WELCOME BACK TO PRICE POINT, where we look at two very different homes at around the same price point. This month, we're eyeing a townhome in the Pearl District that's just barely voting age and a century-old Craftsman near Hollywood, each coming in at about $1 million.

Home 1: A Lofty Townhome in the Pearl

Condos—especially those built in the aughts—can feel pretty standardized after a while. But this townhome in the Pearl District has some extras that help it to rise above the rest, thanks to an architect owner who made smart tweaks to its 1,937-square-foot floor plan. Those updates include an additional bedroom, bathroom, and second kitchen in a loft, as well as an interior overhaul to the main living spaces that make them feel much more now, rather than a beige throwback to Portland’s condo boom era.

Built in 2004, and located in the Park Place building on NW 11th Avenue, this three-level townhome has an en-suite bedroom and bathroom on both the lower and main floor, while the main living spaces occupy the middle level. There, the styling is loft-like, with crisp white walls offsetting the black-framed windows, exposed concrete structure, and metal accents like the staircase railing. Soaring ceilings are underscored by big windows, so all the natural light can warm the wide-plank wood floors. The main kitchen also received key updates, including a new tile backsplash, quartz counters, a Monogram six-burner gas range, and professional grade ventilation.

The upper level is a 250-square-foot mezzanine loft overlooking the floor below. It hosts the additional bedroom and bathroom, benefiting from the high ceilings and windows in the living area. Close to it, there’s a new kitchenette—a mini version of the downstairs kitchen finishes for visual cohesiveness—directly adjacent to the door to the 350-square-foot exterior terrace. This adds a lot of flexibility to the floor plan, making the upper-level ideal for an office, guest accommodations, and outdoor entertaining.

Should you want to venture beyond your private outdoor space, this home is ideally located to explore everything that is the Pearl. Start by hopping over to the boardwalk on NW 10th Avenue that connects the three parks within a few blocks of each other: Tanner Springs, the Fields, and, right next door to here, Jamison Square.

Listing Fast Facts

List price: $975,000 (plus $1,031 monthly HOA fee)
Location: 922 NW 11th Ave #105, Portland, OR 97209
Size: 1,937 square feet/3 bedroom/3 bath
Year built: 2004
Listing agent: Jamie Meushaw, eXp Realty, LLC

Home 2: An Updated Grant Park Craftsman

Originally built in 1910, this Craftsman has since been updated in all the right ways. Located on NE 42^nd Avenue, it’s just a short walk to the bustling center of the Hollywood District and all its goodies, as well as the green expanse of Grant Park. At 3,195 square feet over three floors, it packs in a lot of living space for an old house, all held together by a modern traditional look. Think wainscoting and hardwoods joined with sleek lighting and a kitchen that looks magazine-worthy.

The front yard is nicely landscaped, with a concrete walk leading to the front porch, itself wrapped in a modern railing and lined with wood accents. Inside, the entry foyer is festooned in cheery wallpaper. The main level has a connected living and dining room, with the wainscot and a fireplace in the former, plus a kitchen with white cabinetry, quartz counters, and modern lighting, and a separate office/family/“away” room. This is a layout with a lot of utility, as family members can hole up in front of the TV in the back room, while others are entertaining in the main spaces. A sizable mudroom and powder room at the side entrance off of the driveway rounds out the plan. 

Upstairs, there’s two bedrooms and a hall bathroom, as well as a primary suite with a soaking tub and walk-in shower. The basement is bonus space, plus laundry, as well as two bedrooms that share a bathroom, which brings the grand total up to five bedrooms and three and a half baths. This lower level also has a private entrance.

Outside, it’s more new meets old, as there’s an electric car charging station, 24 solar panels, and a cute, old-school sauna in the corner of the backyard.

Listing Fast Facts

List price: $1,050,000
Location: 2535 NE 42nd Ave, Portland, OR 97213
Size: 3,195 square feet/5 bedroom/3.5 bath
Year built: 1910
Listing agent: C. Morgan Davis, Keller Williams PDX Central

Final Notes

With their updated interiors, flexible floor plans, and short distances to park(s) and amenities, these two homes have more similarities than their typologies might imply. 

The townhouse is emblematic of easy city living, thanks to its location in the heart of the Pearl. Having an extra bedroom and bathroom is a luxury in denser parts of the city, and ensures a little flexibility. Need a guest room, or WFH space? You’re covered here. And the generous private terrace would be excellent for summer entertaining, especially with that accessible kitchenette. There’s even room for a car, since there’s a deeded parking spot included in the listing.

The Grant Park Craftsman also feels rather modern for an older home, and is move-in ready, but offers a completely different focus: all those bedrooms and baths are ideal for a bigger family, as is the main floor layout with connected living spaces and a dedicated “away” room. The downstairs is the flex space here, as it could be used as extra bonus rooms, or maneuvered to be more separate, since it has a private entrance. The yard is plenty big enough for both summer barbecues and relaxing.

So, the question here is: how much space do you need, and where do you want to grab a pint, the Moon and Sixpence in Hollywood, or 10 Barrel Brewing on NW Flanders?

Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer who has focused on Pacific Northwest design and lifestyle since 2008. She is based in Portland, Oregon. Contact Dalton here.