Lots of houses continue to come onto the market, as is typical in the spring. Even with the holiday weekend there were 25 new listings in Lake Oswego. We also saw 21 houses receive offers and go pending and 2 closed sales.
Here is the latest market activity for Lake Oswego (see below the tables for additional notes):
NEWLY LISTED (May 18—May 24, 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 | $94,900 | 1 | 1 | 617 | CONDO | 5/21/2009 | ||
| 45 EAGLE CREST DR | $139,900 | 1 | 1 | 768 | CONDO | 5/20/2009 | ||
| 86 KINGSGATE RD | $149,900 | 2 | 2 | 849 | CONDO | 5/20/2009 | ||
| 276 CERVANTES | $183,000 | 3 | 2 | 1,209 | CONDO | 5/21/2009 | ||
| 235 CERVANTES | $188,000 | 2 | 2 | 1,100 | CONDO | 5/21/2009 | ||
| 16250 PACIFIC HWY | $220,000 | 1 | 1 | 841 | CONDO | 5/19/2009 | ||
| 16428 SW BONAIRE AVE | $269,950 | 3 | 1 | 1,240 | DETACHD | 5/19/2009 | ||
| 16250 PACIFIC HWY | $274,500 | 2 | 2 | 1,305 | CONDO | 5/19/2009 | ||
| 4 WHEATHERSTONE | $334,950 | 3 | 2.1 | 1,692 | CONDO | 5/18/2009 | ||
| 6321 ALYSSA TER | $339,000 | 3 | 2.1 | 1,582 | ATTACHD | 5/18/2009 | ||
| 14141 GOODALL RD | $389,900 | 3 | 2.1 | 1,907 | DETACHD | 5/22/2009 | ||
| 19221 REDWING CT | $397,500 | 3 | 2 | 1,374 | DETACHD | 5/22/2009 | ||
| 147 6TH ST | $425,000 | 3 | 1 | 1,584 | DETACHD | 5/18/2009 | ||
| 668 MCVEY AVE | 425000 – 450000 | 3 | 1.1 | 992 | CONDO | 5/20/2009 | ||
| 16950 LAKERIDGE DR | $479,000 | 4 | 2.1 | 2,305 | DETACHD | 5/23/2009 | ||
| 4938 MULHOLLAND DR | $529,900 | 3 | 2.1 | 2,498 | ATTACHD | 5/19/2009 | ||
| 4959 BILFORD LN | $547,500 | 3 | 2.1 | 2,456 | DETACHD | 5/19/2009 | ||
| 475 COUNTRY CLUB CT | $549,000 | 3 | 2.1 | 1,705 | DETACHD | 5/18/2009 | ||
| 5400 BAY CREEK DR | $550,000 | 4 | 2.1 | 2,856 | DETACHD | 5/22/2009 | ||
| 686 SUNNY HILL DR | $569,500 | 4 | 2.1 | 2,300 | DETACHD | 5/21/2009 | ||
| 4305 UPPER DR | $749,000 | 4 | 2.1 | 3,474 | DETACHD | 5/20/2009 | ||
| 1755 SOUTHSHORE BLVD | $949,000 | 5 | 3.1 | 4,757 | DETACHD | 5/21/2009 | ||
| 943 SW ATWATER RD | $975,000 | 4 | 2.1 | 3,874 | DETACHD | 5/21/2009 | ||
| 14480 KRUSE OAKS BLVD | $1,149,000 | 4 | 3.1 | 4,661 | DETACHD | 5/18/2009 | ||
| 18042 SKYLAND CIR | $1,499,000 | 4 | 3 | 4,800 | DETACHD | 5/22/2009 |
PENDING SALES (May 18-May 24, 2009)
| ADDRESS |
LIST PRICE
|
TOT. BEDS
|
TOT. BATHS
|
TOT. SQ FT
|
PROP TYPE |
DOM
|
| Address | List Price | # BR | # BTHS | Total SF | Prop Type | CDOM | |||
| 45 EAGLE CREST DR | $134,900 | 2 | 1.1 | 1,056 | CONDO | 6 | |||
| 4000 CARMAN DR | $149,900 | 2 | 2 | 925 | CONDO | 699 | |||
| 4000 CARMAN DR | $179,900 | 2 | 2 | 1,100 | CONDO | 72 | |||
| 1602 BONNIEBRAE DR | 224900 – 254876 | 2 | 1 | 864 | ATTACHD | 256 | |||
| 103 KINGSGATE RD | $299,900 | 3 | 2.1 | 1,352 | DETACHD | 56 | |||
| 18543 LONGFELLOW AVE | $305,000 | 3 | 1.1 | 1,279 | DETACHD | 97 | |||
| 5918 SEVILLE AVE | $315,000 | 4 | 2 | 1,752 | DETACHD | 14 | |||
| 45 TANGLEWOOD DR | $345,000 | 5 | 3.1 | 3,166 | DETACHD | 71 | |||
| 15 MASARYK ST | $349,900 | 3 | 3 | 3,680 | DETACHD | 131 | |||
| 111 3RD ST | $399,900 | 2 | 2 | 1,206 | CONDO | 276 | |||
| 815 10TH ST | $399,950 | 3 | 2 | 2,190 | DETACHD | 298 | |||
| 606 2ND ST | $420,000 | 4 | 3 | 3,022 | DETACHD | 34 | |||
| 17825 SARAH HILL LN | $464,900 | 4 | 2.1 | 2,525 | DETACHD | 5 | |||
| 2 PIMLICO TER | $479,900 | 4 | 2.1 | 2,301 | DETACHD | 21 | |||
| 14412 MEADOW GRASS ST | $500,000 | 4 | 2.1 | 3,563 | DETACHD | 364 | |||
| 5026 HARTFORD PL | $524,900 | 5 | 2.1 | 3,253 | DETACHD | 319 | |||
| 17445 LAKE HAVEN DR | $539,900 | 4 | 3 | 2,949 | DETACHD | 9 | |||
| 1245 BAYBERRY RD | $559,000 | 3 | 2 | 1,728 | DETACHD | 342 | |||
| 5590 KODERRA AVE | $599,900 | 4 | 2.1 | 3,072 | DETACHD | 10 | |||
| 5322 Langford LN | $759,000 | 4 | 2.1 | 3,218 | DETACHD | 178 | |||
| 17970 ROYCE WAY | $995,000 | 4 | 4.2 | 5,226 | DETACHD | 285 |
SOLD (May 11-May 17, 2009)
| ADDRESS | ORIG. PRICE | SALE PRICE |
TOT. BEDS
|
TOT. BATHS
|
TOT. SQ FT
|
PROP TYPE |
DOM
|
| Address | O/Price | Close Price | # BR | # BTHS | Total SF | Prop Type | CDOM | ||
| 4724 SW FIRWOOD RD | $299,900 | $279,900 | 3 | 1.1 | 1,240 | DETACHD | 296 | ||
| 13805 REGENCY CT | $419,000 | $373,000 | 4 | 2.1 | 2,045 | DETACHD | 29 | ||
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.
Along with my own open house at 4447 Golden Lane, there are a total 17 opens planned for Lake Oswego on May 24th. I’d love to have you come by to see me tomorrow. My listings is a 1616 square foot townhouse in Mt. Park. Recent updates include gorgeous granite counters in the kitchen, laminate flooring, and new windows. It has 2 large bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. Probably the nicest feature is that it has huge, south-facing windows that look out across trees and well-cared for landscaping. It is also an end unit. It’s priced at $255,000. I’ll be there from 2 to 5pm. You’ll find my signs at the corner of Melrose and Fosberg and from there you can easily follow them into the complex on Thundervista.
La Provence is the youngster in the group. The founders of the restaurant, Pascal, Didier, and Alain came from France in 1996 wanting to share their passion for the French Patisserie, which is a bakery that specializes in pastries and sweets. Don’t be fooled by the outstanding selection of breads, tortes, cakes and croissants that are showcased as you walk-in. This restaurant offers first class food well beyond the temptations of sweets. When the restaurant first opened it specialized in breakfast and lunch. My favorite breakfast choice has long been the smoked-salmon hash. Served over crispy hash browns, the smoked salmon is topped by a poached egg and creamy dill sauce. The homemade bread makes delicious toast, and the coffee is outstanding. For lunch I recommend the French onion soup. It is the best I have ever had. And in the last year or so the restaurant has begun to stay open for dinner service. I recently had a wonderful dinner there at a time when they were offering live music. I consider the pricing to be affordable and the food highly reliable. The atmosphere is relaxed and sunny with bright splashes of color from the art work and provencial-style table cloths. Located at 15964 Boones Ferry Rd, you can find menus and more information at their website,
Next door to La Provence is Gubanc’s. Gubanc’s and I have something in common. We both came to Lake Oswego in 1976. I guess you could say that we kind of grew up together. Owned by Tony and Anne Gubanc, this restaurant is a neighborhood classic. The atmosphere is classy while being comfortable. Not too expensive, you’ll find the food to be Northwest with an interesting flair. The restaurant is most famous for its soups. They have 80 different varieties that were personally created for their menu. While the traditionals like clam chowder are available, you will also often find unusual selections like Chicken and Pear or Santa Fe Chicken with White Bean. Yum. A great deal at lunch is the Soup Board. For $7.50 you get a generous bowl of homemade soup with a side board of bread, cheese, and fruit. Dinner options include South Western Pork Wraps, Chicken and Dumplings, and Halibut Provencial. For dessert they are well known for their Fresh Fruit Cobbler. You’ll find it busy every night of the week. There is a full bar and I think there are quite a few regulars who eat dinner here several nights a week. To continue to fill the dining room night-after-night for over 30 years, you know they must be doing something right. Located at 16008 Boones Ferry Rd. For a copy of the menu and more information, visit Gubanc’s website at 
Finally, I want to brag about Riccardo’s. This is my favorite “special occasion” restaurant in Lake Oswego. Not that you would only want to go there on special occasions, like an anniversary or a birthday. I have gone there with friends for a casual lunch or dinner many times. It’s just that I’ve also celebrated many birthdays and anniversaries there. In my mind, it is a special place that provides just the right atmosphere for a special night out. Opened in 1980 by Riccardo and Georgette Spaccarelli, it is very fine Italian dining at it’s best. The Spaccarellis are known for their annual trips to Italy where they visit wine producers and make selections to offer with their food. The entire meal is extremely authentic. It’s also mouth watering and complex. My favorite item on the menu is the Penna Strozzapreti. Penna pasta with a sauce of cremini mushrooms, black olives, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes in a light cream sauce that is then dusted with parmigiano reggiano. That is comfort food to me and a real taste treat. There are two dining rooms. The inside room seats 55 and is very nice. But my favorite, and where I always make it a point to dine, is the outside patio. It seats 75 and is surrounded by high walls that in the summer are topped with flowers. There are terra cotta tiled floors and several fountains. The perimeter tables do have a roof over them and in cooler weather they have numerous heaters to keep you warm. No, I don’t think you’d be able to dine out there in January. But for most of the year you can. It is not only comfortable, you will feel like you’ve gone to Italy. Riccardo’s is just across the street from Gubanc’s and La Provence at 16035 Boones Ferry Rd. You can find their menu and more information at their website,
There is such a panoply of amenities in Lake Oswego that Dianne and I have been talking about incorporating profiles of local favorites from time to time. I thought I’d begin with a very special person who I would be lost without… my local “dog-whisperer”, Valerie Pulley.
seems it has been the subject of pets, and dogs in particular. We all know what a Portuguese Water Dog is now, thanks to “Beau” at the White House. I know our own friend & blogging cohort, Ron Ares, wrote a post most recently about his own dog, Nyree (left), adopted by the Ares family to save her from becoming a casualty of foreclosure. I’ve seen pieces on local and national news about the amazing number of dogs that have been abandoned or taken to shelters as fallout from the current economy, and it is heartbreaking to consider.
Staffordshire Terrier, Fedore, is her pride & joy, I’ve been taking my crazy black Standard Schnauzer, Kato (right) , to Valerie for years, and she is the only one who can calm him down enough to let his toenails be clipped. Turns out others have noticed this talent as well, and dog owners from far and wide bring their “hard to handle” pets to Valerie for tender loving care. Valerie mentions that “Some dogs have been kicked out of every grooming salon in Portland for biting, scratching, and generally squirming and freaking out. They bring them to me because I am the only one they’ve found to be able to handle them.” I 
ask her why she thinks this is, and she says “I’m just not afraid of them, and I care about them.” She has been working in the Lake Oswego area for around 12 years now, spending some of her career at the Lake Oswego Dog Shoppe, and now is working for 
It’s time to showcase another of Lake Oswego’s wonderful neighborhoods, Westridge. Westridge is not very large. According to 
Second, it has two terrific parks. Cooks Butte Park is on the Eastern edge of Westridge. It’s 42 acres of natural area. It’s what is called a passive park. In other words, it is left quite natural with soft-surface trails for hiking, but not a lot of development such as picnic structures or play grounds. It is best enjoyed for the trees, the trails, and the views. The top of the park has an elevation of 718′. It’s a wonderful spot to hike up to and then sit and watch the sunset. The other park is Westridge Park. It’s adjacent to Westridge Elementary School. It’s 2.2 acres and has a playground, a volleyball area, and a soccer/little league field. This is where you take the kids to burn off some energy and to enjoy a fine, sunny afternoon.
Housing in Westridge is all single family homes. There are no condominiums or apartment buildings. The pricing of what is currently for sale goes from a low of $498,500 for a 2670 square foot home with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, to a high of $899,900 for a 3243 square foot home also with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. I would say that the most basic criteria for the variation in pricing is whether the home has been updated or not. The neighborhood was mostly built in the 1970’s and 1980’s. So if the house still has original kitchen, baths, woodwork and windows, it is just not going to be worth as much as a house that is
I want to point out a house that Linda and I visited on Broker’s tour on May 5th, 9 Westminster Dr. This home is an excellent example of great value. Built in 1976, it has been extensively updated. The kitchen and baths are all recent. There is new paint and flooring. The house has 3814 square feet, with 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. Probably the most distinguishing feature is a wonderful sunroom that allows you to sit and enjoy the garden all year round. The landscaping is exceptional. There is extensive brick work in patios and outdoor entertaining areas. The yard has sprinklers and it looks to me as though a professional was involved in the layout. It is really wonderful. Priced at just $597,000 it is a stand out for value. I tell people that in this market it is both a beauty pageant and a price war. I think this house wins in both categories.