"Where have YOU BEEN?"

That's the way my mom would say it when I'd been missing for a while and was (sort of) in trouble. And that's what my blog would say if it could talk. I've been so negligent in blogging lately, so it's time for a catch-up post.

Working backwards, I'll start with the houses my clients and I have been obsessing over.

We have an offer in on this one.



















Great, easy floor plan, nice, remodeled kitchen, big wide back yard with an incredible garden.

I guess it's nice to give an idea of the cost of these places that I picture, especially for my far away friends, or those interested in real estate... so this one is $599,000. Will report back if (when!) the deal goes through.


Last week, this beautiful view home ($799,000) was the object of a sweet family's affection, and we wrote and the buyer accepted our contingent offer. After only two days, we got "bumped" and were given 72 hours to sell their house.





>
















Luckily, it was an adorable dutch colonial right in the little village, and steps from everything a person could want. Well, everything a cool person could want. I couldn't believe how many people want "the village," but they don't want THE VILLAGE. Whatever.

























We worked and strategized and fretted.... and boy, my "Village People" rallied. Their place was shining and gorgeous, and always ready for guests, even though they have two (beautiful) little ones and a great big dog. And very full-time jobs.

The last showing was at 9:30pm the night before our 9am deadline. We were about to lose the view house. But we knew these buyers were interested. I was around the corner with the dad and the dog. The mom was in the yard with the baby monitor and the kids were asleep. One and a half hours later, as we were rehashing and figuring out our plan, my phone range. The Realtor was across the street, wondering if she could present an offer.

So, this is one Real Estate story that I wished was on HGTV. It worked out beautifully, the buyers are perfect, the sellers are delighted, and so am I. Oh, the village house was $399,000. (only one bathroom, but otherwise, just adorable)

Hard to believe, but that represents about three week's work, with the showings, the offers, the listing, the photos, the tours, the open houses, the paperwork and so forth. Two normal weeks, and one awfully stressful one.

Coming up: A very neat house on a gorgeous lot in a good neighborhood, priced at $515,000. She's my very first client, back for her fifth transaction in nine years. (sold, bought, sold, bought, now selling again) I LOVE this woman, and am looking forward to spending time with her and her family. Photos being taken on Friday!

In other news...


















Cam flew to Rome yesterday, anxious to meet Betsy and travel together for a while. She spent a summer studying Italian and translation, (she's a Romance Language major) and is winding up the experience with a little vacation time. They're in Cinque Terre at the moment, and headed to Capri next. We're taking care of Peter - we better get used to having three dogs - there's no telling where those two will take off for after they graduate in March. They're talking Italy....

















There are lots of babies arriving this summer and I've attended a couple of showers lately. Two friends have just welcomed sets of boy/girl twins! (Want to know their names? Parker and Julia, and Jakob and Taylor! Aren't they cute?)

These photos are of two of my favorite sisters, at a baby shower for a future little boy... and look at the fabulous hiking carrier thingy (I'm such a hiker!) they got from her parents!



















My movie group (The Film Flams) is going to The Time Traveler's Wife on Wednesday, with dinner at Laura's pool afterwards... always a wonderful night swimming under the stars and (only slightly) under the influence ;-)

The book group is reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and the discussion and party will be at my house this time. (I had German food last time when we read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Do I always choose books that go with bratwurst??)

I'm headed to Philadelphia on 9/11 for a big, swinging birthday bash for three of my "Philly Girls," Terri, Chrissy and Mary. All turning 50 three days in a row, with a party and live music on Terri's beautiful stone terrace. (Pray for sunshine) She lives in an early 20th century stone barn, converted to a wonderful house - just up the road from our old house in PA.

Following that, we're headed to the shore for a little stay at Sid's beach house, and then to NYC. We'll be seeing Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman in "A Steady Rain." (hate the moustache, Dan)















Then I'll connect with Laura and Betsy, my truly oldest and dearest friends since childhood, and we'll finish off the week in NYC. Betsy lives in Chelsea and Laura is flying in from Milwaukee. (with a late celebration for her 50th birthday as well) I am pretty sure my cheeks will be sore after this trip - all these friends and I laugh from start 'til finish. I can not wait to see them all!

When I get home, Whit will be temporarily living with us. His firm has transferred him to the Portland office - and he's excited to have a chance to get back to the big city - and get a house in NW Portland with a couple of his old friends. I'm just thrilled to have one of the kids back in town.

We have season tickets to the U of O football games with Whit, so we'll have lots of fun together this fall - tailgating with the boys and their friends. The season opener is on TV Thursday night, and Norris and I are already getting excited!

Last, but not least, here's a little photo or two of the pups in their favorite place. (and mine) The sun.

Happy end of summer!

Book Club Beach Weekend

We haven't held our book club anywhere but each others' homes in a long time. There was a memorable mountain trip, but we usually find it hard to organize everyone and all our various schedules, and often give up. But recently, we started a bucket list, and a beach weekend was one of the first items on the list. And so it began.

















We're a competitive bunch, and I was arguably the worst golfer there, but I won! And it wasn't because I was keeping score! Really!

















It all started with golf, moved on to grilled shrimp and many bottles of chilled white wine, then a competitive and hilarious game of cranium, and finally, dancing.


















(You can't imagine how many of these photos didn't make the blog!)



































The next morning, the weather was beautiful, though we didn't all feel quite so beautiful, so we dragged ourselves to a waterfront restaurant for chowder, burgers and fish.


















Shopping, a trip to the beach, and then home for fajitas and our book discussion.


















Our book club bylaws stipulate that there must be red wine and candy. We had sangria and bushels of candy! We like to follow the rules to a T.

















Kathy's beach house is adorable, and look at the pretty view!


















Sunday morning's bloody marys, glorious sunshine and hours of chit chat on the deck made for a perfect ending to a wonderful, memorable weekend.

















It's already been 14 years since Kristin started our group, and we've weathered all kinds of storms. But here we are, still, bound by friendship, love of books, and together for the long haul. So what's next on the bucket list?

How I spent my summer - Camp 2009

Bag o' omelettes

















Freshly corn-rowed and zonked

















Unbelievable cheese/corn dip. We didn't have room for dinner after inhaling this.

















Stacy frying up some bread, Dave adding comic relief

















Dave and Norris

















Brady (Chip) Alex, Whit, Orrin

















Glen and Deb

















The center of our camping universe





















Bart

















Whit and Orrin diving off the boat for frisbees (and Deb)

















Glen and Norris

















Ryan and Kim

















Captain Fun

















The girls (Bailey, Alex and Alex)

















Dave and Alex. Did we really have three Alexes on this trip?

















Whit and Kyle, the reason this group even knows one another. Thank goodness for soccer tryouts in 1984! 15 years of family friendship.

















Kyle being forced to drink out of a girlie Margarita glass
















Dave and Kim cutting the rug/dirt

















Penny


















While Stacy wasn't busy making incredible food, or offering the utmost in hospitality at their base camp, she wove a simple wreath from sticks, leaves and ferns. She's so talented, and you should hear her whistle!

Our trip was amazing, in spite of rain, cold, delays, and a forecast that actually said SNOW! We took it in stride and had a wonderful time, just as we did last year!

Next year? Yes! Group Campsite for 70. Watch for your invitation!

Chase Update

He's awake, he can breathe on his own, his grip is firm and he can respond to questions. He's smashing our expectations and coming around like the champ that we knew he would be. Nowhere out of the woods yet, but he's going to live, and he's going to walk and talk. He threw a pillow at the nurse!

Team Chase

Cam's childhood buddy is in critical condition, after an accidental fall down the stairs on to a concrete floor. No one is sure how long he was there before they found him, but it is guessed that it is somewhere near one hour.

He has been in an induced coma for about 9 days, and they have been slowly bringing him out of it. Today he is expected to open his eyes.

It's going to be a super hard day for his family. Up until now it has been almost surreal. Today it is going to be very real.

I'm going to sit in the waiting room with them, along with about 50 kids who come every day for their vigil.

Chase's mom, Kristin, started my book club a long time ago - we're her ya-yas, and we've been doing all that we can for her throughout this ordeal. Sitting in the waiting room doesn't seem like much, but it's all we can do. That, and to continue to feed the nurses. I'm always good for some cookies.

Tomorrow we're supposed to go camping for five days. There is some rain in the forecast and the trip is hanging in the balance.

Watching and waiting. I'm doing a lot of that lately.

A nice column about Chase was in the Oregonian today...

Many think the worst is over.

The New York Times offers good news:


After a plunge lasting three years, houses have finally become cheap enough to lure buyers. That, in turn, is stabilizing prices, generating hope that the real estate market is beginning to recover.

For the first time since early 2007, a composite index of 20 major cities was virtually flat, instead of down.

“We’ve found the bottom,” said Mark Fleming, chief economist for First American CoreLogic, a data firm.

The release of the surprisingly strong Case-Shiller Price Index, compiled by Standard & Poor’s, followed earlier reports that sales of existing homes rose last month for the third consecutive time, while sales of new homes rose in June by the largest percentage in eight years.

All of these improvements are tentative, and come after a relentless decline that knocked more than half the value off houses in the worst-hit cities.

Some skeptics say they believe the market is merely pausing before it resumes falling and that much of the life in the market is coming from speculators. Even the most enthusiastic analysts acknowledge that rising unemployment, another leap in foreclosures or a significant jump in interest rates could snuff out progress.

Still, hope is growing in some quarters that the worst has passed.

“Recession is over, economy is recovering — let’s look forward and stop the backward-looking focus,” John E. Silvia, the Wells Fargo chief economist, wrote Tuesday in a research note.

Kirit Shah decided to look forward a few weeks ago. A retired forensic chemist for the New York Police Department, he closed on a house in Royal Palm Beach, Fla.

Mr. Shah was not dissuaded when the salesman at K. Hovnanian Homes told him the five-bedroom place had been empty since it was finished three years ago. “It was waiting for me,” said Mr. Shah, 64. “I’m on a lakefront. I never dreamed I would be on a lakefront. I’m within walking distance of a swimming pool.”

But the thing he likes best is this: he paid $260,000 for the five-bedroom house, half of what that model was fetching during the boom. “An excellent deal,” he said. “Plus I got a good rate on my mortgage, under 5 percent.”

Turning markets are full of uncertainty. If Mr. Shah was one reason new home sales were up 11 percent in June from May, it is unclear just how many others like him are out there.

Brad Hunter, chief economist for Metrostudy, a research firm, said the new home numbers appeared to illustrate less a return of buyers like Mr. Shah and more a resurgence of investors and speculators. Metrostudy’s own data showed that the number of buyers during the second quarter who actually moved into their new house declined 2.6 percent.
“Investors are turning right around and putting the houses on the market for sale or for rent,” Mr. Hunter said. “What appears to have been an absorption of excess inventory can be just a changing of ownership of that inventory.”

The good news in the Case-Shiller index, the most widely watched source of price information about the housing market, is equally provisionary. Tracking only large urban areas, the monthly index does not represent the country as a whole.

The Case-Shiller figures released Tuesday showed May prices were down 17.1 compared with May 2008. As bad as that may sound, it was the fourth consecutive month that price declines slowed — a step in the right direction, but perhaps not cause for widespread celebration.

More attention was focused on the news that, when May was compared with April, the price index for 20 major cities showed a half-percent gain. It was the first month-over-month increase in the index in 34 months.

“It is very possible that years from now we will say that April 2009 was the trough in home prices,” said Maureen Maitland, vice president for index services at Standard & Poor’s.
When the numbers were adjusted for seasonal factors, however — the usual way housing figures are presented — the slight gain disappeared and the index was essentially flat. Half of the cities showed continued declines.

One reason the market is perking up in some places, real estate agents say, is the encouragement offered by such measures as the first time buyer’s tax credit of $8,000.

All the more reason, said the National Association of Realtors, to not only extend the credit but expand it. The association is lobbying for the current credit, which expires in December, to be replaced with a $15,000 credit for all buyers.

“This is a relatively low-cost way to keep the housing market moving forward,” said Paul Bishop, the association’s managing director of research.

Another reason for the market’s resurgence is the prevalence of foreclosures, which make up about a third of all existing home sales. In some troubled regions, agents say they cannot remember the last transaction that did not involve a bank disposing of a property.

These communities are not yet showing any improvement in prices. Las Vegas was the worst-performing city in the May Case-Shiller index, falling 2.6 percent. Prices have fallen there by a third in the last year.

“The mom and pop that work at the Hilton can now afford a home here again,” said Justin Pechonis, a Las Vegas real estate agent. “Las Vegas is a great place to buy now.” But not from him. Sickened by seeing so many clients foreclosed on, he is getting out of the business. He now drives a taxi.

All this uncertainty breeds a hesitancy that seems to show up in nearly every sale, especially at the higher end of the market. When Margot and Pascal Lalonde decided in April to sell their two-bedroom condominium in the North End of Boston, they methodically quizzed six experienced agents about a good price.

List it for under $500,000 unless you want to be here for months, said one agent. Two others said they should demand $675,000. The other three were in between.

“In a market with so few sales, no one knows what to do,” said Ms. Lalonde, a consultant.

After 80 days on the market and two small price reductions, the condo is now under contract for $550,000. The buyers examined the apartment six times. The Lalondes, who are moving to Short Hills, N.J., expect to be no less careful when they buy.

New Law affects Home Sales

Last week the Governor signed a bill requiring that a carbon monoxide detector and alarm be installed in every home sold (limited on “one and two family homes or multifamily homes”). The bill was signed as an “emergency bill” which means it is in effect immediately.

So, starting now, all homes that have a carbon monoxide producing element (gas stove or oven, gas/oil furnace, fireplaces, gas water heater, etc.) must have an installed and active carbon monoxide alarm devise. Failure to have the devise in place at the time of transfer of title will not invalidate the transfer. The penalty for not having the devise in place at the time of transfer is $250 per incident or actual damages.

I'll try to locate the best, most cost-effective source for carbon monoxide detectors and have the information on hand. Please contact me to learn more.

Brandstetter Family Reunion

Summer, 2010








Mirror Lake, Wisconsin Dells,

















Picture us here....
























I dibs being the cook.























Pam, Cary, Joe and Bedo. Spouses, nine kids. (all but two are already out of college) My kids haven't seen their Midwestern cousins since 1997!














Eight bedrooms, bunks above the boat house located down a dark, scary path through the woods, waterslides in one direction, Taliesen in the other. A trip to Sparta to see the second and third cousins, and, hopefully, a swim in the Sparta Pool, root of all my happiness....the planning starts now. I can hardly wait.