Tag: Linda Trotta

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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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Market Activity Aug 30-Sept 5, 2010

Market activity last week brought us 16 new listings, 12 pending sales, and 13 closed sales.

See below for further details.

NEWLY LISTED (August 30-Sept 5, 2010)

Address List Price Bedrooms Baths Prop Type
49 OSWEGO SMT $85,000 1 1 CONDO
3924 CARMAN DR $199,000 2 2.5 ATTACHD
23 GREENRIDGE CT $235,000 2 1.5 ATTACHD
5713 SW KENNY ST $284,900 3 2 DETACHD
4347 SILVER CT $312,000 3 2.5 CONDO
9 ORIOLE LN $335,000 3 3 DETACHD
132 MIDDLECREST RD $364,900 3 1 DETACHD
12139 SW ORCHARD HILL WAY $399,000 4 2.5 DETACHD
200 BURNHAM RD 429000 3 2 CONDO
1900 GREENTREE RD 449000 4 3 DETACHD
2634 ORCHARD HILL PL 449500 3 2.5 DETACHD
1033 YATES 549900 4 3.5 DETACHD
17590 BLUE HERON DR 850000 4 3 DETACHD
100 GARIBALDI ST 999500 5 3.5+.5 DETACHD
4464 LAKEVIEW BLVD 1399000 3 4 DETACHD
1300 FAIRWAY RD 4490000 4 3.5 DETACHD

PENDING SALES (Aug 30-Sept 5, 2010)

Address List Price Bedrooms Baths Prop Type
512 S STATE ST $99,900 1 1 CONDO
45 EAGLE CREST DR $119,900 1 1 CONDO
41 GREENRIDGE CT $175,000 3 2.5 ATTACHD
74 GREENRIDGE CT $259,900 3 2.5 ATTACHD
541 2ND ST $499,000 2 2 CONDO
15 SCARBOROUGH DR $499,000 5 3.5 DETACHD
577 2ND ST $535,000 2 2 CONDO
339 6TH ST $549,900 3 3.5 ATTACHD
1050 Schukart LN 599000 3 3.5 DETACHD
3030 WESTVIEW CT 795000 4 2.5 DETACHD
490 COUNTRY CLUB RD 869900 5 4 DETACHD
16772 ALDER CIR 1995000 4 3.5 DETACHD

SOLD (August 30-Sept 5, 2010)

Address Orig./Price Close/Price Bedrooms Prop Type Baths CDOM
5857 CARMAN DR $190,000 $162,000 2 DETACHD 1 92
668 MCVEY AVE $329,998 $252,000 3 CONDO 1.5 647
116 TOUCHSTONE TER $299,000 $270,000 3 CONDO 2.5 327
1851 KILKENNY DR $450,000 $305,000 4 DETACHD 3 2
75 CONDOLEA WAY $389,000 $369,000 3 CONDO 3 133
1480 Hemlock ST $388,800 $369,000 4 DETACHD 3 92
16 PARTRIDGE LN $419,000 $385,000 3 DETACHD 2.5 104
13909 MAJESTIC CT $399,900 $415,000 4 DETACHD 3 126
26 INDEPENDENCE AVE $574,000 495,000 4 DETACHD 3 117
5722 CHARLES CIR $599,900 560,000 4 DETACHD 2.5 69
17446 BRYANT RD $795,000 730,000 4 DETACHD 4 1515
13777 Cameo CT $1,950,000 1,400,000 5 DETACHD 4.5 411
95 IRON MOUNTAIN BLVD $1,550,000 1,400,000 4 DETACHD 5.5 631

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 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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Market Activity ~ Aug 23-29, 2010

We had 15 New properties enter the market in Lake Oswego this last week, 5 go to Pending status, and 7  Closed/Sold.

Here’ your weekly update (see below the tables for additional notes):

NEWLY LISTED (August 23-29, 2010)

Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type
79 GALEN ST $69,900 2 2 995 CONDO
5180 W SUNSET DR $289,000 1 1 736 DETACHD
2240 SOUTHSHORE BLVD $309,000 3 1 1120 DETACHD
19189 INDIAN SPRINGS RD $347,000 4 3 2156 DETACHD
580 2ND ST $395,000 2 1.2 1464 CONDO
5644 WINDFIELD LOOP $399,000 3 3 1800 DETACHD
2355 GREENTREE RD $449,900 3 2 1992 DETACHD
4978 MULHOLLAND DR $459,000 3 2.1 2498 ATTACHD
17787 BLUE HERON DR $469,950 4 3 2448 DETACHD
310 DURHAM ST $475,000 3 2.1 1940 ATTACHD
1119 OAK ST $524,900 4 2.1 2123 DETACHD
877 CORNELL ST $739,000 3 3 3100 DETACHD
5320 SOUTHWOOD DR $795,000 4 3 3646 DETACHD
844 5TH ST $829,000 3 3 2590 DETACHD
17010 Chapin WAY $1,115,000 4 3.1 4032 DETACHD

PENDING SALES (Aug 23-29, 2010)

Address List Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type CDOM
1684 BOCA RATAN DR $248,900 3 2 1611 ATTACHD 531
18929 INDIAN SPRINGS RD $324,900 5 3 3380 DETACHD 7
1480 Hemlock ST $388,800 4 3 2246 DETACHD 92
26 INDEPENDENCE AVE $515,000 4 3 3694 DETACHD 117
13595 KNAUS RD $599,000 4 2.1 3339 DETACHD 15

SOLD (August23-29, 2010)

Address O/Price Close Price # Beds # Baths Total SF Prop Type CDOM
1728 ASPEN CT $279,900 $250,000 3 2.1 1852 DETACHD 385
139 TOUCHSTONE CT $279,900 $270,000 2 2.1 1846 ATTACHD 33
4490 LAKEVIEW BLVD $299,900 $290,000 3 2 1727 DETACHD 90
3068 DUNCAN DR $424,000 $369,750 4 4 3281 DETACHD 272
12748 SW 22ND AVE $699,000 $435,000 4 2.1 2584 DETACHD 373
12819 ALTO PARK RD $1,097,500 $927,000 4 4.1 3944 DETACHD 115
1097 CHANDLER RD $1,439,000 $1,390,000 4 4.1 5313 DETACHD 42

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, 8/29/10

There are 22 Open Houses in Lake Oswego Sunday according to RMLS.  Enjoy! :

Address L/Price # Bdrms # Bath Total SF Style Time
1400 BONNIEBRAE DR $169,500 2 1 864 TOWNHSE 1-3PM
446 5TH ST $327,000 2 1.1 1092 TOWNHSE 1-3PM
466 5TH ST $329,900 2 1.1 1092 TOWNHSE 1-3PM
138 KINGSGATE RD $379,900 3 2.1 1600 DETACHD 1-3PM
5717 BONITA RD $380,000 4 2 2572 DETACHD 12-3PM
32 CHURCHILL DOWNS $399,900 4 2.1 3016 DETACHD 2-4PM
16909 CRESTVIEW DR $474,900 4 3 2553 DETACHD 2-4PM
920 EVERGREEN RD $499,500 3 2 1622 DETACHD 1-4PM
12 SCARBOROUGH DR $499,900 4 2.1 2892 DETACHD 1-4PM
19415 SW DOGWOOD CT $519,900 5 3 3517 DETACHD 1-4PM
1625 BEDFORD CT $549,900 2 2.1 2460 DETACHD 2-4PM
19245 SW MEGLY CT $579,900 5 3 3490 DETACHD 1-5PM
18212 WESTVIEW DR $598,900 4 2.1 3464 DETACHD 2:30-4:300PM
1277 HIDE A WAY LN $599,900 5 3 3120 DETACHD 12-3PM
1785 PALISADES TERRACE DR $749,900 5 4.1 5052 DETACHD 1-3PM
3030 WESTVIEW CT $795,000 4 2.1 3415 DETACHD 2-4PM
3771 LAKE GROVE AVE $825,000 6 4 4228 DETACHD 1-2:45PM
18209 SIENA DR $1,097,000 5 3.1 3839 DETACHD 1-3PM
18246 BELLA TERRA DR $1,194,000 4 3.1 4196 DETACHD 1-3PM
2569 GLEN EAGLES PL $1,199,000 5 4.2 4591 DETACHD 1-3PM
1808 RIDGE POINTE DR $1,269,000 5 4.1 4155 DETACHD 1-3PM
18024 SKYLAND CIR $1,665,000 4 3.2 4131 DETACHD 1-3PM
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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