the Lake Oswego Interceptor Sewer Project. Basically, the sewer that now serves 2/3 of the city is submerged 14 to 21 feet under the lake. It was built in the 1960’s and is vulnerable to earthquake damage as well as being too small to accommodate the needs of the community. So a new interceptor will be constructed and that is going to have an impact on how the lake looks and how we are able to use it.

There will be 3 phases to the construction. Phase one is beginning now. It involves obtaining permits, securing funding, and obtaining bids. This is all the paper shuffling stuff, and while citizen input is encouraged, unless you make an effort to get involved, you won’t see anything different happening.

Phase two is in-lake construction that can be done from barges without drawing down the water. This phase is expected to begin in early 2009 and last about a year. During this phase you will see numerous barges on the lake and you will also see construction access points and large quantities of materials being stored at various locations. Access points are expected to be at the Alder Point and the Maple Circle easements.

The last phase is when the water draw down is to occur. This phase is expected to begin in September of 2010 and be completed by Spring of 2011. The idea is to have it completed by summer to allow the normal summer use of the lake. As with all construction projects, I’d advise being a bit flexible on that one. Construction access points will expand to also include the Lake Corporation Marina on McVey Avenue, the Allen Road Easement, and the Northshore Bridge Easement.

For full details on the Sewer Interceptor Project click here.

So don’t be surprised when there is an occasional draw down of the lake level. It has happened many times over the years, and it will certainly be happening in the near future.

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Electric cars in Lake Oswego? You bet!

Lake Oswego Electric Car Charging StationI was pleasantly surprised yesterday morning to find an article on the front page of the Clackamas County edition of the Oregonian featuring a story about the new electric-car, plug-in charging station that is now in Lake Oswego.

Located on A Avenue, it is right in the heart of the downtown shopping and dining district. If you own an electric car, you can park at the curb and charge your car for FREE.

The station is one of 5 that PGE has installed in the State of Oregon. Their hope is to have 12 stations established in anticipation of car manufacturers rolling out new lines of hybrid/plug-in vehicles by 2010. For the details from PGE, click here to link to their website.

The new station in Lake Oswego was paid for by the City of Lake Oswego at a cost of about $5000. The September 23rd Oregonian quotes Lake Oswego Mayor Judie Hammerstad as saying “This is a big step forward in sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.” The article goes on to explain that the electricity that will be used will be paid for in a partnership with the City of Lake Oswego and local businesses. The hope is that while drivers will frequent the area to charge up their cars, they will also stay in the area to shop, dine, and support local businesses.

I know that I am totally excited about the changes that the high cost of gas are creating in the auto manufacturing industry. I intend to stay in my 4-year old, 80,000 mile car for another year or two in anticipation of the better choices for hybrids and plug-in hybrids that will be offered to consumers in the next few years. I think this is something that should have happened years ago, and I am glad that consumer demand is pressing the changes.

If you’d like a little background on electric cars, I highly recommend the 2006 documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? Produced by Papercut Films, it won many awards at film festivals throughout 2006 and 2007. It tells a fascinating tale about a successful electric car that was built years ago and then pulled from the market. It will also show you how doable the electric car is. Not only does it have no emissions, it has no maintenance along the lines of oil changes or filter changes, and it makes no sound.

It is my understanding that the average trip in an auto is under 50 miles. I think the ideal car would be a plug-in hybrid. It would operate on electricity for the first 50 miles, for daily driving, and then convert to a hybrid that is supported by gas, for trips that are longer than 50 miles. So in a couple of years when I pony up and by that plug-in hybrid, I now have a place to charge it for free when I do business in downtown Lake Oswego. How cool is that?

For the full text of the September 23rd Oregonian article click here.

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Bridgeport Village

OK, technically Bridgeport Village is not in Lake Oswego. It is just across the city boundary line in Tigard. But it is one of the great features of living in Lake Oswego. Built in 2006, Bridgeport Village is a lifestyle mall. It is designed to be walked in and enjoyed like a small town. There is plentiful artwork, light displays at night, and a playground in the center.

You will love shopping at Bridgeport Village. There are 24 shops that sell women’s apparel and 13 that sell mens. Some of my favorites include Anthropology, Chico’s, and Coldwater Creek. There are 13 stores that sell home furnishings including Crate and Barrel’s first store in Oregon.

For entertainment there is the Regal Cinemas Bridgeport Village Stadium which has 18 screens plus IMAX. In addition there are 11 restaurants and 4 cafes, making dinner and a movie both convenient and fun. Some of the better known restaurants are California Pizza Kitchen, McCormick and Schmicks Grill, PF Changs, Pastini Pastaria, and Sinju.

The shopping and dining experience at Bridgeport Village is a treat to be enjoyed. From the fresh Italian Gilati on a hot summer’s day to the snow fall that is guaranteed to be happening at Christmas. And it is so close to Lake Oswego that, well, it had might as well be in Lake Oswego.