Category Archives: Real Estate

Best of Tour 2.10.2009

Posted on by
Reply

Today’s selection for “Best of Tour” is a project in Portland’s Pearl District.  There’s no seduction in the name – Block 90 – so fortunately the condos on the top floor of the four story renovation of the Pearl District’s block 90 (Flanders to Glisan between 13th and 14th) has way more panache than the name suggests.  You may remember this building as the Reed Harris office and distribution center, but no more.  True to the high style of conversions for old buildings in The Pearl, this block is now ‘made over’ as commercial and residential lofts.  It now home to the new Aveda Institute Portland, the essence of cool in salon schools, and 50 Plates, a restaurant with, well, 50 plates of delicious American food.  This is all good!

We’ve determined now that the neighborhood and neighbors are first rate, so how about the condos?

Block 90 residential lofts are very modern with clerestory windows opening to large terraces and city views.  The finishes are high-tech and high-style and the floor plans are mostly open and airy, taking advantage of the sleek design and the wide open views.  Lofts range in size from approximately 800SF one-bedroom homes to almost 1800SF corner units and prices range from $379,634 for a studio to $999,768 for the southeast corner wth wrap around terrace.

Best of Tour 2.3.2009

Posted on by
Reply

Today we begin again the “Best of Tour” series our old blog site featured last year.  We’ve included a couple of the old posts to continue the  ’conversation’ about what makes a good listing on tour.  This column is all about the notion of what makes a good house . . . . Period!

In these posts we’ll show you the best homes we see on our Tuesday tours – (that’s Portland’s day for brokers to visit and view new listings to be informed and knowledgeable about the current homes for sale).  We may pass from time to time, if nothing is worthy of compliments, and some weeks you may see multiple selections we find compelling.  Our intent is to share a broker’s view of what make a good home:  a well prepared listing, a price based on market realities and a professional presentation of all the best aspects of the property.  In short, a solid home, priced right and ready to sell.

Brokers must see – in person – homes for sale to know what is available to show and sell, and to know how best to match properties with clients.  The old practice was to “caravan” as a group to numerous listings every week.  This model lost favor with the use of the internet and now, many brokers, just like consumers, tour homes online while sipping tea in their jammies.  But we contend that there is no substitute for a physical visit.

All buyers must eventually step inside a home and walk the neighborhood to really know if it is ‘”the one!”  The Jackson Group continues to tour homes on Tuesday because it is worth the effort to stay informed and in tune to market nuances.  We may miss an occasional tour if our clients’ needs are more immediate than  two hours out-and-about, but our promise is to stay plugged in to what is available, attractive and worthy for our clients.

Today’s report.  It was a long tour and I concentrated on the west side and still couldn’t get to all the properties I had marked as interesting.  A sign of the season as well as the times.

Today’s post is a comparison of two nearby homes in Portland’s Westover Heights area.

The first is a fixer-upper at 2833 NW Cumberland listed by friend and colleague Kathy MacNaughton of Realty Trust Group.  It’s a great old Mediterranean designed by one of Portland architectural fathers, Lawrence Ellis.  This house needs absolutely everything – an easy $2-$5 hundred grand on top of the $869,900 asking price!  Why, you ask, do I recommend it?  Well, it has those elements I love; great neighborhood and location, great architecture, untouched original handcrafted character and it is ready to restore so you can do it right.  Buy it and rebuild it, it will be worth the effort!

If a project is not your style, an alternative just a few blocks away is 828 NW Summit listed by Bradley Young of Winderemere/Baldwin Properties.  This one is also a classic architectural style and it has already been renovated to “the nines” so you won’t have to lift a finger.  The price is $1,250,000, so between the two houses you’d probably spend about the same money.

So, which are you, the “fix-it-up-and-make-it-your-own” type, or the “move-in-now” to a beautiful home where the work has already been done for you?  Two good choices!

Becky

How are you doing in real estate? – Part 2

Posted on by
Reply

Okay, so nothing about this real estate market is easy, yet we are busy, working and handling it! Don’t hesitate to call us for help or send us your friends. We can make things happen.

We recently wrote about “how we are doing in real estate,” the question that we hear often from our friends and clients. And, I can still report that, while we could certainly be busier, we are selling homes, we are adjusting to the new realities and we are counseling our clients daily on how they can prepare and adjust in order to reach their goals for moving.

None of this year has been easy! That came home to us clearly this week while working on wrapping up records for the year and preparing for year-end planning and communications with clients. Sarah was packing up all the year’s transaction files when she made the observation, “You know, Becky, none of these were easy.” Well, that is true, and it also doesn’t matter.

Sarah at work on files at the office

Sarah at work on files at the office

Recognizing that our real estate market is new territory with unexpected challenges is something we can notice and learn from, but from my perspective of 25 years of selling real estate, our challenges today are new to us today, but not original or out of the ordinary in prior markets. So, this tells me that we are managing through this because we know what to do, and when the hiccups of the process cause us problems – we solve them.

Like what, you wonder, is causing us problems? First and predominately, surprises in the lending arena. And that should really be no surprise at all – the lending world has been turned on end this year. In some ways it is settling back into the guidelines and practices of a decade ago, and in some ways it is all new territory. So, when the surprises come, new conditions or new rules, for example, The Jackson Group as a team, together with our transaction partners, goes to work to find the solution and to take care of our clients.

The second main area of challenge is the disconnect between buyers and sellers regarding the market. We handle this one, as best we can, with well documented information to help both sides see “reality” for what it is and in context for what they want it to be. Sometimes this works, and sometimes not, but we do our best to bring people together. It is up to them to transact.

If you need help with a move, a transaction or a decision, give us a call. We’re getting more and more resourceful all the time. Here’s our number:  503-416-4177.

Becky

New Look and Features at Realtor.com!

Posted on by
Reply

The new features of Realtor.com will help home shoppers search through listings and obtain detailed information more quickly and conveniently. The Jackson Group offers enhanced features on this site for all of its listings, meaning prominent placement in searches, more and larger photos, expanded notes and details for buyer information and direct links to our email and contact information for inquiries.

Searches are now more simple and streamlined and searchers can set up an email alert service to notify them of new listings within their search criteria.

Check it out at www.Realtor.com and let me know what you think!

Becky