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Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher

Paint Palette

April 1, 2020 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher 1 Comment

Color is such an important part of personalizing a home. But it’s also key in making your home a space others can see themselves moving into. We know you probably have lots of extra time on your hands, so here are our 4 tips to whip your home into shape!

*Not a fan of videos? Keep scrolling for the written version!*

Today we are going to be talking with you all about the power of paint and how it can make a huge impact in the home selling process for a very small investment.  We are all stuck in our homes for now, so if you have any plans for selling in the future, why not take this extra time to spruce things up?  Or, maybe you are just bored of your house colors in which case, this will provide a nice refresh!

We want our homes to feel like us, so often times we tailor them to suit our own tastes. Things like cozy furniture, bright and textured rugs, wall art and the right light fixtures can really reflect a style and personality. Sometimes we even go a little risky and do accent walls. Things like painting our children’s bedrooms to mimic night sky. or We will add a little DIY wallpaper. While these are all AMAZING ways to customize spaces, when it comes to preparing your home for resale, these colorful wall colors can really start to restrict your buyer pool. If you’ve never tried selling a home with bright orange walls, then you probably don’t even know the power a simple color change can make. We want to do everything we can to sell your home as quickly as possible. 

The good news is that a fresh coat of paint can change everything.  Here are our top 4 tips! 

Tip 1: Your Door

 First things first, let’s consider your front door. It’s a smaller project and might offer you a little more creativity. You have probably seen black, gray and white doors, but this is actually where we want to see a pop of color.  If you have a lighter palette of colors on your home, try a rich navy blue or vibrant red.  If you have a dark color palette, like a grey or navy, try a bright color like sunny yellow or a lively teal.  You want to wow people before they even get inside. 

Tip 2: Keep it Uniform

Secondly, When it comes to interior walls, the trend here is to keep everything flowing with a neutral color. The idea is to create a blank canvas to help people envision themselves living there. You also want to think of it like flooring… We want it to be uniform throughout the home. Choose a neutral that you love.  You don’t have to carry that color through the whole home, just make sure that every room is in the same color family. You can do slightly lighter versions of the color in the bedrooms and hallway, and slightly darker version in your dining room or family room.  Exceptions to this are your smaller, tighter spaces like bathrooms without natural light. Those will benefit from whiter brighter paint that helps bounce light around and make the room appear wider and taller.

Tip 3: Keep it Neutral

Now that we know the look we’re going for, let’s talk color. The biggest trends right now are any and all whites, soft grays, and taupe. These might not seem like exciting choices, but they are all incredible popular. And that’s probably because they are so versatile and suit a variety of house styles from modern to traditional. Here you can see the colors that Sherwin Williams sells the most of, notice a trend?  If you hate the idea of painting everything white and grey, go for a greyed out version of your favorite color. Blue-greys will still look neutral but offer a bit more color and personality. 

Tip 4: Know your finishes

Lastly, another thing about paint is that not all textures are created equal. Usually when you go to Home Depot, Lowes or your favorite local home improvement store, you will be able to select a finish. Keep in mind the location of the room that you’re painting. Since kitchen’s are such a busy part of a home, go with a satin or semi-gloss finish.  Bathrooms should be in a semi-gloss or gloss, and all the other rooms should be in an eggshell finish.  

We have seen it many times, beautiful homes go on the market with crazy colors. Prospective buyers just can’t see past them.  Having a realtor that understands the current trends is more important than ever.  We can’t currently come to you, but, if you need some help picking out colors, we are happy to do a video chat and give you some tips. Just reach out to us!

Books

March 30, 2020 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher 1 Comment

I love books. Whether I am curled up reading before bed, listening to an audiobook while working on a jigsaw puzzle, or reading books aloud with my partner, I adore exploring different perspectives and narratives through the written word. Here are my suggestions for the assorted activities above!

Books to read aloud with your partner

Watership Down

Yes, it’s about rabbits. But it’s also an amazing adventure story that has plenty of allegory and social commentary to sink your teeth into. Plus it’s really fun to come up with voices for all of the different characters and to decide who in your friend/family circles are most like each of the rabbits.

Into the Beautiful North

A young woman goes on a quest to bring the men back to her small town in Mexico after watching The Magnificent Seven. A fun and light feeling read that has some really important perspectives on issues of the US/Mexico border.

The Count of Monte Cristo

An epic tale of love, obsession, murder, and revenge. One that you will not be able to put down and will mourn once you have finished the last page.

Jim the Boy

A sweet and quaint coming-of-age Americana story about a boy growing up in North Carolina during the Great Depression. This and the sequel The Blue Star, somehow find a way to be heartfelt and poignant while avoiding going too far into kitschy, and while delving into issues of race, gender, and class.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

A timeless classic, the Hitchhiker’s Guide will keep you giggling (and stammering your way through pronunciations) together plus give you some quite handy advice. Don’t Panic!!!

Audiobooks

A Tale for the Time Being

A great story that bounces back and forth between a teenage girl in Japan and a novelist in Hawaii who finds the girls diary washed up after a tsunami. Read by the author, it examines the relationship between writer and reader, past and present, fact and fiction, quantum physics, history, and myth.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

A fun murder mystery that replays the death of a woman from the angle of everyone in the house. The premise is delightfully unique and will keep you guessing until the end.

The Cuckoo’s Calling

A totally addicting series of detective fiction by J.K. Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Once I started the series, I couldn’t stop, and found myself looking for any excuse to continue. I can’t wait for the next one to come out!

Exit West

Magical realism about a couple and the journey of their relationship in a country that is devolving into a civil war. Read by the author, it has a feeling of timelessness and authenticity.

The Death of Mrs. Westaway

The first book I listened to of Ruth Ware’s, this one is an enjoyable suspense novel, about a woman who tries to pretend to be someone she’s not in order to collect on an inheritance. The narrator, Imogen Church, does a great job of making you feel the emotions of the protagonist.

Bedtime or Beach Reads

Bone Gap

A mystical mystery, a coming-of-age story, a tale that will transport you to the in-between. It’s fun, quirky, and also introspective. Has the same feeling of simultaneous reality and impossibility as your dreams.

Dark Matter

A fun and engrossing ‘sci-fi lite’ story that you will not be able to put down. The only problem with calling this a bed-time read is that it may keep you up turning those pages late into the night to find out what happens.

The Plotters

A delightful South Korean noir about a hitman who breaks the rules, and starts poking around in the underbelly of the underbelly of South Korea’s string-pullers and plotters.

My Sister, The Serial Killer

The title says it all except how darkly fun this story is. Korede wants to believe her sister when she says that she had to kill her boyfriend in self-defense, until it happens again. And again. And again.

The Serpent King

A sweet and sometimes heart-breaking tale of growing up in the Bible Belt. Three misfit friends quickly approaching graduation in their small Tennessee town try to navigate who they are, who they are becoming, and where they will go from here.

Did I miss any of the best books you have read or listened to lately? Post it in the comments so I can read it next!!

Best Netflix Binge

March 23, 2020 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher 1 Comment

We are going to switch things up for our Hot Spot of the week! Since we are all social-distancing and self-quarantining we are going to be bringing you different things each week to help keep you entertained. This week we are focusing on Netflix shows! A good Binge-a-thon can be a great way to take your mind off of things and help you relax. Here are our favorite shows that you can currently find on Netflix listed alphabetically.

If you are able to buy gift cards or do takeout to support your local businesses, please do, we really want to see them on the other side of this!

Netflix Originals

Altered Carbon

Set in a future where consciousness is digitized and stored, a prisoner returns to life in a new body and must solve a mind-bending murder to win his freedom.

Black Mirror

An anthology series exploring a twisted, high-tech multiverse where humanity’s greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide.

Cheer

Follows the cheerleaders of Navarro College as they prepare for the biggest moment of their lives.

The Crown

Follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and the events that shaped the second half of the twentieth century.

Glow

A look at the personal and professional lives of a group of women who perform for a wrestling organization in Los Angeles during the 1980s.

Love is Blind

Singles who want to be loved for who they are, rather than what they look like, have signed up for a less conventional approach to modern dating.

Ozark

A financial adviser drags his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks, where he must launder money to appease a drug boss.

Russian Doll

A cynical young woman in New York City keeps dying and returning to the party that’s being thrown in her honor on that same evening. She tries to find a way out of this strange time loop.

Stranger Things

When a young boy disappears, his mother, a police chief and his friends must confront terrifying supernatural forces in order to get him back.

Unbelievable

Based on the true story of Marie, a teenager who was charged with lying about having been raped, and the two female detectives who followed the path to the truth.

The Witcher

Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.

You

A dangerously charming, intensely obsessive young man goes to extreme measures to insert himself into the lives of those he is transfixed by.

If you don’t want to stick to Netflix’s original series, here are some really great ones they have included in their library that originated elsewhere, they are all classics, so if you haven’t seen them yet, get started!

Breaking Bad

A high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine in order to secure his family’s future.

The Good Place

Four people and their otherworldly frienemy struggle in the afterlife to define what it means to be good.

Mad Men

New York’s most prestigious ad agencies at the beginning of the 1960s, focusing on one of the firm’s most mysterious but extremely talented ad executives, Donald Draper.

Outlander

An English combat nurse from 1945 is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743.

Peaky Blinders

A gangster family epic set in 1919 Birmingham, England; centered on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss Tommy Shelby.

Schitt$ Creek

When rich video-store magnate Johnny Rose and his family suddenly find themselves broke, they are forced to leave their pampered lives to regroup in Schitt’s Creek.

Head over to NETFLIX to watch all of these shows. Did we leave your absolute favorite off of the list? Let us know in the comments so we can get it added. If there is anything else that we can offer during these difficult times, feel free to reach out!

February 2020 Market Stats

March 17, 2020 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

Real estate by the numbers is out for the past month! The quick and dirty version of the February market is that inventory is still low keeping us in a seller’s market. Homes are appreciating by 5-7% over last year but dropped slightly compared to last month. And we are seeing many new listings as we get ready for the busy spring market. Read on below if you want details about your side of the river and the general market health.

Portland Metro February Market Numbers
Portland Metro

Looking at the numbers now just confirms what we were talking to our clients about last month. We saw more houses coming onto the market as seller’s were trying to get ahead of the spring rush. This push of listings also gave us more pending homes and therefore more sold homes. There are a lot of buyers out in the market and even though the inventory is climbing up, we are still seeing multiple offers on most close-in locations.

Many of us, myself included, expected to see more of a plateau in terms of appreciation, after the huge price jumps in 2017 and 2018. 2019 did see quite a bit of slowing, but so far this year the average sales price is up 5% over last year across the metro area. 4-6% appreciation is considered a steady and healthy market, so we should expect to see these numbers hold for at least a year or 2.

Selling

If you are considering selling your home now is an excellent time to get into the market. May-July are historically our busiest months for new listings, so if you want to take advantage of the huge buyer pool ahead of your competition, April could be the perfect month to list your home. Timing is always a personal choice, but you will likely net more money listing in the spring than early summer. If you want an individual valuation, reach out to us and we can discuss details. You can also get an instant home value by clicking here.

Buying

If you are thinking about buying, these numbers may seem a bit intimidating to you, but know there will be many more homes coming on the market very soon. With interest rates being historically low, even if you do end up competing on a home, chances are you are still getting a great deal. You also never know when the perfect home is going to come on the market, so if you are thinking of looking, it doesn’t hurt to start now to see what is out there. You can search all the homes in the area HERE.

East Portland

Overall the Eastside performed better than rest of the city in February. NE Portland saw the biggest jump in average home price, 2.5% since the beginning of the year, this is primarily due to some luxury listings closing. SE Portland continues to have the most new listings and the most closings because of its sheer size, at 247 closings, it had almost as many as NE and N Portland combined. North Portland is still one of the most affordable places to buy a home, with an average sales price of $407K you can still find cute homes in the 300K range.

East Portland February Market Numbers

West Portland

The Westside did vary a bit compared to the rest of the city, this is the only area that we saw the average days on market go up. The days on market are always quite a bit longer on this side of the river due to the condo sales. The condo market slowed substantially last year and this skews all the other numbers towards the negative. West Portland has a significantly higher average home price which also has a smaller buyer pool and therefore takes longer to sell.

West Portland February Market Numbers

We hope this helps to breakdown the February market in the Portland area. If you have any specific questions about your neighborhood please send us a message! You can fill out the form below or reach out to us on Facebook. We are always happy to discuss how this specifically affects you and your home value.

Pizzeria Otto

March 16, 2020 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

We headed out to try some pizza this past week, and in a city that has SO much pizza, we really dug this place! Located in the hip Foster-Powell area this Neapolitan pizzeria does things a bit differently. The crust is soft and very thin. We typically think of thin crust pizzas as being slightly crisp, or perhaps chewy, but you can hardly even call the dough of this pizza a crust. They flash-cook the pizza in an incredibly hot wood-fired oven. This results in a crisp bubbly ring around the edges and a slightly gooey center.

Pizzeria Otto, neopolitan Pizza

We wanted to see what else they had to offer so we also tried a beet salad and one of their lunch paninos. The beet salad was fresh with a bright citrus dressing and a creamy goat cheese. It was everything that you have learned to love and expect from a good beet salad. The panino was surprisingly more like a pita made of pizza dough, but so delicious! They stuff the bread with salami, Italian dressings, Lil Mama’s peppers and tons of arugula.

The food wasn’t the only thing that we liked about this cool new location. The dining room is spacious, minimalist, and they have huge windows which let in tons of natural light. I could easily spend all day in this restaurant because it has a great vibe.

Pizzeria Otto Dining Room

We enjoyed everything that we tried and definitely plan on going back to check it out again. We went for lunch and learned that they offer happy hour pricing from 11am to 5pm. So go and get a personal pizza and a glass of wine for cheap for your next lunch date!

In light of the Covid-19 outbreak, Pizzeria Otto is offering takeout pizzas and salads, just call ahead, order, and support your local businesses through these hard times!

Website, menu, and order number can be found here.

Prix Fixe Menus

March 11, 2020 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

Portland is a city for foodies. That is certainly no exception when it comes to fine dining. While our fine dining is served up a bit differently than you might find in New York or L.A., the food quality is just as high. In fact, we would argue that because you can show up in jeans and a t-shirt, our fine dining is even better. We have personally tried each of these restaurants, so if your favorite isn’t on the list, let us know in case we haven’t been yet! In no particular order here are our top 5 favorite prix fixe menus in the city!

Castagna

Chef Justin Woodward knows good food. He thoughtfully changes his menu with the seasons to make sure the flavors on your plate arrive at their peak freshness. His plating is also a work of art, with bright colors and thoughtful placements, he truly understands how to make the plate sing. This progressive restaurant is sure to leave you wowed.

  • 1752 SE Hawthorne Blvd
  • Website and Sample Menu
  • $125 per person

Langbaan

Chef Earl Ninsom has created something so unique and loved here in Portland that you absolutely must try it. He turns classic Thai dishes into a stunning fine dining experience. With local and fresh ingredients from the Pacific Northwest mixed with traditional Thai flavors, prepare to be amazed by how he can make these ingredients shine.

  • 6 SE 28th Ave
  • Website and Sample Menu
  • $95 per person

Roe

Chef John Conlin provided us with the best seafood restaurant in Portland. He uses the freshest seafood you can find from all around the world and creates masterpieces using Japanese and French techniques. Tucked upstairs in a quiet mezzanine, this restaurant truly offers an unexpected experience.

  • 515 SW Broadway #100
  • Website and Sample Menu
  • $68 for the tasting menu or $138 for the chef’s menu.

Nodoguru

Chef Ryan Roadhouse brings us his take on the Japanese Omakase. He approaches each menu with creativity and innovation giving each month a different theme. He has an innate ability to make even the simplest of flavors elegantly elevated.

  • 2832 SE Belmont
  • Website and Sample Menu
  • $125 per person

Farm Spirit

Chefs Aaron Adams and Scott Winegard don’t need to rely on animal products to amaze you. Their entirely plant-based menu is sure to wow, from the stunning platings to the variety of flavors and textures they employ. Prepare to have your mind changed about what vegan can be.

  • 1403 SE Belmont
  • Website and Sample Menu
  • $89 per person or $109 for the Chef’s Counter

Did we miss your favorite prix fixe menu in Portland? Let us know in the comments so we can be sure to check it out!

Muse

March 9, 2020 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

As everyone knows, we LOVE bubbly. All things sparkling, from Cava to Champagne, Pet Nat to Prosecco. We even run a monthly Champagne Meet-up group to explore and celebrate bubbles all over the city. This last meet-up we went to Muse Winebar and now it is our Hot Spot of the week!

There were many things to love at this hip new wine bar. The lighting and decor gave the feel of a dimly cozy wine cellar, with Edison bulbs and black and white photos dotting the walls. The size was just right as well, intimate but still large enough to accommodate our group of 13.

Photo credit: https://www.instagram.com/musewinebar/

Another thing we adored about Muse Winebar was the level of service. Kai, one of the owners, was our server for the evening and he was exceptional. He had a high level of knowledge about everything in his collection and was really great about telling us about the different processes and derivations of the sparklings we were tasting. He was very warm and accommodating, and helped everyone to get exactly what they were looking for.

Photo credit: https://www.instagram.com/musewinebar/

In addition, they had no less than 6 sparklings by the glass (be still, my heart!) AND they do wine flights of 3 or 5 half pours of your choice, so many in our group decided to sample almost every bubble on the list. We also tried several of the food accompaniments: a few cheeses, chocolates, and bread, which were all delicious complements to our flights of wine and lively conversations.

Photo credit: https://www.instagram.com/musewinebar/

We are very much looking forward to returning to experience more of the welcoming atmosphere and delicious wine that Muse Winebar has to offer!

Have you tried Muse Winebar yet? What did you love? Let us know in the comments! Plus, check out our previous Hot Spots here!

Voysey

March 2, 2020 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

This week we checked out the elegant speakeasy cocktail bar Voysey! This basement bar can be found by following the red light down the stairway at the back of Loyal Legion. If you don’t have a curious mind, you may not have even known this plush cocktail lounge existed.

Voysey Portland, that portland life

Voysey is run by veteran female bartenders and bar managers serving up their own personal cocktail recipes as well as fun twists on some of the classics. As a result, everything on the menu is very thoughtful. If you are not in the mood for cocktails the menu is simple – 5 beer choices and 5 wine choices with a little something for everyone.

Voysey speakeasy in Portland

There are lots of cozy seating areas and a strong vintage vibe. Pink and red lights add to the ‘old-world’ vibe of the space. The bartender who served us was incredibly friendly, checked in on us just often enough to keep our drinks full, and was super knowledgable about all things cocktail.

We will definitely be going back to check out more of the drinks! If you want to keep current with what they are doing, check them out on Facebook!

Have you been yet? Had you even heard about it? Let us know what you think in the comments!

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