What's this all about?

This blog is intended as a personal diary of one real estate broker's travels through the latest new residential listings in the city of Portland, OR.

Because the RMLS descriptions are written by the properties' listing agents, they are subjectively written - which is to say as "sunny" as possible - and are meant to showcase the best elements and minimize or even ignore sometimes glaring deficits. In the perpetual quest for the best home for each client, the author personally tours possible matches as they come on the market.

It is true that the best go fastest, so this is an effort to share one objective (and hopefully entertaining!) perspective on some of the latest listings for the benefit of "armchair" potential buyers and sellers in the Portland area.

Enjoy - and please, feel free to comment or even request that a particular listing be toured. If it's located within Portland city limits, I will do my best to see it and post my thoughts. Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Bungalow Bounty

Sweet Pea in Montavilla Pod
41 SE 79th Ave 2BR/1BA $219,000
Very cute smaller house just south of Burnside has a surprisingly large eat-in kitchen, fabulous backyard, pretty fir floors in living & dining rooms. Cork floor in bath seems an odd choice, and there is some general sloping that (I was told by the listing agent) was thoroughly checked out when the seller purchased the house 4-5 years ago. Bedrooms are small, but darn it, the house is a little doll and is perfectly situated to be quiet and yet a moment’s stroll from the heart of Montavilla shops, eats & cool theater.
see photos: http://www.meadowsgroup.com/propertydata.html?mls=RMLS&listingid=9033033

Notably Nice Ranch
4629 SE 47th Ave 3BR/1BA $235,000
This recently re-sided one-level home w/ double attached garage makes up for its “snout house” street appearance and then some… both in and out. The landscaping is almost spectacular and quite enjoyable from either the eating area (no formal dining room) in the small but tidy kitchen or up close sitting at the outdoor patio table. The bath has been very smartly and professionally remodeled with tile and nice fixtures. There are hardwood floors throughout, although they’re carpeted over in 2 of the bedrooms. Walkable to Woodstock, this one shows too well to last long.
see photos: http://www.meadowsgroup.com/propertydata.html?mls=RMLS&listingid=9033417

Funky Hawthorne Bungalow
4650 SE Madison St 2BR/1BA $239,000
Great curb appeal, nicely-refinished hardwoods, fireplace, good-sized bedrooms and backyard. But the buck stops here: the kitchen is a good candidate for the “Tiniest Kitchen Ever Seen” award, and a behemoth new construction of dubious distinction is going up next door. Nevertheless, the location is so desirable, that there is already an offer on the table.
see photos: (sale pending - no longer available)

Roomy Creston Creampuff
3436 SE Gladstone St 2+BR/1BA $269,000
Get past the boring 40’s exterior & colors, and busier street, and you find a lot of house for the money. Situated on a corner lot, where the backyard & driveway/garage are ideally placed off the quiet side street, this house has a very nicely-remodeled kitchen and a very spacious-feeling layout and distribution of space. The basement and oversized garage offer more possibilities, and plenty of storage. The yard (once denuded of some clutter) is ample, fenced, & private.
see photos: http://www.meadowsgroup.com/propertydata.html?mls=RMLS&listingid=9032734

Bigger Bungalow, Busy Street
3803 SE 42nd Ave 4BR/2.5BA $314,900
This Creston-Kenilworth home has been nicely prepped for market, but that won’t help a small kitchen whose cabinets I counted on one hand. The same family has owned it for 50+ years, but it has clearly been cared for. This house does have lots of space for a family who won’t mind bathing in the Brady Bunch era and replacing some doggy-scented carpeting (they swore there was no dog, but my nose told me otherwise when I went upstairs.) Really great yard, one block from park….but there is a house going up behind this one soon, so the park view won’t last.
see photos: http://www.meadowsgroup.com/propertydata.html?mls=RMLS&listingid=9033837

Location-Perfect Bungalow
3749 SE Yamhill St 3BR/1BA $319,000
Great layout includes rare formal entry and all bedrooms up, it feels more like a foursquare inside but with the curb appeal & architecture of a bungalow, porch included. It desperately needs the fir floors refinished everywhere, and the bath/shower needs a cosmetic overhaul, but the kitchen is livable w/a nice inglenook, and the yard & basement are what you’d hope for, but maybe not expect at this price.
see photos: http://www.meadowsgroup.com/propertydata.html?mls=RMLS&listingid=9034801

No comments:

Post a Comment