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.

FOR SALE: 541 SW Maplecrest Ct., Portland, OR 97219, listed @ $529,950, call David for more details

This home is the amazing result of many minds being drawn together to create a superior high performance home. Taking its name, the Leapfrog House, from the notion of “greening further than most people dare to green,” this home aims to go beyond common expectations for how a home can perform. Each day that it awaits it’s buyer, someone is out there spending too much money on utility bills. I’ll save the mechanical details for their site, which outlines the construction techniques, mechanicals, and materials that you could pour over for hours. In essence, the home is intended to have the smallest carbon footprint possible–in the construction phase and over the course of its life. They thought of everything and did most everything–from harvesting almost all of the framing lumber and timbers at FSC-certified forests within a couple hours of Portland to burying two cisterns that store about 6,000 gallons of rainwater that can be filtered and sterilized for all uses in the house and for irrigation.

The almighty mechanical wall that makes this home perform exceptionally well

The floor plan allows for a multitude of lifestyles and living arrangements. The main living spaces are open and loft-like, with a couple loosely defined spaces that could used for multiple purposes. The plans also include nearly 600sf of space for an accessory dwelling unit  (ADU) above the garage, if that is what the buyer chooses to do. Or, it could be a home office, an art studio, a yoga and exercise space, or a massive master suite (if you’re so inclined). As it stands, it’s a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home with multiple bonus spaces that can adapt to different uses over time.

I highly recommend a tour, if you’d like to get a better sense of what sets this home apart. Contact me to set up a guided tour.[[Show as slideshow]]

If this type of home appeals to you and you’d like to explore other options within the Portland market, you can set up a search here, or contact me for a customized residential market search. This home is listed by Sandi Sheets @ Windermere Real Estate.

1. CoreHaus new construction PassivHaus
2. Engstrom & Werlin Duplex Renovation
3. Doleman Strawbale Dwelling
4. Harpoon House
5. Woolsey Corner Affordable Cohousing

Wow! That was hard. I’m still unsure of my choices, as there are so many interesting ones this year. Some I’ve already visited or anticipate having the opportunity to visit down the road, so that helped take a few off my plate, but there are still some that might make the list come tour day. Tickets are available online.

If you’re unable to make the tour, but would like to tap into the local green building and sustainable design world, there will also be A FREE fun, family-friendly information fair with green vendors, demonstrations, food, drink and music. I will have a table there to share my business and answer questions. There are usually dozens of local businesses and non-profits present to share what they’ve been working on and how they can help as you assess how this impacts your home and fits into your life. Overall, it’s a great day to gain inspiration and insight into how others are making strides to create healthy, sustainable living situations and dwellings. If you attend the info fair, stop by to say, “HI!”

The info fair will be held at EcoHaus from 3pm to 7pm. EcoHaus is located at 819 Se Taylor St., Portland, OR 97214. If you’d like updates on events like this throughout the year, check out my facebook page or twitter feed. Or, just contact me directly. Enjoy.

FOR SALE: The Ash Creek House: Award-winning LEED-Platinum Remodel, $495,000

Now at $495,000, the Ash Creek House offers a sophisticated balance between the tried-and-true mid-century ranch floorplan and sophisticated material choices and high performance systems. Between the beautiful refinished oak floors, the custom cabinetry, the Japanese soaking tub, the beautiful tile work, and the lush naturescaping, this 5 bedroom, 3 bath home is a one-of-a-kind destination, nestled in the rolling hills of SW Portland. As the 1st certified LEED-Platinum remodel in Oregon, the Ash Creek House employs a number of cutting edge systems for exceptional comfort with extremely efficient energy and water consumption. It is listed for $495,000 with Hilary Bourassa and Darcie Pelsor of Oregon First. For more details, or to schedule a  guided tour, contact David Todd of Meadows Group Realtors.[[Show as slideshow]]

Also noteworthy, this home was one of the first homes in Oregon to undergo the new protocol for home performance testing to receive an Energy Performance Score, EPS. Email me for more information on how this home performs, or general inquiries about home performance testing.

Resources that made this project possible:

• Paolo Design Group
• Green Hammer Construction
• LEED for Homes
• Earth Advantage
• Energy Trust of Oregon