Tag: houses

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Open Houses for Sunday September 27th, 2009

Sunday is going to be a great day to visit some open houses. We are enjoying a wonderful Indian Summer so the temperature will be pretty much perfect with plenty of sunshine and 28 houses being held open for your viewing pleasure.

62nd front2In particular I want to point out a progressive open house tour being held in Southwood Park. 5 homes are being held open within just a couple of blocks of each other, including my listing at 13638 SW 62nd. Remember that this neighborhood is in unincorporated Clackamas County (which means low taxes), but has Lake Oswego Schools (great for kids and re-sale values). My listing was price reduced this last week from $319,900 to $299,900. That is for a house with 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, two family rooms, and a 21 x 11 utility room. It needs some cosmetic updating, but has a 50 year metal roof, new windows, and new paint inside and out. If you visit all 5 houses on the tour, your will receive a $5 Starbuck’s gift card. Watch for hellium balloons and lots of open house signs. You’ll find my signs on Lesser Dr to follow them in to the property.

Address List Price # BR # BTHS Total SF Prop Type Open
1547 BOCA RATAN DR $219,900 2 1.1 1,008 ATTACHD 1 to 3
13363 SW 64TH AVE $264,900 3 1.1 1,120 DETACHD 1 to 4
13561 SW 62ND AVE 269000 – 289000 3 1.1 1,594 DETACHD 1 to 4
13638 SW 62ND AVE $299,900 4 3 2,268 DETACHD 1 to 4
17752 SCHALIT WAY $329,900 3 2 1,463 DETACHD 2 to 4
13448 SW 61ST AVE $335,000 3 3 1,911 DETACHD 1 to 4
13224 SW 63RD AVE $338,000 4 2.1 1,694 DETACHD 1 to 4
9 DA VINCI ST $399,900 3 2 1,768 DETACHD 12 to 2
14371 SHERBROOK PL $495,000 3 2.1 2,550 DETACHD 2 to 4
3254 DUNCAN DR $500,000 4 3.1 3,997 DETACHD 2 to 4
2525 DELLWOOD DR $519,000 5 3 2,836 DETACHD 12 to 2
4018 COHO LN $539,000 3 2 2,489 DETACHD 1 to 4
11 MORNINGVIEW CIR $547,000 3 2.1 2,921 DETACHD 1 to 3
14867 TWIN FIR CT $579,000 6 3.1 3,641 DETACHD 2 to 4
2545 DELLWOOD DR $599,000 5 3.1 3,843 DETACHD 2:30 to 4:30
1040 UPPER DEVON LN $649,000 3 2.1 2,640 DETACHD 2 to 5
2044 RIDGEWOOD RD $799,000 4 2 2,519 DETACHD 2 to 4
1809 HEADLEE LN $1,125,000 2 2.1 3,836 DETACHD 1 to 3
18143 SIENA DR $1,197,000 5 4.1 4,152 DETACHD 1 to 3
18246 BELLA TERRA DR $1,294,000 4 3.1 4,052 DETACHD 1 to 3
17464 RIDGEVIEW LN $1,298,950 4 3.1 4,407 DETACHD 2 to 4
622 OAK MEADOW DR $1,325,000 4 3.1 4,171 DETACHD 2 to 4
664 OAK MEADOW DR $1,355,000 4 3.1 4,198 DETACHD 2 to 4
18110 Siena DR $1,394,000 4 3.1 4,311 DETACHD 1 to 3
657 OAK MEADOW DR. $1,395,000 4 3.1 4,371 DETACHD 2 to 4
17364 RIDGEVIEW CT $1,425,000 4 3.1 4,436 DETACHD 2 to 4
2572 GLEN EAGLES PL $2,395,000 5 4.2 6,490 DETACHD 12 to 3
13961 KNAUS RD $2,450,000 4 4.2 6,614 DETACHD 3 to 4:30

Enjoy the day and please take advantage of the progressive open house tour in Southwood Park.

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Industry Trends, Good or Bad?

hanging basketAs with our entire society, the real estate community is rapidly changing due to the expanding availability of computer technology and the Internet.  I have found myself musing on this subject because of a telephone call I got yesterday.  A gentleman wanted information about a house that I have listed for sale.  As I always do when I speak to someone about real estate, I asked him if he was already working with a Realtor.  Not that it will make any difference in my answering of his questions, I just want to make sure that he has adequate help and I also don’t want to step onto the toes of any other Realtors.  His response to me was that he had 3 different agents helping him, but that he didn’t think any of them were really working for him. This was because all 3 had set up e-mail programs that sent him listing information, but that none of them made the effort to speak to him in person.  Hmmmm……

I can see, as a professional, how easy it would be to fall into this pattern.  The Internet is absolutely amazing.  Our local RMLS was the first multiple listing service in the United States to go fully functional as a website.  It is constantly upgrading with more and more services.  One feature it has is a client profile program.  This allows Realtors to set up a client profile that automatically searches listings to hunt for homes that fit any particular clients criteria.  It then sends an e-mail to that agent whenever a match is found.  At this point, it will even send that match via e-mail to the client as well, if that function is added by the Realtor when the profile is set up.  It is a simple process to set up and convenient to both the Realtor and the client.  And this is where I think things get gray.  Where is the human contact?

I am as guilty as the rest.  I love technology.  I am on facebook, I tweet, as you can see, I blog.  But I have also been in this business since back in the days when every two weeks we got a printed book the size of your typical phone book.  It had all of the local listings, about 16 to a page, each with a little box with facts and one black and white photo.  We would thumb through the book to find houses that our buyers might like.  Then we’d load our buyers in our cars and drive all over town to see houses.  Looking back, I think it must have been a huge pain in the you know what for buyers.  All that time to see houses that someone else thought you might like.  It worked because it was the only method available.  Today, my clients can look at 16 color photos of each house, with a map link to preview location, and perhaps even a virtual tour, before they ever get into my car to go see the interior.  Today my clients tell me what they want to see and not the other way around.  It saves time, gas, and frustration.  It is soooooo much better.

I think the weakness in our current system is that we may loose touch with the human element.  Ultimately a client needs someone who understands their concerns and who listens to their needs.  You are trying to buy a house, but your are also needing someone who manages your concerns as you negotiate the sale, deal with the home inspection, and, especially today, help you arrange financing.  You need to build a relationship with your Realtor as you look for a home so that you know that your Realtor really is working on your behalf.  The human element is perhaps more important today than ever.

There is a balance that needs to be found.  Just as a Realtor who doesn’t have technological savvy will fall behind in the industry, I think a Realtor who relies too heavily on the techno factor and looses touch with the human needs of their clients will also fall behind.  And, call me old fashioned, there is still nothing quite as nice in business as a hand-written thank you that comes in the mail.

Linda and I are both commited to working within that balance.  We pride ourselves on being “up” on technology, and we both are commited to listening to your needs and helping to make your real estate dealings a successful experience for you as an individual.   I think that we can both honestly say that we start out in our dealings working with clients, but those clients end up becoming friends.  It is my favorite part of my job.

Dianne

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Market Activity Report ~ September 14 – 20, 2009

It’s really interesting… tis the season for “freshening” listings I guess… There were 28 properties listed as New this last week & only 13 of them actually were.  It bears noting that Dianne and I go through the properties and remove the ones that are not actually new listings so that our readers can really see what properties have just come on market. I personally make an exception for properties that have been off the market for 30 or more days… It seems to me as though if someone has taken their property off the market for that time, they have probably been working on the property & changing something about it, so I go ahead in those cases & list them as New again.  I also noticed that many of the “freshened” listings (not in the table below) have changed Realtors.  Although it is then technically a new listing, it is not a new property on the market for our readers’ purposes. It is worth noting that the property is what Buyers are looking for… not the Realtor, and if it is listed in the RMLS and the Realtor has been doing a good job of exposing it online, following up on showings etc., it is (in my opinion) a mistaken notion that switching Realtors is going to help sell the property.  It is more likely that the things the Seller has control over, i.e. price and the appearance of the property, will make the difference.  The listing that was on the market yesterday with one Realtor and back on today with another is pretty much the same property, and Buyers know that. Just a few musings for what they’re worth : )

Last week we saw, as mentioned, 13 New properties come on market.  16 went to Pending status, and 5 Sold.

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

NEWLY LISTED (Sept. 14—20, 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
12 CERVANTES CIR $105,000 2 1.1 912 CONDO 9/15/2009
668 MCVEY AVE $239,900 3 1.1 985 CONDO 9/17/2009
136 TOUCHSTONE TER $350,000 3 2.1 1,996 DETACHD 9/17/2009
114 TOUCHSTONE TER $389,000 3 2.1 2,080 ATTACHD 9/14/2009
15547 PARTRIDGE DR $389,900 3 3 2,266 DETACHD 9/14/2009
16901 LAKERIDGE DR $435,000 3 3 2,080 DETACHD 9/17/2009
5717 BONITA RD $439,000 5 2 2,572 DETACHD 9/18/2009
4311 ORCHARD WAY $564,900 4 2.1 3,082 DETACHD 9/14/2009
19101 INDIAN CREEK AVE $619,500 2 2.1 2,794 DETACHD 9/15/2009
1809 HEADLEE LN $1,125,000 2 2.1 3,836 DETACHD 9/14/2009
753 LAKESHORE RD $1,385,000 3 3.1 2,562 DETACHD 9/16/2009
13 NANSEN SMT $1,500,000 4 4.1 4,625 DETACHD 9/19/2009
17281 KELOK RD $1,550,000 4 3 2,682 DETACHD 9/18/2009

PENDING SALES (Sept 14 -20, 2009)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
DOM
Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type CDOM
10 CONDOLEA DR $240,000 2 2 1,312 ATTACHD 398
19138 PILKINGTON deep flag RD 254500 – 259000 3 1.1 1,099 DETACHD 133
5 PEACOCK PL $299,950 4 2.1 1,760 DETACHD 169
16964 SW GASSNER LN $335,000 3 3 2,208 DETACHD 100
5037 CENTERWOOD ST $349,000 3 1.1 1,340 DETACHD 98
19 TOUCHSTONE $399,000 4 3 2,789 DETACHD 107
31 DA VINCI ST $399,900 4 2.1 2,232 DETACHD 34
41 HILLSHIRE DR $427,000 4 3 2,670 DETACHD 437
3 CELLINI CT $429,000 4 2.1 2,531 DETACHD 240
1660 CAMPUS WAY $475,000 4 3 2,042 DETACHD 4
2330 DELLWOOD DR $495,000 5 3.1 3,468 DETACHD 4
4691 CHELSEA LN $564,900 4 2.1 3,102 DETACHD 585
559 2ND ST $600,000 2 2 1,529 CONDO
7 CELLINI CT $659,000 5 3.1 3,560 DETACHD 10
570 7TH ST $665,000 3 2.1 2,528 DETACHD 265
2600 DELLWOOD DR $699,900 4 3 3,690 DETACHD 486

SOLD (Sept 14-20, 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 CDOM
5318 RED LEAF ST $309,950 $319,950 3 2 1,460 DETACHD 27
799 COUNTRY CLUB RD $700,000 $500,000 6 2.1 4,410 DETACHD 784
4387 LORDS LN $875,000 $650,000 3 2.1 3,040 DETACHD 544
1933 SUMMIT DR $1,675,000 $1,550,000 5 4.1 4,925 DETACHD 26
4313 WESTBAY RD $2,775,000 $2,100,000 4 3.1 4,000 DETACHD 193

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, Sept 20, 2009

This Sunday we have 15 Open Houses in Lake Oswego according to RMLS.  Two of them are under $300,000. if that interests any of you first time home buyers out to find a great home & meet the $8,000. tax credit timeline.   As always, give Dianne or me a call if you need some assistance & are not already working with a Realtor. Enjoy!

Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Open
4447 GOLDEN LN $229,000 2 2.1 1980 2PM-5PM
12868 BOONES FERRY RD $295,000 2 2.1 1136 1PM-3PM
34 HILLSHIRE DR $598,000 3 2.1 3822 12PM-2PM
7 CELLINI CT $659,000 5 3.1 3560 1PM-4PM
4380 UPPER DR $784,900 5 4.1 4071 1PM-4PM
16705 GLENWOOD CT $799,000 4 3 4243 1PM-3PM
2311 Oswego Glen CT $895,000 4 4 4410 1PM-4PM
1708 VILLAGE PARK LN $899,000 4 2.1 3211 1PM-3PM
12819 SW ALTO PARK RD $995,000 4 4.1 3944 1PM-4PM
2326 OSWEGO GLEN CT $995,000 4 4 4178 1PM-4PM
1809 HEADLEE LN $1,125,000 2 2.1 3836 1PM-3PM
18143 SIENA DR $1,197,000 5 4.1 4152 2PM-4:30PM
13010 KNAUS RD $1,199,000 4 3.1 4312 1PM-3PM
18246 BELLA TERRA DR $1,294,000 4 3.1 4052 2PM-4:30PM
18110 Siena DR $1,394,000 4 3.1 4311 2PM-4:30PM
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First Time Home Buyer?

DollarYou know, Dianne and I talk about this a lot, but I think it bears mentioning at this crucial moment when we have so little time before the $8,000. tax credit incentive has timed out (it expires on December 1st… that means that any transaction where there is the intention of taking advantage of this needs to close by November 30th).   What is it that Dianne and I harp on so often that comes into play here?  I’ll tell you- it’s “affordable homes in Lake Oswego”.   You know, the kind that many first time home buyers would be interested in…  homes under, let’s say, $350,000…  Homes in a great school district, in a community where all types of individuals tend to participate and make their voices heard, where there are farmers markets, art festivals, music in the park, great shops & services, where families are valued and supported with programs and activities specific to those needs… and on & on. Here is a link to the city’s website if you’d like to find out more: http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/

I think that Lake Oswego, as Dianne has pointed out time & time again, is sometimes overlooked by first-time home buyers due to a perception that they just would not be able to afford a home in L.O.  Now… each individual circumstance is of course different, but if you can qualify for any number of the great lender programs that I know are out there now, and are looking for a home under $350,000., according to RMLS there happen to be at this moment, today, 53  Detached Homes available in Lake Oswego… and the bottom end is $199,000.  In addition, there are 129 Condos & Townhomes available right now under $350,000… and the bottom end there is at $89,800.

If this is sparking some thinking on your part about looking into this idea for yourself, or someone you know, please do not wait to get going.  Talk to your Realtor, or give Dianne or myself a call *today* if you are not already working with a Realtor.   This is not me pushing  here, I am talking about the chance of a lifetime in prices, rates, and this $8,000. tax credit, and this is the moment.  Here are a few reasons why:

Now, more than ever, it is important to have a good understanding of the timelines involved in purchasing a home… especially if you want to take advantage of the first-time home buyer tax credit:
Fact: The average timeline from when you find a property until it closes is 30-45 days.
Fact: You will need some time to find the property that you wish to buy.  (Some buyers find their home right away, and some need more time.)
Fact: The week before November 30th is Thanksgiving! Many banks and title companies are traditionally closed for the last 3 days of that week.
Fact: November 30th is the Monday following the typical 3 day bank shutdowns.
Fact: There will surely be many, many buyers who will wait until the last minute to start looking for homes. This means that November 30th is sure to be an extremely busy day and many banks and title companies will not be equipped to handle all of the expected volume.
Fact: As more buyers start to frantically hit the market to take advantage of the tax credit, the selection of properties is sure to decrease.
Fact: Waiting too long is a gamble you should not take if you are truly interested. The best strategy is to work with a professional who has a great team and can develop a plan with you to hit the deadline.

Ok, I’ll get off my soapbox now  : )  I’ve at least done my part in getting the word out.

Happy house-hunting!  Please feel free to give me or Dianne a call if you’d like to get going. We are really enjoying working with as many of you as possible to ensure that you get to take advantage of this great opportunity.

Very Best,

Linda

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Market Activity for September 7th to 13th, 2009

Last week brought us 21 new listings, 8 pending sales, and 10 closed sales.   Please let Linda or I know if you would like any further information about any of these houses.  It is both easy and no trouble to send you information.  We are here to be of help.

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

NEWLY LISTED (September 7—September 13, 2009)

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
100 KERR PKWY $99,990 1 1 775 CONDO 9/11/2009
4 TOUCHSTONE $119,900 2 2 984 CONDO 9/9/2009
1547 BOCA RATAN DR $219,900 2 1.1 1,008 ATTACHD 9/9/2009
16250 PACIFIC HWY $229,900 3 2 1,626 CONDO 9/8/2009
15 BLOCH TER $294,900 3 2.1 1,973 ATTACHD 9/10/2009
6015 FERNBROOK CIR $324,900 3 1.1 1,250 DETACHD 9/10/2009
1723 CONIFER DR $324,950 3 2 1,602 DETACHD 9/10/2009
15930 WALUGA DR $329,000 3 1.1 1,040 DETACHD 9/10/2009
17752 SCHALIT WAY 329900 3 2 1,463 DETACHD 9/9/2009
15 ORIOLE LN 345000 2 2 1,470 DETACHD 9/13/2009
1255 BAYBERRY RD 390000 3 2 1,901 DETACHD 9/8/2009
18 ABELARD ST 462000 4 3 2,101 DETACHD 9/11/2009
7 CELLINI CT 659000 5 3.1 3,560 DETACHD 9/10/2009
371 6TH ST 699900 3 3.1 2,258 ATTACHD 9/13/2009
2630 RIVENDELL RD 769900 4 3.1 4,611 DETACHD 9/9/2009
2235 GLEN HAVEN RD 779000 5 2 2,778 DETACHD 9/12/2009
1708 VILLAGE PARK LN 899000 4 2.1 3,211 DETACHD 9/11/2009
2757 LAKEVIEW BLVD 960000 4 3 3,321 DETACHD 9/9/2009
507 ASH ST 988000 2 3 2,700 DETACHD 9/8/2009
19575 35TH CT 1495000 – 1575000 4 3 6,081 DETACHD 9/10/2009
961 TERRACE DR 3495000 4 4.2 5,795 DETACHD 9/7/2009

PENDING SALES (September 7 -September 13, 2009)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
DOM
Address List Price # BR # BTHS Total SF Prop Type List Date CDOM
3688 SPRING LN $164,500 2 2 1,120 CONDO 6/19/2009 81
166 OSWEGO SMT $210,000 2 2 1,506 CONDO 3/13/2009 180
839 F AVE $325,000 3 1 1,516 DETACHD 4/17/2009 147
891 G AVE $419,000 5 2.1 2,420 DETACHD 6/11/2009 88
5044 GREENSBOROUGH CT $449,000 3 2.1 2,124 DETACHD 7/25/2009 49
1670 VILLAGE PARK LN $779,000 4 2.1 3,466 DETACHD 7/17/2009 53
2304 OSWEGO GLEN CT $850,000 4 2.1 3,896 DETACHD 8/15/2009 247
17960 SARAH HILL LN $1,079,000 5 3.1 4,800 DETACHD 4/1/2009 163

SOLD (September 7-September 13, 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
1057 C AVE $295,000 $250,000 2 1 1,048 DETACHD 81
800 WOODWAY CT $339,000 $322,000 4 3 2,066 DETACHD 107
13024 ROGERS RD $389,900 $327,000 4 1 1,826 DETACHD 83
6 NORTHVIEW CT $525,000 $450,000 4 3.1 3,188 ATTACHD 115
13500 TWIN CREEK LN $572,500 $517,500 4 2.1 3,049 DETACHD 77
5831 SUNCREEK DR $685,000 $620,000 4 2.1 2,733 DETACHD 27
4305 UPPER DR $749,000 $700,000 4 2.1 3,474 DETACHD 78
14135 EDENBERRY DR $799,900 $744,000 4 2.1 3,174 DETACHD 98
3270 LAKEVIEW BLVD 1399000 1125000 3 3 3,295 DETACHD 147
13770 CAMEO CT 2298000 1700000 4 5.1 6,669 DETACHD 198

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 Market Activity ~ August 31 – Sept. 6, 2009

Well, the school year has officially started, and we’re all back from our Labor Day festivities. From the look of things, real estate is still moving right along with 21 Pending sales this past week in Lake Oswego.  We had 12 New properties come on market, and just 5 get to Sold status.

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

NEWLY LISTED (August 31—Sept. 6, 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
370 CERVANTES CIR $130,000 2 1 832 CONDO 8/31/2009
5051 FOOTHILLS DR $210,000 2 2 991 CONDO 8/31/2009
29 ORIOLE LN $299,990 3 2.1 1,644 DETACHD 9/4/2009
15139 Tree RD $315,000 3 2 1,328 DETACHD 8/31/2009
15112 QUARRY RD $325,000 4 2 1,968 DETACHD 9/4/2009
1625 CLOVERLEAF RD $364,900 3 2 1,996 DETACHD 9/3/2009
4774 OAKRIDGE RD $374,000 3 1 2,104 DETACHD 9/2/2009
5460 BAY CREEK DR $429,900 3 2.1 2,358 DETACHD 9/1/2009
19026 INDIAN SPRINGS RD 435000 5 3 2,971 DETACHD 8/31/2009
1025 C AVE 499500 3 2 2,261 DETACHD 9/2/2009
18842 BRYANT RD 850000 4 2.2 3,528 DETACHD 9/2/2009
1633 MAPLE ST 894950 3 3 3,405 DETACHD 9/4/2009

PENDING SALES (August 31 -Sept 6, 2009)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
 PROP TYPE
DOM
Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type CDOM
7202 SW MONTAUK CIR $109,900 2 1 968 CONDO 43
15938 QUARRY RD $129,900 2 1 991 CONDO 62
45 CRESTFIELD CT $138,900 2 1 923 CONDO 63
15868 PARKER RD $169,900 2 1 780 DETACHD 168
4 TOUCHSTONE $179,500 2 2 984 CONDO 19
668 MCVEY AVE $179,850 2 1.1 976 CONDO 1022
1432 LAUREL ST $269,500 2 1 920 DETACHD 85
3290 WEMBLEY PARK RD $278,910 5 3 2,614 DETACHD 29
6310 CARMAN DR 349900 3 2.2 1,270 DETACHD 86
14141 GOODALL RD 359900 3 2.1 1,754 DETACHD 91
2851 PARK RD 399000 4 2.1 2,674 DETACHD 137
126 CONDOLEA DR 449000 3 3 2,664 CONDO 680
13342 AUBURN CT 475000 3 2.1 2,389 ATTACHD 75
1921 GLENMORRIE LN 499000 3 3 2,395 DETACHD 49
2925 ORCHARD HILL PL 499900 3 2.1 2,418 DETACHD 148
13176 SANDALWOOD CT 589000 4 2.1 2,982 DETACHD 306
5421 Bay Creek DR 599000 4 2.1 3,241 DETACHD 138
799 COUNTRY CLUB RD 600000 6 2.1 4,410 DETACHD 784
17878 HILLSIDE DR 895000 5 3 3,462 DETACHD 34
17211 KELOK RD 1399000 3 3.1 5,384 DETACHD 91
16737 MAPLE CIR 1400000 3 3 1,683 DETACHD 144

SOLD (August 31-Sept. 6, 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 CDOM
1889 BOCA RATAN DR $229,900 $230,000 3 2 1,393 ATTACHD 7
3355 UPPER DR $470,000 $440,000 4 2 3,205 DETACHD 23
181 3RD ST $739,000 $635,000 2 2 1,523 CONDO 196
22 INDEPENDENCE AVE $724,000 $675,500 7 4.1 4,066 DETACHD 26
511 6TH ST $988,000 $825,000 5 3.1 4,000 DETACHD 146

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, Sept 6, 2009

Rainy Sunday on Labor Day Weekend… hmmm…  There ARE a few houses to enjoy on tour today however, and it looks like a nice grouping.  Here are the Lake Oswego houses being held Open according to RMLS:

Address L/Price Bdrms Total Bath Total SF Open
668 MCVEY AVE $249,000 3 1.1 985 1:00-3:00
5373 LAKEVIEW BLVD $349,000 3 1 2176 1:00-4:00
18246 BELLA TERRA DR $1,294,000 4 3.1 4052 1:00-4:00
17464 RIDGEVIEW LN $1,298,950 4 3.1 4407 2:00-4:00
622 OAK MEADOW DR $1,325,000 4 3.1 4171 2:00-4:00
664 OAK MEADOW DR $1,355,000 4 3.1 4198 2:00-4:00
18110 Siena DR $1,394,000 4 3.1 4311 1:00-4:00
657 OAK MEADOW DR. $1,395,000 4 3.1 4371 2:00-4:00
17364 RIDGEVIEW CT $1,425,000 4 3.1 4436 2:00-4:00
17433 RIDGEVIEW LN $1,495,000 4 4.1 4704 2:00-4:00
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More Random Tips:

Disclose, Disclose, Disclose!

Once upon a time there was a transaction wherein the Realtor representing the Buyer noticed some abnormalities in the Seller’s answers to questions on the Disclosures.  FYI, when you are selling a home, the best and only rule is “Disclose, disclose, disclose!”.  In this situation, the Seller, who had lived in the house for some time, seemed to have excellent knowledge of some things and no knowledge at all of things such as whether the roof had leaked while he/she lived there, whether there were any drainage problems on the property, and whether the main systems of the house were in good working order.  A quick call to the Seller’s agent resulted in answers forthcoming that the Seller had not experienced any leaking from the roof, nor noticed any drainage problems, and that the systems were all working just fine.  I think Seller’s get nervous when filling out these disclosures as they can seem like being asked to air your dirty laundry.  Disclosures, however, are really important to the Seller and the Buyer alike.  Basically, you just want to look at each question and answer to the best of your ability and knowledge.  Sometimes an “N/A” is in order.  Sometimes a “Yes” or a “No” is really called for, and sometimes an “Unknown” is absolutely fine.  If you are a  Seller and fail to disclose something about the property, and it becomes apparent after closing, you could possibly be liable for misrepresenting on your Disclosures… even if it was just a slip of the pen or a spat of bad memory.  It’s much better to just let it all hang out, and your Buyers will appreciate your obvious candor.  A Buyer feels much more comfortable seeing a few dings on the disclosures than they do wondering at odd answers or obvious misstatements… such as that all work was done with permits when the naked eye can tell that some was not.  Again, sometimes you have to take a moment to remember… especially if you’ve lived in a home for a long time.   So anyhoo, better just to lay it all out there.  Calms everyone right down, protects you as the Seller & sets the tone for a good transaction.

Oil Tanks & the DEQ

Speaking of instructional situations…  Make sure that when you are purchasing or selling a home whose heating system has been updated at some point, you check to find out if there was ever an underground oil tank on the property.  Dianne and I have written posts on this in the past and you can find them in the archives here, but it is very important to find out 1) If one was/is on the property, 2) If so, was it decommissioned?, and 3) If it was decommissioned, was a DEQ Certificate obtained?  (You can call DEQ, give them your address, and find out pretty quickly.) This last question is the kicker, and I find that people are confused about it.  If you are a Seller and bought your home with the understanding that it had an oil tank that was decommissioned, but you did not find out if there was a DEQ Certificate and there is NOT one… You will most certainly be required to provide one before closing (Your Buyer does not want to inherit this situation for themselves for when they sell in the future).  This involves calling a DEQ-licensed Environmental Services provider.  The process includes locating the underground tank, taking soil samples, checking the decommission job if one was done, and verifying that it was done to DEQ standards.  If all this checks out, you can get yourself a DEQ Certificate to pass on to your Buyer.  So… better to check this out before putting your property on the market rather than getting surprised during a transaction.  And Buyers… remember to ask your Realtor about this for more clarification.

Feel free to call Dianne or myself any time for more information on any of the tidbits we provide.  We love to help our Property Blotter readers and clients!  Hope this was helpful to you today.

Very Best,

Linda

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Lake Oswego Open Houses for August 30, 2009

There will be 29 open houses in Lake Oswego this Sunday, according to the RMLS:

562 State St., $174,000.  778 sq. feet, 1 BR, 1 BTH, open 1-3

1597 BonnieBrae Dr, $216,900.  998 sq. feet, 2 BR, 1 BTH, open 1-3

1581 Bonnie Brae Dr, $265,000.  1393 sq. feet, 2 BR, 2 BTHS, open 1-3

5096 Tree St, $334,900.  1410 sq. feet, 3 BR, 1.5 BTHS, open 2-5

26 Briarwood Rd, $344,900.  2554 sq. feet, 4 BR, 2 full + 2 half BTHS, open 11-2

9 Da Vinci St, $399,900.  1768 sq. feet, 3 BR, 2 BTHS, open 12-2:30

623 Atwater Rd, $409,995. 2009 sq. feet, 3 BR, 3 BTHS, open 12-2

31 Da Vinci St, $424,900.  2232 sq. feet, 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, open 3-5

1565 Bedford Ct, $429,000.  1978 sq. feet, 2 BR, 2 BTHS, open 1:30-4

138 Kingsgate Rd, $435,000.  1600 sq. feet, 3 BR, 2.5 BTHS, open 1-3

566 5th St, $459,000.  2177 sq. feet, 3 BR, 2 BTHS, open 10-1

14371 Sherbrook Pl, $495,000.  2550 sq. feet, 3 BR, 2.5 BTHS, open 2-4

3254 Duncan, $509,900.  3997 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

939 Sunnyhill Dr, $515,000.  3254 sq feet. 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, open 1-3

15837 Allison Pl, $649,000.  3534 sq. feet, 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, open 1-4

18280 Delenka Ln, $780,000.  4405 sq. feet, 5 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 1-3

3030 Westview Ct, $849,000.  3415 sq. feet, 4 BR, 2.5 BTHS, open 1:30-3:30

18360 Delenka Ln, $898,000.  4346 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 1-3

1920 Glenmorrie Dr, $995,000.  4284 sq. feet, 3 BR, 2 full + 2 half BTHS, open 1-4

624 Atwater Rd, $1,249,000.  4465 sq. feet, 5 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 2-4

18246 Bella Terra Dr, $1,294,000. 4052 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 1-4

17464 Ridgeview Ln, $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

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

18110 Siena Dr, $1,394,000.  4311 sq. feet, 4 BR, 3.5 BTHS, open 1-4

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

1115 Northshore Rd, $1,599,000.  4330 sq. feet, 4 BR, 4.5 BTHS, open 11-2

Have a great weekend!