From Van Life to House Hack: Buying a Home in Vancouver

I am so excited to welcome my client Dan to his new home in Vancouver! I met Dan through his parents after fellow Bridge to Portland Group team member, Sharon Bloudek, & I worked together to help them purchase their home in West Linn. They shared that, while Dan was going through paramedic training in Washington, he was commuting & living out of his van. And this setup was getting old quickly!

Dan started looking for a home in WA so he could be closer to work & get more space than the van was providing. At first, he (reluctantly) planned to find roommates to help offset the cost of his home loan, but then I found this sweet bungalow with a separate studio apartment in the basement. The best part? It was already occupied & the tenant wanted to stay put. So Dan got a whole house to himself AND a ready-made income stream all in one! Now his van can just be an adventure vehicle for exploring the beautiful PNW on his days off.

Congrats & welcome to house life, Dan! I think you’re really gonna love it.

Carrie Struss

Broker | OR & WA

She/Her

Carrie brings eight years of experience as a Licensed Broker in Oregon and Washington, combining her industry expertise with an eye for detail honed through her degree in Commercial Photography. Her career began with one of her proudest accomplishments: relocating to New York straight out of college to work as a photo producer, where she never settled for an entry-level mindset. It is this same tenacity that has helped make her the top producing agent at Living Room Realty in the Vancouver, WA area since 2021. This accomplishment is a testament to her unwavering commitment to client success. Throughout her career, Carrie has had the privilege of assisting over 100 homeowners achieve their real estate goals. What sets Carrie apart as an agent is her empathetic approach, ensuring that every client feels heard and understood throughout the buying or selling process. Carrie has lived in the Pacific Northwest since 2017, though she’s been visiting the area since her teenage years. Beyond her professional life, Carrie finds peace and joy in nature, spending summers by the river and winters in Hawaii. Amidst her successful career, Carrie's greatest joy is her son Jack, who brings boundless love and inspiration to her life. As your agent Carrie will…

• help get your home (and emotions) ready to sell, then sell your home.
• find you a new home complete with (fill in the “must have” blank).
• facilitate the transaction making sure everyone does what they need to do and has what they need to do it.
• negotiate tenaciously for you.
• educate you on the daunting, overwhelming, and at times stressful process.
• remain calm, always.
• keep you focused on your goals.
• pay attention to every detail.
• show up.
• effectively communicate in the way that works best for you.
• uphold Living Room Realty’s values and what they mean to her.

"I care about where you live. I care about you home, your street, your neighborhood, your community. All the things that are important to you will be my priority. I look forward to working with you!"

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• T: 503-953-0850
• carrie@carriestruss.com