Understanding Your Leverage as a Buyer in the Portland Metro

In the Portland real estate market, especially in popular areas like SE Portland, buyers often assume they have limited room to negotiate. But with the right timing and strategy, opportunities open up—even in competitive conditions.

Buyer leverage often comes from a property’s context: days on market, pricing history, condition, and how it’s been positioned. In my latest closing, we saw all those factors line up.

The home, located in SE Portland, had been overlooked due to an unusual listing history and extended market time. My clients saw past the noise and made a well-considered offer under asking. We negotiated over $80,000 in repairs and credits, and the property still appraised right where we needed it to.

The sellers were ready to move forward and appreciated having serious, committed buyers. It was a clean transaction that gave everyone what they needed.

For my clients, the result was even better than they expected—a home that exceeded their original wishlist, at terms that reflected real value.

Leverage isn’t about being aggressive. It’s about understanding timing, reading the situation, and making smart moves. In markets like Portland’s, those wins are there—you just have to know where to look.

Zoë Spring

Broker | OR

She/Her

A native of Portland, I find great enjoyment in serving the community I love. My passion for giving back and helping others has always been my biggest driver...

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• T: 971-409-7761
• zoe@livingroomre.com