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Arden

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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.

Arden Patio

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!

Pro Tips:

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How to Buy a Home when you need to Sell

So you are ready to move? Whether it is downsizing, upsizing, or just getting into a different area, needing to sell first can feel like a huge obstacle. Luckily we have 11 awesome tips to help you buy before you sell so this transition is as smooth as possible!

You can download our full guide, or continue below to read the highlights!

Buy when you need to sellDownload

Tip 1:

Get a Bridge Loan

If downpayment and closing cost funds are keeping you out of your dream home, consider a short term loan. A bridge loan will give you cash to use towards your next purchase.  This allows you to purchase a home with no additional contingencies!  After you move, you use the funds from the sale of your current home to pay the loan back.

Tip 2:

Use a HELOC – Home Equity Line of Credit

This is one of the most common strategies that we are seeing.  Use the equity in your home to get a line of credit to pay for your new home.  This also allows you to purchase first with no additional contingencies.

Tip 3:

Buy New Construction

Builders commonly have additional inventory allowing you to plan out your move date in advance.  This allows you to line up the closing of your current home and the closing of your new home with some overlap to ensure you only move once.

Tip 4:

Custom Build a Home

Similar to buying new construction, this allows you to line up your closing dates and your moving dates. Most custom home builders have in-house financing that will allow you to sell your home and build simultaneously.

Tip 5:

Borrow from your 401K

This allows you to temporarily pull a “loan” from your 401k.  Having this loan allows you to have the cash on hand to make strong offers with no additional contingencies. There are some special circumstances so be sure to discuss this option with your financial planner and/or CPA.

Tip 6:

Seller Carried Financing

This isnt a very common option, but if the seller owns the home outright, they will sometimes carry a short term loan for you while you wait for your home to sell.  This option requires an attorney and usually has higher interest rates associated with it.

Tip 7:

Negotiate a Lease Back

With a strong sellers market, we can list your home and ask the new buyers to give us time in the home after it has sold.This can give us an additional 60 days to find and close on your new home.

Tip 8:

Use Sale Subject To

With a strong sellers market, most buyers just want to “win” a home.  We can ask to have a close date that is subject to you finding a replacement property.  Most people want to have some idea of how long that will take, so we often see in contract within 60 days.  This is a great option especially when paired with a rent back.

Tip 9:

Look in Less Desirable Areas or Price Ranges

If you don’t have a strong preference for a certain area we can focus on locations that are not as competitive.  This allows us to have more control in our offer terms and closing dates. Also, if you have some pricing flexibility, we can find price ranges that don’t have as much competition.

Tip 10:

Write a Contingent Offer

We can write an offer that is contingent upon the sale of your current home.  This allows us to find the home you want before putting your home up for sale.  Depending on market conditions, it can be difficult to have this extra contingency accepted.

Tip 11:

Rent for a Bit

If you want to sell at the peak of the market and have additional time to look for a home, this can be a great option.  Find a short term rental to move into to remove the timeline crunches of finding a new home.

Now that you know your options, are you ready to see what your home might be worth? Or are you ready to see what options are on the market? You can do both right here!

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Or, if you would rather chat with us before jumping right in, fill out the form below and we will get back to you right away!

Flying Fish Company

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Living in Portland exposes us to all sorts of amazing food, and on the top of that list is seafood. Are you ever craving some sushi-grade tuna at home, but you’re just not sure where you can find it? Or maybe you just want some oysters on the half-shell? Flying Fish Company offers a fresh fish market for consumers as well as a full-service restaurant. This week, we decided we needed to experience all that Flying Fish Company offers.  

The food

We settled in under their outdoor covered patio just after the lunch rush started to die down. The menu offers various seafood with both raw to cooked options. As well as salads and burgers. We selected the cod fish and chips, grilled steelhead sandwich, and tuna Niçoise salad. The freshness of the seafood here is unsurpassable.

The cod was lightly battered and fried until golden brown and crispy. Served with a side of Jojo’s and some citrus kale slaw. The grilled steelhead was perfectly seasoned and lightly grilled so that the interior of the fish was still moist and delicious, but the fish skin was nice and crispy. The fish was then served on a Grand Central ciabatta roll with the best herb aioli I’ve ever had and the kale citrus slaw that accompanied the cod. Last but certainly not least was the Tuna Nicoise. Poached albacore tuna was served on top of a bounty of greens with a light red wine vinaigrette with just the right amount of bite. The potatoes and egg were cooked to perfection making the salad stand up next to the other entrees without question.

On our way out we headed into the fresh fish market. Todays offering had fresh oysters, and clams, ahi tuna, cod, steelhead, Dungeness crab, Scallops and so many other fish options. In addition to all the fresh fish, Flying Fish Company also has a variety of canned seafood to stock up your pantry with. For the current list of what’s fresh go Here. Whether you’re looking for an easy meal out or a decadent dinner in Flying Fish Company has everything a seafood lover could need. For more local hot spots check out our blog Here.

Slappy Cakes

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Slappy Cakes is a Portland favorite and one of the most fun restaurants that you can visit in SE Portland.  With griddles on nearly every table, you can order and make your very own pancakes at your table.  They always have buttermilk, chocolate, and vegan batter, but there is also a rotating seasonal flavor to keep you coming back.  This time around it was a lemon poppy seed which paired perfectly with our fruit. 

Slappy cakes

I went as a special mom and daughter date, so we ordered all the berries, chocolate chips, and whipped cream.  The pancakes are light and fluffy, and the flavor combination was perfect.  In the past I have ordered chorizo and goat cheese toppings, so if you are feeling adventurous, be sure to check that out! If you aren’t in the mood for pancakes, they also have all the breakfast staples.  Hash, Benedict, Scrambles, Candied Bacon.  This place will truly please everyone in the family. 

Because I was having a mommy and me date, we ordered some fresh squeezed orange juice.  They have multiple juice options, but if you are in the mood for something a little stronger they also have a fantastic cocktail menu.  I highly recommend the Slappy Cakes Bloody Mary!

We constantly go back to this restaurant for the fun atmosphere and the yummy food and drinks, have you been to visit yet?  Make sure to let us know when you go! 

Kimura

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This week we headed out to try something new. I’d never had a japanese toast before, but I’d only heard good things. Located on the very popular Williams corridor and next to another favorite hotspot, Kayos Ramen, you can come to Kimura for lunch or dessert! Shokupan, also known as japanese milk bread, is a soft and spongy this bread that you can order with a huge array of toppings.

image courtesy of https://kimuratoast.com

The toast reminded me of a mix of a croissant and french toast. It was thick and spongy like a good french toast, but delicate and buttery like a delicious croissant. I chose to have mine topped with strawberries and cream which perfectly complimented the warm sunny day.

kimura - strawberry toast

Naturally I enjoyed my toast with my favorite beverage, a glass of champagne, but they also have a wide range of other drinks to choose from. There are multiple wine options, coffee and espresso with coffee beans from Proud Mary Coffee, teas from Smith Tea Maker, and of course, Matcha tea and lattes.

We are definitely going to be going back to visit again to try some different toasts and house made butters. Let us know if you have stopped by yet and what your favorite dish is. You can also check out their website and menu Here. If you want to see what else we love, all of our hot spots can be found Here. See you next week!

March Market Update

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The real estate market in Portland is showing no signs of slowing down. As we head into spring we fully expect to see the same trends continue. If you are on the fence about buying, I’d jump off now even though it is competitive. Interest rates will keep climbing as we continue through the year and that will only lessen your buying power as home prices also continue to climb.

Breakdown

The average sales price jumped up to $542,000 from $514,000 in just a month. That also gives us a 14% increase from last year. Portland has been seeing a 10-14% increase in sales price since way back in 2018. Even if you are buying at these higher prices, you are still going to be gaining equity over the next couple years.

As we see the weather change we are also seeing more homes come onto the market. This is good news for buyers, but things are still very competitive out there. Homes are selling for an average of 8.5% over list price, in some neighborhoods this is close to 12%. Make sure you are taking to your realtor about specifics so you can be making informed decisions whether you are writing offers or planning on listing your home.

As we mentioned above, if you are waiting for the bubble to pop or the other shoe to drop, you may be waiting for a long time. The market is healthy and climbing and most economists agree this will continue for at least another year. Once inventory finally starts to stabilize we will see a slow down and plateau, but it shouldn’t cause prices to drop. If you have specific questions feel free to reach out and we would love to chat with you! Lastly, if you need some tips to get your offer accepted, head over to THIS POST to read all the things we are doing to win for our buyers.

Portland Style Cheesecake & Dessert

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We all have that one dessert that brings a smile to our faces. Sometimes it’s a dessert that reminds you of your childhood. It could be something that you love to make on your own. For me Cheesecake has always been that one dessert. I’ve indulged in my fair share of cheesecakes throughout my life, and I can happily say that Portland Cheesecake & Dessert company has mastered the perfect cheesecake.

Portland Style Cheesecake & Dessert certainly isn’t new to the Portland area. This company has been crafting desserts for over 30 years now. We decided it was time to take a trip to their local shop! The staff here is so welcoming, and it was apparent to us that they have a passion for what they are doing. We were immediately welcomed with a big “Hello how are you doing?” everyone working was eager to help out, and answer any cheesecake lovers’ questions that we had. There were quite a few options to choose from. If you’re torn between what flavor to get then simply get the cheesecake “cupcakes”. The cupcake route is the one we chose to take. My favorite was the classic vanilla, but marionberry was a very close second. Both cheesecakes were the perfect combination of creamy and fluffy.

Portland Style Cheesecake & Dessert can be found in New Seasons Market as well, but we would recommend heading to the shop for a more personal experience. The shop is open Tuesday – Friday 10 am – 3 pm. Trust us when we tell you, that nothing beats the smell of just-baked cheesecake. You won’t find that aroma at your local supermarket! If you’d like to order ahead of time, you can do so on their website Here.

Are you about ready for a slice or two from this local company? While cheesecake might be what they are famous for, they do also offer a variety of other desserts that are sure to please any crowd. Take a look at our some of our other Portland Hot Spots Here to see what else Portland has to offer.

Güero

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We have loved this place for quite awhile and it is high time we share it with everyone! Hopefully you have already been to try this awesome restaurant, but if not, here is why we love it! Güero started as a food cart and after their massively popularity, moved into its brick and mortar location. They landed on Ne 28th which has become a more and more popular destination for food and snacks. They have been making fabulous tortas and margaritas since they opened in 2017.

Guero

All of the food is phenomenal, but they are of course best known for the tortas. My personal favorite is the Ahogada, a carnitas torta with jalapeño slaw covered in achiote tomato sauce. I always gravitate towards saucy things on the menu and this one really wowed. If you aren’t in the mood for a sandwich, you can also try one of their fabulous bowls. No matter what you order, I can guarantee you will enjoy it.

Güero also has a fabulous margarita, you can order one with Mezcal or tequila, and have them on the heated patio, or to go! They are simple yet perfectly tart and dangerously drinkable. If you want something lower in alcohol, they make a great horchata and aqua de jamaica.

Güero has done a great job of making things cozy for people wanting to dine in, the patio area is well covered and has several heaters going to keep you warm. We went out on a brisk 40* degree and were quite comfortable with our food. If you have tried this restaurant we would love to hear your thoughts! If not, be sure to go check it out soon! You can head over to their website to see the full menu and hours HERE.