Petite & sweet with some mojo

Petite Sweet Bungalow
710 SE 61st Ave 2BR/1BA $275,000. A small, very lovely bungalow with a standout eat-in kitchen and wisely-conceived mudroom area adjacent to it leading to a nice (fruit-laced) backyard. The updating and choices in this part of the house really lift the livability of this small house into another category. It’s also one long block to a great coffee shop & restaurant (Cooper’s and Caldera, respectively) as well as Mt. Tabor itself. And did I mention the garage? 480sqft, equipped with 220amp & heat. more info + photos

Bright Belmont Townhouse Condo
712 SE 33rd Ave 2+BR/2.5BA $329,900. Newer 3-level townhouse style condo in the northern reaches of the Sunnyside/Hawthorne neighborhood. Much lighter than expected, given its high-density surrounds, with upscale & eco-modern finishes & fixtures. Deeded parking is essential, and the balcony up & cute little patio in front gives some welcome outdoor space to sip your coffee & chat with neighbors. (But ditch the ratty robe, because you won’t have privacy there.) HOAs $240/mo & do include a fair bit. more info + photos

Brooklyn Gem
4224 SE 12th Ave 3BR/2BA $369,950. This house has two very notable attributes – the location is ideal within this neighborhood, and the master & bath upstairs are really nice. The bath is a new addition show-stopper; just as the owners were celebrating its completion, one of them was notified of a job transfer. The rest of the house is nice and shows well, but is certainly less exceptional. The very pleasant, private backyard does back up to a commercial building back wall, but it is windowless and covered in mature, seasonally-flowering vines. more info + photos

Behemoth Laurelhurst Bungalow
4045 SE Ash St 4BR/2BA $449,900. Cleverly billed as “unspoiled” because its layout, woodwork & built-ins are very intact, the house is nevertheless also jam-packed with insensitive (okay, cringing) remodeling choices perhaps selected from the sets of the Brady Bunch t.v. show. And brother, it’s BIG, too. All I can say is hope for lots of quantity discounts if you want to take on this project. The upside? It’s a mere block from spectacularly beautiful Laurelhurst Park, on a street of stately homes. more info + photos

Spacious Sweat Equity Bungalow
7525 NE Irving St 2+BR/1.5BA $204,900. With one eye on the price, it’s hard to complain about a few cosmetics in this early bungalow that still has good street appeal and some nevertheless solid updates inside. This is no fixer, and it boasts nearly 1350sqft living space above grade, on a quiet block with a small private yard. Located in Montavilla, it’s in the shadow of Mt. Tabor & MAX access; going a mile north or south delivers you to the best east-side amenities. more info + photos

Montavilla Mojo
1236 NE 80th Ave 3BR/2BA $267,000. A rare “great deal” that is also a really nice house. Shows very well, lots of recent upgrades – roof, windows, fixtures, fresh colors w/low-VOC paint and nice refinished hardwood floors. Working fireplace, major appliances included too. Good-sized fenced yard, great finished basement. Also sits on a quiet street, walkable to MAX. more info + photos

Small Concordia Cottage
5712 NE 29th 2BR/1BA $279,900. Of all the <$300K houses seen today, this one offers the least – it feels every bit the 803sqft it has listed. The bath and kitchen were okay, but underwhelming. It does have a stellar location and nice curb appeal going for it, but the basement is accessible from outside only and so feels disconnected from the living space. A small lot, it has a driveway but only a wisp of a yard. more info + photos

Sparkling Concordia Cape
5826 NE 28th Ave 3BR/2BA $389,000. A very lovely example of a great marriage between period beauty and sensitive remodeling, with the bonuses of great location and all major mechanicals newly updated. The only possible bummer is that the 2nd bath is in the basement with the family room (instead of with the master bedroom located on the 2nd floor.) But the living spaces are nicely balanced, the basement is large and dry and very nicely done, and the kitchen is pretty and includes an eating nook. more info + photos

Want more listings like this? ck-homes.com

New in NE this week

Rose City Inner Beauty
1801 NE 65th Ave 3+BR/2BA $389,000. Kind of bland on the outside, but with a surprisingly lovely interior all the way through. Nice street, a quick zip from Hollywood’s hub and walkable to gargantuan Normandale Park, and an impressive distribution of space. Shows very well – no slobs live here – and with a manicured yard that looks to yield lovely roses in Spring. A lot of house for under $400K. more info + photos

Exceptional English
2946 NE 59th Ave $425,000 3BR/2BA. A beautiful example of a tastefully remodeled home of this style, which has been both preserved (e.g. original light fixtures, leaded glass, bathroom vanity) as well as finished (spacious master w/ dreamy walk-in closet up; very nice finished basement & added bath) in the style it was built to showcase. A new custom kitchen with pretty fir cabinetry was also wisely conceived. Yard is stunning, including meticulous landscape gardening. Nice street, walkable to Beaumont shops. Only downer is the lack of bathroom upstairs where the master bedroom is located. more info + photos

Somewhat Less Exceptional English
1724 NE 54th Ave 3BR/1.5BA $439,000. This is a nice house, but the only possible advantages it has over the one discussed above (for $425K ) are a nice half-bath off the master and a closer-in address. Kitchen & main bath remodels are fine, but on the budget side. Can’t imagine anyone looking at both homes and picking this one. A great value at $395K, but I don’t see this one selling for much more than that. more info + photos

Read on for insight into the stimulus tax credit for 1st time buyers...

Stimulus Week Tour

If you are a first time buyer (or haven't owned a home in the last 3 years), the tax man did you a big favor this week. The stimulus package signed by President Obama on Tuesday had some improvements to the first time buyer credit you may have heard about.

For purchases made (closed) before 12/31/09, you can claim a tax CREDIT (not deduction) on your 2009 taxes of 10% of the purchase price of your new home up to $8,000. Part of the improvement is that now the credit does not have to be repaid, unless you sell the home within 3 years of purchase. It has to be a principal residence and the full credit is only available to buyers with adjusted gross income of less than $75k or $150k for a married couple.

I think now I have to say that we aren't CPAs and you should talk to yours...

Here's what we saw in SE this week...NE will follow due to "technical" difficulties.

Petite Retro Ranch
3210 SE 49th Ave 3BR/1BA $269,900. This one-level 50’s house sits on a quiet corner in the southeastern part of the Richmond neighborhood. Small and bland, but helped by some smart freshening up: nice new sinks and Marmoleum/linoleum flooring, clean hardwoods and new paint. New retro/modern kitchen hardware did a lot for the kitchen, too. “Family room” felt more like a large utility area and was the ugliest part – unfortunately, it’s also the largest room in the house. Not a bad deal @$249K. more info + photos

Bonny Lass Bungalow
2336 SE 30th Ave 3BR/1.5BA $339,990. A very nice little house, through and through. Great light, with a very friendly and partly finished basement, & period Jack ‘n Jill bath on main floor. Box beams and large original sideboard still grace the dining room, and a roomy kitchen exits to a small but lovely “entertaining-sized” backyard. A couple blocks from some of the best dining on Division… which is to say, some of the best dining on the east side of the city. This one won’t last, mark my words. more info + photos

Bring Cash Bungalow
3204 SE Grant St 4BR/1.5BA $379,900. A lot of square footage in a great neighborhood… a great family-friendly layout, too. But this home has been fed junk food for quite some time. Can’t imagine why it isn’t listed as a fixer – roof looks very marginal, lots of neglected windows and poor remodeling choices. Lots. A great deal at $325K. more info + photos

Rosy Rose City Bungalow
1323 NE 60th Ave 2BR/1BA $224,900. This sweet little house is a winner, especially at this price point. Yes, you will be very close-in, yes the systems are updated, yes it has charm, and yes, the basement adds some valuable space & more potential. The downsides? There is an eating area but no formal dining room; the street is busier than average but not a major artery; and well, that’s pretty much it. Blink a few times, and I suspect this one will be gone. more info + photos

Welcome to Grandma’s
6403 NE 38th Ave $239,000 2BR/1BA. In a quiet little pocket just north of Fernhill Park lies this lonely little house. Step back in time, although not a time known for its quality finishes and craftsmanship. Sadly, there is much to do here in the way of “sweat equity” for this reason, but most of it is in the cosmetics spectrum. Hardwoods under carpet, some newer mechanicals, etc. but it does pale compared to the “Rosy Rose City” bungalow for $15K less that I saw an hour before. more info + photos

Concordia Clunker
5526 NE 39th Ave 3BR*/1BA $299,000. A clean, freshly-painted small bungalow in the northeasterly corner of the neighborhood; but beyond that, disappointing in its layout…note my asterisk above, because although the house is billed as a 3BR, it is really a 1BR plus two bonus rooms. The street is also “spotty” and close to Killingsworth; a fair deal perhaps at about $250K. more info + photos

Cozy Craftsman Perfection
3225 NE 25th Ave 2BR/2BA $419,000. If you want very much to be in Irvington, can live in a small house but want a sparkler, this is it. Priced nearly $50K below what it sold for just two years ago, and beautifully remodeled or restored in every corner, this 1925 bungalow is in the heart of the ‘hood and tough to criticize. There is a nice family room and pretty bath in the basement, too. more info + photos

Going, going,...
4207 SE Clinton. 2BR/1BA $319,900. This one deserved an advance email as by the time the blog goes up it could be gone. Curb appeal will bring you up the front stairs and roomy formal spaces with AMAZING original built-ins will leave you begging for more. The kitchen is my favorite kind: huge and functional w/room for your own style to emerge. Some new counters, sink, and a range, and it's a sweet place indeed. Two good sized bedrooms, a finish worthy basement, AND a studio out back make this a Clinton delight. Oh, and offers are being presented on Friday... more info + photos

1896 Brooklyn
3726 SE 8th Ave. 2BR/1BA $269,900. After reading my partners reviews, I might head north for a house under $250k instead, but this little turn of the century farmhouse has some charm starting with the front porch, and a pretty vintage fixture in the living room complemented by a stained glass window. The kitchen is "granite" new and there's an old butler's pantry that probably used to be the kitchen. Bedrooms are just ok, it has a main floor laundry, and the basement is probably only good for storage but has a shiny new paint job. more info + photos

Comfy Sellwood Townhouse
1442 SE Umatilla St. 2BR/2.1BA $299,900. Easy living in this 2004 built townhouse right across the street from Sellwood Middle School. These seem well built with nice finishes but not what some would consider top range (read: tile not granite). Nice tile though and this corner unit gets lots of light and feels, well, just comfortable. Would work for roommates too with 2nd bath attached to 2nd bedroom. more info + photos

First Feb Broker Tour Slow

Cute Cape in Richmond
3568 SE Brooklyn St. 3BR/1BA $339,900. This 40’s home is well-kept and sensibly remodeled, with a nice-sized, eat-in kitchen that connects to and overlooks a tidy backyard. The bath was pleasant, and the slightly “atticky” upstairs third bedroom was actually decorated to maximize the cozy feeling, and overall felt just fine. While the living room and main floor bedrooms felt smallish, they were nice spaces and the basement held promise and a little play area. ***Went sale pending the next day!*** more info + photos

FoPo Starter Home
4912 SE 62nd Ave 2+BR/1BA $249,000. Not a bad house for this price range and up-‘n-comin’ area. Clean, thoroughly remodeled with open kitchen and nice tiled bath. Some slanting is noticeable in a couple rooms, but the (laminate) flooring appeared well-laid and minimized the effect. Good curb appeal and convenient main floor laundry. Great fenced yard and decent street, too. more info + photos

Dutch Disappointment
2442 SE Sherman St 3BR/2BA $449,500. Colonial Heights dream location, walk in to a lovely living room leading back to French doors and bonus room overlooking back yard. But it’s downhill from there. The kitchen was alright, a tired but inoffensive remodel and eating area, and then lots of carpeted rooms in dark colors (ugh!), two of which are upstairs and would make shoebox bedrooms; only one bedroom stood out as both spacious and pleasant (i.e. devoid of said carpeting) with its hardwood floors on display. more info + photos

Euclid Heights Value
1422 NE Euclid Ave, 3BR/2BA, $339,000. This bungalow is a good reminder of what you can get these days for under $350k. The neighborhood called Euclid Heights is a small pocket around 49th & Halsey adjacent to Rose City and the Hollywood District. Fantastic southern light brightens the formal rooms and a simple refinishing of cabinets and new floor (Marmoleum maybe) would make the kitchen shine as well. Although the master access is steep (only one glass of wine before heading up to bed honey) the huge detached bonus area and Laurelhurst schools make this one a find. more info + photos

Inviting Roseway English
3934 NE 78th Ave, 3BR/1BA, $279,000. Stepping into this house on a sunny day was delightful. Unfortunately, the rest of the house didn’t live up to the formal room’s glow (thanks to generous windows and the SW exposure). It sits a little close to Sandy and has an apartment complex kitty corner but has tons of curb appeal and although ripe for some updates, it’s got potential including room for a master “sweet”. For perspective, a close by listing of ours went for $305k last winter with one bedroom less and not half the potential. more info + photos

Cute Little Roseway Bungalow
3244 NE 63rd Ave, 2BR/1BA, $299,500. The architectural details over the porch pulled me into this little house and they are pleasantly continued in the arch over the fireplace. After touring the whole house, however, I was looking for a staircase up that would show me some space to justify the $300k price. There isn’t one. This is an estate and could be a really cute abode for a single person or couple that likes to live spare. The 2nd bedroom is small as are the basement and yard. It does sit on a nice quiet street and I imagine at around $269, it might have more appeal. more info + photos

Under the Radar

In conjunction with our weekly review of new listings in the close-in eastside, we have decided to also initiate a blog highlighting any notable homes for sale that are not RMLS-listed. These will be houses one or both of us have seen in person, that we feel are worthy of a look and owned by people willing at least to work with one (such as us!) who represents a potential buyer for their property.
Generally, many Realtors prefer not to work with For Sale By Owner properties (“FSBOs”) because they have a reputation for making difficult sales – such as when the sellers do not understand their disclosure obligations to the buyer, for example – because they aren’t willing (or feel they cannot afford) to pay for their own representation. In our experience however, when the sellers are reasonable, well-informed people who are indeed motivated to sell, the chances are pretty good that our client will end up getting the long end of the stick, so to speak. Consequently, we check many of them.

We will post these out there on this blog with the intent of making at least one post / month, and include pictures when available. (We will not include addresses, as we’ve done some work scouting them out and want the opportunity to represent anyone that becomes interested to see one after reading about it here.)

For the month of January, here are Chylese’s top two finds:

Petite Southeast Chic $215K

• Atomic ranch-influenced, midcentury 2br/1ba, 916sqft total


• Slightly oversized lot; 350sqft detached garage


• Features: original mint-condition 50's kitchen w/nice eating area; new maple floors in living/hall/bed rooms, tube skylight, main level laundry room


• Zen-simple fenced back yard (gravel with potted bamboo) is private


• Where? Walk 12 min. or less to your choice of: a dog park, Mt. Scott Community Center, the Springwater bike trail or Woodstock eats & shops

One-Level Ranch $240K

• Totally remodeled 1100 sqft 3 br/1ba just within the confines of “close-in” southeast


• Large fenced back yard, new deck & handy utility/mud room (between house & garage)


• Newer maple/slab granite kitchen w/tile floor, newer appliances, eating area


• Upgrades include: bath, windows (double-paned vinyl) light fixtures, keyless garage entry & refinished oak hardwoods throughout living areas.
  
  For more photos, email us at info@ck-homes.com.