By Cristen Lincoln, May 1, 2020
Newlyweds Korina and Cam had been living in a tiny home under 600 sq ft, on a busy street, with a dog in tow. They knew they wanted to buy a house, and reached out to us to get things started. They were eager to have more space and a fenced yard for their pup Kobe. A quiet room for sleeping was also a must have. Cam, working nights at the hospital, really needed a private room to retreat to during the day to rest up for his next shift. They wanted a close-in bungalow near all the action in NE, a very popular area, where inventory is low and it’s competitive to buy in.
Despitehaving a tight budget, they were eager to start shopping right away, so we hit the ground running. We even wrote a couple of offers right out the gate, only to lose out to higher bidders. We had talked through how multiple offer scenarios worked prio
r to heading out, but once they found themselves in one, they discovered it was a tough pill to swallow when they couldn’t be as competitive as some other buyers could, and stay in their budget. They took the lessons in stride and focused on what they could do next time to give them more of an edge. They even took a couple of long breaks from shopping throughout their year long home search. This allowed them to get really clear on what they wanted and better define what locations could work within their budget, but had originally been outside of their top neighborhood choices. This isn’t always easy for buyers to do, but we were there to support them through the process no matter the timeline. The extra time also allowed for them to keep saving money and they were pleasantly surprised they were able to expand their price range by quite a bit!Korina had even been keeping an eye on a house at the very top of their price point, and when it didn’t go pending in the first 5 days, she asked if we could go see it. We rushed over and it was the perfect house! It checked more boxes than they could have hoped for. We wrote a very strong offer and what we thought was a compelling love letter to share with the sellers. Our strong offer and love letter must have struck a chord with them, because they wasted no time and accepted our offer right away. We were thrilled they didn’t have to compete with any other buyers for, and Cam and Korina were in disbelief.Korina and Cam dis everything right, they were patient, and rolled with the lessons they picked up along the journey. They were thoughtful, and hit the brakes when they needed more time to make sure they achieved their end goal. And, extra kudos to them for continuing to shop with confidence when the state had basically shut down due to the pandemic. They kept at it, followed protocol, faith never waivering and we closed on time. The long road had given them all the lessons they needed to feel confident and make good decisions! We love a great ending and handing over keys! Congratulations to them and best wishes for many, many happy years in their well earned and absolutely beautiful new home!
Cristen Lincoln
Principal Broker | Earth Advantage | Business Development | OR
She/Her
Cristen has been a Portland real estate broker since 1993, giving her an exceptional understanding of the industry and the local market. She was born here, grew up here, and raised her own family here. She knows the parks, the farmers’ markets, the schools, the hidden corners, and the joyful quirks of Portland’s bustling neighborhoods.
Cristen’s deep-rooted knowledge of the area means she understands the audience for a house. She understands what a potential buyer is looking for, the process they go through when choosing a home, and what details matter most. This makes her the ideal guide to help you prepare your home for market. She is an expert in maximizing the value of your home while minimizing unnecessary improvements.
With the confident and tranquil mastery that comes with experience, Cristen is often three steps ahead—holding future possibilities, ideas, and strategies that will navigate her clients toward achieving their long-term goals. Known for her calm demeanor in the face of any size challenge, Cristen is respected in her industry for being an exceptional negotiator and strong advocate for her clients, even in the toughest of circumstances.
With intention and spirit, Cristen has built her real estate team around her core values of honesty, hard work, follow-through, and serious play.
A top broker in the city, Cristen has been named a Portland Monthly Five Star Agent year after year. She has received the Seven Star Certificate of Excellence and the Top 500 in the nation award from Broker★Agent™ Advisor. Cristen is a key member of Living Room Realty’s leadership team where she mentors, teaches, and coaches Portland’s top real estate brokers.
When not working, Cristen is likely immersed in outdoor play with her husband, her kids, or a pup by her side. Whether she’s hiking, gardening, snowboarding, or walking the sands of the Oregon Coast, nature is the place Cristen goes for inspiration and restorative balance.
ADDITIONAL AWARDS & AFFILIATIONS- Broker★Agent™ Advisor ‘Top 500" and "Certificate of Excellence"
- Portland Monthly Five Star Agent for past 7 years
- 10 Best of 2015: Client Satisfaction – American Institute of Real Estate Professionals
- Mt Tabor Park Stewardship Fund Committee Member
- Past PMAR Public Relations Committee Member
- Former Mt Tabor Middle school PTA and Auction Committee Member
- Past PTA board member at Atkinson school and Auction Committee Member
- Franklin High School PTA Member
- Impact NW Volunteer and Community Liaison
- Past Member Rose Chapter National Charity League
- Member 99 Girlfriends Collective Giving For Impact
- T: 503-260-2414
- cristen@livingroomre.com
