Melina Tomson, M.S. Salem Oregon Real Estate Specialist

Englewood. Doesn't it seem like many towns have an Englewood neighborhood? Salem is no exception. Sandwiched between Market Street and D Street, Englewood runs from about 17th to 22nd, and East Englewood runs from 23rd to around Park.

Centrally located in Salem, Englewood is actually a patchwork of two neighborhoods that have drastically different characteristics. I like to call them Old Englewood and East Englewood. These are not official designations, just my made up musings...

The only reason, I bring up the distinction, as they are all referred to as Englewood, is that East Englewood has newer more ranch style homes, where older Englewood has older cottage style homes. They both have their own distinct architecture. This blog today is about the old Englewood part of town.


The homes in older Englewood were built in the early 1900's to about 1940 or so. As such their architecture is reflective of that time period. Smaller cottage style homes and bungalows make up most of the homes in this neighborhood. You will see the occasional four square or cape cod in the area as well.



What makes Englewood a nice place to live is it's proximity to the downtown area. For state employees and those working in downtown, Englewood is only a few blocks away for easy access.



Englewood has one major park, Englewood Park. Located between 19th and 21st streets, the park has several options for users.



Older Englewood neighborhood feeds into Englewood Elementary School, Parrish Middle School, and North Salem High School. If schools are important to you, remember that boundaries are subject to change from year to year so verify schools.



Approximately 11 homes sold last year (2007) in the neighborhood an average price of $145,390. Sold prices ranged from $104,000-$189,950. They averaged 72 DOM. There are currently 7 homes listed as active on the MLS for this area with prices ranging from $149,900-$269,900 .

For older homes, Englewood can be very affordable compared to some of the other historic areas such as Bush Park or Fairmount Hills. This aspect makes it a popular choice for people wanting the character and charm of older homes with more affordability.

Located between Lone Oak and Sunnyside, Ironwood Estates is in a prime location in South Salem.  If you find yourself driving on Whipplewood, Cherrywood, Peachwood, Wormwood...well...you get the idea, right?  If you find yourself in a cluster of streets that end in wood in south Salem, then you are in Ironwood Estates.

Some of the attracting features of the neighborhood are the proximity to Sumpter Elementary School, Sumpter Park, and the tree lined streets.

The tree lined streets...you need to know that the beautiful trees that line the streets in this neighborhood are cottonwood trees. Every summer, you get to experience a late "blizzard" in this neighborhood as the cottonwood trees lose their seeds. 

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Most of the homes in Ironwood Estates were built in the 1970's-1980's so many of them need some updating.  Homes are well maintained and it is a rare sight to see a home or lawn in poor condition.  If you head out in the morning you will see a lot of walkers, runners, and dog lovers out and about.  This is a healthy neighborhood. 

 This neighborhood belongs to the South Gateway Neighborhood Association, which is a very active assocation. If you are looking to become involved with your local neighborhood, Ironwood Estates might be a good choice for you.

When I moved to Oregon 18 years ago, I was ready to do some serious hiking.  I love forests, creeks, rivers, just being outdoors.  One of the first places we visited was Silver Falls State Park. 

Silver Falls is located in Silverton, Oregon.  With 10 waterfalls within the boundaries of the park, this is really one of Oregon's gems.  There is a small dam in place to create a nice water play area for children.  Just a few feet deep this area is very popular during our summer days.

There are so many amenities within the park.

• Paved paths for walking or biking
• Off leash dog area
• large open spaces for volleyball, football, soccer
• Covered areas for family get togethers, weddings, parties
• Miles of hiking trails
• Play structure
• Picnic tables
• Educational information at the Lodge
• Guided Nature Tours
• Camping for tents, or rent a cabin
• Horse trails
• Conference center

On and on...

I do have a dog who comes up to Silver Falls with us regularly.  Please note that due to some of the drop offs, and narrow trails, dogs are not allowed on some trails.  Make sure to check that if you plan to bring your dog with you.

I also encourage you to see the falls during the winter and spring.  They are GUSHING with water.  If you don't mind donning some rain gear, waterproof boots, and a good sweater, it is worth the hike to see the falls in early spring.

If you are planning a day hike into Silver Falls, remember to pack a day pack with a sweatshirt (it can get colder in the canyon), a first aid kit (lots of tree roots and rocks on the trails), and a camera (too many beautiful shots to miss).  Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy.

Otherwise, I'll let the pictures say what there is to say about Silver Falls.

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It was hot, really hot this weekend.

Our summers in the valley are normally quite moderate, but we seem to get one week every July that hits the 90's and 100's. This past weekend was no exception.

My kids wanted to go to the Riverfront Park here in Salem. When we first moved to Salem from Portland about 10 years ago, Riverfront Park was a fairly new park. It was one of many projects slated to reinvigorate the downtown area, and it really is a fantastic addition.

The park has a great play structure...well actually two. One for larger kids and one for smaller kids. They are right next to each other so parents with both sizes can easily watch their children.

A nice flat sidewalk is perfect for kids who want to learn to ride their bikes or roller blade, joggers out for some exercise, and pet lovers walking their dogs. The trees are still young so shade is somewhat lacking at the park, but give them 10 years and there will be many shady spots.

The park is also home to an outdoor amphitheater, and there is a summer concert series at the park. Riverfront park is host to many events including the upcoming Bite of Salem.

There are two main features of the park that never cease to amaze me. Right next to the park is an old dilapidated Boise Cascade paper mill. 13 acres of prime land that was recently bought by developers with fantastic plans for the area. (Thank you investors/developers!)

When we first moved to Salem there was an old "Acid Ball" in the park. The acid ball held acid for the paper mill and it was this large ugly rusty thing in the middle of the park. Thankfully there are those people in the world significantly more artistic than me, and an artist was hired. The end result is truly amazing.

The other artistic feat of the Riverfront Park is the Carousel. All of the horses in the carousel were handcrafted by volunteers. Every time my kids ride the carousel, I can't help but be in awe of the craftsman that helped with this project. The horses are truly stunning. My artistic skills top out with stick people, so I am always in awe of true artists.

Riverfront Park is one of the many parks that the City of Salem has to offer residents. If you are coming for a visit or looking to move here, come and check it out. And yes...adults can ride the carousel as well (and they do).

I'd like to welcome our sellers to the Wheel of Fugly...where market stats are going to make you cry.


Category is INVENTORY:

Here's the puzzle: __.__% ____ ________ ____ ___ ____ ____ ___ ____.

Spin the wheel: Oh, you got ugly.
Spin it again: Ugh, ugly again. That's a bummer.

Well, you've got a plethora of ugly do you want to solve the puzzle or spin again?

Solve it: 35.79% more listings on the market now than the same time last year.

Category is NUMBER OF SALES YEAR TO DATE

Here's the puzzle:____ ____ ____ __ ____


Spin the wheel: Oh, you got more ugly.

Spin it again: Sheesh...more ugly again. What bad luck.

Well, you've got a boat load of more ugly do you want to solve the puzzle or spin again?

Solve it: 2484 sales year to date (This is the fewest number of homes sold since at least 1996. A 34.5% drop since 2007).

Now here's the final puzzle

Category is PERCENTAGE OF LISTINGS SOLD SO FAR IN 2008

Here's the puzzle:__% _ ___ __ ___ __ ___ ____ ____

Spin the wheel: Oh, you got more ugly.

Spin it again: Oh no! This time you got fugly. That is some crappy luck you have today.

Well, I know you only have more ugly plus a whole bunch of fugly , but do you want to solve the puzzle or spin again?

Solve it: 32% of listings have sold so far this year. (This is half as much as in 2006 and a 16% drop from 2007)

Congratulations! You dear seller, have won a 32% chance of selling your property in a market with 35.79% more inventory.

Hmmm...So what did I win???

A ten month supply of Kleenex (current inventory). Don't worry it's the kind with the lotion in it.