By Constance Rigney, October 31, 2023
Kuddos to these super cool buyers! They kept it cool and calm during this WILD ride. This home buying process was a learning endeavor for one and all.
Lily, Joe, and their rapidly growing boys, were in need of a new home with more space, and a larger yard for all the fort-building, ball-playing, world-rescuing games their kiddos love to play. Having lived in the Mt. Tabor neighborhood for many many years, they wanted to stay close to their community and, of course, still be able to gaze upon the glorious volcano we call Mt. Tabor.
Searching together for the better part of a year, it felt like everyone has the same desire to live by Mt Tabor–it was a super competitive pocket of the Portland real estate market and we lost out on quite a few homes.
In August of 2023 a home popped up on the market that looked like it could be the one. Nestled on a quarter acre, with big ponderosa pines and Douglas fir trees in the backyard–perfect for a dreamy treehouse, this home called to this family. The interior was dated, but in great shape. After a tour, Lily and Joe felt like the updates were manageable, the location was good, and the yard was a genuine hit!
They quickly submitted an offer, and we waited….and waited….and waited, while the sellers hemmed and hawed and waited for more offer to come pouring in….which they didn’t. The sellers seemed baffled by this turn of events, much different than what they expected. And so, they countered our offer with some really bold requests for what they would prefer the offer to look like. There was much negotiating……
Ever cool and kind, Lily and Joe changed portions of their offer to accommodate the sellers. They were growing to love the home more and more and really wanted to make it work. They made a gesture of goodwill and hoped for some reciprocation along the way. The sellers finally accepted the offer.
Fast forward to the inspection period where unfortunately, everything absolutely fell apart. Issues arose, help was asked for, stonewalling occurred, negotiations were tense, olive branches were extended, and efforts were rebuked. This is how a transaction dies.
But, it would live again!
After Lily and Joe ended the transaction for this home, we looked at many others, but their hearts were not quite ready to let this home go. Tree house dreams run deep, very large lots in the city, with a view of one’s favorite mountain, are very hard to come by.
A few weeks later, this home came back to market with a different listing team. Lily and Joe waited to see if it would get snatched up by someone else…it did not. A couple more weeks and a few price reductions later, Lily and Joe circled back and wrote another offer for this home, now at a much lower price.
At first, the sellers were not receptive to their offer and water was not flowing under the proverbial bridge. But, ever cool and calm, Lily and Joe waited, wrote an outstanding offer, and we found we were able to move forward and secure the house.
27 days later, with keys in hand, there was a collective sigh of relief, and then a collective jump for joy! This transaction was hard. There were A LOT of feelings! But, with cool heads, great communication skills, and determination we made it through.
There were a lot of situations I had not encountered before with this transaction, but so much was learned–and it’s always an evolving process. More tools in the tool belt for next time! And, it was all worth it to see the smiles on the faces of these cool, happy buyers.
Congratulations Joe and Lilly and Fam! You fortitude is amazing!
Constance Rigney
Broker | OR & WA
She/Her
What I love about the field of real estate is that essentially, it’s about dreams and possibilities. It’s about finding a space that can support the life you are envisioning and crafting.
Whether purchasing your first home, dialing in your next investment property, or selling your home, my goal as your agent is to be your ally and advocate, to work diligently and creatively to help you through the process. What distinguishes me from other REALTORS®? My style in both real estate, and the rest of life, is down to earth and humorous; my spirit warm and enthusiastic. Being flexible, thorough, ethical, and a topnotch communicator are the cornerstones of my business. I am a dedicated worker and won’t stop until I get the job done! I grew up on the East Coast, but my sense of adventure brought me to Oregon, where I found a richness of community, and a great love for the wondrous natural environment of the Northwest. I spent ten years in this city as a practitioner of Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, all the while learning about Portland’s neighborhoods, and hidden gems, through the stories of the fascinating people that call this lovely city home. Joyfully part of a dream team, I’m currently partnered with Matt Guy, wonderful human and long time real estate whiz. We work expeditiously to successfully help our clients turn their vision into reality. In my free time you might find me living the VW Van life with my dreamy husband, Scott, and firecracker daughter Roslyn; soaking up the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, supporting local non-profits, or celebrating Portland’s local music scene.- T: 503-860-4293
- constance@livingroomre.com
