Keywords: Unique, Affordable, Urban
Perhaps you didn’t google, “unique, affordable, urban homes for sale,” but here’s a sampling of just that. There’s an abundance of creativity in Portland, and in today’s market home builders can also be counted in that lot. On the market right now, you can find a 364sf condo that comes with an electric bike, a co-housing style condo that is a part of a community land trust to ensure affordability, and a high-performing, LEED-Platinum urban condo on the MAX line with eco-roofs and custom solar shading designs to mitigate against overheating while allowing loads of natural light in. All this is possible and available.
Here are three current projects to check out, if any of these descriptions pique your interest:
Division 43 (from low $100s)
Woolsey Corner (from $101,600)
Killingsworth Station: aka, K-Station (from $169,900)
Division 43 is a unique model of “micro-housing” that we haven’t seen in Portland before. Woolsey Corner also pushes the envelope with its playful details (repurposed instruments in the railings, sculptural downspouts, and live-edge trim accents) and its ownership structure as a Proud Ground Community Land Trust property, which will keep it affordable indefinitely. K-Station is set to be certified as LEED-Platinum building, placing it at the forefront of current sustainable building practices, and they offer a special down payment assistance loan for eligible buyers. This delivers a level of design and performance that hasn’t been available at these prices before in Portland. For more information about any of these properties or the financing available for them, contact me.
The market is being transformed, and as with any system with monetary or design constraints, people get creative to adapt and generate new solutions. I hope you’ve found these options interesting in the least. If you’d like to know more about these properties or any other listings on the market, we’d be happy to set up a customized search to help you find the right fit for your needs. Be in touch. Be well.
Comfort, Savings, and Staying Ahead of the Curve
Weatherization & Home Performance Pros–Portland, Oregon
Whether you own an 1890 Queen Anne, a 20s Bungalow, a Cape Cod, a mid-century ranch, or a late 1998 home that was built to modern day code, there are gains to be had and money to saved (in most cases). Assuming energy costs increases over time, here are some local service providers and resources to help you achieve these gains and stay ahead of the curve. There are many programs available and the incentives go through periodic changes based on local and federal funding streams. As an Energy Trust Trade Ally, I recommend you make their website one of your first stops to learn about what kind of incentives are currently available.
Imagine Energy 503-477-9585
Hammer & Hand 503-232-2447
Streamline Dwellings 503-310-4981
Green Hammer 503-804-1746
Neil Kelly 866-691-2719
Green Home by EcoTech 503-493-1040
Gale Contractor Services (Deborah Shay & Amy Worthington) 306-241-1897
Energy Trust Trade Allies
For other resources, you can do a keyword search in the upper left corner of this website, or contact me. The River PDX is a Holistic Source for Real Estate. I’m happy to be a resource or be a helpful link in connecting you to the appropriate local service provider or supplier. If you have any suggestions of other contractors that should be added to this list, I’d love to learn about them.
For more conservation info see also, Ascending the Pyramid of Conservation.
Architects & Designers
Local Architects & Designers–Portland, Oregon
If you’ve been contemplating the big step of remodeling your home, creating an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) on your property, or, even bigger yet, building your own home in the Portland area, here’s a set of architects and designers (listed in no particular order) who have a body of residential work to consider.
Departure Design, Dan Lajoie + Michelle Jeresek
Andre Debar
Atelier Waechter, Ben Waechter
Limitless Blue, Corey Cliffe
Structures NW, Patrick Sugrue
PATH, Corey Martin
Paul McKean
Arciform
COMMUNITECTURE, Mark Lakeman
Emerick Architects
paolo design, Paolo Scardina
Architecture W
Giulietti/Schouten Architects
Building Arts Workshop
Works Partnership Architecture
Nathan Good
This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of local architects and designers, but a solid starting place for residential architectural resources in Portland, Oregon. I welcome suggestions for additions to this list. In addition to these websites, some of these offices maintain a social media presence as well. In some cases, that provides a more up to date glimpse of what they’re working on right now. Enjoy perusing the work of our local talent! Here’s a brief sampling of local work.
Green Home Sampler–Earth Advantage, LEED, and Energy Star
Green homes. Whether it’s an Earth Advantage house, a LEED house, or an Energy Star house, they’ve made their way safely into our market, despite the overall slow down in new construction. According to the market report released by our local 3rd party certifier, Earth Advantage, they account for roughly 23% of the new housing stock being built and sold, and their fetching a premium. Here’s a healthy sampling of what’s currently on the market in Portland. There are more, but this gives you a clear sense of the price range and type of homes being built. If you’d like to see one of these first-hand, give me a call, and we’ll set that up. I’m happy to walk you through one of these to see what they have to offer. As of today, there are 73 active green-certified homes to consider within Portland. Contact me to receive updates on homes like these, or to set a guided tour.










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