waterfront homes Archives - Page 50 of 86

January 27, 2015

Market Activity Jan 19-25, 2015

Here is your Latest Market Data: Last week in Lake Oswego we saw 12 New properties enter the market, 20 move to Pending status, and 6 “Closed”/Sold!

Following is the breakdown for you according to RMLS:

New on the Market (Jan 19-25, 2015)

Address	Type	Price	BR	Bths	SF
48 Eagle Crest Dr	Condo	$184,900	3	2	1623
43 Condolea Ct	Condo	$365,000	2	2.5	2157
13901 Sundeleaf Dr	Detached	$399,000	4	3	1900
14201 Dolph Ct	Detached	$449,000	3	2	1864
886 9th St	Detached	$469,500	2	1	860
18929 Terry Ave	Detached	$499,900	4	2	2441
4959 Bilford Ln	Detached	$549,900	3	2.5	2456
1625 Bedford Ct	Detached	$595,000	2	2.5	2462
5868 Suncreek Dr	Detached	$795,000	4	2.5	3164
18360 River Edge Ln	Detached	$957,000	4	2.5	3738
17320 Lake Haven Dr	Detached	$1,235,000	4	3	2703
17388 Cedar Rd	Detached	$2,395,000	4	3.5	4276

Pending Sales (Jan 19-25, 2015)

Address	Type	Price	BR	Baths	SF	DOM
15 Oswego Summit	Condo	$106,000	2	2	1212	282
48 Eagle Crest Dr 1C	Condo	$123,500	2	2	1370	149
3930 Lake Grove Ave A1	Condo	$130,000	2	1	952	92
15868 Parker Rd	Detached	$219,950	2	1	780	5
48 Eagle Crest Dr 1A	Condo	$250,000	3	2.5+.5	1550	6
5695 Washington Ct	Detached	$349,900	3	2	1769	9
17251 Greentree Ave	Detached	$414,950	4	2.5	2728	45
143 Kingsgate Rd	Detached	$450,000	3	2	2618	131
4733 Firwood Rd	Detached	$474,900	4	3	2310	152
14372 Camden Ln	Detached	$519,900	3	2.5	2348	52
18495 Tamaway Dr	Detached	$548,000	4	2.5	2680	11
1585 Patton Rd	Detached	$550,000	4	3	3162	257
18910 Terry Ave	Detached	$590,000	4	4.5	4290	16
4261 Cobb Way	Detached	$595,000	3	3	2345	10
2762 Vale Ct	Detached	$630,000	4	3	2709	7
435 7th St	Detached	$639,000	2	2	2010	175
3877 Tempest Dr	Detached	$690,000	4	2.5	3237	4
1287 Bickner St	Detached	$699,500	4	3.5	2665	103
17694 Marylbrook Dr	Detached	$719,000	3	2	2758	2
1766 Palisades Terrace Drd	Detached	$750,000	4	2.5	2792	190

Sold/Closed (Jan 19-25, 2015)

Address	Type	List Price	Closed Price	Sq Ft	CDOM
5048 Tree St	Detached	$310,000	$305,000	1232	21
5275 Oakridge Rd	Detached	$349,900	$350,000	1267	22
4631 Wildwood St	Detached	$399,900	$355,635	1650	120
2131 Wembley Park Rd	Detached	$579,000	$555,000	3,905	24
820 Fairway Rd	Detached	$1,189,000	$1,100,000	3758	331
17129 Kelok Rd	Detached	$1,299,000	$1,299,000	2894	86

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.

January 3, 2015

10 Very LO Things to do in 2015

New Year, new beginnings, time to make some plans for 2015. Here are my suggestions for some distinctly LO events to fit into your plans for the coming year:

1. Try an established or new restaurant. There are soooooo many to choose from. Gubanc’s for lunch (homemade soup), Riccardo’s for a summer evening on the patio, LaVang for unbeatable Pho, St Honore or Babica Hen for breakfast, Happy Hour at Five Spice, the list goes on and on. I recently tried Aji Tram, the fresh Asian fusion place on the corner of Bryant and Lakeview. It was fantastic! A bit loud with sports on big-screen TVs, but it was fun! Food was great and our little gathering really enjoyed ourselves.

2. Festival of the Arts in June. This is a a must do. Both the juried fine art show and the craft fair are a pleasure. I enjoy the art and like to hunt for a special find whether it is a gift for a friend or something special for myself.

Guardian of the Lake 2014 People's Choice Winner — Guardian of the Lake
2014 People’s Choice Winner

3. A walking tour of Gallery Without Walls. The exhibition changes every year. It is always exciting when the new exhibits are unveiled.

4. A walk or bike ride around the lake. OK, do this more than once. Do it lots! Views of the lake and magnificent homes make the time fly and the workout is awesome!

5. Attend a 4th of July parade and then fireworks over the lake.

6. Attend the Lake Oswego Heritage Council Home Tour. This is a major fund raiser for the Heritage Council and also an opportunity to get into private homes that are AMAZING.

7. Volunteer to pull ivy at one of the City Parks or Nature areas.

8. Volunteer to help in one of the schools.

9. Attend one of the City’s outdoor summer concerts.

10. Attend the annual lighting of the City Christmas Tree on the day after Thanksgiving!

There is so much more to do that just simply isn’t on this list. The point is that there is lots to do. I know I have had years where I do more or less than other years, but I also think that when I look back on years that I have really enjoyed, they have been years when I have gotten out and really involved in what is going on in Lake Oswego.

We here at the blotter want to wish you a very happy 2015! May you experience good health, prosperity, and many happy LO memories!

And for those of you who would like to challenge your knowledge of LO, here is a quiz courtesy of Pamplin Media: http://www.pamplinmedia.com/lor/48-news/245367-112146-so-you-think-you-know-lake-oswego

Happy New Year,
Dianne

December 30, 2014

Market Activity Dec 22-28, 2014

You’d think the real estate market would have been slow and quiet last week due to the holidays, but nope, it was rather busy. Just 4 houses came onto the market, but 16 went pending (yep, people out looking at houses and not rushing home to carve the turkey), and 10 houses became closed sales.

I don’t recall a Christmas with this many pending sales. I too had an active buyer last week. With inventory a bit down right now, there are just not a lot of houses to choose from. We encountered 3 different houses they were interested in last week and all 3 had multiple offers. We were able to put a deal together on the one that was their top choice, but it really surprised me that the week of Christmas was that competitive. It makes me feel that perhaps our spring market will start early.

New Listings December 22-28, 2014

4765 Firwood Rd, Detached, 3 BR, 2 Baths, 1728SF, $325,000

14 Hotspur, Detached, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, 2726SF, $599,900

17838 Marylcreek Dr, Detached, 4 BR, 3.5 Baths, 4317SF, $750,000

159 5th ST, Detached, 4 BR, 3 Baths, 2970SF, $895,000

Pending Sales December 22-28, 2014

43 Crestfield Ct, Condo, 2 BR, 1 Bath, 923SF, $101,000, 64 DOM

3930 Lake Grove Ave, Detached, 2 BR, 1 Bath, 952SF, $139,900, 36 DOM

40 Oswego Summit, Condo, 2 BR, 2 Baths, 1140SF, $151,900, 224 DOM

76 Galen Rd, Condo, 2 BR, 2 Baths, 989SF, $166,900, 46 DOM

9765 Firwood Rd, Detached, 3 BR, 2 Baths, 1728SF, $325,000, 3 DOM

5275 Oakridge Rd, Detached, 3 BR, 1 Bath, 1267SF, $349,900, 22 DOM

1075 Oak Terrace, Detached, 3 BR, 2 Baths, 1356SF, $349,900, 29 DOM

4631 Wildwood St, Detached, 3 BR, 2 Baths, 1650SF, $374,900, 120 DOM

5907 Fernbrook Circle, Detached, 5 BR, 2 Baths, 1892SF, $399,900, 175 DOM

4940 Centerwood St, Detached, 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, 2093SF, $425,000, 3 DOM

533 2nd St, Condo, 2 BR, 2 Baths, 1274SF, $465,000, 46 DOM

2751 Summit Dr, Detached, 3 BR, 2 Baths, 2418SF, $658,950, 145 DOM

27 Berwick Rd, Detached, 5 BR, 3 Baths, 2968SF, $715,000, 2 DOM

18177 Delenka Ln, Detached, 5 BR, 2.5+.5 Baths, 3802SF, $830,000, 131 DOM

1267 Cherry Ln, Detached, 4 BR, 2 Baths, 3311SF, $849,000, 259 DOM

179 Furnace St, Condo, 3 BR, 3.5 Baths, 4784SF, $1,698,000, 47 DOM

Closed Sales December 22-28, 2014

4610 Lower Dr, Condo, List $114,900, Closed $114,900, 1260SF, 46 DOM

129 Kingsgate Rd, Detached, List $300,000, Closed $300,000, 1604SF, 381 DOM

1437 Oak St, Detached, List $349,000, Closed $358,000, 1070SF, 4 DOM

1405 Cedar St, Detached, List $375,000, Closed $395,000, 2570SF, 3 DOM

1318 Laurel St, Detached, List $439,900, Closed $440,000, 1649SF, 2 DOM

1045 Bullock St, Detached, List $568,000, Closed $559,000, 2105SF, 11 DOM

5726 Charles Circle, Detached, List $718,000, Closed $692,500, 3173SF, 104 DOM

1525 Maple St, Detached, List $899,000, Closed $780,000, 2815SF, 153 DOM

3600 Southshore Blvd, Detached, List $849,900, Closed $785,000, 2117SF, 83 DOM

3140 Childs Rd, Detached, List $1,950,000, Closed $1,695,000, 298 DOM

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.

Posted on December 12, 2014
Where did the lake go?

If you’ve seen the lake in the last few weeks you would have noticed that the water level is dramatically lowered from it’s normal depth. This is done every three years to allow home owners along the lake to repair sea walls and boat houses. It also allows the many members of lake easements to do the same types of repairs on the easement property.

Dropping the water level was done by allowing water out on November 11th via the spill way at the East end of the lake. On January 2nd the lake will be allowed to naturally refill with rain and the water that feeds the lake at the Tualatin River. It will take about two months to refill to its normal level. So it will be back to normal in plenty of time for warm weather recreation.

I’ve seen this done many, many times over the years. The explanation is always that it allows repair of sea walls, etc. I also am of the opinion that it improves the water quality.

In any case, it is a bit of an unusual sight with a reasonable explanation.

Dianne

Posted on December 9, 2014
Market Activity Dec 1-7, 2014

As much as there is a myth that houses don’t sell during the holidays, last week’s market activity shows that it is, in fact, a myth. In Lake Oswego there were 12 new listings, 9 homes that became pending sales, and 16 homes that became closed sales.

Following is the breakdown for you according to RMLS:

New on the Market (Dec 1-7, 2014)

Address Type Price BR Bths SF

86 Kingsgate Rd H102 Condo $136,900 2 2 849

4000 Carman Dr #23 Condo $156,500 2 2 866

210 State St Condo $175,000 2 1 1284

4089 Jefferson Pkwy Condo $199,950 2 2.5 1361

852 5th St Detached $379,000 2 1 738

6 Gershwin Ct Detached $379,000 5 3 2416

4504 Wildwood St Detached $399,000 3 2 1655

17251 Greentree Ave Detached $414,950 4 2.5 2728

13721 Regency Ct Detached $509,500 3 2.5 2311

14372 Camden Ln Detached $519,900 3 2.5 2348

2286 Wembley Park Rd Detached $774,999 3 3 2000

3100 Westview Ct Detached $929,000 4 3.5 3750

18024 Eastridge Ln Detached $1,498,800 4 3.5 4526

Pending Sales (Dec 1-7, 2014)

Address Type Price BR Baths SF DOM

18 Oswego Summit Condo $54,900 1 1 764 176

15938 Quarry Rd 1A Condo $149,000 2 1 991 8

6360 McEwan Detached $319,888 3 1.5 1450 53

5344 Tualata Ct Detached $339,827 3 2 1283 45

16987 Alder Circle Detached $395,950 3 2 1713 4

1868 Kilkenny Dr Detached $535,000 3 2.5 2300 83

754 5th St Detached $755,000 3 3 2179 91

18224 Bella Terra Dr Detached $1,195,000 4 3.5 4050 146

1968 Cheryl Ct Detached $1,495,000 4 4.5+.5+.5 6153 11

Sold/Closed (Dec 1-7, 2014)

Address Type List Price Closed Price Sq Ft CDOM

4 Touchstone #76 Condo $124,000 $119,000 984 43

98 Oswego Summit Condo $146,000 $136,000 1140 152

4470 Chapman Way Detached $360,000 $347,500 2125 174

528 2nd St Attached $439,500 $428,000 1,703 16

377 Livingood Ln Detached $400,000 $429,000 2409 3

5978 Fernbrook Circle Detached $449,900 $442,000 1612 12

1765 Conifer Dr Detached $475,000 $448,000 2330 127

201 Ridgeway Rd Detached $589,000 $589,000 2327 86

17601 Woodhurst Pl Detached $675,000 $650,000 3179 80

3075 Tolkien Ln Detached $649,000 $660,000 2667 9

4090 Westbay Rd Detached $749,900 $719,000 2078 59

14144 Goodall Rd Detached $849,000 $765,000 3499 298

15444 Boones Way Attached $850,000 $820,000 3464 4

841 Northshore Rd Detached $949,850 $865,000 2388 140

925 Iron Mountain Blvd Detached $1,119,000 $1,020,000 3555 119

907 Terrace Dr Detached $1,795,000 $1,900,000 6919 572

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.

Posted on November 21, 2014
2015 Economic Forecast

While 2014 may be winding down, 2015 is just around the corner. I tend to think of this time of year as a time to regroup. Business is slower. It gives me a chance to catch my breath, but also to gear up. January 1, I want to hit the ground running. With that in mind, I try to take advantage of First American Title’s annual economic forecast. This event happened this morning and I thought I share some of what I learned.

The expert who gives this presentation is John Mitchell, Chief Economist for M&H Economic Consultants. He does a great job of taking a dry subject that is filled with numbers and charts, and making it entertaining and engaging. I am going to share with you a few highlights.

For the most part the outlook is good. While economic growth has been slow, it has also been steady. For the past few years there have been fits and starts with the economy. Mr. Mitchell likened it to Bill Murray and Groundhog Day. We’ve seen it before and we will see it again. The economy is chugging along. It’s not explosive, but it is more steady than not.

Some positive news:
Consumers who have delayed major life decisions (getting married, having a child, buying a bigger house) are gaining confidence and starting to make those big moves. This is a stimulus for the housing market.

The US Economy is the envy of the world. Financial and personal security are threatened in many parts of the world (Asia and Europe continue to lag in economic recovery, then there are the world events in Russia and the Middle East). This has countries and individuals looking to put their assets where they feel they will be secure, and that place is the United States. Mr. Mitchell gave credit to this influx of foreign money for the unexpectedly low interest rates of 2014.

The housing market is rebounding with both existing family home and new construction selling at greater rates than they have in years.

Oregon was #6 in the Nation for job growth in 2014.

Nationally, mortgage delinquencies are the lowest they have been since 2000.

Some concerns:
We are entering a whole new world that has no historic precedent. The stimulus package is pretty much over. The Federal Reserve is no longer buying mortgage backed securities. The economy is going to have to hold up the anticipated growth on its own. Having said that, the Fed is prepared to jump back in and re-engage if needed. This shows how fragile this recovery is. There is a lot of uncertainty.

The world situation has a lot of areas of concern. Ebola and ISIS were not on our radar a year ago. A major event can derail our economy. These events are not just difficult to hear about because of their horror, they also have an impact on our economy through things like consumer confidence and political turmoil.

Slowly gathering strength
On the whole, our economy is slowly gathering strength. As the job market grows and people feel more financially stable, they start to make decisions to improve their lives. Buying a new home is a big part of that picture.

Mr. Mitchell did advise that interest rates are likely to go up in 2015, but it will be fact driven. If the economy is not rebounding, they will stay low. If the economic rebound gets stronger, they will go up. Odd to think that rising interest rates are triggered by good news, but they are.

My personal thought on all of this is that our government and the Fed need our housing market to continue to rebound. It is vital to our National economic health. I have confidence that the housing market will stay on track with slow and steady growth.

As always, thanks for reading The Blotter,
Dianne

Posted on November 19, 2014
Market Activity Nov 10-16, 2014

Last week in Lake Oswego had some interesting data. There were 11 new listings, 22 pending sales, and just 8 closed sales. What I find interesting is the large number of pendings compared to the new listings. It’s obvious that those who are in the mood to buy want to move in before Christmas, and those who want to sell are not is no much of a hurry with the holidays at hand. Also of note is the short market time of the pending sales. This next week or two will be a good time to list a home for sale to take advantage of the pre-holiday rush.

Following is the breakdown for you according to RMLS:

New on the Market (Nov 10-16, 2014)

Address Type Price BR Bths SF

13188 Vermeer Dr Detached $450,000 3 2.5 1854

17190 Robb Pl Detached $450,000 4 3 1896

16201 Lake Forest Blvd Detached $464,900 3 2.5 2780

17380 Canyon Dr Detached $550,000 4 2.5 2526

1045 Bullock St Detached $568,000 3 2.5 2105

1744 Fern Pl Detached $599,000 4 2.5 2110

1607 Pine St Detached $599,960 4 2.5 2943

12511 Shelby Ct Detached $649,900 5 3.5 3675

1785 Palisades Terrace Dr Detached $799,000 5 4.5 5052

15444 Boones Way Attached $850,000 3 2.5 3464

12975 Elk Rock Rd Detached $1,000,000 5 3.5 3878

Pending Sales (Nov 10-16, 2014)

Address Type Price BR Baths SF DOM

4610 Lower Dr Condo $114,900 2 1.5 1260 46

4636 Lower Dr B-1 Condo $128,000 2 1.5 1170 9

86 Kingsgate Rd C203 Condo $139,500 2 2 924 4

3826 Botticelli St Condo $174,900 2 2 1055 56

113 Touchstone Terr Attached $293,000 3 2.5 2104 5

16875 Tracy Ave Detached $299,900 4 2 1825 114

706 5th St Detached $300,000 4 2 1824 16

4724 Firwood Rd Detached $329,000 3 1.5 1240 5

21 Summit Ridge Ct Attached $339,000 2 2.5 1654 16

1437 Oak St Detached $349,000 3 1 1070 4

6101 Harrington Ave Detached $359,000 3 2.5 1400 5

16266 Lake Forest Blvd Detached $369,900 3 2 1860 146

1878 Mapleleaf Rd Detached $395,000 3 1.5 1347 41

5978 Fernbrook Circle Detached $449,900 4 2.5 1612 12

205 Hidalgo St Detached $459,900 3 3.5 3032 131

37 Churchill Downs Detached $470,000 3 2.5 2372 4

12 Scarborough Dr Detached $525,000 4 2.5 2943 139

2671 Glen Eagles Rd Detached $850,000 3 3 4019 179

17547 Cherry Ct Detached $998,850 4 3.5 3737 337

19354 Lorna Ln Detached $1,049,988 5 3.5 4169 403

14084 Goodall Rd Detached $1,195,000 5 5.5 5399 73

3140 Childs Rd Detached $1,695,000 5 5.5 6449 298

Sold/Closed (Nov 10-16, 2014)

Address	Type	List Price	Closed Price	Sq Ft	CDOM
94 Oswego Summit	Condo	$123,500	$117,500	1140	2
6928 Montauk Circle	Condo	$125,000	$125,000	960	21
5959 Dove Ct	Detached	$379,900	$380,000	1552	6
6158 Frost Ln	Detached	$464,900	$460,000	2,109	32
16942 Cherry Crest Dr	Detached	$475,000	$465,000	2363	28
4726 Cambridge Ct	Attached	$595,000	$581,000	2865	9
14220 Bridge Ct	Detached	$750,000	$689,000	3419	37
3411 Lake Grove Ave	Detached	$999,999	$1,000,000	4434	177

November 1, 2014

Lender Required Repairs

A common statement I have heard many times over the years is “the lender will require the repair”. I just don’t think that is the case much of the time. I thought it might be helpful to give you my experience about lenders and repairs.

Most lenders want a house to be livable. It can be old, it can be dirty or worn out, but it has to be livable. That means no dangerous situations like a deck without a railing that is 10 feet off the ground, or holes in sheet rock, or missing flooring. Lenders also want at least 3-5 years of life left in the roof and a clear pest and dry rot report. Both of these are obtained through professional inspections.

But many things that are assumed to be a problem simply are not. This is not a promise that you won’t run into lender issues on these items. It is simply my experience that they have not been a problem. I have sold houses with post and peer foundations, with LP siding, with nearly every window having a broken seal. Seriously, I sold this really modern house that had 30 windows, 26 of which were clouded over with broken seals. And it was sold with a VA loan, usually considered to be the hardest loan for a property to qualify for.

So know that houses do not need to be perfect to get financing. They need to be “livable”. “Livable” condition may not suit a picky buyer, but that is an entirely different standard.

A good plan, if you are thinking of selling, is to invite a Realtor to your home well in advance so that they can give you an opinion of items to address. Ask for both their opinion on lender required repairs and also their opinion on items to enhance the sale and to make the house show well. Linda, Whitney, and I would all be happy to help.
Dianne

October 30, 2014

Market Activity Oct 20-26, 2014

The fall market is moving right along with 17 new listings, 12 pending sales, and 20 sold/closed homes last week.

Following is the breakdown for you according to RMLS:

New on Market (Oct 20-26, 2014)

Address	Type	Price	BR	Bths	SF
4619 Lakeview Blvd D-3	Condo	$92,000	1	1	753
43 Crestfield Ct	Condo	$107,500	2	1	923
3930 Lake Grove Ave 1A	Condo	$128,500	2	1	952
6 Cervantes Circle	Condo	$145,000	2	1.5	912
3433 Mcnary Pkwy #303	Condo	$150,000	2	2.5	1208
4 Touchstone Dr #99	Condo	$159,000	2	2	984
246 Ridgeway Rd 17B	Condo	$160,000	1	1	753
3986 Carman Dr	Condo	$209,900	2	2.5	1107
16735 Lake Forest Blvd	Detached	$299,900	3	2	1192
1743 Aspen Ct	Detached	$336,900	3	2	1341
528 2nd St	Attached	$439,500	2	2.5	1703
1710 Glenmorrie Terrace	Detached	$549,900	4	3	2865
5020 Hampton Ct	Detached	$598,000	3	2.5	2253
15180 Boones Way	Detached	$615,000	6	3.5	3905
5488 Southwood Dr	Detached	$799,000	4	2.5	3280
1168 Andrews Rd #1	Detached	$1,295,000-$1,495,000	5	5.5+.5	4700
1168 Andrews Rd #2	Detached	$1,295,000-$1,495,000	5	5.5+.5	4700

Pending Sales (Oct 20-26, 2014)

Address	Type	Price	BR	Baths	SF	DOM
44 Eagle Crest Dr #15	Condo	$89,900	1	1	798	197
4 Touchstone #76	Condo	$124,000	2	2	984	43
4 Touchstone #110	Condo	$149,000	2	2	989	85
45 Eagle Crest Dr #409	Condo	$155,000	2	2	1214	4
18543 Don Lee Way	Detached	$250,000	3	1	924	49
5326 W Sunset Dr	Detached	$259,900	1	1	754	3
4180 Collins Way	Detached	$280,000	2	1.5	1236	268
16200 Pacific Hwy #35	Condo	$295,000	2	2	1208	268
4630 Wildwood St	Detached	$459,900	3	2	2067	6
886 9th St	Detached	$465,000	2	1	860	3
17601 Woodhurst Pl	Detached	$650,000	3	2.5	3179	80
16650 Fir Ln	Detached	$1,279,000	4	3.5	3860	57

Sold/Closed (Oct 20-26, 2014)

Address	Type	List Price	Closed Price	Sq Ft	CDOM
44 Eagle Crest Dr #41	Condo	$126,900	$111,000	908	421
5713 Kenny St	Detached	$349,000	$325,000	1384	31
16902 Chapin Way	Detached	$449,900	$440,000	1993	4
5222 Carman Dr	Detached	$474,900	$448,000	2,543	173
17688 Cardinal Ct	Detached	$459,000	$459,000	1970	14
960 9th ST	Detached	$475,000	$460,000	1509	63
16919 Lakeridge Dr	Detached	$525,000	$507,000	2710	80
13448 Auburn Ct	Attached	$525,000	$520,000	2535	4
4821 Dawn Ave	Detached	$599,000	$600,000	1854	5
2823 Glen Haven Rd	Detached	$749,900	$699,000	3015	8
5005 Dogwood Dr	Detached	$779,000	$753,000	4156	71
2175 Crest Dr	Detached	$799,900	$799,900	2950	20
14128 Goodall Rd	Detached	$869,000	$825,000	2960	118
814 Lake Shore Rd	Detached	$899,000.00	$885,000	1972	78
2943 Lakeview Blvd	Detached	$979,900	$950,000	3794	419
1045 Skyland Dr	Detached	$1,250,000	$1,255,000	3942	2
1103 Lake Shore Rd	Detached	$1,320,000	$1,320,000	3747	112
16525 Maple Circle	Detached	$1,450,000	$1,340,000	3443	287
1880 Crest Dr	Detached	$1,650,000	$1,375,000	2800	23
1400 Ridgecrest Dr	Detached	$1,649,500	$1,500,000	3859	15

October 15, 2014October 15, 2014

Louisiana Pacific Siding (LP Siding)

Hello everybody,
I have had my license for almost two months now, and I have learned quite a bit! Today what I am going to talk about is LP siding.
My first clients (as it turns out are my cousin and her husband) have just recently made an offer on a condo. In the weeks leading up to their decision we saw everything from houses, town houses, and other condos. When they first found a house I remember my mother saying:

”Oh… they have LP siding.”

Now let me explain why my mother was hesitant about LP siding, before I go into the decided verdict:

Louisiana Pacific (LP) is a company that was founded in 1973 in Tennessee. This company pioneered the production of oriented strand board (OSB) panels. Which was an alternative to the more expensive plywood and solid wood building materials. OSB panels where sold to building manufacturers and homeowners all across the US.
To make OSB panels Louisiana Pacific would harvest small diameter, faster growing timber rather than old growth, and send the cheaper timber through processing to become wood chips. They would then mix the wood chips with glue and set it into a mold to fit the desired diameter for construction. This saved on time and cost, not to mention LP’s OSB panels where easy to install!
In 1985 OSB panels hit the Northwest markets and where the desired material used to construct siding. Many homes where made with LP’s OSB panels as it was inexpensive, quick, and uniform looking. Unfortunately for us up here in the North West, our climate was not factored into the longevity of the panels, made from woodchips and glue, and years later these OSB panels started to disintegrate. One of the major concerns for homeowners and buyers was that the panels would not only sag into clumps of mush along the exterior of their home, but that the mush would rot and host mold and fungus; later requiring a lot more effort to remove then to install the panels themselves initially.

From 1990 to 2000, LP’s OSB panels where installed into nearly every new construction: as contracting companies where usually outsourced and received their orders to build from out of state, so many companies would use LP siding in an effort to conserve funding. This flourishing action of business can be used to date homes with LP siding within the ranges of the late 1980s all the way through the late 1990s.

So let’s revisit that moment when my mother and I are standing in the driveway of the first home that we showed to my cousin and her husband: The point where we look over the house and notice the little nit-picky things to ensure that the buyer is well-informed about what it is they are likely to purchase. The home was built in 1998 and very clearly had LP siding. LP siding is easy to spot due to its pattern: there is a token ‘wooden knot’ looking print that is used over, and over again on LP planks to make it look like actual lumber. When we brought this up with my cousin we explained the draw-backs of having LP around the exterior of the house. However, this particular house was very well managed. This home had received a good paint job, which ensured that water did not get past the paint to affect the planks. Keep in mind: paint does age just as the rest of the house would, and in the future would require a thorough, waterproof, exterior paint job or complete exterior replacement. One of our suggestions we made for my cousin was to provide a low offer so that they could get the house at a fair price and spend some money on replacing the LP siding.
All in all, LP is not the greatest external material here in the North West. It does well in climates that are dryer and provide low threat for mold or fungus. Though we do not have nearly as much of a threat in mold as other states do (Texas being the leading state for issues involving mold). The North West still deals with fungus, and above all rain, rain, rain, and more rain!

Thank you for reading along with me. I look forward to sharing more with you in the future!

Loving life in Lake Oswego,
Whitney Gregoire

Bibliography:
http://www.homeadvisor.com/article.show.Top-10-Worst-States-for-Mold.14164.html
http://hometownexteriordesigns.com/lp_siding.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana-Pacific