Portland Monthly 921 SW Washington Street, Suite 750 Portland, OR 97205 Phone: 503-222-5144 • Fax: 503-227-8777

Image: Jack Burnett for TourFactory, Scott Gerke, and Michael Novak

WELCOME BACK TO PRICE POINT , where we look at two very different homes at around the same price point. This month, we’re setting our sights on around $600,000. With that budget, would you choose the farmhouse in Woodstock, or the midcentury modern in South Tabor?

Home 1: An Updated Farmhouse in Woodstock  

Image: Jack Burnett for TourFactory

Just a short walk from the restaurants, shops, and New Seasons on SE Woodstock Boulevard, this 1908 farmhouse has undergone a top-to-bottom remodel that combines key vintage details with strategic updates to the kitchen, bathrooms, and mechanicals. A sizable addition, as well as a second-floor dormer, expanded the square footage to a comfortable 1,730, so it now has three bedrooms and two baths over two floors.   

Image: Jack Burnett for TourFactory

Beyond the newly expanded front porch, the living spaces flow together from front to back, with big picture windows complementing the preserved hardwood floors and an arched doorway connecting the living room and dining area.

Image: Jack Burnett for TourFactory

The kitchen is a powerhouse, with its butcher block island, vaulted ceiling with skylight, tile floors and quartz counters, and white Shaker cabinets perfectly suited to the farmhouse vibe. At the rear, a petite mudroom connects to the backyard, as well as to stairs leading to the finished basement.  

Image: Jack Burnett for TourFactory

The primary bedroom is on the main floor, across the hall from an equally good-looking bathroom, which syncs up nicely with the kitchen, thanks to its tile, wood walls, and skylight. Upstairs, find two more bedrooms flanking the updated hall bathroom. In addition to the aesthetic changes, there’s all new electrical, plumbing, and roof.  

Image: Jack Burnett for TourFactory

If you’re not cooking up a storm in that kitchen, there’s a fantastic number of places to explore in the neighborhood, which has a Walk Score of 91.    

List price:   $579,000   Location:   5721 SE 49th Ave, Portland, OR 97206  

Size:   1,730 square feet/3 bedroom/2 bath  

Year built:   1908   Listing agent:  Tracy Wiens and Kristin Fitzgerald, John L. Scott NE Portland  

Home 2: Midcentury Charm and an Urban Farm  

This South Tabor ranch home was originally built in 1951, and there are plenty of well-preserved details from that era to appreciate. For starters, the linear main-floor layout measuring 1,100 square feet: the front door opens to the living room, complete with brick fireplace and two sets of corner windows.

Proceed to the dining room, with its own built-in buffet, before connecting to either the kitchen or a back hallway with two bedrooms and a hall bath.   

The kitchen and bath don’t appear to have been recently updated, but what’s not to love about the vintage pink and red tile in the latter? The right lighting and accessories could spice things up considerably. And the kitchen is perfectly functional, with lots of cabinet storage, new stainless-steel appliances, and a separate breakfast nook. Beyond the kitchen is a 327-square-foot garage, which serves up more utility and is a connector to some unexpected bonus spaces.  

First up is the lower level, which acts as an independent, 794-square-foot unit in its own right, with a kitchen, bath, and separate entrance. The main draw, however, has to be the yard spaces, including an organic vegetable, herb, and flower garden in the front, and a custom chicken coop out back. There’s also an attached sunroom/studio at the rear of the garage, perfect for lingering by the woodburning stove and taking a timeout from the world.  

List price:   $625,000   Location:   7320 SE Franklin St, Portland, OR 97206  

Size:   2,081 square feet/3 bedroom/2 bath   Year built:   1951   Listing agent:   William Jackson, John L. Scott NE Portland  

Our picks might be in the same zip code, but the experiences they offer are pretty different. The Woodstock farmhouse is more walkable, while the South Tabor abode offers a bigger lot, with more to do on it, if gardening and chicken-keeping are your thing.  

The additional living space in the basement of the South Tabor home is a boon if you’re interested in renting it out for extra income. But if tenant relations are too much, then the self-contained farmhouse will be more your speed. The main-floor layout of the midcentury would also be appealing for buyers looking to age in place.  

There’s always the matter of aesthetic preferences: some buyers will swoon at vintage pink and red tile, while others want the newest finishes. Maybe it just comes down to how you like to spend a Sunday afternoon: picking up produce at the seasonal Woodstock Farmers Market, or tending to your own garden?   

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.