INDULGE P.4
Learn how to make a cozy winter recipe for a slaw featuring kale, apple, and hazelnut.
RELEVANCE P.10
Gain an understanding about changes in rental policy and the changing housing market.
January 4
Da odill Studios is a queer owned art studio in Northeast Portland. They o er monthly workshops in ceramics, drawing, painting, rug tufting, printmaking, and stained glass. In this class you will learn foundational ceramic skills.
January 22
Come meet other houseplant lovers and trade your labeled cuttings and plants! All indoor plants are welcome from common finds, to coveted collector varieties. Plants should be labeled, healthy, and pest-free. This is a free event that aims to celebrate the spirit of generosity between plant enthusiasts.
January 25
Come learn modern sushi-making techniques in this engaging cooking class taught by Chef Jimmy. You’ll learn how to make the perfect hand rolls and the art of making crispy, crunchy tempura.
Chinese New Year February 1
Come kick o the new Lunar Year this February! Lan Su Chinese Garden welcomes the community to join them for a lion dance performance at the garden’s Entrance Plaza to usher in the Year of the Rabbit. This is a community event and FREE for the public.
February 18
Come watch some local Queens and Kings while you enjoy your favorite Battle Creek Wine! VIP tickets come with one complimentary mimosa.
February 19
Using a conversational format, join instructor Sandra Oberdorfer at the Vancouver Art Space to combine sketchbook journal entries and painting exercises to dig deeper into the personal and cultural meanings we experience with di erent colors.
Monster Jam March 4
Experience full-throttle family fun at Monster Jam, where 12,000pound monster trucks tear up the dirt in intense competitions of speed and skill.
SheBrew March 5
This is an all-genders, all-ages fundraiser to support femaleidentified members of the beer brewing community, all while supporting LGBTQ people in Oregon and across the nation. The event features local femaleidentified craft beer and cider makers, entertainers, businesses, and community partners.
March 23
Telltale is a curated storytelling event for people that want to get vulnerable. You can expect about 8-10 performers sharing stories through a mix of comedy, music, essays, and more. Come find community and be reminded that you are never alone.
THEY ARE RIGHT when they tell parents, “time with your children goes in the blink of an eye.” I am now more aware than ever how little time I have until my children go o to college. Legally, they will be adults in three to five years and free to make choices on their own. I want to support my family and myself to make conscious choices aligned with our values and what matters most to us. Making the most out of my remaining time with my children matters to me above all else. It’s so easy with the busy schedule of school, sports, and work to allow the momentum of things, rather than our conscious choosing of our lives, to carry us forward.
This winter I organized a family summit for my family of four. We took a full day to organize our coming year, talk about our individual and collective goals, and find out what is most important to the four of us to accomplish and experience together in the year ahead. This was also a place I felt I could help teach my teenage children small lessons of sacrifice and personal responsibility. If you want this, what are you willing to do? And what may you need to give up? These are gentle lessons of accountability. I want them to understand the choices and freedoms they have are a collective endeavor by us all and to motivate them to create more freedom and choices for those around them. Lifting each other up is one of our family values.
My friend, Rosemary Brensen, master facilitator and owner of the Department of Community, came to lead us through a few exercises to get us started. My favorite was her future party exercise. You make a list of all the thoughts and feelings that are on the invite list to your future, and then list all those that are not invited into your future. I loved hearing everyone’s list. Fun, creativity, ease, and disco balls were some ideas that made it onto the “invite” list while anger, jealousy, physics homework, and cheese fondue were on the “not invited” list. Cheese fondue and disco balls aside, the magic of this exercise was creating a shared language between the four of us about what we want more of in the spaces between us. I could see the empowerment of our daughters asking for more of the things they love in life to be invited in and a safe way to address some of the attitudes and behaviors they would love to see less of from their siblings and parents. It’s a brave and real conversation that was easier to have in this context.
We also did an exercise where we imagined ourselves as being at the end of our lives, describing what we hope is taking place in this distant future. We wrote a short story about what we saw, who was
there, and what everyone was doing. We then stepped back five years from now and then one year from now. We zoomed out to see the big picture, then zoomed back into the near future to identify the steps we can take now to paint our bigger picture. What I love about reading our kids’ visions for the future is that they keep it simple with animals, friends, good food, staying active, and each other. I assume I know what my children want from life, but how could I actually know unless I take the time to ask? This is a beautiful way to learn how to support their dreams and hopes and to trust them with mine. It’s a move towards genuine intimacy with one another.
The final thing we did was use a big white board to write out all the things we usually do each year and all the things we want to do. Then we started filling in the calendar around school, work, and sports. Before this, I was feeling a lot of stress as the self appointed “head of calendar.” Letting go of control and trusting my family to decide empowered everyone to take accountability for what events stayed and what went. There was none of the stress, resentment, or disappointment I feared might happen in choosing one thing over another. Giving everyone equal responsibility, we worked through the year with relative ease. Decisions happened quickly after everyone understood the limited space we have in a year’s time, and, to my surprise and joy, the time we do have felt more abundant than it had when we started. My oldest found a week to work on her leadership skills next summer that she had been secretly dreaming of. My youngest started planning a trip she was hoping to take, and my husband saw how the kids were committed to organizing rides home for themselves in order for him to play hockey once a week. Through our accountability to one another, we each found our freedom—a lesson I hope they will take to their larger communities and as citizens in this world.
If you are interested in hosting your own family, friendship, or couple’s summit, reach out! I’m happy to share more how-tos. And if making a move is within those plans and dreams, we at Living Room would be happy to help you make those dreams a reality.
SERVES 4 – 6
I LOVE THIS COMBINATION OF INGREDIENTS , but other types of nuts like pecans and walnuts are great here, too. Do a full-on ri and try cabbage instead of kale, pear or orange instead of apple and you’ve got yourself another delicious variation. Make it hardier and add some lentils, beans, quinoa, or any other protein.
1 Tablespoon minced shallot
1 Tablespoon sherry vinegar
2 teaspoons pure dark (Grade A) maple syrup
1 1⁄2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
3 Tablespoons roasted hazelnut oil
Through Lauren Chandler Cooks, Lauren helps individuals and families grow healthier and happier by providing customized culinary instruction, chef services, recipes, and meal plans.
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 head of lacinato (aka dinosaur or Tuscan) kale, very thinly shredded
Maple Hazelnut Vinaigrette ingredients above
1 large Honeycrisp apple (or another firm, sweet, and tart apple), sliced into matchsticks
1⁄3 cup thinly sliced fennel (reserve fennel fronds and roughly chop them to add in if you wish)
1⁄3 cup roughly chopped, roasted hazelnuts
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
The Brooklyn neighborhood, notable for its large railyard, was originally named “Brookland” for the river, creeks, and lakes once found at the southeast end of the Ross Island Bridge.
1 In a small bowl, whisk together the shallot, vinegar, maple syrup, and mustard. Continue whisking and slowly drizzle in the oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Alternatively, combine all the ingredients in a jar and give it a good shake.
2 Place the kale in a large bowl and add enough vinaigrette to coat, massaging it into the kale for a minute or so until the kale becomes tender.
3 Gently fold in the apple, fennel, and most of the hazelnuts, reserving a tablespoon of hazelnuts for garnish and adding more salt and pepper if you wish. Divide equally among plates and garnish with the reserved hazelnuts and fennel fronds if you are using them.
Our perfect day starts o with breakfast at the Original Hot Cake House. With a menu that hasn’t been altered much in 80 years, you can expect a welcoming atmosphere and hearty food, 24 hours a day.
1002 SE POWELL BLVD
We will make our way to the riverfront and visit one of Portland’s coolest museums. The Rail Heritage Center is home to railroad equipment, artifacts, and a vintage piece of rail history!
2250 SE WATER AVE
Next, we will head to Edelweiss and grab our lunch to-go. Here you can find traditional bratwurst, sausages, homemade breads, and sweet treats that are hard to find outside of Europe. 3119 SE 12TH AVE
Grab a spot on a bench with our Edelweiss picnic and enjoy the gothic style of Reed College. Reed o ers the neighborhood a great walking destination, including a forested canyon nature preserve at its center.
3203 SE WOODSTOCK BLVD
Get regular updates and insights on the market from the brokers here at Living Room with our “What You Need to Know About the Market” video series. Scan the code to subscribe to our channel and get biweekly updates direct to your feed.
To begin the evening, we will catch a show at the Aladdin Theatre, a classic movie, comedy, and live music venue complete with The Lamp bar. Dinner and a show!
3017 SE MILWAUKIE AVE
Lastly, we will grab a nightcap at one of the coziest breweries in town. Gigantic is the true definition of “o the beaten path.” Tucked into an industrial part of the neighborhood, they have a dog-friendly patio, conveniently-located food carts, and delicious housebrewed beer. 5224
2022 HAS BEEN A VERY UNUSUAL REAL ESTATE MARKET. The unprecedented rise in interest rates, in addition to other inflationary factors, have amounted to what some have called “a ordability shock” that is giving pause to much of the transactional behavior that we have seen in the last few years.
This pause can be scary because it opens the idea that prices will be coming down, and it appears that we are seeing some downward drift in values in our market. But as we look forward into 2023, I have confidence that real estate will hold value and continue to appreciate in the long term. Prior to the pandemic, nationally, we bounced between 1.2 million and 1.7 million homes listed for sale per month. We are currently at the low inventory levels that we saw in 1982, but the thing that has changed is that the US population of buyers has grown by 40% in the last 40 years. This imbalance of buyers versus listed properties will keep values stable and appreciating. So, while this market certainly FEELS di erent, the fundamentals moving forward will be wind at your back. Since inventory will remain historically low, the main thing creating this “pause” feeling is the reduction of buyer energy due to increased financing costs. With the right plan, there are ways to structure financing to get rates back to pandemic levels and take advantage of an opening for buyers.
JAMES ADAIRNMLS 272766
how the numbers are looking compared to the same time last year.
Average Prices for Single Family Homes, Attached Homes, and Condos
Percent change since November 2021 NOV 2022
Hillsboro $554,757 +1.30%
Beaverton $568,203 +9.26%
Most significant increases in sales price compared to Nov 2022
AREA INCREASE
Grshm/Trtdl 9.98% Beaverton 9.26% Milwaukie 8.81% North PDX 4.06% S/SW PDX 3.70%
Tigard $555,465 -0.38%
North PDX $490,539 +4.06%
Vancouver, WA $513,388 +3.69%
Northeast PDX $560,802 +1.76%
Portland Metro Market Averages
NOV 2022
Stats via RMLS for Areas 141–152
Southwest & South PDX $772,762 +3.70%
Southeast PDX $534,548 +2.78%
Northwest PDX $691,969 -3.52% Milwaukie $530,165 +8.81% Lake Oswego & West Linn $834,105 +2.89%
$639,869
Avg. Sales Price 42 Avg. Days on Market
SINGLE FAMILY HOMES
Here’s
A Slice of City Life
859 SW Broadway Drive #44, Portland, OR 97201
This light-filled, two-story condo has vaulted ceilings, a large primary bedroom, tons of storage space, and two expansive balconies with lots of room to garden and relax while admiring views of Mt. Hood. There is new flooring throughout much of the home plus new appliances.
2 Bed | 1.5 Bath | 928 sq ft $295,000
Here are just a few of the beautiful homes we have for sale.
303 Cherry Avenue, Oregon City, OR 97045
Don’t miss this well-maintained, mid-century home. The split-level floor plan has three bedrooms and two baths on the main level, and a cozy bonus room, halfbath, and laundry on the lower level. It sits less than two miles from historic Downtown Oregon City and just blocks to Rivercrest Park and the Blu !
3 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 1,772 sq ft $535,000
Fully Renovated Kings Heights Mid-Century
3335 NW Luray Terrace, Portland, OR 97210
Situated on .99 acres at the edge of Forest Park next to the Cumberland Trail, this distinct and skillfully renovated mid-century dwelling has vast new windows and handsome new aesthetics bringing the forest inside. It includes a lofty timber living room with exposed beams and wood-burning stove with windows on three sides.
4 Bed | 4 Bath | 3,017 sq ft $1,690,000
Given the nature of real estate, these homes may already be pending or sold. See more on our website: livingroomre.com
Download our app and begin your home search. Send prospective properties directly to your broker.
Even in the best of circumstances, home buying is a journey that is di erent for every buyer. What started o as a quick “get to know you call” turned into many fun adventures to find the house they would call home. It didn’t take long to find something that excited K & L, even cooler, we got it under list! Ultimately, it didn’t work out, but when we started searching again we found their dream home. The new home sat almost directly across from the first but fit their needs much better. No journey is without its twists and turns, but everything seems to work itself out in the end.
Meeting these two immediately warmed my heart and enriched my life. We began a journey to repair their current home, search for something new, and move on from a house fire from Christmas Eve 2021. Working together, we found the perfect home in the Richmond/SE Portland neighborhood that was a dream. Their soon-to-be new home had a story and a feeling of stability. The home felt right and conveyed the kind of care and earnestness I’d come to know and love about this incredible couple. I’m so thrilled as we say congratulations on their closing this November, and a very grateful Thanksgiving!
Being an out of state buyer can be really tough. Normally you’re able to look at houses any time, but with a 3.5 hour drive between Portland and Seattle and full-time jobs, that was not in the cards. On weekends, Alison and Peter would travel down and tour both days. It was exhausting but necessary. For the rest of the time, I previewed homes on their behalf, often with my new baby strapped to my body. When the right house came along, I sent a video tour, and after a special drive down to Portland by Peter to see the house for himself, we had a winner!
We are in the business of sharing stories— stories of the people we work with and of the neighborhoods we know and love that make up the great city of Portland.
Happy key day to these first time homebuyers! It’s been quite the journey together, and we are so honored to be part of it. We started looking at houses over two years ago, pre-pandemic, and found the one we thought was “it.” Little did we know, the pandemic was right around the corner and would soon change everything. These two fought hard to get to their end goal of homeownership, and here they are, moving into the first home they own together. It’s been a
working with you, M & B, Congratulations on
If a picture is worth a thousand words, this one pretty much sums up why I do this work. So much joy for Jonathan, Eilee, and Theo and your new home. May it provide you with years of joyful moments of love, growth, and discovery!
Local owners of Co ee Time and Cascadia Co ee Pub, Susan and Jason, met me at a Christmas party in 2016. They became quick friends. After watching me build my own rental portfolio, Jason and Susan were inspired. When prices started to come down, they decided the time was right to start looking. They didn’t hesitate when this beautiful remodeled home with a permitted ADU had a $64,000 price drop to draw attention. In this buyer friendly market, we negotiated an $11,443 credit, covering all their closing costs. Now the main house is rented and paying most of the mortgage, while Jason and Susan enjoy the spacious two bedroom ADU for themselves.
Congratulations Susan and Jason!
Read more stories on our blog: livingroomre.com/blog
“Now the main house is rented and paying most of the mortgage, while Jason and Susan enjoy the spacious two bedroom ADU for themselves.”
pleasure
this huge accomplishment!
Repair costs and property taxes have gone up drastically and many home repair vendors are understa ed. Landlords have to wait for available vendors, increasing vacancy days. This, as well as the higher prices, hit landlords straight in the pocketbook. For example, the average interior paint job cost a Living Room landlord $2,107 in 2021 and $2,587 in 2022, a whopping 23% increase. Across the board, we saw vendor fees increased anywhere from 4% to 35%.
Q. There has been a ton of press surrounding the state’s rental increase cap which jumped from 9.9% to 14.6%. Should tenants be worried?
In the city of Portland, if a renewal o er within city limits exceeds a 9.9% increase, landlords run the risk of paying relocation fees. Relocation fees range between $2,800 and $4,500, depending on the size of the home, so most landlords won’t risk that level of increase. Also the market isn’t there right now, what we see is that the market rarely bears more than a 7% increase on renewal.
The reduction of new construction combined with the sale of over 20% of single-family rental homes in Portland during 2020–2021 has resulted in a low inventory crunch. We will see increased rents due to unmet demand. Expect renewal o ers to increase between 3–7%, and newly turned over homes to lease for 6–8% more than the last tenant’s monthly rate.* Thankfully, we are slowly seeing more single-family and condos come back to the rental market. Homeowners who financed with record low interest rates in the 2–4% range are choosing to rent and sell when the market picks back up. This might be good news for tenants short-term, but there is some concern that when interest rates come down, landlords will want to sell those homes before capital gains set in.
Renters and buyers continue to be attracted to the schools, yards, and fewer houseless encampments in the suburban market, and investors have followed suit—taking advantage of the tax benefits of investing outside Multnomah County. Multifamily Northwest reported the lowest vacancy rates this fall are in Milwaukie and Beaverton at 2%.
Downtown Portland struggles with the highest rates of vacancy in our city at over 5%. This is an opportunity for bullish investors who think Portland is certain to make a comeback.
Single-family, three bedroom homes in Portland renting from $2,200–$2,900 continue to be the fastest moving rentals in the Living Room portfolio, sitting on the market for less than four days and receiving an average of three applications each.
In our overall portfolio, the average rent is $2,278, and approximately 65% are singlefamily and 35% attached homes and ADUs.
*Assuming the property is at current market rate
Living Room Realty’s Property Management division is personable, relatable, and honest. Our commitment to excellence, education, and technology, as well as our ability to respond and adapt to market forces, means we can confidently provide the highest caliber of service. View our available rentals at livingroomrentals.com or reach out to us at 503-929-5223 to learn how we can take care of your investment.
Q. What are some of the biggest obstacles for landlords right now?
Q. Which way do you see rental rates trending in the next year?
Q. Where are the best places to invest
Curious how your rental rate stacks up against the market? Check out the updated rates as shared by Multifamily Northwest in their Fall/Spring rental report.
JAN 20—FEB 18
Strength: This card shares a message of inner determination and personal power. Your strength gives you the confidence to overcome any growing fears, challenges, or doubts. Find the power within yourself, trust your instincts, and approach any di cult situation from a place of compassion.
MAY 22—JUN 21
The Lovers: This card represents relationships and choices. It may relate to a romantic relationship, but it can also be about your relationship with your community, career, and self. Are you feeling balanced? Are you communicating your needs clearly and feeling heard? Take some time this season to take stock of where you spend your time, and how it makes you feel.
SEP 23—OCT 22
The Devil: Perhaps an intimidating card at first glance, the Devil encourages us to reflect on negative habits that may be holding us back. Checking your email when you first wake up?
Avoiding a di cult conversation? Choosing paths that give us instant gratification sometimes aren’t the healthiest in the long run. This is an opportunity to become aware of these patterns and make a change.
Guidance from the cards for each of the zodiac signs this winter.
FEB 19—MAR 20
The Magician: The Magician predicts that during this season an opportunity or idea will present itself to you. Seize the day! You have everything you need to be successful at your fingertips. By tapping into the magic that is you and the resources around you, you’re bound to be successful in whatever you take on.
JUN 22—JUL 22
The Fool: The Fool is the first card in the story of the Tarot, and brings such a delightful adventurous energy! This card represents new beginnings and taking a leap of faith. The journey you are about to embark on is going to have ups and downs undoubtedly, but this is a sign to go for it.
MAR 21—APR 19
The Hermit: The Hermit suggests that you are in a phase of introspection. This card signals the need for a period of quiet contemplation and solitude. When you can, find ways to take a break from everyday life to draw your energy and attention inward for quiet reflection and soul-searching.
LEO JUL 23—AUG 22
Temperance: Fiery Leo, this card may go against your nature, but Temperance urges you to slow down and find balance and moderation. Avoid rash decisions or extreme solutions, and focus on your values and what’s really important. Patience and moderation are your keys to success this season.
APR 20—MAY 21
The World: Pulling the World card shows that all the e orts that you have been putting in place are starting to pay o Maybe you’ve completed a major milestone in your life and are integrating all of the lessons from that chapter. You are in a place of achievement. Bask in it and show gratitude for all it took to get here.
VIRGO
AUG 23—SEP 22
The Chariot: The Chariot is a card of willpower, determination, and strength. This card is a sign of encouragement. You have set your objectives and are now channeling your inner power with a fierce dedication to bring them to fruition. Keep your eyes on the prize, and focus your energy into your biggest projects this season.
OCT 23—NOV 21
The High Priestess: A dreamy card, the High Priestess encourages you to trust the knowledge deep within your soul. This is the time for connecting with yourself and your higher powers. Keep a dream journal, meditate, and take long walks in the forest. Tending to your intuition will be a great resource for you as you journey on through the year.
NOV 22— DEC 21
The Star: The Star indicates that you are entering a peaceful, loving phase of your life. This could be a time of significant personal growth, and anything is possible. Be open to new ideas and invest in all the things that give you a sense of meaning or purpose in your life. This is also a great time to establish a gratitude journal.
DEC 22— JAN 19
The Sun: A joyful card! The Sun shines out a positive and radiant energy to all you do this season. This card connects you to abundance magic, drawing the right people towards you, and allowing you to be authentically present. Success multiplies when you share your knowledge, community, and resources with those around you.