Blog Alyssa Isenstein Krueger It’s A Beautiful Day in the Ladd’s Addition Neighborhood

It’s A Beautiful Day in the Ladd’s Addition Neighborhood

By Alyssa Isenstein Krueger, March 9, 2020

Kate and Chris were referred to me by one of my past clients who went to college with  Chris. We met and they showed me a map of where they wanted to live. Funnily enough, the boundaries just happened to correspond with the Ladd’s Addition boundaries plus a few blocks to the north. As experienced home renovators, they were willing to take on a project and willing to wait for the right house that met most of their wish list, with primary concerns being location, price and size of home. And since where they wanted to live was so specific and given how much homes cost in Ladd’s, they lead off with “we think it will take a long time and we are wiling to wait for the right house.” One of the main reasons they chose to work with me is because they knew that I live in Ladd’s and have for quite some time. After our meeting, a familiar little voice in my head chirped sarcastically in response to their thinking it would take a long time to find a house, “sure it will.” My inner voice only says that because the words “we think it will take a long time and we’re willing to wait” seem to be the magic phrase that triggers the universe to turn into a giant hiccuping blob that spits out the perfect house within a week or so.

Nine days after we met, a house that had been on the market in Ladd’s since the end of 2018 and all of 2019 came back on the market after taking a month off to re-group. The house was on the market so long was because it was overpriced by over $150,000 when it first came on the market, and then bore the scarlet stamp of “loser” the longer it sat on the market. And now it was back on the market with a new listing team and priced $20k lower then when it went of the market the month before. The house perfectly wonderful- it has great light, gorgeous hardwood floors, a layout that makes sense, and a dreamy dry basement- a rarity in Ladd’s Addition. There are a few layout quirks to the house- a wall was removed to open up one of the bedrooms to create a larger dining room, and to get to the second bedroom on the main floor you have to walk through one of the bedrooms, or go around the kitchen and the landing to the basement off the back of the house. But for the right buyer, those are very workable quirks. Located in a great location off the busy streets, there was no reason why the house should have been on the market so long other than it’s starting price and slow response to the market.

I emailed Kate and Chris the listing on a Thursday, and we made plans to see it the next day. And good thing we did because the listing team was hosting an open house that evening and while there, we got word from the broker hosting that the sellers just received an offer and would be looking at offers at 10am the next morning. Enamored with the home, Kate and Chris decided to go for it. We put in an offer the next morning and by noon on Saturday- less than 24 hours after they saw it, I got word that the seller accepted their offer. We did a 26 day close and on the day it closed and on closing day, I walked over to my new neighbor’s house and handed them their keys. So next time you know someone who wants to buy a house in Ladd’s Addition and thinks it will take a while, have them come to me and say those magic words.

Alyssa Isenstein Krueger

Broker | OR

She/Her

I am living the dream. Working as a real estate broker in my home town brings this native Portland gal joy beyond measure. Check Out My Reviews! I took the round-about-road towards this career...
Read More
  • T: 503-724-6933
  • PDXHappyHouse@gmail.com

You might also enjoy

The Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When House Hunting in Portland

Will Sing

Embarking on a house-hunting journey can be as daunting as it is exciting. With the Portland...

Just Listed! Highland Hills Charmer!

The Twin Team

12820 SW 22nd St Beaverton, Oregon, 97008 This one will steal your heart! Lovingly updated and...

Just Listed! Classic Hawthorne Craftsman!

The Twin Team

4001 SE Lincoln St Portland, Oregon, 97214 Location! Location! Location! Enjoy one of the sweetest tree-lined...

Navigating Your Home Purchase: Who’s Who in a Real Estate Deal

Will Sing

Understanding the Key Players in Your Home Buying Journey Buying a home involves several key players,...