In Praise of the DDIYer: Why embracing the motto "Don't Do It Yourself" can be a good thing

Thanks to home improvements shows like This Old House, the HGTV network and YouTube how to videos, an entire generation of homeowners have grown up believing that they might be able to to DIY many home projects. And in fact they may be able to. But even if you have the skill to pull off a home project that may work, is it worth it? Here are some reasons why you may want to embrace DDIY—Don’t Do it Yourself!—if not all the time, at least for some of your projects.

Your Time is Valuable

The number one reason why folks choose to DIY is the cost of labor. And, I get it, hiring licensed professionals can be expensive. But your time is also worth something. If you aren’t loving spending your nights and weekends building that fence that would have taken a contractor a day and a half to knock out, perhaps you should evaluate what your time is worth to you and calculate it at an hourly rate. Also, think about the time you would be enjoying the finished product if a professional had completed it in a timely manner. Particularly, when you take on a large renovation like a kitchen or bath remodel, a crew is often at your house all day during the work hours. Ask yourself, if you really want to perform someone else’s full time job (or several people’s) in your free time before you dive in. Additionally, do you want to live in a construction zone for much longer than you have to? I’ve heard countless stories of DIY-ers who have lived without a kitchen, cooking on a hot plate for two years while they painstakingly learned how to tile a backsplash. If the idea of that sends shivers up your spine, think twice about taking on a major remodel without hiring a pro.

You are Paying for Experience

When you hire a landscape designer or a kitchen contractor or a plumber, you are paying for much more for than their time and labor—you are paying for their experience. Think about it: how good were you the first time you did something challenging at your job? What about the 30th time? or the 300th? Hiring a professional who can anticipate the pitfalls of a project and navigate any potential headaches is worth a lot. When I decided to completely overhaul my backyard with a big landscaping project, I could have probably come up with a lot of the ideas myself and even executed a lot of the planting. I could have hired the concrete sub contractors on my own and cut out the designer. But, I wanted someone to advise me on how to direct drainage water off of the new pergola so that my foundation isn’t impacted by rain, someone who would anticipate where the light was falling on various parts of the yard, someone who would know exactly which plants will thrive in this climate in a particular space in my yard. All of that guidance and know-how is invaluable. But that also means that when you hire a licensed professional to do a home project or repair for you, you need to spend some time vetting them. Ask for professional referrals, speak with past clients, ask how they might anticipate problems and if they see any unknowns right now that could be planned for.

Mistakes are not cheap

While we are on the subject of experience, if you are motivated by the possible savings that a DIY project may offer, consider the cost of mistakes. General contractors and designers are also often serving as project manager on your renovation—they know the order in which to execute each step, when to order certain parts and materials (something that has become even more important during our current reality of material shortages and inflation), and how to pivot when things don’t go well. When I remodeled my kitchen, my general contractor anticipated that after unearthing the original Doug Fir wood floors from the orange marmoleum that lay on top, they may not be salvageable. He had a plan B to keep me within budget, should this be the case. And when, as he suspected, the original floors were ruined by decades old tar, he proposed two options: one that would keep me within budget and one that would accomplish the look I really desired. But, most importantly, he had sub contractors in place to complete that work. And there were countless other steps along the way, that had they been done incorrectly, could have cost me big time: what if the counter top space had been measured incorrectly and then the slab was cut to the wrong measurements? Would I have eventually chosen the intricately patterned and hard to install mosaic tile floor if I had had to learn a highly skilled trade on the fly in order to install it? Experienced contractors and design professionals anticipate the WHAT IFs because they know that there will be many and that they need to have a solution or back up plan in place. Don’t underestimate the financial value in that.

Buyers like to see receipts and permits

I can’t tell you how many times I hear a home inspector say “This looks like a homeowner repair” and they don’t mean it in a good way. Womp womp. If you intend to sell any time in the reasonably near future, think about how beneficial it may be to be able to show buyers, all of the work you have had done professionally by licensed contractors along with the permit records. Buyers are also often impressed by the dollar amount that you may have spent. Save the receipts. Track the permits and city records. Especially for the unsexy things: plumbing, electrical, sewer line, foundation work, roof, siding, windows. A lot of buyers do not appreciate these system upgrades until the inspector comes back saying that they are not in great condition. If you are selling and you can show that the home has a brand new electrical panel that is permitted with the city or all new plumbing lines done by a reputable company, that can show the buyer up front that there is a lot of “hidden” value in your home. It also can communicate that you took great care of the home and did not cut corners. It may also influence a buyer who is choosing between your home and another that weekend: Imagine if you had a receipt for the $45,000 of new windows that you installed a few years ago but the competition still has aluminum single paned. Maybe the buyers would not have even recognized the cost of that potential replacement until seeing your records. Save the receipts. I like to advise clients to do so in a Google Drive folder.

*****

Have I convinced you to join me and become at least a partial DDIYer? If you are swayed a bit but still feel the pangs of guilt created by those Home Depot “Doer” commercials, I’ll leave you with one final point: When you hire local tradespeople, contractors, and designers, you are also creating a job and pumping money directly back into your local economy. Maybe that will help you rest well during all the naps you’ll be taking instead of putting that darn fence up.

Inspired to hire a professional and need a referral? I have a whole list of diverse folks who are good at what they do and am happy to connect you. Please contact me and I’ll put you in touch. Coming soon: a more complete directory of my favorite, vetted contractors, designers, and more!

Portland Housing Market Forecast: What's ahead for 2022?

After meeting with lenders, title companies, and, just this week, The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis, I have a few important takeaways that all buyers, sellers, homeowners, and investors should know about what is likely to come in 2022 in the Portland housing market. So, what should we expect?

Buyer demand will continue as home loan interest rates rise

If you are looking to purchase a home in the Portland Metro area in 2022, expect that you will still be competing against a lot of other qualified buyers in order to get in contract on a home. Now, you may be thinking: “But I heard rates are going up? Won’t that slow down the market?” Yes, rates are already ticking up and are currently averaging about 3.5% this week. However, the housing shortage is what is really leading to the demand. So, while rates are not as favorable as they have been for the last few years, they are right around where they were pre-pandemic (and we thought those were great rates then!). If you can buy your next home before 2023, you may still get a loan with a rate under 4% but if inflation increases and the Federal Reserve does not return to buying mortgage backed securities—something they did during the pandemic for the first time ever—expect interest rates to continue to slowly creep up year after year for a bit of time. Historically speaking, we have all become used to these rockbottom rates but it isn’t the norm and it likely won’t continue indefinitely.

Sale prices will increase but not as fast as in 2021

Do not interpret that to mean sales will be flat or decline. Oregon Economists are predicting an 8-11% annual increase in home prices over the next year and then 3-4% in 2023. However, with the raise in rates, buyers will have less purchasing power which may result in a slowing of price hikes. It’s also really hard—not to mention unsustainable—to see 17% growth year over year. 11% more next year is probably still more than you want to pay but it may make the market a little more tolerable for first time buyers. Sellers: your home will still see a lot of equity gains this year but be reasonable when you list. Listen to a pricing expert and do not overprice your home when you go to market.

Fewer vacation properties will be bought and sold after April

Effective April 1, the interest rates on second homes will be comparable to non-owner occupied (investment) properties, meaning they will be significantly higher. However, down payment requirements will remain the same. We saw a lot of homes being purchased and sold in secondary markets on the coast and at lakes during the height of the pandemic due to the perfect storm of work from home realities, a rise in American wealth, and low interest rates. But as we approach spring, expect that that buying appetite may begin to slow as folks contemplating a beach condo or lake side cottage think twice when considering the increased monthly payment.

Rents will also rise and keep pace or exceed mortgages

When folks ask “are we in a bubble?” there are a lot of factors that I explain which essentially lead tot he answer “Not likely.” But one big one is that rents are outpacing or staying on par with mortgages. At the end of the day a roof over your head is just that, which means potential homebuyers who can qualify for a loan are willing to pay in a mortgage what they will pay in rental income. After all, with few exceptions, owning a home is generally more advantageous than renting.

Condos and townhomes will become more of a seller’s market than in recent years

Many well qualified buyers who are tired of being outbid on a single family home, may begin to consider the townhome or condo market. After all, there is 2.5 months inventory of condos as opposed to less than half of a month in single family homes. And, sellers take note: condo inventory has shrunk in recent months as well which is making it a much better time to sell if you are thinking of moving on. Additionally, buying a single family under $500,000 in many Portland neighborhoods is becoming nearly impossible but is very approachable when considering attached or condo style homes, making them a solid investment and home for someone who values location and condition over lot, size, and independent walls.

Big takeaways

It’s not getting cheaper for buyers here in Portland and our housing stock is limited. We need to build more—likely increasing density and building upward—if we want to decrease the housing shortage. Rock bottom interest rates are probably a thing of the recent past but they are not so high yet that it should prevent buyers from purchasing a home. Sellers: it is still a great time to sell to unlock all the equity in your home by selling but be sure to price aggressively rather than overshoot the market—a hot market does not mean buyers will pay anything if they don’t perceive that your home deserves it. Overall, 2022 looks to be another busy year in real estate!

If you have questions about what is to come, please reach out; I am always happy to help!

What does it mean to “waive the appraisal contingency?”

In the last few years, it has become more common for competitive offers to include an appraisal waiver by many buyers. It is important to understand this concept and seriously consider if it is a risk that is worth the reward and also if it is one you feel financially prepared to take on should the home not appraise at the agreed upon sale price. 

What does it mean to “waive the appraisal contingency?”

When a listing agent begins to receive multiple offers, it’s pretty typical for the price to start escalating 5%, 10%--sometimes even more--over asking price. But, if you, the buyer, escalate the price, what will you do if the home doesn’t appraise for the agreed upon sale price? After all, if the purchase is financed, the lender is going to require an appraisal and they will only lend up to the appraised value.

If you have an appraisal contingency in place, you may not be terribly concerned as the buyer. That appraisal contingency, if left intact, protects you from being responsible for purchasing the home for more than the appraised value. But the seller is very worried. Sellers want to know that the buyer can or will cover the value difference if the appraisal comes in lower than the offer price; the last thing a seller wants is a terminated sale agreement due to a low appraisal. If a buyer can’t waive an appraisal completely but they have additional funds, some buyers will write a clause in the sale contract stating that they will contribute a specific amount of cash to cover a gap between the agree upon sale price (what you bid) and the appraised value (what the appraiser says its worth). 

Why is this term so favorable to a seller?

Waiving the appraisal contingency often can give the sellers a bit of confidence that the deal will close and that they won’t have to pay for an unexpected price discrepancy. Buyers who can’t cover the difference between the offer price and the appraised value should know that sellers may have an incentive to consider a lower offer price with some combination of a larger down payment and appraisal waivers because it may seem more like a “sure thing” to close at the price offered. This is also why a cash offer at the same or even a slightly lower price than a financed offer is so valuable to a seller—cash offers do not have to appraise. If you are financing your home purchase, as most folks are, consider how much you might be willing to contribute towards covering an appraisal gap if the home doesn’t come in at the value that you offered. A term like that can make you more competitive against cash offers while still preventing you from covering an unknown amount. 

How about some examples?

Let’s say you, the buyer, bid $495,000 for a home. When the appraisal is complete, the third party appraiser determines the value to be $485,000. If the appraisal contingency has been waived, you are responsible for closing that gap with cash at the time of close along with your down payment. The upside is that your mortgage and down payment are now calculated against the new loan amount. (485,000 / 20% = 97,000 + 10,000 to cover gap due at close vs. 495,000 / 20% = 99,000 due at close. The difference is actually $8,000 once you recalculate the down payment and your monthly payment will be lower as well.)

Let’s say you, the buyer, bid $495,000 for a home. When the appraisal is complete, the third party appraiser determines the value to be $485,000. If the appraisal contingency is in place, one of a few things will likely happen:

• You will negotiate the price down to $485,000 and the sale moves forward

• You pay the difference and the sale moves forward

• The sale is terminated and you receive your earnest money back

• Talk to your agent about contesting the appraisal

It’s also not an ALL OR NOTHING option. Some buyers are more comfortable saying that they will waive the appraisal contingency–UP TO BUT NOT EXCEEDING a certain amount. This helps insulate the buyer from catastrophic risks. For example, if a home came in $60,000 under value and the buyer only agreed to cover a $20,000 gap. 

It should be said that in the current market, the most common scenario that we actually see is that the home does appraise, the loan is funded, and the buyer does not bring any additional funds to close. However, this can change as the market ebbs and flows and it definitely depends on the specific home in question. However, you should always be prepared for a worst case scenario.

Moving forward

Consider early on if you have the financial reserves to use this term for your competitive advantage and if it suits your comfort level. That way, when you find a great home, you feel like your decision to waive or not to waive this contingency has been carefully considered. Remember, it is just one tool in your toolbox on the road to creating a competitive offer.

5 Reasons You May Be Getting Outbid on Homes in a Seller's Market

Here you are. You’ve been pre-approved for a home loan, toured dozens of properties and finally worked up the courage to commit and make an offer on a home that you love. And yet. The rejection call comes. “There were 15 offers…” “The price escalated well above your budget…” “The winning bid waived all of the contingencies…” Sound familiar? Sound too familiar? Even if you’ve received this news once it stings but more than once can lead to buyer burnout. Here are five reasons why you may not be snagging the house of your dreams in a seller’s market.

You won’t or can’t waive the appraisal contingency

I know. It’s scary to waive contingencies that protect you financially, especially the appraisal contingency. For those unfamiliar with this term, an appraisal contingency protects a financed buyer from being contractually obligated to purchase a home if it does not appraise for the agreed upon purchase price. Why is this so important? Well, when a lender loans a buyer the money to purchase a home, they want to know that the home could be resold for the purchase price should the buyer default on the loan. As a result, lenders typically require that a third party appraiser determine the market value of the home. Should the appraiser determine that the value is lower than the agreed upon purchase price, the lender will only lend what the appraiser determined as the value. In the Oregon sale agreement, the buyer can then walk away from the purchase without penalty or negotiate the price down to that appraised value. In a seller’s market, like the one we are experiencing now, it is not uncommon for the purchase price to escalate quite a bit over the listing price—sometimes $100,000 or more. When a seller receives an offer that is $100,000 over list price their first reaction is usually “YIPPPPPEEEEEEE!” followed swiftly by “But what if it doesn’t appraise?” If you want a competitive advantage, waiving the appraisal contingency or contributing an agreed upon amount of funds to bridge the gap in the event of a low appraisal will ease the seller’s mind and make your over-asking-price-offer much more substantial. Buyer beware: this means as the buyer you should have the liquid funds to cover that gap should it arise. Those additional funds, if necessary, will be due at close with the rest of your closing costs and down payment.

Your inspection stipulations scare off the seller

Every market has varying inspections that are considered standard. In California it’s not uncommon for a termite inspection to be completed; in Florida, a pool inspection might be necessary. Here in Oregon, we generally recommend a radon test, sewer scope, and scan for any underground oil tanks in addition to the general inspection. However, a seller sees more inspections as more opportunities for the buyer to find something that may allow them to back out of the transaction or negotiate for more money. Occasionally, buyers will waive the inspections all together (HUGE BUYER BEWARE) but more commonly than that is buyers will scale back the number of invasive inspections that they request up front and/or specify the types of repairs and or credits they might ask for if discovered. For example, some buyers will evaluate the age of the home and determine that they feel pretty confident that certain conditions may be less likely to occur in this age of construction. Some folks will state that they will only ask for repairs if the total adds up to a certain amount—saving the buyer from financial catastrophe but letting the seller know that the buyer does not intend to nickel and dime them. There are a number of tips and tricks that an experienced agent can guide you through that will still allow for some inspections but which may also make your offer appealing to a wary seller.

You are looking at homes that are actually out of your budget

It’s important for a buyer to calibrate their expectations of what a certain budget will buy versus reality. When I meet with buyers for the first time they have typically been house stalking on Zillow for months if not years and believe they know the market well. However, one common mistake that folks who are simply perusing real estate online make is only looking at the listing when it is active and for sale. The list price gets stuck in their heads and pretty soon that is what they believe a $500,000 home looks like. However, as noted before, in a seller’s market the list price is rarely the sale price. I heard someone recently say to think of it as a “suggested starting price.” I advise new-to-the-current-market buyers to set their settings to the sold price on whatever app they like to do their real estate research on and then look back at what that home listed for originally. Similarly, when buyers are not quite ready to make offers, I recommend “favorite”ing the homes that they would consider offering on today based on the listing and then check back in 30-45 days to see what it actually sells for. This is often the fastest way to realize that you may need to look at homes listed 25k, 50k, maybe even 100k below your actual budget so that you have the wiggle room to get aggressive when multiple offers are in play. That doesn’t mean stop looking at homes at your top budget or even slightly beyond. But when you do, look with a critical eye. Are they new to the market? Likely to go for over asking? Or have they been listed for three weeks with no offers? If the latter is true, you may still be able to afford it but if it’s a new, hot listing, try to be realistic. Don’t spend time and effort touring and bidding on homes that are out of your budget. Ask your agent to speak frankly and offer an opinion on whether or not the house is within budget. Then, focus all of your energy on those homes that are get-able.

Your agent is not communicating what it will take to “win the bid”

When I am working with a serious buyer and they find a home that they are willing to bid on, I spend about 24-72 hours leading up to the offer deadline checking in with the listing agent. What do I mean by “checking in”? Digging for information that I can use to strengthen my client’s offer! First, I feel out the agent and find out what their seller has authorized them to disclose. Not all sellers will allow their agent to tell me about the competition but many do and if I don’t ask those vital questions, someone else is going to. What kinds of questions do I ask? Let’ start with “How many offers do you have?” “How many are you expecting?” “What does your client need in terms of occupancy after close (aka a rent back)?” “Are the appliances included in the sale?” “Have the other offers waived appraisal yet?” “Have they waived inspections?” “Are there any cash buyers?” And on and on. All of these questions and their corresponding answers help me to inform my client on what it is going to take to get the house. Sometimes that information allows my clients to write a super competitive offer and get the house. Other times, it saves them from entering a bidding war that has already superseded their budget thus saving them the heartbreak and energy. Either way, it is providing the information necessary to make an informed decision. No buyer should be writing an offer without receiving as much feedback as their agent can provide prior to writing the offer. And it doesn’t end when you submit. If your offer is not the winning offer, I am a big practitioner of finding out what the winning bid was so that the buyers can learn and apply that knowledge to future offers. That can lead to buyers changing terms or price in ways that are in their control or changing priorities so that the homes they are looking at are within reach.

You are not listening to your agent’s advice on what it will take to “win the bid”

So, your agent is telling you this info you say? And you are still on losing bid #8? OK there are some exceptions to the rule, however, this is where you have to take some personal responsibility. Has your agent been suggesting you look at other types of properties? Have they been coaching you on ways to make your offer stronger and you have been rebuffing those ideas? It may be time to start taking their advice. After all, you didn’t hire them to open doors—or at least I hope you didn’t! They are an advisor to you and, if you don’t respect or trust their advice, you should hire someone whose advice you do respect and will, after serious consideration, take. Remember, that your agent probably goes through this process on a weekly basis whereas most folks go through the process 1-3 times in their lifetime. They have the numbers on their side in terms of seeing what works and what doesn’t at any given moment in the market. Hire someone you trust and who has a proven track record of getting buyers in contract even when there are many, many offers.

Hang in there. Persistence plus a dose of realistic priorities will land you a home within your budget.

5 Mistakes Sellers make in a Seller's Market

As a homeowner in a strong seller’s market, it can be really easy to see your neighbor’s’ fixer upper selling in four days for 15% over the list price and think “well, if that house can sell fast, then mine will fly as is!” But, it is still very important that you have a trusted real estate broker to guide you through the important choices that need to be made so that the specifics of your house in this exact market are taken into account. Here are some mistakes that sellers often make even in a market where they should be cleaning up:

Thinking you don’t need to stage or market the home well.

When preparing a home to go on the market, it is crucial no matter the market conditions, that your home is marketed and presented in the best light possible. You only have one shot to create a first impression with the buyers and that typically starts online with buyers swiping through the pictures of your home. Making sure that the photos and staging are the best they can possibly be will ensure that you drive buyers from the online marketing to the open house or a showing with their agent. Thinking the home will “sell itself in this market” is often a huge mistake. In a seller’s market, buyers are paying top dollar to get in contract and they expect the home to impress them. If the photos are dark, the house is cluttered, or the layout is unclear, buyers may eliminate it from their search even before touring. Additionally, great photos, staging, and online marketing doesn’t just drive buyers to the home, it also keeps them dreaming of living there as they mull over an offer and even once they are in contract. Often times buyers spend less than 30 minutes in a home before they decide how to offer but the photos, floor plan, and 3D tour keep them engaged and emotionally invested in the hours or days leading up to an offer deadline and during that 30 day escrow period. You want your home to be the kind that buyers brag about to their friends and post to social media. Buyers who are already dreaming of the plants they are going to buy for the living room are far less likely to walk away from the home when things get tense.

Pricing your home too high.

Overpricing a home is often the death knell of real estate and yet sellers often have a hard time pricing their home competitively for fear that they will miss out on the top dollar possible. Sellers hear that homes are receiving offers 20k, 50k, sometimes $100,000 over asking and they think “if prices are going so wild, I can get whatever I want.” However, that’s not how buyers approach it. Buyers are often willing to bid over the asking price when they have confidence that it will appraise for that higher value and when the competition of other buyers demand it. Most buyers don’t expect to bid lower or even at asking price unless the home has been sitting on the market for weeks. When pricing competitively, buyers are competing to get in contract and with that doesn’t just come with a higher price but also very seller favorable terms—often including appraisal and inspection contingency waivers. These terms make the contract period a much smoother process with fewer possibilities for negotiations and sale fails. On the contrary, when a buyer is the only offer, they can write a very buyer friendly contract, which allows them many opportunities to negotiate for repairs and credits. It also causes them doubt: “Why doesn’t anyone else want this house?” “Will it be hard to sell in the future?" and the dreaded “WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT?” Demand leads to buyer confidence. Competitive pricing leads to demand.

Not providing enough access for the potential buyers to tour.

It’s true that more buyers than ever are offering on homes sight unseen. However, this is still the exception to the rule. Most buyers want to tour the home and more buyers touring or popping in to an open house, usually leads to more offers. When clients can’t see the home at a time that is convenient for them, they may eliminate it from their search all together. This market moves fast and sellers usually only have a few days before they have a sense of how hot the property is and whether or not it is performing well on the open market. It is important to seize those first few days and capture fresh interest in the home while it is at its highest. If you have the flexibility to do so, get out of town or stay at a hotel for a few nights. Let your agent manage the showings and provide maximum access. Hopefully, you will have so many interested parties by the end of the weekend, your home will be pending and you can return home ready to pack!

Accepting an early offer without securing a back up.

There are some exceptions to this rule but if you have set an offer deadline and a buyer is pressuring you to accept early, make sure your agent is calling the other interested parties and encouraging others to submit sooner than later. Serious buyers don’t always offer immediately—especially if you have initially communicated that you will consider all offers on a certain deadline—because they fear that their offer will just get used as bait to lure other buyers to pay more. If you want to accept a really strong, early offer, just make sure that you aren’t doing so before all well qualified buyers have been notified. It’s easy to get eager and anxious during the first few days that your home is on the market, but it is your agent’s job to make sure they are leveraging all offers to work for you to get the best possible offer in the end. And, once you have a solid offer in first position, ask the other interested folks if they would like to be in back up. That helps insulate you from the possibility that a sale fail will force you back on the market.

Being stubborn during the contract period.

During a seller’s market, it is very easy to get a big ego. After all, people were fighting tooth and nail to buy your home just a few days ago. But once you get under contract, a little compromise is usually in order. Buyers are paying top dollar, waiving appraisals, and sometimes even forgoing inspections in order to buy your home and you are often making a sizeable profit. In many cases, you’ve already won! So, if the buyer asks for a reasonable credit or repair, meet them halfway. Ultimately, it is in the best interest of the sale for everyone to bend a little bit. After all, strong arming a buyer is the fastest way to land yourself in a sale fail and if you don’t close the deal, you’ve made nothing in profit and have lost time. If you know you struggle with compromise, one way to prepare yourself for this is to assume you will make a certain dollar amount less than whatever you get in contract for—aka budget for that compromise. That may help prepare your mind for what’s to come during the contract period. And also remember that when your agent is negotiating on your behalf, they recognize that a true negotiation is a meeting of the two parties wishes so that everyone gets most of what they want not a “my way or the highway” tough guy attitude. An agent who only cares about “winning the deal” will kill it instead of closing it, and that is the worst outcome for a client. Try to think of the big picture and avoid getting hung up on pettiness, even if you think the request is annoying. Is it in your best interest to compromise and sell on schedule? Then, what are you waiting for!

Portland Neighborhood Spotlight: Sunnyside

Located just 28 blocks east of the Willamette River, is the charming southeast neighborhood of Sunnyside. Welcoming to all sorts of folks, it has an artist’s flair with its colorfully painted Victorians but also definitely a cool family area for raising city kiddos in a four square or craftman style home. The boundaries run from Stark Street to the north, Hawthorne to the south and from 28th to 49th Avenues. Residents of Sunnyside enjoy the walkability to shops and restaurants along Belmont and Hawthorne as well as Laurelhurst Park. On a summer night, it’s enjoyable to make the longer trek on foot to Division Street or nearby Kerns as well.

Parents and kids of the neighborhood are served by Sunnyside Environmental School, a K-8 Portland Public School that has a focused curriculum on environmental and social justice. Their schools motto is “Everyone is better when everyone is better.” Plus, they have chickens!

If you are looking to buy a home in Sunnyside, the housing styles there range from Victorians to bungalows to four squares but it’s also not impossible to find a new modern attached home, townhouse, or a even a luxury condo above some of the commercial real estate. According to Portland Monthly, the average sale price in Sunnyside as of the beginning of 2020 was $534,000 but this last year we have seen appreciation rates go up as high as 12% for some homes. If Sunnyside is in your sights and you would like an average 3 bedroom, 2 bath home, I would probably be prepared to spend upwards of $650,000 to secure a home in average condition. Most recently, I had some clients close on a beautifully remodeled but small 2 bedroom Victorian in the heart of the neighborhood for $560,000. Buyers who desire a Sunnyside home value proximity to amenities and that Portlandia feel and the home prices reflect that.

Sunnyside is full of the life that many Portlanders seek—plenty of coffee shops, movie theaters, novelty shops, and even a vegan bar (I’m looking at you Sweet Hereafter). Below, I have listed some of the community’s faves. Be sure to check them out during your house hunting trips as well as when you move in to the neighborhood.

Rose and Lincoln Juicery | 3340 SE Hawthorne Blvd | @roseandlincoln
I am addicted to the smoothies at Rose + Lincoln. Definitely make sure to hop on over there on a hot day and support this Black woman owned business. My favorite menu item is the Lucky 7 smoothie (but I like things tart!).

Taquería Los Puñales | 3312 SE Belmont St | @lospunales
This taco shop opened early during the pandemic and it is exactly what Belmont needed. They serve stew-like tacos made in Mexico City called guisados and have veggie and vegan options in addition to the carne. Honestly, I stop in probably once a week just for an agua fresca. Hot tip: do not miss the tribute to Ricky Martin near the exit door.

Noun: A Person’s Place for Things | 3300 SE Belmont St | @shopnoun
This is my go-to quirky Portland shop when I need a gift, a card, or want to treat myself to some housewares. Purchases I have made over the years: saffron colored linen apron, art print, wooden spoons, sand-filled hourglass, a vintage necklace, a jellyfish Christmas ornament, and too many cards to count. Also, it is owned by two lady besties who always seem to be having the best time working.

Belmont Books | 3415 SE Belmont St | @belmontbookspdx
We are spoiled in this neighborhood with the Hawthrone Powell’s just blocks away. But I also like to stop in to Belmont Books, occasionally, and say hi to the owner Joe. He is super helpful and will order anything he doesn’t have in stock.

Hoda’s Lebanese Restaurant | 3401 SE Belmont St | @hodaspdx
Next door to Belmont Books is Hoda’s. During a busy week or when my kitchen was being remodeled, I would order their family pack to go and we would just mix and match the menu items--chicken, beef and lamb skewers served with basmati rice, hummus and salad--for dinner all week. When indoor dining is advisable again, it really is a charming neighborhood spot that doesn’t feel transplanted there because of a trend.

Multnomah County Library -- Belmont branch | 1038 SE Cesar Estrada Chavez Blvd
If Powell’s and Belmont Books has you filling up your house with books, it’s also a nice reminder that we have a cozy library branch right down the street. Enjoy it!

Laurelhurst Park | 35th and Oak St
The real gem of the neighborhood! Short doggo treks to the Sunnyside school field are likely a daily habit for the furry residents of Sunnyside, but the off leash dog areas at Laurelhurst Park is a pup’s dream. In the summertime, there is picnicking for days on the great lawn. When the days get long, you’ll see my family taking our post-dinner jaunt to the pond and someday movies and concerts in the park will return and it will be a joyous affair.

Some of my favorites that are a little farther flung but a delightful summer walk:

Vino -- 137 SE 28th Ave -- Friday night wine tasting on the patio is a must
Montelupo’s Italian Market -- 344 NE 28th Ave -- Italian Market with wine and pasta to-go
Navarre -- 10 NE 28th Ave -- Spanish small plates
Angelface -- 14 NE 28th Ave -- Perfect before dinner cocktails spot
Laurelhurst Market -- 3155 E Burnside St -- Steakhouse and butcher shop
Flowerbomb -- 2857 SE Stark St, Portland -- Full service florist and house plant shop
Cubo -- 3106 SE Hawthorne Blvd. -- Great Cuban food and drinks + patio