PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: Multnomah/Multnomah Village

Time for another PDX Neighborhood Spotlight! This month, I’m highlighting the quaint, historic, and oh so charming Multnomah/Multnomah Village in Southwest Portland.

About Multnomah
Multnomah is a neighborhood in the southwest section of Portland, Oregon, centered on the Multnomah Village business district. The community developed in the 1910s around a depot of the Oregon Electric Railway and was annexed by the city of Portland in 1950.
It is bordered by SW 45th Ave. on the west, SW Capitol Hill Road on the east, SW Vermont St. on the north, and I-5 in the south. Exceptions are the area north of SW Nevada Ct. and east of SW 26th Ave. (part of Hillsdale – another great PDX neighborhood!), an area south of SW Multnomah Blvd. and north of SW Dolph St. where SW 48th Ave. is the western border, and an area south of SW Marigold St. where SW Capitol Highway is the western border.
Within Multnomah is a business district called Multnomah Village – also known as “The Village in the Heart of Portland”. Multnomah Village offers everything from books to clothing and toys to a diverse array of food and drink options all within an easily walkable distance. The compact pedestrian-friendly “downtown” has the ambience and charm of an earlier period, but the vibe is very modern and maintains an ever-growing fan base that has discovered why Multnomah Village is sometimes referred to as “Portland’s Best Kept Secret.”

Murals in Multnomah Village

Gabriel Park
Gabriel Park is a little over 90 acres and offers a baseball field, softball field, soccer field, basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, a skatepark, paved and unpaved paths, reservable picnic sites, and so much more. The park is located between the Maplewood, Multnomah, and Hillsdale neighborhoods of Southwest Portland at 45th Avenue and Vermont Street. Its vast size and plentiful activities makes Gabriel Park an ideal location for small get-togethers while still practicing social distancing.

First Fridays & Multnomah Days
On the first Friday of every month, Multnomah Village celebrates “First Fridays”. Eat & shop from morning to night while enjoying special promotions and activities throughout the district.
Prior to COVID-19, Multnomah Village would host “Multnomah Days” on the third Saturday of August each year. The annual Multnomah Days Parade (dubbed “the biggest little parade in Portland”) is the neighborhood’s old-school street fair, starting with a parade and featuring vendors and performers from throughout the city (and beyond).
You can find more information on these events and event COVID-19 updates here.

Food/Drink
The French Quarter – Essentially a village “square” filled with food carts and a few boutique shops. Grab some Yoshi’s sushi, a delicious iced tea soda from Aesthete Tea, and pick up your seasonal fruit and veggies from the produce stand.
John’s Marketplace – Beer and wine drinkers will feel like a kid in a candy store. Not only does this store carry 400+ wines and 1,000+ (some rare & highly prized) beers, you can also sit down, enjoy a beer they have on their rotating tap and order some delicious grub. The Killer Turkey sandwich with avocado is a must.
Marco’s Cafe – Located in the historic Nelson Thomas building, Marco’s Cafe is full of Multnomah charm. I’d order the chicken fried steak or anything on their daily specials menu.
Lucky Labrador Public House – Also located in a historic building (the 1925 Masonic Lodge), Lucky Lab offers great outdoor seating and is dog friendly. The Mutt pizza + a Super Dog IPA = **chef’s kiss**.

Shops
Annie Bloom’s Books – An independent bookstore that first opened in 1978. You’ll find something for every type of reader there.
JP General – Great shop filled with unique one-of-a-kind items. Shop for home goods, gardening tools, accessories, jewelry, and more.
Arranged & Rooted – Wonderful little plant shop offering a variety of plants, local handmade planters, and very knowledgeable employees.
John’s Marketplace – Have to shoutout John’s Marketplace again for their massive beer and wine selection.

Market Stats
Multnomah is a highly sought after neighborhood to live in and it’s no question why. Here is the Multnomah Neighborhood Association’s Vision: “We envision that the Multnomah Neighborhood will remain a place defined by conscientious decision about the preservation of our canopy of trees, open space, and natural areas; limited and thoughtful residential and commercial development; small businesses; and safe streets. It is our vision that the Neighborhood will retain and judiciously improve on its small-town historic charms and small-scale main street Village character.”
Right now, the average price of a home in Multnomah is $595,526.95 with prices ranging from $91,000 – $876,000. Like I’ve mentioned before – it’s a seller’s market! Click here for a free home valuation.

References: Wikipedia, MultnomahVillage.org, and the Multnomah Neighborhood Association.

PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: North Tabor

Hi Friends!

Welcome to a new segment on the blog where I will highlight various neighborhoods around Portland. First up is my neighborhood: North Tabor. I’ve lived in North Tabor for 25 years, serving the area as a Real Estate Agent for almost 16 years. I guess you can say I really like it here 😉
Now let’s take a deep dive into the neighborhood.

About North Tabor
North Tabor is on the east side of the Willamette River on the northern slope of Mt. Tabor. The I-84 forms its northern boundary, separating it from the Hollywood District, Rose City Park, and Madison South neighborhoods to the north. NE/SE 44th Avenue separates it from Laurelhurst to the west while NE 68th Avenue separates it from Montavilla to the east. East Burnside Street forms most of the southern boundary (separating it from the Mount Tabor Neighborhood), except for a section west of SE 49th Avenue for which SE Stark St. forms the boundary with the Sunnyside neighborhood.*
Not only is North Tabor public transit friendly, the 50s Bikeway Project also extends through the neighborhood.
The North Tabor Neighborhood Association holds Zoom board meetings once a month.

Mural in North Tabor

Rosemont Natural Bluff Area
The only official park in the boundaries of North Tabor neighborhood is the Rosemont Natural Bluff Area, which if you drive by you probably won’t realize it’s a park. One of the only remaining Baseline Mile markers from the 1850’s for the original Baseline Road (now SE Stark Street, see my blog post “Surveying Portland, One Marker at a Time”) is at the corner of 61st and Stark.

Food/Drink
Tabor Tavern – The Rib Dinner is awesome!
Big’s Chicken – I love fried chicken, so the Half Bird with Cole slaw is my go-to.
American Dream Pizza – This iconic pizza joint has been around since 1985. My favorite is a large half “Bill Walton”, half “Rat Pack”.

Market Stats
My wife and I love walking from our house up to the top of Mt. Tabor, looking at historic homes (like the Shogren House) along the way. 91 homes were sold in North Tabor last year which is almost double the amount of sold homes from 2019. Right now, the average price of a home in North Tabor is $554,325 with prices ranging from $485,000 – $650,500. It is definitely a seller’s market! Click here for a free home valuation.

Shogren House via Shogren House Museum

Want to see your neighborhood in PDX Neighborhood Spotlight? Comment below!

References: * Wikipedia

Advantages to Selling a Home in Oregon This Winter

You might have read my previous blog on the advantages to buying a home in Oregon during the winter. The obverse of that article is that there are several compelling reasons to consider selling a home right now, even though winter has not been a particularly popular time to sell.

We are seeing historically low real estate inventory lately not just in the Portland market, but nationwide.

There was a 16% drop in number of homes put on the market in September compared to August. Lower inventory means a more competitive buyer landscape. Why is there a lower inventory? Sadly, one of the reasons is that this year’s wildfires destroyed over 4,000 homes in Oregon. Population growth also factors into a lower inventory. Some people concerned about selling their homes during the pandemic have chosen to hold off. This provides more space for you on the market if you list your home. Here are the precautions I take to ensure everyone’s safety.

Historically low interest rates of below 3% are motivating buyers.

Getting those incredibly low rates shaves off a remarkable difference in what homeowners pay monthly. The Freddie Mac chart below shows the drop in various types of mortgage rates over the past 12 months, bringing us to 2.67% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

Primary Mortgage Market Survey® | U.S. weekly average mortgage rates as of 12/17/2020

Below is a sample mortgage payment calculation factoring in a 10% down payment with a mortgage rate of 3.0%, 3.5%, and 4.0%. So with today’s historically low interest rates, a buyer’s monthly payment would be even lower.

Monthly Mortgage Payment Comparison (Multnomah County)

The National Association of Realtors graph below shows us the median price of a home in the Portland Metro area has increased even though we saw a dip in price growth in 2019. The third quarter of 2020 has rebounded considerably. Fourth Quarter 2020 report was not available at time of publishing.

Portland Vancouver Hillsboro Local Market Report – Third Quarter 2020

If you are still on the fence about whether to list now or wait until spring/summer when house hunting is traditionally more lively, contact me today to have a conversation about your concerns. In the meantime, check out my article on being a prepared home seller.

Originally published 12/28/2020

Why For Sale By Owner Is Not A Good Idea

Smooth ‘Sale-ing’ with Sean

Selling your home yourself might be tempting. Sure, low commission fees and no formal process of purchase might sound like an easy process. But what is the truth about selling your home yourself? Here are reasons why working with a realtor is better than going alone:

Experience

With over 15 years of real estate experience, I have seen a lot—including some surprises with the purchase of my own home. Wouldn’t it be better to hire someone who can anticipate and mitigate bumps in the road? I am trained and experienced in guiding you through the transaction process.

Real Estate Contract Expertise

Your broker is or should be keeping up on the state laws that govern real estate transactions. For example, are you familiar with FIRPTA? Some of the details of the real estate purchase contract are seemingly obscure, but part of the legal process of a sale. How do these rules and regulations impact your investment? Are you a landlord selling your rental property?

All of the legal documents are at your broker’s fingertips. We pay to have access to and use the required standard legal forms. Though tedious and voluminous, the paperwork is in place to protect you, your investment, and your payout. I ensure all the proper disclosure forms are in place so you don’t risk losing your earnest money should a buyer decide to back out. Or worse, a failed sale altogether.

Title Company

Are you equipped to navigate working with a title company? My brokerage and I have established relationships with title companies. The behind-the-scenes preparation influences how smoothly the closing process will go. They ensure all the boxes are checked so your home sale is recorded properly. This attention to detail mitigates errors that if not attended to, may come back to haunt you in the future.

Pricing

FSBOs accounted for 8% of home sales in 2018. The typical FSBO home sold for $217,900 compared to $295,000 for agent-assisted home sales. Source: 2020 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers(link is external)

I also provide:

The multi-page, detailed property entry in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) system. FSBO charges around $400 for this service.
Professional property photography and staging company recommendations so your listing makes that good first impression that is so critical in a competitive market.
Coordination of showings with buyers’ agents.
Installation of a lockbox.
Production and installation of property signage and flyers.
Marketing your property and buying ads and mailers to promote them.
Docusign account, ensuring quick turn-around times on electronic signatures and document delivery.
Access to other resources not readily available to the public.

Why spend time managing these details when you could have an expert handle them for you? While the allure of saving 1 or 2% in commission fees may tempt you, prepare yourself to make the sale of your home a full-time job. As they say, you get what you pay for! Anyone who has cut their own hair knows this to be true–and that some things are better left to the professionals. Contact me to discuss how I can help you with the smooth sale of your home!

Originally published December 16, 2020

Eight Things To Do Before Buying A Home

Are you ready to buy a house or condo?

Following are eight steps to prepare for this life change in order of priority. Being prepared paves the way to a seamless transaction.

Home Buyer Preparedness Checklist

1. Do Not Make Any Major Financial Changes

When you are getting ready to buy a home, and especially when you are under contract to buy a home, do not make any major changes in your life that affect your financial standing. Don’t switch jobs or do things that could adversely affect your finances, like opening new credit cards. Especially when in the transaction, do not buy a new car, new appliances, or furniture. Wait until after the transaction has closed before making any major purchases or life changes. A credit check alone can affect your credit score and may cause you to lose a home, even days before closing.

2. Get Pre-Approved

Getting pre-approved from a mortgage broker enables you to determine what your price range is, while taking into account what down payment you can afford. While pre-qualification is a good idea, having pre-approval is a better indication of your intent to buy. Realtors love working with pre-approved individuals because it shows you are more serious about buying. If you need a mortgage broker, contact me for referrals.

Many home buyers will look to the financial institution that they bank with as the first option when looking for a home loan. It is not the only option, and sometimes may not be the best solution. Mortgage brokers often have many more (hundreds) of options for finding loan solutions that can fit your needs and save you money. I recommend my buyers not only talk to their bank, but also to a mortgage broker and credit unions. Make sure that at least one is a local lender, as they can also know about special state and local lending programs that national lenders may not be aware of.

3. Make a “Dream List”

Compose a list of your requirements for the place you want to buy. Divide the list into things that are deal breakers and factors that are more flexible:

Is the school district a priority over your commute (if you have one)?
What about walkability score and access to services?
Or are you looking for a property that is more remote, because you want the acreage?

Having a defined list of “wants” will provide a clear vision of the property you seek and help your broker in searching out the best options for you. Work with your realtor on this list, and understand that often this list will evolve over the time of your search based on market inventory, price of the house, and other market factors. Browsing listings online can also help. Stop by open houses and drive to locations that you see in your online previews to start narrowing down those search parameters. Check out the property during the day and at nighttime, too.

4. Get A Referral And Start Discussions With A Buyer’s Broker

A buyer’s broker will provide you single agency representation. Oregon does allow for “dual agency”, where a seller’s listing broker can write an offer on their seller’s property for you. Remember though, that the listing broker has a contract with that seller and has a fiduciary responsibility to the seller. Working with a buyer’s broker offers you a real estate professional who has your best interests in mind in the transaction, guiding you through negotiations, inspections, and the entire home buying process. A broker can also help you research market conditions so you can understand the cost of homes in the vicinity of where you’d like to buy. Having comparable sales information helps determine how much to offer on a home.

5. Making An Offer

Once you’ve found a house you like, you’ll work with your broker to make an appropriate offer. Familiarize yourself with the process so you know what to expect. A good buyer’s broker can offer you referrals for home inspectors, contractors, or other professional services. Collect three referrals for each service. Home inspectors help identify any underlying issues your home may have, such as problems with the the roof, plumbing, or electrical system. There is an “Inspection Contingency Period” in Oregon real estate transactions. This is usually a period of ten business days to allow for a whole home inspection. The inspection report helps determine if it’s the right home for you and whether you want to negotiate needed repairs and/or a better price.

6. Home Insurance

Homeowner’s insurance is required when you purchase a home. Shop around to find the best rates. Bundling your home, auto, and other insurance can also be a way to save money.

7. Managing A Contingency Purchase

A contingency purchase is when you want to buy, but your purchase is contingent upon the sale of your home. In the low-inventory market we are experiencing in the Portland Metro area, many people who are looking to sell and then buy again are finding it challenging. Offers where there is a contingency of the sale of a home are at a disadvantage when up against offers that don’t have a home to sell. When the client feels comfortable releasing their contingency, and if selling first, then renting until finding a new home is also an option.

8. Organize Your Household Contents

Start sorting your personal effects now. You have more stuff than you realize, guaranteed. Getting started on purging before packing will enable an efficient and less stressful move.

If you’re also selling, check out my Sellers Checklist. Contact me today to get the conversation going!

Published October 13, 2020

Home Seller Preparedness

Selling a home involves many moving parts, so it’s best to be proactive. Start planning upwards of 6 months ahead to avoid rushing at the last minute to complete deferred maintenance repairs, consider your next living arrangement, and be able to time the marketing strategically to local market conditions. Deferred maintenance can affect not only the value of what your home can sell for, it can also affect your time on the market. If you plan on selling without taking care of maintenance that you have not done on the home, then be prepared to price your home accordingly. Getting these critical components in place prior to listing could enhance the value of your home, ensure a smoother listing experience, and mitigate buyer negotiation leverage once you accept that offer.

Create a punch list of repairs.

Using an Excel spreadsheet, a pad of paper, or your smartphone or tablet, go room by room identifying what repairs are needed.

1. Windows open and close easily.
2. Install GFCI certified outlets.
3. Doors close and doorknobs turn easily.
4. Chipped or nicked trim?
5. What else?

Perform a deep clean

Closets, oven, range, refrigerator (pull it away from the wall to vacuum the coils), carpets/hardwoods, windowsills, chandeliers/fixtures all need attention.

Hire a professional painter

Liven up the walls and doors inside and outside with fresh paint. When you’ve lived in a place for a while, your mind begins to ignore little inconsistencies. A new visitor to your home will notice these details, so keep in mind they contribute to the overall first impression. A professional painter can help repair cracks in ceilings and walls as well.

When getting your interior or exterior ready to be painted, think base colors like creams and whites for your paint colors at time of sale. You may love that purple colored room for your own use, but these more extreme colors can influence a buyer’s interest in your home. Provide the new buyer with a fresh palette to introduce their own color scheme to their new home. This one preparation can save you on market time, putting more money in your pocket at closing.

Install new smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Oregon law requires new detectors to be installed. There are some affordable smoke and carbon monoxide detectors available at your local hardware store.

Landscaping

It’s all about curb appeal! The first impression is usually the last.

Prune, weed, clear brush, mow, lay down fresh bark mulch.
Hire an arborist to shape existing trees (never refer to it as “thinning” a tree). In fact, this should be done even if you’re not selling!
Having a tidy home on the outside bodes well for the inside.

Assess the roof

One of the most overlooked components of selling a home is the roof condition. Inspectors will assess the condition of the roof after you receive an offer, so if repairs or even replacement are necessary, it will mitigate the need for negotiation on the price of your home while saving time on repairs already completed.

Organize Documents

Have your paperwork and invoices available for work you’ve had done on your home. If you had work completed by a contractor that required a permit, verify all permits were finalized with your local bureau of planning and permitting. You don’t want to get into a transaction on your home and have an open or voided permit come into question. If a final inspection was not completed, you may have to open walls, cut into sheet rock, or pull up flooring so as to prove to a city inspector that work was done to code. Avoid a potential nightmare in the middle of a real estate transaction.

If selling a condo, line up all your HOA governing documents and proof of insurance. Your management company may have a login to access documents electronically. Request access for your yourself and your agent, so a tedious yet critical detail is taken care of in advance.

Appliance Check

Ensure all appliances are in clean and working order. If there are any dings to the enamel, thermometer adjustments needed in the oven, thaw a freezer, replace the dryer lint filter, or anything else you find, these will be good to have taken care of before people start viewing your home.

Staging

Consider coordinating a staging company with your broker as the final step in preparing to sell. Staging will showcase your home to people who may not have an imagination or need a physical visual in order to imagine themselves having the lifestyle you’re selling. Part of staging involves decluttering and depersonalization. You want the new buyer to imagine themselves in your home, not what it was like for you to live there. Another side benefit? Packing up personal items saves you time for when the real move happens.

Photography

Use a professional real estate photographer. They have the digital technology to deal with minor touch-ups, enhance lighting, and streamline your photos for use in virtual tours and/ or 3D tours.

Pricing your home

Your broker should provide this “apples to apples” home sales comparison of properties within a mile or less and over the last 3-6 months. This information helps determine the best listing price. Keep in mind the market determines the actual sales value of your home.

Strategy

Pricing your home too high can cause the home to stagnate on market and necessitate a price reduction. Don’t wait too long to consider a price reduction if showing activity is not producing an offer. If you have been seeing double-digit numbers in showings without an offer, then a price reduction should happen within a few weeks. Perception is reality. If buyers see a home on market for more than a few weeks, their perception can be that there is something wrong with the home.

Portland is also known as a “polite market” where buyers will usually not make offers on homes they think are overpriced, so as to not upset the seller with a lower offer. Buyers in the Portland Metro area will often wait for the seller to make a price reduction before submitting an offer. Real estate values can be unpredictable, so keep an eye on factors like the state and national economy, unemployment rate, interest rates, and other factors.

Showings

Be ready to accept raw feedback about your home. You have memories and emotions attached to your property, so it’s best to remember to try to not take constructive criticism personally.

Create a showing schedule with your real estate broker that works both for you. Maximize the availability of the home to buyers to see your home, such as evenings, after work, and weekends.

I’d love to learn more about what your greatest challenges have been when selling your home. Did I miss anything on this list? I look forward to hearing from you.

Published September 10, 2020

Reasons I Love Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon has been in the news lately because of demonstrations in a 3-block radius from the Justice Center downtown. I thought now would be a good time to highlight what makes Portland great.

1) The variety of bar and restaurant options.

While Coronavirus has killed many of the burgeoning establishments (Pok Pok, Arleta Library Bakery & Cafe, Blue Hour, Tanker Bar, to name a few), others are still surviving on thin budgets while navigating the nightmare. Places like Advice Booth, Rose & Thistle, Ovation Bar (OK it’s actually in Milwaukie), Jolly Roger, Mad Hanna, Satellite Room, and Tabor Tavern are still open for business and somehow maintaining their sanity. Some restaurants are doing take-out and delivery. Some of my favorites are:

La Cocina Mexican Restaurant at 3901 N. Williams Ave. — new location in the space where the old Lompoc’s 5th Quadrant was.
St. Honoré Bakery at 2335 NW Thurman (get the chouquettes)
Hat Yai on Killingsworth or Belmont is a Thai-Malaysian place offering an interesting mix of excellent fresh fried chicken, curry dipping sauce, naan-like bread (roti), and rice.
Amalfi’s at 4703 NE Fremont — a classic Italian American eatery serving generations of Portlanders.
The Bite on Belmont (food carts)
Big’s Chicken on Glisan

2) Neighborhood shows of spirit in all the little ways

Sharing libraries: I’ve seen books and tools available to share.
Little gnome villages
Wishing trees
Random signs of encouragement

Telephone pole sign: “You bring joy to those around you”

3) Abundant, lush plant life

Tryon Creek State Park, Oxbow Regional Park
International Rose Test Garden
Japanese Garden
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
City parks like Mt. Tabor, Laurelhurst Park, Forest Park

4) Public Golf Courses

Portland Parks and Recreation manages five golf courses throughout the city. These have been a way to get outside while maintaining physical distance. As you may know, I love to golf. They offer junior golf programs so the city’s youth can learn a new sport. Women-only groups are also offered. Colwood, Eastmoreland, Heron Lake, RedTail, and Rose City dot the map across town with beautiful green spaces to get that hole in one. They even offer a 3-year scholarship program for students entering their freshman year of high school. Hello, awesome summer job!

5) Appreciation for pets

I do not see the dog-friendliness in other towns like I see in Portland. Many outdoor restaurants offer water bowls for furry friends and even let them be with their owners. Tin Shed offers half-off dog meals when dogs wear their bandanas. The purchase is 100% donated Puplandia Dog Rescue. For the cat people, Purrington’s Cat Lounge is a place where you can grab a cup of coffee and chill with the cool cats who are up for adoption.

6) Being within driving distance to:

Mountains for skiing
Rivers and lakes for fishing
Pacific Ocean for whale watching and sunset gazing
High desert getaways
Wineries offering internationally recognized award-winning Pinot Noir. Lange Estate Winery in Dundee has a marvelous tasting room (by appointment only).
Countryside to visit dahlia farms, tulip farms, and goat farms

These are just some of my reasons. What else would you add to the list? Or if you don’t live here, send me a message if you’d like to find out in person.

Published July 30, 2020

oregon coast on a bluebird sunny day — Two hours to the Oregon Coast

man petting goat — At the goat farm in Portland

chalkboard of the neighborhood movie schedule — Movie Night in NE Portland

portland architectural heritage center barber block — Architectural Heritage Center

Gnome or fairy home In A large cedar tree

Remembering 1984: My Mom Cooks Up Colonial Williamsburg in Billings, Montana

America: The Great Expanse. I moved around a lot as a kid, so it is no surprise my mom traveled to Williamsburg, Virginia from Billings, Montana to explore history through the lens of cooking. I was reminded of her travels (and subsequent published article) this Fourth of July holiday weekend. Independence Day celebrations have traditionally been a time for friends and family to gather at cookouts (or “barbecues”, depending on where you’re from) and an opportunity to share in traditions through cooking. I unearthed this article published in 1984 in The Billings Gazette when my mom, Judie Besso, taught cooking classes. The following piece highlights her travels to Williamsburg, Virginia, to experience early colonial history, specifically through food. I hope you enjoy the glimpse into culinary history below. Do you think you’ll try these recipes? What are some traditional dishes your family enjoys? Drop me a line!

The Billings Gazette
Living Section, December 19, 1984
Story by Donna Healy

Judie Besso and a few local cooks traveled 2,000 miles across the country and more than 200 years back in time earlier this month when they visited Williamsburg, Va., for an evening of Christmas cooking. Besso transported the cooks to colonial Virginia via a cooking class at the Kitchen Cupboard.

Besso’s interest in food began early in her New Jersey childhood. Her mother and father, both excellent cooks, used to have fudge cooking contests and leave it up to their children to judge which was best. Later when Besso became a teacher, she continued to cook, branching out into Oriental and Indian cuisines. She met her husband, Jack Besso, in Okinawa where he was stationed with the service and she was teaching. Their first dates were organized around cooking food. She and Jack, whose father operated a bakery in Billings for many years, now run a catering business, in addition to several other business ventures.

The couple and their young son Sean spent several days in Williamsburg just before Christmas 12 years ago when they lived on the East Coast. The town was decked out for Christmas with doors and porches wreathed with pine boughs and pomegranates, apples and pineapples, a symbol of hospitality. There was the firing of the Christmas gun and old time games: climbing a greased pole, three-legged races and sack races. Visitors partake of 18th century colonial history even when they eat. Several Williamsburg restaurants serve adaptations of what the governor and his holiday guests would have dined on. In those days, chicken and ham were held in higher regard than beef, says Besso. Cattle were allowed to roam freely through the brush and beef tended to be tough. By the 18th century, Virginia smoked hams already were prized and were often were sent back to England by colonists as Christmas presents for their relatives. Chicken was such a standard company dish, serving anything else could put a host in an embarrassing situation.

To illustrate the point, Besso tells a tale about one of her Revolutionary War ancestors, Timothy Meeker. Meeker was a Minuteman living in New Jersey during the Revolution when a tall, dignified stranger dropped by unexpectedly one evening. The family invited the stranger to eat with them, apologizing all the while that they would be dining on rabbit and not chicken. Shrugging off his host’s apology, the guest replied: “It’s good enough for George Washington.” The stranger indeed was the commander-in-chief, traveling incognito to find out how colonists felt about whether or not to continue the fight against the British. When he stopped by the Meekers, Washington was on his way to his New Jersey headquarters from Philadelphia where he was having trouble squeezing money out of the Continental Congress for the war. Although the colonists did eventually part political company with England, their foods continued to carry the mark of the mother country both before and after the Revolution. The Empire’s influence even reached into colonists’ punch bowls.

Punch, a favorite way of serving alcohol in the colonies, comes from the word “paunch,” a Hindustani word meaning five, punches generally having five or more ingredients.

Another favorite holiday beverage was Wassail, spiced ale used to toast the health of guests and host. According to “The Williamsburg Cookbook,” compiled by Letha Booth and the staff of Colonial Williamsburg, the word Wassail comes from the Saxon phrase “Wass hael,” which means “be whole,” or “be well”.

Here are some recipes from Booth’s cookbook:

King’s Arms Tavern
Cream of Peanut Soup

Peanuts weren’t eaten as human food in the United States until the 19th century, but they were grown in the southern colonies during the pre-Revolutionary era. This modern soup pays homage to colonial peanut crops.

1 medium onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
4 cup butter
3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 quarts homemade or canned chicken stock
2 cups smooth peanut butter
1 ¾ cups light cream Peanuts, chopped

Sauté onion and celery in butter until soft, but not brown. Stir in flour until well blended. Add chicken stock, stirring constantly and bring to a boil Remove from heat and rub through a sieve. Add peanut butter and cream, stirring to blend thoroughly. Return to low heat, but do not boil, and serve, garnished with peanuts. Soup can be served hot or iced cold.

Chicken Virginia with Grape Sauce

3 chicken breasts, boned and halved
4 tbsp. butter, melted
12 fresh mushrooms
6 slices ham
Grape Sauce, see following recipe

Preheat broiler. Line broiler pan with foil and place chicken in single layer skin side down. Brush with butter. Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat for 15 minutes, turn and brush with butter. Lower pan to 7 to 8 inches from heat; broil 10-15 minutes longer or until chicken is done. Sauté whole mushrooms in remaining butter. Serve each half of chicken breast on a slice of ham. Spoon Grape Sauce over the meat and garnish with sautéed mushrooms.

Grape Sauce

¼ cup butter
¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp. salt
2 cups homemade or canned chicken stock
2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tbsp. sugar
2 cups seedless grapes

Melt butter in saucepan and blend in flour and salt Stir until smooth. Gradually add chicken stock, stirring constantly until smooth and thick. Stir in lemon juice and sugar. Add grapes just before serving.

Published July 2020

Five Gardening Tips You Can Use Right Now

There are more than five things you could do right now, but why not start with your landscaping? Here are five helpful tips:

1. Take inventory of the native and non-native species in your yard.

Are the non-native species crowding out native plant life? Native plants and trees in the Pacific Northwest like rhododendrons, ferns, Pacific Madrone, to name a few, require less maintenance than say, Black Lace Elderberry or bamboo. Even though there are benefits to the non-native plant life in your garden, consider weighing more on the side of the native species in the native-to-non-native plant ratio. Oregon State University has great information on native plant life.

large dark-leafed bushy tree with pink blossoms — Black Lace Elderberry (before pruning)

2. Identify your plant cycles

This is key when it comes to transplanting and pruning and is most obvious regarding when to plant. Bulbs and seeds will have different timing, depending on the plant. Lilacs should be pruned in the spring before they bloom, just after the blooms are gone, or in the fall.

3. Remove dead, dying, or out-of-place plants

You’ve heard the expression, “dead weight”. This applies to gardening, too. Removing anything that is on its way out means creating space for things to thrive. If the leaves on an artichoke are failing, for example, cut them off and you will see new growth emerge within a week or two. The plant is still feeding energy to the dying leaves, so the cutting away encourages newer, healthier growth.

4. Identify the borders

Remove or move anything that interferes with the boundaries previously set. The defined lines will lend a tidier look to your garden. Sometimes it hurts to remove some of the plants that have been nurtured over the years, but those could be transplanted elsewhere or given away to neighbors in your local free group. Or, redefine your borders.

5. Pruning is for suckers!

Ever notice little green shoots coming out of the base of your lilac, trees, or other woody shrubs? Those are called suckers. These should be cut back so the plant’s energy is focused on the main growth. See #4 for when to prune your plants. If you’re pruning a tree in the City of Portland, the code is very specific. Street trees require a pruning permit unless the diameter of the branch you’re pruning is ½-inch or smaller. There are many more restrictions and in-depth tips on the city’s website.

I hope these quick tips get you started with a garden maintenance road map! Please feel free to send me before-and-after photos of your work if you’d like it to be featured here. Or, tag me on Instagram at @seanbessorealty. Happy gardening!

Published June 16, 2020

Buying and Selling Real Estate in the Time of COVID-19

If you are hesitant about whether to buy or sell a home right now during a global pandemic, you’re not alone. Real estate business is considered essential, so under the Governor’s orders, we are continuing to conduct business. But, it is not business as usual. The concerns about transmission and infection are real. Real estate transactions have always been a very personal process requiring a lot of one-on-one time together. With the new reality we face, the process is still personal, but with less contact.

Some of the precautions I am taking to keep you, your family, myself, and my family safe are:

Masks

I wear a mask at all showings and transactions. I recommend my clients do the same.

Gloves

Switching lights off and on, door knobs, windows, any surface that is usually touched, I do so with gloves on. I throw the gloves out after each use.

Disinfectant Wipes

I make these available at my listings and carry them with me in my car. I am diligent about wiping down all surfaces that have been touched (even with gloves on) after a showing.

Physical Distancing

While it can be challenging to maintain a distance of six feet from each other, I offer live video conferencing tours of properties if you do not wish to meet at a home in person.

Virtual Tours and Staging

I include 360 virtual tours on my listings and offer virtual staging. The 360 virtual tour is a 3D-style walk-through using professional photography. It is not a replacement for the physical visit, but it is a close approximation. Virtual staging is where furniture is digitally placed into images of the space. This helps minimize the amount of time and people required in a space.

If you can or need to buy or sell, business is still happening. I am taking all the precautions to minimize/eliminate exposure, so you can transact with confidence. If you are hesitant to proceed, please contact me so we can have that conversation. It is important to me that you are comfortable and confident when making lifetime decisions.