By Leanne Bach, July 14, 2020
I’m going to talk about one of my all time favorite home love stories that recently happened. I feel like I appreciate these little victories even more now, due to the pandemic.
Right after my daughter was born, I received a referral from some friends for a family relocating to Portland. Being a fairly new mom herself, my client and I bonded over our interests in cooking and our knack for sending late night emails when our children were asleep. Her family included her husband, son and her mother, whom is nicknamed RaRa by her grandson (my daughter thinks this is her real name).
Fast forward almost 5 years and this family and I vacation together. Our children play and argue and make believe to their heart’s content and the adults discuss how nice it would be to make a compound for us all to live in. Not a REAL compound, of course, but houses right next to each other so we can watch each other’s kids, have late night visits and sleepovers and parties where nobody has to drive home. “Future goals,” we said!
Although my clients fit perfectly into their house, RaRa had a plan to move out eventually, when her grandson was older and in school. She wanted space of her own, as we all do. She started poking around here and there, but nothing screamed out as being the perfect house. The goal was to be within walking distance, mind you, the neighborhood they live in is very popular. Properties go for a premium and competition is fierce. I knew if I saw anything hit the market that I felt would be suitable for RaRa, I’d have to move quickly.
One night, I was perusing properties for my own purchase and came across a lovely house that was literally 1 block down from my friends. I texted them all immediately, stating how exciting it would be to be their neighbor, when the lightbulb exploded in my face and I realized how perfect it would be for RaRa. Unbelievable. This would be too perfect for them. We are mid-pandemic at this point and haven’t seen each other for a few months. We all met at the property with our face masks and sanitizer in tow. Even through all the barriers, the excitement was palpable. We found THE house for RaRa. We made an offer right away and I made sure to put a package together that the sellers could not refuse. Failure was not an option. And we got it. “Hands down,” the seller’s agent said.
Inspections went well and we closed without any drama, of course. My clients have not been able to move in yet, because the sellers are waiting for their new home to be built, but we are all excited for our future gatherings there. Easter egg hunts where our kids can run in circles around the house, within the safety of a fenced yard. Watching people walking through the farmers markets from the amazing front porch. Sitting on the back patio after sundown, enjoying our wine over the fire table. The kids pitching a tent in the front yard, the backyard or the sideyard, ha ha! I’m simply over the moon that RaRa can be so close to her family and not only enjoy her own space, but have her grandchild run back and forth from his home to hers, which is so important for her. It’s like a dream come true. Now I have two homes on the same block that will always be a home away from home.
Leanne Bach
Principal Broker | OR & WA
She/Her
Leanne has experienced the real estate boom on the frontline. Her integrity and persistence have helped clients navigate the outcomes of the 2008 financial crisis, as well as coached and guided buyers and sellers through a competitive, fast-paced market of today. Licensed since 2003, Leanne’s drive and skills of being a natural connector, put her at the top of her field. She finds great joy in establishing a client’s needs and uniting them with a solution. She sees challenge as an opportunity and proactively wins trust while still getting things done. Real estate involves a network beyond the client. Leanne connects with the community through volunteer efforts. She has built a solid network of contractors, lenders, caterers, bankers, and accountants, as well as caregivers, artists, and organizers. Her goal is to connect a buyer’s vision of home to reality and connects a seller’s financial goals to the best possible outcomes. This is the fuel that motivates Leanne in her career. She believes strongly in creating harmony between work and life and it shows by what her clients say about her. She feels lucky every day to be able to call this her job and feels fortunate to have clients that are multi-generational, helping parents of clients and children of clients through all the stages of life. The relationships she’s built are truly rewarding.
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” -Albert Einstein
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- T: 503-349-7890
- leannebach@gmail.com
