Columbia Gorge Real Estate Blog

With the slow economy we have seen a slowing of construction projects in the gorge. Lot sales in Hood River have been extremely slim. Lot prices have come way down in price. You can buy a buildable lot in Hood River starting at $69,000 now. I haven't seen prices like this in quite a few years. There are 69 lots currently listed in Hood River starting at $69,000. One very nice lot on the market is located in the East Stonegate neighborhood of Hood River. It is the last of 2 remaining buildable lots in Stonegate and priced now at $140,000 and even has the apartment option which allows for a legal studio or 1 bdrm apartment incorporated into the home design. I am very familiar with this lot as it is next door to a home my husband and I built 4 years ago and currently have rented. We built a second home that we live in next to the one we've rented out. We love living in the Stonegate Subdevelopment in Hood River.  Other areas of the gorge have some low priced lots and land as well. In Stevenson, Washington you can buy a nice buildable lot in a country setting for just $39,900. There are 80 lots listed in Stevenson, WA from $39,900 to $200,000+. There is even a 5 acre parcel for $89,000. If you are thinking about building a new home now is an excellent time to start. Lot prices are lower than they've been in years and lumber prices are at very low prices as well. Work has slowed down for contractors and many are ready willing and able to start on your building project quickly.

Pictured above is one of the two last buildable lots in Stonegate-this one listed at $140,000. The house is located directly to the west of the buildable lot. This custom 3365 sq ft  home with 5 bdrms, 4 full baths, 2 kitchens, 2 living rooms, family room, study nook,balcony and covered front porch will be back on the market in appr one year.

Disclaimer: I assume no responsibilty for accuracy of information provided within this post and blog. Many entries on this blog are based on the opinions and  ideas of the author and are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied. 

White Salmon Washington is located across the Columbia River from Hood River via the Hood River Bridge. The Hood River Bridge is a toll bridge which costs .75 each time you cross.  White Salmon is located up the hill from Bingen, Washington.There are currently 15 homes for sale in Bingen starting at $119,000 and going up to $1,200,000.   There are currently 65 homes in the White Salmon area for sale. White Salmon has become a town with many artists selling their wares in shops and galleries. Some of these are listed below:

White Salmon Glassworks

Klickitat Pottery

White Salmon Guitar

Sticks and Stones

                                                                            The Gorge Heritage Museum is located in Bingen.

Here's the home sales activity in Hood River County for May 2009.  This information is from the RMLS and includes listed property sales only-no FSBO's. There were 13 total residential home sales for the month of May 2009  in Hood River County. There are currently 28 homes  sale pending in escrow.

These are the sold homes and locations: Hood River-7    Cascade Locks-1    Westside Hood River-1    Eastside Hood River-1     Odell- 2   Parkdale-1

(No picture) Cascade Locks- Sold for $94,000 2 Bdrm 2 bath 1234 sq ft. DOM-7

Hood River- Listed for $215,000 Sold for $175,000 850 sq ft 2 bdrm 1 bath DOM(days on market)-289 

Hood River- Listed for $229,000 Sold for $226,000  1244 sq ft 2 bdrm 2 bath  DOM-11

Hood River-Sold for $238,000  1404 sq ft 3 bdrm 2 bath DOM-54

Hood River-  Sold for $250,000 1465 sq ft  3 bdrm 2 bath DOM-346

Hood River-  Sold for $375,000 1390 sq ft  2 bdrm 2.1 bath DOM-146

Hood River- Listed for $269,000 Sold for $249,000  1507 sq ft  3 bdrm 2.1 bath DOM-343

Hood River- Townhome-Listed for $575,000 Sold for $570,000 1716 sq ft 3 bdrm 2 bath DOM-386

Westside-Hood River  Listed for $825,000 Sold for $760,000 4 bdrm 3.1 bath 2981 sq ft. DOM-420

Eastside-Hood River- Listed for $225,000 Sold for $225,000 2 bdrm 1 bath 768 sq ft DOM-9

Odell-   1024 sq ft. 2 bdrm 1 bath Listed for $199,000 Sold for $176,000 DOM-10

Odell-  1728 sq ft  5 bdrm 2 bath manufactured home Listed for $175,000 Sold for $130,000 DOM-25

Parkdale- 1296 sq ft 2 bdrm 1 bath  .43 acre  mtn view Listed for $229,950 Sold for $201,500 DOM-294

There are currently 28 homes sale pending in Hood River County: 1-Cascade Locks, 21-Hood River  5- Odell, 2- Parkdale-

Disclaimer: I assume no responsibilty for accuracy of information provided within this post and blog. The entries on this blog are based on the opinions and  ideas of the author and are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.   

Here is the combined sales total of homes sold in May 2009 for the entire Columbia Gorge Region: Hood River & Wasco Counties in Oregon, Klickitat & Skamania Counties in Washington.  These are the cities and towns reporting sales.  These sales are only LISTED sales not FSBO's or unlisted sales.  Overall home sales in the gorge were up this month.  In May 2009 53 homes sold gorge wide compared to 31 homes sold last month-April 2009. Sales are up overall as well as sale pendings. 

• North Bonneville-4   
• Stevenson-1
• Carson-2
• White Salmon-3
• Husum-1 
• Lyle-1
• Wishram-1
• Appleton-2
• Murdock-1
• Dallesport-1
• Goldendale-4       
• Hood River-7
• Westside HR-1
• Eastside HR-1
• Odell-2
• Parkdale-1
• Cascade Locks-1
• The Dalles-17
• Dufur-1
• Mosier-1 

There are currently 105 homes sale pending in escrow in the gorge area.    Skamania County-13   Klickitat County-22   Hood River County-28  and Wasco County-42

Disclaimer: I assume no responsibilty for accuracy of information provided within this post and blog. The entries on this blog are based on the opinions and  ideas of the author and are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.   

Here is the latest sales data for May 2009  in Wasco County from the RMLS. Included are only sales of homes that are listed on the RMLS.  Unlisted properties and fsbo homes are not included.  There were 19 total homes that sold in May 2009 in Wasco County. 17 homes were located in The Dalles, 1 in Dufur and 1 in Mosier.   There are currently 41  homes sale pending in Wasco County- 39 in The Dalles and 2 in Mosier.

The Dalles  Listed for $109,900  Sold for $98,000  2060 sq ft 2 bdrm 2 bath  DOM-136

 The Dalles  Sold for $136,000  1666 sq ft 2 bd 1.1 bath DOM 168

 The Dalles Sold for $152,620   1404 sq ft  2 bdrm 2 bath 

  The Dalles  Sold for $167,500  1440 sq ft. 3 bdrm 2 bath DOM-279

The Dalles- Listed for $175,000 Sold for $167,500 1440 sq ft 4 bdrm 2 bath 4.55 acres 1970 doublewide manufactured home DOM-144

 The Dalles Listed for $185,000 Sold for $167,500  2268 sq ft 5 bdrm 2 bath DOM-6

 The Dalles Sold for $169,000  1710 sq ft  4 bdrm 2 bath DOM-68

 The Dalles  Sold for $170,000  2208 sq ft  3 bdrm 2 bath DOM-75

 The Dalles  Sold for $172,000  1084 sq ft  3 bdrm 2 bath DOM-68

 The Dalles Sold for $179,900  3 bdrm 1 bath 1346 sq ft  DOM-7

 The Dalles Sold for $189,000 1836 sq ft 3 bdrm 2 bath DOM-182

 Sold for $190,000  2 bdrm 2 bath  2500 sq ft  DOM-177

 The Dalles Sold for $237,000 3 bdrm 2 bath  2206 sq ft.  DOM-57

The Dalles Listed for $249,000 Sold for $240,000  1944 sq ft 2 bdrm 2 bath DOM-30

 The Dalles  Sold for $274,000 4 bdrm 3 bath 2007 sq ft. DOM-193

  The Dalles Sold for $274,000 3 bdrm 2 bath 3256 sq ft. DOM-148

 The Dalles Sold for $299,000 3 bdrm 2.1 bath 2525 sq ft. DOM-46

 Mosier Sold for $189,900 3 bdrm 2 bath 1740 sq ft DOM-563

 Dufur  Sold for $135,000 3 bdrm 2 bath DOM-10

 Disclaimer: I assume no responsibilty for accuracy of information provided within this post and blog. Many entries on this blog are based on the opinions and  ideas of the author and are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.  

Here is the  latest sales data from the RMLS for Klickitat County.  These sales comps reflect only properties listed on the RMLS.  Unlisted or fsbo properties are not included. Sales are up this month from last. There were 14 total residential sales in Klickitat County in May 2009. Here's the break down.

White Salmon- 3  homes sold   The townhouse above is located on Center Place in White Salmon It sold for $215,000 3 bdrm 2.1 bath  1413 sq ft.  Days on market(DOM)-50 

 White Salmon- Located in Wyers End  Sold for $240,746 833 sq. ft. 2 bdrm 1 ba  DOM-7

White Salmon- Sold for $230,000 4 bdrm 2 ba  2536 sq ft  manufactured home  DOM-338

Klickitat- Listed for $159,900 Sold for $125,000  3 bdrm 1 bath 1975 sq ft DOM 350

Klickitat-Sold for $85,000 2 bdrm 2 bath 1064 sq ft  DOM 589

Goldendale-  Sold for $73,500  2 bdrm 2.1  bath 1179 sq. ft.  DOM-170

Goldendale- HUD home Listed for  $137,000 Sold for $80,000  1802 sq ft 3 bdrm 1 bath DOM-120

No pic-Goldendale- Sold for $154,000 3 bdrm 2 bath 1500 sq. ft.

Goldendale- Listed for $268,900 Sold for $240,000  2586 sq ft 4 bdrm 2 bath DOM-40

Dallesport- Listed for $99,000 sold for $97,500  3 bdrm 1 bath 1152 sq ft.  DOM-178

Murdock- Listed for $179,000 Sold for $155,000 2 bd 2 bath 1280 sq ft. DOM-1126

Appleton- Listed for $215,000 Sold for $155,000  2 bdrm 1 bath 1240 sq ft. DOM-735

Appleton- Sold for $149,000  3 bdrm 2 bath 1323 sq ft  4.8 acres  DOM-7

Wishram- Sold for $70,000 3 bdrm 1 bath 1424 sq ft  DOM-3

Currently there are  20 homes sale pending in Klickitat County.  5 in White Salmon, 3 in Snowden, 1 in Lyle, 1 in Trout Lake, 1 in Husum, 1 in Lyle,  and 8 in Goldendale.

Disclaimer: I assume no responsibilty for accuracy of information provided within this post and blog. Many entries on this blog are based on the opinions and  ideas of the author and are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.  

The Indian Creek Trail is a pleasant walk from the heights to the east side of Hood River or vice versa. The trail follows an old wooden city water or sewer main (I'm not sure which but it isn't in use anymore). If you start on the Heights side, you can hear Indian Creek very soon on the trail then you begin to hear the Hood River. When you are near where it ends on the east side of town you can see the Hood River from several spots. There is even a viewing bench and a picnic table near the east end of the trail. The scenery also includes trees-pine, maple, alder, fir and many other native forest plants and shrubbery. It is an easy walk of about 2-3 miles round trip.

If you are wondering how the real estate market has been doing in Hood River County here's some data going back to Jan 2008. Unfortunately the number of homes sold each month so far in 2009 has been less than the number of sales that month in the prior year. It took a bit longer for the slow market to hit us here in the gorge than in some other areas of the country. Things started to slow down around 2006 and kept declining. I see the "sale pendings" each month are going up slightly now which is a good sign. Homes are still moving, however slowly and from my experience loans have been taking longer. I had one deal with one thing after another on the lending side. The buyers had very good credit and were even putting 1/2 down. It finally closed last week after 3 extensions and supplying many additional requested items to the underwriter.

        2008-homes sold in Hood River County                                 

• Jan-10 
• Feb-12
• March-12
• April-15
• May-27
• June-13
• July-19
• Aug-17
• Sept-18
• Oct-22
• Nov-12
• Dec-13

        2009-homes sold in Hood River County

• Jan-7
• Feb-6
• March-7
• April-10
• May-13
• June-15