By Lauren Hurley, March 29, 2021
With the intention to save their money Thyra and Ben set out to live modestly. Making space for travel and adventures like hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, Thyra and Ben built and lived in a tiny home for five years. Planting the house in a family member’s backyard in Arbor Lodge, they were able to build a solid savings for a future downpayment on a “not-tiny house”. With new work-from-home requirements due to the pandemic, their home buying plans were accelerated. As Spring 2021 approached, they were ready for more space. First time homebuyers, armed with knowledge that this market would be competitive and that patience would be a necessary component to their success, we braced ourselves and began the hunt.
After seeing a handful of houses in the first week of their search, not one felt like the right fit. Taking pause to see what the following week would bring, this oh so perfect Ranchalow in Woodlawn popped up! Right around the corner from Tough Luck, Ranch Pizza & Tamale Boy, it had everything they were looking for. The nerves started to kick in, naturally! We were first to tour the home, so it felt we were off to a good start. As Ben folded up the listing flier and put it in his pocket, I started brainstorming an offer strategy. I gave them some homework to discuss what they’d be willing to set forth as far as offer terms go. I could see, their excitement was building!
We saw the house on a Wednesday, offers were due Sunday evening, and the Sellers made a decision by the following Tuesday. Eight total offers – not a lot for this market, but nonetheless competitive! While Thyra and Ben’s offer was not the highest, it was the BEST in the eyes of the Sellers. A thoughtful package of contract terms, good communication and their willingness to do what it takes to stay at the top of the stack, won them the house! A first offer accepted in this crazy market is a true win and a bit unheard of, but it happened! When I gleefully handed Thyra and Ben the keys to the new house, Ben pulled the flier out of his pocket, unfolded the worn and ragged sheet of paper and placed it on the counter. He said: I kept this in my pocket every single day, since the first day we walked in. Smart move Ben, smart move. Welcome home, friends!
Lauren Hurley
Broker | OR
She/Her
After spending a decade climbing the professional ladder of the Marketing industry, Lauren Hurley was in desperate need of vocational inspiration.
So she did what most find daunting, if not impossible. She hopped down, and hunted for change. Fortunately for Lauren, she wouldn’t be starting on the first rung of the ladder that lay ahead.
The daughter of a Broker, real estate had always been part of the conversation. The world of abandoned RMLS sheets, open house signs collected in the pouring rain and a fridge full of leftovers from Brokers Open Houses was all too familiar. So, while she didn’t always know it, Lauren was being trained by her Broker mom. By osmosis, she was learning how to negotiate, how to communicate and best, how to advocate for clients.
While her passion for Portland, homes, history, architecture, design, and working with people had remained constant throughout her life, it took returning to the world of buying and selling homes for Lauren to realize just how perfectly her personal strengths and professional skill set aligned with being a Broker.
Whether it’s negotiating and advocating on behalf of her clients, her vast knowledge of the city’s most idyllic neighborhoods, nooks and crannies, developing stunning and effective marketing campaigns, or consistently going above and beyond the call of duty, Lauren knows that superior client care is the result of perfecting every detail along the way.
The joy she finds in seamlessly and successfully guiding buyers and sellers through one of the most significant emotional and financial decisions of their lives, has Lauren wishing she listened to her mother years ago. (But please don’t tell her that.) When it comes down to it, taking exceptional care of her clients isn’t only what Lauren does best, it’s what she loves to do.
When she’s not meticulously critiquing the usage of serif vs. sans serif font, scarlet vs. crimson hues, or brightness vs. contrast and density, you’ll find Lauren taking Captain Salty the Wheaten Terrier on trails and along rivers around the city, collecting new vinyl records, tinkering with her ‘78 VW Bus, whipping up culinary treasures, or doing her best to imitate Serena on the court.
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- T: 503-470-0428
- lauren@livingroomre.com
