We Portlanders woke up to a mini-blast Tuesday morning and broker opens were cancelled all over the city for a dusting that had all but melted by 1:00. We got out and saw some stuff anyway.
Over the Top Midcentury Retreat
13010 NE Rose Pkwy 3BR/3BA $589,000. This is a property for the professional homebody. It would be difficult, if not impossible to overstate the staggering amount of opulently furnished spaces in and around this home. Sadly, they manage to overwhelm the amazing views of St. Helens from all the formal rooms on one side of the house. Case in point? There are TWO chandeliers in the master whose former home was a hotel lobby. Absolutely perfect for black-tie receptions (or $1,000/plate charity fundraisers) with 100 guests. See it to believe it. more info & photos
Alameda Breathless
2028 NE Alameda Dr. 5BR/3.5BA $1,750,000. Spectacular and tasteful renovation from the new foundation up. Fabulous views over the east side and downtown from an ideal ridge perch. Large, grand kitchen with very high-end finishes and appliances. All classy materials with a restrained color palette. A wonderful, generous master suite up. Legal bedrooms & bath down, with play area and a rare usable piece of backyard for the kids, too. Hard to beat in the city, even in this price range. more info & photos
Lovely Kerns Foursquare
1925 NE Couch St. 4BR/1.5BA $580,000. Very skeptical of the price before I got there; this neighborhood is generally in the shadow of Laurelhurst due to its often super-urban density of detached older homes (read: few yards & less privacy) and it didn’t have a second full bath. But I was so very pleasantly surprised! The house was beautifully restored or preserved in every respect, with a great layout, very well-kept (though a distinct eau de chat did greet us) and even has a yard! South-facing porches main & up, too. So little to criticize here – and an unfinished third floor to unfurl more imagination, too. more info & photos
Cute to Boot in Richmond (and under $300!)
4008 SE Kelly, 2BR/1BA, $284,900. A rental now, this one sits up high on a sweet little dead-end just off 39th but far enough. Hardwoods, one good-sized bedroom (a 2nd smaller), and a tuck under garage are the highlights, plus a brick patio out back that I imagined very inviting without the snow. Oh, and my positive comments have nothing to do with the aroma of yummy chocolate chip cookies the broker baked for the open...what we do to sell houses! more info & photos
Hop Home from Hopworks
3505 SE Franklin, 3BR/1BA, $349,500. This is the kind of location that buyers sometimes want to keep driving by but it was well worth a look. At the intersection of Waverleigh Blvd & Franklin, it's not busy but, well, awkward. The inside, however, pleasantly suprised me as 40s Capes often do. A nicely remodeled kitchen, not to period, but pleasant. Unfortunately, the same attention to detail wasn't employed in the bath, but I'm being picky here. Two bedrooms on the main plus a great master "suite" area with room for a future bath. Best features: classic 40s basement with major potential is functional now and a quick stroll can yield a pint of organic bliss (Hopworks). more info & photos
Loved That 70s Show in Reedwood
5023 SE 32nd Ave, 4BR/3BA, $359,900. For someone with a modern sensibility, this house could rock. Nice hardwoods, updated baths, and a floor plan reorg (bedrooms 2-3 are actually combined into one), make this house extremely livable now. The 3rd bedroom plus family plus kitchen down make a great mother-in-law or renter. The Reedwood neighborhood has its own special charm and don't be scared by the apartment complex in back which has lovely grounds and caters to mature renters. more info & photos
Eastmoreland Eye Candy
7528 SE 36th Ave, 2BR/2BA, $379,900. This house is worth seeing just to take in the coved ceiling detail in the formal rooms. Looking out is just as lovely in the neighborhood that newly relocating buyers are most likely to fall in love with. The kitchen is tight but tight in a good way, and the baths are very inviting. The recently finished basement is cozy too but maybe not for the over 6-footers. more info & photos
For more listings like these, sign up for our free listing service at http://www.ck-homes.com./
As always, call us for a private showing.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Inauguration Day! Broker Tour
After watching President Obama get sworn in at Costello's Tuesday morning, we heeded our leader's advice and got down to work and we got excited about condos this week. Call us for more info or a private showing on these or any other properties.
Rough & Tumble
4732 SE Madison. 3BR/1BA. $340,000. This Hawthorne Craftsman has some big bold rooms crying out for a restoration. The floor plan is a little wacky with the upstairs access via the back bedroom and sun porch. It’s also got vinyl siding but newer mechanical updates (furnace & A/C). It has a driveway & carport, however, (precious commodity in Hawthorne) although with A Pizza Scholls just around the corner and New Seasons on the way, who needs a car? more info & photos
Good News/Bad News Cape Cod
4300 NE Prescott. 3BR/1BA. $299,900. Yes, it’s a busy street, near a busy intersection. But its wisely opened-up kitchen and sunny French doors out to a deck and oversized back yard go a long way toward forgetting that. In fact, it even has a very sizable, freshly-tilled organic plot ready for planting. The house nervously balances some intact charm (hardwoods, built-ins) with some budget remodeling choices (kitchen, bath) and tight-feeling spaces, particularly the living and dining rooms and 2 bedrooms. But since it’s priced under $300K and fairly close-in, we can’t squabble too much (more.) more info & photos
New Construction Day in SE: Stop 1
3971 SE Clay. 3BR/3.1BA. $449,900. For those who need more baths than beds, here’s one for the books. This new construction is really attractive from the outside and the little dead-end street is indeed sweet. Finding a master bedroom on the entry floor (across from the garage) seemed odd at first until we discovered 2 MORE master bedrooms upstairs, making this a very ideal roommate set up. The kitchen has nice Jenn-Air appliances that come with. More info & photos
Sweet Spot Vintage Condo
2208 NE Schuyler. 2BR/1BA. $350,000. One of four units in a nicer 1922 building, this ground floor unit has spacious bedrooms and a lovely sunroom, as well as a newly-remodeled bath with an eye to the period. Fireplace, hardwoods, laundry room, small but nice kitchen...tough to be very critical! Also very walkable to the best of Irvington along Broadway. more info & photos
Twilight Zone, yet Pleasantly So
6214 SE Lincoln. 5BR/3.1BA. $449,900. This 1996 built house sits in a row of 90s-built houses looking across a nursery field at a row of 40s-built houses right at the base of Mt. Tabor. This house was built on land formerly owned by the school district and is one of 6 houses built by a Benson High School trade program. The cabinetry in the house is actually made from old Benson Bleachers. The space is quite efficient with formal areas plus a great room & 5 bedrooms on the 2nd floor. The Brady Bunch could live here. more info & photos
Rose City Midcentury
5411 NE Broadway. 3BR/2BA. $369,900. We got very excited when we first walked in to this house. The living room is lovely, sunny, and roomy. Nice dining room and eat-in kitchen, too! Then the 2 main floor bedrooms & bath - lovely! Spacious! But then we went downstairs to see the other touted “full floor of living space.” By comparison, it was pretty disappointing. Marginal bath, no carpeting and minimal warmth. 70’s paneling, too. Ugh. Overall, we’d say $20K less (toward fixing up the lower level.) It’s a nice quiet neighborhood; this one could/should be a good deal for just under $350K. more info & photos
Division/Clinton Cool
2530 SE 26th Ave. $264,900-$479,900. We officially love these. There are 7 modern condos left in the Clinton Condominiums. Think sleek, green, and radiant floor heating. As if being beautiful and high quality aren’t enough, they are right upstairs from little T’s bakery and the yoga of love (http://thebhaktishop.com/). more info & photos
Criminally Violated Victorian
443 NE Tillamook. 4BR/3.5BA $399,999. This WAS a Victorian. Actually, it still is, on the outside. Walk in, however, and one is rather joltingly transported into new construction...(is there ANYTHING left?) The new house is very bland, but public rooms are large and some of the light fixtures are nice. The baths aren’t bad, either, but they aren’t memorable. Shiny black granite counters and the all-too-common stock maple cabinetry, sans hardware. All 3 BRs up are tiny, closets minimal. And did we mention that it’s next to commercial property that fronts MLK? Oh well. It is. more info & photos
Affordable Woodstock
6217 SE 47th Ave. 3BR/2BA. $259,900. We walked away thinking this seemed odd for a 40s house and then realized it was built in 1959. The 2nd bedroom feels like an add on and the 3rd is in the basement; however, this little house does have some good space for the money. Nice hardwoods, quiet street, walk to Woodstock, and the light was good too. more info & photos
Rough & Tumble
4732 SE Madison. 3BR/1BA. $340,000. This Hawthorne Craftsman has some big bold rooms crying out for a restoration. The floor plan is a little wacky with the upstairs access via the back bedroom and sun porch. It’s also got vinyl siding but newer mechanical updates (furnace & A/C). It has a driveway & carport, however, (precious commodity in Hawthorne) although with A Pizza Scholls just around the corner and New Seasons on the way, who needs a car? more info & photos
Good News/Bad News Cape Cod
4300 NE Prescott. 3BR/1BA. $299,900. Yes, it’s a busy street, near a busy intersection. But its wisely opened-up kitchen and sunny French doors out to a deck and oversized back yard go a long way toward forgetting that. In fact, it even has a very sizable, freshly-tilled organic plot ready for planting. The house nervously balances some intact charm (hardwoods, built-ins) with some budget remodeling choices (kitchen, bath) and tight-feeling spaces, particularly the living and dining rooms and 2 bedrooms. But since it’s priced under $300K and fairly close-in, we can’t squabble too much (more.) more info & photos
New Construction Day in SE: Stop 1
3971 SE Clay. 3BR/3.1BA. $449,900. For those who need more baths than beds, here’s one for the books. This new construction is really attractive from the outside and the little dead-end street is indeed sweet. Finding a master bedroom on the entry floor (across from the garage) seemed odd at first until we discovered 2 MORE master bedrooms upstairs, making this a very ideal roommate set up. The kitchen has nice Jenn-Air appliances that come with. More info & photos
Sweet Spot Vintage Condo
2208 NE Schuyler. 2BR/1BA. $350,000. One of four units in a nicer 1922 building, this ground floor unit has spacious bedrooms and a lovely sunroom, as well as a newly-remodeled bath with an eye to the period. Fireplace, hardwoods, laundry room, small but nice kitchen...tough to be very critical! Also very walkable to the best of Irvington along Broadway. more info & photos
Twilight Zone, yet Pleasantly So
6214 SE Lincoln. 5BR/3.1BA. $449,900. This 1996 built house sits in a row of 90s-built houses looking across a nursery field at a row of 40s-built houses right at the base of Mt. Tabor. This house was built on land formerly owned by the school district and is one of 6 houses built by a Benson High School trade program. The cabinetry in the house is actually made from old Benson Bleachers. The space is quite efficient with formal areas plus a great room & 5 bedrooms on the 2nd floor. The Brady Bunch could live here. more info & photos
Rose City Midcentury
5411 NE Broadway. 3BR/2BA. $369,900. We got very excited when we first walked in to this house. The living room is lovely, sunny, and roomy. Nice dining room and eat-in kitchen, too! Then the 2 main floor bedrooms & bath - lovely! Spacious! But then we went downstairs to see the other touted “full floor of living space.” By comparison, it was pretty disappointing. Marginal bath, no carpeting and minimal warmth. 70’s paneling, too. Ugh. Overall, we’d say $20K less (toward fixing up the lower level.) It’s a nice quiet neighborhood; this one could/should be a good deal for just under $350K. more info & photos
Division/Clinton Cool
2530 SE 26th Ave. $264,900-$479,900. We officially love these. There are 7 modern condos left in the Clinton Condominiums. Think sleek, green, and radiant floor heating. As if being beautiful and high quality aren’t enough, they are right upstairs from little T’s bakery and the yoga of love (http://thebhaktishop.com/). more info & photos
Criminally Violated Victorian
443 NE Tillamook. 4BR/3.5BA $399,999. This WAS a Victorian. Actually, it still is, on the outside. Walk in, however, and one is rather joltingly transported into new construction...(is there ANYTHING left?) The new house is very bland, but public rooms are large and some of the light fixtures are nice. The baths aren’t bad, either, but they aren’t memorable. Shiny black granite counters and the all-too-common stock maple cabinetry, sans hardware. All 3 BRs up are tiny, closets minimal. And did we mention that it’s next to commercial property that fronts MLK? Oh well. It is. more info & photos
Affordable Woodstock
6217 SE 47th Ave. 3BR/2BA. $259,900. We walked away thinking this seemed odd for a 40s house and then realized it was built in 1959. The 2nd bedroom feels like an add on and the 3rd is in the basement; however, this little house does have some good space for the money. Nice hardwoods, quiet street, walk to Woodstock, and the light was good too. more info & photos
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Eastside Broker Tour: Straight Up
Each Tuesday (Broker Tour Day) we have the opportunity to tour the new real estate listings before they are open to the general public. This keeps us fresh on market conditions, helps us price properties appropriately for sellers, and identify properties and negotiate powerfully for our buyers. Here's what we saw this week. The views set forth in this email aren't necessarily the opinions of CK homes...wait, these are our opinions and opinionated we are.
SE Urban Cool
23 SE 30th Ave. 3BR/2.1BA. $469,900. Must like to be in the mix to live here as this house is just off 28th & Burnside's formidable "restaurant row" (Ken's, Navarre, Crema, and oh so much more...). It's got some beautiful updates including a guest/family room down and a great unfinished hobby space complete with retro pink formica counters. Yard and double garage too. more info & photos
Helluva Deal
3718 NE 42nd Ave. 4BR/1BA. $279,900. If you believe the trade-off for being on a busy street is worth it for being mere steps away from the best of Beaumont shops & eats, then this house is not to be overlooked. Roomy, mechanicals up to snuff, with a good layout, nice-sized yard and an excellent prospect for converting an upstairs bedroom into the second bath for a spacious master suite. Some nice original details are there to work with, too. more info & photos
Stretch out in South Tabor Village
2224 SE 52nd Ave. 4BR/3BA. $435,000. Once you get past the metal siding and need for a new paint job, this house offers alot of space for the money. The kitchen is glossy granite & maple cabinet new and the baths have nice updates too. Best features: double walk-in closets in the master, and of course the beautiful dry sauna in the finished basement. Bonus feature: the somewhat rustic basement bath is lined with the same cedar used in the sauna - nice touch! Super bonus feature: walk to Petite Provence for best croissants in town. More info & photos
Sweet but Small Bungalow
2726 NE 66th Ave. 2BR/1BA. $303,000. This cute little bungalow is actually not a new listing, but one with a price reduction we hadn't seen before. Well, although it is quite nice, with modern-accented updates in the kitchen and bath (though the bath really needs a pedestal sink to feel friendly) it's also VERY small, so I think it may need another price reduction before anyone will get too excited. The advertised 2nd bedroom is really more of an office, with divided light French doors off the living room. However, the basement has real potential for finishing and the street is well-kept... and there's a new, fun-looking Hawaiian café nearby - Ohana Hawaiian Cafe on Sandy. more info & photos
Little Cutie with Big Potential
1820 SE 44th Ave. 2BR/1BA. $255,000. Sweat equity is right. This little house is a couple of blocks off Hawthorne and you'd never know it. The mature trees that line the street provide some peace and quiet. Although cosmetically a little challenged, it has huge small house potential plus a new roof & furnace. The old-fashioned cellar (accessed from the side yard) wasn't even very scary and my, what a rental! more info & photos
Location, ugh, Location
3133 NE Multnomah St. 4BR/2BA. $319,900. Yep, it's close to everything, including (and especially) Fantasy Video. Get past that and you have a wonderful opportunity in your hands, provided you bring a paintbrush and lots of primer. And although there are 4 bonified bedrooms, several of them would make challenging layouts due to dormers. Strangely solo second bath in basement is actually quite decent and cries out for the adjacent area to be finished out into a family room...or something. more info & photos
Hawthorne Cozy Cape
1801 SE 43rd Ave. 2BR/1BA. $289,950. This almost classic 40s Cape Cod is also a skip from Hawthorne. Cozy it is, with updated electrical and new paint in & out. We are not sure what size bed would actually fit in that 2nd bedroom but thanks to the 40s friendly basement (think high ceilings) and some existing walls, it would be a snap to add another. Oh, and the back yard is cute and accessible through the 2nd "bed"room. more info & photos
Funky in a Fabu Spot
3334 NE 54th Ave 3+BR/1BA $349,950. Great Beaumont location, very nice living and dining rooms greet you (classic bungalow layout) but it's downhill from there. If there was a second bath, then I'd be more excited about the price. But there isn't. The bathroom is nice, the overall condition seems good, but the first floor has a challenging flow and floor plan. Upstairs bedrooms would be great for kids, but there's no room for another bath there - you'd have to put it in the basement. Worth a hard look for the creatively minded or just the right fit. (Not sure what that is, but sure it's out there.) more info & photos
Let us not forget to mention that yesterday one of our very own listings was featured in a New York Times article! Boy did the web traffic spike. Email from one Manhattan-based friend "wow, $269K buys a lot of home outside the NY area!". Yes, it does.
SE Urban Cool
23 SE 30th Ave. 3BR/2.1BA. $469,900. Must like to be in the mix to live here as this house is just off 28th & Burnside's formidable "restaurant row" (Ken's, Navarre, Crema, and oh so much more...). It's got some beautiful updates including a guest/family room down and a great unfinished hobby space complete with retro pink formica counters. Yard and double garage too. more info & photos
Helluva Deal
3718 NE 42nd Ave. 4BR/1BA. $279,900. If you believe the trade-off for being on a busy street is worth it for being mere steps away from the best of Beaumont shops & eats, then this house is not to be overlooked. Roomy, mechanicals up to snuff, with a good layout, nice-sized yard and an excellent prospect for converting an upstairs bedroom into the second bath for a spacious master suite. Some nice original details are there to work with, too. more info & photos
Stretch out in South Tabor Village
2224 SE 52nd Ave. 4BR/3BA. $435,000. Once you get past the metal siding and need for a new paint job, this house offers alot of space for the money. The kitchen is glossy granite & maple cabinet new and the baths have nice updates too. Best features: double walk-in closets in the master, and of course the beautiful dry sauna in the finished basement. Bonus feature: the somewhat rustic basement bath is lined with the same cedar used in the sauna - nice touch! Super bonus feature: walk to Petite Provence for best croissants in town. More info & photos
Sweet but Small Bungalow
2726 NE 66th Ave. 2BR/1BA. $303,000. This cute little bungalow is actually not a new listing, but one with a price reduction we hadn't seen before. Well, although it is quite nice, with modern-accented updates in the kitchen and bath (though the bath really needs a pedestal sink to feel friendly) it's also VERY small, so I think it may need another price reduction before anyone will get too excited. The advertised 2nd bedroom is really more of an office, with divided light French doors off the living room. However, the basement has real potential for finishing and the street is well-kept... and there's a new, fun-looking Hawaiian café nearby - Ohana Hawaiian Cafe on Sandy. more info & photos
Little Cutie with Big Potential
1820 SE 44th Ave. 2BR/1BA. $255,000. Sweat equity is right. This little house is a couple of blocks off Hawthorne and you'd never know it. The mature trees that line the street provide some peace and quiet. Although cosmetically a little challenged, it has huge small house potential plus a new roof & furnace. The old-fashioned cellar (accessed from the side yard) wasn't even very scary and my, what a rental! more info & photos
Location, ugh, Location
3133 NE Multnomah St. 4BR/2BA. $319,900. Yep, it's close to everything, including (and especially) Fantasy Video. Get past that and you have a wonderful opportunity in your hands, provided you bring a paintbrush and lots of primer. And although there are 4 bonified bedrooms, several of them would make challenging layouts due to dormers. Strangely solo second bath in basement is actually quite decent and cries out for the adjacent area to be finished out into a family room...or something. more info & photos
Hawthorne Cozy Cape
1801 SE 43rd Ave. 2BR/1BA. $289,950. This almost classic 40s Cape Cod is also a skip from Hawthorne. Cozy it is, with updated electrical and new paint in & out. We are not sure what size bed would actually fit in that 2nd bedroom but thanks to the 40s friendly basement (think high ceilings) and some existing walls, it would be a snap to add another. Oh, and the back yard is cute and accessible through the 2nd "bed"room. more info & photos
Funky in a Fabu Spot
3334 NE 54th Ave 3+BR/1BA $349,950. Great Beaumont location, very nice living and dining rooms greet you (classic bungalow layout) but it's downhill from there. If there was a second bath, then I'd be more excited about the price. But there isn't. The bathroom is nice, the overall condition seems good, but the first floor has a challenging flow and floor plan. Upstairs bedrooms would be great for kids, but there's no room for another bath there - you'd have to put it in the basement. Worth a hard look for the creatively minded or just the right fit. (Not sure what that is, but sure it's out there.) more info & photos
Let us not forget to mention that yesterday one of our very own listings was featured in a New York Times article! Boy did the web traffic spike. Email from one Manhattan-based friend "wow, $269K buys a lot of home outside the NY area!". Yes, it does.
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