Don’t Settle!

Phaedra and Andrew were looking for their dream home.  They wanted a sanctuary- a large and lovely backyard was a must.  Entertaining space was definitely a must.  Midcentury character and charm was also at the top of their list.  They had targeted a few neighborhoods when we started looking together and knew pretty clearly where they wanted to be, so we just had to be patient and wait for the right house to pop up.

There was one house in particular that Phaedra especially fell in love with.  From the pictures and listing description it seemed like a fit, so the three of us went to go take a serious look.  The layout was pretty unusual, but these two could look past that.  The driveway was odd, though: there was a no parking sign on it, and it had a gate at the end that entered the neighbor’s property.  I reviewed the listing and saw no mention of the driveway, but I had a hunch and called the listing agent to ask if there was an easement in place.

An easement is an agreement with someone who does not own the property that allows them to cross it or use it in some fashion.  Example: often times a power company will have an easement across properties to be able to access power lines without having to ask the owner permission to go into their yard. 

The listing agent let me know that there was an easement in place.  The driveway didn’t belong to this house at all, it belonged to the neighbor!  The buyer would be able to use it to access their own garage, but they would never be able to park there.  This information was critical to Phaedra and Andrew.  They were bummed, but they knew this wasn’t the house for them.  And so our search continued!

And then, there it was: a gorgeous midcentury with original character hit the market.  It was in their ideal neighborhood.  It was on half an acre with tons of privacy.  It was even practically next door to an adorable park!  We immediately went to see it and knew it was perfect.  Of course there were multiple offers, but Phaedra and Andrew got it!

The right house is always out there, it’s just a matter of timing.  Don’t settle for a home that’s missing a critical element that you want (like a private driveway) just because you think it’s as close as you can get to the vision in your head.  Be patient, and arm yourself with a great team that will help you land your dream home when it hits the market!

Kim Parmon

Principal Broker | Earth Advantage Certified | OR

She/Her

Kim Parmon Principal Broker  Lead Listing Agent Earth Advantage Certified | OR kim@livingroomre.com Oregon is the fifth state that Kim has called home in her life, and this one is sticking!  After moving multiple times in her childhood, Kim fully understands how empowering homeownership and having roots is.  She loves waking up every day in this beautiful place and wants everyone to experience what it feels like to live in their dream home. As a kid, Kim spent her free time wandering through open houses and exploring construction sites for the fun of it.  After careers in the professional ballroom dance world, the entertainment industry, and the service industry, Kim stumbled into real estate as both a passion and a profession through the purchase of her first bungalow.  After renovating it with her husband and selling it for enough of a profit to pay off their debt as well as buy a new house to live in, everything clicked: she decided to get her real estate license and help her community experience the emotional and financial benefits of homeownership.  Kim put down roots in Portland in 2015 and has cultivated a referrals-based business throughout the years.  She understands that real estate is a service and the experience she gives her clients is first-rate.  She works hard to anticipate needs.  She is responsive, thorough, empathic, and a skilled negotiator who enjoys market analytics and strategy as much as she enjoys connecting with her clients.  Her ethics and reputation are the cornerstones of her business and the happiness of her clients is the yardstick that she measures success against. Kim merged her business with the best agents in Portland at the beginning of 2022, which has allowed her to give her clients more resources, more advocacy, and a top-notch real estate experience.  She is honored to be a part of her incredible team and feels lucky to go to work every day. In her free time, you'll find Kim enjoying lazy evenings by the fire with her husband, daughter, and rescue dogs.  She loves dancing, live music, exploring all of the beautiful places around us in the PNW, enjoying a cider and a good meal with friends, and browsing Powell's for a great new book. Andee Ziegler  Licensed Listing Team Operations Manager andee@livingroomre.com Loving where you live will change your life. Everyone deserves that joy. For me, real estate has been a way of nurturing my community and doing what I can to help people find stability, grow generational wealth, and create a little space of their own in the world. For 15 years I found the most joy in helping first-time homebuyers, guiding my peers through their first major investment and dreaming up what home means for them. I’ve done restoration work on homes from a variety of eras, 1894 Victorian farmhouse to classic 1950’s ranch. I enjoy empowering new homeowners with the knowledge I’ve garnered over the years, from systems to finishes.  In 2022 I joined forces with some of the best realtors in the biz and shifted my focus to operation management for listings. This welcome change opened up space in my life: more cake, less pants.   Andee Zeigler | Licensed Listing Team Operations Manager | andee@livingroomre.com Jessica LeDoux | Lead Buyer Agent | Broker Licensed in Oregon | jessica@livingroomre.com  Karim Alaeddine | Operations | Principal Broker Licensed in Oregon | karim@livingroomre.com  Jenessa VanZutphen | Buyer Operations Manager | Licensed in Oregon | jenessa@livingroomre.com 

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