Tag: house

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“How Are Things In The Market Right Now?”

“How Are Things In The Market Right Now?” Hmmm… I guess I’m writing more of a philosophical or “opinion piece” today. This is such an interesting question… I hear it every day in one form or another.  Often it is accompanied by “Things are pretty bad, aren’t they?  I hear they’re getting worse.” or “I’m ready to buy but think maybe I should wait till prices drop more.” or “I read that….”   All of these are motivated by a combination of media influence, a desire to make good decisions, and some good ‘ole car-wreck-neck-jerking thrown in.  We are all in the same boat, and Realtors have some inside knowledge that folks would like to have. The truth is, aside from offering some statistics (local, please), and some of what I’ve heard experts predicting, I always say the same thing… “I don’t really believe in statistics… in my own life anyway.”   Real Estate is like that as a profession.  You need a combination of faith, perseverance, and real skill to offer clients in order to achieve successful outcomes. I usually say ( in addition to the numbers or current trends I’m aware of), “Things are pretty good here in my world”.  What you really need to assess is:  How are things in your world?.

You’ll notice that there are fewer Realtors around than there used to be.  One thing you can be sure of; The Realtors who are in business right now are in business for a reason…  namely the three I outlined above. Talk to your Realtor, and begin to assess your own situation.

Is the market in the right shape for your purpose right now?    I don’t know- Ask yourself:

  • Are you needing a bigger home/Is your family growing etc?
  • Is there a change in your living- or relationship-status that necessitates some movement?
  • Are you being transferred in your job?
  • Would you really like to (or do you need to) downsize?
  • Is a change of schools for your kids in order?
  • Have you been wanting a real estate  investment opportunity?
  • Do your friends all live on the other side of town?

These are just a few of the reasons you might want to take advantage of the current really low prices, and really low interest rates. So… for those three variations on questions I get about the market:

  • Assess your own local market data, and talk to a mortgage broker about your own unique set of facts pertinent to your choice to act or not.  Then make the Right Decision for you based on more than rumors or innuendo.
  • As far as prices go… no one really knows for sure, but one thing is true: According to the experts, interest rates are not going lower….  So even if you wait for home prices to lower a little more (assuming they do… locally in the metro area , according to RMLS, sold prices increased from July2010  to August 2010 by 0.8%… & 1% from August ’09)   you will have negated any benefit by most likely settling for higher interest rates.
  • When reading or listening to news reports about real estate- “Consider the source”… and the subject matter.  Very often folks are hearing national information on the national news, and while that can be interesting in gauging where markets might be headed based on experiences in the past (what states declined first… what states followed in both negative and positive trends, and in what order…) the only really relevant information to your particular situation is local.  The adjunct to that of course is how that information intersects with your personal goals.

Read our Market Activity Report every Monday. Talk to your Realtor.  Talk to a Mortgage Broker.  Get the facts and then decide for yourself.  Life is happening everywhere… all at the same time!  : )  Don’t let fear and natural but morbid fascination with negative news stories run your life.  (That’s MY two cents!  : ) Very Best, Linda

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Market Activity September 6-12, 2010

Market activity last week brought us 10 new listings, 11 pending sales, and 3 closed sales.

See below for further details.

NEWLY LISTED (September 6-12, 2010)

Address List Price Bedrooms Baths Sq. Feet Prop Type
2 MOUNTAIN CIR $160,000 2 1.5 1,504 ATTACHD
5063 FOOTHILLS DR $225,000 2 2 991 CONDO
17335 ASHLEY CT $294,900 3 2.5 2,161 ATTACHD
532 2ND ST $350,000 2 2.5 1,394 CONDO
1551 WOODLAND TER $499,000 4 2 2,712 DETACHD
5188 MADRONA ST $549,000 3 3 3,183 DETACHD
17682 MARYLBROOK DR $649,900 4 2.5 3,799 DETACHD
3883 TAMARACK LN $669,000 4 2.5 2,898 DETACHD
13978 Westcott CT 675000 3 3 3,361 DETACHD
1088 WESTWARD HO RD 725000 2 2 1,837 DETACHD

PENDING SALES (September 6-12, 2010)

Address List Price Bedrooms Baths Sq Feet Prop Type
200 BURNHAM RD $139,000 2 1 1,216 CONDO
16250 PACIFIC HWY $139,000 2 2 1,327 CONDO
6125 FERNBROOK ST $239,000 3 1.5 1,271 DETACHD
1496 BOCA RATAN DR $249,900 3 1.5 1,403 ATTACHD
875 LEE ST $349,900 3 2 2,200 DETACHD
2329 STONEHURST CT $539,900 4 3 3,275 DETACHD
18263 ANDUIN TER $575,000 4 3 3,100 DETACHD
550 MIDDLECREST RD $584,900 3 2.5 2,240 DETACHD
13566 STREAMSIDE DR 598000 3 2.5 3,123 DETACHD
5657 VICTORIA CT 689900 4 3 3,421 DETACHD
1641 ENGLEWOOD DR 695000 4 2.5 4,204 DETACHD

SOLD (September 6-12, 2010)

Address List Price Closed Price Bedrooms Prop Type Baths Sq Feet CDOM
745 BERWICK CT $549,000 $520,000 3 DETACHD 2 1988 143
2125 RIDGE POINTE DR $879,000 $790,000 4 DETACHD 3.5 3489 171
13764 KNAUS RD $1,375,000 $1,200,000 4 DETACHD 4.5 4805 52

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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Open Houses for Sunday, September 12th

According to the RMLS, there will be 27 open houses in Lake Oswego tomorrow. Enjoy!

Address List Price Bedrooms Baths Prop Type Open
1400 BONNIEBRAE DR $169,500 2 1 ATTACHD 1 to 3
4347 SILVER CT $312,000 3 2.5 CONDO 1:30 to 3:30
466 5TH ST $329,900 2 1.5 ATTACHD 1 to 3
4243 ALBERT CIR $354,000 4 3 DETACHD 12 to 3
138 KINGSGATE RD $379,900 3 2.5 DETACHD 1 to 3
252 NORTHSHORE RD $395,000 3 1 DETACHD 1 to 3:30
273 EVERGREEN RD $475,000 3 3.5 ATTACHD 11 to 2
920 EVERGREEN RD $499,500 3 2 DETACHD 1 to 3
1740 YARMOUTH CIR 510000 2 2.5 DETACHD 1 to 4
19415 SW DOGWOOD CT 519900 5 3 DETACHD 1 to 5
1625 BEDFORD CT 549900 2 2.5 DETACHD 2 to 4
19245 SW MEGLY CT 569900 5 3 DETACHD 1 to 5
13596 STREAMSIDE DR 579900 4 2.5 DETACHD 1 to 4
14246 KIMBERLY CIR 615000 4 2.5 DETACHD 1 to 3:30
3943 TEMPEST DR 619500 4 2.5 DETACHD 12 to 2
12645 BOONES FERRY RD 630000 4 2 DETACHD 1 to 4
17658 BROOKHURST DR 649900 4 3 DETACHD 1 to 3
5321 AMBERWOOD CT 709000 4 3 DETACHD 3 to 5
649 9TH ST 789000 3 2.5 DETACHD 1 to 3
4158 CASEY CT 799000 4 2.5 DETACHD 2:30 to 4:30
1809 HEADLEE LN 850000 3 2.5 DETACHD 2 to 4
18209 SIENA DR 1097000 5 3.5 DETACHD 1 to 3
18246 BELLA TERRA DR 1194000 4 3.5 DETACHD 1 to 3
2569 GLEN EAGLES PL 1199000 5 4.5+.5 DETACHD 1 to 3
1808 RIDGE POINTE DR 1269000 5 4.5 DETACHD 1 to 3
1968 CHERYL CT 1595000 4 4.5+..5+.5 DETACHD 1 to 4
2572 GLEN EAGLES PL 2050000 5 4.5+.5 DETACHD 1 to 3
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Dianne’s Junk Drawer

Winding down the summer, gearing up for the fall, there are a few fun and quick topics I wanted to cover.

Lake Oswego’s Famous Flower Baskets
Remember that flower basket I planted last May? I wanted to share with you how it turned out. This basket is amazing. It hangs about 5′ long and is easily 2-3 feet wide. It is so heavy that I had to move it from it’s original hook, which it was bending. I got a lot of enjoyment out of planting it and watching it grow. I will plan to do it again next year. I also have to confess that I wasn’t as good about fertilizing it as I should have been. Early on, I did fertilize it once a week like I was supposed to. But as the summer progressed, well, I slipped up on that component. That didn’t keep the basket from getting huge. So even an imperfect gardener can grow one of these amazing baskets.

Planning Vacations for Next Year
One of the wonderful benefits of living in the Pacific Northwest is that taking a quick vacation, at not a lot of expense, is really easy. I thought I would list some of the destination spots that my husband and I have been to in the last few years. All trips were 3-5 days long with amazing scenery.
San Juan Islands WA
Joseph, Hells Canyon, and the Wallawas, OR
Coeur d’Alene, ID
Ashland Shakespeare Festival and Jacksonville, OR
Skamania Lodge, WA
Leavenworth, WA
Wenthrop, WA
Bend and Sisters, OR
The Olympic Peninsuala, WA
And, of course, anywhere on the Oregon Coast
And yes, that is me in the photo. My husband and I do our trips on his Yamaha. No, it’s not what I ever imagined doing. Yes, we have fun and my husband loves the adventure. I’ve been riding on the back of his motorcycle since I was 18 years old. I trust him to keep me safe. And that feeling of the wind and the open road really is pretty amazing.

My Personal Commitment
I am once again fundraising for the Portland Race for the Cure, which is being held September 19, 2010 in downtown Portland. Every dollar raised supports awareness, assistance, and research that benefits women right here in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Over 10,000 women received mammograms last year that would not have without assistance from the Susan Komen Foundation and Race for the Cure. As a breast cancer survivor, this effort helps me to make something good come from something very bad. If you are inclined to make a donation, you can do so by clicking here. Thank you!

Thank you for letting me clean out my junk drawer. Let me know if you have any ideas of your own for a great get-a-way in the Pacific Northwest. I’d also love to hear from any of you who planted hanging baskets of your own.
Dianne

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Open Houses for Sunday September 5, 2010

I love the wind down of summer. Out on a bike ride yesterday I rode past the swim park on Lakeview and thought about the fact that the crowded park would be quiet on Tuesday. School is starting, the days are growing shorter, and the crispness of fall is greeting me in the morning. Enjoy the wind down, and I hope you have a great weekend.

Here are the open houses that will be available for your viewing this Sunday:

Address List Price Bedrooms Baths Prop Type Open
29 GREENRIDGE CT $249,000 3 2 ATTACHD 1 to 4
5055 FOOTHILLS DR $250,000 3 2 CONDO 1 to 4
273 EVERGREEN RD $499,000 2 3.5 ATTACHD 11 to 2
19415 SW DOGWOOD CT $519,900 3 3 DETACHD 1 to 5
19245 SW MEGLY CT $579,900 5 3 DETACHD 1 to 5
4120 SOUTHSHORE BLVD $597,000 3 2.5 DETACHD 1 to 3
15915 WALUGA DR $598,950 3 2.5 DETACHD 1 to 4
14246 KIMBERLY CIR $649,950 4 2.5 DETACHD 1 to 3:30
18209 SIENA DR 1097000 5 3.5 DETACHD 1 to 3
18246 BELLA TERRA DR 1194000 4 3.5 DETACHD 1 to 3
1808 RIDGE POINTE DR 1269000 5 4.5 DETACHD 1 to 3
2572 GLEN EAGLES PL 2050000 5 4.5+.5 DETACHD 1 to 3
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More Control Issues

I wrote a couple of weeks ago about what you have control over when Selling your home and what you do not.  I promised to address some “control issues” around Buying as well, and so here are a few thoughts:

Lenders:  Do you have control over whether you are approved to purchase a home that you fall in love with? Yes. When you begin your search for a new home, the first stop ought to be a good lender.  A decent percentage of home Buyers do not begin this way, and it is the source of much disappointment and frustration.  I often will take Sellers out looking for properties when I list their home on the market so that they can begin to get an idea of what they like & don’t like in a new home, (and it gives them the opportunity to see how other homes are presented… giving them *hopefully* an incentive to tidy theirs up and create a good showing : )  Very often these clients of mine poo poo talking to a lender before we venture out… they think they know about what they are approved for, and/or will tell me they talked w/someone awhile back who approved them for such & such.  I’ll admit to giving in at times to Buyers who have not yet been to a lender or who have not handed me an approval letter as yet, and I will tell you I have seen tears when people think they’ve found “the one” & then decide that’s a good time to talk to a lender. Here are some pointers:

  • Get the facts up front before you begin looking for properties.  That way you are only looking at homes you would be actually able to purchase. In any undertaking, you want to begin with facts so that you can make good decisions about how to proceed.
  • Don’t worry about taking a lender’s time before you have a property in mind.  This is what they do.  They are used to it.
  • Listen to your Realtor and any other qualified advisors when you are looking for a good lender.  Get a good referral.  You should have at least three from which to choose. ***The lender is the entity holding the most amount of control in the end stages of any mortgage transaction.  A lender who knows and works well with your Realtor will be inclined to nurture the process… especially in the end stages.  And one who is experienced and skilled will be able to field any last-minute issues that may arise so that you actually get to the completion of your transaction.

Negotiating – Do you have control of the negotiation process? Yes.

So, you’ve fallen in love with a property, and you are “countering” with the Sellers over various items.  Your job is to keep a cool head, and remember what is important to you.  Your Realtor will give you good advice on pros & cons of different options, and in the end, it is your decision how to proceed.  Remember your budget and look at the bottom line.  That said, also give some thought to how important a few dollars a month may or may not be to you if you are achieving other goals.  Remember… You’re in the driver’s seat. You get to decide what’s right or wrong for you.

Earnest Money or Promissory Note? – You make this decision too, and the one about how much it will be.  I advise my clients that the earnest money is their statement to the Seller reflecting their sincerity (earnestness : ) in wanting to purchase their home.  The Seller will be taking their home off of the market if they accept your offer, and so you are showing good faith, and in the event you do NOT abide by the contract you are, in essence, compensating them for taking their home off the market for you for a time.

An earnest money check always gives a better impression with an offer (and you are trying to get them to agree to accept your offer right?) than a promissory note. The exception to this would be if you are out of state and making an offer without the ability to hand your Realtor an earnest money check.  People tend to understand this circumstance.

Your earnest money goes toward the bottom line of your transaction, and is held by the escrow office as a neutral third party while your transaction is in process.    If, for instance, you find something during your inspection period that causes you to want to retract your offer, escrow will return your earnest money, and you can begin looking for another suitable property.  The contract also states that you must be able to get funding… so if you are not able to obtain funding through no fault of your own, you should receive your earnest money back as well.  If the home does not appraise for at least the sale price, and either you, the Seller, or both of you are unwilling to negotiate price or come to some other arrangement, you should receive your earnest money back. The only way to lose your earnest money, really, is to violate some term of the contract.  As long as you meet the time lines in the contract, and perform as you have agreed, your earnest money is safe.

Well, I hope that these tidbits were helpful.  That’s enough discussion of  “control issues” for now…  I’ve got to run and assist some fantastic Buyers in making some decisions of their own!

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A Market Snapshot

This morning’s Oregonian had a cover story on the decline of the housing market (such a nice story to wake up to). I thought it might be helpful if I localized the information and provided you with some stats.

Is our glass half empty? Or is our glass half full? Today I am comparing the inventory of various price ranges including what is currently for sale, what has sold in the last 6 months, and, in the case of detached homes, how that compares to the same time period a year ago:

Detached Houses
Price Range For Sale Now Sold in last 6 months Months of Inventory Sold in same 6 months of 2009
$100,000-$200,000 4 4 6 2
$201,000-$300,000 36 42 5 21
$301,000-$400,000 83 68 7 49
$401,000-$500,000 76 47 9 30
$501,000-$600,000 82 47 10 24
$601,000-$700,000 52 26 12 14
$701,000-$800,000 57 16 22 17
$801,000-$900,000 34 11 19 8
$901,000-$1,000,000 19 8 15 9
$1,001,000-$1,500,000 54 11 30 17
$1,501,000-$2,000,000 25 0 Indefinite 4
$2,001,000-$2,500,000 7 1 44 2
$2,501,000-$3,000,000 4 1 25 1
$3,001,000-$15,000,000 11 1 68 0
Condos
$50,000-$100,000 20 11 2
$101,000-$200,000 63 39 9
$201,000-$300,000 33 21 9
$301,000-$400,000 10 7 6
$401,000-$500,000 16 5 19
$501,000-$600,000 9 1 56
$601,000-$700,000 7 4 11
$701,000-$800,000 0 0 –
$801,000-$900,000 3 0 Indefinite
$901,000-$1,000,000 2 0 Indefinite
$1,001,000-$2,000,000 1 0 Indefinite
$2,001,000-$3,000,000 1 0 Indefinite

Observations on new construction:
As of today there are 42 listings for new homes that are listed in price from $449,900 to $3,700,000. In the last six months 11 new homes have been sold, the most expensive of which was for $965,000. There are currently 10 new homes listed for sale that are priced over $1,000,000. That is a huge reduction from 3 years ago when I recall counting them and finding over 100 homes that were new construction for sale priced at over $1,000,000. The builders are learning to work with this economy and are building their spec homes in much more affordable price ranges. There are a couple of new subdivisions in LO right now with home prices in the high 400’s and low 500’s.

My Observations
I think the most interesting bit of information I see in this is that the sales have actually increased substantially, although at lower prices. In the February to August time frame 199 houses sold in 2009 versus 283 that sold in 2010. That is a nearly 50% increase. Yes, some credit can be given to the tax credit that expired in June, but I think that there is another factor at play. As prices have come down, buyers who assumed that they previously could not afford Lake Oswego are now finding opportunities in homes that they can afford. The decline in prices is perhaps a boon to the LO housing market in general.

Another observation is that the condo market is really soft as the price goes up. Condos appeal to people seeking an ease of living with Home Owner’s Associations taking care of the yards and exterior maintenance, but another part of the condo market is people who buy into condos because they have been priced out of detached homes that they can afford. As detached home prices have come down, this has given buyers the opportunity to purchase a single family residence as opposed to a condo in the same price range. I see the condos that are currently for sale in the $700,000+ pricing and wonder just how many years it will be before they get an offer.

Highest and Lowest
The least expensive detached home currently for sale in LO is 912 square feet, built in 1963, with 3 bedrooms and 1 bath. It’s priced at $180,000. The most expensive home is still the 5 acre, private island in Oswego Lake. With 13,500 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 6 full and 2 half baths, it was built in 1930 and is priced at $15,000,000.

I hope this information is helpful to you. Please let me know if you have any observations of your own.
Enjoy the day!
Dianne

Photo courtesy of bing.com

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“Control Issues”

I seem to keep bumping into a concept lately that I thought might be nice fodder for a post in the Blotter.  How much control do you think you have in general in your life?  How much control would you LIKE to have?  …Are you sure?

In real estate there are certain things we can control and certain things we cannot.  I thought it might be fun to delve into some examples of this:

  • If you are selling your home, do you have control over the location? Well, no.  BUT, when making a decision about where to buy, that would be a good time to look down the road and take that property’s location into account for future resale purposes.  If you are getting a REALLY good deal on a home because of where it’s located, you might want to think twice.
  • If you are selling your home, do you have control of it’s condition? Absolutely.   Now, you may say, “I only have a certain amount of money to spend on getting this place ready for sale”, but in the end, you are making the decisions, and have been making the decisions… and now here you are.  Control of this factor aside though, no matter what kind of financial position you are in, this is always an issue when selling your home… “How much should I put into this home I am moving out of?”  When I am working with a client in a position where there are limited funds, we sit down together first and I go over my list of items that will make the property most appealing to the greatest number of Buyers.  THEN, we get real.  Some things, like paint, are inexpensive, and realistically can be handled by the homeowner themselves. Some things require professional assistance.  Sometimes it is just a matter of rearranging a few pieces of furniture and perhaps doing your moving “sort-through” now & considering it work you’ll have to do to move anyway… Tends to make it purposeful and even fun!  Goodwill will love you, and a storage facility or a POD might be a good option to clear your home of things that only make the rooms look smaller.  You’ve heard it before: “The way you live in a house is NOT the way you sell a house.”  So… you do have control of how your home will present to the Buying Public.  Just lay out the facts & pragmatically decide the best way to address each issue.  Buyers in this market are picky… they can afford to be with the number of homes from which to choose.  You have to reveal the gem that is YOUR home, and when you do, someone else will walk in and love it the way you did when you were in that position.
  • Do you have control over the terms of an accepted sale agreement? Yes.  You may not agree with me, but after all the options have been presented and discussed between you and your Realtor, you get to say yea or nay.  It’s your house and you don’t have to sell it for terms that are not to your liking.   Now… do you sometimes have to give a little here or there in order to make your transaction happen?  Yes.  For instance, when there are repairs requested that you are advised will, or may, be required by the Buyer’s lender, it might be in your best interest to make them so that you can close… that is if you want to.  If there are safety issues or other significant ones that have been uncovered in inspection, many will also want to address those prior to close.  The Golden Rule tends to work well here, and usually you are in the process of negotiating terms for your own purchase, so you get to enjoy a 360-degree view of how it feels to be on either side. Again though, you are in control.  You can always say “no”, and the chips will fall where they fall.
  • Are you in control of price & your home’s position in the marketplace? Yes.   You obviously don’t control what other people have sold their homes for around you, or what has happened in the market in general, but after your Realtor presents you with comparable data (i.e. available facts), you make the decision regarding what number will go on your flyers and on the MLS. Many Realtors will let you know that they will or will not take on a listing depending on the “reasonableness” of the price desired by the Seller.  You still are the one who makes the final decision on price, and perhaps the decision on whether to work with that person or not.  As a Realtor myself, I will tell you that most Sellers want to price their property too high for the market (sorry… it’s true : ).  Consider that a Realtor who is advising you does not have much of an incentive to talk you into pricing your home too low…  being as their compensation is based on the sale price.  Worth a thought.  I’d venture a guess that you are probably being given the straight scoop.  I like to tell my clients that all we are doing is looking at the facts, and pricing accordingly…  why would you do anything less?  Dianne and I have been reporting that the facts show homes selling now seem to be the ones either very new on the market, or very old listings that have dropped their prices considerably & often.  Ask yourself how long you want to be on the market, and how many price reductions you are willing to go through if you price against what the facts are telling you.  You will gain the most exposure when your home is fresh on the market.  Take advantage of that and price it right. Also.. remember that you are most likely buying as well…  any market conditions will be in effect on either side of the negotiation table.
  • Are you in control of marketing your home and the exposure it gets? Yes.  That is your Realtor’s job, AND, you are part of this conversation and deciding what kind of promotion you want.   Talk to any prospective Realtor about how they plan to garner exposure for your listing.  Look at the words they are choosing for your promotional pieces and make sure you like how the property is being presented. Make sure their is a good deal of Internet exposure, and that all the details about your home are factual.  It’s also a good idea to go over marketing with your Realtor on a periodic basis to gauge feedback and results. Give your input, and make sure to voice any concerns, but then trust your professional, and put your energies to how the house itself  is presenting each day to prospective Buyers, and to your own search for a new home.
  • Are you in control of the timing of your transaction? No.    You really never know when that Buyer will walk in your door and have the reaction “This is the one!”.  You need to have your Windex ready every day as you leave for work & at least briefly touch each of your sinks & fixtures.  You want them to shine when that Buyer walks in. Check your home’s entrance as you leave to make sure that there is that great first impression just waiting for the right moment. Once that happens, and your Buyer has arrived, there are a few things you CAN control about timing, such as when you are willing to be out of your property- unless there is a set date that the Buyer absolutely needs… If this happens, then you are back to “Do I want this transaction to go forward?”… I have not said that there may not be a few hard decisions here & there : )   For the most part, this is why you picked the Realtor you did.  Let them help you through any rough spots.  In the end stages of your transaction, the Buyer’s lender will truthfully have a good deal of control over what happens in what kind of time frame. Know that even if the timing seems like a roller coaster ride, all the dominoes will fall into place and the timing really will, most always, take care of itself with some good choices, and sure, steady footing as you move to close.  Accept help from your Realtor during this time, and get ready to move into your new home!

This seems like a lot for now.  The subject of “Control” and under what circumstances you have it and to what degree is such a rich subject.  I promise I’ll come back to it, and perhaps focus on the Buying angle next time.   In the meantime… Happy Summer!

Very Best,

Linda

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Market Activity August 9-15, 2010

Along with a heat wave, Lake Oswego had 13 new listings, 11 pending sales, and 10 closed sales in the last week.
Here is your weekly update (see below the tables for additional notes):

NEWLY LISTED (August 9-15, 2010)

Address List Price BR Baths SQ Feet Prop Type
16257 LAKE FOREST BLVD $249,900 3 1 1,132 DETACHD
11 CONDOLEA DR $415,000 2 2.5 2,157 CONDO
273 EVERGREEN RD $499,000 3 3.5 1,789 ATTACHD
17560 WESTVIEW DR $539,000 3 2.5 2,561 DETACHD
1625 BEDFORD CT $549,900 2 2.5 2,460 DETACHD
29 SPINOSA $579,900 3 2.5+.5 3,187 DETACHD
1278 HIDE A WAY LN $599,000 4 2.5 2,700 DETACHD
1277 HIDE A WAY LN $599,900 5 3 3,120 DETACHD
4685 UPPER DR 600000 3 2 3,341 DETACHD
5321 AMBERWOOD CT 729000 4 3 3,315 DETACHD
610 CABANA LN 895000 3 2 1,729 DETACHD
4018 COHO LN 1099000 4 4.5 4,777 DETACHD
1954 EGAN WAY 1295000 3 2.5 3,748 DETACHD

PENDING SALES (Aug 9-15, 2010)

Address List Price BR Baths Sq Feet Prop Type CDOM
322 CERVANTES CIR $69,900 2 1 832 CONDO 82
16790 LAKE FOREST BLVD $155,000 2 1 780 DETACHD 32
1728 ASPEN CT $259,900 3 2.5 1,852 DETACHD 385
4201 COLLINS WAY $279,000 3 2 1,230 DETACHD 40
5207 COVENTRY CT $439,000 3 2 1,973 DETACHD 12
19451 SW DOGWOOD CT $539,900 6 3 3,547 DETACHD 93
1704 GLENMORRIE TER $583,000 5 3 3,885 DETACHD 124
13768 KNAUS RD $619,000 4 2 2,418 DETACHD 27
17467 WESTVIEW DR 727900 4 3.5 3,774 DETACHD 4
3540 RED CEDAR WAY 799000 5 3.5 4,100 DETACHD 177
606 6TH ST 839000 4 3 2,988 DETACHD 131

SOLD (August 9-15, 2010)

Address O/Price Sold Price BR Sq Feet Prop Type CDOM
1255 BAYBERRY RD $390,000 $260,000 3 1,901 DETACHD 335
1641 ASH ST $419,950 $279,500 4 2,825 DETACHD 177
5434 YORKSHIRE PL $369,900 $385,000 3 2,335 DETACHD 5
4284 WESTBAY RD $525,000 $490,000 3 1,539 DETACHD 12
220 GREENWOOD RD $599,900 $565,000 4 2,639 DETACHD 573
18010 GIMLEY CT $649,000 $575,000 4 3,652 DETACHD 116
14002 TAYLORS CREST LN $650,000 $599,000 4 3,086 DETACHD 132
898 CORNELL ST $759,000 $702,000 3 3,000 DETACHD 390
1703 VILLAGE PARK LN $789,000 $745,000 3 3,450 DETACHD 156
18820 GREENBLUFF DR $1,495,000 $1,193,950 4 5,382 DETACHD 99

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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Lakewood Center for the Arts

Lake Oswego is a pretty art-oriented community. About town you will find the Gallery Without Walls, and art appreciation is taught by volunteers in the elementary schools. And then there is the annual Festival of the Arts which draws about 20,000 visitors each year for a full weekend of art and entertainment each June. I think a cornerstone of art in the city is the Lakewood Center for the Arts.

Located in the old Lakewood Elementary School building on State Street, the center houses the Lakewood Theater Company as well as a dance studio, art gallery, music and art classes, the Community Arts Preschool, community meeting rooms, and Re-Runs, a second hand shop that supports upkeep and renovation of the building.

The Lakewood Theater Company puts on 5 shows each season of extremely high quality. The stage was renovated in 2003 to hold 220 people with no seat more than 35 feet from the stage. Currently showing is the classic, Gypsy. Costs run about $30 for a single show or $130-$140 for a 5-show season. The performers are high-quality-local talent, with excellent sets and costumes. The theater has a history of 85-90% sell-out for performances. I have seen numerous performances and can attest to the value of the great entertainment.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2010-2011 season:
9/10-10/17: Sweet Charity
11/5-12/12: The Foreigner
1/14-2/20: The Hollow
3/11-4/17: Lend Me a Tenor
5/6-6/12: The Secret Garden

I have a soft spot for this theatre and a personal story. Back in the late 1970’s, when I was in High School at Lakeridge, I had a good friend who worked in the costume department. One Halloween she got us permission to use theatre costumes to attend a Halloween Party. She and I, along with another friend, were able to go to the party as a Chinese dragon. Talk about making an entrance!

I highly encourage you to support the Lakewood Center. And whether you are able to attend a play or not, if you are in Lake Oswego you are going to benefit from the presence of the Lakewood Center in our community.

This is just another great reason to live in Lake Oswego!

Dianne