1. Queer Queen Anne 2036 SE Umatilla St. 3BR/2BA $279,900 - Sweet as sugar from the sidewalk (would there be tea and biscuits served?) and clearly well-maintained. This was the one theme that held true throughout. And, to be fair, for a smaller home it had fairly good spaces, friendly updated kitchen, warm finished basement. But whoever installed the laminate flooring (on both levels) was um, overzealous - it was everywhere - and it was made impossible to ignore because it wasn't floated properly. Either that, or there was Captain Crunch cereal underneath.
2. Craftsman Shell 3605 NE 8th Ave 3BR/1.5BA $320,000 - This one derailed from the soul train. Intact on the outside, once in, I thought I'd walked into a new townhome in Hillsboro. That sensation held solidly through both floors and I found it eerily appropriate that the house also lacked a basement. Otherwise, it had a sensible layout - main floor swing 3rd bedroom & half bath, and two solid bedrooms and bath up. Nice street, good nabe. But wow. Ugh.
3. Westmoreland Winterland 1415 E Yukon St 4BR/2BA $469,000 - Beautifully remodeled and kept, and much larger than it appears from the street. Great spaces, soaring ceilings, a layout that could work with many scenarios, and an enviable stroll from tony shops & eats. But not all Victorian-era homes are created equally. Or heated equally. This one was downright frosty upstairs, lovingly decorated master suite notwithstanding, and those white-washed bare floors weren't exactly minimizing the effect. The very finished, seeemingly-endless basement was also chilly. Bummer. It's a nice home, though only new on the market at this price - they started a year ago nearly $100K higher. A shopworn bargain now, it still needs a bale of insulation and a talented heating contractor.
