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… 
Congratulations, Chefguy!
I’ve only been to the other Portland. The kitchen looks real nice, which I have a hunch you appreciate.
I love Sellwood. I’d give a kidney to find good jobs in Portland so we could move back.
Congratulations, Chefguy! Wishing you luck and joy in your new home.
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.
Whoops, thought you posted there, my bad! 
Just registered. I want to be hip in several venues.
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.
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 
Congratulations on the new house, Chefguy. Beautiful floors and kitchen, nice and airy. That looks like a happy place.
Portland will seem balmy for you. A tropical paradise.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!)
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!