By Kim Parmon, December 30, 2021
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...
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