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.

The bikes are awesome!  Electric battery powered models from performance sport styles to jazzy all-about-town, (read practical and possible to pedal anywhere) cruisers.  High style, high quality and enabling of the high life of Portland –  e-urban sustainable and really, practically useful for getting up hills!

What does this have to do with real estate?  Not much.  It was reminiscent of the days we sold Civic lofts from the B-Street Gallery on 13th – and invigorating to be so engaged again in a new concept.  And the fresh activity for the first Thursday of the month speaks positively of the marketplace in general.

The evening and the event are market relevant because people are out again to check out what’s new and be part of product innovation worthy of the Portland culture.  Here’s to Kalkhoffusa.com for bringing their marvelous new bike and commuter technology to Portland . . .  and for bringing back the party to the Pearl!

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!

The crowd is increasing now that the sun has come out!  Hope to see you there sometime!

Becky

Our date began with a quick drink and dinner a The Henry Tavern in the Brewery Blocks. The place was jam-packed and we were lucky to find a table opening up in the bar or we likely would have had a too little time for dinner before the show at 7:30. We observed that the big crowd at Henry’s was a sign of Portland prosperity and the Pearl District’s neighborhood energy! Truth is, any number of places in the Pearl neighborhood near the Gerding Theater that we might have chosen for our dinner would have been busy. The District is always lit up with life and energy and activity. That’s why so many people want to live here.

Off to the theater we went and there we experienced again the intimacy and comfort of the renovated building. Here was a striking example of what we love about Portland. The commitment of Portland people, both businesses and individuals, to do what is right and give back to the community, the culture and the future of our city. Gerding/Edlen Development’s commitment to bringing the old Armory into the modern age while at the same time preserving and protecting it’s historical character is a winning example of that ethic.

Then, there was the show! It was awesome! From the rousing, raucous and racy opening that had us smiling big and feeling the heat – to the tense, tender and unfortunate ending – we were gripped.

Wade McCollum, playing the emcee, is extra-ordinary! He is the part he plays, the stimulating, seductive and provocative “ground” for the audience, and the “tease” for Sally Bowles, who is swept up in the push-pull relationships of living for the moment or living for the future. Ultimately, Sally (played by the larger-than-life Storm Large!) is compelled to live in the now, but her tug within is packed with tense energy and excitement and leveled back to her (and us) with hard, cold reality. The show is dramatic, entertaining and real at the same time.

We were totally engaged and entertained. I recommend it!

Becky