Thinking of buying or selling a home in 2025? Setting clear resolutions can help you navigate this transformative journey with confidence.
Here are three resolutions to guide your real estate success in 2025.
Resolution 1: Clarify Your Vision for the Perfect Home
Embarking on a home-buying journey without a clear idea of what you want can be overwhelming. Take time to define what “home” means to you. Consider factors like location, size, design, and key features that match your lifestyle and future plans. Are you drawn to a contemporary townhouse or a craftsman bungalow? The more specific your vision, the easier it will be to find the right fit.
Dreaming & scheming is fun! It’s never too soon to consult with a realtor re: what’s possible and reasonable in the current market.
Resolution 2: Get Financially Prepared
Financial planning is essential for any real estate transaction. Whether saving for a down payment or budgeting for moving expenses, preparation is key. Start by evaluating your finances and creating a realistic budget that includes costs like closing fees, inspections, and renovations. Sellers should work with professionals to set a competitive listing price and forecast potential outcomes.
Consult financial advisors or lenders for expert guidance to reduce stress and gain confidence in your financial readiness. Need recs? Happy to send some.
Resolution 3: Partner with a Trusted Real Estate Pro
Navigating real estate complexities is easier with the right expert by your side. Connect with a seasoned agent who understands the local market and can offer valuable insights. A skilled professional can simplify negotiations, paperwork, and market analysis, making the process smoother for first-time and experienced buyers or sellers alike.
Looking Ahead to a Successful Year
The new year is a chance to embrace growth and transformation. By clarifying your vision, preparing financially, and building the right support team, you’ll set yourself up for real estate success in 2025.
No matter if you’re still in brainstorm mode- or already packing boxes… I’d love to help you develop a plan & get to the finish line. Ready to get to work? Reach out!
Lydia Hallay
Broker | OR
She/They
Buying or selling a home is often one of the biggest (and most stressful) decisions you'll ever make. I'm here to make your experience as seamless (and fun) as possible.
Looking to buy? Whether you're a design-minded dreamer looking for that mid-century unicorn, an investor on the hunt for a fixer (or a 5-plex) to tear into, or a first-time buyer in need of a gentle guide - I'm a skilled negotiator with an eye for design and a knack for finding homes with "good bones." I'm on a mission to ensure you feel empowered and cared for throughout the home-buying process.
Ready to sell? If you want to maximize your sales price, you've come to the right place! With a background in landscape/interior design and construction/project management, I've got the tools it takes to make your house shine. When it comes to catching buyer attention, I go beyond the traditional (ex. open houses, RMLS, etc.)- incorporating cutting-edge tools and outside-the-box strategy to build the hype. When it's time to negotiate, my years of experience bargaining contracts mean I'm calm under pressure and know what it takes to get to YES.
Like many folks working in real estate, I've got a grab-bag of past lives that inform how I show up. Most of my 20's and 30's (17 years), I worked as a union organizer/negotiator on the state and national level- helping workers across sectors and industries join together and become leaders in the fight for better wages & benefits, a voice on the job, and political power. I've been an entrepreneur, a landscape designer, freelance florist, and have a deep well of personal experience with home renovation & property management under my belt.
Aside from working with buyers & sellers, I volunteer my time as the Integrity Chair on Living Room Realty's Broker Advisory Group. In that role, I serve as Living Room's broker representative for our B-Corp status.
A portion of every one of my paychecks goes to
Taking Ownership PDX, a community collective of contractors, realtors, neighbors, and businesses who support Black homeowners to age in place, generate wealth, and deflect the gentrification process by deterring predatory investors and realtors.
About Me:
I was born in Memphis, raised in the Sonoran desert (Phoenix), and have been in the PNW since 2003. I identify as queer, and use she/they pronouns. I'm married with sweeties (i.e., I practice ethical non-monogamy) and nest with my spouse, dog, and two cats in the Lents neighborhood of outer SE Portland. I'm a people person, music nerd, avid gardener, and seed-sower/organizer.
Since coming to Portland in 2004, I've witnessed many iterations of the city. I'm bullish on the future here- and excited about all our region has to offer. Good food, proximity to nature, an incredible local music scene, and an inclusive community are just a handful of the reasons I love this area.
As your realtor, I promise to show up as myself. I'll hustle hard on your behalf with patience, a good listening ear, professionalism, and a goofy sense of humor. What you see is what you get, friends. And if we decide to work together, that's the kind of authenticity I hope you feel comfortable showing too.
Ready to make magic happen? Feel free to shoot me a text/email, or give me an old fashioned ring. I'm excited to meet you!
Land Acknowledgement & Mission Statement
As a Realtor, the land I do business on is unceded Indigenous land. The Portland Metro area rests on the ancestral lands of the Cowlitz, Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Tumwater, Tualatin Kalapuya, Wasco, Molalla, Watlala, Bands of the Chinook, and so many other nations who made this area their home. In addition to the federally recognized tribes mentioned, there are numerous “unrecognized” tribes and Indigenous groups whose stories are also important.
I recognize these tribes' legacy, lives, and descendants, and acknowledge my role and responsibility as a guest on stolen lands.
I am committed to using my voice and influence as a real estate professional (and, as a human being) to actively contribute to a more just and equitable future- one that promotes dignity, respect, and repair for the damaged caused by systemic oppression, white supremacy, homophobia/transphobia, and exploitative capitalism.
If you can't get behind all that. We're probably not a good fit. :)
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