Cindy Westfall ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro REALTOR®

When Do I Get The Keys To My New Portland Home?

Today, I had the pleasure of meeting my client out to their new home in Tualatin to give them the keys. I love this part of the job as it means that everything came together with all the various participants from the Seller, Buyer, Lender, Title Escrow Officer, Listing agent and me...the Buyer's agent in this case.

There is that period when buying a home when you're in full throttle mode ...out daily looking at homes, writing offers, counter offers, getting your info to the lender and Title company, having inspections, appraisal, and more addendums...and then suddenly there is that lull. Everything has been satisfied, all counter offers and contingencies have been met, and now you're just waiting for closing...for your loan documents to get to Title, to sign the papers, close and get those keys to your knew home.

This lull is usually when I get that question of when and how the keys will be exchanged. It's also when all those other questions pop in your head like will the garage door openers be there? Will the appliances and warrantees be left? As your Buyer's agent, I will work all this out with the listing agent before hand. Unlike other parts of the country where the sellers and buyers meet in the same room and keys are exchanged at this point, In Portland, it's actually not uncommon for the Seller and Buyer to never even meet...so it's up to the agents to work the key exchange.

In most cases, the keys won't fall into the hands of the buyer until the listing agent gets the call from the Title Company saying that the home has recorded in the new owners name at the County...usually a few hours after the lender has released the funds. Depending on the contractual occupancy...for example 5PM on the closing date (recording date) is when you'll get the keys.

Sometimes, if the home has been vacant, the seller will OK you going in earlier than the contractual time after it records. If the Sellers have occupied it though, they are often times doing that last minute clean up getting it ready for you to walk through the doors.

However I get the keys....be it from the lock box left on the front door, me picking them up from the listing agents' office....or down the road at a convenience store...rest assured that I will have gone over it with you before close and be there at the time of your agreed occupancy to hand you over your keys with a smile. This after all is one of my favorite parts of my job..watching you walk through the front door to your new home. YES!

Here's another post I wrote on the process of signing and closing on a home in Portland:What's the Difference Between the Signing date and Closing Date when Buying or Selling a Home in Portland?

Parallel 45 Wine Bar, You Will Be Missed

I can't remember the year Parallel 45 opened, but I do know that I was excited to see a wine bar being added as a place to go at Tualatin Commons on the Lake.

I've been enjoying visiting with friends here since they opened..whether enjoying the warm ambiance during the winters inside, or sitting outside soaking up the sun by the lake in the summer.

I have a couple of friends..all of us agents that shared an office at one time and have gone in different directions. We enjoyed catching up over some delicious wine and eats at Parallel 45, so imagine our surprise when we were working out our schedules to get together last week and recieved an e-mail (on their mailing list) telling us they were closing. What???? Closing ...and in a week? We had to now find a new place to go, so we ended up at Split in Bridgeport Village. Although Split was fine....it just wasn't Parallel 45..(Whine)

I don't know the reasons, but it did appear that they were thriving...I mean, even on a Wednesday night in the winter all the booths and chairs would be full at 6PM. The message from the owner Steve was a bit cryptic..moving...closing? Whatever the reason, I wish them all the best and hope they do open up somewhere else in the future.

Parallel 45 Wine Bar, You will be missed.....you already are.

A Hiatus of Sorts from my Where is it Wednesday Series

My very first Where is it Wednesday was on January 24th, 2011 titled

Tualatin Community Park, answer to Where is it Wednesdays...somewhere in Tualatin, OR

I've been able to keep this up every week (ok.. I might have missed two) for over a year, but am now finding this getting harder to get out to locations to get pictures (It's great to be busy!) so I'll be taking a little hiatus from it for now. I might do one every two weeks because I enjoy doing them, but that's up in the air. I've written about 54 posts and enjoy that I've learned so much about all these locations not only through your research..but my own as well when writing my follow up post. I know they are still being read which is pretty darn cool!

Thank you to all who have stopped by each week..especially John and Kat...and my new guesser Rob! I can't tell you how much I've appreciated that support from you. To steal the line from Arnold...I'll be back!

Here is a re-cap of all of the WIIW

Where is it Wednesday Series by City:

Beaverton

Big Al's, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Beaverton, OR. 12/14/11

Forest Grove

SakeOne, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Forest Grove, OR 10/19/11

Hillsboro

Main Street Bridge, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Hillsboro, OR 1/11/12

Lake Oswego

Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Lake Oswego, Oregon..It's the Dog Park at Hazelia Field at Luscher Farm

Marylhurst University, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Marylhurst, OR. 1/4/12

It's the Lake in Lake Oswego Oregon answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere is Lake Oswego

Sundeleaf Plaza, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Lake Oswego, Oregon 6/29/11

"Man Eating Dog Food" Sculpture outside of World Class Wines, answer to Where is it Wednesday....somewhere in Lake Oswego, Oregon 6/22/11

McMinnville

Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum and Water Park, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in McMinnville, OR 9/21/11

Newberg

Habitat for Humanity ReStore, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Newberg, OR 9/14/11

Oregon City

Clackamette Park, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Oregon City 11/16/11

Willamette Falls..answer to this weeks Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Oregon City

Portland

Paul Bunyan Statue, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Portland, OR 2/1/12

Salty's on the Columbia, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Portland, OR 1/25/12

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Portland, OR 1/18/12

Portland Aerial Tram, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Portland, OR. 12/28/11

Oregon Convention Center...answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Portland, OR 11/30/11

OMSI the USS Blueback (SS-581) submarine, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Portland, OR 8/31/11

Island Cafe, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Portland, OR 11/23/11

Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Portland 10/12/11

Columbia River Gorge, Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Oregon 9/28/11

The Charthouse restaurant in the Hillsdale, Terwilliger area of Portland..answer to this weeks Where is it Wednesday

Pok Pok Restaurant..answer to this weeks Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in the Clinton-Division Neighborhood Portland Oreg

Sherwood

Sleighbells, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Sherwood, OR. 12/7/11

Tigard

Bridgeport Village is the answer to this weeks Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Tigard Oregon 6/1/11

Tualatin:

Lee Farms, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Tualatin, OR 10/5/11

McDonalds on Boones Ferry Rd.,answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Tualatin, OR 8/24/11

Tualatin Skate Park, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Tualatin OR 8/10/11

Tualatin Artsplash, Farmer's Market & Concert on the Commons, answer to Where is it Wednesday...Somewhere in Tualatin, OR 7/27/11

Tualatin WES Trimet Station, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Tualatin, Oregon 7/20/11

Fox Hill Neighborhood 4th of July Parade 2011, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Tualatin, Oregon 7/6/1

Tualatin Commons ,answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Tualatin, Oregon 6/8/11

Tualatin Police Department..answer to 5/18/11

Tualatin Country Club..answer to this weeks Where is it Wednesday...Somewhere in Tualatin Oregon

Sweek Pond Natural Area, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Tualatin Oregon

Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Tualatin Oregon, It's Hayden's Lakefront Grill

Where is it Wednesday...It's Tualatin High School

Browns Ferry Park, answer to Where is it Wedneday...somewhere in Tualatin, Oregon

Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Tualatin, It's the Tualatin Public Library

Where is it Wednesday...It's Rolling Hills Community Church (3/2/11)

Where is it Wednesday..somewhere in Tualatin/Tigard Oregon 2/9/11 Yes, it's Club Sport!

Tualatin Oregon Ibach Park..answer to Where is it Wednesday 2/2/11

Where is it Wednesdays...Somewhere in Tualatin Oregon, Tualatin Community Park

West Linn

The Sweater Shoppe, Etc., answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in West Linn, OR 2/8/12

Willamette Primary School, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in West Linn, OR 9/7/11

Willamette General Store, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in West Linn, OR 10/26/11

Swiftshore Park, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in West Linn, OR 8/3/11

End of the Oregon Trail, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Oregon City 8/17/11

Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Lake Oswego, Oregon..It's the Dog Park at Hazelia Field at Luscher Farm

Fields Bridge Park, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in West Linn, Oregon..2/16/11..It's Fields Bridge Park!

Willamette Park in West Linn Oregon..answer to this weeks Where is it Wednesday 5/25/11

Historic Downtown Willamette Meteorite replica, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in West Linn, Oregon 6/15/11

Wilsonville

Argyle Square, answer to Where is it Wednesday...somewhere in Wilsonville, OR. 12/21/11

Tualatin Fox Hill Neighborhood Weekly Real Estate Report 2/27/12-3/4/12

How much is my home worth today? Take a video tour of the Property Investment Profile

This report will only reflect the happenings though from 2/27-3/4 2012, so the changes after this will be reflected in next weeks report.

The current inventory/absorption rate in Tualatin according to the RMLS Market Trend Report is at 3.4 months down from last weeks 3.8, so we've held steady the last few weeks. A 5-6 month inventory would be considered an even market, anything over this is considered a buyer's market and under a seller's market.

The average days on the market for the Fox Hill neighborhood is currently 86 days for all properties (slightly up from 84 in my last report) That breaks down the following way:

*Active Properties: averaged 93 days

*Pending Properties: 76 days

*Sold Properties: no sold properties falling in the last 30 days

This report: The pending property at 5195 SW Greenwood Circle that was pending since last August is now showing cancelled. There were no other changes.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or to schedule showings of any of the properties on the market.

Homeowners..If you're thinking of putting your home on the market, now is a great time! Call for a complimentary Market Analysis.

* Info taken from the RMLS (Regional Multiple Listing Service) and can change after this posting.

Tualatin, Oregon (pronounced Tu-aah-la-tin) has several sections and neighborhoods but this post highlights the Fox Hill neighborhood. I will admit that I am partial to it as I had the pleasure of living there for several years and got to know several very nice people. I loved that this was the type of neighborhood that people got to know you and your family..and vice versa.

Fox Hill is tucked behind the Legacy Meridian Park Hospital and is bordered between Borland Rd. and Nyberg Ave. This neighborhood is an established neighborhood with most of the homes having been built in the mid to late 80's.

Sitting in a fantastic location for easy access to both I-5 and I-205, this Tualatin Fox Hill neighborhood has it all. Within minutes you can visit Browns Ferry Park with it's natural bird sanctuary that runs along the Tualatin River. I have walked many a mile here!

Unlike many newer neighborhoods, you will find homes in Fox Hill that have larger lots, mature, established landscaping, and tree lined streets. I have started to see some changing here as many of the original owners are starting to downsize and younger families are moving in

Fox Hill is actually comprised of two seperate sections with SW 50th Ave. being the divider. Fox Hill and Bridgeport section falls in the Tigard-Tualatin school district and Fox Hill Park in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District (although there is a tiny section on Saum Way that is Tigard/Tualatin schools). Both are in Clackamas county whereas most of Tualatin is in Washington county.

I can't talk about Fox Hill without mentioning the annual 4th of July parade. This starts and ends at Bridgeport Elementary and all the neighbors line up every year to watch all the marchers, fireman, and neighborhood police. This is not just for folks that live in here, people from all over Tualatin come for the fun.

If you are looking to move to Tualatin, take a drive through the Fox Hill neighborhood and check it out. Feel free to contact me for more information on any of these homes or Tualatin.

Here are a few links that you might find helpful:

Moving to Tualatin Oregon? Here is a compilation of videos of the area.

The City of Tualatin offical page

The Tigard-Tualatin School District

The West Linn-Wilsonville School District The Tualatin Times

My Day In Court as a Juror in Clackamas County

I woke yesterday morning feeling a mixture of excited nervousness. This was not only my first time going through the jury duty process...but also the first time I'd ever be in a courtroom. Oh..I've seen my share of court shows, but I also know they are TV...so was really interested in the real thing.

If you're called to serve jury duty in Clackamas county, you'll recieve notice in the mail. After calling the night before to see if my number was called, I was on my way to Oregon City where the Courthouse is. It was fun (not)trying to find parking, so I'd highly recommend that you just go to the lot on the corner of 12th & Main in Oregon City, and pay the $5 for five hours. Once they get things going, you have little time to do much...especially move your car.

There were 30 of us that were called to serve in the Jury Assembly Room...two buildings away from the actual Courthouse. After putting a "Juror" pin on, filling out forms, watching a video of the process, the clerk of the court (think that's her title) came in and had us line up in numerical order. I was instantly brought back to those days in kindergarten when my teacher had us all line up and put a finger over our mouths. Thankfully, the clerk didn't have us do that.

We were then led single file from the Ralph M. Holman Building to the courthouse where we then had to go through airport like security..down to having to take a sip of the open water bottle. I honestly thought I would have plenty of time waiting where I could use my computer, but this wasn't the case..so I needed to leave my computer bag and camera in the Jury Assembly Room. My advice, go in light with just your phone and minimal stuff.

Taken into a small courtroom, the judge and attorneys all gave us the skinny, we were sworn in and then we went around the room each giving our name, county and city where we live, our occupation, our significant others occupation and hobbies. After doing this the attorneys asked questions of several people and then we were taken to another room to wait while they chose the jurors.

Being a criminal case, I was chosen to be one of 12 jurors instead of 6 jurors if it's a civil trial. I had to smile at how times have changed and the judge had to add about 10 minutes of instructions about not using ANY form of social media, checking google, blogging, tweeting and in general not mentioning ANYTHING about the case to anyone.

I sat and listened to the testimony of three witnessess and the attorneys pleading their case. What I honestly didn't expect was for that feeling of how my decision would change the life of the defendant. It hits you that you really have to ignore all the hoopla of the attorneys and just take in the facts and evidence.

After listening to the closing statements, we were then sent back into a room (well...during the process we were sent back into the room several times because of something unkown to us)..and asked to come back with our decision. We needed 10 of the 12 jurors to agree. In our case, the defense had nothing and the state produced valid evidence and witnesses. There were no heavy scenes like the in 12 Angry Men, we all simply looked over the evidence, gave our take on it and then we went around the table and voted. It felt harsh to say the words guilty, and the word didn't come out easily. It's actually harder to go back into the courtroom and watch the defendant as they hear that word as well.

I know it's easy to just want to put this process off because there is always something you have to do. I've done that as well. I'm glad however that I finally went. I felt the importance of it and was honored to be part of the judicial system that gives us the right to be judged by our peers.

Oh..and an interesting aside that the judge told us. When we are asked to rise everytime she came in, we are not asked to rise because of the judge. We are all rising because of the flag. I didn't know this!