Our Weekly Dish...

Pining for Rescue in Roseway
6218 NE Broadway St 3BR/1BA $255,000.It all looked good until I stepped inside. Then I was greeted (assaulted?) by the decidedly unsavory combination of cheap carpeting and residual “eau de smoker” that permeated most of the common areas. There is some original character very worthy of a good scrubbing and refinishing or painting, and the layout & size are fine. The kitchen is a tired, (dated-but-not-in-a-quaint-way) decent-sized space with an eating area, and the bedrooms (2 up, 1 on main) appear to harbor hardwoods beneath the unfortunate choice of carpeting. The location is good, the curb appeal is fine, but bring some vision… and a clothespin if your nose is sensitive. more info + photos

Concordia Crumpet
6022 NE 22nd Ave $305,000 2BR/2BA.This was the tastiest dish on my menu today… a very cute house with a big living room, eat-in kitchen, and two nice baths – one on main, one down off a really great, generously-sized family room. A nice fenced yard & detached garage, too. If one is to nitpick, the kitchen layout is a little funky, including a “detached dishwasher” if you were paying attention. But this ’38 Cape is on a nice street just above the loveliest section of Ainsworth. Watch it go… more info + photos

Delightful Dormered Bungalow
1504 NE 54th Ave 3BR/1.5BA $309,800.This house was a close second; it felt bigger than the 1340sqft listed above grade, and nicer than expected in this price range. Well-kept & furnished, the owners have made the most of it via sensible remodeling that didn’t break the bank… a wise move, as this house does corner busy NE Halsey. That said, it does have a very usable, friendly fenced yard & patio, despite the street noise. The kitchen is quite roomy, and has an unusual vaulted ceiling over the eating area which I never would have expected to like – but did! Also worth noting is how very close to Normandale Park, I-84 & Hollywood this is… and a mere block from a great café. more info + photos

Cosmetically-Challenged Bungalow
2127 NE 56th Ave 3BR/1BA $319,000.This one is not new, but is a re-list with a 15% price drop. In spite of the good location, the nice layout and some desirable architectural details, nearly every room in the house needs an overhaul. Several simply need paint/wallpaper removed or re-done. But the kitchen is an unsightly 70s relic that makes the room feel crammed, and the bath is…. worse. The third listed bedroom is really more accurately described as an office or hobby room. And did I mention the roof? It is a very blue metal, and a very shiny one at that. Too much work for over $300K. more info + photos

Oddball “Cabin” in Laurelhurst
933 NE 44th Ave 4BR/2BA $319,000.Get past the immediate location (adjacent to I-84 frontage road, across from industrial) and get used to walking a flight up to your door, and you will be rewarded. Mind you, it’s funky, it DOES feel like a cabin, and the appraiser thought much more highly of it (came in at $370K a month ago) than the market will. But if you want to be part of a really nice neighborhood (technically speaking) and either want a tenant or space for visiting relatives, this house does have a nicer, mostly-permitted apartment in the basement. And the MAX is “crawl” close. more info + photos

Smells Like a Rose
3045 NE 59th Ave 4BR/2BA $439,000.Totally, tastefully done up & down. One bummer is the lack of a bath up, where an enticing master & walk-in closet otherwise beckons. The other bummer is that it is a tad out there, walkable to Beaumont for the motivated. If schools aren’t really important to you and you are in this price range, do see it. It would be $50K more if it were just a half-mile closer. more info + photos

A Sad Story in Creston
4511 SE Gladstone 4BR/2BA $364,900. The vacant lot next door piqued my curiousity on this foreclosure property. Great location w/views of west hills and good curb appeal. It's been "pergoed" and has a decent kitchen that seems to be trying to look fancier than it is. The upstairs is kid-friendly, read lower ceilings and a tub only bath, and the basement would be good for storage/hobbyists but probably not much more. What's interesting is the history. Someone picked what was once a double lot up for a song in 2003, remodeled, and turned a nice profit in 2005 by selling it to someone who tried to further profit by dividing the lot and selling the house for more. It's been on & off the market since and looks like the bank finally got it back in January. Me thinks they need to come off a bit in price. more info + photos

Woodstock Potential Plus
5335 SE 45th Ave 3BR/1BA $315,000. The mediocre curb appeal belies the coolness of this house. It has fabulous spaces with original moldings, boxbeams, a gorgeous fireplace, and a cavernous basement. It needs some polishing to be sure, and the bedrooms are a little on the not huge side, but wow, what potential, and it sits on one of the prettiest streets in Woodstock imho. more info + photos

Elbow Grease English
2640 SE 52nd Ave 3BR/1.1BA $310,000. This is the kind of house I love to find if it's not on a busy street almost next to Franklin High. In my fantasy, this was an original owner house and may have been 2 years ago when it last turned over. It's a very original 1930s English w/beautiful original mahogany doors and moldings, gorgeous windows (not for the energy efficient minded), and potential for a rockin' master suite upstairs and classic party room (with fireplace) down. Lots of paneling, but it's the good quality old kind, not 70s fiber board. OK, maybe it needs a little more than elbow grease but still has alot of grace too. more info + photos

Odd, but Oh What a View
606 SE 58th Ave 4BR/3BA $439,000. I love Tabor so trucked up there to see this one and was not dissapointed by the view from inside. It's hard to tell what's happened here over the years, some adding on to be sure. Nice kitchen, likely hardwoods under those teal carpets, and even a "mother-in-law" in the basement. It's also a good house for car people with much garage and parking space. The grounds are pretty but it does feel a little exposed with good views going both ways. more info + photos

Dreamy Sunnyside Manse
2943 SE Salmon 4BR/3BA $699,000. Photos don't do this old charmer justice. Open spaces and a flow made for mingling with champagne make this house special. The basement is so grand it hosts a baby grand piano and rumour has it they host jazz jams down there with performers you'd recognize. The 2nd floor is just as gracious with a landing that could hold half the party. It could use some polishing but if it were perfect, I'd expect it to cost alot more. Lucky ones who pick this up. more info + photos