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Portland Lifestyle and Real Estate

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Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher

Market Update May 2019

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May Stats are finally out and we can look back on the past month to reflect on how healthy the Portland market is. The short answer is that we are still in a strong market and homes are still increasing in value! If you want to read about the full breakdown, continue below.

The Portland market continued to pick up through May as we head into Summer time. Historically people believe June is the best month to list their home so we should see even stronger numbers coming out next month, but we had 700 more homes listed in May than we did in April. We also had more homes close and go pending than in April so we are maintaining a healthy balance. Average days on market dropped slightly which is likely due to the home : buyer ratio dropping slightly as well as homes being priced more accurately. We are still seeing homes under the $500,000 range frequently sell in only a few days and often with multiple offers, so be sure to consult your realtor before touring homes or writing an offer.

The average and median sales prices both went up in May, showing a continued appreciation of home values in the area. Many people are reporting that the market is slowing drastically and some people are even calling it a crash. Rest assured that homes that are priced within their market range are selling and still appreciating. We are seeing closer to 5-6% over the year as opposed to the 12-15% we have seen the past couple years. This is good for everyone, we needed the market to slow and stabilize to keep us out of a bubble and that is exactly what is happening.

If you are thinking of selling or buying, don’t hesitate to reach out and we can discuss how these stats will affect our strategies in the current market!

Keys Lounge

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This week for our featured hot spot we went to Keys Lounge in NE Portland. We have been really wanting to try the cocktails here because their Instagram game is on point. I am happy to report that we finally made it and we were not disappointed!

They have some wines, a decent tap list, and a great mix of cocktails. I tried the Bootsy Collins which is vodka, lemon, soda, and a splash of Lillet Rouge. It was perfectly refreshing for a hot summer evening. We didn’t try any of the food but the menu looks to be perfectly Portland. They have all the bar staples like popcorn and fries, and burgers. They also have some fun twists like pork belly bites and vegan “calamari”. Whether you are a meat eater, vegetarian, or a vegan you will find lots of options on this menu.

One of my favorite things about this visit was the numerous places to sit! There is a huge wrap around bar with stools both inside and outside, a cute patio with a decent amount of tables, booths surrounded by old records, and a back lounge where they were showing the game.

The building is a old locksmith building from the 60’s and still features the giant KEYS sign out front. The building had been abandoned and run down for many years. It has now been returned to it’s full potential and is ready for your patronage!

Be sure to check this place out and let us know what you think!

Do you have a place that you want us to feature? Let us know in the comments!

Weekend Events -June 15/16th

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This weekend marks the end of both Portland’s beer week and Pride. We plan on making it to most of these events this weekend, so it will be a packed and fun filled time!

First up we have the Beer and Cheese Festival at Culmination Brewing. This is a collaboration between Culmination and Chizu/Cheese Bar owner, Steve Jones! they have 10 different beers all expertly paired with cheese. The event is Saturday from 1-4. You can find more info about the specific beers and cheese here. The sold some advance tickets, but tickets are available at the door as well. Maybe we will see you in there!

If you don’t want to sit around and eat cheese this weekend. There is the Woodlawn block party hosted by Breakside brewing. There will be live music, food from Tamale Boy, lots of BBQ, games, vendors, and more beer! This event ruins all day Saturday!

Von Ebert on Glendoveer

Lastly on the beer roster we have Von Ebert’s Crushin Crispies event. This is one we will definitely be going to! Here is a list of all the breweries serving lagers at this awesome event! Breakside Brewery, Wayfinder Beer, pFriem Family Brewers, Ex Novo Brewing, Arch Rock Brewing Company, Heater Allen Brewing, Occidental Brewing Company, 54-40 Brewing Co, Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen, Upright Brewing, Grains of Wrath and Von Ebert Brewing! There will also be brats, wings, and hummus plates available! Tickets are $10 and sold at the door!

All week there have been incredible pride events and this Sunday is no exception! There are 2 stages down on the waterfront and a huge block party in front of Scandals downtown. There is also a great parade through NW and SW Portland that you should go and check out. If you want to see a full list of performers you can click here. We will be walking down in the festival on the waterfront and can’t wait to see you there!

  • Culmination Brewing – 2117 NE Oregon st. 
    • June 15th 1-4 PM
  • Breakside Brewery – 820 NE Dekum 
    • June 15th 12-8 PM
  • Von Ebert Brewery – 14021 NE Glisan
    • June 15th 12-9 PM
  • Portland Pride Festival – SW Waterfront
    • Parade – June 16th – 11AM
    • Waterfront Main Stage – 12:30 -7 PM
  • Portland Pride Block Party *21+*- 1125 SW Harvey Milk st.
    • June 16th – 12PM

How to Sell and Buy at the Same Time

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Many people need to sell their existing home before they are able to buy the one they want next, but how is it done?? I’ll run you through three ways we can make this happen (without you having to move twice) in the video below.

No time for the full video? No problem. Read on below!

1 – Write a Contingent Offer

If you find your dream home before your home sells, we can write a contingent offer on it. This means that your offer is contingent upon the sale of your existing home. However, contingent offers aren’t as strong as non-contingent offers, so if we are competing, the likelihood of the contingent offer being accepted is much less.

2 – Ask for Rentback

If you want to accept an offer and then find your perfect house, you can ask the potential buyers of your home for rentback. In this situation, you continue through the sale and then the new owners ‘rent it back’ to you for a specified period of time. This frees up your finances and gives you some extra time to find that perfect spot.

3 – ‘Subject to Finding a Suitable Property’

In this method, we would accept an offer with a contract clause that states that the offer is being accepted only if/when you find your new home. This one gives you as the seller the most flexibility, but is the most daunting option for the buyer, as they have no guarantee of your motivation to find something new.

As always, if you would like to chat about any of these options in more detail, we would be happy to sit down with you!

Ruby Jewel

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This week’s featured spot is the delectable Ruby Jewel! We are here to tell you that this is the best ice cream in Portland. They have amazing flavors that change regularly, they use only locally sourced ingredients, and you can get an ice cream sandwich, inside a COOKIE!!!!!

I don’t dislike the other ice cream shops, which shall not be named, but Ruby Jewel gives you classic flavors with a small twist that only makes them taste better. A current favorite is the Peanut Butter Dream. It is peanut butter ice cream, with peanut butter cups and swirls of chocolate. It is truly to die for. I would recommend getting it inside of some chocolate chip cookies. Some of their other offerings include The vegan Jewel which is made from chocolate coconut ice cream and a gluten-free cookie and the Pride-Which made from cereal milk ice cream, rainbow cookies, and rainbow sprinkles. They will donate 10% of sales to Q Center if you buy this cookie sandwich.

Since its first opening in Portland, Ruby Jewel has grown in popularity throughout the city. They currently have 3 locations that you can step into to create your own delicious treat!
1650 NW 23rd Ave
3713 N Mississippi Ave.
428 SW 12th Ave
If none of these locations is close enough to home, don’t worry! You can now find their ice cream sandwiches pre-made in most of our local grocery stores! You’re never too far away from the best Ice cream in Portland! Check out all the current flavors Here.

Do you have a place that you think we need to check out? Let us know in the comments!

Burgers

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Ahhh, the quintessential go-to meal, the almighty burger. There are many, MANY fantastic burgers in this city, and it would take more years than I have to attempt to eat all of them but a girl can try, am I right? For this post I did focus on the meaty rather than the meatless, but most of these establishments do have veggie or vegan versions for those who prefer their burgers sans bovine.

  • The Lutz – 4639 SE Woodstock Blvd
    • The Lutz has not one, but about 8 of the best burgers in Portland. I don’t know the secret of what makes this patty so delicious, but I do know that it is always perfectly cooked and incredibly juicy. It almost doesn’t matter the accoutrements, but a couple of my favorites are the Backdraft if I’m in the mood for SUPER spicy or the Lutz Burger if I’m looking for a classic.
  • Slingshot – 5532 SE Center St
    • Great drinks, rotating art collection, cheap bubbles, and a damn fine burger and fries makes this unassuming bar a fantastic spot for a low-key date night or head there for the happy hour to get the night started.
  • Slow Bar – 533 SE Grand Ave
    • At Slow Bar, a perfectly fluffy bun cradles a patty that is the perfect combination of juicy and crisply char-grilled, and best of all, you can get it until quite late.
  • Little Bird Bistro – 215 SW 6th Ave
    • All of the food at Little Bird is phenomenal, and the Double Brie burger is no exception. Tangy pickles and a spiced ketchup are a great counter-balance for the richness of the brie.
  • Yakuza – 5411 NE 30th Ave Suite 100
    • An izakaya isn’t exactly the place that I would look for one of Portland’s best burgers but happily, Yakuza delivers one. Piled high with truffled shoestrings, goat cheese, and spicy mayo, the Yazuza burger is always a deliciously messy and perfectly cooked treat. Add the fried egg for an extra dose of decadence.

Did we miss your favorite burger?? Let us know in the comments!

Acadia

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Our hotspot of the week this week has truly been one of my favorite restaurants in Portland for many, many years now. Acadia Bistro has such consistently wonderful food, drinks, and service that the only explanation I have for why is isn’t perpetually packed is that it’s longevity in a city obsessed with ‘new’ makes it almost like a well-guarded secret between friends.

The menu walks a wonderful balance of maintaining the classic New Orleans dishes that transport you immediately to the bayou, and introducing new innovations and seasonal ingredients from the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. It would constitute a cardinal sin to miss out on the BBQ shrimp as a starter, jumbo head-on Gulf shrimp bathed in a pan-sauce so decadent you will dream about it for weeks afterwards. The Hushpuppies are another wonderful opening, fluffy fried batter of cornbread and seasonings, doused with a spicy-sweet orange and horseradish marmalade.

The beautiful conundrum of the entrees is that I can never figure out which is my favorite, and so have learned that I have to bring at least 3 people with me so we can share everything family-style. On a recent visit we all thoroughly enjoyed the Fried Soft-shell Crab with Crawfish Etouffee, the impossibly tender Hangar Steak, the light and balanced Seabream topped with blue crab and brown butter sauce, and a Pork Chop that was practically the size of my head and juicier than I knew a pork chop could be.

The desserts and cocktails aren’t to be missed either. My Vieux Carre was perfectly rich and boozy, and the housemade ice creams are what Salt and Straw wishes they could be. My recent go-to ‘genius move’ is to get a scoop of the Sea Salt Brown Butter on top of the outstandingly delicious Vanilla Bean Bread Pudding. You can thank me later.

What should our next hot spot be? Let us know in the comments!