Tag: buying a home in Lake Oswego

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Open Houses for Sunday, June 7th, 2009

There are currently 31 homes scheduled to be held open in Lake Oswego on June 7th, according to the RMLS:

100 SW Kerr Pkwy, $97,900. 1 BR, 1 BTH, 617 sq. feet, open 1:30-3:30

4465 Golden Lane, $275,000. 2 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 1980 sq. feet, open 2-4

5094 Galen, $299,999. 3 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 1438 sq. feet, open 1-3

4 Weatherstone, $224,950. 3 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 1692 sq. feet, open 1-3

3009 Wembley Park Rd, $379,900. 3 BR, 1.5 BTHS, 1754 sq. feet, open 1-4

16824 Inverurie Rd, $389,900. 3 BR, 3 BTHS, 1896 sq. feet, open 2-4

16950 Lakeridge Dr, $479,000. 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 2305 sq. feet, open 2-4

41 Hillshire Dr, $494,000. 4 BR, 3 BTHS, 2670 sq. feet, open 1:30-3:30

14412 Meadow Grass, $500,000. 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 3563 sq. feet, open 1-3

624 Livingood Ln, $549,000. 4 BR, 3 BTHS, 2596 sq. feet, open 1-4

5400 Bay Creek Dr, $550,000. 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 2856 sq. feet, open 1-3

4736 Amherst Ct, $589,000. 3 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 2800 sq. feet, open 3-5

4691 Chelsea Ln, $599,000. 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 3102 sq. feet, open 1-3

11 Cellini Ct, $599,950. 5 BR, 3 BTHS, 3392 sq. feet, open 11:30-2:30

1322 Glenmorrie Dr, $725,000. 3 BR, 3 BTHS, 2752 sq. feet, open 1-4

4625 Firwood Rd, $899,900. 3 BR, 3 BTHS, 4976 sq. feet, open 1-4

511 6th St, $928,950. 5 BR, 3.5 BTHS, 4000 sq. feet, open 1-3

17878 Hillside Dr, $970,000. 5 BR, 3 BTHS, 3462 sq. feet, open 3-5

2304 Oswego Glen Ct, $995,000. 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, 3896 sq. feet, open 2-4

17178 Cedar Rd, $1,195,000. 5 BR, 3.5 BTHS, 4209 sq. feet, open 2-3:30

17404 Bergis Farm Dr, $1,198,000. 5 BR. 4.5 BTHS, 5394 sq. feet, open 1-3

12819 Alto Park Rd, $1,225,000. 4 BR, 4.5 BTHS, 3944 sq. feet, open 2-4

2625 Summit Dr, $1,289,900. 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, 4212 sq. feet, open 12:30-2:30

2326 Oswego Glen Ct, $1,295,000. 4 BR, 4 BTHS, 4178 sq. feet, open 2-4

17464 Ridgeview Ln, $1,298,950. 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, 4407 sq. feet, open 2-4

664 Oak Meadow Dr, $1,355,000. 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, 4198 sq. feet, open 2-4

657 Oak Meadow Dr, $1,395,000. 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, 4371 sq. feet, open 2-4

16737 Maple Circle, $1,400.000. 3 BR, 3 BTHS, 1683 sq. feet, open 12:00-1:30

17364 Ridgeview Ct, $1,425,000. 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, 4436 sq. feet, open 2-4

17433 Ridgeview Ln, $1,495,000. 4 BR, 4.5 BTHS, 4704 sq. feet, open 2-4

975 Lake Front Rd, $1,695,000. 3 BR, 3 BTHS, 3232 sq. feet, open 2-3:30

Have a great weekend!

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First Time Home Buyer? ~ What to Expect:

house

I was reading an article recently regarding the $8,000. tax credit for first time home buyers, and the writer expressed shock at how many people are completely unaware of it. I have noticed in my own practice recently that the larger PR machine has evidently not been doing a very good job at educating the public, as some of my clients reveal innocence on this subject as well when they discuss their leisurely plans to purchase “sometime in January of next year” etc. (the tax credit is only applicable if the home purchase is completed before December 1st of this year.) I also have heard more & more folks lately talking about attending “First Time Home Buyer Classes” presented usually by Realtors and Mortgage Brokers as a service to the public.

It seems to me that there is a real need for information out there right now. I thought I’d give a little primer below on at least the basics of what to expect during your first home-buying experience. Hope you find it helpful!

(Note: The sequence below does not apply to each and every transaction as each is individual and scenarios/time lines obviously vary. Your Realtor will be doing many more things behind the scenes than I indicate below as well, but I am sticking to outlining YOUR experience and how you can expect that to unfold… generally speaking.)

  • Retain services of a mortgage professional (lender) to give you best options for financing, and have an approval letter ready for you when you make an offer. Discuss “closing costs” with your mortgage professional, and review the “good faith estimate” that they will provide to you. (If you have a relationship with a Realtor first, ask them to recommend good resources for you.)
  • Work with your Realtor to find the home that meets your needs.
  • Work with your Realtor to determine appropriate offer & details/then write it up.
  • Realtor submits offer to Seller along with approval letter from lender and earnest money check. Note: The EM check is to show good faith, and is applied to the sale should your offer be accepted and proceed to close. Talk with your Realtor about what amount will put your best foot forward. (*Sometimes Promissory Notes may be used, and/but I highly recommend using an EM check to be taken most seriously.
  • Receive response/acceptance/counter from Seller in time frame you specified on the offer (in a normal transaction you typically ask for response within 24 hours, but if it is a “short sale”, the process of hearing back that you are indeed accepted by all parties concerned can take months.)
  • Upon mutual acceptance (usually within 1-3 days), schedule an inspection ASAP (you have 10 business days to conduct inspections & may back out if concerns arise during this time). Your Realtor will help you with this- Ask him or her for good resources to guide you through the process of inspecting the home. Prices vary, but a 2000 square foot house will often run around $400. more or less, and size as well as other factors come into play in the cost of an inspection.
  • Upon mutual acceptance, your earnest money check is sent to the Escrow Office, and held by them on your behalf until closing, or until nullification of the offer if this occurs within your inspection period.
  • Realtor writes and negotiates any Inspection Addendum items during this period according to your wishes (you will work with your Realtor to discuss and determine any give and take in the negotiation process that may occur. Your Realtor will offer you information and give professional advice, negotiating on your behalf and with your permission. You are in the driver’s seat, and you make the final decisions albeit under good counsel.
  • Upon mutual acceptance & reaching the end of your inspection period, your Realtor notifies the lender who orders the appraisal.
  • Your Realtor continues to work with the lender as the lending process moves forward. As long as the appraisal comes back at or above sale/offer price, you will proceed to closing through the underwriting process of the lender. Should the property not appraise for at least the sale amount, the lender will bring this to your attention and there will be some decisions for you to make around the sale price and your desire for the home (you are not required to pay any monies over and above the appraisal amount, and lenders will not lend more than the appraised value generally speaking.)
  • You may be requested by the underwriter to provide additional information on a case by case basis. Your Realtor will work with you and help in any way possible and appropriate to facilitate the flow of information required from you, but you are in the driver’s seat as far as responsibility to provide the necessary information to the lender.
  • When all underwriter/lender requirements have been met, the file is signed off by the underwriter, and passed to Escrow. The whole lender process usually takes around 3-4 weeks.
  • Escrow processes all paperwork, title insurance, and all distribution of funds between you and the seller as per the contract provisions agreed upon between you and the Seller. Documents are drafted, and a “signing date/time” is scheduled. (“Signing” is not the same as “Closing”.)
  • Your Realtor will often attend your signing with you to help with any questions that arise, and to offer moral support. (Frankly, I just love being a part of the exciting culmination of the home buying adventure!)
  • Escrow will then send signed documents back to the lender, and to the county. The transaction will then “close” or “fund & record” in 1-2 days after signing, at which time you will receive a call that you are a homeowner!
  • Your Realtor will usually meet you at your new home and deliver you the keys. (More fun!)
  • The whole process from offer to close usually takes around 30 days… sometimes 40-45. It can take a little longer depending on the lender, and sometimes it takes less time than that. You and your Realtor will assign a “no later than” date on your offer in conjunction with talking to the lender about their current load & closing time line. All parties are then obligated to “perform” within that time frame, or draft an addendum extending the closing date if that proves necessary and IF all parties agree to do it. (Because there always exists the possibility that one party may not agree to sign an extension addendum, and the contract specifically states “on or before” a particular date, the closing date is a binding contractual agreement and should be taken very seriously. As a buyer, your earnest money is at stake if you should not “perform” to contact terms.)

The above may be missing some pieces of the puzzle as each transaction is different, and various issues can arise during the process, but hopefully this give you a basic idea of how it will go!

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Open Houses for Sunday, May 24, 2009

goldendiningroomAlong 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.

Joining my open house on Sunday are these properties:

16824 Inverurie, $389,900. 1896 sq. feet, 3 BR, 3 BTHS, open 1-3

41 Hillshire, $498,500. 2670 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3 BTHS, open 1:30-3:30

17393 Grandview Ct, $649,900. 3672 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 1-3

2814 Vale Ct, $719,900. 3192 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3 BTHS, open noon-3

730 8th St, $799,000. 2395 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3 BTHS, open 2-4

17215 Lowenberg Terrace, $850,000. 2819 sq. feet, 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, open 12:30-3:30

511 6th St, $928,950. 4000 sq. feet, 5 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open noon-2

1015 Andrews Rd, $999,900. 3367 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3 BTHS, open 2-4

900 Fairway Rd, $1,094,000. 3508 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open noon-2

17464 Ridgeview Lane, $1,298,950. 4407 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

622 Oak Meadow Dr, $1,325,000. 4171 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

16359 Chapin Way, $1,349,000. 4158 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 1-4

664 Oak Meadow Dr, $1,355,000. 4198 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

657 Oak Meadow Dr, $1,395,000. 4371 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

17364 Ridgeview Ct, $1,425,000. 4436 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

17433 Ridgeview Lane, $1,495,000. 4704 sq. feet, 4 BR, 4.5 BTHS, open 2-4

Along with enjoying the sunny weather and a great day of visiting open houses on Sunday, let’s also be sure to take a moment to reflect on those who have given their lives for our country.  Having a son currently in the military, and having a brother-in-law who was lost to us while serving, Memorial Day holds a particularly deep meaning in my heart.  It is an important day for reflecting upon those who make our freedom possible.

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Market Activity Report ~ May 11 – 17, 2009

This last week Lake Oswego saw 23 new properties placed on the market, Pending sales at 12 and 4 Sold/closed. We’re still seeing buyers out for all price ranges, and the trend continuing of newer listings selling as well as homes that have been on the market for extended periods… it is one or the other it seems!

Here is the latest market activity for Lake Oswego (see below the tables for additional notes):

NEWLY LISTED (May 11—May 17, 2009)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
LIST DATE
Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type List Date
45 EAGLE CREST DR $134,900 2 1.1 1,056 CONDO 5/14/2009
3433 MCNARY PKWY $157,500 2 2.1 1,208 CONDO 5/11/2009
86 KINGSGATE RD $159,900 2 2 924 CONDO 5/11/2009
45 EAGLE CREST DR $259,900 3 2 1,348 CONDO 5/13/2009
222 CERVANTES $259,990 3 1.1 1,464 CONDO 5/15/2009
16850 CORTEZ CT $285,000 4 1.1 1,232 DETACHD 5/12/2009
16501 LAKE FOREST BLVD $319,900 3 1 1,429 DETACHD 5/13/2009
13024 ROGERS RD $389,900 4 1 1,826 DETACHD 5/15/2009
12519 27TH PL $399,000 3 2.1 1,975 DETACHD 5/11/2009
4181 COBB WAY $429,900 4 3 2,248 DETACHD 5/14/2009
17825 SARAH HILL LN $464,900 4 2.1 2,525 DETACHD 5/15/2009
14 TANGLEWOOD DR $499,999 5 3 3,384 DETACHD 5/14/2009
2062 CEDAR CT $525,000 3 1 1,800 DETACHD 5/15/2009
17445 LAKE HAVEN DR $539,900 4 3 2,949 DETACHD 5/11/2009
4040 VIRGINIA WAY $595,000 4 2.1 2,484 DETACHD 5/11/2009
18490 RAY RIDGE DR $679,900 4 3 3,426 DETACHD 5/15/2009
17455 BLUE HERON RD $850,000 3 2 2,572 DETACHD 5/13/2009
3967 CANAL RD $1,150,000 4 4 3,800 DETACHD 5/12/2009
2625 SUMMIT DR $1,337,500 4 3.1 4,212 DETACHD 5/11/2009
624 ATWATER RD $1,438,000 5 3.1 4,465 DETACHD 5/11/2009
18977 BARTON RD $1,695,000 4 3.1 4,648 DETACHD 5/15/2009
397 FURNACE ST $1,850,000 3 2.1 2,864 DETACHD 5/13/2009
13701 GOODALL RD $2,475,000 4 4.1 6,028 DETACHD 5/14/2009

PENDING SALES (May 11-May 17, 2009)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
DOM
Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type List Date CDOM
1897 BOCA RATAN DR $237,100 3 2.1 1,739 ATTACHD 4/13/2009 33
5101 JEAN RD $242,000 3 1 1,012 DETACHD 1/22/2009 233
200 Burnham RD $264,850 2 2 1,313 CONDO 6/30/2007 682
1615 HALLINAN ST $279,000 3 1.1 1,500 DETACHD 2/17/2009 86
1107 CEDAR ST $324,999 4 3 2,485 DETACHD 5/11/2009 4
18307 LONGFELLOW AVE $329,900 3 2 1,457 DETACHD 5/7/2009 262
18929 TERRY AVE $356,950 4 2 2,065 DETACHD 3/30/2009 44
2317 STONEHURST CT $749,900 4 2.1 4,455 DETACHD 5/1/2009 374
13874 TAYLORS CREST LN $750,000 4 2.1 3,701 DETACHD 5/11/2009 3
5513 RACHEL LN $799,999 4 2.1 3,149 DETACHD 4/16/2009 435
18224 Bella Terra DR $1,294,000 4 4 4,050 DETACHD 4/11/2008 397

SOLD (May 11-May 17, 2009)

ADDRESS ORIG. PRICE SALE PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
DOM
Address O/Price Close Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type List Date CDOM
4 TOUCHSTONE $93,000 $86,000 2 2 979 CONDO 4/10/2009 10
5235 OAKRIDGE RD $324,900 $290,000 3 2.1 1,576 DETACHD 11/18/2008 129
5441 DENTON DR $599,000 $599,000 3 2.1 3,331 DETACHD 1/26/2009 242
17706 MARYLBROOK DR $685,000 $623,500 3 2.2 3,039 DETACHD 12/14/2008 392

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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Lake Oswego Open Houses – Sunday May 17th, 2009

There are 41 great properties to see on Sunday in Lake Oswego. No matter what price level or type of home you are looking for, you will be sure to find some fun options on the list below! Enjoy a beautiful Sunday!

Here are those that will be held open according to RMLS:

100 Kerr Pkwy #35 $97,900 1 Bd, 1 Ba Open 1:30-3:30

45 Eagle Crest Dr #315 $134,900 2 Bd, 1 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

4465 Golden Ln $275,000 2 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-4

5094 Galen St $299,999 3 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

18543 Longfellow Ave $317,500 3 Bd, 1 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

800 Woodway Ct $339,000 4 Bd, 3 Ba Open 2-4

1685 Mapleleaf Rd $365,000 3 Bd, 2 Ba Open 1-4

17311 Ashley Ct $385,000 4 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 12-2

3009 Wembley Park Rd $395,000 3 Bd, 1 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

3 Cellini Ct $449,000 4 Bd 2 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

41 Hillshire Dr $498,500 4 Bd, 3 Ba Open 1:30-3:30

17088 Rebecca Ln $499,000 4 Bd, 3 Ba Open 1:30-3:30

3745 Tempest Dr $499,900 4 Bd, 3 Ba Open 1-3

161 C Ave $524,900 2 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-4

17445 Lake Haven Dr $539,900 4 Bd, 3 Ba Open 1-4

624 Livingood Ln $549,000 4 Bd, 3 Ba Open 1-4

4114 Glacier Lily St $579,000 4 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 12-2

16920 Greentree Ave $579,000 4 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

400 Lake Bay Ct $579,900 3 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

952 A Ave $599,000 3 Bd, 2 Ba Open 1-3

364 Northshore Rd $674,900 4 Bd, 2 Ba Open 1-3

580 Weidman Ct $695,000 5 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

13768 Knaus Rd $699,000 3 Bd, 2 Ba Open 1:30-3

4076 Orchard Dr $719,000 4 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

2688 Rivendell Rd $835,000 4 Bd, 3 Ba Open 1-3

511 6th St $928,950 5 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 2:30-4:30

17211 Blue Heron Rd $939,900 3 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 3-5

1785 Palisades Terrace Dr $960,000 5 Bd, 4 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

17878 Hillside Dr $970,000 5 Bd, 3 Ba Open 1-4

301 Iron Mountain Blvd $999,000 4 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

943 SW Atwater Rd $999,500 4 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

577 Middlecrest Rd $1,045,000 4 Bd, 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-3

17512 Greenbluff Dr $1,074,900 4 Bd, 4 Ba Open 1-4

18106 Pilkington Rd $1,095,000 4 Bd, 4 1/2 Ba Open 12-2

17464 Ridgeview Ln $1,298,950 4 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

622 Oak Meadow Dr $1,325,000 4 Bd 3 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

664 Oak Meadow Dr $1,355,000 4 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

657 Oak Meadow Dr $1,395,000 4 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

17364 Ridgeview Ct $1,425,000 4 Bd, 3 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

17433 Ridgeview Ln $1,495,000 4 Bd, 4 1/2 Ba Open 2-4

17554 Greenbluff Dr $1,499,900 4 Bd, 4 & 2 1/2 Ba Open 1-4

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~ The Dog Whisperer ~

valerie_3There is such a panoply of amenities in Lake Oswego that Dianne and I have been talking about incorporating profiles of local favorites from time to time. I thought I’d begin with a very special person who I would be lost without… my local “dog-whisperer”, Valerie Pulley.

Ever notice that periodically certain topics tend to pop up any time you turn on the television or are in conversations with different groups of people? Lately itnyree1 seems it has been the subject of pets, and dogs in particular. We all know what a Portuguese Water Dog is now, thanks to “Beau” at the White House. I know our own friend & blogging cohort, Ron Ares, wrote a post most recently about his own dog, Nyree (left), adopted by the Ares family to save her from becoming a casualty of foreclosure. I’ve seen pieces on local and national news about the amazing number of dogs that have been abandoned or taken to shelters as fallout from the current economy, and it is heartbreaking to consider.

Recently, a friend of mine who has been experiencing the stress of the economy herself, told me a story that made me race out the door, camera and notepad in hand. My friend’s dog was badly in need of grooming, being a breed that really needs some professional upkeep. It had been awhile, and though she felt horrible about it, she just didn’t have the funds to spare. We both frequent the same wonderful dog groomer, Valerie Pulley, and she told me that Valerie was so concerned about her pooch that she called & asked my friend to please just come in and consider it her gift. Valerie knew the dog needed her attention, and decided that this was the most important thing. Well… word about special people like Valerie spreads quickly in a community like Lake Oswego, and while I don’t want to encourage others to solicit favors : ) I DO want folks to know about her, and others like her, and so a few words about this exceptional person:

Valerie has been a professional dog groomer since 1994 when she completed her schooling in Phoenix. Her mother was a dog breeder, and Valerie’s plan in the beginning was simply to assist her mother. It didn’t take her long to realize that she had a special talent, and wanted to make this her career. Valerie just loves dogs, and they tend to sense it. Her ownkato1 Staffordshire Terrier, Fedore, is her pride & joy, I’ve been taking my crazy black Standard Schnauzer, Kato (right) , to Valerie for years, and she is the only one who can calm him down enough to let his toenails be clipped. Turns out others have noticed this talent as well, and dog owners from far and wide bring their “hard to handle” pets to Valerie for tender loving care. Valerie mentions that “Some dogs have been kicked out of every grooming salon in Portland for biting, scratching, and generally squirming and freaking out. They bring them to me because I am the only one they’ve found to be able to handle them.” I valerie_4ask her why she thinks this is, and she says “I’m just not afraid of them, and I care about them.” She has been working in the Lake Oswego area for around 12 years now, spending some of her career at the Lake Oswego Dog Shoppe, and now is working for Groomingdales in Tualatin on Nyberg Rd., just about five minutes from my house & a toe over the Lake Oswego borderline. A customer notices that I am interviewing Valerie and volunteers “I come here all the way from Sherwood. They’re so nice & so good I wouldn’t go anywhere else.” For my part, I’ll go anywhere Valerie is… and Kato is very grateful.

You can reach Valerie at: 503 692 WOOF (9663).

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Market Activity Report for May 4-10, 2009

There were quite a few new listings last week: 27 in all. That is not counting the 14 that I found to be “refreshed”. In other words the listing was pulled and then put in again to look new in the data base. We had a fairly good number of houses that went pending: 14 total. And then there was just one closed sale. While the market is certainly starting to pick up, it is still off of the pace of the spring market in 2007 and 2008. I was also glad to see the pending sale in Cheryl Ct. There is so much high-end inventory that every single sale that happens is important.

Here is the latest market activity for Lake Oswego (see below the tables for additional notes):

NEWLY LISTED (

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ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
LIST DATE
Address List Price # BR # BTHS Total SF Prop Type List Date
45 EAGLE CREST DR $168,950 2 2 1,056 CONDO 5/4/2009
200 BURNHAM RD $204,900 1 1 943 CONDO 5/4/2009
19138 PILKINGTON RD $275,000 3 1.1 1,099 DETACHD 5/4/2009
4214 WOODSIDE CIR $309,900 3 2.1 1,841 ATTACHD 5/8/2009
5918 SEVILLE AVE $315,000 4 2 1,752 DETACHD 5/9/2009
3269 PHYLLIS CT $379,900 3 1.2 1,818 DETACHD 5/4/2009
534 2ND ST $399,000 2 2.1 1,394 CONDO 5/7/2009
5523 ROYAL OAKS DR $475,000 2 2 1,817 DETACHD 5/5/2009
18042 JENIFERS WAY 514900 3 2.1 2,559 DETACHD 5/8/2009
5502 KODERRA AVE 539900 4 2.1 3,058 DETACHD 5/8/2009
5948 BAY POINT DR 539950 4 2.1 2,421 DETACHD 5/6/2009
5525 RACHEL LN 542900 3 2.1 2,375 DETACHD 5/8/2009
17997 BRAEDEN CT 544900 3 2.1 2,142 DETACHD 5/8/2009
18020 JENIFERS WAY 546900 4 2.1 3,086 DETACHD 5/8/2009
17985 BRAEDEN CT 554900 3 2.1 2,559 DETACHD 5/8/2009
3061 WESTVIEW CT 560000 4 3 3,396 DETACHD 5/5/2009
5568 KODERRA AVE 566900 4 2.1 2,997 DETACHD 5/8/2009
16920 GREENTREE AVE 579000 4 2.1 2,830 DETACHD 5/10/2009
952 A AVE 599000 3 2 2,912 DETACHD 5/4/2009
5590 KODERRA AVE 599900 4 2.1 3,072 DETACHD 5/8/2009
11 CELLINI CT 599950 5 3 3,392 DETACHD 5/8/2009
2110 GREENTREE RD 879000 4 3.1 2,852 DETACHD 5/6/2009
2044 RIDGEWOOD RD 895500 4 2 2,466 DETACHD 5/8/2009
1224 TYNDALL CT 965000 5 3.1 4,157 DETACHD 5/6/2009
589 7TH ST 979000 4 3.1 4,382 DETACHD 5/9/2009
18026 SKYLAND CIR 1475000 5 3.1 4,134 DETACHD 5/9/2009
1835 PALISADES TERRACE DR 1899500 4 3 3,380 DETACHD 5/5/2009

PENDING SALES (May 4-May 10, 2009)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
DOM
Address List Price # BR # BTHS Total SF Prop Type CDOM
44 EAGLE CREST DR $124,950 1 1 798 CONDO 63
4 TOUCHSTONE $134,900 3 2.1 1,350 CONDO 138
83 OSWEGO SMT $179,000 2 2 1,140 CONDO 280
5831 SEVILLE AVE $199,900 4 1 1,320 DETACHD 253
668 MCVEY AVE $218,000 3 1.1 1,184 CONDO 61
1897 BOCA RATAN DR $237,100 3 2.1 1,739 ATTACHD 24
925 IRON MOUNTAIN BLVD $269,900 3 2 2,070 DETACHD 639
1716 HALLINAN ST $369,500 3 3 1,916 DETACHD 28
108 RIDGEWAY RD 379000 3 1 1,468 DETACHD 493
1462 Worthington ST 424000 4 3 1,800 DETACHD 60
4070 WESTBAY RD 449996 3 2 1,828 DETACHD 6
17102 CAMPUS WAY 475000 4 3 2,621 DETACHD 56
1065 LUND ST 799000 5 3.1 4,584 DETACHD 78
1937 CHERYL CT 1225000 4 3.1 5,065 DETACHD 273

SOLD (May 4-May 10, 2009)

ADDRESS ORIG. PRICE SALE PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
DOM
Address O/Price Close Price # BR # BTHS Total SF Prop Type CDOM
1961 SUMMIT DR $1,180,000 $825,000 3 2.1 3,218 DETACHD 268

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, April 10th, 2009

With this Sunday being Mother’s Day, and the weather forecast looking like it’s going to be spectacular, this Sunday just might be the perfect time to grab your favorite Mom and go house hunting.  The RMLS has 14 houses currently advertised to be open this Sunday, including 41 Hillshire, which is in this week’s featured neighborhood, Westridge.

82 Oswego Summit, $234,900. 1212 square feet, 2 BR, 2 BTHS, open 2-5

4465 Golden Lane, $275,000. 1980 square feet, 2 BR, 2.5 BTHS, open 1-4

4458 Thunder Vista Ln, $310,000. 2200 square feet, 3 BR, 2.5 BTHS, open 1-4

4325 Country Woods Ct, $334,900. 1346 square feet, 3 BR, 2 BTHS, open 1-4

41 Hillshire Dr, $498,500. 2670 square feet, 4 BR, 3 BTHS, open 1:30-3:30

13500 Twin Creek Ln, $572,500. 3049 square feet, 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, open 1-4

11 Cellini Ct, $599,950. 3392 square feet, 5 BR, 3 BTHS, open 1-4

17464 Ridgeview Ln, $1,298,950. 4407 square feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

622 Oak Meadow Dr, $1,325,000. 4171 square feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

664 Oak Meadow Dr, $1,355,000. 4198 square feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

657 Oak Meadow Dr, $1,395,000. 4371 square feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

16359 Chapin Way, $1,398,000. 4158 square feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 1-4

17364 Ridgeview Ct, $1,425,000. 4436 square feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

17433 Ridgeview Ct, $1,495,000. 4704 square feet, 4 BR, 4.5 Bths, open 2-4

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother’s Day.

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Featured Neighborhood: Westridge

westridge-sign1It’s time to showcase another of Lake Oswego’s wonderful neighborhoods, Westridge. Westridge is not very large.  According to city-data.com, it is  just .238 of a square mile. It is bordered on the West by Bryant Rd, on the North by Royce Way, on the East by Cooks Butte Park, and on the South by Childs Rd. The population of the neighborhood is about 650 people, which translates to about 300 houses. It’s been my experience that people who live in Westridge love it. They will often move within the neighborhood rather than move out of it. So what’s the attraction?

First, it’s a very quiet area. There are no through streets that people use to get from one part of town to another. There are only neighborhood streets. So the only cars driving into the area are those of people who live there or their guests.

westridge-trail1Second, it has two terrific parks. Cooks Butte Park is on the Eastern edge of Westridge. It’s 42 acres of natural area. It’s what is called a passive park. In other words, it is left quite natural with soft-surface trails for hiking, but not a lot of development such as picnic structures or play grounds. It is best enjoyed for the trees, the trails, and the views. The top of the park has an elevation of 718′. It’s a wonderful spot to hike up to and then sit and watch the sunset. The other park is Westridge Park. It’s adjacent to Westridge Elementary School. It’s 2.2 acres and has a playground, a volleyball area, and a soccer/little league field. This is where you take the kids to burn off some energy and to enjoy a fine, sunny afternoon.

Last is the reputation of Westridge Elementary School. It is a very highly regarded school. While the schools in Lake Oswego all have good reputations, Westridge Elementary seems to stand out. It has a Distinguished Great Schools rating of 10 out of 10, according to the website greatschools.net.

westridge-park1Housing in Westridge is all single family homes. There are no condominiums or apartment buildings. The pricing of what is currently for sale goes from a low of $498,500 for a 2670 square foot home with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, to a high of $899,900 for a 3243 square foot home also with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. I would say that the most basic criteria for the variation in pricing is whether the home has been updated or not. The neighborhood was mostly built in the 1970’s and 1980’s. So if the house still has original kitchen, baths, woodwork and windows, it is just not going to be worth as much as a house that is
all updated. I also know that there are homes in Westridge that easily exceed $1,000,000. It is just that none of the higher-end homes are currently for sale. The homes that are the most expensive often are on extremely large lots. On the South edge of Westridge are Barton and Hilltop roads. These streets have houses on acreage, and those properties more closely resemble estates.

westridge-house1I want to point out a house that Linda and I visited on Broker’s tour on May 5th, 9 Westminster Dr. This home is an excellent example of great value. Built in 1976, it has been extensively updated. The kitchen and baths are all recent. There is new paint and flooring. The house has 3814 square feet, with 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. Probably the most distinguishing feature is a wonderful sunroom that allows you to sit and enjoy the garden all year round. The landscaping is exceptional. There is extensive brick work in patios and outdoor entertaining areas. The yard has sprinklers and it looks to me as though a professional was involved in the layout. It is really wonderful. Priced at just $597,000 it is a stand out for value. I tell people that in this market it is both a beauty pageant and a price war. I think this house wins in both categories.

So it’s easy to see the attraction of the Westridge area. If you’d like information on homes currently for sale in Westridge, please contact either Linda or myself, and we would be happy to send you more information.

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Market Activity Report ~ April 27th- May 3rd, 2009

We’re seeing activity at all phases and in all price ranges. Take a look at the spread- New listings, Pending sales, and Sold properties are coming in well represented from the lower to the higher ends of the price spectrum, and more higher-end homes are coming on the market. What we want to see is that “Sold” number start to climb, and this week we are at 8 of them, with 15 in Pending status, and 17 New properties coming on the market.

We’re also seeing that same trend continuing of properties achieving Pending status after only a week to 2 months, while the remainder of them are properties that have been on the market for 200 & 300+ days. Dianne and I both believe this is a “priced-right” signal, in that newer listings are priced to market demand, and more seasoned listings are finally at prices that meet the buyer where the buyer is comfortable.

Here is the latest market activity for Lake Oswego (see below the tables for additional notes):

NEWLY LISTED (April 27—May 3, 2009)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
LIST DATE
Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type List Date
4000 CARMAN DR $149,500 2 2 935 CONDO 4/28/2009
5051 FOOTHILLS DR $209,900 2 2 991 CONDO 4/30/2009
4325 COUNTRY WOODS CT $334,900 3 2 1,346 DETACHD 4/27/2009
1858 SOUTHSHORE BLVD $449,900 4 2 1,762 DETACHD 4/27/2009
4070 WESTBAY RD $449,996 3 2 1,828 DETACHD 5/1/2009
2 PIMLICO TER $479,900 4 2.1 2,301 DETACHD 4/27/2009
17144 Warren CT $529,000 4 2.1 2,725 DETACHD 4/27/2009
13500 TWIN CREEK LN $572,500 4 2.1 3,049 DETACHD 5/2/2009
4076 Orchard DR $719,000 4 3.1 3,991 DETACHD 4/30/2009
1785 PALISADES TERRACE DR $960,000 5 4.1 5,052 DETACHD 5/1/2009
17814 MARYLCREEK DR $985,000 4 3.1 4,307 DETACHD 5/1/2009
3940 Canal RD $999,900 4 3.1 3,922 DETACHD 5/3/2009
900 FAIRWAY RD $1,094,000 4 3.1 3,508 DETACHD 4/28/2009
2778 GLENMORRIE DR $1,750,000 5 4.3 6,263 DETACHD 5/3/2009
3917 SOUTHSHORE BLVD $2,390,000 3 4.1 3,975 DETACHD 5/1/2009
1719 LAKE FRONT RD $3,888,850 4 5.1 5,251 DETACHD 5/3/2009
1901 PALISADES TERRACE DR $5,950,000 5 4.1 7,284 DETACHD 4/27/2009

PENDING SALES (April 27-May 3, 2009)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
DOM
Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type List Date CDOM
4000 CARMAN DR $144,000 2 2 932 CONDO 4/19/2009 8
16446 INVERURIE RD $259,900 3 1 2,100 DETACHD 1/21/2009 303
15450 SW KIMBALL CT $260,000 4 1.1 1,104 DETACHD 10/4/2008 208
4724 SW FIRWOOD RD $279,900 3 1.1 1,240 DETACHD 7/7/2008 296
2130 WEMBLEY PARK RD $299,900 3 1.1 1,544 DETACHD 1/14/2009 280
6025 KENNY ST $299,900 3 1.1 1,258 DETACHD 4/16/2009 11
605 COUNTRY CLUB RD $399,900 4 2.1 3,422 DETACHD 3/28/2009 163
2 OTHELLO ST $405,000 4 3 2,265 DETACHD 11/18/2008 166
2957 GLEN EAGLES RD $429,900 4 3 3,288 DETACHD 2/3/2009 87
54 AQUINAS ST $499,900 3 2.1 2,802 DETACHD 4/7/2009 25
569 6TH ST $550,000 4 2 2,168 DETACHD 4/22/2009 359
5868 SUNCREEK DR $659,000 4 2.1 3,174 DETACHD 2/23/2009 68
5392 SOUTHWOOD DR $774,900 5 3 3,871 DETACHD 4/15/2009 14
3515 UPPER DR $1,098,000 4 3.1 4,061 DETACHD 3/27/2009 275
18253 Siena DR $1,197,950 5 4 4,281 DETACHD 4/11/2008 382

SOLD (April 27-May 3, 2009)

ADDRESS ORIG. PRICE SALE PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
DOM
Address O/Price Close Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type List Date CDOM
47 EAGLE CREST DR $139,900 $130,000 2 1 947 CONDO 1/30/2009 56
3844 BOTTICELLI ST $219,900 $219,373 2 2 1,132 CONDO 3/31/2009 5
17079 CHERRY CREST AVE $430,000 $390,000 3 2.1 3,002 DETACHD 11/3/2008 154
1009 CUMBERLAND PL $525,000 $395,000 4 3 2,294 DETACHD 11/12/2008 332
4676 WINTHROP CT $639,900 $525,000 4 2.1 3,112 DETACHD 11/18/2008 172
5772 BAY CREEK DR $599,000 $543,000 4 3 3,242 DETACHD 2/5/2009 58
14133 AMBERWOOD CIR $850,000 $740,000 4 2.1 3,200 DETACHD 6/12/2008 278
18475 CRESTLINE DR $1,548,500 $1,420,000 4 4.1 4,660 DETACHD 10/27/2008 148

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.