I had to share this graphic. Look at the Portland Metro area. There are only 3 parts of the community that did not loose value in the last year: Tigard/Wilsonville and Lake Oswego/West Linn. And appreciation in LO/WL has been a healthy 5.9%. You should feel very good about choosing Lake Oswego as a place to live or to aspire to live. Not only is it a terrific community, but it’s a great investment.
Linda and I want to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year filled with success, health, happiness, and everything you are striving for in the months ahead.
On this Christmas Day, Dianne and I wish you and your loved ones a holiday filled with all the cozy things you associate with this time of year. In this big world, we are grateful for so many things, and we wish you more of exactly what fills your home with Joy. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you!
Many Realtors plan cruises and vacation trips at this time of year. Very early on in my real estate career, my Principal Broker handed me a tenet …an affirmation of sorts that I adopted as my own long ago when she said ~ “I am always busy in December.” And so it is.
Life goes on and people always have reasons to pursue changing their living environment no matter what time of year it is. You’ll often hear: “Wait till the spring” and the like. That may or may not be good advice when really looking at the individual’s situation and needs. I thought it might be useful to point out a few things about Real Estate at this time of year~
There are so many “extra” distractions right about now… gift-hunting, party-planning, wrapping, festive food-planning & preparation, school break planning for the kids…not to mention that it is often raining and cold and sometimes snowing. People who are looking for a home at this time of year are serious Buyers. So, as a homeowner who has a reason to make a life-change that involves selling your home right about now, the people coming through your home are not “just looking”. It’s a good thing to narrow/concentrate the Buyer-pool this way! Dianne also often points out that selling your property during the holidays allows you to really create those warm notes that often attract Buyers to a “home” rather than just a house~ Lights in the windows, festive decorations inside & out, and maybe even the smell of cookies authentically in the air. And from the other side of the equation~ Buyers, at this time of year may find they encounter Sellers who are more amenable to taking care of necessary safety/functional repair items and the tone is often more friendly with the goal of working toward mutual-benefit surrounding the transaction. ***So, generally, timing is usually some kind of factor for both the Buyer and the Seller right now which tends to create a cooperative mindset.
I thought it might be important for *someone* reading this to take note of these things should you find yourself in the midst of some life change nudging you to take action. As always, Dianne and I are here for you should this ever be the case.
Last week Lake Oswego had 7 properties entering the market, 8 moving to Pending status and 7 that Closed/Sold. Right now there are 120 properties available ranging from $250/,000 to $11,500,000.
Here is the breakdown according to RMLS:
NEW Nov 20-26, 2023
Address
List Price
Beds
Baths
SF
Prop Type
4 TOUCHSTONE #128
$250,000
$3
2.1
1350
CONDO
11 OSWEGO #11
$332,800
$2
2
1241
CONDO
1724 OAK ST
$870,000
$3
2
2689
DETACHD
18521 WAXWING CIR
$1,250,000
$4
2.1
2936
DETACHD
4355 HAVEN ST
$1,999,900
$4
4.1
3211
DETACHD
17132 LOWENBERG TER
$2,100,000
$4
4.2
3322
DETACHD
4745 DOGWOOD DR
AUCTION
$4
4
3920
DETACHD
PENDING Nov 20-26, 2023
Address
List Price
Beds
Baths
SF
Prop Type
Days
45 EAGLE CREST DR #402
$219,900
$1
1
768
CONDO
71
86 KINGSGATE RD / Upper
$298,000
$2
2
849
CONDO
100
141 TOUCHSTONE CT
$589,000
$3
2.1
2066
ATTACHD
90
16240 PARKER RD
$679,000
$3
2
1454
DETACHD
269
13990 SHIREVA CT
$789,000
$3
2
1702
DETACHD
19
369 5TH ST
$825,000
$2
1
1552
DETACHD
4
6050 CHILDS RD
$900,000
$3
1.1
2129
DETACHD
17
18368 TAMAWAY DR
$1,150,000
$4
3
3741
DETACHD
40
SOLD Nov 20-26, 2023
Address
Opening
Closed
Beds
Baths
SF
Prop Type
Days
51 GREENRIDGE CT
$475,000
$453,457
$2
2
1348
ATTACHD
30
12884 BOONES FERRY RD
$475,000
$472,500
$2
2.1
1210
CONDO
3
12802 BOONES FERRY RD
$479,900
$479,900
$3
2.1
1182
CONDO
87
1228 CEDAR ST
$625,000
$610,000
$3
2
1302
DETACHD
95
34 CHURCHILL DOWNS
$824,000
$725,000
$4
3
2080
DETACHD
56
3460 LAKE GROVE AVE
$1,498,000
$1,450,000
$3
2
1673
DETACHD
49
2275 GLEN HAVEN RD
$2,349,900
$2,234,900
$4
4
4109
DETACHD
2
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 (***We’ve used “Days” in each category for ease of understanding) .
Here are my picks for what to do in Lake Oswego this week!
Mon, Nov 6 , 2023 – Storyline Recording- Listen to short stories, book excerpts and poetry on demand, – INFO:CLICKHERE
Tues, Nov 7, 2023 – 2:30-4:30 PM – Slow Jam ~ Come & enjoy playing music with others! Bring your instrument and make some musical friends.. – ACC, 505 G Avenue Lake Oswego More Info: CLICK HERE
Wed, Nov 8, 2023 – 6:00 PM – Historic Resources Advisory Board ~ Review the Historic Preservation Grant from Lakewood Neighborhood, Revisions to the Historic Preservation Code, Parks Plan & More ~ Lake Oswego City Hall, 380 A Avenue ~ More Info :CLICK HERE
Thurs, Nov 9, 2023 – 6:00 PM – Teen Advisory Board!~Be a part of planning programs including book groups, movie nights and more! ~ Lake Oswego Library, Lower Level, 706 Fourth St. – More Info:CLICK HERE
Fri, Nov 10, 2023 – 2:00-4:00 PM –Family Movie Matinee~ Start your long weekend with a movie on a rainy day at cozy Children’s Library. Featuring “Super”. ~ Lake Oswego Public Library, 706 Fourth St ~ More Info:CLICK HERE
If you have driven anywhere near the lake in the last week or so you can not have helped but notice that the water level is down significantly. So what’s up?
Every 3 years the water level for the lake is dropped about 10 feet. This allows people who live on the lake to repair their sea walls, boat houses, and docks. It also allows maintenance to be done for the sewer lines that run along the bottom of the lake. This year a large section in Blue Heron canal is being almost completely replaced.
The drawdown starts in mid October and ends in early December. Then the lake is refilled by rainfall through the winter.
I will also say that, from my experience, it does and nice job of cleaning up the water quality. The lake is prone to grasses and algae and that sort of thing. The summer after a drawdown, swimming in the lake is much nicer than it is the summer before a drawdown.
So it’s all good. The lake will be full in time for the nice spring weather.
Here is your monthly look at what’s happening in Portland metro and how it relates to Lake Oswego (broken out at the bottom)
Overview/Fluctuations ~ Sept 2023 Market Data:
Activity is down as you’d expect in Fall (New, Pending & Closed categories dropped), Inventory is up & prices are down. If you’re a Buyer this is your season! If you’re a Seller, pricing right will draw out the activity & potential multiple Offers putting you in a good position. The bulk of overall sales are narrowed between the $400,000 – $700,000 price range.
Rates: “Geopolitical events are tempering the pressure on rates. Currently rates are in your mid 7% range.” Gary Boyer, Regional VP, Directors Mortgage
According to the RMLS Market Action Report for the Portland Metro Area-September 2023:
There were 2,713 New Listings in Sept– which is down 13.9% from 3,151 in Sept 2022 and down 7.2% from the 2,923 in the previous month/August.
At 1,717 Sept 2023’s Closed Sales (Solds) are down 23.2% from Sept 2022’s 2,237, and decreased 20.3% from the previous month’s total of 2,155.
At 1,809 Sept 2023’s Pending Sales (Accepted Offers) are down 9.7% from Sept 2022’s 2,003, and also down 11.9% from the previous month/August’s total of 2,053.
The Average Sale Price for Sept 2023 of, $595,900 is down$2,800. from last year/Sept 2022’s $598,700, and down $12,400 from the previous month/August’s $608,300.
The “Median Sale Price (the price smack dab in the middle of all sales) in Sept 2023 of $537,400 dropped $10,600 from Sept 2022’s $548,000, & up just $500 from August’s $536,900.
LAKE OSWEGO: (Sept ’23)
279 Active Listings (Aug 290) 137 New Listings (Aug 151) 98 Pending Sales (Aug 93) 75 Closed Sales (Aug 111) Average Sale Price for Sept: $1,076,600 (Aug $1,184,900) NOTE: Higher-Priced vs Lower-Priced Homes Sales can skew the “Average” in any given month. Lake Oswego has quite a variety, so this tends to be a less meaningful stat, generally speaking, in this niche. 51 Days on the Market (Aug 44)
The data listed above is as reported by the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS
Here are my picks of what to do in Lake Oswego this week ~
Mon, Oct 9, 2023 – 4:00 PM – Planning Commission – Marylhurst Commons/Mercy Greenbrae Tour– The offsite meeting is for the purpose of learning more about this development in order to inform the City’s work to develop a Housing Production Strategy (HPS) in compliance with state House Bill 2003 (2019) (PP 22-0005) . Mercy Greenbrae Apartments: Greenbrae INFO HERE , INFO ON TOUR:CLICKHERE
Tues, Oct 10, 2023 – 1:00 PM – GRIEF RELIEF-Recover & Rebuild After Loss Series ~ Get help navigating through grief with tips, tools and discussion. This class is led by Georgena Grace, MA, RSCP, CRS who is a Trauma Specialist, Grief Guide, and the owner of the Integrated Wellbeing Institute. – ACC, 505 G Avenue Lake Oswego More Info: CLICK HERE
Wed, Oct 11, 2023 – 6:00 PM – Historic Resources Advisory Board ~ Review the Historic Preservation Grant from Lakewood Neighborhood, Revisions to the Historic Preservation Code, Parks Plan & More ~ Lake Oswego City Hall, 380 A Avenue ~ More Info :CLICK HERE
Thurs, Oct 12, 2023 – 6:00 PM – Teen Advisory Board!~Be a part of planning programs including book groups, movie nights and more! ~ Lake Oswego Library, Lower Level, 706 Fourth St. – More Info:CLICK HERE
Fri, Oct 13, 2023 – 7:00-9:00 PM – Living Well Dance featuring the Millennium Dance Band ~ Come dance to big band music of the 30’s, 40’s & 50’s with an occasional ballroom favorite. (Under 14 requires adult accompaniment.) ~ CCP, 1060 Chandler Rd ~ More Info:CLICK HERE
Sat, Oct 14, 2023 – 10:00 AM-2:00 PM– Lake Oswego & West Linn Wellness Fair – All are welcome to this Free event dedicated to poviding a fun, educational day for people to learn more about health, wellness and sustainability opportunities throughout our surrounding communities. ~ Millennium Plaza Park, 200 1st Street ~ More Info :CLICK HERE
Last week in Lake Oswego we had 9 properties come onto the market, 2 of which sold quickly and appear in this report as pending sales. We had 16 properties go into pending status and 17 sold/closed sales.
See below for RMLS data.
New on the Market Aug 28-Sept 3, 2023
Address
Type
Price
Bedrooms
Baths
Sq Feet
284 Cervantes
Condo
$365,000
2
2
1052
16250 Pacific Hwy j#46
Condo
$449,000
2
2
1305
16200 Pacific Hwy #29
Condo
$500,000
2
2
1207
13349 Hidden Bay Ct
Detached
$,1,100,000
3
3
3012
14863 Twin Fir Ct
Detached
$1,170,000
4
3
2028
3894 Tamarack Ln
Detached
$1,499,000
4
3.5
4035
4688 Upper Dr
Detached
$2,198000
4
3.5
3962
Pending Sales Aug 28-Sept 3, 2023
Address
Type
Price
Bedrooms
Baths
Sq Feet
DOM
3433 McNary Pdwy
Condo
$299,000
2
2
1008
38
4469 Golden Ln
Condo
$420,000
2
2.5
2002
30
17825 Tualata Ave
Detached
$535,000
3
1.5
1182
11
85 Tanglewood Dr
Detached
$599,000
4
3
2323
1
6 The Grotto
Detached
$599,000
3
2
1381
1
1368 Boca Ratan Dr
Attached
$610,000
3
2
1683
23
6062 Burma Rd
Detached
$639,000
5
2
1875
96
107 Kingsgate Rd
Detached
$674,900
3
2
1516
1
89 Kingsgate Rd
Detached
$675,000
3
2.5
1713
12
16 Aquinas St
Detached
$698,000
3
2.5
1720
27
16 Walking Woods Dr
Detached
3
2.5
2897
6
13104 Rogers Rd
Detached
$985,000
4
2.5
2889
3
885 Lake Forest Dr
Detached
$1,075,000
4
3
2206
11
353 3rd St
Attached
$1,195,000
3
3.5
2044
39
2600 Glenmorrie Dr
Detached
$2,298,000
4
3.5
4232
13
807 Ellis Ave
Detached
$3,600,000
5
5
5267
11
Sold/Closed Aug 28-Sept 3, 2023
Address
Type
List Price
Sold Price
Sq Feet
CDOM
18 Britten Ct
Attached
$649,900
$630,000
1972
56
16 Britten Ct
Attached
$665,000
$655,832
1972
1
5050 Greentree Rd
Detached
$799,900
$735,000
2052
49
5117 Greensborough Ct
Detached
795,000
$800,000
1692
4
13388 Auburn Ct
Attached
$839,500
$800,000
2492
48
412 Livingood Ln
Detached
$998,900
$935,000
3880
33
17532 Oak Meadow Ln
Detached
$1,299,900
$1,225,000
3046
35
1255 Bickner St
Detached
$1,350,000
$1,275,000
2817
25
17299 Lake Haven Dr
Detached
$1,329,000
$1,400,000
2656
4
1888 Oak Knoll Ct
Detached
$1,495,000
$1,400,000
3022
28
2301 Wembley Park Rd
Detached
$2,100,000
$2,007,500
3600
23
15575 Village Dr
Detached
$2,225,000
$2,087,870
3163
10
608 Cabana Ln
Detached
$2,595,000
$2,595,000
2000
0
547 Northshore Rd
Detached
$2,250,000
$2,600,000
3766
11
17264 Lake Haven Dr
Detached
$2,600,000
$2,600,000
3911
0
1653 Lake Front Rd
Detached
$6,998,000
$6,998,000
6274
0
4357 Southshore Blvd
Detached
$10,500,000
$10,500,000
5162
0
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