Category: General

All About Lake Oswego, Oregon real estate topics

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It’ Hot Out There! Stay Cool.

In Lake Oswego we are enjoying the warmth of summertime as much as any other Oregon residents, and maybe a little more in some ways! Here, we are very lucky to have some great summertime swimming options… you know, lake and all : ) It’s true, most of the lake is privately owned and not generally accessible to the public, but Lake Oswego has two public swim parks on the lake, and access on the Willamette River as well as a smattering of neighborhood pools that are membership-based, and a pool at Lake Oswego High School that is open to all.

Here is a breakdown of the main swimming options for Lake Oswego residents this summer:

• Lake Oswego Swim Park – 250 Ridgeway Road – Operated by L.O. Parks & Recreation – Open to Lake Oswego residents July through August, noon – 6PM daily (weather permitting) – Lifeguards on duty – No charge for admission.

• Lake Grove Swim Park – 3900 Lakeview Blvd – Operated by the Lake Oswego School District – Open June through Labor Day – For information on Entry Requirements call 503 635 0355, or 503 534 2000.

• Lake Oswego School District Swim Pool – 2400 Hazel Road (Lake Oswego High School Campus) – For complete schedule including information on Open Swim as well as lessons: lap swim, Red Cross programs, synchro swim, diving, aerobics, etc., call 503 534 2330.

If you just LOVE swimming, and you or your children want to get even more involved, check out the Lake Oswego Swim Club. It operates from the Lake Oswego School District Pool at Lake Oswego High School. You may contact Dan Gipe at gipes@earthlink.net or 503-244-7349 for more information. Visit: www.lakeoswegoswimclub.org for details.

The Charlie S. Brown Water Sports Center (WSC) is located on the scenic Willamette River in Roehr Park. It is owned by the City of Lake Oswego and operated by Lake Oswego Community Rowing. Rowing and sculling classes for both adults and youth are offered. Obtain more information about hours, fees, classes and requirements at: http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/parksrec/WSC.HTM

So… stay cool. Have fun. Investigate these options as you enjoy summertime in Lake Oswego!

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Lake Oswego Farmer’s Market

It’s summer time and one of the great joys of the season is all of the fresh produce and bright assortment of flowers that are available at this time of year. In Lake Oswego these can be found in abundance at the local Farmer’s Market. Located in Millenium Plaza Park on Lake Oswego’s East side, the market is open on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm, mid May to the end of October. There is free parking and even doggie daycare (dogs are not allowed in the market).

Arrive hungry because there is so much good food to eat. My personal favorite are the huge omelets that are made by Philly’s Fat Omelets and Breakfast Burritos. They are large and stuffed with an assortment of options that you choose. Topped off with their wonderful salsa, it is something that my mouth starts watering over the minute I wake up on Saturday mornings. You will also find cinnamon rolls that are baked and sold by the Lake Oswego Adult Community Center, fresh squeezed juices, Kettlecorn, freshly made pies and breads, as well as a wide variety of lunch fare such as La Vang’s salad rolls, and a booth offering Middle Eastern cuisine.

Numerous farms bring their crops to the market. You’ll find all sorts of fruit and produce. Especially abundant are the berries: strawberries, blue berries, and black berries. There are vendors who sell just organic lettuce, and vendors who sell not only tomatoes, but tomato plants too. There are booths run by local nurseries so that you can purchase plants for your own garden. I have also seen a table set up by local master gardeners where you can ask experts your gardening questions.

Complimenting the fresh produce and good food, you will find an assortment of other vendors. Craft cheese makers, organic meats, and smoked salmon, are a few worth mentioning. And then there are a several artisans mixed in with unique items such as lavender soap and hand crafted jewelry.

Fresh flowers are sold in abundance by several flower growers. They are sold very inexpensively, and you will enjoy the luxury of fresh-cut flowers in your home without having to sacrifice them from your own garden. You can even pick and choose your own bouquet to get exactly the color assortment that you prefer.

While you are eating and shopping there is usually live music being performed on the park stage. There are numerous tables set up to enjoy your meal while you enjoy the music.

It is truly a community gathering place. I don’t know what the attendance is each week, but it is wildly popular and something that many people look forward to as a feature of summer living. I know that I love it and I think that you will as well.

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Lake Oswego in Bloom

The City of Lake Oswego has developed quite a reputation for its amazing displays of flowers. Flowers are everywhere: hanging in baskets, in the meridians of roads, in the round abouts, and along pathways and around intersections. Everywhere you turn in the summer months is an absolute feast of color.

Perhaps the best known displays are in the many hanging baskets. This year there are 266 flower baskets. They are hung rather high up on the light posts of most major streets. They are large and lush when they are first hung in the spring and over the course of the summer will cascade down about 4 to 6 feet. These baskets are privately funded through donations from businesses and individuals. The flower basket program is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and a silhouette of a basket has long been the Chamber’s logo.

I have to give credit for a large part of the City’s strong interest in flowers to one of the City’s former mayors, Bill Gerber. Bill loved this City. He owned a nursery in Lake Grove called Gerber Gardens. He toured the world looking at gorgeous gardens and brought his love of gardens home to Lake Oswego. It was through Bill’s efforts that Lake Oswego entered into, and won, the America in Bloom competition.

In September of 2003, Lake Oswego entered the America in Bloom competition and actually won two prizes. The first was for the finest flower displays for cities with a population of 25,000-50,000. The second was the highest honor for flower displays beating out cities of all sizes including Boston and Indianapolis. The purpose of the America in Bloom competition is to foster civic pride, environmental responsibility, and beautification. Once a city wins the award, they are no longer able to compete in future years, but instead become a mentor to other cities hoping to accomplish similar results. For more details visit the America in Bloom website.

Portland is famous for it’s roses, but Lake Oswego is famous for its flowers too. The climate is ideal for lush displays that start with the spring bulbs in March and last through the fall colors in October. It makes the entire community shine.

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Happy 4th of July!

Lake Oswego embraces the 4th of July with a full heart and makes the celebration of Independence Day easy and fun.

Start the day at 7am with the Lake Oswego Lions Club pancake breakfast. Lasting until noon, the breakfast will be held at George Rogers Park. At 11:30am an old fashioned Independence Day Parade takes place down A Avenue. It will begin at 10th and Chandler with staging starting at 10:30am. Enjoy decorated bikes and wagons and the sight of family and friends decked out in red, white, and blue. A special tribute to veterans will be performed by Lake Oswego’s Millennium Concert Band. The parade ends at Millennium Plaza Park just in time for the Lake Grove Lions Club barbeque which goes from 11am to 5pm. From 1 to 3pm there will be a boat parade on Lakewood Bay which can be watched from Millennium Plaza Park or from the Headlee Walkway.

As is our national custom, the highlight of the day will be the annual fireworks display over Oswego Lake. I saw my first fireworks display over the lake during our Nation’s bicentennial in 1976. I was also present at the fateful display several years later when the entire display was accidentally ignited on the ground and blew up all at once. That is a sight that I will never forget! Today the display is launched at a safe spectator distance from a barge in the middle of the lake. It is easily viewed from the swim parks, the easements, and lakeside roads. Starting at 9:45 pm it is a lovely experience. What I like is that it takes place on the lake. Boats, canoes, and all sorts of water craft venture out for front-row seats. Each boat has small lights front and rear creating a lovely scene. There is someone, I do not know who, who plays the national anthem on a trumpet just prior to the commencement of the show. I have to admit, it chokes me up every time. And the show itself is not skimpy. It is spectacular. Be aware that streets around the lake are often closed to cars and people are encouraged to walk to the display. But the lake is in the middle of the town. No matter where you live, it is a pretty reasonable walk.

The last event of the 4th actually takes place on the 5th. The Portland Water Ski Spectacular and Malibu Wakeboard Competition take place on Lakewood Bay beginning at 1pm.

I have always been a highly patriotic person, and I really love the spirit of the 4th of July. This year it is especially poignant for me as I have a son on active duty serving as a US Marine. This is a very special holiday to me and to my family.

Here is wishing you and your family a safe and spectacular 4th of July.

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Call Before You Dig

Well, it pays to stay on top of rules and regulations… and often that means avoiding liability by understanding your obligations as a property owner. Did you know that digging in your own yard could be hazardous to your pocket book? If you should dig into a utility line (gas, electric, etc.) you will most likely be held financially responsible if you did not call to have utilities “marked” prior to doing so… not to mention the possibility of bodily injury.

“Call Before You Dig” is a mandate in Oregon and other states requiring that utilities be located by the utility company prior to digging in your yard, garden, etc. This, of course, includes digging to install a real estate “for sale” sign too, and so is something to be aware of if you are putting your home on the market. If your agent uses a sign and post company, arrangements may be made with them for utilities to be marked in the general area where your sign will be placed. As the responsible homeowner, it would be a good idea for you to check with your agent regarding whether you or the sign company will be making these arrangements. The utility company will visit your property and actually spray the ground where you’d like the sign placed indicating the “OK” (or not) for digging. This will take an extra couple of days, so be sure to allow time in addition to the notice the sign company or installer will need prior to post & sign placement. More information may be found at: http://www.callbeforeyoudig.org/

Recently the process has been streamlined, and a number to call has been activated to make things easier (and safer) for everyone. Before digging, simply call “811” and you will be connected with the Utility Notification Center which administers the “One Call” system. The Utility Notification Center is open 24 hours a day, everyday. Homeowners, contractors, and anyone planning to dig may call.

Currently there is no charge for this service in most locations. The only areas under the authority of the Utility Notification Center that do have fees are Spokane and Stevens counties in Washington state… so here in Lake Oswego, it’s free!

Enjoy your summer… relish working in your garden, or proceed full steam ahead with the marketing of your home… just do it safely, and protect your health as well as your pocketbook.

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Go West Young Man!

I think a good question to ask is why our values are remaining relatively high compared to other parts of the United States. In one word: migration.

United Van Lines has tracked shipment patterns for people relocating within the United States since 1977. Their most recent study, which tracks migration patterns that occured in 2007, shows some interesting patterns.

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The area of the country that lost the greatest number of people was the Great Lakes Region with Michigan leading the pack as the top out-bound location. Other states with high out-bound migration were North Dakota and New Jersey. When looking at the out-bound trends, one that caught my eye was that the migration out of California slowed down last year to the smallest percentage seen in five years.

So where were migration trends of states that had more people moving in than moving out? In the South and in the West. North Carolina was the #1 destination state with Alabama and South Carolina not too far behind. In the West, the states that lead the pack for in-bound migration were Nevada, Oregon, and Arizona.

The economics of real estate value has a whole lot to do with demand. In Michigan, where the auto industry is a huge employer and has had to lay off many of its workers, it would make sense that there would be people moving away, less demand for housing, and lowering prices. In states like Oregon, where there are more people moving in than are moving out, it would have the reverse of the same logic. People moving in creates more demand for housing which could help to keep home prices stable.

Having said all of that, I found the statistic about California really interesting. People moving to Oregon from California is a big part of the real estate market. If that source of buyers in declining, I do think that it will have an impact on our market. In addition, if those people who do move to Oregon from California are getting less for the homes that they are selling, then they will have less purchasing power when they arrive in Oregon.

It will be very, very interesting to see how this plays out over the course of the next year or two.

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Lake Oswego Open Houses – June 6-7, 2008

Another long list of homes await home tour aficionados and home shoppers this weekend in Lake Oswego.

Here’s the list of Lake Oswego opens for Saturday and Sunday:

Date Time Address
List Price
Bdrms
Baths
Total SF
6/8/08 1-3 p.m. 86 KINGSGATE RD
$185,000
2
2
938
6/8/08 1-3 p.m. 9 EAGLE CREST DR
$299,000
2
2
1,492
6/8/08 1-4pm 4458 THUNDER VISTA LN
$339,500
3
2.1
2,200
6/8/08 1-4pm 1695 MEADOWS DR
$417,500
4
3
2,185
6/8/08 12-2pm 17755 HILL WAY
$419,900
3
3
1,887
6/8/08 2-4:30pm 17304 MARJORIE AVE
$425,000
3
1.1
1,340
6/8/08 1:00-3:00 PM 18929 SW TERRY AVE
$429,950
4
2
2,065
6/8/08 1-3 p.m. 16990 LOWER MEADOWS DR
$449,900
3
2.1
2,000
6/8/08 1-4pm 17870 DEERBRUSH AVE
$449,900
3
2.1
1,912
6/8/08 1-3pm 4760 LOWER DR
$450,000
3
3
3,252
6/8/08 1:00-3:00 666 3RD ST
$454,950
3
1.1
1,759
6/8/08 1-4 PM 960 9TH ST
$525,000
3
1
1,429
6/8/08 1 to 4 3721 TEMPEST DR
$589,900
4
2.1
2,572
6/8/08 1-3 PM 4729 CAMBRIDGE CT
$599,900
2
2.1
3,056
6/8/08 1-4pm 5624 SOUTHWOOD DR
$645,000
4
3
3,120
6/8/08 1-4pm 8 CAMELOT CT
$650,000
5
3
3,080
6/8/08 1-4pm 4691 CHELSEA LN
$689,900
4
2.1
3,102
6/8/08 1-3 p.m. 14121 GABRIELLE CT
$698,500
4
2.1
3,015
6/8/08 1:30-3:30 17 SCARBOROUGH DR
$699,900
4
2.1
3,290
6/8/08 1pm-3pm 2650 LOOKOUT CT
$699,900
4
3.1
3,480
6/7/08 1-4pm 18086 JENIFERS WAY
$719,900
3
2.1
2,566
6/8/08 1-4 PM 18086 JENIFERS WAY
$719,900
3
2.1
2,566
6/8/08 1-3 p.m. 17706 MARYLBROOK DR
$724,900
3
2.2
2,977
6/8/08 1-4PM 34 HILLSHIRE DR
$740,000
4
2.1
3,822
6/8/08 1-4pm 17755 TREETOP LN
$769,000
5
3.1
3,864
6/8/08 1-4pm 2704 ORCHARD HILL LN
$789,000
5
3
3,207
6/8/08 12:30-2:30 3540 RED CEDAR WAY
$999,000
5
3.1
4,100
6/8/08 1PM -4PM 4311 HAVEN ST
$1,086,750
5
4
3,816
6/8/08 1PM – 4PM 950 OAK TER
$1,199,950
4
2.1
3,714
6/8/08 1-3 p.m. 577 MIDDLECREST RD
$1,200,000
4
2.1
2,000
6/7/08 1-4pm 12439 SW 22ND AVE
$1,299,000
4
3.1
4,118
6/8/08 1-4pm 12439 SW 22ND AVE
$1,299,000
4
3.1
4,118
6/8/08 1-3 p.m. 622 OAK MEADOW DR
$1,325,000
4
3.1
4,168
6/8/08 1-3 p.m. 17464 RIDGEVIEW LN
$1,348,950
4
3.1
4,407
6/7/08 1-4pm 12424 SW 22ND AVE
$1,350,000
5
4.1
4,771
6/8/08 1-4pm 12424 SW 22ND AVE
$1,350,000
5
4.1
4,771
6/8/08 1-3 p.m. 664 OAK MEADOW DR
$1,355,000
4
3.1
4,198
6/8/08 1-3 p.m. 17433 RIDGEVIEW LN
$1,495,000
4
4.1
4,659
6/7/08 3:00-5:00 1725 EDGECLIFF TER
$2,199,000
3
3.5
5,386

Please note, dates and times are subject to change without notice. This list may not contain ALL open houses in the city, but represent those that agents have publicized in the multiple listing service as of Friday afternoon. If links to ACTIVE properties do not bring up property information, the listing may no longer be active, but rather expired, cancelled, pending, or sold.

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Lake Oswego Flood Zone Changes

Lakefront property owners in Lake Oswego are pretty comfortable overall with the knowledge that the lake is managed and dammed, and so concerns regarding rising water during heavy rains etc are not prevalent. The lake is owned and managed by the Lake Oswego Corporation (LOC), a local entity to which lakefront residents establish membership and pay dues. Every few years the lake is drained for a few months to allow residents to clean and repair boat docks along the lake and canals, and generally speaking, it is understood that the lake is a controlled body of water. Even so, in the flood of 1996, water did spill over in some areas because it was not able to be released quickly enough at the dam to compensate for the heavy inflow.

FEMA recently completed a study of the Lake Oswego area and has determined that it will change the flood zone designation for properties on the lake, as well as properties surrounding the canals, Tualatin River, and Spring Creek. The maps for the 100-year flood zone have been altered, and are available for viewing at www.ci.oswego.or.us/plan. The city’s website states: “Text amendments are intended to comply with FEMA’s regulations so that the City can retain eligibility for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.”

Lake Oswego must be compliant with FEMA’s requirements in order for Lake Oswego residents to be able to take advantage of their flood insurance policies in the event of a natural disaster. Lake Oswego property owners, especially those near the lake, would be well advised to double-check their property’s location on these new maps and its relation to the new flood zones, as they may be required to carry flood insurance now, even though that was not the case when the property was purchased.

According to Kelley Woodwick at Chicago Title, there is good news for sellers, in that flood insurance contracts may be transferred to new buyers at grandfathered rates and zones. Again, check the city’s new maps before June 18th to acquire information on the grandfathered areas… after the 18th, I am told that the information will most likely be removed from the website.

There are also new regulations resulting, including elevation requirements for remodeling and new construction. Significant remodeling jobs now require that the structure be at 104.5 ft elevation as compared to the old standard of 103.5 ft. New construction after June 18, 2008 will also be required to meet a 104.5 ft elevation requirement.

Checking with the City of Lake Oswego is always a good idea, and much information can be found at their website (above). Stay informed, stay protected, and stay dry!

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Green Lingo

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Most of us are aware that being “Green” is becoming more and more of a focus in nearly all areas of our life including: organic foods, local products (to avoid fuel for transportation), eco-conscious goods of all kinds, earth-friendly energy solutions, bio fuels, energy-efficiency, recycling, the paperless movement and on & on. The world of real estate is not exempt from this burgeoning awareness of all things green, and the demand for green buildings is creating a new language as well.

From “Carbon Footprint” to “Green-Washing”, you’d better come up to speed or you may be left wondering what in the world people are talking about around the water cooler, or at your next cocktail party. (Smile… pretend… maybe it will come to you!) Fortunately the city of Portland’s Office of Sustainable Development http://www.portlandonline.com/osd/ has come to the rescue with a glossary of terms to help even the most confused among us. Here are a few terms from this glossary that you may find useful to know:

Adaptive Reuse- Rehabilitation of a building or site for new uses.

Biodegradable- Capable of decomposing under natural conditions.

Brownfield- Abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facility/site where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by environmental contamination.

Carbon Footprint- A measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.

Daylighting- The use of controlled natural lighting methods indoors through skylights, windows, and reflected light.

E-Waste- Waste materials generated from using or discarding electronic devices, such as computers, televisions, and mobile phones. E-waste tends to be highly toxic to humans, plants and animals, and has been known to contaminate water, air and dirt.

Graywater- Water that has been used for showering, clothes-washing, and faucet uses. Kitchen sink and toilet water is excluded. This water can be reused in subsurface irrigation for yards.

Green Building- An integrated framework of design, construction, and operational practices that encompasses the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the buildings.

Green Design- A design, usually architectural, conforming to environmentally sound principles of building, material and energy use. A green building might make use of solar panels, skylights and recycled building materials.

Green Development- A development approach that goes beyond conventional development practices by integrating environmental responsiveness, resource efficiency and efficient building operations.

Green Wash- To falsely claim a product is environmentally sound. Also known as “faux green”. Disinformation disseminated by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible public image.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)- Certification program created by the U.S. Green Building Council that sets standards for efficient and sustainable design.

Mixed-Use Development- A development in one or several buildings that combines several revenue-producing uses that are integrated into a comprehensive plan such as a project with elements of housing, retail and office space.

Negawatt- The saving of a megawatt of power by reducing consumption or increasing efficiency.

Pervious Paving- Paving material that allows water to penetrate to the soil below thus reducing the amount of water that needs to be treated by the water system, and increases the water in the aquifer.

Solar Access- Access to the sun’s rays by, for instance, restricting the location of shade trees or laying out of the building so as to maximize the usefulness of solar energy.

Triple Bottom Line- A business and development philosophy incorporating the three E’s: equity, environment, economics. Also referred to as the three P’s: people, planet, profit.

Waste Heat Recovery- The reclaiming of waste heat in a building to preheat cold water or air before it is fed into a water heater or heating system.

Xeriscape (registered)- Creative landscaping design for conserving water that uses drought-resistant or drought-tolerant plants. A registered trademark of Denver Water.