By Sharon Marciniak (Bloudek), December 12, 2024
Helping Teresa and Junho buy their first home was such a rewarding experience for me. (And it was a lot of fun, too because I got to team up with my Bridge to Portland Group teammate, Genmae Rianelli.)
Teresa and I go way back—we met at a Loyola Marymount University alumni event and have stayed in touch over the years. Between our shared alma mater and a mutual passion for volunteering, we built a great connection, which made this home-buying journey feel extra meaningful.
When Teresa and Junho decided it was time to jump into the market, they were ready. These two had done their homework, researching inventory and trends so they could hit the ground running. They had even attended our team’s homebuyer class back in February!
From the start, they had a clear vision: they wanted a home that was move-in ready, had high ceilings, and could potentially accommodate one of their parents in the future. Staying close to the area where they were renting was another big priority for them. Pretty soon, we were out touring homes!
Staying True to Their Vision
Throughout the process, I was so impressed by how Teresa and Junho stayed true to what mattered most to them. We looked at several homes together, and they hit up open houses on the weekends, always keeping their eyes on the prize. These two never wavered from their deal breakers, even when a few homes came really close to what they wanted.
We found a couple of places along the way that felt like they could be “the one,” and they even wrote two competitive offers that we ultimately lost but they always kept their bottom line at heart. Every step—even the frustrating ones—got us closer to this amazing milestone.
The Perfect Fit
The beautiful, well-mainted, move-in ready home they ended up securing is everything they wanted (and more!):
- A bedroom on the main level, perfect for future flexibility.
- Enough space for home offices, a guest room, and even a flex space.
- A backyard that’s big enough to enjoy summer evenings but doesn’t require a ton of upkeep.
- A luxurious primary suite with a gorgeous bathroom—not a must-have, but definitely the cherry on top!
The house was already in great shape, and on top of that, Genmae and I were able to negotiate a few repairs to help make their transition into homeownership that much smoother.
Celebrating the Future
Congrats, Teresa and Junho! It’s amazing to have seen your progress this year; from attending a homebuying class in February to closing on the perfect first home in December. Genmae and I are over the moon for you both and we can’t wait to see all the memories you’ll make; we just know they’re going to be incredible!
Looking to make a move? I’d love to work with you!
Sharon Marciniak (Bloudek), MBA, GRI, Principal Broker Licensed in Oregon
503-701-1000 | www.bridgetoportland.com | sharon@bridgetoportland.com
Sharon Marciniak (Bloudek)
Principal Broker | OR
She/Her
Sharon is a Licensed Principal Broker in Oregon who has been in the real estate industry since 2007. With a Business Degree in Marketing/Management from Loyola Marymount University, an MBA from the University of Oregon, and international business studies at the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark, Sharon brings a strategic and diverse perspective to her role...
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- T: 503-701-1000
- sharon@bridgetoportland.com
