Suze's Tuesday Tour

2010-02-02T17:10:00.000-08:00

Well, turning 50 and recovering from the mini-cancerette has in the long run made me evaulate everything. Long story short - I've embarked on a 4 year BFA in Interior Design at Marylhurst University. It's taking up most of my time and all of my energy, which doesn't leave much over for helping people buy houses. I will keep my license active as I can see a day when these two things might be very useful together. If you'd like help finding another great (sometimes very opinionated) realtor, let me know - I know lots of them!

Cheers

Suze

Back after a bit of a rest!

2009-06-23T12:50:00.000-07:00

Hello! First of all, apologies for the long silence. I have been dealing with a bit of breast cancer, (very small, caught very early) and although I am done with all the treatments it's taken considerably longer to recuperate than I had planned. So, that said here is my report on today's tour, and at the end I'll give a brief over-view of what's happening in the Portland market from my perspective.

I concentrated on NE Portland today, it's quick as I only got to four places - not because there weren't more to see, but because I ran out of time.

I started with a condo - as you can see it's a penthouse, with great unobstructed views to the south and east. It was customized by local designer Jeff Lamb and it's certainly unique. A large curved glass screen divides the dining area from the living; the kitchen is raised, giving nice visual delineation between the dark wood floor and the carrara tile of the kitchen. Upstairs there are two bedrooms - the master has an infinity bath and is set to give the best views, both in and out as there are NO BLINDS!!

Second up, 2225 NE 22nd Ave - right in the heart of Irvington. Within spitting distance of the Irvington Tennis Club. This lovely house was bright yellow when I lived around the corner 8 years ago! Now all the colors are a muted palate of taupe, cream and dark stained oak. The floorplan is open, circular (actually figure of 8) and very livable! Upstairs there are 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with a 4th bedroom in the attic. The master suite is nice but lacks a bit of closet space (especially if you're like me and have a bit of a shoe & matching handbag habit!). The basement is fully finished with a large family room and space to make another bedroom if needed. There is a single garage, but the driveway is shared and somewhat narrow......

Next, I went to a house up on the Alameda ridge - this house has great views, but boy the walk up took all the puff out of me! If you're looking for a home with English accents (and by that I mean 'American-English'!) that you want to update, upgrade and totally make your own, then this could be it. It's got good bones, but everything needs to be seen to. Given the market conditions I'd say this is overpriced and will sit for a while.

Last one for today is a Craftsman bungalow on NE 32nd Place. The public rooms in this home are lovely - nice, spacious, light rooms with a large kitchen at the back of the house. There is a master suite on the main floor...... and then everything screetched to a halt. Up a steep set of stairs leading off the kitchen are two kids bedrooms - one of which is teeny, and no bathroom. The second bathroom is in the basement and it is pretty basic. A bit disappointing.

Am I feeling a bit cranky today? Well, maybe.... so here's what I think is going on in the market right now. With the $8,000 tax credit to first time home buyers, the starter market is alive and well. Houses priced up to about $500,000 are moving pretty swiftly if they're properly priced AND show well. The movers into the second tier are having a harder time - these houses are owned by people that by and large, have to sell, and so often pride of ownership is absent. Obviously this is a harder market - buyers are pickier and want practically everything on their wish-list and sellers are not in the best position to get their houses into tip top shape. It's taking some time for this middle market to move because the lending landscape has changed too. Guidelines for appraisers get tougher by the minute and borrowers need a bigger percentage to put down (as well as a good credit score). If the middle market is sluggish at best, then the upper end is simply dead. There are very few homes over $1m selling - a quick check of the rmls shows that there are only 39 homes in the Portland area priced over $800,000 that are pending right now. This includes 20 condo's & townhouses, largely in the Pearl. If you want clarification or more detail, don't hesitate to ask me!!

Views, views or trees

2009-04-21T11:53:00.000-07:00

First up this week was a jaunt over to Maplewood to this three bedroom ranch that boasted an artist studio. We have a client that is looking for just that so I wanted to take a peek. It sits on a third of an acre lot, with a lovely yard surrounded but not darkened by fir trees. Inside the house, the decor, fixtures and fittings probably haven't changed much from it's 1953 build and it's 1476 sqft layout can feel a little cramped at times. The third bedroom is currently an office and if there is no need for an additional sleeping area this would be a quiet space slightly removed from the main part of the house. The art studio is currently used as a garden shed, but it would be quite easy to use this garden shed as an art studio! It's a sweet, cozy house in a leafy neighborhood at a seemingly reasonable price of $339,900.

Back towards downtown on SW 48th Ave, in the hills, is a lovely contemporary built by commercial architect, Alan Hoogs set on nearly half an acre. It's a modest structure from the outside but quite beautiful once you enter. Walls of tongue-and-groove cedar, turned on rough and smooth edges, line much of the upstairs. It adds a warm ambiance that mirrors the wooded setting outside. Behind the living room are two bedrooms and a stunning Asian-inspired contemporary bathroom complete with a soaking tub. Downstairs you'll find a spacious third bedroom with a separate bathroom and another room, currently used as a shop, that could possibly be turned into another bedroom or perhaps more preferably a family room. With great schools, a private setting and minutes from downtown, can you pass this one by? Priced at $775,000.

Right behind Chapman Elementary sits this 1948 daylight ranch listed at $849,000. Blessed with stunning views and landscaping that beautifully frames it, and tucked away in the hill at the end of NW Pettygrove, it feels like an urban retreat. The interior houses a mixture of styles and you may feel the need to put your own stamp on it. There's one bedroom up and two down, and a full bathroom on each level. The really intriguing room in the house though is the 612 sqft family room on the lower level that opens through a single door to a lovely patio and the view. I picture this as the center of the house, a-comfort-zone-big-screen-TV-roaring-fire magnet in the winter and a pop-in-some-full-length-concertina-open-doors-and-have-a-party-on-the-patio lounge about in the summer. Very curious.

Lastly on SW Rutland Terrace, just above the Rose Garden in Washington Park this 1952 mid-century really delivers on the promised views. A truly stunning panorama of the city and there is a large deck above the carport from which you and about thirty friends can enjoy it from! The house sits on a private drive, shared by a mirror image house next door, but the house comes with parking for three cars. Inside needs a fair amount of updating but this is reflected in the pricing ($719,000) and to a large degree it's a good canvas from which to work from. There's a challenge in the making here with this house. Aided by a healthy dose of creativity, this has all the promise of a stunning rehabbed mid-century. But will the house find the right owner?

Pick of the Week: The house on SW 48th Ave. Beautiful lines, stunning woodwork, understated, yet exceptional.

Living in the trees

2009-04-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

Sitting like a geode atop of SW Upper Cascade Drive, this house is not much to write home about from the outside but a real gem on the inside. This was purposeful, as the architect, Marvin Witt, felt the 'building shouldn't overpower the setting'. An understandable sentiment given the forest backdrop the house looks on to. Inside the house has been virtually untouched since it's build in 1977. More often than not this will put some potential buyers off when they'll feel a significant chunk of change will need to be sunk into the kitchen and bathrooms. Here though the architect has done such a fabulous design job you may well look past it. I certainly did. Floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the house, stunning vaulted ceilings and lodge-like stone fireplaces are just some of the highlights. Oh and a fabulous workshop under the garage that also gets to share in the wonderful forest scenery. This is a lovely house, so don't be put off by the outside. Priced at $749,000.

Back down to the Pearl to see this south-facing penthouse in the Elizabeth priced at $2,095,000. It's a spacious 2,355 sqft and all the rooms are well proportioned. The real attraction to this penthouse is the huge outdoor patio that runs the length of the unit. It's enough space to entertain a football team and I could imagine spending whole summers on this patio. Running the length of the unit as it does, means that it does run past the two guest bedrooms, and so this could be tough with kids, but for the adults, it's a balcony off each bedroom. The main living area is an appealing open-plan space with a gourmet kitchen on the easterly wall. I question though, with only the bedrooms as an escape, could this large penthouse suddenly start feeling a little small?

Lastly we hopped over to Laurelhurst to this house on the lovely SE Laddington Ct. It's a sizable 4,505 sqft with five bedrooms, three of which are upstairs. The master bedroom would benefit from it's own bathroom does however have a lovely big sun porch. The kitchen has been pleasantly remodeled and there is bench seating around two sides of the kitchen eating area. Downstairs, the basement has been half finished out and there is potential to make the family room into a more livable and comfortable space. It's a decent house, that needs to be given some extra love. Priced at $875,000.

Pick of the Week: Has to go to the house up SW Upper Cascade. It'll be very interesting to see what, if anything, a new owner will do to the house.

Green is the color

2009-04-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

I was intrigued by this townhouse as I have a friend in the area that is thinking of selling hers in the coming months and I wanted to see how it compared. Too often these properties suffer from poorly thought out layouts, cheap bland materials and a vacuum of design sensibility, all in the name of saving a buck. However there's always the exceptions and this is one of them. This one on NE 11th in the Sabin neighborhood was built in 2004 by Terrafirma and has been updated by the current owners. It's a family house through and through and I love the upstairs corner bedrooms connected by the Jack 'n Jill bathroom, a really thoughtful use of space and allowing the rest of the floor to breathe a little easier. There's a deck on either end of the house and a cavernous family room. If townhouses are your thing, this three bedroom unit would be worth checking out. Priced at $459,000.

It had been a while since I have been down to the south waterfront and as there were a couple of units on tour this morning I thought it was time reacquaint myself with the Meriwether East tower. Up on the 19th floor, a large 2,541 sqft, two bedroom unit has just been listed. It's a lovely floor plan, somewhat open plan though subtle partitioning encourages separation should you want it. The bedrooms are tucked far away from the main entertaining areas, giving those that need some rest all the privacy they need from those enjoying the sweeping northwesterly views. Three parking spaces also means you and the family will never have to fight the OHSU students for street parking. Priced at $1,299,000.

Also in the East tower is this one bedroom unit that comes at a price of $469,000. Unlike its older brother upstairs, this unit suffers a little from a strange layout issue. Well let me backtrack. If you work from home or your home office needs to be sizable (think very generous cube space), and you don't mind it being one of the first things you see when you walk through the door then this could be the unit for you. But for me I would rather have squared that space out and added extra square feet to the kitchen/living room area. Perhaps many will look past it but I thought it was a little jarring. That said you only have to go and sit on the balcony and gaze at the river with a glass of Pinot in your hand, and any concerns of what might have been, will quickly wash away. Otherwise a lovely unit and what we have come to expect from both Meriwether Towers.

It's not often I find myself in a neighborhood I'm not familiar with but this Metzger (near Tigard) home that is pending a platinum LEED rehab cert was just too much to resist a visit. It was certainly worth it, it's a splendid home with every 'green' feature you could think of and, well, more. There's too many listed on this short blurb but one thing I found quite eyeopening was that it boasts that 99% of the waste generated during the remodel was either reused or recycled. That's an impressive feat. So what makes this different from other green rehabs? Well quality I suppose. These guys have spent as much time thinking about it's energy efficiency as the interior design and that counts for a lot in my book. Usually one or the other will get the most of the attention and here both have been thought through to the end. As usual some of the material choices aren't top of my list but that's personal and takes nothing away from the overall effect. The master bathroom, with its walk-in shower and Japanese soaking tub is a touch of luxury. I also love the huge backyard that has been landscaped, at least in my mind, in readiness for the new owner to plant a massive vegetable patch. Fantastic five bedroom house and well worth going to see. I'll eagerly wait and see if they'll get the $850,000 asking price though. Located on SW Elmwood St.

Pick of the Week: The green house. Well worth the drive and I look forward to the next project from these guys.

Never leave your bedroom!

2009-03-31T13:37:00.000-07:00

Our first house on tour today interestingly is a house I sold to the current owners about 16 months ago. In the interim period they have been hard at work remodeling the kitchen (very nicely indeed) and guest bathrooms on the main floor. Throughout they have painted, replaced old carpet and generally made the whole house glow. Room proportions are generous everywhere, by any standard it's a very livable house. Currently it sits on 6 tax lots BUT this sale is subject to a lot-line-adjustment.... they're adjusting to 4 tax lots and selling off the surrounding yard and tennis court, to be developed in no short order. If one wanted to keep the house and land together the price is $1,950,000.

Over to Laurelhurst and an English style home on the corner of NE 37th & Hassalo. WELL! where to start?! In terms of what blew me away.... the master suite upstairs has more matched sheets of marble in the bathroom than I have seen anywhere, ever. The master bedroom is a couple of steps up and is lined with leather - we think green snakeskin? A heavy velvet curtain, lush carpet, flat screen tv.... you'd only ever leave to eat...... and then you'd be in the next best room in the house. Well appointed with cherry cabinets and large cooks island, this is all about entertaining. I could go on and on.... but well, you just gotta look for yourself! Priced at $950,000.

Over to the westside and to SW Newby to look at what had been billed as "Dynamic mid-Century". Outside it's a bit too pink and inside a bit too Ikea to warrant the 'dynamic' bit, but there are good bones here. Exposed wood beams in the living room and master bedroom show us what has been covered up elsewhere in the house. It is full of potential and at $485,000 the price reflects that.

Up on Council Crest Drive, this Classic French Colonial sits on nearly half an acre, with panoramic views over the city, the mountains and beyond. It is stunning. The house has four bedrooms all on the lower level. Upstairs there is a large formal living room, dining room, kitchen and equally spacious family room. Definitely a great house for entertaining, but with some updating needed it'll be the view that will attract potential buyers to this $1,375,000.

Last on the list today is this lovely city home on SW Montgomery for $549,000. I had sold this around nine years ago and it was fun to revisit it and see what a great job the owner has done with it. Perched up high off the street, full of light and views across to the east, this feels like a summer retreat right in the heart of the city. Frankly the upper level is so comfortable, with master suite combining with spacious family room (and wood stove to boot) that like NE 37th, I'd imagine you'd rarely venture downstairs. the back yard is small but extremely low maintenance. Out front there is a nice tiled deck that is shared with the next door neighbors. Full of charm.

Pick of the Week: I'm going to go with NE 37th Ave, if for nothing else, it is always fun to see a house whose owners have done everything humanly possible in the name of comfort.

Three headed showers

2009-03-24T13:32:00.000-07:00

Over in Ladd's Addition, this classic 1909 four square was listed at $995,000 at the beginning of the month. It's a lovely old house and its potential to be in amongst some of this neighborhood's finest houses is definitely there for all to see. However it's a long way from that right now and really much of the house is due for a make-over. The majority of the original plaster has come to look like a topographical map and while it's not falling away in your hands by any stretch of the imagination, it isn't what I expect from a million dollar house. Add that to some very outdated bathrooms and a basement that is some distance from being finished and you have a fairly sizable chunk of change that needs to be thrown at it. Which makes the price, at a time when sellers need to be realistic to have any hope of shifting their property, something that ought to be re-thought.

We had high expectations for this home. It's been renovated and remodeled by local designer Sheila Reilly who has a great reputation for high quality and great imagination. Certainly the imagination was at work here and in the main so was the quality - great paint color choices and the remodeled kitchen works well. However her tiler did not do the immaculate job we've come to expect, most noticeably in the back splash behind the cooker (and maybe I'm pickier than most) but the biggest mistake in my mind was the removal of the main staircase in order to create a master suite upstairs. This left the tiny, narrow back staircase for possibly a family of four - rush hour traffic anyone??

Situated on a popular and quiet street in Portland Heights, this is a sweet home for a couple or small family. Roscoe Hemenway was one of Portland's most respected architects in his day and this home retains some of his signature touches - wood paneling in the living room for instance. The kitchen needs to be looked at again, but really that's it, and at $719,000 in this neck of the woods - it's a no-brainer.

Pick of the week: Has to go to the house on SW Arden in Portland Heights for it's value and location. It also had the least strange three-headed shower of the day, or did it?!

Three-headed shower in Ladd's Addition.

Three-headed shower on SW Arden.

2009-03-17T13:27:00.000-07:00

Nestled right in the heart of Arbor Lodge in North Portland is this nice family home on a double lot on N. Atlantic. Three bedrooms (two up, one on the main), an updated upstairs bathroom (one of three in the house), and a sizable kitchen nook that here acts as a mini playschool for the kids. The real attraction to this listing though is the additional lot on the corner that comes with the house. It's currently fenced as a side yard and you can imagine the kids love having so much space to run around in. Of course though, it'll also attract the developers who'll see a buck to be made on such an attractive piece of land. It is dividable according to the listing agent but you'll need to verify that with the City. Priced at $470,000

Over I5 to NE 21st and NE Alberta, I found this restored craftsmen that came on the market last week. There is splendid woodwork throughout, from the box beam ceilings to the built-ins to the pocket doors. Despite the number of doorways that dissect the room, the kitchen remodel makes it the focal point of the house. It's very well done. Out back there's a nice little yard with a built-in BBQ and a patio with a water feature. Oddly the upstairs bathroom appears to be the only room that has been left largely untouched, which is strange when you consider the amount of work that has gone into the rest of the house. At $539,000 the price may be a tad ambitious for the street. There has clearly been some significant work done on a lot of the neighboring houses but there are still some eyesores that need to be contended with. Great location though in a part of town that is continuing to rapidly change for the better.

Moving down to Alameda, I popped over to see this bungalow on NE 29th in between NE Klickitat and NE Sisikiyou. The lovely open floor plan welcomes you as soon as you walk through the door and with a roaring fire in the living room, treats on the dining room table and some mulled wine simmering in the kitchen, this would be an inviting place to walk into on a cold night. But enough with the Dickensian daydreaming, there are two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs and another one of each tucked away off the living room. The basement is not much to write home about but all in all it's a good solid mid-priced house on a great street in Alameda. Priced at $519,900.

Just one house on the westside that caught my eye, this daylight ranch in Raleigh Park. It's a deceptive house because from the outside it looks fairly run of the mill but step inside and you have a fantastic atomic ranch. This is a true labor of love by the owners, one of whom is a carpenter, who took ten months off to create their dream home. More often than not when you walk into these houses they retain fifty percent of their original charm and the remainder is dressed up by the owners, and the effect more often than not leaves you wanting. Well not here. Nothing has been left untouched and the bridge between 1951 and 2009 is seamless. Once again the kitchen is the centerpiece for me, though the rest of the house is breathing down my neck for attention. Simple white subway tile (concrete) counter to ceiling, dual sinks and hand crafted cabinetry made from recycled fir. The dining room has a rich warmth from the lyptus-paneled walls. Three bedrooms up and one down. An absolute peach at $575,000.

Pick of the Week: Oh I have more space to talk about the Atomic Ranch? Did I mention the downstairs office with the shoji-style pocket doors or the two brand new decks off the back of the house, or the floor-to-ceiling Roman brick fireplace in living room? Can you tell I like this one?

Heated entryway floors are hard to beat

2009-03-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a reasonably-priced three bedroom house in the Irvington/Grant Park neighborhood, this one on NE 31st might just be the ticket. It's a charming Cape Cod with two bathrooms, a large family room in the finished basement and a great little backyard. At 1723 square feet it's got a cozy, though not cramped, feel to the place and there is definitely a sense that the current owners have looked after the place. With great schools, this is a lovely option for a family wanting to get their foot in the neighborhood door and at $459,500, it outshines a good deal of the other houses at this price point.

I was quite excited to get a look inside of this, having walked past this ranch on numerous occasions. What had always caught my eye was the fantastic connected covered porch off the dining room, perfect for a warm night's dinner party or just a quiet G&T. Inside the owners have left much of the original kitchen and bathrooms intact, and have added their own flair to them. On the whole this works well but a few of their choices left me a little puzzled. The family room downstairs has one of those lovely floor-to-ceiling brick fireplaces and the addition of extra windows has made this one of the best rooms in the house. I also loved the separate dressing room off the master bedroom. Simple, but a nice touch. Three bedrooms and bathrooms, amongst 3384 square feet for $779,500.

Everything is big about this house. Designed by Portland architect Emil Schacht , this 5,622 square foot house is an intriguing combination of craftsman and Swiss chalet styles. Built in 1914, on a double-corner lot on NE Alameda, this fifteen room (five bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms) appears to be currently housing a children's daycare. It's a grand old lady, with lovely leaded-glass built-ins, quartersawn oak paneled dining room and radiant heat throughout. However, after 94 years and a multitude of little ones running around the house, it's looking a little rough around the edges. It'll take some work to return this to its former glory, but you could always sell the other lot to pay for it. Priced at $995,000.

Tucked away on SW Meade, in Lair Hill, a peach of a condo has just come on the market for $479,000. Architect Rick Potestio and builder Don Tankersley, made up the great local team that created these units back in 2005. This is the kind of condo that should be a benchmark for this type of living, and it puts so much of its bland competition around town to shame. The owners have sunk some significant change into upgrades during the build and it shows. Heated floors in the entryway and bathrooms, Miehle, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, four (yes, 4) built-in flat screen TVs, two full bathrooms, two bedrooms with a view of Mt Hood and Tankersley's signature wood panelling are but some of the attractions that make this condo so special. Throw away you TV remotes and buy this!!

Last on the list this morning, was this 1969 remodeled ranch in Raleigh Hills. This single-level has four bedrooms, one of which is a guest quarters with a separate entrance and three full bathrooms. All the rooms feel spacious and the inviting family room off the kitchen could well mean you would never need to set foot in the more formal living room ever again. The remodel makes no significant statement in terms of design but the house will speak to a large audience that is looking for a comfortable, quality home in a good neighborhood. Priced at $599,900.

Pick of the Week: The Potestio/Tankersley condo on SW Meade for leaving no stone unturned. Truly a rare mid-priced condo on the Westside that thinks outside the box, as opposed to just being one.

Eastside two, Westside won

2009-03-03T14:12:00.000-08:00

Thanks to lackluster tour options, this week I focused solely on three houses for our clients. This grand old 1928 Colonial is located off 33rd on NE Alameda. Walk through the front door and you are warmly greeted by lovely hardwoods in the living and dining rooms, separated by a simply-ornate wooden staircase leading up to the three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the upper level. The kitchen is a decent enough size, aided by an eating nook and there is a spacious family room down in the basement. It's got good bones, even down to the powder room, neatly tucked away off the kitchen. It won't however be a great house until the vinyl siding is removed, the interior is repainted with a color that compliments the natural woodwork throughout the house and a handful of other worthwhile changes are made. That said it's well worth a look, because the fixes don't appear to be too difficult, and with the work done the house could be a smashing addition to an already outstanding street. Priced at $579,000.

I had high hopes for this house on NE Tillamook, recently re-listed at a more reasonably priced $659,900. Seemingly everything has been remodeled on each of the four floors, and I mean everything, even down to the sidewalks and driveway outside. The floor plan is desirable too with the (currently scarce) three bedrooms on the upstairs level and a large bonus attic, admittedly more suited to small people, but great for kids nevertheless. There's a finished basement, two car garage, decent-sized yard....there's pretty much everything for pretty a decent price. Except, it's located right on the corner of the busiest part of NE 33rd and there's no getting away from that. If you could care less about that, I suggest you jump in your car right now and take a gander.

Last, on this abbreviated tour, is a really lovely Traditional on SW Old Orchard. Built in 1924 but now renovated to a level that allows both period and modern to mix effortlessly, this four bedroom, two bathroom house is a real find. I particularly like the light-filled kitchen with a breakfast area that leads, through French doors to a deck, perfect for a nice soft-boiled egg and toasted soldiers on a summer's morning. Also out back is a flat grass yard and a converted garage that currently acts as an office, or perhaps a place for five minutes peace from the kids. The basement, is more along the lines of the painted-concrete floor variety but it's very usable and has a wall of storage shelves. Excellent family home that I can find little to gripe about. Priced at $635,000.

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Mid-centuryfest!

2009-02-24T13:53:00.000-08:00

Today's tour took me over to North Portland for the first time in a while. This red brick ranch over on N. Chase in the Mock Crest neighborhood has been transformed over the past seven years from drab to delightful. The original architect had done a great job with proportions leaving no room feeling like an after-thought. So the current owner had a great canvas with which to add their, on-the-whole, very tasteful touch to the house. Aside from the lovely flow and natural light of the living and dining rooms, I'm quite taken with the lower level. Downstairs an additional 1152 sqft open-plan basement has been converted to a guest bedroom area with full bathroom, family room and office space. Unlike so many basement remodels, it feels like a natural extension of the house, as opposed to making the best of otherwise wasted square footage. Bravo. ($429,000)

Deeper into North Portland, over in St Johns, is this contemporary on N Willamette Blvd. It was built last year on a lot overlooking Forest Park and St Johns Bridge, and has four bedrooms and three and half bathrooms. The main level is open plan with a urban-loft feel to it and tons of natural light. The upstairs is split into two landings, one with a spacious master bedroom suite and the other giving access to the additonal three bedrooms. It's well designed with a stack of green features, no skimping on the materials, and a price ($489,900) that may well tempt buyers to come this far north for their architecture.

Back over to Portland Heights, on the west side, to another brick mid-century, this time designed by the architect Herman Brookman. It's the first time on the market for this three bedroom, two bathroom house, and any new owner will need to take on some updating. But not much. It's a solid house, perfect for one-level living. Floor to ceiling windows and southern exposure make the living and dining rooms the centerpieces of the house, and with some tinkering you could quickly enliven the current state of the kitchen. If your stocks take another tumble and you need to make a few extra bob you could always rent out one of the four garage spaces to a car collector!! Priced at $689,000.

Just off Skyline, we visited another one level on SW Upland Drive. It's a compact house (1765 sqft) on a decent sized lot. When I say compact I don't mean cramped. It's a comfortable house that feels like it's been designed to fit a small area and that's largely due to the slope it sits on. The back opens out on to a massive sun room that reaches the length of the house. It's an interesting use of what otherwise would have been an awkward long thin patio that butts up against a terrace wall. It works well, making it a useful year-round room. For those who crave at least a little backyard time, there's a patio on an upper terrace with room for a sing song around the fire pit. It's a private setting, disturbed slightly by the hum of Hwy 26, but a house that is warm and inviting. It's going to make someone a great home for $505,000.

In last week's blog I talked about a mid century on SW Heather Lane that had a wealth of potential that needed to be realized by some new owners. This week I came across a prime example of a similar house that has been given just the attention I was talking about. Nothing over the top, just some simple but highly effective updating and you have a house that combines the strong stylistic attributes of the period with the understated addition of some 21st century flair. It works really well. I might have done something with the kitchen cabinetry but there are more than a few purists that baulk at that. Well worth checking out if you are in the market. Priced at $395,000 and located on SW 25th Ave.

Pick of the week: It was a great tour this week, not only for the houses but for some fun conversations with fellow realtors. One agent, who lived next door to her listing, declared, with a wry smile, that we should only bring a buyer that 'is lots of fun and likes to drink'. In this market we could all use a drink or three!! Oh yeah, pick of the week....N Chase, hands down.

Small tour, big house

2009-02-17T13:50:00.000-08:00

First up and off to SW Heather Lane in Beaverton. I'm a push-over for a vaulted ceiling and the interior photos of this three bedroom, two bathroom home piqued my interest. Built by a local builder, for himself, in 1960, the interior is steeped in period styling. The current owners have not really changed much from its original build but with even a little imagination this could be a smashing mid-century modern home. The exterior, needs a bit more help though. The drab gray paint, looks about as cheerful as the weather and the cinder blocks that fence the yard are equally as appealing. But they are simple fixes and could quite quickly make this house the head turner it should be. Priced at $369,000.

Writing just a paragraph about this house on SW Torr Lane is never going to come close to doing it justice. It's simply one of the most amazing houses you're likely to see in Portland. It was built in 1932, by local architect Richard Sundeleaf, and later added to with an addition that took the house to a generous 7226 sqft. The old part of the house has a lodge-like feel to the house with stone fireplaces in both the living and dining rooms, one with a beautiful hand-carved wooden mantle that is inset flush with the surrounding stone. Stunning. Hand-hewn beams are surrounded by custom plaster work. You half expect a hobbit to scurry past. There are three distinct sleeping areas that make up the five bedrooms. Perfect for a couple of teenagers that need their own space and a master bedroom that is far removed from the rest of the house. The centerpiece of the new addition is a huge great room. Room enough in fact for two seating areas and a full size pool table to separate them. It's possibly one of the most inviting rooms I have ever seen. Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous and it can be yours for $2,850,000.

On SW Fairview, this three bedroom, three and a half bath has just gone on the market. The house has a stately home feel to it, with sizable wood-paneled living and dining rooms, built-ins and hidden storage panels. Upstairs there are three bedrooms and two of the bathrooms, one of which clearly wants to be in the master bedroom but has been left outside the door on the landing for some inexplicable reason. Sitting on 3 tax lots, with a view of Mt Hood and the Arboretum just a stone's throw away, this should be a winner. Instead it is left wanting and it needs a new owner that can breath some life into these old bones. Priced at $949,000.

Over in the Portland Heights' grid this 1925 English cottage is listed at a reasonable $695,000. With four bedrooms on the upstairs level this has to be attractive proposition to a family looking to make inroads in a sought after neighborhood. It seems that (aside from Torr Lane) this week's tour has been all about houses that could benefit from a fresh perspective. This house could use some of that too, but it certainly has an appealing charm that would be worth the effort to see it really blossom. Located on SW 18th Ave.

Pick of the Week: Well it's a no-brainer really. It was a short but rewarding tour and though three of the houses need their potential realizing, they were well worth looking at. Houses like the one on SW Torr Lane though only come up once in a blue moon and it was a treat to see it.

Wet feet on the west side

2009-02-10T13:35:00.000-08:00

This 1954 mid-century contemporary ranch in West Slope is a going to make someone a great home. The one-level house lives much larger than its 2032 sqft, helped by vaulted ceilings and the bank of windows in the living and dining rooms. The kitchen is light and bright and adjoins a snug family room. Off the living room is a bedroom wing housing the three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Perhaps its (Ed: ok anon?) strongest attribute is that it's a great house for entertaining whether it's in the living room or the large patio just outside in the private backyard. Hidden away is a gardener's shed and a substantial lawn fronts the property. It's a mid-century that doesn't necessarily push the envelope and thus will attract a wider audience. Located on SW Vista Drive and priced at $635,000. (My snapshot doesn't do this house justice so please click on the photo to link to the listing where you'll see better photos).

Over in Willamette Heights, this wonderful 1917 craftsman bungalow has just come on the market at $789,000. Walk into the house from under the columned veranda, into the living room, with its four sets of French doors. Up a couple of steps and the living room opens out to an elegant dining room, and onto a kitchen and views of the mountains. The upstairs is a labyrinth of bedrooms (4) and little storage nooks. It's a considerable amount of room that just doesn't appear to be there when you are looking at the house from the outside. This is a lovely house, on a great street (Raleigh), just a short walk from the action on NW 23rd Ave. The yard though tiny, which is not unusual in this locale, is flat, and split between patio and lawn.

Just off 23rd Ave, tucked away on NW Overton, is this 1909 craftsman. Unassuming, from the outside, it has been lovingly cared for and renovated on the inside. On the main level there is everything you would expect; beamed ceilings, bay windows, pocket doors and Doug Fir detailing, all in topnotch condition. Upstairs had been just a shell when the current owners had moved in, and they have turned it into a stunning renovation. The materials and finishes flourish with their modern take on the craftsman style. The basement has a family room , office, bathroom and an additional kitchen space, but there is really a great opportunity to make of it what you will. Priced at $820,000.

Pick of the Week: It was a quiet tour this week and the weather didn't help matters. So of the three I'm going to have to go for the craftsman bungalow on NW Raleigh for its wonderful living room, its french doors and the views.

Old Italian, New Condo

2009-02-03T13:58:00.000-08:00

One of the latest additions to the newly-spruced up Williams corridor is the Hakoya lofts from local architects Sakura Urban Concepts. The project consists of six two-level live/work condos plus additional commercial space on the street level. Priced to reflect leaner times, the central four two bedroom units are at an affordable $274,500 for 1034 sqft, with the corner units looking to fetch $325,000 (1142 sqft) for two bedrooms and $352,000 (1320 sqft) for three bedrooms respectively. There are certainly design features carried over from Sakura's Mado Houses such as the roll-up garage door in the living room opening out the entire room in the warmer months. I was particularly taken by the glass divide of the staircase to the kitchen. Such a simple yet effective way to flood the kitchen with additional light from the staircase window. Packed with the usual, and now expected, green features and a lovely balcony off the master bedroom, these units are well worth checking out if you're in the market for an east side condo.

Over in the SE, Randy Rapaport's Clinton Condominiums also opened their doors this morning. These units have been on the market for a while, then again what hasn't, and I think they are worth keeping on everyone's radar. Designed to look like an urban geode, the building is clad with rusting steel except the front of the building which incorporates green glass panels with the units windows. Placed at various angles and gently lit at night, the crystal effect is beautifully realized. Inside the level of design does not let up, from the quality of the materials to the clever touches that make each of these units a lot more interesting than much of their competition. With ten of the twenty seven units still available though, that quality comes at a price (available units range from $260,000 [1 bed]/$500,000 [2 bed]) and in today's market it's clearly having an effect. Beautiful though, nonetheless.

The specs on this caught my eye for a client we are working with and though it's a bit of an ugly duckling from the outside, it's a gem in the making once you walk through the front door. This NE 32nd house has everything, four bedrooms (three upstairs), two bathrooms, large living room and dining room, and a spacious kitchen overlooking a family room and the yard. If that wasn't enough, there is another sizable room for your pool table downstairs. You'd need to add a little cosmetic something if you want your own sparkle but it's there for taking no doubt. Priced at $599,000 for this 3336 sqft Irvington home.

Back over to the west side and a six bedroom Mediterranean villa on SW Cumberland designed by prolific architect Ellis Lawrence. The same owner has had it for a staggering 89 years and while it's not in bad shape it certainly needs some attention. That said part of the beauty of an untouched house like this is that the original features (woodwork, tiling etc) have not been altered, and with a bit of spit and polish, it will quickly regain it's elegance. Panoramic views, 4452 sqft (including 1095 sqft unfinished) and a piece of history for $869,000.

This 17 year old house is tucked away up on SW Hampshire. Solid and spacious, this is an interesting opportunity for a family looking for newer construction in Arlington heights. Except, if you are the type of parents that want your young children's bedrooms to be on the same level as the master. Here they are not only not on the same level, they are TWO down and close to the front door. An odd decision by the architect. It's a comfortable home though, full of light and decks a plenty, minutes from downtown and the trails. Priced at $690,000.

Last up and a quick jaunt over to Dunthorpe to this 1961 house on SW Aventine Circus. It's a tough one to describe really and I can't fault the realtor's description as being a NW Modern retreat. It's interesting because you really can't out your finger on it. It looks like it wants to cry out ostentatious but then shys away before you can deliver the label. It certainly has more than a few glimpses of similar modern builds of it's era and yet it's not as readily apparent as you would expect. Perhaps it's just had a few too many remodels over the years and it's identity has been a little lost in the mix. Regardless there's absolutely nothing wrong with this four bedroom, four and a half bath one level, and I don't mean it to sound that way. It would be bland in LA (!) but it's quite something here in Portland. The Japanese gardens are the real treasure here though. They are nothing short of stunning and a fundraiser in the twilight of a summer's evening would have even the shortest arms digging into their trouser pockets. Priced at $2,495,000.

Pick of the week: I'm really taken Hakoya project but I also do love those Clinton condos. So I'm going to sit on the fence and pick both. Cos I can!

An Election and then snowed out....

2009-01-28T22:23:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry to report two weeks of nothing.... last week we elected Obama and there was no tour worth mentioning. This week we had snow for the majority of the morning which made it very tricky (if not impossible for some) to get out and about. Next week's tour will be a big one!

We have picked out six homes for today's tour.

2009-01-13T15:24:00.000-08:00

It's a beautiful day, the sun is shing - the city is at it's best..............and we are off!

Our first home is on NE 39th, priced at $649,900 this, we think, is good value for money. A traditional home from the street, stepping inside it has a distinctly European feel. There are three bedrooms upstairs and the ground floor study could easily be made into a fourth bedroom. The basement has been finished and would easily house a home office and family/playroom. The removal of a wall has opened up the kitchen which now incorporates a family room that opens onto the garden. It makes the home feel very spacious and inviting, conducive to family life, this is a great home.

Going over to NE Peerless our second home is $150,000 more than the last one - what do you get for the money? A nice looking home from the outside, although it's on a corner, and has very little ground around it. You step straight into the sitting room. Nice high ceilings, white walls - very crisp. The kitchen is classic white and has a bank of refrigerators on one wall, again a European touch. It is an unusual home, difficult to describe. There is plenty of space and an added touch of whimsy - there's a Juliette balcony above the kitchen, and a ladder on the wall in another room that disappears upstairs (a bit like a fireman's pole). The "but" is that there are only two clearly designated bedrooms, and lots of other rooms that interconnect - one has to wonder how they would be used if a family lived here. It's on the market for $799,900.

Our next home is on SE Martins, close to Reed College and is on the market for $719,900. Another slightly unusual home. The current owners haven't quite decided if they are traditional or contemporary. The sitting room is definitely contemporary in it's furnishings and color scheme. It stops there. The kitchen is French Country - down to having chickens in the garden. I liked the staircase and wide landing area, the black and white wallpaper is not to every one's taste. The home has a good feel to it although the color scheme makes the home quite dark, even on this sunny day.

Back over the river to our fourth home, on SW Broadway Drive. This home is very different to the others we have seen today. Truly contemporary - a showcase for their art work. Three bedrooms, two of which share a Jack and Jill bathroom. The master bedroom can be accessed via a door at the top of the spiral staircase which enters through the wardrobe (a true "Walk In"), the bathroom and then the Master Bedroom, the bedroom also has a door onto the landing. It's a good sized home with garaging for three cars, sadly no outside space at all. It's priced at $550,000.

Those of you who have read our earlier blogs will be aware of our attraction to "Rummer" homes.
Our next home is exactly that an ORIGINAL Rummer, on SW Bonnie Brae. Only two owners, it was sold when the original owner died and comes in tact. The kitchen even has the original appliances, nothing has been done to this except clean it up. The floor plan works well, it doesn't have the central atrium so the bedrooms have more privacy. Priced at $362,500 one could easily afford to up date the kitchen and bathrooms. A little bit of imaginative landscaping would improve the curb appeal, this is a hidden gem.

Our last today is over on NW Irving, a great location just off 23rd. The master bedroom is on the main level,and there are two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. The study could easily become the fourth bedroom if required. The kitchen is tastefully up dated with granite counter tops and beveled marble tile back splash. The basement has rustic charm with exposed brick work around the entrance to the wine cellar - there is a bar area for tastings as well as a sitting area. Small gardens with a patio in the back and off street parking for four cars, rare in this neck of the woods. A very nicely presented home in the heart of town, on the market for $849,000.

Our "Pick of the Week" has to go to the first home we saw on NE 39th. A true family home, well configured to suit the needs of a growing family, in a great location and at a realistic price. Come and get it - it's move in ready!

The first tour of 2009.

2009-01-06T12:05:00.000-08:00

Taking a look at the listings there are only two homes that have caught our eye today, hardly surprising with the climate (both weather and economic). At this time of year one expects the market to be slightly surpressed, we're all rcovering from the holidays and setting budgets for the coming year. Having survived the snow we are raring to go!

Our first home on NW Brazee has been totally remodeled and extended since it was last on the market. A good sized master bedroom with en-suite bathroom has been added over the garage, making the home four beds/two bathrooms. They have also built onto the back of the garage, extending and reconfiguring the kitchen. What an improvement - the house is move in ready, and shows really well. Priced at $849,000, about right for the neighborhood.

Our last home for today is over on NW Raleigh, it's on the market for $850,000. An interesting home, the internal pictures do not do it justice, it makes much more sense when you see it. The entire top floor has been made into a master suite, which includes a media room and a walk in shower that's wired for sound and fits five Hasson agents with room to spare! A great home on the NW side of town.

It's hardly fair to choose a "Pick of the Week". Both homes have a lot to offer and are similarly priced - your pick depending on which side of town you prefer.

"Tis the season........

2008-12-23T21:46:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have been following our blog you will have noticed that we have been absent for the past two weeks..........anyone in their right mind would not want to expose their home to the rigors of a broker's tour. It's bad enough in fair weather to have dozens of brokers rampaging your house let alone under our current weather conditions. I, for one, am delighted to have the indulgence of a "White Christmas"..........it's time for all of us to enjoy the season, take time for family. Make the most of it because it won't last! The thaw will come and before we know it, we will be back on track with a vengence!
On behalf of our team I would like to wish you all a very happy, and safe holiday. Wherever it may take you, travel safely.
Here's to 2009, may it be a a good year for all of us.
Our very best wishes to you and yours,
Suze Riley

What a good start to the day, the fog is lifting and we have seven homes on tour today. A big improvement on last week.

2008-12-09T13:49:00.000-08:00

Our first home is listed as a "Penthouse in the Sky", and that it is, this condo alternative is on SW Rivington Drive. Wow, all I can say is "What a fantastic view". Mount Hood is virtually in the sitting room! With that view it could be a great home, perfect for entertaining. However, some work really should be done to bring it up to today's standards. The kitchen and bathrooms all need to be remodeled. The heating system should also be up dated, and the windows would benefit from being triple glazed to cut out the traffic noise that comes up from the 405. It's on the market for $949,000.

Our next home is a charming English Cottage on SW Edgewood - Ainsworth School is just down the road. There are lots of ins and outs which make this a real family home, and give it a true English feel. We have become so used to open plan contemporary style houses, I'd almost forgotten my roots. If this was for sale in England we'd all be fighting over it. A realistic price for this neighborhood, $774,000.

Right across the street, this home is very similar - slightly larger, with the same appeal. Once you get past the exterior color, you step into a very unusual home. Again lots of ins and outs, original woodwork and period detail all add character. There's a bit more to this house, hence the price difference - have they got it right? It's on the market for $849,900. We really liked both of these homes, it would be hard to choose between them.

Our next home is also in Portland Heights, a stunning home on a level corner lot, with seasonal views of Portland. Whoever designed this home took the time to really think out the floor plan. All the rooms are well proportioned, maximizing on the use of space while giving privacy - there is room for everyone. Take a look at the floor plan and you'll see what I mean. Priced at $1,350,000 someone should snap it up.

Heading over to the Eastside, our first home over here is on NE 39th. A delightful house that has been tastefully remodeled, perhaps a bit over priced for the street? However, it is immaculate inside and out. Two bedrooms upstairs, and two down, it's bigger than it looks. On the market for 565,000.

Can't see the wood for the trees? It's not as bad as it looks - hack back the Wisteria and remodel from there. It needs to be totally gutted to the studs. There's a strange contraption in the basement - could it be a sauna?Potentially a good home on a great street, although it's definitely the pigs ear of the street at the moment. Currently on the market for $595,000, refurbished homes in this neighbourhood are usually priced around 1.5 million. A very desirable area - worth the investment for someone.

Our last home of the day is over on NE 12th. We've seen homes by this builder before. They are all very similar - large homes very well built and look impressive, but there's always a snag. The floor plan just doesn't quite work. This home is huge, five bedrooms - but, the bathrooms are in the wrong place. Three of the bedrooms share one bathroom on the first floor. There's a bathroom up in the attic but it only has a wash basin and a loo, and the other bathroom is in the basement - I could just imagine three girls fighting for bathroom time and a son never seeing a bathroom at all! It's on the market for $1,249,000.

Our " Pick of the Week" ? We had a lot to choose from this week, all the homes were interesting. The home on SW Spring Street really stood out. An absolutely stunning home, it has everything going for it - beautifully presented, excellent floor plan, a great neighborhood, and it's well priced.

What a dismal day, only two homes of interest on tour today.

2008-12-02T11:45:00.000-08:00

What started off as a grey day was soon brightened when we walked into our first home. A fabulous remodel has turned this home into a good solid ranch. Ideal for a couple without children, this two bedroom, two bathroom home is nestled in Burlingame - walking distance to all that Hillsdale has to offer. The remodel has been tastefully done to a high standard, making full use of the space - a great home for entertaining. One color scheme throughout streamlines the home as do the bamboo floors and new carpets. The kitchen is very attractive with dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and concrete counter tops. Both bathrooms have been remodeled, not too sure about the slate tile in the second bathroom, but it is livable. There is a large bonus room that could easily be used as a family room/guest room. The usable deck is in the front of the house, and although the photo isn't the best it gives you the idea that with a little creative screening the deck would be totally private. This home is well priced at $$695,000.

Over to SW 36th, just off Hamilton and our next home - this too is an excellent home in a good neighbourhood. A compact layout that works, two bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs. The home has a central kitchen, a sitting room with dining area and a family room with access to the garden. The third bedroom and bathroom are downstairs, along with a good sized family room, a den and a studio. An attractive layout for those of us with teenagers. It is not a remodel/flip house, the bathrooms and kitchen look original, but it is a great home. Priced to sell at $699,900.

Real estate vs the turkey

2008-11-25T16:12:00.000-08:00

As this is Thanksgiving week, and much of the real estate world's attention is drawn to basting and pie-making, there was next to nothing on tour today. We'll be back next week, a few pounds heavier but raring to go. In the meantime, we hope you and yours have a lovely holiday.

Who hid the toilet? Bathroom design and lots of simple elegance.

2008-11-18T13:49:00.000-08:00

If ever there was an example of a homeowner who so clearly has made their house a project to throw their design talents at, this is the one. You may not love everything in this 3197 sqft, three bedroom, two and a half bathroom contemporary but you'll certainly find something. More likely than not you'll find it in the breath-taking master bathroom. It may seem strange to single that one room out but the level of thought, design and materials that have gone into that room is quite simply stunning, even down to the toilet that is hidden by a stainless steel sliding panel and an ironing board that folds in to single drawer! Spa-like and European in it's design, this surely merits some ink in Portland Spaces. The kitchen impressed me too for it's simplicity and thoughtful reuse of cabinets and the two shades of stain on the upper and lower doors. Not every room will have your jaw hitting the floor but it is clear some very special work has gone into this house. Priced at $875,000.

Next on the list was a lovely mid-century ranch on the wonderfully named SW Twombly (Wombles anyone?). Built in 1950 but updated throughout in 2004, this 2460 sqft house soaks up the light from the west. A newly built roof deck above the living room allows for sunset views across to the Cascades. Great three bedroom, one-level in the Rieke school district for $579,900.

There are fixers and then there are fixers, and this is definitely not for the fainthearted. Seemingly neglected for a good few years, it would be interesting to see how deep the issues really go with this property. That said this 1950 daylight ranch on SW Terwilliger holds tremendous promise and at $375,000 there is room to bring the house back to life. At just under 4000 sqft, three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a view across to the east, this could be a diamond in the rough.

This 1967 contemporary on SW Palatine reminds me of the Huf Haus post and beam architecture from Germany. Located in Dunthorpe, just down from Lewis and Clark College, it has a striking wall of windows on the east side of the house that spans both levels of the house. The main floor, aside from the master bedroom and a great kids play room, is completely open plan, and with the windows and a cozy fire burning you have what amounts to a living area that is both comfortable and aesthetically pleasing in equal measure. It is a little rough around the edges in places but regardless this four bedroom, 3450 sqft house is an excellent find. Priced at $799,000.

Over to the east side, and to a NE Royal Ct mid-century in Laurelhurst. The owners have employed a gentle hand to this remodel, leaving the feel of the house very much to it's orginal build, but adding just enough contemporary ideas to the mix to make the work feel fresh. The use of color throughout the house leaves virtually every room feeling light and airy when the weather outside would have told you otherwise. Not to detract from the interior, but perhaps the highlight of the house for me was the back yard. Truthfully is was a simple patio and lawn affair, but the wide patio area bordered by a low black brick wall was the perfect entertaining area for a summer's evening and it's expanse never overwhelms the patch of lawn. Perfect for kids, perfect for parties. Great three bedroom, two bathroom house for $529,500.

Along the south side of Laurelhurst Park, SE Oak boasts some of the most stately east side houses in Portland. While this one may not quite have the same curb appeal as some of it's neighbors, it's no less grand. Formal dining and living rooms, large kitchen and family room, three bedrooms upstairs and one on the main, and a spacious yard for the kids. It's a lovely home in a great neighborhood and all for the price of $950,000.

Once again in Laurelhurst, I came across this new construction on NE 44th Ave. Apparently it's just two weeks from completion, which will be a splendid feat if they can pull it off. Despite it's youth the exterior fits nicely with the street and while nothing inside will blow you away, it is evident that a lot of thought has been put into the build. With four bedrooms and four bathrooms, it's perfect for a family wanting a new house in a neighborhood full of 'creakers', albeit quite lovely ones. It will be interesting to see it fully finished. Priced at $799,000.

Last up and we're off to Concordia to a charming English cottage on NE 28th Ave. This house has been truely well cared for, full of character and quietly elegant. Minor updating compliments it's impeccable original features. Someone really had an eye for placing understated yet highly effective skylights in three different places on the upstairs level. The resulting flood of light opens out the master bedroom and bathroom to great effect. Downstairs is a good old fashioned basement. Workshop, laundry, storage, dry but no clutter. It's an all round great house at the reasonable price of $375,000.

House of the Week: I thought I had it at the starting post with that amazing bathroom on SW Bucharest, and then with the wall of windows at SW Palatine Hill Road but sitting here writing this I've decided to opt for the last and perhaps most modest house of them all. I was so impressed with how well it showed, the level of care taken to keep it's features sparkling and perhaps just how well it allowed it's occupants to live in comfort. It left it's mark. Sometimes elegant simplicity is all you need.

Coming in from the cold. Eight houses that might make us feel warmer!

2008-11-11T14:22:00.000-08:00

First up today we headed over to the Hawthorne neighborhood to a lovely four bedroom/two bathroom bungalow just a stone's throw from the main drag. Excellent use of space upstairs and a finished basement makes this a perfect family home in a great neighborhood. The whole house has been tastefully updated, perhaps a little safe in some material choices, but the overall effect leaves the house looking clean, bright and inviting. Great value at $414,900.

On to a 1926 English on the edge of Irvington priced at $477,850. With virtually all the big ticket items recently taken care of, new high-efficiency furnace, roof, sewer, siding and windows, this really is one to consider. What it will need though is a buyer that is prepared to add their own flair to the kitchen and bathrooms, and perhaps to take a second look at the upstairs remodel and floor plan.

This five bedroom, four bathroom house in Dolph Park has just come back on the market at the lower price of $949,000. Built in 1929, a quarter of a million dollar's worth of upgrades have added modern amenities to it's original charm. What you are left with is a balance between elegance and comfort. Special mention must go to the master suite with it's walk-in closet and reading room, and the double-sided gas fireplace separating bedroom from bathroom. Downstairs is a over-sized yet cozy family room with a fireplace, perfect for both entertaining or curling up on the couch with a good book.

Nestled in the lower part of Beaumont Village, this house possesses a unique, almost fairytale-like quality. Both this owner and the previous one have clearly spent a significant chunk of change adding quality upgrades and making the house their own. Even down to the vertical exterior siding split between cedar shake and stucco. The rooms are well proportioned, the yard is perfect for outdoor entertaining and the finished basement comfortably houses a family room, sewing room and laundry room. A lot fits into this house and yet you never get the sense that it's cramped. Priced at $624,500.

Off up to Concordia to a seek out a mid-century ranch that had caught my eye. When I say that nothing has changed since it was built in 1958, I mean nothing has changed. The house appears to have been very well maintained and some of the touches, such as the large bedroom closets with built-in lighting are a pleasure to see. The drawback is that windows, and therefore light, were clearly not a priority to the builder. Add the wood-panelled walls to the equation and you have three quarters of the house that would need constant lighting . It's been priced below other ranches that have recently sold in the neighborhood but I wonder if it is low enough to compensate for the darkness. Well worth seeing though, if for nothing else than the 'sputnik' wall light in the entrance way. Priced at $399,000.

Billed as an 'Alameda treasure' by the listing agent, he wasn't far off the mark. Stuffed to the gills with detail and features, built-ins at every turn (every nook and cranny has been put to work), high coved ceilings and a wonderful front porch, this craftsman bungalow truely turned out to be a gem. Certainly some work would need to be done to a spacious but otherwise unremarkable kitchen, and the lack of an upstairs bathroom to accompany three of the five bedrooms may be a problem to some buyers. However with some vision and a little money this could be the house to spend the rest of your days in. Priced at $529,900.

Unassuming from the outside and yet spectacular views from the inside. Situated on SW Buckingham in Portland Heights, at $774,900 the price reflects the value of the land/view more than it does the four bedroom/three and half bathrooms on the inside. It would take a mighty brave rehabber to take on the preservation of this property and with possible structural problems it could just be easier to tear it down. Regardless though few views of our wonderful city stop you in your tracks quite like this will. So if it's a project you are after, look no further!

Last on this week's tour was a one level condo in the well-sought after Clear Hills condominiums in Montclair. This unit has more of a ranch duplex feel to it than what most would consider a more traditonal condo set-up. It has been completely remodeled with top of the line finishes and high-end appliances. It's full of home comforts with a large dose of luxury. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, two garages and access to the pool for $699,000.

"Pick of the Week" definitely goes to the 'Alameda treasure'. On a cold and wet day I looked for the house that I could picture myself coming back to at the end of the day and feeling like I was really home. There was so much potential in that house to want to live there and possibly never move, that it had to come in ahead of some strong contenders.

We have a really good mix on tour today, eight homes in all.

2008-11-04T15:30:00.000-08:00

Our first home is of interest purely because of the price and it's location. It's just off Patton in the West Hills and on the market for $215,000. Good location, but from there on this is a total rehab or tear down. The house appears to be moving, there is evidence of work having been done to shore up the foundation - the house is certainly leaning. It poses the questions, what value is the land, and is there a height restriction? It would be possible to remove the existing structure, and build up to take full advantage of the view, and location. Worth a thought.

Taking Dosch from Patton to SW Doschdale Court, our next home is move in ready. This ranch home has been totally up dated with a contemporary bias. Generally it's a really good home, the tiling in the bathroom and on the fireplace is a bit uneven, but that's being picky. Part of the drive way has been repaved, they have used Hazel nut shells to fill the spaces between the pavers - an unusual and creative element, not unattractive. It's priced at $599,900.

Swinging over to the Washington Park area, and Bennington Drive our next home is a contemporary priced at $725,000. An interesting home, a bit chopped up in that the rooms are odd shapes. Not too keen on the 'open' en suite bathroom in the master bedroom, no privacy. The front garden is filled by the swimming pool - more of a plunge pool, it makes an interesting entrance to the home. Good location with trails to Washington Park just up the street.

Just above the MAC club our next home is an historic Arts and Crafts home. The present owners have done quite a bit to it - a vast improvement to the last time it was on the market. The bathrooms have been tastefully rejigged & remodelled with quality fixtures and fittings. The spacious kitchen has also been reconfigured to allow for an eating area. New carpets in the formal rooms up date the home - the attic space is enormous, and would be ideal for children ( a great space for teens) it has funky leopard print carpeting. It also has a huge basement for storage. The outside spaces are small but well utilized. If you are looking for a large family home close in - it's priced at $1,499,000.

Over to Kings Heights, and NW Valle Vista Terrace. This home looks enormous from the street. There are so many steps in this house, you'd soon get in shape running up and down them. I'm not kidding, an elevator would come in handy! Going inside, it's got an odd floor plan, and more stairs - not quite thought out. A bit pricey at $875,000.

Down the hill to Trolley Car Lofts on NW Savier. The original building was built in 1914, and was converted in 1997 to six loft homes. This one is pretty much original, it has the feeling of a warehouse sized gallery. It's open plan with soaring ceilings that reach up to 20 ft, partition walls define spaces and keep the ceilings open. The exposed beams are the best part of the home, rustic and attractive, giving it the loft feel. The master bedroom, with en-suite bathroom, occupies the upper floor and has access to the soon to be roof top deck. It's a bit pricey at $795,000 - a loft alternative to the Pearl.

Over the NE side on N Williams Ave - here's another loft alternative. This one was formerly an architects office, and could be a good live/work environment. It has a large open plan room on the ground floor, still with the architects desks in place, and a lofted room, with an en-suite bathroom, upstairs. It also has a private fenced garden, and off-street parking. Priced at $379,000.

What a great looking house on NE Mallory - talk about curb appeal, this home has really clean lines. The architect/builder of the Z-Haus has not scrimped on anything, he has used many green features from UPVC windows, to stack ventilation cooling, and radiant hydroponic floor heating. Too many to list in detail here, but check out their web-site which should be up and running later today. We loved the large barn style doors which when open allow light to flood through the house, and when closed, completely separate the living areas.The kitchen has been thoughtfully designed to utilize the space with white high-gloss cabinets that add a European flair. What a breath of fresh air - it is light and bright throughout, and is excellent value at $499,000.

"The Pick of the Week" goes to our last home of the day, not just for it's outstanding value for money (which seems to be our current theme) but more for it's design. It's a beautiful home that has been built to a high standard using quality materials which will stand the test of time. The fact that it is "green" makes it even more attractive, this is the way of the future.

Rummers, wannabe Rummers and Carriage Houses

2008-10-31T14:55:00.001-07:00

When we toured the brokers open last Tuesday, we found ourselves in the Vista Hills neighborhood of SW Portland. There are a couple of blocks of homes all built by one builder in a fairly unique and certainly uniform style. They are the 'Carriage Houses' on SW Imperial and SW Royal Drives. We started to talk about Rummer and Eichler and in turn made us curious, how many of that style of house are currently on the market? A little research turned up six homes that fit the brief, and here is a report on what we found!

Starting with the house furthest away from downtown Portland, we drove out to Rock Creek and this house on NW Malhuer Ave. The property backs onto Rock Creek Country Club - potentially you could finish the 18th hole, hop the fence and be sipping a G&T poolside rather faster than most! This home has that great, vaulted ceiling, open plan layout that only comes with post & beam construction. Its a visual treat from the moment you enter the private courtyard from the street. There is really good flow, with all the private (bed)rooms to the left and all the public space in front and to the right. There's a pool in the back yard (but only a picket fence between you and that 18th hole). For the price we expected a bit more 'finish' - there's a lot of original detail that needs to be cleaned up or simply modernized. But we loved the house and it's potential.

Zooming back toward town we stopped off at 130th, in the Highland Hills neighborhood to look at the only two Rummers currently on the market (2 others had offers already accepted). This first one is in great shape, with original kitchen and bathrooms. It has a lovely, large back yard that's very private. A bit of updating would make this a truly great Rummer

The second Rummer was a real disappointment - it has a completely enclosed atrium at the front of the house within which a cedar hot tub has been cut out to create a small fountain, surrounded by fake grass... surreal to say the least. Inside, pergo flooring, hollow core doors and a strange floorplan left us feeling that a tasteless remodel had not paid any attention to the architecture at all.

And then on to the three on SW Imperial Dr. Of the three this is the least 'touched' and therefore has the most potential to remodel into something really stunning. This house has a peaked roof, but no exposed beams inside. The rooms are large and if you opened up the kitchen to the dining and living room, you'd have something quite lovely. There's a pool in the back yard - it's very private and all in all full of potential.

Of the three Imperial homes, this has been remodeled with the least attention to the original architecture. It's a perfectly decent remodel, but you could be anywhere - it's a great 'condo alternative' which is to say, not much yard to worry about and easy to move straight into.

Our last house had some interesting detail (phew!). The living room is slightly sunken (two steps down) and all around there are clerestory windows that allow light to flood in. As you enter the house, ones attention is immediately drawn to the oversized slider doors on the other side of the living room giving out to a side patio. Another floorplan where all the private rooms are to the left and public to the right. A big surprise was the master bedroom which is huge and has it's own private patio too.

It's slim pickings this week, only six homes that catch our eye.

2008-10-28T13:42:00.000-07:00

Our first two homes are on the NE side of town, and the remaining four are scattered around the SW.

This home on NE Royal Court is our first home of the day. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a good floor plan make it a very livable home. It's a really spacious house, all the rooms are well proportioned, with high ceilings and have hardwood floors throughout. The original Mahogany mantle in the sitting room, and built-ins in the dining room have been kept maintaining the character of the home. Priced at $499,900 - it's excellent value for money.

Our next stop is a home on NE Couch Street, another great home, this one is completely move in ready, and the price reflects that - $659,000. It has been beautifully updated. The current owners are architects and so of course did the renovations to this home - it's incredibly imaginative, making full use of the space. The removal of a wall in the kitchen has opened it up enormously, turning it into a kitchen/family room which looks onto the garden. Very nicely presented throughout.

This is an interesting one. A rural retreat for the budding artist or urban farmer, yet within walking distance of Multnomah Village, and a short drive to downtown Portland. It is very peaceful here, you feel miles away from the city. The home has three bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, and a detached artist's studio which also has a loft. There are chickens in the back garden, a grape arbor, and a bee hive. If you are looking for an escape from city life this could be it - priced at $475,000.

What to say about this house? On the junction of Vista and Broadway this home is in Portland Heights, just a short walk from Stroehecker's. It needs work - to say the least, a top to bottom rehab.
It's on the market for $757,000.

Just around the corner on SW Montgomery, our next home is an English Cottage that has been modernized. You get the "cottagey" feel when you walk in but that changes when you step into the kitchen. It has been cleverly enlarged to incorporate a family room which opens onto the deck and garden. The light floods in through the patio doors and sky lights bringing the outside in. The master bedroom takes up the entire first floor, the use of light wood flooring adds to the feeling of space - it's on the market for $650,000.

Our last home today is in the Vista Hills neighbourhood. This home is on a corner lot, on a cul-de-sac, and has a private beautifully landscaped garden that is fenced and safe for children or dogs. It is immaculate inside and out. Plenty of light comes from the numerous patio doors that give the public rooms access to the garden and deck. It has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a generous family room. It is on the market for $649,900.

A difficult choice again this week, our "Pick of the Week" could be one of two. Is it the Artist's retreat close to Multnomah Village or perhaps the Laurelhurst Craftsman on NE Royal? Certainly the Artist's retreat is really unusual, it has a feeling of tranquility that we could all appreciate, but I think we have to go for value for money. On this point the Craftsman wins, without a doubt - once the personal touch is added this too will become a great home.

While we were in the Vista Hills neighbourhood we decided to check out what we call "Rummer Row". Vista Hills is known for it's mid-century style of architecture, with very little deviation from the theme. You may remember we mentioned the architect Rummer a couple of weeks ago, there are two streets in particular in Vista Hills that have fine examples of his work - we have several to show you. They weren't on tour today so we'll be doing our own tour later this week - check out our blog on Friday!

Another interesting tour today. We have narrowed it down to seven homes, most of which are in the SW side of town.

2008-10-21T15:25:00.000-07:00

Our first home is on the west side of SW Market, it's priced at $775,000.
As you can see from the photograph the approach is less than interesting. There is no garage with this home, it has been converted into a studio. The main house has been nicely remodeled, and has three bedrooms - with only one bathroom between them. The lot itself is perched above Sunset Highway, and is mostly paved with stairs down to a lower level that has ponds with cascading water to camouflage the traffic noise.

On the other side of SW Market - our next home is a Condo with terrific views of the city from the living room. This spacious condo has a generous hallway that leads to two bedrooms, both with en-suite bathrooms. As you can see from this picture the kitchen has a fireplace which makes it feel cosy and welcoming. It's on the market for $1,000,000.

Swinging over to SW Burton, this home is another classic NW Contemporary, similar to the one we looked at last week on NW 30th. This really interesting home is hard to photograph, as you can see you can look right through the house from the front door - yet it is totally private. The main level is one large open room which houses the kitchen, living and dining room. There are two decks, one of which overlooks the wooded lot next door (which could also be separately available). Downstairs the master suite is a dream. It has a sauna, and a sunken double 'spa' tub. There's also a wet bar for the champagne - soak in the tub with a glass champers and imagine you are far away from it all. It's priced at $850,000.

Heading over to SW Dogwood Place - our next home was built in the late 50's and has good bones, a little de-cluttering by the current owners would not go amiss here. It is an extremely private home in a desirable neighborhood. It has five bedrooms and 3.1 bathrooms - the master bathroom has been tucked in quite neatly. The garden is not overlooked by anyone else and has a swimming pool. It's on the market for $900,000.

Over to E Burnside - thankfully set back from the road, this Classic Laurelhurst Colonial is a large home, almost 4,000 sq ft . That said, the kitchen is small but workable, and has a dining nook. There are four bedrooms, the master bedroom has a fireplace. The back garden has been nicely done, with a large patio and level lawn. Priced at $899.900, you get more house for your money because of it's location.

A quick nip over to NE 29th - this Prairie Style Craftsman has deep eves, it's on a corner lot and has a detached garage, priced at $825,000. This home is built around a central staircase and has four bedrooms - the master bedroom is linked via the bathroom to one of the other bedrooms. The basement has been most recently remodeled- they have refinished the concrete floors using an unusual color technique, I'm not sure if it is paint or stain, but the effect is really nice, it has an attractive bedroom and en suite bathroom - it's tempting to use this as the master.

The last home of the day is over on SW Montgomery, according to the paperwork it's a bungalow (not where I come from!). On three floors this home is spacious. It has been completely remodeled blending classic character with modern amenities. It is a very good house, four bedrooms, 3.1 bathrooms, and a finished basement make this a very comfortable home. It's in a great neighbourhood within walking distance of Stroehecker's and Ainsworth school. Exceptional value at $685,000.

So, for our "Pick of the Week" , we've been arguing a bit about this - without a doubt the home on SW Burton stands out for it's unique style. Architecturally this would be our choice, but I have to say that the home on SW Montgomery wins hands down for value for money, which in the current economic situation has to be a winner.

We have seven homes to tour today taking us from NW Portland, over to Forest Heights and beyond - finally returning to SW Portland.

2008-10-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

We're off and running, our first home is a complete remodel - a Victorian on NW Hoyt, just steps from NW 23rd. Parking can be challenging in this popular neighbourhood - luckily this home has a garage and room to park a small car off-street. Good sized rooms, four bedrooms, three and half bathrooms, and a great location make this a very livable home. The attic space could be finished to provide further living space if needed. They are still working on the finishing touches, it's on the market for $799,900.

Onwards and upwards to NW Thurman our second home is a classic 70's Contemporary, prominent in this area. Built on the hill, this really is set into the trees - large windows and sky lights allow the light to flood in, once the leaves have fallen there should be a view of Mt St. Helen's. The master suite takes up the entire top floor, it has a huge bathroom, a walk in wardrobe, and a study area - total privacy from the rest of the house. There's two more bedrooms, and a family room, and if you keep going down there's and unfinished basement with a doggy door out into the woods. The only draw back is that the kitchen has a small eat -in area (no dining room) this could be easily rectified if the kitchen were to be remodeled. This home is priced at $725,000.

This is an intriguing home on NW 30th, totally unique - there's really nothing like it. Spectacularly idiosyncratic yet classic NW 70's architecture. Very, very different - it's a sophisticated cabin-in-the-woods that's close in to the city, in a quiet part of town. It's hard to describe, multiple levels lead you through this quirky home. Wood has been cleverly used on the walls, ceilings and floors. There are ladders that take you up to hidden lofts - one even has a bathtub in it!
The master bedroom is at the far end of the house, away from the two other bedrooms, affording total privacy. Three wood burning stoves supplement the gas heating giving the "cabin" feel - a good sized deck faces the woods to complete the image. It's on the market for $1,000,000 - well worth seeing.

Up and over the hill, our next two homes are in Forest Heights.

On NW Walmer Drive, (click on the address for the sheet on this, it won't load on the photo for some reason!) this home is on the market for $679,900. Originally this was a single story mid-century ranch, the current owner added a master suite which occupies the entire top floor. The view of the Coastal Range from the upstairs sitting room is spectacular-you'd never want to leave the master suite. There are two further bedrooms on the main level, and a large living/dining room which looks onto the level garden with partial views which will expand once the leaves have fallen. It's an immaculate home, well presented and tastefully landscaped.

I am sorry this picture does not do justice to the spectacular view.
This is the view when you walk in through the front door! Thankfully this home, on NW Ramsey Drive, was on re-tour today. It is stunning, an entertainer's dream home - spacious rooms open onto the patio and pool area, and the view! The master suite is off to one side of the living areas, and has french doors which open onto the pool. There are three further bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.The home has an attached double garage which could be incorporated into the main house, as there is a large detached garage and workshop also on the property. On the market at $1,750,000 it's fabulous.

We don't usually go this far out, not quite sure why we have today. The Oak Hills subdivision is known for having some of the most interesting mid-century modern homes built by Bob Rummer, or at least influenced by well known Californian builder - Eichler. Sadly this home was not one of those. It is a standard cookie cutter ranch home that has been totally remodeled. It is immaculate, move in ready - if this is the style of home you are looking for. It's on the market for $595,000. In it's day Oak Hills must have been a pioneer community given it's location, it's not Portland, it's not Beaverton, and it's not Hillsboro. It is a planned community with it's own school and community center, a little far out but convenient to companies such as Intel.

Our last home is a quick dash back up to SW Sherwood. This home is off Freemont so it should have a view, and it does. You can see five mountains from the living room and kitchen - watch the planes come in to land over a cup of tea! The lower level of this home is all about fun. There's a home theater, a wine cellar and tasting room. The laundry room doubles as a charming children's playroom. There's more - a game room with pool table etc., which opens onto a level children's play area and wooded yard. Plenty of house, four bedrooms, 3.1 bathrooms almost 5,000sq ft -it's priced at $1,300,000.

Difficult choice this week for our "Pick of the Week". We saw such a variety of homes, three of which had spectacular views. I think it has to be the home on NW 30th Avenue simply for it's quirky charm and character - a true one of a kind!

Not much on tour today but, what we do have takes us around the city, eight homes with a price range from the mid $400's to $1.2 million.

2008-10-07T14:17:00.001-07:00

First of all - apologies for the late posting of today's blog - the 2nd debate seriously interfered with finishing up. I can see quite a few people furiously clicked for updates. Perhaps you should sign up for an automatic update email!

We're off to a good start heading to our first home on NE Highland Street - or so we thought. The Realtor wasn't at this home for the open house, it was on a lock box. Unfortunately the key didn't fit the lock, at least it wouldn't turn in the lock. What a shame - we could see the cookies on the kitchen counter! It's on the market for $459,000 - hopefully the lock will be fixed and it will be on tour next week.

Over to SE Stark, this home is incredibly well put together - priced at $534,900. Great design and taste, even without the current owners furniture and style it is going to be a fabulous house. It has been well opened up, and caters to modern living standards while maintaining the original integrity of the home. I think this may well turn out to be our "Pick of the Week".

Swinging over to NE 10th our next home is priced at $529,000. A light and bright family home. The master bedroom takes up the entire upper floor and has a good sized bathroom. Gardens are a decent size, just waiting for a green thumb.

Staying in the NE, dodging the rain, we are off to see "the Nation's first Inner City Leed Platinum Single Family Home Subdivision", on NE Graham Street. An interesting development which turns out to be a little disappointing. There are five homes, one is a total gut reconstruction, and four are new construction. They are all good sized family homes, high ceilings, triple glazed windows, rain water collection for toilets, heat exchange system etc., all good "Green" features. On the down side there was no WOW factor that one would expect from a Leeds Platinum development. Priced at $529,000 - good "green"starter homes.

Over to NW Vaughan, our next home is in Willamette Heights. If you are looking for a fixer upper close to forest park this could be it. It does need some TLC but has interesting features - there are two sleeping porches, a butler's pantry and a nice staircase with a bay window on the half landing. On the market for $729,000.

This home has always intrigued me - up in Council Crest, it stands out from it's neighbours. A fabulous new addition to the original old cottage has made this a very unusual contemporary home. Imaginative architecture - a splendid juxtaposition between old and new, well priced for this neighbourhood at $995,000.

Staying in the SW, this home on SW Burton is on the market for $599,900. Loads of light, this south facing bungalow has large picture windows in every room. The bathrooms could do with up dating - there are two master bedroom suites. The third bedroom has a fireplace and is currently used as a study. A comfortable home for a couple of empty-nesters. The basement room could also be up dated to make a good sized family room.

Onwards and upwards to NW Cumberland. Perched on the hill in the Westover Terraces neighbourhood, this large family home actually has a good sized level back garden. It is a good solid family home, both elegant and comfortable. The master bedroom has a large deck with views of the city and mountains, and a fireplace. The extensive patio to the front of the property could be screened to make a more usable and private sitting area. On the market for $1,200,000.

It was a toss up for our "Pick of the Week" between the home in Council Crest and the one on SE Stark. Visually the Council Crest home has a lot of impact - it has to be seen. The current owners have put their artistic abilities and creativity into the home. Every room has quotations on the wall (don't worry they come off really easily if they don't appeal). The master bedroom has an amazing painted canvas back drop behind the bed - it's different. But overall we agreed that the SE Stark home has it all, a very comfortable, livable family home at a good price.

Today we zigzagged back and forth across Portland as there was a lot to see and timing was a challenge!

2008-09-30T16:02:00.000-07:00

The tour today was big! We sped around trying to squeeze them all in and keep our energy from flagging as 13 houses is a lot to take in. SO......

This is a crappy photo of a truly great house! A good representation of NW Contemporary architecture, this 2 bed 2 bath home has stellar views across the city to the mountains. If you love the morning light this house might be for you - the master bedroom is in fact a loft over the living room facing that spectacular sunrise. Vaulted, natural wood ceilings make the space feel much bigger than 1340 square feet. $685,000

Over to the east side, we looked at a high-ceilinged Victorian in the Buckman neighborhood. Long prized for value and access to the Buckman Elementary school (an arts & sciences magnet school) this area has a large stock of Victorians by comparison to the rest of the city. $469,500

If you're looked for bang for your buck, this home has to be 'it'. Situated on a lovely quiet street in the overlap between Irvington & Alameda this home is within walking distance of Alameda Elementary. Two bedrooms on the main floor, large master suite upstairs, a finished basement and a great kitchen - you'd never believe it from the street. The current owner is an architect with great taste..... this can't last on the market for long! $499,900

And so this quickly became the tour with master suites upstairs! Situated on NE 25th this English style home has a nice look and feel to it. The materials used in the bathrooms were of quality and looked like they'd stand the test of time. The shower in the master would challenge anyone over 5' 6" however! The 'L' shaped kitchen had also been remodeled and the dining room has french doors out to the back yard. $529,900

On to NE 34th another great English style home - beautifully decorated and maintained! The master suite upstairs is marvelous with a walk-in closet and well thought out bathroom. I'm beginning to sound like a broken record - but these four (including the next home) were all similar terms of layout and I could imagine living in any of them. $635,000

And so to our last 'suite upstairs' home! It had the best master suite of them all - french doors from the bedroom to the bathroom gave it a 'wow' factor missing in the previous homes. The floor plan is open, light and bright and it works well. This home has been added on to in a big way, which is how they've packed so much in. The home is a little further north and close to NE 33rd which is why the price is $598,500.

Situated on the Alameda ridge, and affording views across the city, this home has been extensively remodeled by Hammer & Hand over the past few years. Adding a family room and extending the kitchen in the back of the house has added great space to this house. There is a lovely family room in the basement all wired up to watch movies on the drop down screen. There is also a double garage but it's not accessible from the house as it's on the street below.... great storage for bikes etc! $1,075,000

Talk about a total remodel - this looks like it went back to the basic footprint and started again. If you're after new(er) construction but in an older, established, walking kind of neighborhood then this could be it. The living room and dining room flow together with the kitchen and family room taking the whole of the back of the house. There are nice touches like a 'tic tac toe' game embedded into the kitchen counter along with hand made 'x' and 'o's to play with. There are 3 beds upstairs and another on the main floor - but really it should be a den. The back yard is paved. $949,000

Weaving our way back across Portland we stopped in Laurelhurst on NE Hassalo - it's a bit of a busy street, but the park and Laurelhurst elementary not too far away. It's a 'two up, two down' in English parlance which means two beds up and two on the main and a bathroom on each floor too. $525,000

On to Mt. Tabor and a house billed as an 'Atomic Ranch'.... and Atomic it really is! With red accents in the kitchen to pull you in, a pool and patio spaces all around outside, this is clearly party central. The city views and a large living room to look at it all from, means you might never leave. There's a second kitchen in the daylight basement - so your guests really could hide out for weeks. $1,125,000

Another mid-century ranch on SW Raleighwood Lane. Tucked in at the end of a very quiet cul-de-sac this little gem is another priced to sell. Another kitchen with red accents (is this a trend?) but this time it makes the space seem larger and helps deliniate between kitchen and dining area. Nicely updated, and with lovely sunny yard, this ain't gonna last long either! $479,900

Just finished this week, right at the end of SW 18th this newly constructed 'condo alternative' has some fabulous views out across the Beaverton Valley. The whole house looks out at that view, and it's completely unobstructed. A cooks kitchen with side-by-side, equal sized fridge and freezer and all high end stainless appliances. You could cook for 50 and not be pressed for space. Nice tile touches surrounding the fireplaces. $1,465,000

And then, last but not least back on the eastside, we went to see three newly constructed townhouses on SE Stark. We went into the east-end unit and were impressed by the layout of public spaces, imaginative use of tile in the bathrooms, and loved the 3 bedroom layout upstairs. A nice looking building with that great mix of stucco and horizontal cedar siding. $519,000

And the pick of the week? Well, it's a tough call but I think as this is the week the stock market crashed, congress couldn't make up its mind about the bail out package and the election is only weeks away it's got to be all about value for money. The house on NE 23rd for $499,900 clearly stood out as the winner on that front for me. It's on a street that will always be popular, you can walk down to Whole Foods or Cafe Destino; the park is right there too to chuck a ball for the dog or swing the kids or even play tennis. All the schools are within walking distance and down town a 5 minute drive. I lived up the street when I first moved to Portland and love it still!

On tour today we have eight homes, ranging in price from $575,000 to $995,000, taking us around the city westside to eastside....

2008-09-23T14:25:00.000-07:00

Our first home of the day is up in Portland Heights, on SW Laurel St. On the market for $995,000, if you are looking for a project this is it. Original wood paneling, possibly Hemlock, abounds in most of the rooms. Kitchen and bathrooms will need to be remodeled. The extraordinarily large sitting room is a major attraction. This home has really good bones, coupled with quality original build, and is in a highly desirable neighborhood.

Next stop, up to SW Mitchell Ln. This is a good sized house on a large corner lot. Attractive gardens lead to a well maintained home, priced at $897,000. It is on the south side of the hill in Hessler Heights, and has partial views which could be enhanced with judicial pruning. Some up dating could be done to improve the kitchen and bathrooms, although it is move in ready and very livable.

Our next home is listed as a "West Hills Retreat" and it is. It is tucked away on SW Humphrey Park Rd, nestled into the woods which completely muffles the sound of traffic which can be a problem in this neighbourhood. A master bedroom on the main level and two further guest rooms down make this ideal for one floor living. Beautifully landscaped gardens to the front of the property and luscious trees make it really private. On the market for $775,000.

Heading over to SE Holly St, this is a Ladds Addition Craftsman on a great street, priced at $749,900. Full of character, in need of some up dating - particularly the kitchen, which although charming lacks useful counter space for today's cook. Great possibilities on that score. It is a charming home with period details, original bathrooms are lovely. It also has a split staircase with an antique mirror on the half-landing. The detached garage is reached via an alley that runs behind the homes. An attic playroom completes this family home with space for everyone.

Staying in the SE, we go over to SE 35th Place. Priced to sell at $575,000 this Old PDX has been very well reconfigured to provide a comfortable family home. It is clear that an architect lives here. The owner has managed to up date the home while maintaining it's original charm. The kitchen has been redesigned, it's well thought out and has been opened up, as have all the public rooms, but not to the detriment of the home's original architecture.

Still in the NE on 54th Avenue, this 1928 French Country-inspired Cottage is immaculate both inside and out. It has been tastefully decorated throughout with excellent use of space and color. The Master Bedroom suite has been cleverly built into the eves, a really good use of space. Everything about this home is right, whoever lives here has really thought it through. It is move in ready. The garden rooms to the rear of the property are stunning. Priced at $599,000, I think this will be our "Pick of the Week".

Our next home is on NE Fremont, and is priced at $579,000.
Good off-street parking, this is a typical bungalow. The home is built on a hill and has decks to the rear of the property which over look the gardens below and have city views through the trees. South facing, the home is filled with light, could do with some TLC.

Our last home is on NE Wistaria, not a bad road - close to Sandy, with partial city views. We think this could benefit from the addition of a front porch to add weight and curb appeal. The main floor has been remodeled and opened up to provide a large kitchen/family/dining room. The large deck off the main living area has 70's style built in seating and the view. Definitely in need of TLC, priced at $599,950, it still needs work.

It was an interesting day, with a good variety of homes. Our "Pick of the Week" is most definitely the home on NE 54th Avenue. Great curb appeal, with well thought out use of space both inside and out. It's completely move in ready, and it's not cookie cutter in that there are some great quirky details - red cabinet doors in the kitchen for instance. The master suite upstairs has some imaginative use of space and as long as you're not 6 foot 2 it'll be fine! In the current market for money, there is plenty to be borrowed as long as you have at least a 20% down and good credit. What has gone is the extra line of credit that allowed buyers to keep a chunk of change in reserve for remodeling projects. That in turn means that a turn-key house will sell faster at a better rate of return to the seller than a house in need of updating. This house, and the one on SE 35th both fit that brief admirably..... I think they will be off the market faster than anything else we looked at today.

Starting our day we are off to see two amazing contemporary homes....

2008-09-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

We love Macleay View... it's not actually on the tour, but is such a good comparison to the next home we couldn't resist blogging it for you. This contemporary home on NW Macleay is on the market for $2.4 million. Elegant simplicity, ideal for those who are looking to combine the feel of a city loft with the privacy of a home - this is a sophisticated home with a view. Light and airy, soaring picture windows with views of Mt Helen's. Attention to detail, and good use of quality materials. They've added an elevator for convenience - you can unload your groceries in the garage and take the lift upstairs. UPDATE: 9/27/08 this home has just price reduced to $2,095,000.

The second of our contemporary homes is on SW Buckingham Avenue, and is on the market for $1,998,000. Simply breathtaking - this home has to have the most expansive views in Portland! Beautifully designed, slate counter tops, hard wood floors and attractive stained concrete floors in the lower level make this a really lovely home- ideal for a couple with older children, although the terraced garden could be fenced to accommodate younger children.

At $1,150,000 this is a large family home on SW Hewett Blvd. The master bedroom is huge, and has a sitting room, exercise room, and the largest walk-in closet I have ever seen. Three further bedrooms, and a lower level family room complete the home. The gardens are private with room to add a pool or tennis court perhaps. Parking can be a problem on Hewett - this house has a large driveway, plenty of room for guests to park.

The most expensive home on our tour today is this English Tudor Estate, also on Hewett. Priced at $3.9 million. It is a large rambling home, if you are English you'd love it. It is in need of some up dating, but has some lovely period details. The home has extensive grounds, and is approached by a circular drive with a large mature tree in the center. There is a childrens play house in the trees to the side of the driveway, and a swimming pool in the back garden.

We're up at Council Crest, on SW Beaverton Avenue, looking at a restored mid-century priced at $699,900. An interesting home, there's tons of storage, walk to the view point. A little imagination and some changes on the lower level, this home could be opened up, which would make it feel more spacious. Good value for the area.

Our next home is in Portland Heights, it's a really charming cottage with English gardens, and a great history. Built in 1911, the original owner/builders literally pitched their tent in the garden. They started building their dream home as when they could afford to. It is a real gem, much bigger inside than it looks from the street. It's a charmer ideal for a single person or a couple who wish to down size with character. $695,000

A truly beautiful home, elegantly restored with superior quality finish. It reminds me of a desirable London Mews Cottage. It's compact but it works because it has a self-contained guest house which has a bedroom, sitting room, and it's own kitchen. The main house has a lower level master suite, and a bedroom upstairs. The kitchen is stylish with top of the range Euro style appliances. The two houses are linked by a very attractive courtyard garden with a Lion's Head fountain. At $999,500 it's great value, on SW Hillcrest Drive. UPDATE: This home sold today.

Our next stop was over to the Pearl we had some condos to look at ranging in price from the upper $300,000's to over a million. The first building is called Block 90 in the heart of the Pearl. PICA had a DaDa Dinner here a few years ago when it used to be a print factory. There was a chute that went from the top floor down to street level - we spent all night sending people flying down it! Sadly all of that has gone. Now there are 14 Condos on what used to be the roof. We looked at several units that were available, a couple already have offers pending. If this is what you are looking for there's no doubt it's a good location. Prices range from $379,000 for a one bed/studio to $1,150,000 for a Penthouse corner unit. There are 4 corner units all of slightly different sizes and configurations. Bluehour is just down the block and Whole Foods a little bit further.

The next Condo we looked at was in NW Park district, priced at $938,000 the current owners have replaced the cork floors with cherry flooring, other than that, it is as it was when originally built out. It has an open living kitchen/dining/ living room and a large wrap around deck off the sitting room which overlooks the park. This unit is all on one level with a bedroom at each end of the loft, giving lots of privacy to all inhabitants. I also have a condo listed in this building - compare & contrast - they are both good units!

Lastly we zipped over to the Eastside where we snuck in at the end of the tour - a lovely, restored home on NE Laddington in Laurelhurst. Lots of original details nicely tied in with new kitchen and bathrooms and refinished floors. It's a great neighborhood with the park within walking distance and downtown only 5 minutes away. $899,000 - a good price for a great home.

Our pick of the week was the restoration on Hillcrest Dr - it languished for nearly 18 months last time around - a victim of over pricing and an increasingly sluggish market. It was picked up by a local restorer/builder and brought back to glory, and then some! The guest house is now stylistically on a par with the main house and any guest would have trouble leaving this oasis. This house is a beautiful gem.

This weeks tour had a few houses that sold before they even went on tour - so what started out as a 9 house tour ended up as 7.....

2008-09-09T14:47:00.000-07:00

What a great start to the tour! A John Yeon gem.... tiny gem at that, up in the West Highlands area of SW Portland. 2 beds, 2 baths, a study that was doing double duty as a second living room - all packed into 1363 sq ft. John Yeon was at the forefront of the NorthWest Regional Style and he did it really well. This house is remarkably well priced given the location, however the next caretakers will have their work cut out to update the kitchen and bathrooms sensitively. $529,000

Our next two houses are in Burlingame - also SW Portland, and great contrasts to each other. This home has been mostly updated by the current owners and they've done a nice job. It's a classic Mid-Century daylight ranch with a nice finished lower level that included a beautifully redone bathroom. A vintage wet bar in the family room was a nice touch. $512,000

Right around the corner, another Mid-Century daylight ranch, but this time in original condition. The attention grabber here is the large deck running the length of the house and offering expansive views of mountains in the distance. If you wanted to make your own mark, this is not a bad house at all. $499,000

And now off to SE Portland - between Hawthorne & Division this home has been extensively remodeled. The kitchen has been opened up into what was the back porch making a really nice space thoughtfully done with custom cabinetry. Upstairs there is a large bedroom with new wood floors and a further unfinished space which if someone could figure out the plumbing, could make a great master bathroom. $489,000

In Alameda - on NE Bryce, we came to see a house that people line up to own! Full of original box beam ceilings, built-ins and period lighting, this house also has been sensitively updated. The kitchen has beautiful oak cabinets and a gourmet six burner Viking stove. The back yard is paved and stocked with planters overflowing with geraniums and the like. $1,075,000

Last one in NE - this home was last on the market about 2 1/2 years ago and although beautifully done was difficult to understand.... rooms have been added over the years which added lots of charm but tended to run on from one-another. The current owners completely 'got it' and have created a lovely home with a new kitchen and master bath. $1,049,000

Our last home is on Mt. Tabor in SE Portland. Situated at the top of Scott Drive it has fabulous views across the city. Snapped up before brokers tour by a lover of the Mid-Century modern, this house is only going to get better. It needs a new kitchen and master bath, but the rest is already done - and to an exacting standard. $1,195,000.

The pick of the week went to the house on SE 34th Ave. It was so beautifully done, has a great studio (converted garage) in the back yard and really needs nothing doing to it - except maybe some very imaginative plumbing for that upstairs bathroom! We just found out that it has one offer already and maybe more coming...... It is certainly the case that on the Eastside of Portland, if a house is pretty much turn-key and priced right, then the market pays attention and multiple offers come in.

It was slim pickings this week as it was Labor Day weekend and clearly everyone's still away as the number of houses on tour was dramatically reduced.

2008-09-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

How deceptive - our first home of the tour is in SW Portland, priced at $869,900. From the street this is a cute English Cottage, but it goes on forever - there's room for everyone. With a bathroom on every level, there were two bedrooms up, the master on main and a guest bedroom in the basement. Well maintained and presented throughout - some of the floors are a bit uneven but add to the charm of this cottage. The back patio & gardens back onto Washington Park - this is a rare find in the lower part of SW Fairview.

Over to the eastside & our first home in Irvington is on the market for $649,900 - this is a good sized home in a nice street, walk to shops and restaurants on Fremont. The non-conforming 4th bedroom is in the eves and would be ideal for a baby/toddler bedroom as it's next to the large master suite with attractive bathroom. Original details blend with quality renovations making this totally move-in ready.

Just steps away from newly renamed Beverly Cleary Middle school and NE 33rd - this home is priced at $519,000. Plenty of original features, in need of some TLC - the kitchen needs to be replaced, as does the bathroom which has an original claw foot tub. Easy access to the freeway and downtown, walk to Grant Park.

Our last home in the NE is priced at $700,000 - Attractive gardens with iron work details, window boxes, archway and gates. Although this Alameda home has been updated there is no defined master suite. The kitchen has been very nicely remodeled with subway tile, a farmhouse sink, and top of the line appliances. The basement is accessed via stairs from the kitchen which has a custom built iron balustrade made by a local craftsman, complimenting the home's external iron work.

Over to the SE - our last home is a classic Eastmoreland English Tudor Cottage, priced at $621,500. This home has a very attractive sitting room with high vaulted ceilings, and period wood features. The kitchen is a good size but needs to be remodeled, as does the bathroom. There is a mudroom/sun porch which opens onto the back garden, with an unusual feature - a doggy shower! Great for showering off muddy paws and welly boots.

Our "Pick of the Week" is the home on SW Fairview - priced well, an interesting home, well presented, in a great location. Hands down the best home today. It really was slim pickings this week due to the holiday, and schools returning. Next week we'll be looking at homes on the west side of town.

Today we have eight homes to view. With our clients in mind we are still looking at homes in NE and SE Portland for around $500,000.

2008-08-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

Well, this could win the "Pick of the Week" - excellent.A remodeled ranch home in north side of Beaumont Village, beautifully presented throughout, absolutely immaculate. Interesting use of tile in the bathroom gives the home a contemporary feel. Large private garden to rear of home, well kept lawns in the front of the property. We give this a ten - listed at $489,000, it will not be on the market for long.

Also in the NE, our second home is a Dutch Colonial, listed at $518,000. Situated in a well maintained, tree lined road. Although it has three bedrooms there is no defined master suite, and the rooms are small. There is a good sized garden with a large deck to the rear of the home - all in all we feel this house is over priced for it's condition and would benefit from being freshened up.

Still in the NE - difficult to photograph with all the trees, this home has loads of original wood detail - lovely bay window in the sitting room. The master suite takes up the entire top floor and has it's own balcony/deck which overlooks the backyard, there are no built in closets. We feel it is well priced at $518,000.

The next on our list is priced at $799,900, a very deceptive property. Looks small from the outside but opens up immediately on entry - this is a surprisingly large home 3,653 sq ft. Untouched, including the wood floors that are in remarkably good condition - one wonders if they have ever seen the light of day. All rooms are well proportioned, some original features. No defined master suite, original bathrooms, the den has a curved wall to add interest.

Our next NE property is on the market at $775,000. A nice mix of old and new - kitchen has been updated with top of the range appliances. The small master bedroom is compensated by the large new en-suite bathroom. The established gardens around this home have been well thought out - there is an attractive patio with a swathe of bamboo running along the fence line. The iron arch/gate in the front garden is a nice twist on a traditional feature -a modern design but still in keeping with the feel of the home.

Over to SE 45th - our next home is priced at $529,000. Looks very good from the street, nice front yard - shame about the back - it's all concrete. Fabulous house for this area - lots of original details, high ceilings. A well remodeled basement adds a family room, two bedrooms and a good sized laundry. My only concern is the steep staircase to the top floor - could be tricky if you are carrying a tea tray.

Our second home in the SE - this home is on the market for $519,000 - sorry about the photo, another tricky home to photograph. By comparison to everything else we have seen today, in our opinion, this seems over priced for the condition and the area. It does have a new kitchen, up dated bathroom, and a media room in the basement. The garden is private and has a good sized deck for entertaining.

Our last home is an unusual property in the SW hills - formerly the Library for the Episcopal Church. Desperate to live in the grid ?This property could be interesting with some imagination but needs to be totally remodeled and up dated - it's priced at $629,900. The sitting room is lovely - high ceilings, built in book cases with steps up to a reading room, the fireplace has a latin inscription carved into the stone mantel, a reminder of the home's origins.

Our tour this week was all about the $550 - $1m range for two clients both wanting to live on the eastside - close in.

2008-08-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

What a good start to our day. The first home on our tour list, priced at $759,000 shows really well -mature trees line the street and draw you inside. It's beautifully maintained and presented throughout, with period features and tasteful color scheme. The character of the house stands out in the kitchen, it has an original period range, storage bins and cabinets, great details. The house has a good feel to it, a comfortable family home with attractive garden and landscaping.

Priced at $795,000 our second home has been totally remodeled. An excellent location close to Madeleine Catholic Elementary - on a corner lot. They've done a really good job on the remodel, neutral colors throughout -well defined master suite with french doors that open onto a Juliet balcony, spacious bathroom. Great kitchen for entertaining. The enclosed rear garden has a large patio built around a mature tree, and a detached garage. Light and bright, this is an elegant family home.

Priced at $829,900 this restored traditional home in Alameda has plenty of original features including wood paneling and pockets doors. A large master suite takes up the entire third floor - an attractive home for those interested in a traditional craftsman.

An interesting house - sold as is, at $599,900.... The current owners have lived here for over 30 years, this old lady is in need of total remodel. A spacious house right next to Grant Park at the end of a dead end street - and within walking distance of all the local schools, an excellent position. For the right buyer this could be an amazing home. Good bone structure but definitely in need of a face lift!

This English Tudor on a corner lot in Dolph Park- is on the market at $1,059,000 - a well maintained classic home. Interesting color scheme - hand painted stencils in the bathroom. The kitchen/ great room has been added to the rear of the property, forming two patio areas either side, accessed by french doors from the great room.

Built by Northwest Classic Custom Homes - a well known local builder, this home is for sale at $1,189,000. It's beautiful, spacious floor plan - designed and built to a high standard, the largest house we saw today - 4,328 sq ft. Smaller homes on street will be prompted to remodel when this property sells.

In the heart of Laurelhurst this home is offered at $699,900. A Colonial Craftsman close to NE 39th, has good sized rooms, period features, and a private garden. The kitchen though rather small could be enlarged by adding on at the back of the house, connecting it to the breakfast room without detracting from the garden.

This was the last house on our tour and a refreshing break from the colonials and bungalows we'd been looking at all morning. All the way over in Sellwood, this marvelous contemporary was listed at $569,000 and clearly both the architecture and the price had hit a nerve. The place was busy with agents and their clients all looking pretty excited. UPDATE: This home had multiple offers and is now pending.