This spring Corrinna was living in a beautiful early mid-century condo, in the heart of it all, in trendy North Portland.
It was bright, cute, quaint and spacious, but it was missing a few things. It was missing a garage for all of Corrinna’s toys – Motorcycles, Scooters, and Cars. Her dog, Britta, really needed her own yard. A designated sewing room was needed. And for all it’s amenities, this condo just like all others, had common-wall neighbors. As nice as they were, they still ‘existed’.
So we put this “cutie-condo” on the market, it was gone in a few weeks! Corrinna moved into a friend’s place and bided her time for a bit. What and where was her next step? She declared several times that it could take ages to find her a new house, she was going to be very exacting about it’s particulars… I gave her some time to relax, and recharge, transition from house selling to house shopping, figure out what she wanted for her next adventure..
A few months later, Corrinna and I were sitting in “The World’s Tiniest Saloon” (also known as the Golden Corral) which our mutual friend and a past client of mine had just created in the pantry of his home. Enjoying the fruits of Chris’ recent home purchase, our conversation drifted to houses, as it often does. Two days later, a fired up Corrinna called me having decided that the search was on!!
Quite open minded to area, but quite specific about style and amenities, I settled in for a long search. Uncannily, we saw two houses. Just two.
One was a derelict and off the list in five seconds (I swear someone was sleeping in the garage during our visit) and one was perfect in every way but also required what we’re calling ‘Southern Migration’. It’s a difficult decision to move from being a city girl in the heart of the chaos, but the siren song of the suburb called.
Perhaps what Portland is becoming played it’s part, perhaps it happened because I introduced her to all my other clients living in the sweet suburb of Milwaukie. Perhaps it was the steak dinner we shared at the Golden Nugget. Perhaps it’s because of the most beautiful and easily accessed riverfront in Portland. Could be it’s the reasonable taxes. Maybe it’s MAX. Mostly it’s the proliferation affordable pristine vintage dream homes and the reality check that many urbanites are accepting. You get more in Milwaukie.
Corrinna found a perfectly maintained single-owner home, on a gigantic landscaped lot, with covered and electrified RV parking, and the ‘piece de resistance’ – a finished and insulated garage with two rooms – enough space for all her toys. The storybook ranch house had cupboards galore in a sweet vintage kitchen, with original tiled baths, and vintage lighting. It boasted a rare radiant ceiling heat system, gleaming hardwoods, full wall brick fireplace, all on one level. It is situated five blocks from the river, and though you’re thinking ‘there’s probably no coffee nearby’ alas, two blocks away sits tiny downtown Oak Grove with it’s coffee shop and burgeoning revitalized street front. It’s all too sweet!
Corrinna was in a bit of awe that she found ‘The One’ so quickly. She asked me several times, “does it happen so quickly like this?” I was happy to confirm that yes, not often, but yes it does. When you know, you know… When it’s time to migrate all the pieces just seem to fit together.
Thanks to speedy work of Mortgage Broker Jen Bell, we closed the house on Christmas Eve!
Merry Christmas Corrinna! I hope you enjoy the biggest and best present you’ll ever buy for yourself! Congrats, and welcome to the hood!
