Making an offer on a house tomorrow in Portland

[Chefguy]

We found what we think is one of the best neighborhoods in Portland: Sellwood is in the Southeast section, has terrific restaurants, bakeries, parks and businesses, all in a small-town environment only minutes from downtown Portland. We stumbled onto a very nice renovated bungalow built in 1905 and are planning to submit an offer tomorrow. Multiple offers are common in this area, so wish us luck.

[BigOleMike]

I now live in the Woodstock Neighborhood, but lived in Westmoreland/Sellwood for many years!

Congratulations! That is a wonderful neighborhood! I wish you luck!

[Lemur866]

Seriously? I thought you were still walking the earth, like Caine from Kung Fu.

[Chefguy]

Thanks. You two are my only friends, unlike the rest of the bastards on this board. :dubious:

Nope, we quit the diaspora a couple of weeks ago when it looked like the housing market here was showing signs of life: we didn't want to get caught in a rising market.

BigOleMike: Have you been back there to try the a cena restaurant? I had a sweet corn agnolotti there that damn near gave me an orgasm. Followed up by seared sea scallops on a bed of corn risotto that was equally orgasmic.

[Chefguy]

Our offer was accepted and we will become Oregonians on the 19th. Not that there was any interest, but thought I'd close it out.

[Surly Chick]

Congratulations! I, too, am in the midst of buying a house and it's incredibly stressful. The sellers have been extremely uncooperative and refused to correct anything but the most minor of issues that arose from the inspection. Their thinking is that it's an old house (built in 1750) and I should expect to have to do repairs. I put my foot down when the water test showed coliform bacteria in the well. In itself, it's not harmful but can be a precursor to other nasties so I demanded they fix the problem. I'm set to close on Oct. 14 so fingers crossed!

[jnglmassiv]

I visited Portland last November and was struck by the city's hipness. Everyone was just so darned cool.

And if you haven't been already, make a point to stop at Kenny and Zukes (http://www.kennyandzukes.com/). Outstanding pastrami.

[Campion]

Congratulations! So, no pictures of the new house??

I've only been to Portland the once, but really loved it. It's a place I'd consider moving if I had to get out of LA, and I particularly liked some of the older neighborhoods. It's nice to walk through an area where the houses aren't cookie cutter copies of each other.

[gardentraveler]

Wow! That sounds amazing! Congratulations.

GT

[Chefguy]

I visited Portland last November and was struck by the city's hipness. Everyone was just so darned cool.


We can take the shine off of that.

But the house is cool. Hardwood and granite, new electrical and plumbing, Hardi-Plank siding, new windows, beautiful kitchen with French doors leading out onto the balcony. And room in the driveway to park the motorhome.

[Pork Rind]

And if you haven't been already, make a point to stop at Kenny and Zukes (http://www.kennyandzukes.com/). Outstanding pastrami.

Oh my, yes. I use their recipe when I cure my own pastrami.

[Ca3799]

I'm jealous!

I live in and love my state (and don't want to name it here to avoid a 'state bashing'), but have a soft spot for Portland.

[Stranger On A Train]

But the house is cool. Hardwood and granite, new electrical and plumbing, Hardi-Plank siding, new windows, beautiful kitchen with French doors leading out onto the balcony. And room in the driveway to park the motorhome.Very nice. Portland is one of my favorite cities; kind of like a toy version of Seattle. I don't know Sellword, but I did kayak around Hardtack Island, and enjoyed the residential architecture in Goose Hollow. Congratulations, and good luck.

Stranger

[MsWhatsit]

Visited Portland once and found it very amenable and friendly. Mazel tov!

[koeeoaddi]

Congratulations, Chefguy.

You have fabulous taste, having chosen the city that welcomed my kid into the world. I have nothing but warm, sloshy, misty, maternal thoughts about Portland. Now make with the pictures.

[Runs With Scissors]

Congratulations, neighbor!

Too bad the Sellwood bridge is F'd :)

I once calculated that I've made over 8,000 trips over that thing.

You definitely are in a fantastic neighborhood, with so many great places within walking distance.

[Chefguy]

Congratulations, neighbor!

Too bad the Sellwood bridge is F'd :)

I once calculated that I've made over 8,000 trips over that thing.

You definitely are in a fantastic neighborhood, with so many great places within walking distance.

There is a plan in the works to rebuild it in (I think) 2012 and include space for a streetcar line. Funds have been appropriated.

[Tortuga]

Congratulations! We just bought a house too. It's exhilarating, exhausting, and exsanguinating. ;)
There goes freedom, here comes responsibility, but it's exciting to know this is our damn house and we can do what we want when we want to it.

I love PDX, it's a beautiful city and I prefer it to Seattle. We'll be up there toward the end of the month for the Run Like Hell race. Congratulations again!

[Chefguy]

Congratulations! We just bought a house too. It's exhilarating, exhausting, and exsanguinating. ;)
There goes freedom, here comes responsibility, but it's exciting to know this is our damn house and we can do what we want when we want to it.

I love PDX, it's a beautiful city and I prefer it to Seattle. We'll be up there toward the end of the month for the Run Like Hell race. Congratulations again!

We still have the freedom, as we're paying cash (mostly from the sale of our house in Anchorage).

By the way, here are a few interior photos (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43200610@N07/?saved=1).

[Shirley Ujest]

Congrats!


Tht kitchen looks like you will be doing alot of fantabulous cooking in there!


I look forward to more pictures and thoroughly expected you to be roaming the earth in your RV until the end of time.

[SmartAleq]

Congrats and welcome to the neighborhood! If you'd let us know over on the 'Raffe you'd have gotten a welcome from me and Zeener and Darmund for sure... ;)

[Nava]

Congratulations, Chefguy!

I've only been to the other Portland. The kitchen looks real nice, which I have a hunch you appreciate.

[Richard Parker]

I love Sellwood. I'd give a kidney to find good jobs in Portland so we could move back.

[Khadaji]

Congratulations, Chefguy! Wishing you luck and joy in your new home.

[Chefguy]

Congrats and welcome to the neighborhood! If you'd let us know over on the 'Raffe you'd have gotten a welcome from me and Zeener and Darmund for sure... ;)

Over on the...wha?

Reading the Sunday paper this morning and am overwhelmed by the coverage. The Anchorage paper is a failing enterprise and has been reduced to one paragraph coverage of world events. Also impressed by all of the to-do activities. I think we're going to have to buy bicycles, what with 40 miles of trails around the city, and get our creaky frames moving.

[SmartAleq]

Whoops, thought you posted there (http://www.giraffeboards.com/index.php), my bad! :p

[Chefguy]

Whoops, thought you posted there (http://www.giraffeboards.com/index.php), my bad! :p

Just registered. I want to be hip in several venues.

[TheTerribleTako]

I just took a look at your photos Chefguy and your place is so light and spacious. I'm jealous. I took a trip to Portland this summer and it was a wonderful city. I've never seen a city as enamored of Happy Hour as Portland.

[elfkin477]

Oh, that Portland. That's never the one that first comes to mind for me, though I suppose it ought to considering that though it's not the one people mean in RL (here) when they say "Portland," it's the one everyone else talks about on the internets.

Congrats on the new house, Chefguy :)

[MoodIndigo1]

Congratulations on the new house, Chefguy. Beautiful floors and kitchen, nice and airy. That looks like a happy place.

[gonzomax]

Portland will seem balmy for you. A tropical paradise.

[Chefguy]

Uh-oh. Had the home inspection today and it looks like the roof needs replacing. This was a finding when the present owners purchased the place, but they neglected to reveal that information as required on their home condition report. We're planning to have an estimate done and then tell them how much more they will have to reduce their price before we'll conclude the transaction. We're fully prepared to walk if they refuse. Of course, they're closing on their new place and need the cash, so it will be interesting to see if they'll dig in their heels over what amounts to 2% of the sale price. Crap.

[Stranger On A Train]

Uh-oh. Had the home inspection today and it looks like the roof needs replacing. This was a finding when the present owners purchased the place, but they neglected to reveal that information as required on their home condition report. We're planning to have an estimate done and then tell them how much more they will have to reduce their price before we'll conclude the transaction. We're fully prepared to walk if they refuse. Of course, they're closing on their new place and need the cash, so it will be interesting to see if they'll dig in their heels over what amounts to 2% of the sale price. Crap.Don't sweat it, mate. They'll deal, especially if they're as perfidious as they seem to be (by not reporting a pre-existing condition), and if not, it wasn't meant to be. Chin up, eyes forward; it'll pan out.

Stranger

[MsWhatsit]

Good find by the home inspector. Ours also discovered that our roof would need to be replaced, and we successfully negotiated the price of our house downward accordingly. I wish you luck in this as well.

[whatami]

Love the Sellwood neighborhood.

One of the first restaurants to check out is Geno's. The sign says the Leipzig Tavern, but everyone I know calls it Geno's. The Grandma Jeans is one of the heartiest and tastiest pasta dishes around!

For a local watering hole, if it's close, I really recommend the Black Cat. Three shuffelboard tables and a fun vibe.

[EvilTOJ]

I wouldn't worry about the price difference for the roof. The Portland market is so depressed it's a buyer's bonanza now! They'll cave.

If you want a really good house inspector I have one I can recommend. I loved the guy that did my inspection this January. He was very methodical, pointed out EVERY problem possible and even hooked up his printer to his laptop and printed out the report before he left. Sorry I don't have his info here, it's at home and I'm at work.

Sellwood area is a really nice neighborhood. I've lived in Portland for ten years and I love it. I second the nomination for trying Kenny and Zukes. If you're looking for a few brewpubs, Henry's and Full Sail Downtown, The Horse Brass, Belmont Station, Lucky Labrador NW and Deschutes are all good ones. McMenamin's is a Portland staple and there's many all over the place, although some liken it to the Starbucks of the brewpub world. Rogue, Bridgeport, Hopworks, Laurelwood, Almeda, Lompac are on the west side. I just went to the Green Dragon near downtown, I'm a fan.

[Caffeine.addict]

Uh-oh. Had the home inspection today and it looks like the roof needs replacing. This was a finding when the present owners purchased the place, but they neglected to reveal that information as required on their home condition report. We're planning to have an estimate done and then tell them how much more they will have to reduce their price before we'll conclude the transaction. We're fully prepared to walk if they refuse. Of course, they're closing on their new place and need the cash, so it will be interesting to see if they'll dig in their heels over what amounts to 2% of the sale price. Crap.

Pricewise for them, if they are looking at $8,000.00, they will do it in a heartbeat, especially if they should have disclosed this information sooner. Was there anything else in the house that needs fixing?

[Chefguy]

Pricewise for them, if they are looking at $8,000.00, they will do it in a heartbeat, especially if they should have disclosed this information sooner. Was there anything else in the house that needs fixing?

Absolutely. The place is 105 years old and of post-and-pier construction. There is some dry rot in the crawlspace where wood has been in contact with earth, and other maintenance issues that we'll have to take care of, all of which cost money, so we're completely disinterested in also paying for a large ticket item like a roof.

EvilTOJ: Our inspector was excellent and I believe he was thorough. My wife and I were both in the building management business for many years, so can tell if somebody is slacking off.

In the good news department, the sewer scope (house colonoscopy) came out clean, and there is no buried oil tank lurking about.

[quilter]

In the good news department, the sewer scope (house colonoscopy) came out clean, and there is no buried oil tank lurking about.

As a member of your friendly, neighborhood emergency services bureau, this is indeed good news!

(Wish I could afford to live in the city I serve but found a house I love in the west-side suburb of Beaverton (with, to be honest, a better farmers' market than Portland). That said, welcome to Nirvana/Stumptown/Bridgetown/Beervana!)

[FilmGeek]

Hey, I'm in North Portland! Sellwood is nice!

We bought last year. We have a better bridge, but you've got better restaurants!

Congrats!

[EvilTOJ]

I remember the first house I bought we got one of those sewer snake cameras done too. I actually labeled the tape the tech gave us afterwards "EvilTOJ's colonoscopy" and put it on the shelf with the other movies.

There weren't any volunteers to watch it though. Don't know why.

[Chefguy]

Well, the estimate came in at $8,000 which isn't too bad. Doesn't include any sheathing replacement that may be needed, but it's lower than I thought it would be.

[Chefguy]

We signed on the house yesterday and it will close on Monday. Got the roof price down to $4,000. Man, their realtor is a real piece of work. If it was my realtor, I'd be telling her that her commission was going to be a subject of negotiation. Anyway, household shipment arrives on Tuesday and we're pretty excited about living in this great neighborhood.

[Ellen Cherry]

Very happy for you, Chefguy! Enjoy your new home and the settled existence.

[truthbot]

Good news, Chef!

I hope you enjoy many happy years in your new abode.

[Dinsdale]

Coolio!
Ater a recent visit to the Seattle area, my wife regularly brings up the possibility of relocating to the great NW.
Big fan of all things bungalowy here. If you get a chance to post a pic or 2 of the exterior, I'd love to envy you. Also woodwork, stairs, and fireplace - if any.
Glad it all worked out for you.

[hellpaso]

Congratulations on your new home! I've just been to Portland once, but I would love to go back and at least see the Japanese Gardens again. And all that Willamette Valley pinot!

[JSexton]

Congrats, neighbor! (Well, almost. I'm in Salem. Close enough.) Can't believe I never saw this thread before.

[NajaNivea]

Huge 'grats!!! I love the Sellwood area. PDX is one of the few cities I would ever even remotely contemplate moving to, and Sellwood is the part of Portland I like the best.
Enjoy, and please send Powell's my love!

[artemis]

Congrats on the new digs! I'm glad you were able to negotiate the roof repair to something reasonable, and didn't have to pass on the house because of a fixable problem.

[rivulus]

So... did you close already?

My partner, son, and I were in Portland a couple of weekends ago to visit some friends. We've visited several times, and love the place. I would particularly love the climate where so many interesting plants grow. And it's just a short, lovely drive to gorgeous hiking and the coast.

Definitely on our short list of place to live, should we ever move.

[Chefguy]

We closed on Monday, spent the night and received all our "stuff" on Tuesday. Shoehorns and bear grease were needed to get it all in, despite our dramatic downsizing in Anchorage. African baskets, cloth and masks anybody? Miscellaneous electronic equipment? A couple of chairs, an end table and a dropleaf table? Just send an email and we'll talk!

Got Comcast set up today, but it took the dude five hours to get it done. Something about the phone lines and how they were connected and blahblahblah. Anyway, we've got cable TV for Sunday's Curb, so all is well. Gotta call the roof people next week and the deck person also. Security company is coming on Monday, washer & dryer on Tuesday. All this and I managed to bake a loaf of fresh herb-parmesan bread yesterday and lamb kofta with saffron rice tonight. I'm da man!