The once-humble midcentury trendy dwellings constructed by way of Robert Rummer in Oregon are extra common than ever and infrequently in the marketplace. Many homeowners keep put for many years, refusing to surrender a glass-enclosed central atrium, towering clear partitions and skylights that ship a way of the outside, even on rainy, grey days.
Modeled after developer Joseph Eichler’s Case Learn about-like tract properties in California, a Rummer area with 4 bedrooms in Beaverton house’s Lawn House community first bought in 1968 for round $30,000.
In 1993, patrons paid $135,000 for the valuables and bought it two months in the past for $1,165,000, consistent with list agent Marisa Swenson of Live Realty. The appreciation over 29 years: $1,030,000.
Some other Rummer house, in-built 1966 on Southwest Cecilia Terrace in the similar community, bought for $1.2 million — $205,000 over the $995,000 asking worth — on June 28.
Checklist agent Troy Slonecker of Summit Realty authorised an be offering after two days in the marketplace. The valuables had bought for $750,000 in October 2019, consistent with public data.
The fad for “Mad Males”-era midcentury trendy is powerful in décor, represented by way of a spare, “blank” glance, and the classy actually reigns in actual property, the place patrons need adaptable, open flooring plans presented to middle-income patrons by way of builders like Eichler and Rummer.
“There’s a massive purchaser pool for a Rummer area,” says Swenson, who makes a speciality of midcentury trendy and fresh trendy properties within the Portland house.

This 1968 Rummer-built area has no porch or image window that permits any person at the sidewalk to look inside of. Clerestory home windows draw herbal gentle into the central atrium.Live Realty
The only-level Rummer dwellings, with privateness within the entrance — there is not any porch or image window — and the lounge orientated to the yard, attraction to any person residing by myself, retirees who don’t need stairs and a circle of relatives wanting 3, 4 or 5 bedrooms, says Swenson.
Folks might first fall for the glance: Glass partitions upward push to vaulted ceilings lined in wooden planks. Maximum Rummer-built properties have inner atriums, both open to the sky or capped by way of a see-through ceiling. Herbal gentle simply filters into rooms stripped of unneeded cast inner partitions.
Occupants additionally recognize the livability components. One of the vital unique galley kitchens were renovated — partitions got rid of, home equipment relocated — to glue seamlessly to the eating and residing rooms or fail to remember the atrium.
As with any actual property, location is an element out there price. Rummer constructed on greater rather a lot, most commonly adjoining to wooded house. The most important concentrations of Rummer properties are in Lawn House’s Bohmann Park tract adjoining to Fanno Creek or Beaverton house’s Oak Hills Historical District.
“The neighborhoods are properly established,” says Swenson.
From the Nineteen Sixties throughout the Nineteen Eighties, architectural historians estimate Rummer constructed 700 to 750 housing devices in Portland, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Clackamas, Gresham and different puts, together with traditional-style properties.
About 200 are within the Eichler genre, as designed by way of architect A. Quincy Jones.
Every of the trendy Rummer properties, which might be about 1,850 sq. ft or just a little greater, used to be in moderation situated, generally on a quarter-acre lot, to maximise indoor-outdoor residing.
Rummer costs have risen in conjunction with the Portland metro house, however patrons are dedicated to the Rummer “emblem,” says Swenson. “I will get 5 or extra gives, and numerous the folks writing gives come again and write on different Rummers, which is a sign that they’re ready patiently for his or her Rummer.”
In 2018, Rummer-built properties in the marketplace bought, steadily briefly, for round $600,000 to $700,000, relying at the location, situation and measurement.
In 2019, costs rose to the $850,000 vary. “I consider considering, ‘Wow, that’s getting up there,’” says Swenson. “Then on the finish of 2021, a couple of went for greater than $1 million.”
Swenson bought a restored and renovated Rummer-built house on a wooded lot in Beaverton’s Highland Park house for $1,004,508 in September 2021.

Marisa Swenson, a Portland-based dealer with Live Realty, bought a restored and renovated Rummer-built house on a picket lot in Beaverton’s Highland Park house for $1,004,508 in September 2021.Marisa Swenson
— Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072
[email protected] | @janeteastman
Extra at the Portland and Oregon actual property marketplace:
• Prohibition-era Portland Tudor Revival area with a speakeasy is on the market at $1.3 million
• Homework to homebuilding: Jap Oregon highschool scholars promote 8th ‘Boulevard of Desires’ genre area
• 1894 Queen Anne area, restored and upgraded with hid trendy luxuries in NE Portland, sells for $799,000
• Large area, low worth: Extra bang to your dollar by way of the sq. photos?
• Rebuilt West Hills fixer-upper with ‘defund the police’ and graffiti on crumbling partitions is on the market at $2 million
• Architect Richard Campbell’s 1966 trendy chalet in SW Portland is on the market at $1,465,000
• Modernist architect Neutra’s uncommon, restored Oregon home is on the market at $3,750,000