AGENT INSIGHTS

PATRICIA O’CALLAGHAN

CENTURY 21 Beutler & Associates Spokane, Washington

Where are you located?

Beautiful Spokane, Washington. Our office is located in the business district, where we have access to our crown jewel, Riverfront Park, as well as the Spokane River and tons of shops and restaurants.

How would you describe the area? What are the things that would attract people to live there?

It’s clean, green, walkable, drivable and affordable. Our city is known for being “Near Nature, Near Perfect.” We are also known for our wonderful lakes and camping, and the restaurant scene is currently capturing attention—we have several celebrity chefs and James Beard Award winners.

What property trends are you seeing in Spokane at the moment? Is there anything remarkable about the properties there?

Multiple offers, escalation clauses, and homes going well above list price. We are also seeing an influx of cash buyers coming in from other states after several articles were published about Spokane being one of the best places to live. I think the thing that makes our properties so remarkable is the pride of ownership that Spoke residents show in the care of their homes. If home is where the heart is, Spokane has a lot of heart.

What style of homes are in the area, predominantly?

Spokane has it all! Old historic mansions, amazing mid-century modern, ’50s flats, cozy bungalows, new construction, farms and acreage, you name it! There is a home for everyone.

What is there to do in and around the town?

There are so many things! Some of my favorites are the parks, especially Manito Park and Botanical Gardens. Manito Park has been around for more than 110 years—there’s an arboretum, botanical gardens and a conservatory, as well as five major garden areas. Manito Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed the grounds of Central Park in New York, and he later had his sons design a series of parks around Spokane so that everyone in the city was always close to some green space.

A little further out is Palouse Falls State Park—even though it seems quite remote (there is no cell service, and there are no busy roads nearby), you can take a day trip there to hike around and see the beautiful waterfall. It’s a two-hour drive each way, but it’s definitely worth it.

I also love First Friday, when the city and region’s art is shown in art galleries and businesses across downtown Spokane. The Lilac Bloomsday Run—a 12-kilometer run that passes through neighborhood festivities—is held annually on the first Sunday in May, and is a great charity event.

Is there much tourism in the region?

Absolutely. Imagine being the major hub for shopping, medical treatment and outings for people from Idaho, Montana and Canada. People come for the regular big-city attractions, as well as our outdoor adventure and historic past.

How far is your town from the nearest major city?

We are the major city; Spokane is the second largest city in Washington, and the 100th largest city in the United States. We are 4.5 hours across the Cascades to Seattle, which is a beautiful drive or a 1.5-hour flight. We’re a six-hour drive to Portland, or a one-hour flight. We are very accessible, and are becoming more and more so each year with so many added direct flights.

What are some of your favorite businesses or attractions in the region?

Currently, my favorite restaurant is the Inland Pacific Kitchen, which people here know as the IPK. Its menu is seasonal, and the chef uses fresh, local ingredients. It also has a full craft cocktail bar with

local and international beverage options. I love to sit at the bar above the presentation station, where you get a beautiful show watching the chef dress the plates.

If you are into Art Deco design, the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox is on the Historic Register as one of the best examples of this era. This theater opened in 1931, and people say that the architect, Robert Reamer, haunts the space—he has been seen wandering around the theater, inspecting its features.

Another favorite is also on the Historic Register: The Historic Davenport Hotel. It’s a beautiful establishment, designed by architect Kirtland Cutter, and is something of a regional landmark for the area. The hotel’s rooms and halls are a huge drawcard for history and architecture buffs, as well as people who just love beauty and grandeur. One of my favorite things to do is sit under the Tiffany glass skylights while enjoying a cup of tea and watching all the visitors milling around.

For the more casual visitor, it’s no secret that the craft brewery scene is hopping in Spokane. Many Spokane breweries source local ingredients to create their concoctions, and share their love of beer with locals and visitors alike. One of my favorites is Iron Goat Brewery, which has an amazing menu for pizza lovers and vegans!

Why do these places stand out?

Rich with culture and local pride, all the places I have mentioned make Spokane special. I moved to Los Angeles when I was 18, and after 10 years I came back. Spokane draws people home, and it’s an easy choice to stay. Anyone looking in the Spokane area, call me. Let me give you a tour and show you what makes Spokane a wonderful place to live!

Manito Park in Spokane is more than a century old, and was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed the grounds of Manhattan's Central Park.

AWARD-WINNING FARE

Spokane is a hotspot for inspired cuisine, and is home to three chefs talented enough to be shortlisted for the James Beard Awards.

Wandering Table, Adam Hegsted

Now located in the Kendall Yards neighborhood in Spokane, Wandering Table grew out of a pop-up restaurant that traveled the northwest. At its bricks and mortar location, the restaurant focuses on locally sourced food, shared meals, quality and simplicity. In 2016, Chef and Owner Adam Hegsted was a semifinalist in the in the Best Chef Northwest category of the James Beard Awards, and, with numerous local restaurants and food festivals under his Eat Good Group banner, he is an active participant in the culinary growth of Spokane.

www.thewanderingtable.com

Fleur de Sel, Laurent Zirotti

With an impressive history of culinary education and experience in France, it’s no surprise that Laurent Zirotti’s food is heavily influenced by the cuisine of The Republic. Fleur de Sel, the restaurant that he runs with his wife, Patricia, features regional bistro French cooking, as well as Northern Italian dishes inspired by Zirotti’s family heritage. His expertise was recognized when Zirotti was made a semifinalist in the 2017 James Beard Awards, in the Best Chef Northwest category.

www.fleurdesel.weebly.com

Italia Trattoria, Anna Vogel

Weekend brunches are incredibly popular at Italia Trattoria in Spokane, where modern, elegant Italian food is the focus. Swiss-born Chef and Co-owner Anna Vogel gained widespread culinary experience in Australia, New York, Boston and Seattle before landing in Spokane and establishing Italia Trattoria with Co-owner Bethe Bowman. The restaurant’s contemporary space and satisfying Italian fare have earned it a loyal following, and Vogel’s 2018 James Beard Award semifinalist position in the Best Chef Northwest category is testament to her skill in the kitchen.

www.italiatrattoriaspokane.com

MIKE FERRANTE: 21 Mike Team of CENTURY 21 HomeStar Solon, Ohio

Where are you located?

The 21 Mike Team covers all of northeast Ohio, greater Cleveland and Akron areas.

How would you describe the area? What are the things that would attract people to live there?

We have a great cost of living—housing is very affordable. Folks from overseas and out of state are often amazed at the relative mansions with land that they can buy within their budget. Our area has some of the finest homes around. For example, Shaker Heights is a well-known suburb of Cleveland with gorgeous, castle-like estates on tree-lined streets. Moreland Hills, Hunting Valley, Waite Hill—these are all suburbs known for their expansive estates and enormous homes. And, in contrast, Cleveland proper still has homes selling for $30,000 and less.

Cleveland is right on Lake Erie, giving residents and visitors ample choice for fishing and water sports.

What style of homes are in the area, predominantly?

While we have some areas of historic homes, most of greater Cleveland is what I’d characterize as suburban. We have a huge number of post–World War II bungalows, Cape Cods, and ranches. Additionally, we have areas of gentrification, like Ohio City, Tremont, and Gordon Square, where homes are being torn down to make way for modern houses and luxury townhomes.

What is there to do in and around your area?

Northeast Ohio has more than its share of parks, golf courses, and other green space. We’re right on Lake Erie, which is considered to be the best fishing lake of the Great Lakes, especially for walleye. We have three pro sports teams—even more if you consider minor leagues. We have a theater district second only to New York City, and we have an abundance of bars, restaurants, and nightlife, especially in downtown. Cleveland is a cultural melting pot, with various ethnic neighborhoods boasting amazing food and specialty shops (Slavic Village, Little Italy and Chinatown, for example).

Shaker Heights is a well-known suburb of Cleveland, with castle-like estates on tree-lined streets

How far is your town from the nearest major city?

We are located in a suburb of Cleveland called Solon. One of the delightful things about Cleveland is the fact that we have so many big-city amenities but lack many of the issues, such as hours of gridlock traffic. Even during rush hour, we can get to downtown in less than an hour—a drive that takes about 30 minutes during other times. Public transportation is abundant, but most people drive since driving is easy.

What are some of your favorite businesses and attractions in your region?

There are just too many to list. Besides everything I mentioned previously, here are some more favorites:

Tommy’s Restaurant, in a neighborhood called Coventry Village in Cleveland Heights, has an incredible, eclectic menu that serves everyone from carnivores to vegans (we’re vegan in our household).

Cedar Point in Sandusky is an easy trip, and it’s considered one of the best amusement parks in the world—especially if you love roller coasters!

Little Italy is one of our favorite food spots, from fine and casual dining to the pastries and coffee at Presti’s Bakery.

Chagrin Falls is a gorgeous little town, named for the river and falls at its center, that is completely walkable. We’ll sometimes just take a ride there to walk around and grab a bite to eat. The town is known for its Cherry Blossom Festival in the spring.

JENNIFER MCBRIDE: CENTURY 21 Curran & Oberski Northville, Michigan

Where are you located?

My CENTURY 21® office is based in Northville, and I do the majority of my business in and around Northville and the surrounding areas, which is mostly metro Detroit. I grew up here in Northville. I moved away for quite some time—did the big-city living—then I came back with my family. It’s definitely a place that you want to come back to if you leave.

How would you describe the area? What are the things that would attract people to live there?

The major thing is that it offers so many beautiful neighborhoods. The homes are beautiful, and range from historic to brand-new construction. There’s a little bit of everything for everyone. There’s a great downtown, and great restaurants. It’s not commercialized, so you’re not going to get chain restaurants and chain shops. It’s very boutiquey, with cute shops and restaurants. There are quite a few historic buildings and homes, particularly in downtown, which gives it a real community feel.

It’s very family-oriented here. I think it is because of the things that we put on for families, like events, festivals, carnivals—a lot of things for the community. If you live here, you can just go right down the street, grab dinner and hit one of these festivals, and it’s a great weekend. You feel like you’ve gotten out, yet you didn’t have to drive far and there’s just so much to do.

What property trends are you seeing in Northville at the moment?

As far as properties, it’s one of the most desirable areas to live—people are always going to want to live here. The school districts are first-rate. The value of homes stay up; if anything, we are one of the areas with the highest increases in values, so that makes Northville pretty unique. It’s not overpopulated, either, which makes it desirable. As far as prices, the range is a little bit higher because it is so sought after. People tend to want to stay here because they know their homes are going to continue to increase in value.

What style of homes are in the area, predominantly?

If you want to live in the downtown, within almost walking distance to the shops and restaurants, a lot of the homes are in the historic district. In this district, you cannot tear down a home. If you do buy one and renovate, you have to meet the city’s requirements on how to keep it historic, so it takes on a very Victorian style. So, a lot of the homes are Victorian, craftsmen.

If you venture out further from downtown, you’ll find more of that traditional-style home. There are also quite a few newer developments, like gated communities, with beautiful homes.

What is there to do in and around the town?

One of the things that makes Northville so wonderful is its green space. There are a ton of parks and trails, woods, ponds, lakes, rivers—a lot of areas for exploring and exercising, taking walks, running, and hitting the bike paths. That’s the one thing that makes this area very unique, and why it’s so desirable (besides the homes and the downtown). It’s so handy having all of that available to you without having to belong to a gym or drive far to go work out—it’s right at your back door.

Maybury State Park is right in Northville, with running, walking and bike trails, and plenty of activities.

One of the super-unique things that I personally absolutely love is Maybury State Park—a state park right within Northville. It’s maybe about 1,000 acres, with bike trails, walking trails and running trails, and there are plenty of winter activities that you can do there, like crosscountry skiing or horseback riding. Maybury State Park might be the best feature in this area. I love to just go walking, and I have a dog, so I take her there running a lot.

There’s another area called Hines Park that has quite a few biking trails, as well. They shut down the road for 10 miles every Saturday morning for people to go biking and running. There’s definitely a lot of green space, parks and trails that you don’t find in many areas around here.

Northville’s vibrant downtown boasts great boutiques and restaurants.

Image © Michigan Municipal League.

Is there much tourism in the region?

You get people who come for the restaurants—places that aren’t chains. There’s a historic theater downtown, which people like to check out. And we have one of the biggest Halloween events where the whole city shuts down. The roads are closed and the town is opened up to thousands of families that come. The shops pass out candy, and the residents decorate their homes and make it a big deal.

There’s also a huge Arts and Acts Festival that’s been going on for years. There are so many different events throughout the year that bring people in. We certainly have great, cute shops and things, but it’s the events that really bring the people in.

How far is your town from the nearest major city?

Northville is about 30 miles from Detroit, and many people live in Northville and commute to Detroit for work. Most people commute about 30 minutes on average, while others commute over an hour one way because they want to live here, but maybe they work on the other side of town. To them, it’s worth it.

What are some of your favorite businesses or attractions in the region?

Well, Maybury State Park is definitely one of my favorites, but there are tons of other great places.

There are super-cute boutiques downtown where you can get some one-of-a-kind stuff—it’s not mall-type stores. There’s one in particular that I like, called Rococo‚ which sells small batches of beautiful designer things.

There’s also a great coffee place called Red Dot Coffee. It’s a cute coffee shop, and they have some amazing things in there. You can bring your laptop, and it’s great for meetings if you have to meet someone for an hour. There’s a cute little lounge area, a fireplace and an outdoor patio for if you want to sit outside in the warmer months.

There’s a lovely restaurant called Table 5—it’s probably the best in downtown. It’s always packed—always. It’s a white-tablecloth type place, but not stuffy or foodie. They have really cool drinks, and the bartenders have been there forever, so they know a lot of the locals that come in all the time. It’s one of those places where you go, and you always see people you know. The food is outstanding, the service is great, and it just has a warm feeling. 