Lake Oswego Open Houses ~ Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010

Wow. We have polar ends of the price spectrum on tour this Sunday. 8 over a million, and 5 under $250,000 with a couple in the middle. There are some great properties to see on this list, so get out and enjoy the dry weekend weather & find that “one” to either move-up or buy first-time…. The tax credit time-line is ticking………… Enjoy! & as always, feel free to give Dianne or me a call if you need some help. Here are the Open Houses in Lake Oswego according to RMLS:

Address L/Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type Open
12 CERVANTES CIR $105,000 2 1.1 912 ATTCHD 1-3PM
45 EAGLE CREST DR #122 $199,000 3 2 1348 CONDO 1-3PM
65 GREENRIDGE CT $200,000 2 2 1314 ATTCHD 12-4PM
45 SW EAGLE CREST DR #300 $205,000 3 2 1348 CONDO 12:30-2PM
1248 OAK ST $245,900 2 1 900 DETCHD 1-4PM
136 TOUCHSTONE TER $329,000 3 2.1 1996 ATTCHD 1-3PM
138 KINGSGATE RD $410,000 3 2.1 1600 DETCHD 1:30-3:30PM
4962 BILFORD LN $439,900 3 2.1 2168 DETCHD 12-3PM
18209 SIENA DR $1,178,950 5 3.1 3839 DETCHD 1-3PM
18143 SIENA DR $1,197,000 5 4.1 4152 DETCHD 1-3PM
18246 BELLA TERRA DR $1,294,000 4 3.1 4196 DETCHD 1-3PM
17464 RIDGEVIEW LN $1,298,950 4 3.1 4407 DETCHD 1-3PM
664 OAK MEADOW DR $1,355,000 4 3.1 4198 DETCHD 1-3PM
18110 Siena DR $1,394,000 4 3.1 4311 DETCHD 1-3PM
657 OAK MEADOW DR. $1,395,000 4 3.1 4371 DETCHD 1-3PM
17364 RIDGEVIEW CT $1,425,000 4 3.1 4436 DETCHD 1-3PM

Market Activity Report for December 28, 2009 to January 3, 2010

Last week brought us 4 truly new listings, 4 pending sales, and 5 closed sales. Kudos to the brave souls who were out working and busy over the holidays. And to my client who managed to schedule his moving day for the exact date and time of our brief snow storm.

Here is the latest market activity for Lake Oswego (see below the tables for additional notes):
NEWLY LISTED (Dec. 28—Jan. 3, 2010)

Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type List Date
100 KERR PKWY $102,500 2 1.1 823 CONDO 12/28/2009
4 TOUCHSTONE $160,000 3 2.1 1,350 CONDO 1/2/2010
19415 SW DOGWOOD CT $529,900 5 3 3,517 DETACHD 1/1/2010
19288 SW Megly CT $579,900 5 3 3,657 DETACHD 1/1/2010

PENDING SALES (Dec. 28 – Jan. 3, 2010)

Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type CDOM
65 Church ST $159,900 2 1.1 1,040 CONDO 250
952 A AVE $350,000 2 2 2,912 DETACHD 241
5506 ROYAL OAKS DR $399,900 4 3 2,535 DETACHD 19
8 BUCKINGHAM TER $427,900 4 2.1 3,186 DETACHD 144

SOLD (Dec. 21 – Dec. 27, 2009)

Address O/Price Sold Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type CDOM
4000 CARMAN DR $129,900 $123,000 1 1 836 CONDO 103
364 NORTHSHORE RD $629,900 $355,460 2 2 2,220 DETACHD 465
106 GREENRIDGE CT $489,000 $441,000 4 3 3,127 ATTACHD 136
279 EVERGREEN RD $689,000 $615,000 3 3.1 2,136 ATTACHD 129
1980 TWIN POINTS RD $4,987,500 $4,987,500 4 5 6,600 DETACHD 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.

Open Houses for January 3, 2010

Happy New Year one and all!  It looks like it’s going to be a bit quiet this Sunday. For those of you who are hoping to attend an open house or two, there will be 5 homes held open in Lake Oswego, according to the RMLS.

Address List Price # BR # BTHS Total SF Prop Type Open
1950 BONNIEBRAE DR $200,000 2 1.1 1,056 ATTACHD 2 to 4
1547 BOCA RATAN DR $208,900 2 1.1 1,008 ATTACHD 11 to 1:30
65 GREENRIDGE CT $215,000 2 2 1,314 CONDO 11 to 1
5373 LAKEVIEW BLVD $335,000 3 1 2,176 DETACHD 2 to 4
17755 HILL WAY $339,900 4 3 1,831 DETACHD 1 to 3

Lake Oswego Market Activity Report ~ Dec. 21-27, 2009

There are 5 truly NEW properties in Lake Oswego this last week, 3 that went to PENDING status, and 4 that SOLD.

Here is the latest market activity for Lake Oswego (see below the tables for additional notes):
NEWLY LISTED (Dec. 21—Dec.27, 2009)

Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type List Date
47 EAGLE CREST DR $90,000 2 1 932 CONDO 12/22/2005
85 OSWEGO SMT $225,000 2 2 1,212 CONDO 12/23/2005
13680 SHIREVA DR $289,900 3 2 1,504 DETACHD 12/21/2005
4962 BILFORD LN $439,900 3 2.1 2,168 ATTACHD 12/20/2005
1400 LEE ST $475,500 4 3 2,804 DETACHD 12/22/2005

PENDING SALES (Dec. 21 – Dec. 27, 2009)

Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type CDOM
364 NORTHSHORE RD $399,900 2 2 2,220 DETACHD 465
19 BECKET ST $399,995 4 3.1 3,818 DETACHD 36
4938 MULHOLLAND DR $478,500 3 2.1 2,498 ATTACHD 217

SOLD (Dec. 21 – Dec. 27, 2009)

Address O/Price Sold Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type CDOM
16200 PACIFIC HWY $368,000 $210,000 2 2 1,208 CONDO 72
15010 TWIN FIR RD $325,000 $260,000 8 2.1 3,526 DETACHD 220
953 A AVE $450,000 $370,000 2 2.1 2,908 DETACHD 134
4688 CHELSEA LN $649,900 $615,500 4 2.1 3,493 DETACHD 9

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.

Lake Oswego Open Houses ~ Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009

Hope all of our Property Blotter readers who celebrate Christmas had a blissful and love-filled day yesterday with family and friends! For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas…. we hope you had a blissful and love-filled day HillWayyesterday with family and friends : ) For ALL of you, we wish you a memorable and satisfying holiday season.

There is just one house listed Open according to RMLS this Sunday, and it is a nice one in a mid-level price range that has recently dropped by $15,000.  (photo used by permission) Enjoy! :

Address L/Price Beds Baths Total SF Prop Type Open
17755 HILL WAY $339,900 4 3 1831 DTCHD 1-3PM

Have a great weekend!

Holiday Notes from Lake Oswego

OrangesA very merry Christmas and holiday season to each of you from Dianne and me!

Here are a few notes from Lake Oswego:

Millenium Park Plaza in Final Phase! ~ The improvements include a small grove of Fuji cherry trees, a water feature and an ADA standard ramp to improve accessibility.  Views of Lakewood Bay will be enhanced, and there will be even more room for Lake Oswego’s famed Farmers’ Market and the Lake Run. The park will re-open in May of 2010 in time for Farmers’ Market.

Historic Belluschi House Moves to Marylhurst ~  A home built by noted Portland architect, Pietro Belluschi will stay in Lake Oswego after all.  Many thanks to Marylhurst University, where it will receive a permanent home on campus, and be restored as a lasting reminder of Belluschi’s architectural legacy.  It is truuly a work of mid-century modernist art, and was about to be demolished until Marylhurst came to the rescue.  Fund-raising efforts are now underway to move and restore the house.  Here is a link to a photo in ModernHomesPortland.com:  Belluschi House

Coat Drive ~ Lake Oswego will be collecting coat for Clackamas County Women and Children’s Centers through the month of February.  If you wish to donate, please stop by City Hall at 380 A Avenue, or call 503 635 0257.

Tree 09 bAdult Community Center New Year’s Luncheon ~ Doors open on Wednesday, December 30th at 11:30 for this fabulous feast & opportunity to celebrate with your neighbors.  Suggested donation is $4.00 for those 60 & older, and $5.00 for all other attendees.  The Community Center is located at the intersection of 5th & G Avenues.

Safety ~ The Lake Oswego Fire Department reminds us to consider safety and the safety of those around us as we move through this beautiful holiday season fraught with its own unusual circumstances.   We are not usually stringing lights all over our homes for instance, and do not usually place trees in our living rooms adorned with lights of their own.  The snaps of really cold weather (which broke many pipes in town a week or so ago) add another twist as we haul out our space heaters on those super frosty days.  Here is a link to some safety tips for you and your family:   Safety at Holiday Time

Market Activity for December 14-20, 2009

This past week we had 8 new listings, 12 pending sales, and 7 closed sales. I expect this week to be slow as everyone gets into all of the events of the holidays.

Here is the latest market activity for Lake Oswego (see below the tables for additional notes):
NEWLY LISTED (Dec. 14—Dec.20, 2009)

Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type List Date
47 EAGLE CREST DR $89,500 1 1 696 CONDO 12/14/2009
100 KERR PKWY $97,000 1 1 617 CONDO 12/18/2009
12 WHEATHERSTONE $285,000 3 2.1 1,692 ATTACHD 12/20/2009
210 S STATE ST $339,000 2 1.1 1,495 CONDO 12/15/2009
5511 FIELDSTONE CT $675,000 4 2.1 3,032 DETACHD 12/15/2009
5533 FIELDSTONE CT $695,000 4 2.1 3,112 DETACHD 12/15/2009
1703 VILLAGE PARK LN $789,000 3 2.1 3,450 DETACHD 12/14/2009
17288 LOWENBERG TER $897,000 4 3.1 3,245 DETACHD 12/14/2009

PENDING SALES (Dec. 14 – Dec. 20, 2009)

Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type CDOM
Address List Price #BR #BTHS Total SF Prop Type CDOM
668 MCVEY AVE $179,900 2 1.1 985 ATTACHD 1124
5064 FOOTHILLS DR $199,900 3 2 1,252 CONDO 168
14431 SHERBROOK PL $285,000 4 3 3,284 DETACHD 365
520 9TH ST $325,000 3 2 1,148 DETACHD 151
16824 INVERURIE RD $335,000 3 3 1,896 DETACHD 244
8 WALKING WOODS DR 399900 – 429900 4 3 3,302 DETACHD 303
15943 WHITE OAKS DR $430,000 4 2.1 2,773 DETACHD 242
5948 BAY POINT DR $484,950 4 2.1 2,421 DETACHD 226
34 HILLSHIRE DR 565000 3 2.1 3,822 DETACHD 699
17675 CARDINAL DR 599000 3 3 3,458 DETACHD 294
13010 KNAUS RD 995000 4 3.1 4,312 DETACHD 1128
15481 TWIN FIR RD 999000 4 4.1 4,821 DETACHD 593

SOLD (Dec. 14 – Dec. 20, 2009)

Address O/Price Close Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type CDOM
Address O/Price Close Price # BR # BTHS Total SF Prop Type CDOM
113 KINGSGATE RD $309,000 $255,000 3 2 1,436 DETACHD 94
200 BURNHAM RD $399,000 $275,000 3 2 1,960 CONDO 294
3521 LANEWOOD ST $399,500 $394,500 3 1.1 1,675 DETACHD 5
13584 TWIN CREEK LN $449,900 $435,000 4 2.1 2,615 DETACHD 2
12430 ORCHARD HILL RD $649,950 $550,000 3 2.1 2,985 DETACHD 201
4304 WESTBAY RD $629,900 $600,000 4 3.1 2,914 DETACHD 153
762 3RD ST $639,900 $610,000 3 2.1 2,590 DETACHD 309

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.

Seeing the Christmas Lights

christmas shipLet’s face it, December is dark. The sun comes up about 7:30 and sets about 4:30. That’s just 9 hours of daylight. And that’s why Christmas lights are pretty darn important to me. I know they are put up to celebrate religious traditions. But as far as I am concerned they are put up for ME. I love them and need them to get through the month of the year with the shortest daylight. My own turkey barely has a chance to go cold on the counter before I am putting up my own Christmas lights. And I push the boundary on the other end too by leaving them up past Christmas. (Yes, one year I had them up until Valentine’s, but haven’t been that extreme in quite awhile.)

So when Linda and I first designed the propertyblotter, and had to think about what links we wanted permanently attached, the Christmas Ship Parade came immediately to mind. You will see our link to the Christmas Ships year around on our left tool bar. However, I don’t want to just assume that you have used it to see what it is all about. This year I want to point it out and suggest that you load up your car with family and a thermos of hot cocoa and drive over to Foothills Park on December 19th at about 6pm. This is the evening that the parade of lighted ships are scheduled to come as far South as George Rogers Park on the Willamette River. You can view them from George Rogers Park, and also from Roehr Park, but you would probably need to get out of your car. Personally, I love to sit in the car to watch them. Just find some Christmas music on the radio and stay toasty warm. When my children were little, we commonly did this with both of them bathed and in their pajamas.

There are about 20 or so ships that are organized and captained by volunteers. They do a nightly parade of both the Willamette and the Columbia Rivers with the evening parade location changing daily. I think the only time between now and Christmas that they will be as far South as LO is the 19th. If you are willing to drive North, you will be able to find them in other locations on other evenings. For a complete schedule, click here.

And if you want to find what I consider to be the top decorated house light displays, I want to recommend driving down Edenberry Drive in Westlake. The homeowners on the street go all out. It is gorgeous. Many of the side streets are also decorated. So swing through when you get the chance.

Enjoy the season. I know that I do: especially the Christmas lights.

Ho Ho Ho, Dianne

Holidays+Food=Recipe Secrets Fm Lake Oswego To You

manicotti aOk, so, it’s the holidays, and the Realtors are all running around serving their clients with Christmas trees on their car roofs… well, at least I am! Or was, earlier today. I visited another real estate office and noticed that I’m not the only one juggling real estate business and “extra” holiday activities and errands… and frankly we all are right now. So, I was thinking- What am I going to write about in the Property Blotter this time?  I’ve got to take care of my clients and go shopping for Manicotti ingredients, champagne, Martinelli’s and all manner of other Christmas Party necessities. What will I write about?   Food comes to mind of course.

I confess, I have been overextended into giving away some of my cooking secrets, and other hopefully interesting tidbits for the sake of expediency! What has the world come to? Anyway, here are a few little things I usually do not pass on to people… but for YOU??? Our Property Blotter reader? Here you go:

Manicotti:  I make a killer Manicotti. It’s a well-known fact if I do say so myself, which is due to my dear Grandmother’s guidance and recipe… and which I am NOT giving you (she’d come after me from the afterlife!). So, you’ll have to come up with your own sauce and blend of cheeses, but I WILL tell you the biggest secret of all: ~How To Stuff Manicotti Noodles~ Basically, you stuff them while they’re hard. Using a pastry tube is something I incorporated last year and it worked much better than the “old country” method my Grandmother and I used, which was little by little with teaspoons. You stuff the noodles, line them up in a buttered pan till its filled with one layer, and pour your sauce over them all. Here comes the secret part: You then pour hot water… about 3/4 cup of it, around the edges of the pan, cover tightly with foil and bake according to your directions. The water steams the noodles, and your sauce retains the consistency you intended. Voila! (oops… not an Italian expression)

Hungarian Mushroom Soup:  There is a restaurant in Portland called Old Wives Tales that is famous for this soup. I used to drive all the way there and take home large cartons of it. “Anything else, Miss?” “No. Just the soup please.” One day I experimented till I came up with nearly the same flavor. Sophisticated cooks will balk at this part, but I use 2 large cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup from the store. I then add several cloves of garlic (at least 5) chopped, at least a cube of butter, a 16 oz. carton of sour cream, 3 cartons of fresh sliced mushrooms from the produce section, one can of milk, and several tablespoons of paprika. Ta da! Secret, easy Hungarian Mushroom Soup.

Brussel Sprouts: For this I am going to give you a link to a great local cooking blog. A lot of people like to serve brussel sprouts during the holidays, and I believe there is some kind of superstition having to do with good luck when you eat them on New Year’s Eve. Anyway, this recipe is so good I can hardly describe it. The way you cook them is easy, involves lots of heavy cream and freshly squeezed lemon juice at the end. This method takes some of the “bite” our of them, and ends up sending you back for more till there are no leftovers. It’s that good (if you like brussel sprouts that is… and if you don’t, I’d suggest trying them this way to see if you change your mind). Here’s the link: Creamy Braised Brussel Sprouts

Ok, Addendum- Check.  Closing Coordination- Check. Research- Check. Repair schedule- Check. Update Clients- Check. Documents Emailed- Check… Off to decorate the tree!

Happy Holiday Cooking to each of you.

Very Best,

Linda

Market Activity Report for Nov. 30th to Dec. 6th, 2009

With just 5 pending sales and 8 closed sales last week, activity seems to be settling into the slower months of winter. However, we still had 20 new listings (not refreshed, truly new). At this time of year, people typically hold off on putting their house up for sale until after the holidays. To list your home now, you have got to be pretty motivated. I am suspicious that some of these homes are in financial trouble. I also know that corporations often move employees during the holidays if they are trying to close out a corporate year that matches the calendar year. Whatever the cause, we are back to more new listings than sales activity.

Here is the latest market activity for Lake Oswego (see below the tables for additional notes):
NEWLY LISTED (Nov. 30—Dec 6, 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
59 GALEN ST $99,000 1 1 550 CONDO 12/2/2009
334 CERVANTES CIR $144,900 2 1 832 CONDO 12/4/2009
75 GALEN ST $159,900 2 2 995 CONDO 12/1/2009
4 TOUCHSTONE $190,000 3 2.1 1,351 CONDO 12/1/2009
287 CERVANTES $195,000 3 1.1 1,144 CONDO 12/4/2009
45 SW EAGLE CREST DR $205,000 3 2 1,348 CONDO 12/2/2009
100 LEONARD ST $264,900 2 2 1,364 CONDO 12/3/2009
16890 CORTEZ CT $324,900 4 3 2,016 DETACHD 12/4/2009
1841 CLOVERLEAF RD 349000 5 3 2,186 DETACHD 12/1/2009
837 OAK ST 380000 3 2 2,816 ATTACHD 11/30/2009
15 CHURCHILL DOWNS 380000 4 2 2,014 ATTACHD 11/30/2009
17942 SAINT CLAIR DR 524900 4 2.1 2,533 DETACHD 12/1/2009
1250 PINE ST 539000 4 2.1 2,856 DETACHD 12/3/2009
339 6TH ST 599900 3 3.1 2,258 ATTACHD 12/1/2009
18081 WESTMINSTER DR 599950 4 2.1 2,713 DETACHD 12/1/2009
15393 DIAMOND HEAD RD 756400 4 2.1 3,192 DETACHD 12/2/2009
1010 HOODVIEW LN 875000 4 3 3,058 DETACHD 11/30/2009
17802 SW Marylcreek DR 887900 3 4 3,825 DETACHD 12/6/2009
18175 PILKINGTON RD 899900 4 3.1 3,164 DETACHD 12/1/2009
444 6TH ST 1095000 4 4.1 4,541 DETACHD 12/1/2009

PENDING SALES (Nov. 30 -Dec 6, 2009)

ADDRESS
LIST PRICE
TOT. BEDS
TOT. BATHS
TOT. SQ FT
PROP TYPE
DOM
Address List Price # BR # BTHS Total SF Prop Type CDOM
668 MCVEY AVE $143,550 3 1.1 992 CONDO 59
5077 W SUNSET DR $299,900 2 2.1 1,720 ATTACHD 102
4051 VIRGINIA WAY $339,900 3 2.1 1,658 DETACHD 58
2753 VALE CT $402,000 3 3 2,786 DETACHD 31
1575 IVY CT $515,000 4 3 2,432 DETACHD 56

SOLD (Nov. 30-Dec 6, 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
4 TOUCHSTONE CT $137,900 $105,000 3 2.1 1,350 CONDO 371
14 POLONIUS ST $300,000 $288,000 4 3 2,754 DETACHD 254
5096 SW TREE ST $334,900 $318,000 3 1.1 1,410 DETACHD 462
1990 WEMBLEY PARK RD $399,900 $390,000 4 3 3,162 DETACHD 27
2981 VALE CT $512,450 $475,500 5 2.1 3,516 DETACHD 436
5382 ROYAL OAKS DR $555,000 $492,500 4 2.1 2,970 DETACHD 194
135 FURNACE ST $709,900 $647,000 2 2.1 1,927 CONDO 97
827 8TH ST $898,000 $835,000 5 3.1 3,852 DETACHD 38

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.