Güero Bird Club Is Portland’s Best Way to Get into Birding

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The warm and welcoming group, led by the torta shop’s kitchen manager, transforms novices into nerds. It worked on me.

Audrey Tawdry, kitchen manager at Güero, helped launch Güero Bird Club in 2021.

Image: Michael Raines

It took what felt like forever to spot him. I was pretty sure I had identified the correct tree, but the correct branch? The tree had so many branches! And they were all covered in leaves! But finally—

“Oh!” I gasped. “Oh.” For there was the purple finch, and the tiny thing was beautiful: a little ball of a bird that to my eye looked more rose red than purple. Through my binoculars I watched him swivel his head, then throw it back—what an adorably chunky beak he had—as he began to trill. His feathered throat pulsed. Mine froze in awe.

My first outing with Güero Bird Club was off to a cracking start. Yes, that Güero: I’d gathered early that morning with about 10 others, Gen Z to boomer, for a birdsong walk organized by Audrey Tawdry, kitchen manager of the popular Kerns torta shop. (No tortas were served, but Tawdry brought coffee and mini muffins.) Over the next two hours, as we weaved slowly through Kelley Point Park, I marveled at the weird and delightful descriptions unleashed by my fellow birders. House finches, Tawdry said, have a song that reminds her of Benson Bubblers. Swallows, said someone else, sound like ray guns. The brown-headed cowbird? That one’s a TV turning on. We used our eyes, too, of course. Someone pointed out two American goldfinches perched high in a tree like lemon drops. For many minutes, we simply watched a bald eagle that had landed near us, its back turned but its face in profile, the sharp hook of its enormous beak slicing the air.

Sometimes Güero Bird Club outings draw just a few people. Sometimes they draw more than 40.

Image: Michael Raines

The bird-watching boom could have been a pandemic blip, a hobby for the stressful but stagnant days of lockdown. But the old-fashioned pursuit has held on. In part this is thanks to newfangled tools such as Merlin, an app with an amazing (though imperfect) ability to identify birds by sound; it’s seen more than 10 million new users since the Sound ID function, developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, was added in 2021. And, in Portland, it’s also thanks to groups like Güero Bird Club, just one of many grassroots bird-watching gangs turning novices into nerds.

On that morning with the purple finch, I felt the pull.

Tawdry likes to describe her work as “hosting.”

Image: Michael Raines

The bird-watching bug bit Tawdry when she was a senior in college in Binghamton, New York. She and her best friend had signed up for a biology class taught by a hippie wetlands ecologist and a vest-wearing British entomologist. Students received a CD with about a dozen local birdsongs on it, and Tawdry played hers as she drove friends around in her 2001 silver Volkswagen Beetle.

“I would probably fit, like, seven college kids in at once, and I’d always have my birdsongs on,” she says. “I still remember those songs.”

Her aunt and uncle gave her binoculars for graduation, and she had her own moment of awe that summer, at a park near her childhood home in the Hudson Valley. As sunset approached, a yellow-shafted flicker flew by. “I remember seeing this gold flash underneath their wings and gasping,” she says.

She took to carrying her binoculars everywhere, which meant that looking at birds “just kind of followed [her] around,” including on her 2015 move to Portland. But the idea of assembling a flock didn’t spark until 2020, when the city was in lockdown and Güero was doing a brisk takeout business. She and then-coworker Greg Smith, who also happens to be a seabird biologist, were constantly swapping reports. Owner Megan Sanchez noticed. “She would hear us and be like, ‘Did you bring enough to share?’” Tawdry says. “I guess we made it sound fun.”

No binoculars? Güero Bird Club has spares to share.

Image: Michael Raines

Güero Bird Club officially launched in 2021. Three years in, the format is largely unchanged. Weekly walks, which are free and open to all, take place year-round, in both morning and evening, at one of any avian hot spots in Portland: Mount Tabor, Oaks Bottom, Powell Butte. Tawdry provides binoculars to those who need them. After coffee, socializing, and quick intros, the group strolls for about two hours, pausing often.

The simplicity and consistency are part of the appeal. But each outing takes on a different flavor. A few weeks after my birdsong walk, I joined a Wednesday gathering at Whitaker Ponds, a nature park in the Cully neighborhood. This time I gawked at the fancy feathers worn by a great white egret; the breeding plumage looked to me like a ballerina’s long tulle skirt. I learned from Tawdry that flycatchers hatch with innate knowledge of their song, unlike most other birds that learn it from their parents, and from another member of the group about the carpenter bees that shimmered iridescent green on a decaying log.

The bird-watching boom could have been a pandemic blip, but the pursuit has held on.

Image: Michael Raines

Inspired, I began carrying my binoculars on neighborhood walks. Suddenly I was the one pointing out goldfinches. My ears, too, began to parse one sound from another. I finally understood the song sparrow’s mic check—the bird, which abounds in Portland, has a way of announcing itself with a few clanging notes before dashing into something more melodic.

While birding alone had its pleasures, I missed the collective knowledge of the group, the experience of shared wonder. Tawdry’s main goal with Güero Bird Club is to encourage curiosity, and she describes what she does as hosting: she makes a plan, disarms by explicitly inviting oohs and aahs, and then steps back. Sometimes she greets a mere handful on a frigid February morning. Other times it’s a blowout, as on a Sunday in May when I found myself among more than 40 others, moving amoeba-like up the slopes of Mount Tabor.

A red-breasted sapsucker spotted at Mount Tabor.

Image: Michael Raines

The party, admittedly, was too big. But at the summit, we spread out. Many were drawn to a regal pair of bald eagles. Others delighted at a red-breasted nuthatch dancing up and down the trunk of a tree. I hung back for a moment and watched not the birds but the people watching the birds—watched as they flapped their arms, summoning others to come see the cool thing they could see. “Objectively the cutest, most wholesome thing in Portland,” said Morgan Quirk, an architectural historian I’d met that morning. “I can’t get enough.”

Neither can I.

Gateway Birds: Five feathered friends that call Portland home

Anna’s Hummingbird

Tough, tiny, year-round Portland resident. Buzzy, high-pitched song recalls an exceptionally squeaky door hinge. Males sport brilliant magenta feathers from throat to head and court potential mates with dramatic dive-bombs.

Northern Flicker

Brownish, distinctively spotted woodpecker likely drumming in a backyard near you. Typically nests in holes in trees (in early summer, listen for nestlings chirping nonstop). Frequently found rooting in leaf litter for ants. Look for red mustache on males and black bib on all.

Dark-Eyed Junco

Abundant, energetic, seed-eating sparrow. Often seen hopping on ground and darting in underbrush. Vast geographic variation: all juncos have pinkish bills and white tail feathers that flash in flight; Oregon’s dark-eyed form has handsome black hood, brown back, and whitish belly. Ticking, metallic trill.

Wood Duck

Striking, ornately patterned duck living in watery habitat across Portland. Significantly smaller than mallards (ducklings, accordingly, are stupid cute). Nests in tree cavities. Males wear iridescent purple and green; females have eyes ringed in white.

Cooper’s Hawk

Crow-sized raptor with a barrel-shaped body, steely face, and sharply hooked beak. In flight, look for long tail feathers edged in white. Fast, stealthy, and possibly preying on other birds at your backyard feeder.

 

For this and similar articles, please visit PortlandMonthly

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The Number of Homes for Sale Is Now the Highest Since 2019—Including in Pandemic ‘Boomtowns’

The Number of Homes for Sale Is Now the Highest Since 2019—Including in Pandemic ‘Boomtowns’

The pandemic sent the real estate market into overdrive before higher mortgage rates caused a virtual standstill. But now, the number of homes for sale is the highest since 2019, including in pandemic “boomtowns.”

The total number of homes for sale in October was 29.2% higher than the year before, marking the 12th consecutive month of growth.

“Sellers continued to increase their activity this October. Total active listings increased to highs not seen since before the pandemic,” says Realtor.com® senior economist Ralph McLaughlin in a new monthly housing report. “We noted last month that the sharp decrease in mortgage rates in mid-August could lead to an increase in listings in the coming months as lower rates begin to entice the marginal homeowner to sell.”

Pandemic “boomtowns” lead surge in homes for sale

In a bit of welcome news for buyers across the country, active home listings are up in all four regions of the U.S.

Leading the charge is the South, with a whopping 34.0% increase, closely followed by the West at 33.6%, the Midwest at 19.8%, and the Northeast, which still saw a healthy uptick of 14.3%.

The Southern boomtowns that rose to prominence during the pandemic are once again making waves—with welcome surges in housing stock. Austin, TX, tops the list with a 40.1% jump in inventory, trailed by Memphis, TN, (+39.2%); and Orlando, FL, (+26.6%). These metro areas now boast listings that have surpassed pre-pandemic levels—a notable shift.

Metros that saw the largest increases in the number of homes for sale included San Diego, CA, at 63.5%; Seattle, WA, at 60.5%; and Denver, CO, at 59.5%.

Aerial view of downtown Austin, TX
Austin, TX, tops the list with a 40.1% jump in inventory.

(Getty Images)

Fresh listings flourish

The uptick in housing stock is not due to old, stale listings piling up—newly listed homes surged 4.9% above last year’s levels, reflecting a solid spike in seller activity.

Home shoppers in search of fresh listings will have the most luck in the West, where there are 7.0% more newly listed homes than in October 2023. New listings also grew by 5.1% in the Midwest, 3.2% in the Northeast, and 2.9% in the South.

The metros that saw the largest increase in fresh listings compared with last year included Baltimore, MD, at 24.9%; Washington, D.C., at 19.4%; and Seattle at 17.5%

And those figures could climb even higher before year’s end.

“November and December are usually some of the colder months in the housing market, but it’s possible we’ll also see an increase in listing activity in these months after the uncertainty of the presidential election subsides,” says McLaughlin.

The South and West are closest to bridging the inventory gap.

(Realtor.com)

Home prices remain high

Home shoppers may have more homes to choose from, yet home prices didn’t budge and instead held steady at $424,950—exactly where prices were last October.

“However, when a change in the mix of inventory toward smaller homes is accounted for, the typical home listed this year has increased in asking price compared with last year,” says McLaughlin.

In another blow to budget-minded buyers, even though the median home price remained stable, the median price per square foot continued to rise, increasing 2.1% in October compared with the year prior.

Meanwhile, the price per square foot grew by an astonishing 50.5% on average since October 2019.

In the 50 largest metros, the markets that experienced the biggest increase in price per square foot over the past five years include the New York metro area, up 72.3%; Hartford, CT, up 63.2%; and Boston, MA, up 60.8%.

There is a break in the affordability headwinds, however. Sellers slashed prices on 18.6% of listings in October, the same percentage as the year prior.

NYC Boroughs
The New York metro area experienced one of the biggest increases in price per square foot over the past five years.

(Getty Images)

Homes are taking longer to sell

Another upside of rising housing stock is that buyers can take their time making an offer. As a result, the typical home spent 58 days on the market in October, eight days longer than the same time last year.

“This marks the slowest October since 2019, marking the seventh month in a row in which homes spent more time on the market compared with the previous year,” says McLaughlin.

Yet buyers who’ve been on the fence about entering the market may not want to take too long on their home-shopping journey, as the competition is poised to increase.

“Since most sellers also become buyers, an increase in new listings also means that there’s an increase in buyers,” notes McLaughlin. “We now expect homebuying activity to begin to tick higher on a year-over-basis through November and December, both because of falling rates as well as a low 2023 benchmark.”

 

For this and similar articles, please visit Realtor.com

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Ready To Trade Your Home for a Hull? The Truth About Living on a Houseboat

Ready To Trade Your Home for a Hull? The Truth About Living on a Houseboat

Living on the water isn’t for everyone, but with the rising cost of homeownership—something small and waterside might be just what you’re after. One such solution? Living on a houseboat.

A houseboat, not to be confused with a floating home, is a boat that’s been outfitted into a personal dwelling—with or without self-propulsion (aka a way to move around).

Houseboat communities exist all over the country, but they are especially prevalent in coastal areas like Oregon, Washington, California, and New York.

“In some high-priced markets, buying a houseboat could be one way to afford a home,” says Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com®. “Depending on the location and style of houseboat, buying a water-mobile home can be an investment in a unique way of life that may be more appealing than purchasing a home on land.”

Or you could spend $3.9 million on a 4,850-square-foot, three-level houseboat docked on the banks of Lake Union in Seattle.

But if you’re a land lover, how can you know if you’re suited to a home that moves with the tides?

To help, we spoke to several experienced houseboat owners to find out exactly what it’s like to live on one of these cozy floating vessels. Here are their seven takeaways for the houseboat-curious.

1. Waterfront living can be budget-friendly

If you’ve been seeking a waterfront property without the high-end price tag, houseboat life might just fit the bill.

“There are so many pros to living on a houseboat, but the primary one is that you can own a luxury waterfront property for an economical price,” says Brandon Eshaghoff, houseboat owner and founder of houseboat manufacturer The American Houseboat. “You don’t need to pay property taxes, so your monthly living expenses can be noticeably lower.”

Houseboat living tip: Before purchasing, check marina fees and regulations. These can vary widely and significantly affect your budget.

2. Nature is all around

Another favorite aspect of houseboat life that you might not expect? The abundance of nature you’ll encounter—even in urban waterways just outside major cities.

“You really experience the changes of the season with such a close proximity to nature,” says Sal Cataldi, a retired publicist who has lived on a house barge in Port Washington, NY, for nearly 20 years.

“It’s a great novelty for my friends to come and visit,” Cataldi says. “There’s a real calming effect of living on the water.”

Houseboat living tip: Houseboaters should keep a good pair of binoculars at the ready to see the stunning wildlife and scenery around them. Many install bird feeders and plant gardens on their decks to attract local wildlife.

3. Prepare for tight corridors

An important logistical consideration of houseboat living is that you’ll be in close quarters.

“One of the biggest differences in day-to-day life aboard a floating home is that you will have to learn to navigate the tight corridors,” says Eshaghoff.

For reference, a typical houseboat is only 14 feet wide, so spaces like hallways will definitely feel tighter.

“Depending on your layout and interior furniture, there’s generally less space available than in a traditional home,” says Eshaghoff.

Houseboat living tip: Embrace minimalism! Given the space squeeze, prioritize essential items and use multifunctional or collapsible furniture as way to maximize space efficiency.

4. Storage is limited

Speaking of tight spaces, you might also need to downsize what you own if you plan on living full-time in a houseboat.

“On average, houseboats offer approximately 600 square feet of indoor and outdoor space per floor, which means there will be a limited amount of storage space and generally less cabinet and closet space available,” says Eshaghoff.

Houseboat living tip: Use furniture with built-in storage to make the most of the limited space, and keep your living area organized. Consider vacuum-sealed storage bags for clothing and other items. Install shelves and hooks to utilize vertical space effectively.

5. Some basic tasks could be harder

Another limiting factor of houseboats is their electricity, which is crucial for basic tasks like washing clothes.

“Many houseboats lack the electrical capacity to accommodate laundry machines, requiring owners to transport laundry to nearby laundromats or utilize communal laundry facilities at certain marinas,” says Eshaghoff.

Houseboat living tip: Look for homes in marinas that offer laundry facilities, or invest in a compact, energy-efficient washer/dryer combo that suits the boat’s power supply. Solar panels can also be a good investment to enhance your electrical capacity.

6. Mortgages and insurance could be harder to get

When it comes to financing your houseboat, it’s good to keep in mind that getting a mortgage or comprehensive insurance policy might be difficult.

“You really can’t get a mortgage; where I am, it’s all cash deals,” says Cataldi. “You also would be hard-pressed to find insurance that covers sinking. So you are taking a chance that you could lose your investment.”

Houseboat living tip: Seek financial advice to prepare for a cash purchase, and thoroughly research houseboat-specific insurance options. Consider joining a houseboat association that might offer resources and advice on securing insurance.

7. A sense of adventure is required

The biggest thing to understand about houseboat life is that you need to embark on it with a healthy sense of adventure.

“Realize you’ll have to be a bit more self-reliant,” says Cataldi. “But it’s such a great life and a great way for kids to grow up. And you’ll be among people who are a little more adventurous and swashbuckling.”

Houseboat living tip: Embrace the lifestyle, and enjoy the unique experiences that come with living on the water. Engage in local activities, and build relationships within the houseboat community. Take advantage of your location by exploring water sports and fishing, too.

Are you interested in leaving land behind and calling the water home? Then check out these houseboat listing photos to start your search.

2309 N Northlake Way Apt 4, Seattle, WA

Price: $1,100,000

This houseboat sits on a tree-lined dock with a wide boardwalk.

(Realtor.com)

1080 W Ewing Pl Unit E8, Seattle, WA

Price: $335,000

This stylish houseboat has views of the lake, city, and the Space Needle.

(Realtor.com)

This beauty has a soaking tub and a rooftop deck.

(Realtor.com)

11 Commodore Marina Unit B, Mill Valley, CA

Price: $500,000

This newly remodeled houseboat comes with a platform bed and heated tile floor.

(Realtor.com)

360 Beach 59th St, Arverne, NY

Price: $200,000

Kick back and relax in this houseboat, complete with a wood stove and deck.

(Realtor.com)

 

For this and related articles, please visit Realtor.com
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Why College Kids Are Bypassing Dorms and Living in Investment Properties—Courtesy of Mom and Dad

Klew Yeh Mori was sick of throwing away money on her son Shoji‘s college housing with so little to show for it.

His freshman dorm at the University of Portland had not been cheap, and the expensive condo she rented for him sophomore year had a lot of maintenance issues that the landlord simply chose to ignore.

That’s when Mori, a real estate agent and resident of Salt Lake City, decided to try a different approach: When it came time to renew her son’s lease, she purchased an investment property in Portland, OR, where he could live instead.

“I don’t have to waste money on rent anymore, and now we are collecting rental income from his roommates to help with household expenses,” Mori explains. “It’s a win-win for me.”

Shoji Mori, on the far right, with his roommates in front of the Portland, OR, investment property

(Shoji Mori)

Mori isn’t the only parent who’s figured out that buying a property where their college-age kids can live is a smart idea that can pay off now and down the road.

“Purchasing homes for college-age children can be an intriguing investment strategy among parents,” says Realtor.com® economist Ralph McLaughlin. “By buying a property near their child’s university, parents can provide a stable and convenient living arrangement for their child but also capitalize on the potential for financial gains when compared to their child renting a home or living in a dormitory.”

“Parents investing in housing in college towns where their kids go to school is actually incredibly common,” says Jameson Tyler Drew, developer and president of Anubis Properties in Whittier, CA. “For instance, in Muncie, IN, a large, well-kept house within walking distance of the Ball State University can be purchased for under $150,000. After taxes and fees, this comes out to about a $860 payment with 20% down. Or you could rent the home next door for $850 a month. For those who can afford it, it’s a no-brainer.”

buying investment properties for your college-aged kids to live in
The Oregon home Klew Yeh Mori purchased is just steps away from the University of Portland.

(Realtor.com)

How the deal came together

Mori knew she wanted a newer property, since it rains a lot in Portland, which can lead to a lot of mold issues. The home, priced at $820,000, sparked a bidding war, which she won in 2022 by paying $970,000 in cash.

From there, she put both her name and her son’s on the deed. The fact that it’s an owner-occupied property, which is Shoji’s primary residence, will allow them both to reap tax benefits later.

“When we sell it, Shoji and I can each pocket up to $250,000 profit without paying Uncle Sam,” Mori says.

They collect $2,900 a month from three renters.

“When you factor in the rental income plus the money I’m saving on his college rental, I’m getting a much bigger return on my money than if I had just kept my cash in a savings account,” Mori explains.

And since real estate in college towns tends to be robust and rise over time, the odds of Mori’s investment losing value is unlikely.

“It’s almost certain that the demand will be there for rental properties in a college town,” says Samantha Sousa, a real estate broker in Visalia, CA. “With college towns, property values historically rise, so if parents do decide to sell after a few years, they will likely benefit from the equity built.”

Drew agrees that having an investment property for college kids comes with a variety of benefits.

“The pros are obvious,” he says. “When including your son or daughter on the title and paying on time, it dramatically improves their credit history. Of course, they can also share in any profits that might come from the sale of the house in the future. There are also multiple tax write-offs that aren’t usually available to renting college students. Lastly, you don’t have to worry about losing your security deposit.”

But as is the case with any investment, there are possible downsides and risks.

“The cons are that your college-aged kid is now in charge of household maintenance and paying bills on time,” Drew says. “For some kids not used to that responsibility, it can end badly. These houses can turn into nonstop parties if the person isn’t mature enough, or worse. Ownership also means that there’s no landlord to call when things break—and they will.”

Avoiding family drama

Yet despite the risks, Atlanta real estate agent and attorney Bruce Ailion purchased homes for all his kids when they were in college, and highly recommends it to others.

“Dorms and apartments are more densely populated, the space provided is small, and the distractions are high,” he says. “We have five children, three with doctorates, two with undergraduate degrees, no student loans, and all have jobs. Given our children’s success in school, I have to wonder if being in an owned property contributed to that success.”

But to avoid drama or resentment among siblings, Ailion recommends keeping things fair and square when you have multiple kids.

“When purchasing, it is essential to be consistent between the children,” he advises. “I consider that to mean allocating the same resources to each. In some markets, that may result in a nicer place but with an equal contribution.”

As for Shoji and his mom, owning a property together has strengthened their relationship and brought them closer.

“We get along better and argue less,” Shoji says. “I now see what it takes to own a home behind the scenes, and I have a much bigger appreciation for everything my mom has done for me.”

Not only has this been a smart move financially, it’s also taught him some important life lessons that money can’t buy.

“I run the household, collect the rent, and pay all the house bills out of a designated account, which made me become much more responsible,” 22-year-old Shoji says. “I’m doing things like changing the garbage disposal, staining the deck, and fixing the dishwasher. This situation forced me to put on my big-boy pants and figure stuff out.”

Mori expects that this investment will pay off not only during her child’s college years, but beyond that if she keeps the property as a rental property for future students.

“Such properties can serve as a primary residence for the student during their college years and later be rented out to other students or sold after the child graduates,” McLaughlin says. “This dual-purpose investment can help offset the costs of higher education and offer a steady stream of rental income, making it an attractive option for families looking to invest in real estate while also providing some use-value to their college-age children.”

But perhaps the biggest benefit in Mori’s mind is that her son may be at college, but still feels like he’s home.

“It gives him more of a home-away-from-home environment while he is away at school,” she explains.

 

For this and related articles, please visit Realtor.com

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