Meriwether 404 – 0836 SW Curry, #404 – MLS#11151634 – $389,900 – SOLD!

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Becky Jackson

Buyer's Agent, Buyer, Seller, Seller's Agent, Escrow

There are some real estate transactions that just come together and move smoothly from start to finish. Such is the case with the recent Jackson Group listing sold at the Meriwether in South Waterfront. Real estate is not easy these days, even when the stars are aligned, and this one was not special in that way. There were challenges. Challenge #1: the sale might have been a “short sale” except for the fact that the seller was willing and able to write a big check to his lender. Challenge #2: negotiations were long and deliberate, back and forth, and though this is normal today, being normal does not mean that the outcome is mutually satisfactory. Challenge #3: every deal these days has its share of complications – the condo certification, the appraisal, the inspection, the HOA issues, the insurance . . . we take all this in stride as Realtors and do what we must, and our clients find it an endless series of “issues” that we help them get through.

The uncommon outcome here is that both the buyer and the seller achieved their goals and were satisfied with the outcome. The seller was “short” though willing to write the check, have the sale and move forward. The buyer was careful and wanted a “deal” and came to a resolution that was energizing. Mutual Acceptance was also mutual satisfaction! The brokers knew each other from a prior transactions and have mutual respect. They worked for consensus. Goals were reached by all.

Achieving everyone’s purpose was not done because a buyer took advantage of a seller. She didn’t. And it was not because the seller made a killing. He didn’t. It is because they each kept their personal “big picture” in mind throughout the process and appreciated the other side along the way. The brokers kept the lines of communication open and moving forward, helping the clients navigate the complicated and emotional process with willing cooperation.

It’s not everyday that we see group hugs at the closing table. The Jackson Group is grateful for the many terrific people we work with everyday, all year, selling homes in Portland. To each one of them we say “Happy Thanksgiving” and Thank you!

Becky, Matt, Sarah and Hillary

Casey Condo – 311 NW 12th, #801 – $1,150,000 – MLS#11605123

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Becky Jackson

Check out our latest condo listing – 311 NW 12th, #801 - the Architect’s choice in the iconic Pearl District building, The Casey. Here’s another “sold in a day” story from The Jackson Group!

Well, it wasn’t exactly sold in a day, except from the buyer’s point of view. I’ve known and represented the architect who designed The Casey, a LEED Platinum certified building, for several years. Over the last year or so I have shown this home and now that my client is retired and traveling more frequently he suddenly got serious about selling. My mission was to sell and close the condo in 3 months as the seller would then be off traveling the world again. Nice! No pressure.

Spin was hired to do professional photography and we prepared to market the 8^th floor, east-facing view condominium beginning with a special broker event. As an active broker in the Portland condominium scene, I knew a few people to call who I thought would be good prospects. So I made those calls and scheduled one showing in advance of the broker’s open. Before the photos were finished an offer was on the table.

This is a home worthy of a quick sale. As I said before, this particular Casey condo was chosen by the architect to be his own home – and he had first choice when the building was new. He loves it still, and wouldn’t leave it for anything, except in retirement he hardly finds himself at home in Portland. It’s time to scale back to something just as lovely but more efficient.

So check out the pictures to see just what a winning condo – a winner in any market – looks like. And, kudos to Chuck from Spin for the awesome photography.

Meriwether – Sold on Day One! 3570 SW River Parkway, #1103 – MLS# 11046257

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Becky Jackson

We love to share stories of our clients’ real estate success! We recently helped two clients, buyer and seller, achieve their goals on the same property.

The property is a Jackson Group listing at The Meriwether, Unit 1103 – MLS#11046257, listed by Matt Lesher. With Matt’s good coaching the sellers were ready – set to sell with a property that was fully prepped and showed their pride of ownership. They worked with Matt to set the perfect price, and it went on the market “priced right and lookin’ good.”

Matt lives in South Waterfront and has his hands on the pulse there, so he also knew the perfect buyer for this home. One showing and the match was made. Matt connected the buyer with Sarah Norton, our Buyer Specialist, who presented their offer and navigated the logistics of the transaction. Sarah’s relationship with a solid condo lender and Matt’s intimate knowledge of the South Waterfront market made it possible for them to secure an exception from the lender for additional flood insurance. Matt and Sarah worked together through the appraisal process sharing their knowledge of the market for all the buildings of South Waterfront

Mostly these days we all hear horror stories of how inspections, appraisals and underwriting standards wreak havoc on our transactions. Those stories are true. And that’s what makes this story all the more noteworthy. With strong neighborhood connections, sincere personal relationships and strong professional knowledge we brought buyer and seller together with confidence and produced mutual satisfaction. We avoided the skepticism and doubt that characterizes so many real estate sales these days. And we did this holding the role of care and concern for making the clients’ needs the priority.

3570 SW River Parkway, #1103 was presented and accepted on the same day in August and closed September 23, 2011 at the asking price, $399,900 – a rare happening in Portland real estate these days. Two happy clients are moved today and on to their new situations in life.

Greentree Circle – in Lake Oswego’s Palisades Neighborhood

Posted on June 1, 2010 by Becky Jackson

1462 Greentree Circle, Lake Oswego $435,000

A super traditional family home in a most ideal of family neighborhoods, this new listing at 1462 Greentree Circle is a perfect place to settle. An open floor plan with warm hardwood floors, fresh updates and a bonus room over the garage. The home has four bedroom home including a sexy master suite that has hardwood floors and a cozy fireplace.

The neighborhood is quiet and low on traffic and has the nearby Greentree Park with swing-sets and half-court basketball courts. another great convenience of the area is that from this home it is easy to walk to either the Palisades Elementary School and Lakeview High School. So for the just the two years of Waluga Middle School will parents find themselves juggling rides to school!

An attractive home for $435,000.

Pennoyer Street Townhomes at South Waterfront

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Becky Jackson

Our property focus this month is Pennoyer Street Townhomes. these homes are a special offering the marketplace for several reasons. Legally, they are like all the homes in The Meriwether, but they are different in the lifestyle they offer and the type of homeowner they attract. Townhome people prefer the convenience, community and location of an urban area, but they also seek the independence of their own front door and garage. For some, it is a case of walking right out the door and being outside in the neighborhood, while for others it is the handy, private and full size garage which doubles as secure parking and personal storage. Ultimately, these differences produce a feeling more akin to a single family home than a condo.

On Pennoyer Street there are distinguishing features specific to Pennoyer townhomes.

Jackson Group listing at 835 SW Pennoyer #1006120

First, Pennoyer itself has the special characteristic of being a limited access street, which is to sale that is is really a pedestrian plaza. Further, this plaza adjoins the courtyard of Atwater Place and connects residents of all buildings in the district to both the waterfront greenway and the District’s Central Park. Urban master planning of this kind, creating open space and pedestrian connectivity, is hard to find for townhouse infill projects around the city, so the Pennoyer Street Townhomes have a special quality that is related to their location in the heart of South Waterfront, steps from the river and parks that distinguish the area.

A recent story in The Oregonian quoted claims from an economist that “tree-lined” streets add $7000-$13,000 in value to homes nearby. Pennoyer Street Townhomes have the potential of becoming a one-of-a-kind opportunity in Portland with the pedestrian plaza, Willamette Riverfront, public parks, etc.,adding value to the neighborhood and the homes themselves.

Arbor Creates a New Generation of Solidly Built Custom Homes

Posted on June 1, 2009 by Becky Jackson

by Sarah Norton

Arbor Custom Homes has invented a new genre of homes for the Portland area. Since 1988, this local developer has distinguished their architecture, their neighborhoods and the quality of their product far above their competition. From Wilsonville to Bethany, offering condominiums to manor homes – every Arbor home is built with a high standard of design and function – utilizing space and location to optimize what buyers really want. Arbor has honed in on what connects with home buyers, even in a difficult market. And they sell homes doing it! So why, you ask – why does an Arbor home sell faster and for more money that other options?

Arbor neighborhoods simply WORK! Each one has a special sense of community and usually has a neighborhood park, pool or play area for residents to gather and have fun. Arbor’s lots are smaller so residents tend to get outside the private space of their home and gather with other families in the neighborhood’s public spaces, sideways, driveways and low-traffic streets. The homes are always well maintained and the front lawns are usually maintained and nicely manicured by the HOA.

Arbor floorplans are very livable. They have a wide variety to choose from- master on the main level, den spaces, loft spaces, formal spaces, extra bonus rooms, storage- big and small. The room spaces are always substantial and flow nicely. Most of their floorplans come in three “elevations” or exterior styles- French, English and American. Each elevation looks different from the street which gives the neighborhood good dimensions even if the homes are the same floorplan. Arbor generally builds 2 level homes with a great room on the main level and most of the bedrooms on the upper level- standard but again- very livable. Arbor also has a campaign for GREEN building- check out this link for more information on this effort. Arbor Builds GREEN

Arbor finishes are high quality with a very pleasing aesthetic. You’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven when you visit their design center in Beaverton to custom select the finishes for your home. The design center consultants have a keen eye for design and can help you choose your finishes. The offer a wide variety of built-in components, granite and paint selections, cabinetry, outdoor kitchens, travertine tile, light fixtures, high energy efficient systems, appliances – the sky is the limit. All these upgrades come with a price which adds on to your “sticker price” prior to the closing date/completion of your home.

Most importantly, Arbor builds solid homes. Their structural warranty is solid but you probably won’t need it because Arbor has perfected their structural building practices. They know what works for homes in the Northwest and how to best keep the structure dry and rot free – which is a major concern in our neck of the woods. Arbor also educates residents on proper maintenance and has great customer service and emergency maintenance on call for any problems you might experience.

Some home buyers think of Arbor as a developer who just builds homes on “postage stamp” lots with a common aesthetic, one right after the next. This is partly true – if you want ½ acre with a private backyard then Arbor might not be for you. But if you are looking for a solid home, great finishes in a wonderful neighborhood – you should consider an Arbor neighborhood. And even Arbor is making deals in this market so give one of us a call and we can help you choose a neighborhood that best suites you and your family.

The Jackson Group recently helped some clients purchase a home in the Arbor Oaks neighborhood off Springville Road, near Rock Creek Community College. These clients had been looking at homes in the Bethany area with a good “walkability” factor- near walking trails and shopping areas. The Arbor Oaks neighborhood was at the top of their list from the beginning. They just sold their home and needed to move within 45 days so building a home was not a possibility. The sales office at Arbor Oaks has been busy making deals on custom homes and move in ready homes. Their inventory of move in ready homes was minimal but they still had a variety of homes and floorplans available in a range of prices. Our clients had one home in particular in mind but they had to act quickly to secure the home because there had been a lot of interest. This home was ideal for them- lovely finishes, about 2900sqft with a bonus room and 4 bedrooms. Their offer was accepted and now they will move into the home and neighborhood of their dreams. We wish them well!

SOLD! In Five Days!

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Becky Jackson

Yes! it can still be done. Last Tuesday The Jackson Group put a new listing on the market in Bridlemile at 4907 SW 39th, which, by Saturday, received 5 offers and sold for over asking price!

SOLD!

There are several bits of good news in this.

The new buyers are thrilled with their purchase – they have been waiting and watching for the right home to be for sale and now they can move out of an apartment (they already sold their prior home) and into the home that is the right fit for their family now.
The sellers are thrilled to have the deal done so that they can move on with their relocation out-of-state without delay or separation of the family waiting for a house to sell.
And, for those of us watching the market or selling a home, it is encouraging that there are still 4 buyers out there who are ready, willing and able to purchase a home provided the right package of features, location, condition and price are in place.

The lesson here for home sellers and brokers is that a good property, priced right and looking good, will sell in any market. That says something about the 11,000 listings in the Portland metro area that are not sold! Sure, sometimes there are issues about a property that make it more challenging to sell, but there is a point here that if presented well – starkling clean and professionally staged – and priced for the market - properties will sell.

Backyard- one of the highlights of the home

Council Crest Open House Tour This Sunday 5/17

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Becky Jackson

Clear skies will highlight the stunning city views that will be on display from some of the homes on Council Crest’s Collaborative Open House Tour this Sunday, 5/17, from 1-4pm. Join us and take advantage of the opportunity to view a group of homes in an iconic Portland neighborhood.

The Jackson Group has organized a group of Realtors with listings in the Council Crest area to open their “for Sale” properties as a group to make the tour more efficient for buyers and more effective for brokers and sellers. Council Crest has a distinctive nature as a neighborhood with its high altitude, numerous parks, diverse architecture and convenient location to downtown, Northwest Portland or Hillsdale. The schools are among the best in the city and if you in a view location it is also the best the city has to offer.

4405 SW Council Crest Offered at $1,395,000

The Jackson Group listing being featured is 4405 SW Council Crest Drive located at the far east end of the neighborhood and offering a panoramic view of the city and mountains to the east. Join me there on Sunday to see a traditional mid-century 4 bedroom home in the French Colonial style.

See you then,

Becky Jackson

For a map of the tour click here and download the PDF: council-crest-open

Portland’s Mounted Patrol Force

Posted on May 2, 2009 by Becky Jackson

by Sarah Norton

Last week, I was walking in the Pearl District from the Henry back to the office and stumbled upon this scene at the intersection of Couch and 11th. It was one of those moments that made me distinctly appreciate our Portland community. A community that has both the old and the new intertwined even in the middle of one of the busiest intersections of the downtown area.

Portland Mounted Patrol

I have run by the stables for the mounted patrol horses- it is located on the waterfront next to the new Waterfront Pearl condominiums – and I’m always curious what types of problems these equestrian agents of the Portland Police force have to deal with. I found out that the mounted patrol is very effective in the downtown corridor at controlling crowds and small crimes. The police officers are able to see and hear more because of their higher position on top of the horse.

I love that not only do these horses help the police fight crime- they also take me back to another era. Portland still has many throw backs to our “wild west” days- the underground smuggling network of tunnels, the horse tie up rings that are now blocked with car parking stalls, the smoke stack in the Brewery Blocks, even the streetcar has a certain element of nostalgia. The charm of Portland’s blend of the old and new struck me especially on this particular day even though we get to experience it often in the Pearl.

The Jackson Files

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Category Archives: Neighborhoods