That Portland Life

Portland Lifestyle and Real Estate

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Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher

Why Use a Realtor

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So now that you are ready to buy a house why on earth should you use a realtor? Well, watch the video below to find out! Or skip ahead and read about it!

I get it, realtors have a bad reputation and tons of people think we are under qualified and over-paid.  So why would you hire one when you can just do it yourself online?  Well, here are our top 5 reasons that you will want to hire us. 

#1 – It’s Free

That’s right, as a buyer, you don’t have to pay me. If you could get 10 years of sales experience for free wouldn’t you want to use it? I only get paid when we successfully find and close on a house and the seller pays that fee so there is literally no cost to you for using me. 

#2 – Home Tours

You need a realtor to get access to most houses.  You can’t just knock on doors and expect to get a  tour, you could try, but people will think you are crazy and that is not what you want when you are trying to convince someone to let you buy their home.  Of course you can go to open houses, but not everyone hosts them, and some houses sell before they have had a chance to be open on the weekend.  Hiring me means we can go see that house anytime that suits your schedule so you can e one of the first people in the door. 

#3- Pocket Listings

Not all houses get listed on the market.  We see houses all the time that are offered as office exclusives that sell before they hit the market.  If I know what you are looking for I am going to be searching within my network to see what they have coming up.  This can give you the upper edge if we are able to get into these homes before the reset of the public sees them. Zillow can’t offer you that. 

#4- Paperwork and Contracts

I can help you understand and write a way stronger contract.  Real Estate contracts are no joke, it’s a 13 page document that outlines all the important timelines, who pays for what, who gets to keep what, and when you get to move into the house.  There are also over 30 addendums that could apply to your transaction.  We know the paperwork and how to write things so you are getting as much as you possibly can, even in a seller’s market.  

#5 – Gifts!

Lastly, you’ll get a cool present. I love giving gifts, so you’ll get something nice when you close on the house, plus a home-anniversary gift, plus a holiday gift or party, plus some random thing  at some point during the year.  We love our clients and believe in taking care of them before, during, and after the transaction.  We won’t pick up a paycheck and then disappear on you, we like you too much! 

Now you might be thinking, this all sounds great, but I don’t want to buy a house right now. Even if you aren’t quite ready, we can start narrowing down neighborhoods and keeping our eyes on good deals for you, you never know when they will come up or when you will be ready to jump in.  The more we know about you, the better we can help you!  If you want to set up a zoom call to just going over basic questions and criteria, we would love to chat, just send a message over! 

I appreciate your time today, be sure to follow us on facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with what we are doing!  You can also search for homes with the button below, or fill out the contact form and we will get in touch with you!

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Oma’s Takeaway

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This week we had the pleasure of trying Oma’s Takeaway! Oma’s started as a pop up when the chef/owner of Gado Gado realized his food wasn’t well situated for the take-out only option of the pandemic. He and his sous chef started putting together a menu based on their childhood memories and grandmother’s cooking. They both called their grandmas Oma, so it was an easy name choice. The two restaurants are now ‘sister’ restaurants with a similar southeast Asian style.

Oma's Takeaway exterior

Oma’s Takeaway now stands where Whiskey Soda Lounge used to be. I was unsure before trying Oma’s if they would be able to fill the shoes of the past owners. I didn’t have a chance to try Oma’s when it was just a pop-up so I had a few doubts. The smell wafting from the restaurant as I approached the door was sweet, spicy, and slightly fishy – all things you want from a southeast Asian restaurant! Oma’s has the options right now of either dining on the patio or taking their food away.

The Food

I really wanted the full experience so I tried almost everything on the menu. The standouts for me were the Cumin Curry-spiced Ribs in Tamarind glaze, the Braised and Fried Chicken, and the Corn Fritters. The corn fritters were fried perfection with a sweet and sticky soy dip. Both the ribs and chicken are part of the Nasi Lemak. Nasi Lemak is the national dish of Malaysia and means rich rice. The rice is served with peanuts, fried anchovies, and house made sambal. For dessert we tried the rice crispy treat. I don’t know about you, but I hadn’t had one in AGES. They add whole marshmallows and fruity pebbles to the recipe to add a bit of flair. It rounded out the meal extremely well and I can’t wait to go back!

Did you have the chance to try the pop-up? Or have you been to the new brick and mortar? Let us know in the comments! If you are looking for something different you can check out the other restaurants we have featured HERE.

Last Minute Gifts

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If you’re anything like me, you waited until the last minute to find the perfect gifts for everyone. Every year I tell myself I will be more prepared and I’ll have my shopping done by the beginning of the month. Every year I prove myself wrong and I’m scrambling to find just the right things! Now more than ever it’s so important to shop small, shop local, and keep our amazing city going. Thankfully, Portland has plenty of local shops and here is a list of some my favorites for last minute shopping.

Orox Leather
Orox Leather - Gifts

Orox leather spans four generations of leather makers with roots beginning in Oaxaca, Mexico. The name Orox represents the merging of their past (Oaxaca) with their present (Oregon). Craft leather making has been a skill that was passed down in this family from generation to generation. From their grandfather making custom leather gloves for his baseball team, to his son moving to Japan to perfect his skills. Now the family has made a home in Portland and they are mixing together contemporary designs with elements of the family heritage. 

Magpie Metals

In this shop you will find beautiful handcrafted jewelry that is made in-house. While you’re here you may also shop for handmade ceramics from local artists, cards, home goods, and decor. They focus on sourcing from local and handmade artists as much as possible.

Rustek
Rustek - Gifts

Rustek is inspired by their love of nature. Their handcrafted wood phone cases and skateboard decks are inspired by the beauty and geometry found in wilderness. Thanks to their mobile workshop, they are able to make their products out in nature! They use a 20’ trailer to do their crafting, and while they say their spirit is to always be on the move, they are currently planted here in Portland. 

Fancy That Candle Bar and Gifts

This shop allows you to create your own personalized gift basket or choose from one of their thoughtfully crafted options. If you’re not looking for an entire basket you also have the option of buying single items. ‘Fancy That’ gifts range from traditional to sassy and are sure to bring a smile to whoever receives them. If you have someone who values experiences they offer private candle workshops to create your own masterpiece.

Blendily

Blendily creates a variety of handmade botanical products for self care from head-to-toe. They use fresh plants and flowers that they grow and gather themselves as often as possible. For rarer ingredients they source directly from farms that honor the land they cultivate. The flowers, herbs, oils, butters, waxes, hydrosols, extracts, and essential oils used in their products are all on display. Each and every product is hand-made in the store.

  • 7 days a week, from 10am to 6pm.

Hopefully this list of shops will help you finalize your shopping for the holidays. We had a ton of fun putting it together and going out to support these local business owners. If we missed your favorite shop, let us know in the comments! If you didn’t find something here that fits the bill, there is a much more extensive list over at http://shopsmallpdx.com

November Market Update

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It’s time for the November market update and 2020 continues to surprise us with the stats. Largely due to the lack of sales we experienced in the early spring, our market is still stronger than ever. In short, homes are selling quickly, inventory is at it’s lowest in history, and prices are rising every month. Here is a snapshot of the numbers from the past month and if you want a more detailed description, read on below!

November Portland Market Update

The most important things to mention is that this month we saw the inventory drop from 1.1 months to 1 month, which is the lowest it has been in the entire history of the RMLS. This is caused by the decrease in new listings from 3,500 in October down to 2,238 in November. Historically less people list their homes with the holidays coming up, but with the number of buyers currently in the market, the lack of listings is really driving demand and with it, increasing prices.

Secondly, the average sales price has risen 12.7% since November of last year. With December being as busy as it has been I’m sure we will see an increase through the end of the year. This is great news if you are a seller. We didn’t expect to continue seeing appreciation with double digits this year, but there it is. Because of the tight inventory, we do expect 2021 to look much the same as this past year. If you aren’t quite ready to sell, you likely have a bit of time to still get in on this hot market.

The most surprising statistic is that the number of days a listing is on the market actually increased this month. Our best guess is that many sellers are seeing what homes are selling for and listing too high. When a home is priced too high, it forces price reductions and longer days on market. But as always, a well-priced home is selling in a matter of days, usually with stiff competition.

If you have questions about how this affects you as a buyer or a seller, please reach out to us! We are happy to make a personalized plan for you. You can also see what your home is worth by clicking HERE

Happy Holidays!

Flower Bomb Floral

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Audrey Hepburn once said, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” This quote seemed very fitting as we near the end of 2020. Audrey Hepburn certainly knew what she was talking about and I love flowers. This week we headed to Flower Bomb Floral!

Flower Bomb

Once we walked into the boutique we were welcomed with a warm hello and immediately offered help creating a bouquet. Solara, the shop’s owner, had fun creating a unique and tropical bouquet for us. She was mindful of our budget and what style we were looking for. With all the rain we were thrilled to have something that reminded us of a beach vacation and warmer weather. The bouquet was unlike anything I’d seen before. Solara is a magician with flowers!

The rest of the shop is filled with house plants, both large and small, pre-arranged potted perfections, cards, chocolates, and some awesome local art. Though the shop is small, it was easy to spend much more time in there than expected. While we were waiting we learned that Flower Bomb was Portland’s first mobile plant and flower boutique. Then in early 2020 she opened her very own brick and mortar shop. If you are looking for something to brighten your day or to brighten your home, be sure to go support this amazing local business!

If you want to check out their website head HERE to see what they have to offer. And if you make it into the shop, be sure to tag us on social media and let us know! Do you have somewhere else we should visit? Let us know in the comments!

No Context

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The holidays are coming up quickly, so rather than feature a Hot Spot this week, we are featuring a Hot Gift Idea of the week! No Context is a fun and family-friendly game made by awesome local Portland game designer Kory McDow. Trust me when I say that someone you know will be delighted to find it under the tree or near the menorah or kinara!

No Context is really easy to play. In the basic game form, teams of two compete to show that they know each other better than their competitors. Drawing cards that present two ‘no context’ choices, both teammates must guess each other’s answers correctly in order to get the point. The lack of context often presents some very surprising results! For example, ‘Gas or Electric’ in a recent game of ours was taken in three completely different ways by different team members. Are we talking about cooking? Types of cars? No Context!

One of my favorite things about the game is that often complete strangers will do better at it than a team who has known each other for years. There are always many shouts of, “You thought I’d say WHAAAATT???” Plus, you get to learn things about your friends or family that you may have never before thought to ask. Does your mom prefer ‘Whales or Dolphins’? Would your friend pick ‘Public or Private’? There are surprises in every game.

No Context is a particularly perfect gift for this holiday season, as it can easily be played while social distancing or even over Zoom, Facetime, or Skype. Check it out here.

What fun games or gifts will you be giving this season? Let us know in the comments!

Christmas Tree Farms

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Ah the holidays, the time of year when we can all eat too much food, drink too many drinks, and decorate our houses with little twinkling lights. Regardless of how you celebrate, one of the high points of the holidays is having the smell of fresh pine take over your home. Luckily, we have tons of great tree farms right here in the Portland Metro area! Here are a list of some of our favorites!

*many farms have changed how they are doing things because of the pandemic so please check their websites for updated information*

Furrow Farms

furrow farms
  • Hours: Monday – Friday 10-5
    • Saturday – Sunday 9-5
  • 25877 NW West Union Rd.
  • Hillsboro, OR. 97124

Thornton’s Treeland

thorntons treeland
  • Hours: Monday – Friday 10-5
    • Saturday – Sunday 9-5
  • 7617 NE 119th St
  • Vancouver, WA 9866

Helvetia Christmas Tree Farm

helvetia tree farm

Christmas Mountain Choose and Cut

christmas mountain choose and cut
  • Hours: Monday – Friday 10-4:30
    • Saturday – Sunday 9-4:30
  • 25470 NW Dixie Mountain Rd.
  • Scappoose, OR 97056

503-621-3169

online: www.christmasmountaintrees.com

Lee Farms

lee farms, tree
  • Hours: Monday – Friday 10-4
    • Saturday – Sunday 9-4
  • 21975 SW 65th Ave 
  • Tualatin  OR 97062

(503) 638-1869

online: www.leefarmsoregon.com/christmas-trees

Sauvie Island Farms

  • Hours: Nov. 27th-28th, Dec. 4th-5th, Dec. 11th-12th
  • 10am-5pm
  • 19818 NW Sauvie Island Rd 
  • Portland, OR 97231

503-621-3988

online: http://www.sauvieislandfarms.com/

Loch Lolly Christmas Forest

  • Hours: Monday – Friday 9-5
    • Saturday – Sunday 9-5
  • 28366 NW Dorland Rd 
  • North Plains, Oregon 97133

503-647-2619

online: http://www.lochlollychristmasforest.com

Washougal River Christmas Trees

christmas tree - washougal river
  • Hours: Monday – Friday 9-5
    • Saturday – Sunday 9-5
  • 39336 NE Washougal River rd
  • Washougal, WA 98671

Enjoy the smell of fresh cut pine in your home this year! We certainly will, and happy holidays to you and your family!

Bar Diane

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Our Hot Spot of the week is wonderful NW wine spot, Bar Diane! We have been wanting to try this place for ages, and are so happy that we were able to before the winter freeze set in.

Tucked sweetly down the alley behind Eb and Bean, Bar Diane has a lot going for it. The design of the space is welcoming and bright, with high ceilings and an abundance of hanging globe lights. The outdoors is outfitted with tall, warming propane heaters in case you are visiting on a drizzly day, as we did. And, of course, the wine selection is enormous!

One of our favorite aspects of Bar Diane on our recent visit was the knowledge base of the staff. Once seated, our server simply asked us what we were in the mood for, rather than directing us to choose from the small menu selection. When we said we wanted bubbles (when do we not?) he asked us a series of questions that led him to picking out a bottle that he thought would be perfect for us. It was delicious! Super bright and dry as a bone, with just a slight touch of the funk that I love in a good champagne.

We also ordered a selection of charcuterie, and they were very accommodating in letting us do a bit of a mix and match, as we wanted to sample a bit of everything. I’m always happy with champagne and charcuterie, but am very much looking forward to sampling some of their larger offerings when we next are able to return. I also cannot wait to try more of their beautifully curated wine selection! Take a peek at what they have here.

Have you checked out Bar Diane yet? What did you love? Let us know in the comments!