Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher

Hiking Trails

July 22, 2021 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

One of the best things about the Pacific Northwest is its access to nature, particularly in the form of hiking trails! Now that we are in the middle of summer, it is the perfect time to get out and explore some of our favorite spots. Hiking is one of our favorite activities and whether you want some beautiful vistas, waterfalls, or a good workout, we have you covered! In no particular order, here are some of our favorite hiking trails near Portland.

Waterfall Hikes

Silver Falls State Park

Located an hour south of Portland, this state park has something no matter the type of hike you are looking for. With a variety of trails and loops, you can see just one waterfall with a very short walk, 7 waterfalls with the fairly easy 5 mile hike. Or for the full experience you can do the moderate 10 falls trail which is 8 miles.

Columbia Gorge Old Highway

There are so many waterfalls and hikes along the old highway in the Columbia River Gorge. The most famous is Multnomah Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in Oregon. You can do the short paved hike up to the bridge, or the 2.4 mile hike up to the top. There is a ton of elevation gain on this one, so prepare for a workout. There is also a 2.1 Mile hike for Latourell Falls, a .3 mile hike to Bridal Veil Falls, and a quick walk to Starvation creek. Many others are still closed due to the fires in 2017. You can check for updates HERE

View Hikes

Angel’s Rest

Located about 45 minutes from Portland This 4.8 mile roundtrip hike will take you up to top of the hill for some gorgeous views of the gorge. This is a moderately difficult hike due to the elevation gain and switchbacks, but the views are worth it.

Timberline Trail

If you want views of the mountain, you can’t beat being on the mountain. The bonus of this hike is that it starts in a chair lift! From there there are a large variety of hikes with varying difficulty. You can simply do a quick hike around the wildflower fields, or do a 4 day hike around the entire mountain.

In Town Hikes

Tryon Creek State Natural Area

For a beautiful mossy meander that is right in SW Portland, Tryon Creek is hard to beat. There are several different loops throughout the park, meaning that you can really build your own distance and trajectory. There are also many benches dotted about to sit and contemplate the beauty that surrounds you.

Forest Park

Forest Park is a classic for a reason. There are SO MANY different trails and beautiful areas to visit in the park, so whether you are looking for a flat and mellow stroll or a challenging trail run, you will be able to find it here. Just make sure to have a map handy so you don’t get lost in this huge wilderness area!

Washington Workout Hikes

Hamilton Mountain

This hike really has it all: a beautiful waterfall, gorgeous forest scape, and a stunning view of the Gorge from the top. But to do the whole thing you are looking at around 7-8 miles all told, though the elevation gain is a relatively moderate 2,100 ft. Luckily, the trail is mostly shaded on the way up to keep you from sweating it out too badly.

Dog Mountain

Dog Mountain is just as famous for it’s wildflower fields as it is for being a really solid workout option. At 6.5 miles and elevation gain of 2,800 ft, you will be feeling this one the next day. About a 1/2 mile or so in you will be presented with an option, ‘Difficult or More Difficult’. I personally recommend climbing the steeper route and descending on the more gentle grade to get a good loop in.

Do you have some amazing hiking trails that we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments so we can go check them out!

How to Pick your Price

July 21, 2021 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

Whether you are a first-time home buyer, or it’s just been awhile here are some quick tips on how to pick your purchase price! Watch the 2 minute video or just read on below!

1. Get Pre-approved

The first step in your process of choosing your purchase price is to talk to a lender. You will want to get your pre-approval going. Knowing your maximum purchase price, as well as where there may be any wiggle room, will help you determine a range that you will want to be shopping in.

2. Think about what Monthly Payment will be Comfortable

Regardless of what your preapproval amount is, you don’t have to spend the top of your budget! Ask your lender to give you a breakdown of what the monthly payments will look like. It’s best to look at a few different increments within your range. Then decide what feels like a comfortable monthly payment for your mortgage and aim for spending around that amount. Remember that current interest rates are most often going to make a bigger difference in your monthly payment than the purchase price! You could be paying LESS per month for a house that costs MORE if you lock in a good low rate. Be sure to check with your lender and realtor regarding current rates and trends.

3. Factor in Competition

Recently in Portland, we had homes selling for an AVERAGE of 10-12% over list price. While this won’t always be the case, it is important to know what the competition looks like and how much over list you may have to go to win the house of your dreams. For example, if target price you want to spend is $450k but homes are generally selling at 10-12% over, you may want to focus your search between $375-$400k. Again, chat with your realtor to find out what’s happening in your market at the moment and they will help guide you on this.

Hope this helps you to pick your price! If you need any other tips and tricks for buying or selling, feel free to reach out or look Here.

Oma’s Hideaway

July 19, 2021 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

Our Hot Spot this week is incredible Southeast Asian restaurant Oma’s Hideaway! Originally introduced as a take-out concept, this sister restaurant to already much-talked-about Gado Gado puts a fun and playful spin on food inspired by the chef’s grandmother’s cooking. We were so impressed by the attention to detail and creative flavor combinations! I would definitely encourage you to check out this SE Division powerhouse before it’s too tough to get a seat.

We started with some cocktails, one boozy and one zero proof. We are always big fans of restaurants that take their non-alcoholic drinks seriously, rather than just phoning it in. Oma’s has several options of zero proof drinks that have complex and delightful flavor profiles. This time we went with the Inspector Gadget, which felt like summertime in a glass. On the boozy side, we tried out the Any Fool Can Make Something Complicated. It was delicious and bittersweet, and we thoroughly enjoyed it (and the name).

My favorite problem to have when trying out a new restaurant is when EVERY. SINGLE. THING on the menu sounds amazing. It makes me wish that I could be like the cow and have three more stomachs. Luckily, only having one means that I will just have to keep coming back! This time we decided to start with the Corn Fritters, the Roti Canai, and the Duck Salad.

The Corn Fritters were sweet, fluffy, and crunchy, served with a rich, sweet peanut sauce over the top. A very nice starting snack to go along with those first cocktails. The Roti Canai totally blew our minds. I tend to think of roti as a somewhat dense flatbread, primarily to be used as a vessel to get sauce to your mouth. This roti was a whole other ballgame. Stretched and folded over and over, it was almost like a rounded fried croissant, incredibly flaky and melt-in-your-mouth. The curry dipping sauce was wonderful as well, but I feel like I could eat nothing but that roti every damn day and be happy. The duck salad was another game-changer. We both agreed that it might have been the best salad we have ever eaten. It had spice and crunch, sweetness and freshness, and some phenomenally tender duck on top. So much yum!

Next, we tried out the Duck, Foie, and Pork Sausage as well as the Spot Prawns . The sausage was lovely, with braised greens a warm broth, and a rich hoison-aise for dipping. Now, I have to give you a warning about the Spot Prawns. This is NOT a first date food! Your hands will get messy extricating the delectable shrimp morsels from the shells and you will definitely be licking your fingers. The sauce is so outstanding that you might slurp it from the bowl or at least order a whole second roti to slather it on. Either way, your belly will be happily bursting by the end and you will want nothing more than some very stretchy pants and a comfy couch to stretch out on.

Definitely head over to Oma’s Hideaway and try out their incredible food. Then, let us know in the comments what we need to order next time! Check out Oma’s Hideaway current menu Here.

June 2021

July 13, 2021 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

The latest market update is out for June of 2021. Inventory is starting to creep back up and the buying frenzy is starting to calm down. This is really good news for buyers that are still in the market. We are seeing homes get a couple of offers instead of 20 and houses selling for 100K over list price are becoming increasingly rare. If you are a seller, there is still a good market out there and plenty of buyers, it just isn’t the feeding frenzy it was back in March. If you want to get into the details, continue on below!

The first things we notice is the average sales price. We haven’t quite hit 600k as our average to live in Portland proper, but we will by next month. This is over a 20% increase from last year and a 2% increase from just last month. I know we say this a lot, but if you are on the fence about buying, get off of it. Things are going to continue to climb and gain equity, so waiting is only making it harder to buy.

The other big stat that jumps out is the amount that things are selling over the list price. Earlier I mentioned that things were starting to cool off. That is true though this number doesn’t show it. The thing to remember is that 13% average is from homes that went pending in May and closed in June. May was one of our busiest months. Things have settled back down between 8-10% over as of recently.

The other bit of good news for buyers is that listings are finally starting to climb up above the closed sales. Things are still selling quickly, but at least everyone has multiple options when they are deciding what to buy. If you are a seller, make sure you are situating yourself with the right listing agent, the right price, and the right marketing so you can stand out among the crowd.

If you want to chat about specifics whether it is buying or selling, we are happy to do so! Just call or email us and we would love to talk with you about your unique situation! You can also look for homes HERE if you are ready to get started.

Portland’s Best Shaved Ice

July 7, 2021 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

This summer started off with some extreme heat, and now that it’s settled, we are still looking for ways to keep our cool. What’s better than a frosty treat on a hot summer day? Quite simply nothing. This week, we sought out Portland’s Best Shaved Ice! For some of us, shaved ice reminds us of our childhood at the local fair, and for others, it’s a memory of family outings that ended in a sweet treat. However you like your shaved ice, all of these shops will bring you right back to the joy you felt as a kid.

Wailua Shave Ice Portland

1022 W. Burnside St. Unit O
Portland OR. 97209

Open Mon – Tue 12pm- 5pm,
Wed 12pm – 7 pm, Fri – Sun 12 pm – 7 pm
Menu Here

Manoa Shave Ice

333 S State St Suite B, Lake Oswego, OR 97034

Open Tue – Sun 12 pm- 8 pm
Menu Here

Snow Bunny Coffee

1415 NW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97209

Open Mon – Fri 6 am – 6 pm & Sat – Sun 7 am – 5 pm

Ohana Dessert and shave Ice

6320 NE Sandy Blvd Portland, OR 97213
&
10608 SE Main St. Milwaukie, OR 97222
Open 7 days 11 am – 9 pm
Menu Here

Next time you find yourself wandering around town looking for a sweet treat to cool off, check out one of Portland’s Best Shaved Ice shops. If you’re not quite ready to go down memory lane with shaved ice, check out some of our other Portland favorites Here. Let us know if we’ve missed your favorite, and we will check them out too!

Corollary

July 5, 2021 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

Hot spot of the week this week is the maker of our new favorite local sparkling wines – Corollary! If you know us, then you know that we LOVE champagne. We even run a Meetup group based around the stuff. So when we heard that there is a local winery that does all bubbly, we got pretty excited, and had to head to their tasting room to try it all!

First of all, their outdoor tasting room was so cozy. We were there on a bit of a chilly, drizzly Spring day, but the sheepskin seat covers and fluffy throw blankets kept us totally comfortable. There were delicious home-baked crackers by Jeanne’s mom that were the perfect nibble between bubbles. And of course, our gracious hosts who talked us through the processes they use and the farmers they work with.

We got to taste through all of the 5 different sparklings they have currently available. And while they were all quite different from one another, they all had their own wow-factor. I more or less immediately joined the wine club. The combination of the integrity with which Jeanne and Dan approach the wine-making and the total deliciousness of the wines themselves proved an irresistible combination. I cannot wait to return for my next pick-up from them!

If you’re interested in knowing more about Corollary visit them Here.

2021 Summer Tips

June 30, 2021 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

Hey Friends, Today we are going to be talking about summer home maintenance tips for 2021! If you prefer to see the video, you can do that HERE

Today we have 5 tips to help you ensure you extend the life of your home, appliances and make ti though the summer in style!

Tip 1: HVAC

Have your furnace and AC serviced. There is nothing worse than having your AC go out during a heat wave. If you don’t think you need a technician to come out, make sure to replace all your filters so things are running efficiently.

Tip 2: Windows and Doors

Check your window screens and weatherstripping around the house. Even the smallest holes in the screens can allow mosquitos and other pests into your home while you are trying to get a some fresh air. Also check the seals around your windows and doors, if you do have the AC running we want to be sure we aren’t wasting precious cold air by allowing it to escape outside. This will also help your energy bills go down, so its a win-win.

Tip 3: Power Wash

Power wash and reseal your deck or patio. We want to make sure your deck and patio make it through the whole summer. Power washing can remove any pollen, grime, or buildup that may have accumulated during the spring and winter months. If you have a wooden deck resealing it will ensure that you get many more seasons out of your deck and it will look great.

Tip 4: Dishwasher

This is an easy, but often overlooked one. Clean your dishwasher. We don’t think of this often because it cleans our dishes, but it can get food buildup and soap scum which leads to a less than ideal clean. Run the dishwasher on the highest heat setting with a bowl of white vinegar in the top rack. Your dishes will have never sparkled so much.

Tip 5: Gutters

And lastly, clean out your gutters. They likely have some buildup from the spring and winter and need to be cleaned out. This ensure that when those rare heavy summer rains do show up, everything is draining the way it is supposed to.

Hopefully this gives you a couple quick things to do to spruce up your house, if you think we missed any really important tips, let us know in the comments! Otherwise have a great weekend and enjoy your summer of 2021!

Arden

June 28, 2021 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

We had the pleasure of dining at Arden last week, and it was phenomenal. I’m a true portlander when it comes to food. I LOVE farm to table NW Cuisine. After following Arden on instagram and participating in some of the weekly wine talks, I was beyond excited to try this pearl district gem.

They have a great wine list with multiple options in all styles, including sparkling (yay!). A temporary patio if you are not yet comfortable dining indoors, and a waitstaff that is both friendly and helpful when its time to make a decision.

We wanted to try basically everything on the menu, but luckily our waiter helped us narrow things down to items that would pair well with each other and our sparkling wine. We ended up choosing a burrata salad, smoked trout toast, and foie gras to start with.

The vegetables were all fresh, crisp and absolutely shined in these dishes. The trout toast was my favorite of the three. It featured toast with a smoked trout aioli, smoked trout slices, peas, radishes, lemon zest and a bit of dill. I highly recommend you trying this one!

To finish out the meal we shared the goat cheese gnocchi and a side of blistered radishes. The gnocchi was light and fluffy and complimented by a fabulous pea puree, parmesan cheese and prosciutto. The radishes were simple, but delicious! And to finish the meal we just had to try a dessert. They had a basque style cheesecake served with rhubarb that was absolutely divine.

The menu changes frequently and I know I will be back to try some things again soon. If you want to check out the menu before you head in, you can find that here. If you do go check them out, let us know what you think!

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