Blog Buyer First time home buyer in a competitive price range

First time home buyer in a competitive price range

By Julia Robertson, April 30, 2019

These happy campers relocated from New York less than a year ago. They just closed on the most perfect 1940’s cape cod style home in North Portland. We’ve been on a search for a home under $450k, with character, room to improve, in an up-n-coming neighborhood and close enough commute to Nike. I’d like to say it was an easy search, but this is a popular search for North Portland! We wrote multiple over asking price offers, giving desirable concessions to seller… but lucking out, as runner up or back up offer on these homes. One home in particular, they had their eye on was removed from the market for a month. Although we really wanted to write an offer on that property, the seller had to find a suitable 1031 exchange property on the east coast, while living in the Netherlands. Sound complicated? Yup! We continued to look at other homes and write a few offers in some crazy competitive situations. Sure enough this cute little cape cod came on the market and we had our opportunity again! In a split decision with multiple offers the seller chose an all cash offer, higher than ours, the seller couldn’t refuse the terms. Ugggghhh! We asked to be a back up position and seller chose not to have a back up. All the while I encouraged these two. In real estate, everything happens the way it’s supposed to. Don’t get discouraged.

Two weeks later, I received a call from the cape cod home that the buyer in first position was backing out. Before listing it back on the market, they wanted to know if this buyer was still interested… YES!!! These two were so excited to get into the home they originally wanted. May not have been the way they thought it would happen, but almost always everything happens the way it’s supposed to in real estate. Timing is everything and so is having a professional on your side.

If you’re a first time home buyer and you’re trying to navigate the home buying process- I’d love to be your guide. Call or email me anytime!

Julia Robertson | Living Room Realty

Licensed Broker in Oregon & Washington

541-505-1111 | julia@rebyjulia.com

Julia Robertson

WA Designated Managing Broker | Earth Advantage | WA, OR, UT

She/Her

During a two-plus decade career in real estate, Julia has approached her job with one overarching goal in mind: to help people get from where they are, to where they want to be. Julia moved to the Pacific Northwest 18 years ago and genuinely loves showing the city to clients who are considering whether to relocate. Julia constantly explores neighborhoods so that she can accurately match clients with a part of Portland Metro or Vancouver that is perfect them. She believes that everyone deserves the chance to own a home in an area or neighborhood that they love.

Since a real estate purchase is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make, Julia works tirelessly with her clients to build a trusting relationship and help them find not just a house, but a home. She has experience working with a broad range of clients to fulfill their diverse and unique needs. Whether it be a downtown condo, home in the suburbs, or a property with acreage, Julia can help you come up with a plan that meets your timeline, your budget and your needs. If you’d like to meet for coffee or lunch to discuss potential real estate opportunities, Julia would love to hear from you.

From an early age, Julia loved everything related to homemaking. Her childhood spent moving from town to town and always having to be “the new kid” gave her the personal confidence to meet new people and boldly operate in the high stakes world of real estate. Julia has lived in every state across the West - Arizona, California, Utah, Montana, Oregon and Washington. In 2006, Julia rented a uhaul and drove to Eugene where she proceeded to fall in love with the beautiful state of Oregon. She spent six years as a marketing specialist for a global furniture company, until she settled down to start a family. Now with 12 years in her real estate career, Julia has honed in on Southeast Portland and Vancouver as an area specialist. She provides full service listings for sellers, including professional staging, professional photography, drone footage, social media marketing, and networking with agents across the United States. Julia is a licensed Realtor in Oregon, Washington, and Utah as a Seller Representative Specialist(SRS) and Earth Advantage-certified broker. She served on the Living Room Realty broker advisory board(2015-2017) and attended the Portland B corporation meetings.

When Julia represents a client in the sale or purchase of a home, Julia goes above and beyond to serve her clients. She considers the client’s budget, bottom line, area preferences, and future plans. While Julia doesn’t consider herself a “sales person,” she does have over twenty years of experience in the field of sales and knows how to conduct herself in negotiations and details. Your business is Julia’s top priority, and she always makes herself available.

Along with her husband, son and dog, Waffles, she and her family love traveling, taking trips to their favorite beach in Encinitas, California, and searching out new adventures—usually with an eye toward finding new and unique places to eat.
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  • T: 541-505-1111
  • julia@rebyjulia.com

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