Tag: buying real estate

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Design Trends for 2019

I find design trends fascinating. When done well they are exciting and something we work to incorporate into our homes. When bad, they are entertaining because I’m curious to see if they will actually catch on. I compiled this list using multiple sources which I have sighted at the end of this post.

Let’s start with trends that are “out”:

Eclectic clutter, boho accessories, too much junk, it comes by many names but it pretty much boils down to rooms that are over loaded with art, pillows, trims and furniture. I find myself asking, was this ever in style? Clean and orderly never goes out of style.

Cherry cabinets. I would agree with this one. A recent article in The Oregonian stated that 43% of home owners want white cabinets. I do think wood cabinets are still popular, but white is making a come back.

Solid-white-quartz counters. I think it’s the white component. As previously stated, white cabinets are popular and white counters with white cabinets are not enough contrast to showcase a beautiful room.

Gallery walls. These are entire walls that are filled with photos and art. I think this falls in line with eclectic clutter, found at the top of this list.

Word art. Whether painted onto the wall or done with large letters that are hung on the wall, this is a design trend that has been around for a very long time. I’m glad to see it go.

Kitchen islands. Really? I mean, really? Don’t we all want a kitchen that is large enough to hold a kitchen island? I don’t think I see this one panning out. The rational is that islands take up a lot of space and provide very little storage. Hmmmm…I don’t see kitchen islands going out of style but time will tell.

Here are the trends that are foreseen as leading design changes for 2019:

Sustainability. This applies to both the materials used and the source of the materials. This one makes total sense to me and is long over due. There are gorgeous woods available in our region without having to log trees out of the rain forests of South America. In line with this concept are materials that are natural and hand made.

Biophilia. This terms is the concept that people and nature are integrated and our homes should reflect that. Think of rooms with large walls and windows that can be opened to to bring the outside in. Back yards with out door living spaces that include comfortable furniture and full cooking capability. It also ties into the sustainability idea by using natural fibers, stone, wood, and natural lighting.

70’s chic, Memphis design, it has quite a few names. The concept is the use of primary colors and graphic shapes. Tile in particular is heavily influenced by this. There is lots of use of geometric shapes and patterns.

Blush pink. One website referred to it as “millennial pink”. That gave me a laugh.

Wall papers and floral prints, oh my. This is one where I want to put out a public service announcement to “just say no”. As you can tell, I’m not a fan.

Vintage lighting. Light fixtures are such an affordable way to update a house. The vintage stuff out there is fantastic. Go with this one.

90% white and 10% color. White is in.

Mixed metals. Brushed bronze was predicted a few years ago to take over brushed nickel in faucets, hardware and kitchen knobs. That didn’t pan out. I think brushed nickel is still far more popular than other metals. Perhaps mixing the metals is a more gentle manner of transitioning. Copper and brass are now commonly found in fixtures and hardware.

These trends appear to be a toss up. Some lists put them on the “out” list, and some put them on the “in” list:

Velvet furniture. Is it plush and funky? Is it dated and stodgy? I think it comes down to what you like. If you like it, go for it.

Jewel tones. These are bold blues, reds, greens, the colors of sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. Like the velvet furniture, it’s both in and out. If you like it, go for it.

Concrete floors and counters. This trend has always been edgy. I personally think it is a material source that is sustainable and practical but it needs to be the right house. It does not belong in a Georgian Colonial. It would do really well in a ultra-modern loft.

We shall see which of these bear out to be true. Happy house hunting!
Dianne

Sources for this blog post included:
elledecor.com
decoraid.com
houzz.com
Realtor.com
The Oregonian

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Market Activity Feb 11-17, 2019

Last week in Lake Oswego 15 new listings came onto the market, 15 properties accepted offers and went into pending status, and 7 properties became sold/closed sales.

Following is the breakdown for you according to RMLS:

New on the Market (Feb 11-17, 2019)

Address Type Price BR Baths Sq Ft
63 Oswego Summit Condo $179,900 1 1 1058
668 McVey Ave #55 Condo $299,900 1 1 636
5225 Jean Rd #603 Condo $305,000 3 2 1400
1410 Spruce St Detached $525,000 3 2 1242
13371 Peters Rd Detached $549,900 3 2.5 2340
16835 Fernwood Dr Detached $645,000 4 2 1942
1080 Upper Devon Ln Detached $775,000 3 2.5 2512
12645 Boones Ferry Rd Detached $799,900 5 2 3036
917 Laurel St Detached $987,000 4 3.5 3182
4320 Haven St Detached $1,200,000 4 3.5 4526
12816 Alto Park Rd Detached $1,295,000 5 4 3846
18325 Crestline Dr Detached $1,525,000 5 4 5418
17283 Blue Heron Rd Detached $1,695,000 3 2.5 3797
16511 Maple Circle Detached $1,925,000 3 2.5 3338
920 Westpoint Rd Detached $4,300,000 4 4.5 6337

Pending Sales (Feb 11-17, 2019)

Address Type Price BR Baths Sq Ft CDOM
343 5th St #2 Condo $250,000 2 1 910 6
163 Oswego Summit Condo $251,000 2 2 1506 14
4765 Firwood Rd Detached $474,000 3 2 1716 7
18820 65th Ave Detached $485,000 4 2.5 2268 13
6238 Dawn St Detached $505,000 3 2 1414 19
17297 Bryant Rd Detached $529,000 3 2 1428 27
17156 Rebecca Ln Detached $539,000 4 2.5 2026 43
5153 Jean Rd Detached $547,000 8 3 2400 276
939 Devon Ln Detached $574,900 3 2 2165 129
3830 Tempest Dr Detached $599,900 3 2.5 3099 5
18140 Pioneer Ct Detached $965,000 4 3 2524 187
780 Briercliff Detached $1,138,000 5 3.5 3061 39
4212 Southshore Blvd Detached $1,175,000 4 4 3127 55
17522 Bryant Rd Detached $1,324,000 4 4 3545 23
13705 Knaus Rd Detached $1,650,000 4 3.5 5339 296

Sold/Closed (Feb 11-17, 2019)

Address Type List Price Sold Price Sq Ft CDOM
121 Oswego Summit Condo $195,000 $182,200 764 52
17040 Fernwood Dr Detached $575,000 $475,000 2399 211
3857 Bass Ln Detached $650,000 $632,000 2608 55
12 Da Vinci Detached $785,000 $720,000 2959 201
19463 Lorna Ln Detached $999,500 $920,000 4055 208
1810 Northshore Rd Detached $1,750,000 $1,450,000 3529 234
3120 Upper Dr Detached $2,350,000 $2,300,000 4575 7

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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Featured Neighborhood: Lakewood

Lake Oswego has 24 recognized neighborhood associations. Having a neighborhood association is not the same as having a Home Owner’s Association. While some neighborhood associations do have HOA’s many do not. This means that the neighborhood association is not so much about organizing or restricting home owners, and it is more about organizing as a group to communicate with city planning and simply as neighbors to coordinate ideas and activities. Today we are going to take a look at the Lakewood neighborhood.

I don’t think it is the smallest neighborhood in Lake Oswego, but it is certainly one of the smallest. My estimation is that it has about 200 single family homes and another 200 condominiums. The boundaries are State Street on the East, McVey Avenue on the South, West Point Rd on the West, and the junction of Northshore Blvd and Cabana Lane on the North.

Geographically it is pretty much a peninsula. The water boundaries are Lakewood Bay and the main lake.

It very much has a European village feel. The peninsula is taller in the middle with the streets tightly meandering around the curvature of the elevation as well as the water. It is an old neighborhood and has many grand homes that date back nearly a hundred years. Mixed into these houses are new homes that have been built, and that will continue to be built, as the smaller homes age out and become out-of-character to the changing surroundings.

The center piece of the neighborhood is the Lakewood Center for the Arts. Built in 1928, this was originally Lakewood School. It was the original school of Lake Oswego serving, I believe, kindergarden to 8th grade. My information is based upon what I found on line but also on my Mom’s best friend, now in her 80’s, who attended Lakewood School as a child. In the early years kids from LO had to take a bus into Portland to go to High School before Lake Oswego High was built in 1951. Today the Lakewood Center is the home of the Lakewood Theater, theater classes for all ages, the Festival of the Arts, and a second hand store that serves as a funding source for the art center.

While most of the homes in the Lakewood neighborhood are right on the lake, those that are not on the water enjoy the proximity to the Lake Oswego swim park, which is located in this neighborhood.

The walking score for homes in this neighborhood are some of the best to be found. On the Eastern edge you can literally walk across the street to restaurants and shopping. Living on the Western edge adds about half a mile to that distance. It is also a short walk to the Farmer’s Market, Millenium Plaza and the Lake Theater and Cafe for first-run movies.

Pricing is at the extreme ends for Lake Oswego. Looking at what is currently offered for sale, the least expensive is a 2 bedroom and 1 bath condo that was built in 1948. It has been nicely updated and is very clean and bright. It has 914 square feet with views of the lake and an assigned carport. The asking price is $284,000. The most expensive homes are typically right out on the point of the peninsula. They have expansive views that look down the lake but also look out on each side to be truly panoramic. The most expensive house currently listed is a 1936 mansion that has 6337 square feet. It has been fully updated and remodeled to today’s highest standards, yet the remodeling has been done with respect and preservation of the historic glamour of the home. It has 4 bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths. The asking price is $4,300,000.

The Lakewood neighborhood is really special. It’s quaint, yet exquisite, a rare combination. Please let Linda or I know if you would like more information.
Dianne

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Market Activity Feb 4-10, 2019

Snowy temperatures have given way to 40 degrees and lots of rain. I kinda miss more snow, but I’m grateful for the rain. We need it to stay lush and green this spring and summer.

Market activity last week in Lake Oswego felt more normal than the week before. We had 16 properties come onto the market, 18 properties that went into pending status, and 8 sold/closed homes. What I am watching as we head into the spring market are those pending sales. Strong pending sales, which I think of as being near the same number as new listings, were well balanced.

Following is the breakdown for you according to RMLS:

New on the Market (Feb 4-10, 2019)

Address Type Price BR Baths Sq Ft
100 Kerr Parkway #46 Condo $166,500 1 1 617
10 Oswego Summit Condo $169,900 1 1 764
47 Eagle Crest Dr #3 Condo $207,000 2 1 932
343 5th St #2 Condo $250,000 2 1 910
1349 Bonniebrae Dr Townhouse $329,500 3 1.5 1311
1589 Boca Ratan Dr Townhouse $378,500 3 2 1611
210 S State St #2 Condo $395,000 2 1.5 1715
4765 Firwood Rd Detached $474,000 3 2 1716
875 Lake Forest Dr Detached $499,500 2 1 979
3830 Tempest Dr Detached $599,900 3 2.5 3099
515 Atwater Rd Detached $637,625 3 2.5 2746
13388 Auburn Ct Townhouse $649,500 3 2.5 2492
13581 Rogers Rd Detached $1,099,950 4 2.5 2971
520 C Ave Attached $1,238,000 3 4 3242
3096 Wembley Park Rd Detached $1,575,000 5 4 4165
16470 Phantom Bluff Ct Detached $2,699,900 4 4.5 4975

Pending Sales (Feb 4-10, 2019)

Address Type Price BR Baths Sq Ft CDOM
121 Oswego Summit Condo $185,000 1 1 764 52
200 Burnham Rd #103 Condo $218,000 1 1 800 35
5225 Jean Rd #513 Condo $299,000 3 2 1400 156
293 Cervantes Townhouse $335,000 3 2.5 1384 77
48 Eagle Crest Dr 5B Condo $349,000 3 2 1550 17
16200 Pacific Hwy #26 Condo $410,000 2 2 1190 78
3283 Duncan Dr Detached $575,000 4 3 2915 6
1 Preakness Ct Detached $585,000 4 3 2373 4
838 Ash St Detached $599,000 4 1.5 2741 199
1010 Upper Devon Ln Detached $649,000 4 2.5 3068 144
5474 Bay Creek Dr Detached $649,900 4 2.5 2322 15
3943 Tempest Dr Detached $749,900 4 2.5 3714 4
2120 Ridgewood Rd Detached $779,000 4 2 2382 5
8 Yorick St Detached $799,900 5 3 3451 131
18048 Eastridge Ln Detached $999,900 4 3.5 4336 426
1451 Horseshoe Curve Detached $1,198,000 3 2 2062 13
1122 Bayberry Rd Detached $1,498,000 5 3 3259 19
3130 Douglas Circle Detached $1,595,000 4 3.5 4063 189

Sold/Closed (Feb 4-10, 2019)

Address Type List Price Sold Price Sq Ft CDOM
237 Cervantes Condo $215,000 $187,000 1216 185
48 Crestfield Ct #48 Condo $223,800 $215,000 921 17
16224 Lake Forest Blvd Detached $429,900 $429,900 1300 10
17043 Crestview Dr Detached $539,500 $484,000 2302 78
975 Lund St Detached $579,900 $501,700 2300 106
127 Condolea Dr Condo $529,000 $539,000 2273 4
936 Evergreen Rd Detached $1,975,000 $1,975,000 3772 6
3300 Upper Dr Detached $2,000,000 $2,000,000 2200 5

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’s Own ‘La Provence’!

There are so many reasons to choose to live in Lake Oswego, not the least of which is the quality of amenities offered here in this little hamlet outside of Portland, Oregon.  A small-ish community can often lack the cultural and foodie resources found in a larger city, but here in Lake Oswego, we got lucky.  Lake Oswego has the Lake Theater & Cafe for movies & live music events, as well as the Lake Oswego Center for the Arts which is a 2-stage venue for plays & musicals. Right across the street from that is George Rogers Park which hosts various festivals and concerts all summer long, along with Foothills Park, Westlake Park, Movie Nights and Farmers Markets in Millennium Park Plaza… on & on. Then there are the myriad restaurants & shops found off of State Street as well as Boones Ferry Road (kind of the two “main drags” of Lake Oswego). Lake Oswego does not want for places to obtain delicious food & wine, fancy or practical clothing, gifts…well, you get the idea. There are abundant resources in Lake Oswego for a cozy bedroom community.

Diane and I have put a spotlight on a businesses here & there through the years, and there are so many, but today I just wanted to say a few words about La Provence, restaurant & bakery. I remember discovering it when I first moved to Lake Oswego around 1999, and I came to make it a staple for family dinners and client lunches. Its also the place I go for a special treat for my French husband who is also a chef and rather particular in his taste for treats!  Alain Machtelinckx, Didier Blanc Gonet, and Pascal Tisseur opened it in 1996 a few blocks away from its current location at 16350 Boones Ferry Road when they could not find the  kind of authentic, rustic artisan bread they grew up on, and decided to do something about it. They are dedicated to the food they serve and the ambience they provide. They really try to instill a real old-world feeling into La Provence by doing things themselves… including making the tables and draperies in-house! From macarons to fine cuisine, everything is a reflection of their initial desire to bring the food they so loved in France to Oregon.  Nowadays they have 8 restaurants around the Portland area, but Lake Oswego will always be “home”.   As I mentioned, La Provence moved to a newer and larger restaurant space in Lake Oswego a few years back that is a recommended destination for anyone who loves good food and pleasant environs.

When you have the chance you ought to stop in for a pastry, lunch or dinner!  Lake Oswego is so lucky to have this gem. Here is a link to their main website where you can click on Lake Oswego or explore the other locations:  La Provence

As well as a link to their Lake Oswego location’s menu: La Provence Menu

Bon Apetit!

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Market Activity Jan 28-Feb 3, 2019

So much for the mild winter I wrote about 2 weeks ago. We had a dusting of snow on Monday and we have a wintry forecast for the next week or so. I love it. It just wouldn’t be a proper winter without a couple days with snow on the ground.

Last week the market activity was a bit weird. We had 19 properties come onto the market. That’s a good number and what I would expect to see as we build toward the spring. We only had 8 go into pending status. That strikes me as really low. We also had 11 become finalized sales. That seems normal as these would be the houses that sold over the holidays.

Following is the breakdown for you according to RMLS:

New on the Market (Jan 28-Feb 3, 2019)

Address Type Price BR Baths Sq Ft
108 Oswego Summit Condo $169,900 1 1 764
42 Cervantes Circle Condo $210,000 2 1.5 912
218 Ridgeway Rd Condo $284,000 2 1 914
18820 65th Detached $485,000 4 2.5 2268
3283 Duncan Dr Detached $575,000 4 3 2915
2099 Wembley Pl Detached $689,000 4 2.5 3544
18034 Westview Dr Detached $699,900 4 2.5 3544
3943 Tempest Dr Detached $749,900 4 2.5 3714
5015 Parkhill St Detached $775,000 3 3 2628
1604 Campus Way Detached $795,000 3 2.5 2607
17644 Tree Top Ln Detached $820,000 4 3.5 4240
4028 Orchard Dr Detached $825,000 4 2.5 3343
5364 Langford Ln Detached $869,999 3 2.5 3022
13915 Sundeleaf Dr Detached $1,085,000 4 3.5 4090
179 Iron Mountain Blvd Detached $1,175,000 5 4.5 5245
1525 Maple St Detached $1,200,000 4 3.5 3154
792 2nd St Detached $1,269,900 4 3 2786
748 1st St Detached $1,799,900 5 4 3854
17484 Bryant Rd Detached $1,269,900 4 3.5 3615

Pending Sales (Jan 28-Feb 3, 2019)

Address Type Price BR Baths Sq Ft CDOM
106 Oswego Summit Condo $235,000 2 2 1140 7
16790 Lake Forest Blvd Detached $334,999 2 1 780 128
16880 Cortez Ct Detached $455,000 3 2.5 2313 21
5228 Bonita Rd Detached $479,999 3 2 1310 166
6267 Wayzata Ct Detached $520,000 3 2 1504 3
5262 Rosewood St Detached $600,000 3 2 2275 100
5515 Langford Ln Detached $600,000 2 2 1830 2
905 Laurel St Detached $939,000 3 3.5 2906 5

Sold/Closed (Jan 28-Feb 3, 2019)

Address Type List Price Sold Price Sq Ft CDOM
3433 McNary Pkwy #305 Condo $220,000 $215,000 1208 58
46 Cervantes Circle Condo $225,000 $226,000 912 68
750 1st St A10 Condo $250,000 $250,000 1350 0
19220 Red Wing Ct Detached` $504,900 $499,000 1647 42
17330 Grandview Ct Detached` $865,000 $722,694 3857 257
13978 Westcott Ct Detached` $985,000 $905,000 3267 199
2060 Indian Trail Detached` $1,250,000 $1,150,000 2387 30
19155 Bryant Rd Detached` $1,299,900 $1,299,900 3371 6
3123 Douglas Circle Detached` $1,549,000 $1,520,000 3664 102
1657 Lake Front Rd Detached` $2,795,000 $2,275,000 3721 485
610 Cabana Ln Detached` $4,000,000 $4,000,000 4796 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.

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…How Safe IS it in Lake Oswego?

Photo from Lake Oswego Review

Lots of people in Lake Oswego don’t lock their doors, or worry too much about locking their cars when, say, visiting a friend or shopping, or stopping for a latte (don’t tell anyone).  Its a little-known fact nowadays (since they changed the name of it to Police Log) that we named the Property Blotter 11 years ago after the Lake Oswego Review’s “Police Blotter”.  They’ve long published the unvarnished goings on as reported by the police. Now, there is some real stuff here & there, but by & large and it is hilarious to read for its lack of any real substance …Kids having a late night party while mom & dad were out on a date night, window washers reported for breaking into a house, regular folks reported for loitering while just waiting for their friend to show up for a meeting at their home,  dogs stealing chew toys…you get the picture. Its one of the reasons people move here.

Now its official. Lake Oswego was just named: Safest City in Oregon.

Here’s the scoop as just published in the Lake Oswego Review: CLICK HERE FOR STORY

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Market Activity ~ Jan 21-27, 2019

Happy Sunny January from Lake Oswego!

Activity is slowly picking up and holding pretty steady with 188 homes for sale in Lake Oswego right now. Last week 14 New properties entered the market, 16 moved to Pending status, and 9 were “Closed”/Sold.

Following is the breakdown for you according to RMLS:

NEW on Mkt (Jan 21-27, 2019)

Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type
81 GALEN ST / Grnd $182,000 1 1 689 CONDO
200 BURNHAM RD #303 $230,000 2 1 1199 CONDO
106 OSWEGO SMT #106 $235,000 2 2 1140 CONDO
16200 PACIFIC HWY #22 $385,000 2 2 1190 CONDO
6238 SW DAWN ST $505,000 3 2 1414 DETACHD
17297 BRYANT RD $529,000 3 2 1428 DETACHD
5515 LANGFORD LN $600,000 2 2 1830 DETACHD
5474 BAY CREEK DR $649,900 4 2.1 2322 DETACHD
8 WALKING WOODS DR $669,900 4 3 3105 DETACHD
905 LAUREL ST $939,000 3 3.1 2906 DETACHD
8 SHERWOOD CT $1,100,000 5 3 4073 DETACHD
1300 GLENMORRIE DR $1,195,000 5 3.1 4340 DETACHD
1451 HORSESHOE CURV $1,198,000 3 2 2062 DETACHD
17522 BRYANT RD $1,324,900 4 4 3545 DETACHD

PENDING SALES (Jan 21-27, 2019)

Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type CDOM
750 1ST ST #E31 $179,500 1 1 986 CONDO 332
4642 LOWER DR / Main $199,000 2 1.1 1260 CONDO 19
100 KERR PKWY #16 $205,000 2 2 823 CONDO 2
48 CRESTFIELD CT #48 $223,800 2 1 921 CONDO 17
4000 Carman DR #40 $259,000 2 2 906 CONDO 115
5751 WASHINGTON CT $439,100 5 2 2120 DETACHD 102
51 CONDOLEA CT $445,000 3 2.1 2198 CONDO 200
5695 BURMA RD $479,900 4 2.1 1934 DETACHD 4
3306 EDGEMONT RD $535,500 4 2 1733 DETACHD 128
14425 HOLLY SPRINGS RD $569,000 4 3 2238 CONDO 23
14293 AMBERWOOD CIR $679,000 4 3 2576 DETACHD 3
5326 WESTFIELD CT $765,000 4 3.1 3259 DETACHD 110
17890 KELOK RD $769,000 4 2.1 3095 DETACHD 6
1813 PALISADES LAKE CT $1,015,000 5 3.1 4119 DETACHD 130
19481 LORNA LN $1,330,000 5 3.1 4340 DETACHD 437
17211 BLUE HERON RD $1,385,000 3 2.1 2701 DETACHD 13

SOLD (Jan 21-27, 2019)

Address Opening Price Closed Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type CDOM
6925 SW MONTAUK CIR /Grnd $215,000 $200,000 2 1 927 CONDO 114
3692 SPRING LN /Upper $265,000 $232,000 2 2 1117 CONDO 162
247 CERVANTES /Upper $320,000 $295,000 2 2 1384 CONDO 131
2051 WEMBLEY PARK RD $549,900 $475,000 2 2 1196 DETACHD 55
18440 SANDPIPER CIR $529,900 $510,000 3 2 1447 DETACHD 166
15580 PARTRIDGE DR $539,900 $530,000 4 2.1 2245 DETACHD 10
5536 BAY CREEK DR $619,000 $617,000 4 2.1 2380 DETACHD 7
1961 PARK FOREST AVE $699,900 $712,000 5 2 2092 DETACHD 5
2815 ORCHARD HILL PL $749,900 $770,000 4 3 2915 DETACHD 4

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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Remarkable Rummer

There are two elements of being a Realtor that I really love: working with people and looking at houses. Neither ever gets old. It’s super dynamic and interesting.

I get to look at lots and lots of houses. When a house is “architecturally interesting” it perks me up and I literally feel the excitement and energy of the brilliance of design. The houses of Bob Rummer do this to me.

They’ve always been interesting. I truly have loved them from the first time that I laid eyes on one. Today they are experiencing a resurgence of popularity. They share common elements with the modern homes being built today. They feature an open floor plan and well thought out design. Remember these homes were being built in the 1960’s when the common ranch style floor plan was being widely built. The layout is a U shape with the open end of the U facing the street. Typically there is a wall with a front door facing the street. While they do have curb appeal, they are understated. When you go through the entry you find yourself in a central courtyard that is walled with windows, and often sliding doors, that take you into the various elements of the floor plan. One side of the U is the noisy area of the house: the kitchen, the laundry, the garage and utilities. The opposite side of the U is the quiet area: bedrooms and baths. In the middle is a huge open living room with walls of windows that look both out to the back yard and into the courtyard.

I recently read that Bob Rummer is still alive. He’s 91 years old and still owns Rummer Homes Inc. He estimates that he’s built about 1000 houses. Rummers are scattered all over the Portland Metro area, including here in Lake Oswego. Most of the houses are about 1800-2000 square feet. They were built for modern middle-class families and originally sold for about $35,000. Today they fetch far more than that. Several have sold recently. They sell within days. Everyone wants a Rummmer! Recent sales range from $564,000 to close to $800,000. There is currently a Rummer for sale here in Lake Oswego for $699,900.

If you’d like more information, please give Linda or myself a call. We’d love to be of help.
Dianne

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Market Activity Jan 14-20, 2019

We are having such a mild winter! Out walking today I saw daffodils that are fully up and budded. I’d say that they’re about a month early.

As far as real estate in Lake Oswego, last week brought 13 new listings onto the market, 14 properties that went into pending status, and 8 sold/closed homes.

Following is the breakdown for you according to RMLS:

New on the Market (Jan 14-20, 2019)

Address Type Price BR Baths Sq Ft
5225 Jean Rd Condo $273,900 2 2 1098
5225 Jean Rd Condo $288,000 2 2 1400
48 Eagle Crest Dr 5B Condo $349,000 3 2 1550
4386 Thunder Vista Ln Condo $399,900 2 2.5 1980
5695 Burma Rd Detached $479,900 4 2.5 1934
19211 Indian Springs Rd Detached $579,000 4 3 2132
17 Westridge Dr Detached $725,000 4 3.5+.5 3533
17890 Kelok Rd Detached $769,000 4 2.5 3095
15136 Glen Eagles Ct Detached $799,999 5 3 3150
1813 Palisades Lake Ct Detached $1,015,000 5 3.5 4119
1628 Lake Front Rd Detached $1,080,000 4 3 2470
3826 Upper Dr Detached $1,200,000 4 2.5 3187
1122 Bayberry Rd Detached $1,498,000 5 3 3259

Pending Sales (Jan 14-20, 2019)

Address Type Price BR Baths Sq Ft CDOM
100 Kerr Pkwy #6 Condo $159,900 1 1 617 223
46 Cervantes Circle Condo $225,000 2 1,5 912 68
750 1st St A10 Condo $250,000 2 2 1350 0
5850 Kenny St Detached $284,000 3 1 1172 31
5053 Foothills Dr B Condo $329,000 3 2 1252 97
6015 Fernbrook Circle Detached $379,000 3 1.5 1250 2
975 Lund St Detached $535,000 3 2 2300 106
127 Condolea Dr Condo $539,000 3 3 2273 4
5316 Lower Dr Detached $549,900 4 2.5 2016 190
4451 Bernard St Detached $550,000 3 2 1806 5
5262 Rosewood St Detached $600,000 3 2 2275 86
17330 Grandview Ct Detached $748,500 4 3.5 3857 257
19463 Lorna Ln Detached $935,000 4 3.5 4055 208
1810 Northshore Rd Detached $1,598,950 5 3 3529 234

Sold/Closed (Jan 14-20, 2019)

Address Type List Price Sold Price Sq Ft CDOM
6291 Harrington Ave Detached $425,000 $345,000 1472 119
1698 Aspen St Detached $509,000 $485,000 2668 132
13413 Vermeer Dr Detached $629,900 $524,000 2529 172
8 Hillshire Dr Detached $615,000 $580,000 2848 76
16479 Phantom Bluff Ct Detached $925,000 $765,000 2783 108
17606 Woodhurst Pl Detached $879,900 $782,500 4707 230
1035 Bayberry Rd Detached $1,399,900 $1,350,000 2746 17
616 Cabana Ln Detached $2,798,000 $2,600,000 3838 230

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.