We gave this beauty a little love before coming on the market (i.e. interior paint, gorgeous floor refinishing, updated lighting, etc.) and our efforts paid off with 6 very strong offers all over asking price! If you’d like to see similar results on the sale of your home, reach out and me and my team of professionals can get to work!
If you’re looking for a house like this, I can help with that too. Four Square’s are a very desirable architectural style that boast high ceilings and a true second floor (no awkward finished attic spaces!). These don’t come on the market often, in this price point, and when they do (if marketed properly) are usually in high demand. I can help you navigate competing offers and get you into your next home sweet home.
Veronica Powell
503.936.3575
Veronica@LivingRoomRE.com
In the world of real estate, the term “contingent” can sometimes leave buyers and sellers scratching their heads. Whether you’re navigating the buying process or preparing to list your home, understanding contingent offers is crucial. In this post, we’ll break down what it means to be “contingent” in real estate, how it affects you as a buyer or seller, and what potential scenarios you could face.
A contingent offer on a house means the buyer has included a protective clause in their contract. This contingency gives the buyer an option to back out of the purchase if certain conditions are not met. Typically, a contingent offer involves the buyer needing to sell their current home before they can finalize the purchase of a new one. Think of it as a step in between “active” and “pending”—the property is not quite under contract yet, and there’s still an opportunity for other buyers to step in.
If you’ve heard the term “bumpable buyer,” it means that the current buyer’s offer is contingent on selling their home, and another buyer could potentially “bump” them out of the contract. Essentially, it’s a state of uncertainty, and another buyer might have a chance to swoop in.
For buyers, there are two key scenarios involving contingent offers:
If you’re selling your home and receive a contingent offer, it’s important to understand the potential risks. If the buyer needs to sell their current home, this could delay your closing timeline. For instance, if their home takes longer to sell than expected, you might need to extend the closing date, which can be problematic depending on your plans.
It’s also essential to assess the buyer’s preparedness to sell their current property. Are they already on the market? Are they prepped and ready, or are they just starting? The more ready they are, the less risk you’ll face. Given the additional uncertainty, contingent buyers often need to make a stronger offer to compensate for the risk you are taking.
Watch the Full Video: The REAL Difference Between Contingent and Pending
If you have any questions about buying a home or need more personalized advice, feel free to reach out to me. Connect with me on YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook.
For a more detailed consultation or to get started on your home buying journey, schedule a free strategy session here. You can also access my Free Buyer’s Guide to help you through every step of the process here.
It hasn’t been the easiest time to be a buyer. Buyers have been facing high rates, low inventory, new commission structures, and houses that need lots of repairs. In the end, it all adds up to $$$! What buyers need is a bit of relief. And when a brave buyer takes the plunge with a house, the hardest day of the transaction is often the home inspection day. This is often the day when the $$$ needed to move forward on a home seems insurmountable. Having a great buyer’s agent on your side to walk you through negotiating with the Seller is critical. Agents can end up saving you thousands of dollars in the end with great professionalism and negotiation strategies. And really what is it that a Buyer wants? A new place to call home. If you are ready to take the plunge and buy a house, contact us today.
603 NE Webster St
4 Bedroom 3.1 Bathroom | 2640 Sq feet
MLS# 24264982 | Taxes: $10,300.05 | Lot Size: .07 acres
Modern construction, craftsman details and green features all in one house? It doesn’t get any better than this! This special home has many great features that make living here a dream. Main floor has open concept living with a living and family room. Upstairs there is a primary suite with private deck, two additional bedrooms, bathroom and laundry room. Lower level has a guest suite or office with its own bathroom and a tuck under garage with car charger. In addition, you’ll find character uncommon in newer construction with reclaimed fir floors, craftsman millwork and built ins, timeless black and white kitchen and Rejuvenation fixtures. Get outside with three decks and a low maintenance, fully fenced yard. Easy on your pocket book and mother earth, this house is equipped with Earth Advantage and Energy Star rated appliances, rainwater collection, recycled content roof and countertops, dual flush toilets, tankless hot water heater and two 95% efficiency furnaces. This dynamite house has a walk score of 94 and a bike score at a perfect 100. Come see the perfect NE house in the perfect NE location with all the best features. Buyer’s agent compensation is negotiable.
Buying a home involves several key players, each with a unique role. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the major roles in a real estate transaction, what they do, and how they help ensure a smooth process. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or an experienced investor, understanding these roles will give you the confidence to navigate your home buying journey.
First and foremost is your real estate agent. Think of your agent as the project manager of your home buying process. Their job is to guide you from start to finish. Here’s what you can expect from your real estate agent:
Next is the lender, who plays a crucial role in securing the financing for your home. They will:
It’s essential to work with a lender who communicates effectively and who you can trust. Poor communication can jeopardize your transaction.
The escrow officer or title company acts as a neutral third party in the transaction. Their responsibilities include:
Home inspectors are like the primary care doctors for your new home. They meticulously examine the property to identify any potential issues. Key tasks include:
Appraisers assess the value of the home to ensure the lender is not over-lending. They are a neutral third party and you won’t have much direct contact with them. Their role is crucial for:
Home insurance is mandatory when buying a home. An insurance agent will:
Additional roles that may come into play include:
Understanding the roles of these key players in a real estate transaction can help you navigate the process with confidence. If you have any questions about buying a home or need more personalized advice, feel free to reach out to me. Connect with me on YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook.
For a more detailed consultation or to get started on your home buying journey, schedule a free strategy session here. You can also access my Free Buyer’s Guide to help you through every step of the process here.
If you are considering adding a separate living space to our property, The Portland ADU TOUR is for you! Come see several ways to add an ADU to your property whether attached, detached, custom, pre-fab, big, or small. Stop by and say hi to our favorite realtors and ADU specialists from team Aryne + Dulcinea, a.k.a the Property Mavens!
And if you can’t make it, reach out to us for more great ADU information. Continue reading “REAL ESTATE NEWS: THE PORTLAND ADU TOUR”
Story time about this dynamic duo Jason and Tamara! They began their home search with me in early 2021. They pulled out on a potential purchase that just wasn’t quite right for them that year. They took a break from the home search (this happens on occasion and for good reason). We stayed in touch over the next few years and I was thrilled when they came back around the end of 2023 to update their home search and peek at what the current market had to offer!
We got an offer accepted on a condo that turned out to need more repairs than the HOA had budgeted for, so they terminated. Thank goodness for the many contingencies during the home purchasing process that protected my clients to uncover all they needed to make the educated decision to move on from that one. Although it was a huge disappointment for them, they did not get discouraged or give up on their dreams of home ownership. They jumped right back on the saddle and asked to tour new homes! I was so proud of their trust in my guidance and faith in themselves to get to the finish line.
They found a gorgeous new construction home that offered what is called an SDC exemption (System Development Charge). This is a program that assists developers by reducing their development costs when building affordable residential housing. T & J diligently worked on getting that application in after our offer was accepted, and they were approved for $30k off the sales price AND over $9k in closing costs covered by the seller!
They are now MOTHER F*CKING HOME OWNERS!
Special shoutout to our trusted lender Cat Jerger with Guild Mortgage for her excellent service!
Way to go my friends! It’s been a true pleasure. Wishing you many beloved memories of game nights, play time with your fur baby Ophy and new neighborly friendships in your new home.
Our journey began when we first met at one of my open houses where I got the pleasure of meeting Natalie and her pup Shakira! We hit it off and I knew I wanted to become her trusted real estate professional and answer more of her home buying questions.
We kept in touch and she introduced me to her husband Steve when they attended one of my “First Time Home Buyer” classes, co-hosted with Cat Jerger at Guild Mortgage. We gave them education and confidence to take the next steps and applied for a mortgage loan.
Soon after they were pre-approved, we had our one-on-one buyer consult over zoom, set them up on a personalized home search and hit the pavement on a very enjoyable home search!
We even had some time to bring in a few of my trusted contractors to give them remodeling tips and bids to assist them in their decision making.
They found an amazing home to put an offer in on and we got it for $10k under the listing price AND got the seller to agree to pay the full $24k HOA special assessment that was due! The cherry on top is when their appraisal came back above their purchase price!
When I tell you that I continuously hit the jackpot when it comes to having the best clients that turn into friends, they are a prime example!
I have even had the joy of receiving remodeling updates from them since their closing day. I can’t wait for the invite when they are ready to showcase their hard work.
Steve and Natalie, I know you will turn the house into a home with the love you have for one another, the love you are putting into your new pad and the love you give to others.
Thank you for trusting me on your successful path to homeownership!
Also a special shout out to Jessie Hammons at WFG National Title for all her hard work!
“Is it a good time to buy a house?”
People always wonder when is the best time to buy a house. Many considerations go into answering this question – for example:
All of these questions are important, and you can find many discussions of each of these questions with a quick Google search. I’ve put some thoughts below from my perspective as a real estate agent in Portland.
Where are mortgage rates likely to go?
Mortgage rates have improved since last year’s high of 7.9% (October 2023), and many people seem to think that they will continue falling slowly. Mortgage rates are generally influenced by the Federal Reserve, but also by rates of economic growth and inflation. Beginning in early 2022, with inflation concerns high, the Fed raised the benchmark federal funds rate (basically, the rate at which banks can borrow from each other), partially in an effort to curb inflation. This has contributed to rising mortgage rates. It’s hard for anyone to say exactly where mortgage rates will go in the future, because it depends both on how the economy in general does, and how the Federal Reserve reacts to concerns about inflation.
It’s helpful to remember that the extremely low mortgage rates we’ve seen since the Great Recession are somewhat of a historical anomaly. In the mid 1990’s, the federal funds rate was around the same level as it is now. Beginning in mid-2000, and continuing after the 9/11 attacks, the Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate drastically, culminating in a low of 1% in March 2004, in an effort to boost the economy. As the economy sped back up after that point, partially due to rampant subprime mortgage lending, the Federal Reserve increased the federal funds rate back up to around where it is now, and then after the subprime mortgage bubble collapsed in late 2007, resulting in the “Great Recession,” the Federal Reserve took the unprecedented step of lowering the federal funds rate almost to zero, where it stayed until it gradually began to increase in 2015.
When COVID hit, the Federal Reserve lowered the rate back down to zero, where it stayed until the Federal Reserve started increasing it in March 2022 in response to inflation concerns. This increase has leveled off at the current rate of 5.33%, and it is unknown where the Federal Reserve will go from here. All of this is really to say that where mortgage rates are going to go is difficult to predict even for financial geniuses. What’s less difficult to predict is the fact that we all need a roof over our heads. Also helpful in thinking about mortgage rates is that, if you get a mortgage, it’s going to stay the same unless you re-finance. So if mortgage rates go lower, you may have the option of taking advantage of those lower rates and re-financing later, and if they go higher, you are insulated from that increase because you already have a mortgage.
What about home prices?
Home prices are influenced not only by what mortgage rates are doing, but also by the housing inventory levels in your area. It’s a supply and demand thing. Stated simply, if mortgage rates are high and inventory is high, prices may decrease; but prices trend higher when demand increases and supply decreases. The housing inventory in the Portland metropolitan area has recently increased slightly from historically low levels, but is still low. More inventory can mean less competition for houses resulting in a market is more neutral or buyer-friendly, but because people who already have mortgages locked in at the historically low rates of 2020-21 may not yet be incentivized to make a move unless we see further decreases, the inventory has remained low, and prices haven’t seen much decline.
Is the Portland area real estate market cyclical?
The short answer is yes. Like everything else, the real estate market tends to lull during the holidays, then begin to ramp back up heading into February. This is especially true in Portland, because people generally don’t like to move here in the rainy season. The Portland market generally reaches its peak around April to June, and stays at a higher volume until August, when it gradually tapers down over the next few months. In the summer, you’ll potentially have more competition but more options. In the winter, you will likely have less competition but fewer home options. I would like to note here that while having more choice and looking at pretty gardens is fun, inspecting basements during the rainy season in Portland is an advantage not many consider, and they should.
So when should I buy?
While everything I explained above is important, at the end of the day the most important questions are very personal: why do YOU want to buy a house, and when does it make sense for YOU? If you currently have a great mortgage and would like to have a bigger house, maybe it’s not the best time financially, but maybe you have a growing family and you need the space. In that case, you need to decide how much it’s worth to you to get the right house for your family. If you are a cash buyer, now might be a great time to buy a house, because you won’t have so much competition, and you might get a great price on a very desirable house. If you’re looking to move out of a rental and into home ownership, and are financially flexible, it also might make sense to buy now. Because so much of it depends on each individual’s situation, consulting a buyer’s agent is key.
A buyer’s agent can help educate you so you can make the best decision for you and your family. After speaking with a great agent, you should feel more empowered, because you will understand all of these factors better. If the first thing an agent tells you when you speak to them is that it’s a great time to buy a house, without knowing anything about you, you might want to ask them why it’s a great time for you to buy a house, or find another agent.
If you are thinking about buying a house sometime in the future and are not sure whether to act now or wait for a little while, you can always take steps so you can make sure you’re ready when you feel the time is right. Check out my post about all the steps you can take now to be ready to put an offer on a house when it’s time!
If our homes are so unique — and we’ve put so much great care, time and investment into improvements, etc. why can’t we ask for the number that represents that?
I mean, you CAN — you can end up pricing your home however you like, at the end of the day. It is the homeowner’s choice — but, if the end goal is to sell your home, with the expectation that someone will pay X amount for it, and in a reasonable amount of time — this often falls into the strategy philosophy camp I like to refer to art and science.
The science is data – what’s for sale right now that compares to your property? What similar homes have sold in the last 3, 6, 12 months in your area? What is that average price per square foot? And then comes the delicate science — and math of finessing the numbers to reflect the more unique or bespoke characteristics of the home. Sauna? Tennis court? Flag lot? Oh, the considerations and calculations!
The art bit is understanding people – the buyer — where the market is at, and what is the tolerance for price range where you are, at this exact moment? Where are the interest rates? What are people buying? Is it a condo? How many days on the market in that zip code have similar properties taken to sell? Is your style of home super popular right now? That neighborhood is so hot homes sell in less than a week? That’s data, too, of course, but it’s truly understanding that mindset, that appetite that is the real finish work when it comes to determining the price at which to sell your home. The additional artistry is understanding your priorities when selling? Have to have it sold quickly? Don’t care how long it takes you want the right buyer who’s willing to pay your price?
Of course all of these things factor in. It’s touches on the emotional, the financial, the very core of our fears and that which is most important to us. That’s why it’s so incredibly nerve-racking thinking you’ve either left money on the table or you’ve aimed too high and over-reached, possibly having to consider a price adjustment or pulling it from the market until a different time or after having done some value-add improvements.
It’s a tough conversation at times. Often, I’ve found, through the art & science method, you can determine a range: factoring all of these elements in, that provides something that everyone can tolerate — and possibly, very possibly, find very satisfying on closing day.
You’ll just love this beautiful 1938, 4 bedroom 3 bath home is loaded with charming, vintage details, many of which are newer, but crafted to match the era of the home. On the main level you have a large, light filled living room with gorgeous period fireplace with gas insert, updated kitchen and bath that were both redone to uphold the wonderful vintage styling of the home and two bedrooms, both with access to the backyard deck and delightful backyard.
The upper level features the fantastic primary suite with hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, built ins, skylights and bathroom.
The lower level has access from the main floor or outside which lends to the potential for a lower level ADU. Warm and inviting family or media room, 4th bedroom with egress, laundry facilities and lots of storage.
The home sits on an oversized 75 x 100 lot which may offer room to build. Comes with an enormous three-car garage with attached garden shed, a lovely fenced backyard with both deck and patio, a rose garden and mature trees.
Recent updates include, new south side Marvin infinity double hung, lowE2 efficient windows with transferable warranty, new electrical service and panels for both the home (200 amp) and garage (100 amp), attic insulation and new backyard fencing.
The sweet neighborhood is quiet and full of lovely neighbors. It’s situated between the Albert Arts district and up and coming 42nd Ave. And just a short distance from Fremont St and all that has to offer. Plus it’s just short walk to the infamous Kennedy School, Common Grounds and New Seasons grocery.
Buying a home is one of the most significant decisions you’ll ever make, and the stakes are high. In today’s market, competition for desirable homes can be intense- and once your offer is accepted, it’s easy to become emotionally attached to the idea of a new life in your new home. However, sometimes, despite the excitement and effort put into a winning offer, walking away from a pending purchase is the best decision. Here are key scenarios where it might make sense to reconsider your decision.
A thorough home inspection is a critical step in the home buying process. If your inspection uncovers significant issues such as structural damage, outdated electrical systems, plumbing problems, or mold infestation, these can lead to substantial repair costs and potential safety concerns. While most issues can be resolved (either through seller repairs or concessions from the seller that make repairs possible after closing), major problems may not be worth the risk or expense. Key questions to consider are, “is the seller willing to negotiate?” and “are these issues ones I can address over time?” Your realtor will be your best guide on sussing out what’s possible- and, making sure that you are able to protect your earnest money if you decide to walk.
In Portland’s competitive market, bidding wars can drive prices up. However, if the home appraises for less than the agreed-upon purchase price, your lender may not approve the full loan amount. This means you’ll need to come up with the difference out-of-pocket, which may not be feasible. If the seller is unwilling to lower the price- or, you’re unable to bring extra cash to the table to bridge the gap- it might be wise to walk away. If you suspect a home you’re writing an offer on won’t appraise at value, work with your realtor on crafting an offer that offers protection against appraisal gaps. While most homes out there appraise “at value,” a low appraisal doesn’t always mean you need to walk. Your realtor can often gather additional information to help you appeal an appraisal and hold things together.
A clear title is essential for a smooth home purchase. If the title search reveals unresolved liens, disputes, or legal issues, these could become your responsibility after the purchase. Title insurance can provide some protection, but unresolved title issues can be a deal-breaker. Your realtor can help you determine whether a title issue is resolvable, or whether it makes more sense to bounce.
Even with pre-approval, changes in your financial situation or the lender’s policies can cause your mortgage to fall through. Losing your job, acquiring new debt, or significant changes in interest rates can impact your loan approval. Without secure financing, proceeding with the purchase isn’t possible without an alternative plan. Be sure to keep your realtor (and your lender) abreast of any potential changes- that way, there’s time to try and pivot.
After making an offer, you might discover issues with the neighborhood that weren’t apparent initially. This could include plans for undesirable developments or zoning changes that change livability or future property values. If the community doesn’t meet your expectations for safety, amenities, or future growth, reconsidering the purchase is prudent. Working with a realtor who is well-versed in the neighborhoods you’re shopping in is a great way to avoid problems from the start.
If the home is part of a Homeowners Association (HOA), it’s crucial to review their rules and regulations. Excessive restrictions, high fees, or poorly managed HOAs can lead to ongoing frustrations and financial burdens. If the HOA terms don’t align with your lifestyle or budget, it’s a valid reason to walk away. Your realtor may suggest that you consult with an attorney as you are reviewing HOA documents.
If you discover that the seller has intentionally withheld important information about the property, such as past damage, renovations without permits, or neighborhood disputes, this breach of trust is a significant red flag. Full disclosure is essential for making an informed decision, and lack of it can justify backing out of the deal. It’s important to note that most sellers don’t know *everything* about the property they’re selling- so consult with your realtor if you have concerns about what’s been disclosed. Sometimes, it’s just an ordinary oversight on the part of a seller- and can be remedied with simple clarification paperwork. Other times, it’s more serious. Your realtor can help you sort the difference.
Life is unpredictable. Job relocations, changes in family dynamics, or health issues can arise, making the purchase impractical. Personal well-being and stability should always come first, and sometimes that means delaying a home purchase. If you’re thinking of making a home purchase- let your realtor know of any potential life events that are on your radar. They can help you make informed decisions about how best to pivot, if pivoting is needed.
Walking away from a pending home purchase isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. Sometimes, there are big financial consequences to bailing- including losing your earnest money or legal action from the seller for breach of contract. But sometimes- walking is the best course of action to protect your financial and personal well-being. Your realtor can help you evaluate options and guide you though the proper way to exit a transaction.
Buying a home is a big deal. Your realtor can help you conduct thorough due diligence, seek additional professional advice, and make decisions that protect your interests. The right home, free of significant issues and in a suitable neighborhood, will eventually come along. Remember, it’s better to wait for the right opportunity than to regret a rushed decision.
Have questions about the home buying process? Thinking of making a move? Reach out! I’d love to help you find your next Living Room.
I have a confession to make: I owned an older Portland home for many years before I felt confident to park in the garage. The small detached garage, facing a narrow alley, seemed like it might be tricky to maneuver a car inside. Years went by, and I used the garage mainly for storing outdoor furniture and garden supplies. It was only when I purchased an electric vehicle that getting the car inside became important to me. Why? EV Charging of course!
My second challenge: the garage had no electricity, and was 30 feet from the house.
For a moment I was unsure of how to begin. However! Having navigated dozens of inspection/repair contingencies, pre-listing home preparations, and unexpected challenges, I knew that the goal of charging my car at home was likely easily achievable.
First, I called an electrician. (If you ever need a referral for a contractor, painter, plumber, roofer, electrician, window person, etc- ask your realtor! We will have suggestions for you.) My licensed and bonded electrician gave me a bid, and explained how the project would work, and to get started, asked me if I knew someone who could dig a trench: of course I did!
Whenever a project requires digging, call before you dig! The utility companies will come out and mark any utility lines on your property. This is a critical step, to prevent digging into a gas, electric, sewer, or water line. Call 811, or 1-800-332-2344 a minimum of two days before starting any digging project. In my case, this are area was free of utility lines.
To dig the trench, I hired a trusted landscaper and his team. Although I considered doing it myself, or renting a trench digging machine, letting professionals do it proved to be fast, reasonable, and efficient. It took just a few hours for a few people to dig through the rocky soil by hand, with picks and shovels.
Once the trench was in place, the electrician returned to install a conduit and the electrical lines. He installed a subpanel in the garage, along with a light (let there be light, for the first time, in my garage: it’s fun to appreciate small things!) and a couple of outlets, including one 240 volt outlet placed to accommodate an EV Charger. I mounted a new EV charger on the wall of the garage, plugged it in, and was all set! It felt like a transformation to be able to not only turn on a light, but also charge my car in the garage.
*in case you notice that the roof of the garage looks rough in the photos, that was the next project!
Want to buy a house in Portland, Oregon? Here is your step-by-step guide to making an offer on a house!
In home buying as in everything else, knowledge is power. The following list of steps is intended as a step-by-step guide to what YOU can do to best prepare yourself for making an offer on a house and making one of the most important purchases for your family and your life.
If you’ve done everything listed above and are satisfied that you would be comfortable assuming ownership of the house, and understand the costs involved, go ahead and make an offer! A great real estate agent can help you get through these steps, will guide you through the transaction once your offer is accepted, and will help you get to the finish line and into your new Living Room.
3 bed | 2.5 bath | 1529 sq. ft.
MLS# 24349587 | Taxes: $5706.46 | HOA dues: $83/mo
Open Houses | Saturday, April 27th 11-1 | Sunday, April 28th from 12-2
Immaculately maintained, almost new home! High-end COMPLETELY DETACHED, single-family style condo built in 2021! This 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home is the perfect spot for you and your plant friends to soak up the Portland sun.
Special Features
Welcome!
The perfectly laid out living room has a gas fireplace flanked by a large window and slider that allows light to flood into the space.
The open floor plan has a great flow between kitchen, dining and living room.
The sleek, high-end kitchen has a powered island prep space, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and plenty of storage.
The main floor is complete with a tucked away powder room.
Through the slider, you have easy flow between the house and the private, fully fenced patio.
The wide plank oak laminate floors also flow upstairs where you’ll find a luxurious primary suite with coved ceiling, walk in closet, soaking tub and shower.
Primary en suite bathroom has a shower and soaking tub.
You’ll also find double sinks and a separate toilet room in the en suite bathroom.
Down the hall are two nicely sized bedrooms, a well-appointed hall bathroom and a laundry room.
The attached, extra deep garage is right off the kitchen for easy access and gives space for storage or a workshop.
Quiet, tucked away neighborhood with great access to services, the freeway, PDX airport and public transport at Gateway transit.
In Portland, Oregon, where creativity thrives and individuality is celebrated, the journey of a homebuyer can mirror that of the humble hermit crab, hunting for a shell along the rugged Oregon coast. As Portlanders embark on their house-hunting adventures, they can draw inspiration from the coastal creatures that navigate their surroundings in search of the ideal shell. Here’s what Portland home buyers can glean from the wisdom of hermit crabs:
Much like the eclectic spirit of Portland’s neighborhoods, hermit crabs are known for their ability to thrive in unconventional spaces. They’re not bound by traditional norms and are willing to explore hidden gems tucked away in unexpected corners. Portland home buyers, too, can embrace the city’s diverse architectural landscape, considering everything from cozy bungalows in Alberta Arts District to mid-century gems at the base of Mt. Tabor, each offering its own unique charm and character.
In a city where individuality reigns supreme, Portlanders understand that size isn’t everything when it comes to finding the perfect home. Just as hermit crabs prioritize shells with character and charm over sheer size, Portland home buyers appreciate the quirks and nuances of older homes with history and personality. From craftsman cottages adorned with lush gardens to modern masterpieces nestled in the hills, it’s the character that truly makes a house feel like a home in Portland.
Portland’s neighborhoods are as diverse as they come, each with its own distinct vibe and personality. Whether it’s the bustling energy of Southeast Division Street or the laid-back atmosphere of Laurelhurst, Portland neighborhoods reflect the unique interests and lifestyles of the people who live there. Like hermit crabs scouring the coastline for shells in prime locations, home buyers in Portland seek neighborhoods that offer a perfect blend of convenience, community, and, of course, a dash of quirkiness.
Portland has long been recognized as a pioneer in sustainability and green living practices. Just as hermit crabs instinctively understand the importance of protecting their environment, Portland home buyers are drawn to eco-friendly homes that minimize environmental impact and promote sustainable living. Whether it’s a LEED-certified home in the Hawthorne District, or craftsman with a 10/10 energy score in Sellwood, Portlanders are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and preserving the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
In a city where local expertise and community connections are highly valued, Portland home buyers can benefit from leaning on the knowledge and guidance of a local real estate professional who knows the ins and outs of Portland’s diverse neighborhoods. Whether you’re new to town or just new to the neighborhood, it can be helpful to work with a Realtor who’s familiar with all parts of the metro area, and sees the big picture of the competitive market.
In the end, just as hermit crabs find sanctuary in the perfect shell, Portland home buyers can find solace and belonging in a place they can truly call their own. With a spirit of adventure, a dash of quirkiness, and a deep appreciation for all things unique, Portlanders can embark on their house-hunting journey with excitement and optimism, knowing that the perfect home is waiting to be discovered in the heart of the Rose City.
Looking for Portland homes for sale? Whether you’re in search of Portland real estate tips, lender connections, or a Realtor who can be your expert guide to the city, I’d love to help. Reach out today!
As we bid farewell to 2023 and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead, many are considering significant life changes. For some, this includes buying or selling a home. Whether you’re a prospective buyer or seller, setting New Year’s resolutions can help guide you toward a successful real estate journey in 2024. Here are three resolutions that can pave the way for your real estate dreams to become a reality.
Embarking on a real estate journey without a clear vision of your dream home can be overwhelming. This year, make it a priority to define your criteria. Consider factors such as location, size, style, and amenities that matter most to you and your family.
Reflect on your lifestyle, future plans, and any specific needs or preferences. Are you looking for a midcentury ranch with space for entertaining? A charming bungalow with coffee shops nearby? By identifying your priorities, you’ll streamline your search, making the entire process more efficient and enjoyable.
Research neighborhoods, visit open houses, and explore different property types to gain insights into what resonates with you. As you refine your vision, you’ll be better equipped to communicate your preferences and narrow down options that align with your dream home.
Financial planning is a key aspect of any real estate endeavor. Whether you’re saving for a down payment, assessing your affordability, or planning for home improvement projects, setting clear financial goals should be a top priority.
Start by creating a realistic budget that considers not only the property’s purchase price but also additional costs such as closing fees, moving expenses, and potential renovation costs. If you’re selling, determine your ideal selling price and calculate potential profits or losses. Being financially prepared will not only streamline the process but also alleviate stress during the buying or selling journey.
If you’re not sure where to begin, talking with a financial planner and a lender is a great first step. I’m always happy to recommend resources. Don’t hesitate to send me a message.
Having a knowledgeable and experienced professional by your side can make a world of difference. Make it a resolution to find and collaborate with a reputable broker who understands the local market intricacies, has a proven track record, and can guide you through the complexities of a transaction.
A skilled agent can help you navigate negotiations, provide valuable market insights, and ensure a smooth process from start to finish. Their expertise can be particularly beneficial for first-time buyers or sellers, making your real estate journey more efficient and less stressful.
Interested in chatting more? Whether virtually or over a cup of coffee/tea, I’d love to talk more about how I can best serve your needs as a buyer/seller.
Embarking on a real estate journey in the new year is an exciting opportunity for growth and change. By setting these three New Year’s resolutions—defining your dream home criteria, setting clear financial goals, and working with a professional real estate agent—you’ll position yourself for success in achieving your homeownership or selling goals in 2024.
Here’s to a year filled with exciting real estate opportunities and the fulfillment of your housing dreams!
This h
oliday season I promised myself that despite the typical holiday chaos, I would try to take some time for myself and do something fun that I’d been putting off. Binge watching the Great British Bake Off inspired me to finally attempt some Peppermint Meringues I’ve always wanted to try making. They ended up being super easy and delicious! I’m looking forward to taking this newly acquired meringue expertise to the next level by attempting a Boccone Dolce made of meringues, fruit and whipped cream. Yum! If I can master this in time for a birthday party I’m hosting, it would be such a win!
If you have bigger projects on your resolution list, like buying or selling a house, I’d be happy to help you accomplish that goal by breaking that down into manageable steps. As with any project, baby steps (i.e. Peppermint Meringues) can be stepping stones to achieving the bigger goal (Boccone Dolce for that upcoming birthday party!).
Look past the paint and the details. Is the house filled with junk? Are the photos just bad? See everything on the market. You’ll be surprised! And, I love the hunt for a great diamond in the rough.
Some lenders are better than others at this. I can help you find a lender who will give you a clear idea of what you need to do to fix your credit and better qualify for a loan.
They are not all the same and it’s important you like the lender you work with. Look into first-time homebuyer programs, FHA or VA or Oregon Bond. I can help guide you to lenders who have the loan packages best for you. And, it’s important you feel comfortable talking with them about money and finances. This can feel very personal so you want to work with a lender who is a good fit for you.
Because interest rates have been high this year, rate buydowns have become pretty common. Sometimes you can even negotiate this with the seller so they pay to buy down your rate. You can also buy down the rate on your own and your lender can walk you through that.
This will save money in the long run. No one likes surprises in real estate so I highly recommend every single client has a home inspection done to avoid an expensive surprise after you get the keys. Home inspections cost money but they are worth it! I typically recommend these basic inspections- general home inspection, sewer scope, radon test and an underground storage tank scan.
This one is easy because most sellers are eager to let you know what has been updated recently. But it’s very important when we are crunching the numbers and deciding if the value is there for you.
These are two things you can’t easily change about a house so they are very important to focus on when you’re buying.
This is a big one because no one wants to spend every single weekend and evening working on their home projects, no matter how much money it saves. I have a lot of clients who begin their house hunt very certain they can easily renovate a house. Then, they learn more and realize it’s not as simple as it seems. Especially on a budget. I will help you get bids for major renovations or big updates during your inspection period. That way you can make an informed decision about what works for you. This is case by case so I’ll advise according to each buyer’s situation.
I am here to help you understand the local real estate market conditions. Are prices trending up or down? Are there any neighborhoods where prices are more favorable? Knowledge of the market will help you make informed decisions.
Sellers who are motivated to sell quickly may be more willing to negotiate on price. These motivations can include job relocations, divorces, financial difficulties, or properties that have been on the market for an extended period. A big part of my job is to build rapport with other agents to get as much information as possible and find the win-win for everyone!
It’s better to look at the data and make informed offers. Sometimes buyers purchase below the list price but throwing a very low offer price out there just to see what happens is not productive. While you want a good deal, making an unrealistically low offer can turn off sellers and waste time. I work with clients to determine a fair and competitive offer based on market comparables.
This is a big one. The timeline a buyer thinks they need is usually the first thing out the window. Don’t rush into a purchase. Sometimes, waiting for the right opportunity can lead to a better deal. Keep an eye on the market and be prepared to act when the time is right.
This dovetails with being patient. If a deal falls through for another buyer, having a backup offer ready can put you in a strong position to negotiate with a motivated seller. You’d be surprised how often this happens.
Be open to compromise on non-essential features or repairs. Being flexible can help bridge gaps in negotiations. A lot of times these non-essential repairs feel like a big deal in the moment but they don’t need to be deal breakers.
Reach out if you’re interested in talking more about buying or selling a home. I’m here for you! If you’re a first-time home buyer I can set up a new-buyer meeting and go over everything step by step. If you already own a home and you’re ready to sell that one and get the next one, let’s make a plan that works for you.
Bringing authenticity into real estate is my calling- I love to engage with new people and listen carefully to their needs and goals, then throw all my energy into helping to achieve them! I am known for my knowledge of the market and my ability to educate and listen carefully, although my secret superpower is that I remember every house I’ve seen (which is a lot).
Jasmine Deatherage
503-320-0039
Jasminedeatherage@gmail.com
I am so excited to welcome my clients Patrick & JoAnne home to their beautiful new house in SW Portland!
These clients began with a clear vision, searching for the perfect Westside house that they could call home. The initial excitement led us to some incredible houses, & after a promising start with a house that caught their hearts, reality hit hard when our first offer wasn’t accepted. Undeterred, we continued our search, evolving our criteria & areas of interest to focus on move-in ready one-level homes.
We saw some more great properties & wrote a couple of additional offers but nothing quite compared to that first house. Through it all, these two kept their spirits high & never gave up on the dream of their perfect forever home.
And then, finally, WE FOUND IT! We stumbled upon a property that checked nearly every box on their original list. The excitement was palpable & we knew that we had to act fast to beat the strong competition for a coveted one-level home. While the property had been sitting on the market for a while, it had just had a significant price reduction, so we knew it was an opportunity we couldn’t ignore.
Negotiations began & my team & I worked tirelessly to secure the deal. The outcome was worth every moment of anticipation. Not only did my clients get more home for their investment compared to previous contenders, but they also gained an incredible backyard space with a pool! This home was well worth the wait & Patrick & JoAnne are ready to settle in.
This transaction was a testament to the power of resilience, strategic planning, & teamwork. Consistent communication with the listing agent was crucial, from initial negotiations to repair discussions & wrapping up the final details. We also made sure that we were timely in scheduling showings to ensure that we were some of the first through the door. And when we found the one, we acted fast, gathering info & building our strategy as a team.
I am so honored to be a part of this incredible chapter in Patrick & JoAnne’s lives. Now they just have to wait patiently for summer to come so that they can host their first pool party! Congrats to this amazing couple!
Sunny Sabin Ranch
$485,000
4231 NE 11th Ave
Portland, OR 97211
Come see this charming ranch with the perfect open layout. Large east facing windows flood the living space and kitchen with light in the mornings. Cozy eat in kitchen nook for morning coffee and taking in the neighborhood activity. This home has fresh exterior paint, new heat pump for heating AND cooling, and a new roof. Beautifully renovated kitchen and bath with an eye toward retaining its period charm. Sweet vintage range in excellent condition and countertops made from reclaimed wood from the house. So much has been done on this home and there are a few projects left for you to add your personality. Fully fenced side yard, partial basement with access through garage. Large attached one car garage off kitchen has potential for future expansion. Corner lot has possibilities for adding on or ADU, buyer to do their own due diligence. Excellent location close to Alberta, Mississippi, Williams and Fremont business districts.
2 bed | 1 bath | 1238 sq. ft.
MLS# 23431614 | Taxes: $2,389.85 | Lot Size: .10 Acre
A common trait of realtors is that real estate was likely not their first career. Many of our agents here at Living Room started their careers elsewhere; education, architecture, advertising, the service industry. This mix of experiences and expertise is what makes us unique and allows us to bring diverse value to our clients and transactions.
I feel fortunate to have started my career in architecture. When I reflect, I realize how many congruences there are between the two professions and the immeasurable value that background has afforded to my business and my clients.
Whether you’re building or improving a space with the guidance of an architect, or you find a turnkey home with the support of a realtor – you must have a defined vision and a blueprint for execution. An architect literally creates that blueprint and a realtor procures the space that fits all of the criteria – but all of the minute details and how each piece fits together to form the whole is always front-of-mind for both professions. The use of that space is what drives us. And our ability to listen, prioritize and advise our clients is how we actualize the vision.
Architects and realtors help people create one of the most beautiful and sacred spaces in our lives: our homes. Make sure you work with a real estate professional you trust. If you can find someone who also offers unique skills, knowledge, and vision – that’s priceless.
Every time I head to a new city or even just a new part of town, I make finding a great coffee shop the first order of business because there’s no better starting point for understanding the local community, no matter where you are. When you visit the St. Johns neighborhood, you’ll notice life moves a tad bid slower and that’s a good thing. The coffee shops are alive and bustling with folks working, unwinding, socializing and connecting.
And with the University of Portland just down the street, you’ll find University students regularly taking advantage of these great study spots.
Coffee shops are special because they reflect the atmosphere of the neighborhood and St. Johns is fortunate to have many unique and vibrant coffee shops which makes choosing just one very hard! A good problem to have :)!
Here are a few of my favorites:
This café feels like the heart of St. Johns. A popular meet-up spot as well as a great place to work or unwind with a snack. They roast great coffee and have other nice choices like kombucha and teas. The room has high ceilings and plenty of seating which gives it such a lovely and classic café feel. Locally famous for their next-level breakfast sandwich made with chimichurri or romanesco, and can be made vegan. Delicious and addictive! Also, you’ll find the classic pastries, cookies and bagels you expect from a great café. Don’t miss the local art on the walls!
Two Strokes Coffee is a moto-inspired coffee shop on the main drag of St. Johns, conveniently located next to a cool motorcycle & scooter shop called Sabatino Moto. This is a really fun cafe to visit and a great place to hang out. They serve wonderful coffee, pastries and have great baristas. There are a few motorcycles in the café and some stylish merchandise as well.
Sparrow Bakery is well known for incredible baked goods. They have 2 locations (the other is in Bend Oregon) and do wholesale baking for many other cafés. We are so lucky to have them in St. Johns! Sparrow makes great coffee and fabulous baked goods- I feel like it is a full-time job trying not to eat their pastries every day :). They are perfection! Plus there’s a large food menu making it a great spot for breakfast or lunch.
This one isn’t technically in St. Johns but I just had to add it! It’s officially in the Cathedral Park neighborhood (hence the name), but it’s verrry close to downtown St. Johns. Cathedral Coffee is an eclectic cafe that is always busy but never feels crowded. A beautiful large space with big windows, natural light, tall wood bookshelves & large tables. They roast their own coffee and bake their own sweets & savories, which are fabulous!
I highly recommend the foldovers they make with veggies and cheese (some have meat). They are fantastic and always fresh! And the cinnamon rolls are incredible. Many wonderful baked goods to choose from.
They also have plenty of great outdoor seating!
One more note regarding this current real estate market. St. Johns has seen a steady increase in property values and demand over the past few years with the average home price this August landing at $470,000 (source RMLS). To put that in perspective, the average home price for all of Portland Metro was much higher by the end of this August at $608,300 (source RMLS).
I know the ins and outs of this neighborhood having lived here for more than 11 years. And, if you’re interested in other neighborhoods, that works too! I help people buy and sell homes all over Portland. I am known for my knowledge of the market and my ability to educate and listen carefully. You will benefit from my coaching heart and guidance that reduces stress and creates positive outcomes. I want to see you happy and satisfied with your real estate journey.
Read my reviews and bio for a good sense of what to expect from me.
I look forward to helping to make your home purchase pleasant, painless and hopefully even a little fun!
Before you go, here’s a fun fact: Did you know that St. Johns was once its own independent city before it was annexed into the city of Portland? In 1915, St. Johns voted to become part of the city, primarily to access the city’s services and infrastructure. The annexation was officially completed in 1915, and since then, St. Johns has been a neighborhood within the larger city of Portland.
When moving into a new home, it’s important to not only focus on the physical aspects of your space, but also the energy within it. Cleansing the energy in your new home can help you create a positive atmosphere and intention for your new life there.
Before you begin any cleansing rituals, it’s important to set positive intentions for your new space. Whether saying a meditation or creating a vision board- focus on what you want to bring into your space. Focus on what matters to you (love, happiness, success, etc.) to create a positive energy flow in your new home.
Smoke cleansing (burning herbs or incense) has been used for centuries by various cultures to clear spaces. In fact- incense burners dating back 4,500 years ago have been found in Egypt. There’s lots to love about burning herbs such as rosemary, lavender, or palo santo- and allowing the smoke to fill your space. It smells nice- and as the smoke rises, it’s said to clear negative energy and replace it with positive energy. To try it in your home, simply light the herb bundle and walk around your space, allowing the smoke to reach every corner and room. Ahhhhhhhhhh.
A note on sage, which is often referenced in smoke clearing practices. Wild sage (also known as white sage) suffers from severe over-harvesting. If you plan to use this fragrant plant in your intention-setting, I recommend growing it yourself (it’s easy to do!). Or, ask a friend to snip from their plant!
Salt has been used for centuries as a natural purifier and cleanser. Wanna try it? Just sprinkle salt around the perimeter of your space or in the corners of each room. As you distribute the salt, visualize it absorbing any negative energy and replacing it with positive energy. After a few hours, you can sweep up the salt and discard it.
If you’re looking for an extra boost in cleansing the energy of your new home, consider crystals! Some popular options include clear quartz, amethyst, and black tourmaline. You can place them in different areas of your home or carry them with you throughout the cleansing process to amplify the positive energy flow.
Feeling overwhelmed by the task of cleansing the energy in your new home? Consider enlisting the help of a professional! Portland is rich with energy practitioners who can help you create a positive and harmonious space. They’ll offer guidance on how to arrange your furniture, what colors to use, and which objects to incorporate into your space to promote positive energy flow.
If you’re not comfortable with smoke or salt cleansing, there are other methods you can use to cleanse the energy in your new home. Playing calming music, burning candles, or diffusing essential oils can also help create a positive atmosphere. Experiment with different methods and find what works best for you and your new space.
Remember: trust your instincts and do what feels good to you. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t be afraid to rearrange or remove it! Your home should be a sanctuary that supports your well-being and happiness.
Two of my favorite Portland shops for space-clearing supplies are Roots & Crowns and Seagrape Apothecary.
It’s important to continue to maintain a positive energy flow by regularly decluttering, opening windows to let fresh air in, and incorporating plants and natural elements into your space. By doing so, you’ll be able to create a peaceful and uplifting environment that supports your well-being and happiness.
However you decide to do it, creating a positive atmosphere in your new home is an ongoing process and there’s no right or wrong way to do it. Trust your instincts, experiment with different methods, and enjoy the process of creating a space that supports your well-being and happiness.
Not a homeowner yet? All of these intention-setting rituals are also useful in manifesting a home of your own! Light some lavender, put on some tunes, and create a wishlist of what kind of space you envision for your future self. Is it a home with big windows and lots of natural light for all of your plant friends? A big yard with space for a veggie or flower garden? If you can dream it, you can do it!
Are you interested in learning more about the home buying process? Ready to look into your future? Work with a realtor who takes time to understand your goals and will help you chart a path towards making them real. Whether you’re thinking of making a purchase soon- or months/years from now… I’m here to help!
Want to know more? CONTACT US today – we are your ADU experts!
It’s 2023. It’s Portland. We are buying a house for the Baaaaaby, our beloved pup! Why? Because she deserves it!
As of studies conducted this year, 66% of US households have a pet, with 77% of homeowners including a pet in their abodes. With home buying a hot national topic, studies have shown two-thirds (67%) of prospective buyers with pets say they’d buy a home specifically because of features that cater toward their pet. More and more people are prioritizing moving to create a better life and home experience for their fluffy one.
According to a recent Realtor.com survey:
Recently, I had the WONDERFUL joy of helping Mollie and Dave find a stunning, turn of the century Victorian in the heart of Portland’s Kerns neighborhood. AND – it fits their pup’s needs! We had such a great time dreaming of all the ways to evolve the yard to make it a dream oasis for Fiona. With native plantings, a grand front porch, and plenty of patio space, the possibilities are endless. Congratulations Mollie and Dave! Thank you for such a special experience. I can’t wait to come visit to discover all the spectacular personalizations you bring to your home!
There are so many wonderful neighborhoods to get to know in Portland, and I wanted to highlight some of the most vibrant; the ones where the community is so passionate, the businesses packing loyal customers in, and sought after homes sell quickly.
In this edition, I’m covering NE Alberta, famous as the Alberta Arts District, with so much culture and history woven throughout, and the adjacent NE Killingsworth blocks. Both stretch across neighborhoods officially called Vernon and Concordia, and are colorful, parks-adjacent and full of fun. Minutes away from Alameda Ridge, Beaumont Wilshire and Cully neighborhoods, you’re right in the middle of the action. To the West you’ve got Mississippi and lots of nightlife and live music.
I put together a Best-Of-List I made to share with folks I’ve helped get into homes here as well as for those visiting my listings recently sold in this NE gem of a location. Good homes here for first time home buyers? For investment properties? Check. For families? Check. For walkability and sweet livability? CHECK. Read on, and bookmark this to share with friends coming to visit. Ping me with additions you feel might be worthy, and I’ll update.
General:
Neighborhood park – Fernhill Park
Community/Event:
Restaurants:
Stores:
Entertainment/Wellness/Sport:
And if you’d like your own run-down and adventure tour of this fantastic spot – or any others – just say the word, I’d love to show you around.
Next up in my neighborhoods feature? Beaumont-Wilshire & Rose City Park!
Pride celebrations are kicking off all over the country. At Living Room, we kicked off Pride with a celebration including rainbow-inspired, plant-based food, a jazz trio, and lots of merriment! And this was all before 9:30 in the morning! We also had an impactful presentation from local lender, Percy Wise about the experiences of LGBTQIA+ buyers, sellers, and homeowners.
In case you are wondering when Portland’s big PRIDE festival takes place this year, it’s in JULY! July 15-16 to be exact. Read more about events HERE.
We could not be more excited to get back outside in our yards and gardens and plant, dig, beautify and breathe it all in. If you are interested in installing some new beds, but don’t want them to be ground level or just want to design spaces with garden boxes, CLICK THROUGH the images to see some of our favorite beds + boxes for your new project!
It has been a joy since our very first introduction that was thanks to a lovely past client 2 years ago. (Btw referrals are the biggest compliment and vital to my business so many thanks for all who recommend me🙏🏽) At the time, the housing market was a little coo-coo with those historic interest rates and an extremely competitive market. We got to know each other spending time seeing homes and then they decided to take a pause. A pause that turned out to be a blessing! As V excelled in her career with a promotion and a new little man was added to the mix, they reached back out and they were ready to make moves!
Literally and figuratively 😉
It was our first weekend checking out homes and they quickly found THE ONE! The right school district, space and location! It just felt right!
With 264 days on the market and 90k price reduction, over that span of time, we made an offer that was up against one other at the time. I was able to negotiate a 10k credit to my buyer’s towards their closing costs (this means less cash out of pocket at closing) a BRAND NEW ROOF and some other minor repairs!
When I say that I share the excitement of each and every one of my clients, I mean it! Their gratitude and trust in me as their Real Estate Professional created such a wonderful experience all around.
Thank you so very much for choosing me to go on this journey with you! Even on key day where the oldest boys ran from room to room seeing the home for the first time and leaping for joy, truly warmed my heart. Moments like those are exactly why I passionately advocate and love on my people.
Wishing you all the most beautiful of memories together as you make your new house a home!
You are an inspiration to so many other hard working individuals that the time to buy is when it’s right for YOU! Congratulations my friends 🥂🏡
Continue reading “STYLE EDIT: A Fresh Look at Velvet Armchairs”
Continue reading “PORTLAND LIFE: Hot Gingery Drinks to Sip While We Wait for Spring Weather”
Continue reading “PORTLAND LIFE: Domestica’s Top Spring Cleaning Tips!”
🌟 CONGRATULATIONS NEW HOMEOWNER 🌟
.
I have to give a big shoutout to my friend and client Earle for achieving his long time goal of home ownership! The cherry on top is this was a Habitat of Humanity condo with Proud Ground. Proud Ground is a non profit providing homes that are permanently affordable for first-time homebuyers.
.
Earle went through a lot of hurdles and extended closing with a great attitude and stayed committed to his goals.
.
I am so grateful when I get the opportunity to support people through the journey. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to get the job done for you!
What a dream working with these dear humans (and their cute kitty)!
These two began their search just before the pandemic. Back when the market was vastly different and right before the pandemic and low-interest rates had their big effect on the market. I loved working with them, getting to know them and seeing homes together. We looked at a lot of homes over the years, wrote some offers and took a couple of breaks from searching while the market went nuts. Luckily these two had a strong sense of what they wanted and even though they lost out on a few homes along the way, the one they bought in the end, is definitely the BEST one with the best quality for the price! I’m so happy for them!
If you have questions about neighborhoods, the real estate market, buying or selling a house etc, let’s sit down and talk. My aim is to establish trust and serve you with warmth and attentive communication. I love to engage with new people and listen carefully to their needs and goals, then throw all my energy into helping to achieve them!
Continue reading “PORTLAND LIFE: PORTLAND WINTER LIGHT FESTIVAL 2023”
About Us: Over the course of their professional partnership, Aryne + Dulcinea have helped hundreds of clients prosper in their new lives. During this time, they have prided themselves in their top-notch selling abilities, with homes outperforming market standards, consistently exceeding list price while most of their listings sell in under 7 days. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, Aryne & Dulcinea will work in collaboration to guide you in investing in your future and reaching your real estate goals.
I am in the bizzyness of selling houses to good humans in Portland, OR. In 2022 I had the pleasure and privilege of selling 27 magnificent homes to the best buyers and sellers in the world, including a handful of folx who bought and sold, or sold and bought. I work by referral only, and after working as a real estate broker for 15+ years, I have the divine fortune of being able to choose to only work with good people who I adore. For those of you who have worked with me over the past 15 years, and those of you who have referred your friends, family and colleagues, I am thankful beyond belief. Goodness gracious I am one lucky duck.
Maria and James came to America with a big dream, to build generational wealth. They began their graduate studies and started learning about the powerful role real estate plays in building wealth.
If you get the pleasure of meeting Maria and James, one thing you will know immediately is that they both value excellence. It’s no surprise they applied their standard of excellence to their real estate education by pouring over free courses, podcasts, reading blogs, and books, and talking to other investors and homeowners. They actively went out and sought education and this year, they made their 7th investment property purchase in the last 4 years!
Crypto, S&P 500, and Index Funds, this is probably what you think of when it comes to investing. Why real estate?
“We feel that real estate is less volatile than the stock market. We also feel that we understand Real Estate investing more easily than active stock investing and it’s important to understand what you are investing in!” – Maria & James
As local and long-distance investors they understand the importance of creating a solid screening system. They screen their properties and their real estate agents. This is key in building a solid team.
“Before we are active, we build a system to do our screenings more effectively. We have two major criteria we focus on: Macro – the broader local economy, employment, population growth, landlords, etc. and the micro-neighborhood numbers, down payments, etc.” – Maria & James
All these factors they consider when they plan on investing in a property. Now, to choose the right realtors for the job.
Building a good team with clear communication is pivotal in real estate. Maria and James had a list of qualities they look for when it comes to choosing a Real Estate Agent who would help make this dream a reality.
“My friend was talking about her experience in purchasing her first property. She bought her first home with Kristin and Jason. She shared the entire process and I could see Kristin was a good realtor. My other friend said they want to buy a home and I recommended Kristin to them even without meeting her.
I have worked with multiple agents throughout my 7+ transactions. Kristin and Jason are the VERY BEST Real Estate Agents among them. They are on top of things. I don’t have to keep track of my realtor. One thing I feel they are very strong about is communication. Communicating with us and negotiating with the seller is so important.” – Maria & James
This project was especially important for Maria and James as it would become their primary residence.
This newly built community checked all their boxes: close to parks for their family outings and bike riding, multiple entrances for house hacking, a shift in their portfolio, and they got to take part in the design process!
Having an adorable, young son, they are already thinking and planning on how to include him in the investing process and stretch his vision for his life.
“We learned that we need to make money work for us instead of us working for money. Encouraging Casey in the investing process is a priority. Talking about our strategies with him, ask for his involvement and thoughts, and explain to him our thinking process, these are some ways we are teaching him and will continue to teach him. Having a mentor would have been great for us, and we will be a mentor for him.”
– Maria & James
If you have any interest in investing like Maria + James have this is their advice to you:
“Bigger Pocket podcast. Start listening to the podcast. Dig into their website. They have some real estate investing books. Most impactful for us – long-distance real estate investing. That book helped us with our investing strategy. Look for agents who have these good qualities that you will read about in these books.”
– Maria & James
When asked what they would do differently if they could start their whole investing journey over again with the knowledge they now have, they responded
“Real estate and investing are very relational. You need a good team. Now, we have learned to pick good team members – agents, lenders, etc When choosing a good realtor look for someone who communicates, listens to you, and does things correctly.”
– Maria & James
Maria + James, thank you for choosing us as your real estate bodyguards and for giving us the honor of being part of your journey in investing. We have loved getting to know you and your beautiful family. May this new home provide you with joy, quality family time, and even more growth. You are a powerful family and we can’t wait to see what you build! Thank you for being an inspiration, not just to us, but to all those who know you!
Between March 1st and June 30th of 2022, the real estate market here in Portland saw appreciation rise at a rate not seen since, well, ever. Over 20% year over year. Despite the challenges of the market, particularly being a buyer, I had 10 buyers and 5 sellers successfully close on homes- all on the east side in the City of Portland. Of those buyers and sellers- 2 sellers were able to buy first and closed in March, and then sold their homes April and May. Another of my sellers was able to sell their home and buy their next one within a couple of weeks in June. Six of my buyers were first time home buyers, and 1 of my sets of buyers purchased the home they had been renting directly from their landlord off-market. Lucky ducks. Of my 10 buyers, 7 got the first home they wrote an offer on, 2 got the second house they wrote on and 1 set got the third and best house they wrote on. The total number of homes I wrote a total of 14 offers. The youngest house I sold was a 1960 rancher in Parkrose Heights, and the oldest was a bungalow in the Richmond neighborhood built in 1912. Three of the houses got new roofs, 2 got new sewer lines, and 2 had leaking oil tanks- all of which were taken care of by the seller.
My 5 sellers did really well. Four of my sellers received multiple offers, and the fifth set of sellers accepted the first offer they received which was well over asking and submitted less than 24 hours after we went on the market. Of the 5 homes I listed, 4 were ones I had originally sold to the sellers. Bringing it full circle. Of my five sellers, 3 bought new and larger homes in Portland, and 2 moved out of state. The youngest house I sold was a condo built in 1972 on Jantzen Beach. All the other homes were built between 1906 and 1953. None of my sellers made any repairs, and only 2 gave closing cost credits/concessions for needed repairs. I sure know and love old houses.
Everyone of my clients was either a past client of mine, or a referral from another previous client, a friend or lenders I partner with. Fifteen transactions in 3 months is a lot for little old me who doesn’t have an assistant and doesn’t want one. Those are probably at least half the number of transactions I’ll have the honor of working on for the entire year. So much joy and happiness to be surrounded by.
2021 and 2022 have been strong seller’s markets. Some Buyers might feel like they would have to look way outside of Portland if they had a budget. But that’s not the case. Although many homes have been selling for 100K+ over the listing price, there are gems throughout this city and in prime locations that can fit a first-time homeowner’s budget.
Brian and Kristin wanted a home close to SE Portland. It’s a great location and highly sought after. Many buyers were finding it difficult to find a home in this neighborhood unless they wanted to spend over 500K.
Brian and Kristin took this investment and decision seriously. We got to work culling through possible homes they could call their own. It took almost a year to find the right home for them. It can be a tough fight to win out on a home. The competition is fierce and sometimes you might not get the first home you put an offer on. That happened in this case. We sought hard, fought hard, and even though Brian and Kristin were beaten out a few times, they had persistence and positivity on their side.
One home came up that created a lot of completion. 20 offers were submitted on this home. Brian and Kristin were not intimidated and gave it they’re all.
We got selected as the backup offer and when the 1st position buyer pulled out (due to the inspections report) we got bumped up to the first place. We negotiated to get the inspection reports right away; this is where real estate’s teamwork shines. We are so grateful to have a powerhouse of contractors we have developed relationships. We were able to get estimates on all the repairs very quickly so that we could negotiate for a buyer’s credit that would strongly benefit Brian and Kristin.
With a sizeable credit that allowed Brian and Kristin to not only get the home they want but also repair it to top standards, they walked away champions!
Brian and Kristin, we are so impressed with your positivity, enthusiasm, and cleverness in handling this journey. You were a joy to work with and we are honored to have been chosen to be your real estate bodyguards in this market.
Cheers to you both!
Fixer-uppers, many tv shows today make these types of homes seem extremely attractive. But it takes a very specific type of person to commit to these hidden jewels. Chris and Kelsey were growing their family. They needed more space, a yard for the kids to play in within Portland, and a home with a little extra love needed so they can put their creative spin on it.
They had a set budget and list of desires. There aren’t many homes coming onto the market, so when one comes available it usually gets multiple offers rather quickly. This can cause the price to jump dramatically. When we are representing Buyers, we fight to keep the price point very close to their budget.
The goal was a “diamond in the rough” type of home. Diamond = central location, great yard space, good schools, etc. Rough = the home needs a bit of love to be at its prime.
They wanted to be a part of building and designing the home. Adding their special touch to the property where they would be raising their adorable children.
Mortgage rates also were going up, this has buyers in a frenzy trying to find the right home while still taking advantage of the currently low rates. Each home we saw ended up with multiple bidders and running up the price a little (or quite a bit) too much.
During this process, they sent us a listing that looked very familiar. We ended up knowing the seller and the home very well and knew this was the jewel they were searching for. We jumped at the opportunity to put in a great offer with good terms. This can sometimes make the deal even more attractive than a larger number as the price point.
And we got that call all home buyers want to get, “Your offer has been ACCEPTED!” This call is one of the best parts of the process. Buying a home can be an emotionally stressful time. This beautiful family treated each interaction with kindness and clarity and for that we are truly grateful.
Chris and Kelsey expected the inspections to turn out a whole list of work needed on the home. But, it turned out a much smaller list than was expected which was a HUGE win! We love to see you win!
We loved working with Chris and Kelsey who are wise and kind people. They were curious about the process and trusted that we would provide them with the best resources and find the perfect home together.
Congratulations Chris and Kelsey! We are so grateful to have been part of this journey with you! We hope this home provides your family with the perfect space to build many joyful memories. Cheers!
Andrew + Alice are a dream team. They contacted us over 3 years ago in regards to purchasing their next home. They wanted it to be a good investment and so they started dreaming, planning, saving, and angling themselves so that they would be in a great position when the time came to buy their home.
Initially, how could we use our position to our advantage? A fixer-upper? Most of the homes we saw were in pretty bad condition and would take a lot of energy and effort to be livable. This would end up being cost-prohibitive. So, we changed tactics. They still wanted a fixer-upper but it had to be livable. One day they sent me a home they thought could possibly work. The minute we saw it and read through the specifics we knew this house would fit them like a glove. We had to get to work. The type of competition out there could discourage some buyers, but Andrew and Alice knew we could compete. So we fought. Multiple offers were sent in on this house. Some higher than ours. But, Andrew and Alice understood the importance of strong terms and that the terms you put forth as a Buyer could be even more attractive to the Seller than a larger purchase price. Andrew and Alice were clear in their communication. Their positioning was so attractive to the Seller that they ended up getting in contract!
When finding a fixer-upper, inspections can be a nail-biter. Unfortunately, the inspections showed us that this house needed more repairs than we initially thought. Andrew and Alice did not quit. We geared up for our next battle and got a great team behind us. One of the best parts, with help of quick estimates from our incredible contractors, was that we were able to negotiate an amazing buyer’s credit! They won both battles and got the home they dreamed and planned for. And to you three, we raise our glasses! You fought hard, persevered, and kept the optimism of your dream alive during the process.
Congratulations Andrew and Alice! Opal now has a beautiful home to grow in. We are thrilled for your family! Thank you for allowing us to join you on this journey!
This delightful English Cottage in University Park is the one you have been waiting for. This spacious four bedroom home has a long list of thoughtful upgrades and improvements that nestle in seamlessly with the period charm. Improvements include new plumbing, new quartz countertops, newer roof, refinished wood floors, upgraded panel, new windows and NEW AC. Numerous built-ins and don’t miss the nook! Large lot with mature landscaping is Certified Backyard Habitat and includes greenhouse, studio, hot tub and private covered patio.
Open House | Saturday April 2 from 12 – 2 | Sunday April 3 from 11 – 1
Back in 2011 I met one of my very favorite buyers ever, Mel. She worked with the Portland Housing Center and had $9,000 to from a matched savings account through Portland Housing Center. She used that $9,000 for a 5% downpayment on an oh so very vintage 760 sf 1920’s bungalow in Arbor Lodge that she bought for $180,000.
Fast forward to 2021. Mel is now married to Ryan and they are resource parents for kids in need and through the processes, have adopted 2 amazing kids with a third in the works. And all 5 of them plus a pup and a kitty were living in the oh so very vintage 760sf vintage 1920’s bungalow in Arbor Lodge. To say they were busting at the seams goes without saying, and yet they were able to take advantage of every nook and cranny to make the most of their tiny space. They contacted me to formally declare that it was time to move and buy a bigger house. At first they thought they needed to sell first then buy because they didn’t have a lot of cash on hand for a down payment on their next house, but they sure had a heck ton of equity in their little bungalow. I visited the house last fall and after seeing how packed the house was- packed but tidy and clean!- I told them I there was no way they could think they could sell first then buy. They needed to move out to make the little bungalow shine. Mel’s little house that she put $9,000 down on had more than doubled in value since she purchased it 11 years ago. Their best option was to get an interest only HELOC (home equity line of credit) on their bungalow and pull out as much cash as possible and use that for the down payment on the next house, then sell the Arbor Lodge bungalow. And because Mel bought the house so long ago for so little, their current mortgage payment was less than rent on most studio apartments in Portland. It took a few months, but by the end of January, the HELOC was funded and they had a pre-approval letter on hand.
After living in North Portland so long, Mel and Ryan longed for a big house with an even bigger yard for their young family to grow and spread and run and live. They knew that to get what they wanted on their budget, they most likely would need to move to the suburbs. A day or so after all the financing pieces came together, Mel and I met up at a house in Happy Valley to begin the search. From the photos, she wanted to love the house, but after visiting the house, it was clear that this was definitely not the one. After I locked up the front door we stood around on the street in front of the weird house and talked for a quite a while. We talked about their ideal house- which would be a mid-century, room for a hot tub, big enough for bedrooms for everyone plus a separate kid play area from an adult living room and home offices/art studios for both Ryan and Mel. And to really hit the mark, if it had a swimming pool- that would be divine. We decided that we would conjure this house and it would appear. Because that’s the way the universe works when you are Mel.
I got home and lo and behold mere hours after that conversation a house popped up on the market that fit the bill EXACTLY and it had a pool. The conjuring worked full stop. I made an appointment to see it that same evening, and this time Ryan was able to join us. The mid-1970’s split level house had street presence perched up on a hill with a large and tasteful fountain beckoning at the bottom of the stairs up to the house. We went inside and these two were LIT UP with excitement. It was literally perfect for them and had a gorgeous view of the west hills and the all important pool. The sellers weren’t looking at offers for another 5 days, so that gave Mel and Ryan time to think about how badly they wanted the house and how much they would be willing to fight for it. To rule out any other areas, Mel and I went to a couple of houses in Beaverton, but after seeing the Happy Valley pool house, any other house was a disappointment. On Saturday, 5 days after the pool house came on the market, they went back to the house for the open house and took the kids. After that visit, there was no question in anyone’s mind that this was THEIR house. There was some intense last minute negotiations including bumping up their offer twice to beat out other buyers, their well presented and solid as a rock offer was accepted by the sellers- and it wasn’t the highest of 6 offers on the table. The house inspected like a dream, closed on time and Mel and Ryan are planning out their future in the dream house with the pool.
6947 N ATLANTIC AVE, Portland, OR 97217
Offered at $775,000
4 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 2,430 SF | MLS# 22124079 | Taxes: $6,203 | 0.23 Acres
Don’t miss the fabulous enclosed hot tub and oversized garage with attic storage and work space.
There is plenty of space for RV or boat parking!
This gorgeous and inviting bungalow offers an abundance of living space, plus so many delightful features! The home is close to many parks, cafes, shops, and grocery stores. Welcome home!
My buyer Theo wins the award for the single most expensive repair I have negotiated for a buyer. Theo was a first time buyer who was referred to me by a past client of mine who they work with. We met up on a chilly fall evening to talk about what they were looking for in a house and get the process started. Within a couple of days, Theo had their pre-approval letter in hand and we were ready to go. I sent them all of the available homes within the geographic boundaries, price range and features they were looking for. The list wasn’t very long and out of all of them, only 2 houses piqued their interest. We went to see one in NE, and that was a no-go. The second house we saw was bright blue 1920’s bungalow in the Brooklyn neighborhood. It had been on the market for about a month and had one sale fail. The home was lovely with a gigantic newly remodeled kitchen and a large upstairs bedroom with room to add a bathroom. The basement was decent enough with lots of windows and good ceiling height- a great candidate for future finishing. Theo slept on it and the next morning let me know they wanted to write on it. We put together a great offer and boom- got it accepted.
Most of the systems had been upgraded so I wasn’t too worried about the inspection. However, during the inspection our inspector did a few pokes at the foundation walls and the foundation just crumbled into sand. In the 1920’s during the huge housing building boom there were two concrete companies operating in Portland and those two companies provided all of the concrete for house foundations built during that time. One company had a better concrete formula and many of those foundations are still in reasonable shape. But the second company didn’t quite know how to mix concrete very well, and those foundations are showing their age as they reach the end of their useful life as seen in the crumbling foundation walls. This basement had been skim coated on the interior at some point, but in areas like behind a built in workshop and under the stairs, the tell tale signs of a rapidly deteriorating foundation were all there. For most buyers, that would have been the end of that and they would have terminated. But Theo really loved the house and location, so they took the next step and hired a structural engineer to come out to take a look so they could make a decision to either move forward with the transaction or terminate. I had a great conversation with the listing agent about the issue, and thankfully the sellers understood this wasn’t a repair they could put off if they wanted to sell the home. Thankfully the engineer was able to come out and made the determination that the foundation really was on its last legs. She told us there were 2 ways to approach a new foundation- one way was to lift the house and pour a brand new concrete foundation. This route is prohibitively expensive- costing in the $80k-$100k range. The other option is to have an engineered wood wall built. With this method, an engineer designs a wood wall that is built in the basement up against the old concrete foundation and embedded in a new interior concrete footing and attached to the framing of the house. As long as the engineered wood walls are kept dry, which involves rubber matting between the old concrete foundation and the new wood one and making sure the drainage system around the home is effectively channeling water away from the house, the new wood foundation can last indefinitely. And because it’s wood, it has give so also provides better seismic protection than old concrete foundations. The old concrete foundation stays in place, but it no longer functions as a support for the house. And the new foundation gives the basement an almost finished look.
We wound up doing 5 inspection extensions to get the engineer to have the drawings ready before closing, and to get a firm bid from a contractor to do the work after closing. Closing was delayed by 10 days- but we did it! Due to the whole supply chain, dearth of availability of contractors, etc., the work can’t be done for a while, but that’s ok because the contractor has already been paid and stated that they will complete the repair within the next year for the stated bid amount. The cost for something like this obviously depends on the total linear feet and some other factors, but in general, this type of repair will cost in the $35,000-$60,000 including drainage, which is a whole lot of money, but about half of what it would cost to replace the foundation with concrete.
Sarah and Tariq contacted me in early August after being referred to me by one of my favorite lenders. They used to live in Portland, and had moved to Los Angeles for work, and were now being transferred back to Portland. They were moving to Portland in mid-November, so they came to Portland in mid-October to find a home. Before they arrived, we had a flurry of emails back and forth narrowing down homes they wanted to see. They seemed to really hone in on mid-centuries and when we came up with our list of homes to see over the next few days, the majority were mid-centuries. They arrived on a Thursday evening, and we hit the ground running on Friday morning. We saw around 12 houses together over the next couple of days, and they saw even more homes on their own visiting open houses.
They did write on one home, but when that home received another offer that was higher and waived their inspection, Sarah and Tariq decided they didn’t love it enough to go that far. With 2 days left on their clock, they started leaning towards writing an offer on a house they didn’t love, but felt it met their needs and after buying it, they could fix it up to their liking. They wanted to be under contract before they flew back to LA and I think they were ok with settling for a less than perfect house for the sake of being able to leave Portland having a house under contract.
While they mulled that house over, a house came on the market in North Tabor that seemed like it could be the one. We immediately went and saw it and both Sarah and Tariq just beamed and they knew within 20 steps into the house that this was the one. It had a classic living room with fireplace, formal dining room and vintage kitchen that looked almost brand new. Two bedrooms on the main floor and one up plus a semi-finished basement. The house had a tuck under garage as well as an oversized double car garage behind the house. One of the things that was on their must have list was a garage for their motorcycles, and this house had the perfect set-up for their bikes. They loved it and decided on the spot they would take the home as-is and waive the inspection contingency. The home was an estate and prior to going on the market the seller pro-actively replaced the sewer line, did a radon test and had soil samples taken and the tank decommissioned. The home was a well built 1951 classic with a foundation built like a tank, but I could tell that the roof had at least 3 layers including the original wood shingle roof, it needed plumbing updates, both the furnace and water heater were ancient and the chimney had seen better days. I put together a list for Sarah and Tariq with repair estimates for all the issues based off very recent bids for similar work. After going through those numbers, it all felt pretty manageable budget wise. They decided they would go the distance to get this house, and the sooner they could get it under contract the better. 99% of the time I would never advise a first time home buyer to waive the home inspection contingency, but in this case it made sense considering the potential big unknowns, sewer and oil tank, were already taken care of and Sarah and Tariq were dying to get the house.
The house was scheduled to have an open house on Sunday, and Sarah and Tariq wanted to get this house under contract before then. We wrote up a great offer that was over asking, waived the right of revocation, ordered the appraisal on day one, did a 26 day close, released the earnest money upon acceptance by the seller and waived the home inspection contingency. I would never advice a buyer to release their earnest money right away, but they were so sure that this was their house that when they asked what else they could throw in to hopefully get the seller to accept their offer right away, that was the really the only thing left. When we submitted the offer on a Friday night, it was as watertight as could be.
The next day, on Saturday, the listing agent called me and said the seller was so pleased with Sarah and Tariq’s offer, that she decided to accept it right away and they canceled the open house scheduled for Sunday. Sarah and Tariq flew back to LA on Sunday knowing that when they drove back to Portland in November, they had a house waiting for them. Even though they waived the home inspection contingency, they still had the home inspected so they would be able to prioritize repairs and know what they were getting into. Thankfully the home inspected like a dream, and pretty much everything I said would come up in an inspection as an issue, came up, and overall the house was in terrific shape. The house closed on a Thursday, and on Saturday morning Sarah and Tariq arrived in Portland with their pup a rented mini-van full of plants and the glow that comes with having the satisfaction of getting keys to their dream home.
Welp, it happened again folks. I had the privilege of working with fantastic clients and now I want to adopt them! Or, at least have them over for dinner :).
Jessica and Michael were referred to my teammate, Jasmine, and they were such a delight to work with. They came to us looking for a home in inner southeast Portland. They were moving from an area with limited walkability so location was very important to them. We did end up finding a lovely home in a great location but after a hard inspection, we sadly had to move on and look for a different home.
…And I’m so glad we did!
We found the cutest, most special home in Ladd’s Addition for the family! Everything about this purchase was wonderful and full of good vibes! I wish every buyer had the chance to experience a purchase like this one. Jessica and Michael are so head over heels for the neighborhood they have convinced Jessica’s parents to move here to enjoy all the goodness they are experiencing. We are looking forward to working with her parents and hoping for the same kind of magical purchase!
Photo credit for photos of the home: Jack Burnett
Congratulations to my first-time buyer clients, Dennis and Sam, for closing on their new home! I am excited to see you settle into your new place, and look forward to seeing you make improvements to make the home yours! Thank you so much for your trust and support to guide you through this process.
After 8 years in the real estate industry, I have heard it all. As a Realtor, I am often exposed to the most stressed-out version of each of my clients at one point or another throughout the process. And, since everyone’s timeline, financial situation and overall tolerance of risk is so different, I end up helping my clients work through a variety of different questions, fears, obstacles and decisions. These are the moments that can make or break a Realtor’s level of expertise in my opinion, and are a huge part of why I enjoy what I do.
I get to be a trusted Advisor for my clients during huge moments of their lives.
But back to the point. One of the most common phrases I have noticed over the years comes from my Buyer clients, when they tell me they “don’t want to waste my time.” So, I wanted to address that phrase in this blog installment.
Most commonly, I hear this phrase when someone is in the early stages of their home search, and they are still figuring out which locations to target and what budget they want to stay within. The other times I have heard this, is after weeks or months of looking at properties, without finding the right one.
What I find interesting about both of these scenarios, is that it seems as though people have been conditioned to believe that they shouldn’t call their Realtor, until they are ready to make an offer on a home. Or, that there is a finite period of time that they should be finding their home within. Otherwise, they might be wasting my time.
This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Having sold nearly 200 homes in my time as a Realtor, I can confidently say that everyone’s timeframe for finding the right property is different. I have had people buy the very first house I showed them, and I have had people take a year or more to find “the one.” Neither instance is right, and neither is wrong. The goal remains the same — finding a property that you connect with and want to purchase!
Sometimes the best way to accomplish this goal, is to see as many homes as possible in person, which can provide super valuable information as to what will or won’t work for you in the property that you purchase. And I LOVE being a part of this process! The better understanding that I have for what your dream home is, or what your goals are for that particular property, the better I can serve you. Being involved in this part of the process also allows me to add my experience and expertise into the mix as well, and hopefully offer some valuable insight that you may not have thought about.
Either way, the bottom line is that working with you all is an absolute pleasure, and as your trusted real estate advisor, I love being involved in your process for buying or selling a home from start to finish!
Oh, and it never feels anything close to being a waste of time.
Beautifully updated for convenient, comfortable living. The main floor great room layout is perfect for busy every day lives and great for entertaining. The lower level family room has a slider to a 2nd balcony and a wet bar, great for cozy evenings and ready for your next party. A nicely placed 3BR/2BA + laundry are all on the same level. This one is move in ready and oh so lovely! Check out the link below for more photos and info.
Reach out for a private showing or, if you have a home to sell in the area, I’m happy to help.
Veronica Powell
Veronica@LivingRoomRE.com
503.936.3475
Laura is a good friend of my teammate, Jasmine Deatherage’s and I’m so glad I met her! She is so bright & funny! And now, Laura just closed on that house!! It’s a super unique A-Frame with tons of exposed wood and a fantastically updated upper level.
Another great part of Laura’s story is that she was able to use funds from the Portland Housing Center’s IDA program to help pay for her closing costs! I highly recommend that you look into this program to see if you or someone you know might qualify. HERE is the link!
Jasmine and I wish Laura all the best in her wonderful new home!
One of the best things about being a Realtor, is getting to be part of such a momentous occasion in people’s lives. For many, purchasing a home is a goal they have had for many years, prior to actually being in a position to do so. Then, when it actually all comes together, the gratitude my clients express to me for guiding and advising them through the process, is truly humbling.
On many occasions, I end up becoming great friends with my clients, through the shared adversity, excitement and joy that can come from purchasing a home. When the deal closes, and the stress melts away, the friendship and bond that has been built doesn’t. Being able to work with clients who I genuinely enjoy and care for as people, is what gives me that extra level of passion for what I do.
Thank you all for always trusting me as your resource for all things Real Estate. I am forever grateful!
I’m so impressed with Lily and Jessi! They were great to work with from day one. And, I know you hear me gush about how great my referrals are, a lot! But, hey, it’s true! Jasmine and I were very lucky to have met them and worked with them. They are two of the kindest people I’ve met.
Lily and Jessi were looking for a great starter home as well as something close to Lily’s parent’s house in NE Portland. We weren’t sure if we were going to be able to find something within their price range within blocks of her parent’s house. The market has been nuts and cute, well-maintained houses like this one have been flying off the shelf. On this one, I’m going to say we got it because we had very strong terms plus fantastic communication with the listing agent, right off the bat. And as it goes sometimes, we had big hurdles to overcome during the transaction and again, it was a great communication that kept it all together and pleasant for everyone involved.
I am so happy for Lily and Jessi!! This house is darling and in the perfect location to put down roots.
Cheers!
4717 N WILLAMETTE BLVD Portland, OR 97203
Offered at $625,000
3 Bed | 3 Bath | 2799 SF | MLS# 21344545 | Taxes: $8,235
What a knockout! Gorgeous, wonderfully preserved classic home with a classic Willamette Boulevard view.
Upon entry, you’ll notice the high level of care shown to this home with gorgeous wood floors, bright sunny spaces, remodeled kitchen, 2 remodeled bathrooms and a wonderful floor plan. The living room is perfect for entertaining with a classic wood fireplace, lovely mantle and large bay windows overlooking the city and river.
The open floorplan flows easily through the formal dining room and updated kitchen featuring plenty of counterspace, stainless steel appliances and classic tile backsplash. The formal dining room is bright and spacious with French doors opening onto the patio.
Moving through to the kitchen toward the back, you’ll find a fantastic informal dining room/sunroom. The space could be a wonderful spot for lounging, the perfect place for all of your house plants or a breakfast nook! This room opens to the very private backyard with breezeway to the oversized 2-car garage.
The layout of the home is ideal, with 2 large bedrooms and a full bathroom on the main level. The second floor offers a lovely primary suite with wood floors, a full bathroom, walk in closet and storage galore on one whole side room.
Winding downstairs to the basement you’ll find a clean basement with great ceiling height. A third bathroom just waiting for a remodel is conveniently located on the lower level. This is a very large space easily imagined as a media room, family room, yoga room… really, the possibilities are endless!
The location is ideal: Great for walking and biking. Check out this gorgeous and inviting home, you might just want it to be yours!
The conversations surrounding Real Estate in the Portland Metro area these days seem to be centered around the idea that the market is cooling off. While the terms “hot” and “cool” are always relative, I thought it would be prudent to share some statistics to help frame this conversation.
According to the most recent RMLS Market Action Report, new listings and pending sales each decreased by around 4-5% in August. Inventory increased by 10%, and total time on market increased by about 15%. Taken at face value, these stats might lead one to believe that the market is beginning to shift.
However, when we look at the actual statistics for inventory and time on market, we see that we still only had 1 month’s worth of inventory in August, and the average time on market was 23 days. Inventory has been at or below 1 month for the duration of 2021, and the average time on market YTD is 28 days. So, these key indicators of market activity are still very consistent with what we have been seeing all year in the Portland Market.
Something we don’t have hard data for, but that I have noticed through my own experiences as a Realtor, is that there does seem to be a lower number of competing offers when a new listing hits the market. Throughout the Spring and Summer months, it was very common to see 10-15 offers on a new listing during the first weekend on the market. Now, it seems that we are seeing closer to 3-5 offers for a hot new listing.
Competition being a bit less steep is certainly a welcome sight for Buyers, especially those who have been looking for a home all year. With that said, we are still in a heavily favored Seller’s Market, and Buyers should not mistake the decrease in competition for a shift in overall market conditions. If your hope is to wait for the market to turn, you may be waiting quite a while.
To add some perspective, one of the hottest real estate markets I have worked in (besides 2020 and 2021) was during the Spring and Summer of 2016. In August of 2016, we had 1.9 months worth of inventory, and the average time on market was 34 days. So, even if our current inventory numbers doubled, and time on market increased by 48%, we would still have market stats consistent with one of the hottest Sellers’ Markets Portland has ever seen.
In short, if you are thinking about Selling, you didn’t miss your window. If that is still a goal, let’s chat, so we can set up a plan and timeline. If you’re thinking about Buying, but hoping to wait for the market to turn, I’d probably advise against waiting. While the market will surely turn eventually, the amount of inventory needed for a balanced market (6 months worth), is not something we will likely see in the Portland Market in the near future.
Thanks for reading. Call or text anytime, if you’d like to discuss the market.
Fabulously stylish ranch located directly across the street from Normandale Park’s playground. Surrounded by lush yet drought tolerant plantings including fruit trees and berries, this house is dialed and ready to go. With a nod to mid-century style, the kitchen and both bathrooms were updated to the nines with mod tile, cabinets and lighting. The kitchen will lower your jaw to the floor with gorgeous quartz counters, lots of cabinets, and dark bamboo flooring expertly laid out in a herringbone pattern. The primary bedroom has a private bathroom and a slider that opens onto a private deck. From the living room, enjoy people and dog watching in the park. The garage is oversized and a great space for hobbies, storage or parking a car. Schools are Laurelhurst K-8 and Grant High.
This past week I celebrated my 36th birthday, and this time of year is always a time of reflection for me. The way many people feel around New Year’s is how I often feel leading up to my birthday. It gives me a chance to reflect on how far I have come, what I have accomplished and what I am proud of myself for, while also giving me an opportunity to reflect on the areas that I feel I can improve on — how can I continue to be a better person, husband, father, friend and Realtor?
It’s always an energizing time for me, and I am excited to feel the sense of rejuvenation that often comes with this reflection. I am so grateful for all the clients who have trusted me to guide them through the process of buying and/or selling a home, and want each and every one of you to know that I am committed to continuing to grow, and that I am committed to making sure that my efforts, experience and expertise are always improving.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without my friends, family and clientele, and I feel very thankful and blessed for you all!!
Offered at $640,000
3 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 1860 SF | MLS# 21483637 | Taxes: $7403
Step into this immaculate, modern attached home with a fantastic layout! Perched high off the street, the first level of the home is easy living. You’re going to love the kitchen: stainless steel appliances, gas range, quartz countertops and breakfast bar. The flow between the kitchen and living room in this open concept layout provides convenient space for entertaining and cozy evenings alike.
Plenty of comfort on the third level with a generous primary en suite and a second large bedroom with full bathroom. You’ll find bright natural light in the bedrooms with the primary suite offering a generous walk-in closet and bathroom with extensive tile work.
The lower level is a spacious ADU for guests, family, or additional earning potential! ADU features a large open living space, a darling kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a full bathroom and a large bedroom. As a short-term rental, this space has generated between $2300-$2500 a month.
The home has an Earth Advantage Platinum rating with central air conditioning, gas forced air heating and double pane windows.
Fantastic location close to shops, parks, cafés and restaurants! Great for walking plus a bike score of 93! Fall in love with this modern, move-in-ready, townhome. It’s waiting for you!
Everyone loves a fresh start! My lovely clients, Barb and Tom just made the leap from Florida to Portland and scored a wonderful condo on the SW Waterfront. You wouldn’t believe the gorgeous views of the river and the west hills (swoon!). What a wonderful spot to land.
I met Barb and Tom a few years back when I helped their son buy a home in SE Portland. We hit it off immediately, they are so fun and lively! And as you probably know, moving to be close to family has been a trend with the pandemic. Plus they are retiring and were ready to downsize. We looked at a few lovely homes but in end, a condo made the most sense because of the low-maintenance lifestyle. I’m so excited for them to move in and have fun around the city with their family!
I love referrals!! I think I’ve said that before, but it’s just so true! Every dang time.
Here’s the story, Kari and Trina found the dream-house before they found the dream-agent. We happen to have mutual friends who referred them to me and what a great match we are! They are fun, smart and know what they want. Perfection!
Here is what is so cool about referrals. When a past client or close friend refers me to someone I’ve never met, it’s far more likely that we will build trust quickly and be able to hit the ground running because the new client already expects to have an awesome experience. That was certainly the case in this situation. This was a competitive sale and we needed to hit the ground running. From the minute I met Kari and Trina I knew that we had trust and that we could do what needed to happen to get them into their dream house. And it was an awesome experience! Now they have the keys to their forever home and I hope they refer me to their friends as well.
If you or anyone you know wants to talk about buying or selling a home, I would love the opportunity to connect with them!
My buyer Clayton was referred to me by some of my favorite past clients ever, so I knew he was going to be great to work with. His ideal home would be in North Portland where he has lived for a long time as a renter, and would have the space and bedroom count to be able to comfortably rent out a room or two to roommates. He lost out on 2 houses, but they were not the best houses for him anyway. And when a great 4 bedroom house (2 beds on the main floor and 2 beds upstairs) came on the market he went to the open house and met the listing agent who was super impressed by how kind Clayton is and how through of a job he did looking at the house (he even went into the crawl space!). He loved the house and we wrote up an offer, and thanks to his letter and the listing agent explaining to her seller how awesome Clayton is, the seller wanted to sell to Clayton, but with another offer on the table that was over $100,000 over list price, the seller went with the crazy high offer.
Within a few days though, that buyer came back through with her mom and came to the realization that she was paying way too much for the house. That buyer tried to renegotiate with the seller to a lower price, but the seller wasn’t pleased at all so the listing agent came back to me to ask if Clayton was willing to add $30k to his initial offer amount, and Clayton was not willing to do that. So back on the market they went, and Clayton went back to another open house there and still loved it. We wrote up another offer which was higher than his first offer, but not as high as the seller had wanted to keep the house from going on the market. We waited for the weekend to be over to see if any more offers came in, and of course on the last day another offer did come in. Thankfully the listing agent was still rooting for Clayton, so they came back to us and asked Clayton if he would revise his offer amount higher by $15k to match the other offer. That seemed entirely reasonable so we upped his offer and the seller accepted.
The inspection went really well, and with the exception of a really bad appraisal that came in slightly low, the transaction was otherwise smooth as could be! When I met Clayton at the house to hand over the keys, he seemed slightly bewildered and in awe that he pulled off buying such a great house, but most importantly, he was super excited.
There are so many things to love about helping folks buy a home! I meet so many different people with many stories about why they want what they do and how they plan to achieve their real estate dreams and goals. But seriously, nothing is more gratifying than helping someone become a homeowner for the very first time! The joy!
It was so wonderful working with Rana to help make that dream a reality. She is a focused and intentional person who powered through the process like a champ. And every time we thought there might be a bump in the road we were able to negotiate on her behalf and smooth everything out. She is the first woman in her family to buy her own home!! Her Grandmother is so proud! This was definitely meant to be and I couldn’t be happier for Rana!!
Jason and Tonia are two of the sweetest repeat clients I have! We have bought and sold and bought again and each time we work together I am reminded what smart and kind-hearted people they are.
Jason and Tonia worked hard to turn their little bungalow into a little gem and enjoyed a smooth sale. After selling their house, they made the really smart decision to rent until they found their next dream home. I know this isn’t an option for everyone for various reasons, but it really helps if it’s possible. Jason and Tonia could take their time and didn’t feel as much pressure to over-bid or succumb to some of the craziness buyers are feeling in this market. They lost out on a few houses but in the end, being able to wait for this perfect house was totally worth it! They sailed through inspections and are so excited for their next chapter!
Key Day is always a big deal, but these keys in particular were a big hit with little Elliott. With the keys to their new home in her hot little hands she was ready to unlock every door in sight!
Unfortunately, this little family won’t be moving in for a few weeks. One of the terms that helped get their offer accepted was an agreement to allow the seller to occupy the home after the closing date.
That delayed possession can be a little frustrating for excited new homeowners. But in this competitive market a willingness to provide sellers with that flexibility can help get your offer accepted.
I’ll be celebrating with with these happy homeowners again in a few weeks when they take possession of their home and finally get to use those keys on the front door.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Interested in making Portland your home?
Call Cheri Harney, at 503-319-4858.
Offered at $419,000
2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1135 SF | MLS# 21620220| Taxes: $2619
Check out this cutie pie in the heart of Kenton! Filled with charm and character plus a huge yard, just steps from downtown Kenton!
A sweet front porch and lush landscaping will catch your eye upon arrival. As you enter you’ll find a lovely living and dining room- perfect for entertaining or just spending an evening in front of the gas fireplace. Tons of natural light, classic woodwork, hardwood floors.
So much original character and the darling kitchen is very efficient and bright. Enjoy the dedicated dining area with a large picture window and hardwood floors.
The layout is perfect for a home of this size, there are 2 light-filled bedrooms on the main level and a large bonus room in the basement with 2 large egress windows and full bathroom. This could be a 3rd bedroom, office, media room, home school room, yoga room… really, the possibilities are endless!
Backyard oasis feels very private and is brimming with beauty!
Well maintained with so many updates including triple pane vinyl windows, blown-in insulation in the floor, walls and ceiling, tankless gas hot water heater, earthquake straps, updated electrical panel and 95+ furnace. This house received a 10 on the Home Energy Assessment!
This location is absolutely ideal! Situated on a quiet street with light traffic flow just steps to downtown Kenton, the farmers market, restaurants, shops and the MAX yellow line. Convenient access to I-5 and a bike score 96!
I’m not sure if many of you know this about me, but my first love was actually Architecture. I studied at Iowa State University and worked as an Architect for over 6 years before making the switch to Real Estate in 2004. It really comes in handy to understand engineering and materials when I’m helping just about all of my clients. Although in this in this situation it really came in handy that I have a degree in Architecture because Sophie and Patrick were interested in finding as much land as possible, as close in as possible to build their dream home. They found a gorgeous acre in the Green Hills neighborhood! And we were able to talk shop and confirm it’s a great spot for their next big chapter.
I’m so thrilled to be able to help them and I’d love to work with anyone you know who might need my expertise.
I’m so happy to give keys to my best friend, Bernadette! We found her a great house in a wonderful location. I just know that she’s going love living there! It’s a cute 3 bedroom with a great yard and tons of light! I wish her all the best! -Cheers!
Congratulations to my buyer Brooke on beating out 10 other offers to snag this perfect home in the Richmond neighborhood. Brooke found me because her sister’s kids attend the same school as my kids in SE Portland, and they were looking for an agent familiar with the area. Brooke is from Seattle and recently went through a divorce and sold her longtime home in Seattle with the intention of moving to Portland to be closer to her sister. Brooke has a daughter that has some disabilities and is mobility challenged, so the home she knew she wanted to purchase would ideally be near her sister, and have the right set-up for her daughter to be able to get around on the ground floor, and have a flat backyard. We spent a good 2+ months on the hunt, which meant nearly every weekend for 2 months Brooke drove down to Portland from Seattle to check out houses. She wrote offers on 3 homes and while it was brutal to go through rejection after rejection, in the end it was all good because like most buyers, the best house was the last house we saw and she wrote on.
The Richmond house is only 7 blocks from her sister, has the perfect layout on the main floor for her daughter to get around in, has a gorgeous bedroom suite upstairs that feels like a sanctuary with light and views of trees for days and bookshelves to fill. The whole house also has the kind of charm that Brooke was looking for. When we toured it, Brooke just kept saying, “this is my house!” And at one point she found the laundry shoot in the downstairs bathroom and squealed with joy. Like a lot of great homes, the home was clearly listed far too low, and while it was hard to stomach writing an offer for 30% over list price, Brooke was ok with it because this was clearly her house. Because the house was listed so far under value, it received 11 offers- with most of those offers well over 20% over list. But this was Brooke’s house and thankfully the seller understood and accepted Brooke’s offer. We did a quick close, no repairs and while the process of finding the right house and getting under contract felt like it took forever, once her offer was accepted on the Richmond house, it was a lightning fast process to close.
We just helped some very special people buy a very special house! Cesar and Shannon were amazing clients. They did everything necessary to jump into a crazy housing market and succeed! We looked at quite a few houses and only lost out on one along the way. It turns out that Cesar and Shannon are quick learners. So after losing that one, we were soon back on the saddle! With their feet now wet they were ready to put together a sharp offer on the next property. And they got it!
I wish them all the best in their new house! It has a lovely yard in the front and the back. Plus a really cute updated kitchen. Cesar loves to cook, so I know they’ll have a great time in that kitchen!
If you know anyone who has bought or sold property in Portland within the last year, you have likely heard stories about needing to “waive the appraisal” to be the winning bid on a home. While this strategy has been in play for a number of years, it now seems to have become a staple of nearly every winning offer in competitive multiple-offer-situations. But, what exactly does it mean to waive the appraisal?
To understand this concept better, let’s start by looking at the normal process for an appraisal during a real estate transaction.
When a Buyer finances the purchase of a home, the Lender requires a third-party Appraiser to inspect the property, and provide an opinion of value for the home. In order for the home to qualify for financing, the appraisal has to come in at or above the agreed upon purchase price, and also be free of any conditions or required repairs (more on that later). If the appraisal comes in below the agreed upon purchase price, then the home does not qualify for financing at that price, and the Lender will only provide financing that is based on the appraised value.
For example, if you are under contract to purchase a property for $600,000 with 10% down, your Loan-to-Value ratio would be 90%, meaning the Lender is financing 90% of the purchase, or in this example, $540,000. If the appraisal came back with an opinion of value of $575,000 for the home, the Lender would then only agree to provide financing for 90% of that amount. In this case, $517,500.
In this event, neither party (Buyer or Seller) is obligated to move forward with the transaction. However, if both parties would like the transaction to move forward, the appraisal shortfall is then typically negotiated between both Buyer and Seller. Either the Seller lowers the price to the appraised value, the Buyer brings more cash to the table to cover the difference, or they split the difference in some agreed-upon fashion.
In today’s market, however, many Buyers are pre-negotiating a potential appraisal shortfall, and either guaranteeing to make up the entire difference in cash, or, offering to bring a predetermined amount of additional cash to closing — on top of whatever the appraised value is. While this is certainly an aggressive strategy (requiring additional cash reserves on hand), it is also effective, as it makes the offer far more attractive to a Seller, who now has more of an upfront guarantee on what their final selling price will be.
One of the obvious concerns with this strategy as a Buyer, is that you will overpay for a home, and give up some of the immediate equity that you might expect to have in the property upon purchasing it. While this is certainly a valid concern, in the Portland Market it has become a question, in many cases, of whether you would rather leverage some of your immediate equity, or perhaps not get into a new home at all. As a prospective Buyer, it’s important to make your offer as attractive as possible, when the Seller is selecting from a pool of 10-15 offers, so in most cases at least one of those offers will include this type of term. If you are not willing or able to, I totally get it. But, it may make for an uphill battle in terms of purchasing a home in the current market.
It’s also important to understand that with prices trending upwards as quickly as they are, the data available for appraisers to use in their valuations is not necessarily completely up-to-date. With the typical escrow period being around 30-days, the most recent data for sold homes that appraisers are able to use, is typically already close to a month old by the time your transaction closes. So, there is some lag time between the value that can be statistically supported by an appraisal, in comparison to what the market will actually bear. As prices continue to rise in Portland, the most relevant data is what is happening in real time, rather than what happened 3-6 months ago, or even last month. So appraisals aren’t always able to keep up with the market.
Enter: Appraisal gap coverage with cash.
As a potential Buyer in this market, I feel it is important to understand this concept upfront, because it changes the amount of cash that may be needed to successfully purchase a property. While the vast majority of transactions I have closed with appraisal gap guarantees ended up actually appraising at the agreed-upon purchase price (meaning no additional cash was required from the Buyer), it is important for Buyers to understand that the risk is always there. So, they should feel comfortable with bringing the additional cash to closing, in the event the appraisal does come in low.
So, how do you know how much cash over the appraisal to offer, or whether it makes sense to include this in an offer at all? Well, I can’t give away all the secrets, but whenever my clients are planning to submit an offer, the first thing I do is research the recently closed comparable homes in the neighborhood to get a sense for the value I feel an appraisal would come in at. From there, we strategize on the offer amount, appraisal gap coverage amount to offer and overall terms. This is also where we ensure that the verbiage used to address how an appraisal shortfall will be handled is specific, and doesn’t leave the Buyer on the hook for any of those potential conditions or repairs that may be required by the Appraiser.
If you’re thinking of buying a home, or have questions about covering a shortfall on an appraisal, please feel free to call or email me anytime! I love discussing Real Estate, and look forward to catching up with you all soon.
You know you’re doing something right in your career when a former realtor who no longer works in the industry trusts you to help her and her family find their first home to purchase. Munir used to work for the same company as my brother, who is a commercial broker here in Portland. So when it came time for she and her wife Lori to purchase their first home, she reached out to me to help them.
The journey wasn’t all roses and butterflies as we submitted offers on and didn’t get several homes that they thought were “the one.” Lucky for me these buyers remained patient, optimistic and good humored. At one point Lori told me she was feeling “whelmed.” Not overwhelmed or underwhelmed – just “whelmed.” 🙂
In the end, they are soooo happy with how it all turned out. They got a great house for themselves and their teenage daughter. It’s an adorable bungalow with a fantastic back yard with a fire pit for many fun nights with friends to come.
If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell a home in the Portland area, please contact Amanda Haworth at 503-453-7698.
Congratulations to my sellers on scoring a great buyer for their swoon-worthy vintage bungalow in Foster Powell!
The home is so sweet and yummy you’ll get a sugar high after experiencing this home. The petite but mighty house has been lovingly cared for over the decades and charming details and character infuse every inch of this homey house. The layout is efficient and thoughtful with a formal living room & dining room and the cutest vintage kitchen you ever did see. For pink bathroom aficionados, it doesn’t get better then this perfectly preserved Mamie Pink specimen.
As a prospective home buyer, navigating the roller coaster of emotions that is the Portland real estate market these days can be exhausting. It’s easy to get down on yourself after falling in love with a home and writing an amazing offer, only to find out that 17 other people also wrote amazing offers, and yours just wasn’t quite amazing enough.
When that happens 5-6 times, it starts feeling like maybe you’ll never find a home.
My clients who recently closed on a home though, are a perfect example of how a thick skin and positive attitude can play a vital role in helping to accomplish the goal of buying a home in this market.
With a max budget of $400k, the options available for my clients were already very slim. Not to mention, everything selling in this price point would have at least 10 offers within a day or two of hitting the market.
We looked at properties every week for a few months, and nearly every week we submitted an offer on a home. Time and time again, I would have to deliver the bad news that someone else had written an offer higher than ours, or someone else had put more money down, or someone else waived inspections.
Each time, the Buyers shook it off, and said “ok, thanks for your work, Kevin. On to the next.”
We must have written 8-10 offers on homes they didn’t get. And each time, they responded with the same positivity and good natured attitude. Until finally, with a little bit of magic, they had their offer accepted!
They closed today, and I couldn’t be happier to see such positive people realize their goal in such a challenging and competitive environment. Where many people might give up or lose hope, they stayed positive and persisted, until it paid off. Huge congratulations to you!!
I first met Galen through his partner, Kyra, who I’ve known for years through my old college roommates and Oregon Country Fair friends. He contacted me to say he was ready to buy a home and asked if I could help him. Naturally, I said yes because he’s a great guy and I like helping people purchase homes.
After about a month of searching and some stressful pressure to move quickly on the homes he liked, we finally found this fantastic Mt Tabor home. This house has one of the best entertaining kitchens I’ve ever seen. It is open concept AND has double French doors that open onto the large deck and back yard. I have major kitchen envy. 🙂
Now, the market being what it is, we naturally had to compete to get the home. Luckily, Galen wrote a heartfelt letter about how he loves to dance and entertain, and along with our stellar terms that sealed the deal.
I can’t wait to come fete your new home with you at some point, Galen!
If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell a home in the Portland area, please contact Amanda Haworth at 503-453-7698 or amanda@livingroomre.com.
Congratulations to my clients, D&Y, for purchasing their 4th property in 2 years! I truly enjoy being a part of helping my clients build up a real estate portfolio, and helping them utilize real estate as part of their wealth building strategy. It’s something that I believe in personally, so it’s great to connect with friends and clients who feel the same way.
This one is SOLD!!!
…..but if you’re shopping in the area or live in this lovely little pocket of a neighborhood and are thinking of selling, I would be happy to offer some insight into the current market conditions.
This one received multiple offers and Closed at: $1,078,000, $128K over asking. If you’re thinking of selling, now is the time! Offers are compelling. Terms are strong. Sales are smooth.
Give me a call if you’d like to chat!
Veronica Powell
503.936.3475
Veronica@LivingRoomRE.com
The Portland Real Estate Market has strongly favored Sellers for the greater part of 7 years now, and this has largely been driven by a shortage of supply, coupled with low mortgage interest rates. There are many motivated Buyers, looking to lock in a home purchase at a great rate, but just not enough supply to meet the demand, which has caused the high level of competition we are seeing for Buyers.
But why is that? What is causing this seemingly never-ending cycle of low inventory in our region? Below are my thoughts on some of the main contributing factors.
1. Lack of New Construction:
According to Portland Alliance, despite historic economic expansion, our region has produced the fewest housing units over any 10-year period since World War II.
With the number of new households in the area exceeding the number of new homes being built, we have a situation where demand for housing cannot be met at current building rates. In order to balance the market, there needs to be a larger supply of new construction to keep up with the growth in our region.
This is a particularly complex issue, which dates back to the Recession in 2008-2012. Residential new construction hit all time lows during that time period, and it simply hasn’t ever fully recovered.
Additionally, the cost to build is significantly higher now, and I am sure many of us are aware that the price of lumber has skyrocketed during the pandemic — nearly quadrupling in price.
2. Hesitation to Enter the Market
Another issue that contributes to the lack of inventory, is a hesitancy from current homeowners to trade-up or downsize in the current market climate. I have spoken with a number of clients in the last year, and discussed the pros and cons of making a move in this market. There are many people who would love to take advantage of this opportunity to sell their current home, but the prospect of then entering the market as a buyer, is not all that appealing.
Buying and selling a home in the same market will always favor one side of this coin, but in the current climate, it so strongly favors sellers, that it intimidates some from even attempting to make the transition.
3. Duration of Homeownership
Another interesting factor contributing to the lack of housing supply, is that people are staying in their homes for longer periods of time. According to the US Census Bureau, the average tenure for homeownership in the United States is just over 8 years. In comparison, the average tenure was only 4 years between 2000-2007.
We can certainly speculate as to why this might be, but there doesn’t seem to be any overwhelmingly compelling evidence that points to exactly why people are staying put longer.
In any event, the solution to the lack of housing inventory is massively complex, and it will likely be a slow moving process to reach a point where there is enough housing supply in our region to meet the demand.
In the meantime, there are definitely still ways to make a transition in this market (see my previous blog post), and there are also ways to be strategic with your offer structure to help ensure you win in multiple offer scenarios. As always, I am more than happy to set up a time to meet, and discuss market conditions in further detail, so you can see how all of these moving parts affect your own personal sutuiaton.
When I say this market is tough on buyers, that may be an understatement for what Andrea and Amar (and sweet 1-year-old daughter Maeve) have been through. When we first met they were coming out of the process of getting bids for their current home to expand it to fit their growing family. They decided it would be easier to just purchase something else instead. Little did they know the challenges that lay ahead.
After a few weeks of searching, we finally found their “dream home.” We put in a stellar offer, and although the listing agent told us ours was the strongest, the sellers picked another offer based on the buyer letter. Crushing. And, frankly, unethical. So Andrea and Amar took a little time off from the hunt and regrouped.
A few weeks of looking later, a home popped up that looked promising. It had the big yard they had dreamed of, it was a “granny ranch” with great bones and a ton of potential to make it into exactly what they want. The problem was, we would have to fight for it. There was a ton of competition for this home, including a cash offer that was very appealing to the sellers.
Insert super lender Jen Bell into the mix. She said she could get us a 10 day closing to compete with the cash buyer. So we put our best foot forward and I had a lot of heart-to-hearts with the listing agent. When she finally called to tell us we got it, she said, “I feel like we’re old friends at this point!” 🙂
Needless to say, Andrea and Amar are THRILLED with how things panned out. And so am I! I can’t wait to see how their amazing remodel will turn out. They have a great eye for design and I just know they are going to have the coolest house when this is all done! So happy for them!
If you, or anyone you know, are looking to buy or sell a home in the greater Portland area, please contact Amanda Haworth at 503-453-7698 or amanda@livingroomre.com.
This is the Mid-Century Ranch you’ve been looking for! Picture perfect, this 1950’s classic is located on a peaceful, quiet street in a mature neighborhood, and is surrounded by gorgeous landscaping, majestic fir trees, and graceful Japanese maples. A lovely entrance with a generous foyer draws you into the heart of the home– a warm and inviting living room with rich wood paneling, classic brick fireplace, and a huge picture window with a view out to the park-like backyard. Hardwood floors, beautiful millwork, and modern lighting create a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for cozying up with a good book or playing a rousing board game by the fire.
The dining room is open to both the living room and kitchen and has period built-ins. A large, floor-to-ceiling window opens to the backyard and patio, creating a year-round experience of “outdoor dining.” A convenient breakfast bar separates the eating area and the kitchen, providing space for informal meals or laying a spread when it’s your turn to host. This is a wonderful space for entertaining and also perfect for intimate dinners.
The remodeled kitchen has a great layout plus many updates, including quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, newer dishwasher, custom tile work, classic Marmoleum flooring, and ample, well-lit counter space. Just off the kitchen is a large master bedroom with a full bathroom. This space has great potential for a home office, family room, or home gym.
Away from the kitchen toward the other end of the home, you’ll find three quiet, light-filled bedrooms with beautiful millwork, warm wood floors, and ample closets. A roomy modern bathroom with double sinks and stylish updates accommodates everyone during the morning rush, or in the evening allows a relaxing soak in the tub before bed.
The fully fenced backyard is gorgeously landscaped. Ample patio space ringed by mature Japanese maples and a stand of large fir trees creates a private northwest retreat, perfect for entertaining on a warm summer evening, or for relaxing with a hot cup of coffee and a crossword on a sunny morning. The charming garden shed enhances the park-like atmosphere and keeps all your tools and toys tastefully out of sight. A large mudroom complete with laundry and storage allows entry from the backyard and provides a convenient spot to slip off muddy boots after gardening or playing.
Lovingly cared for this home has professionally landscaped yards with built-in watering systems, newer double pane windows, updated plumbing, a recent water main replacement, and newer central A/C.
Located away from the hustle and bustle but with easy access to shopping and hwys I-84 & I-205. Close proximity to Glendoveer Golf Course and walking trails, and a short walk to the MAX line serving the greater metro area, including downtown and PDX airport. Enjoy your own private park and quiet, one-level living while still experiencing all the benefits of city life.
Home-buying is competitive lately, but newlyweds, Eamon and Pam were successful with the 3rd offer they submitted. We went in strong with an offer at 5% over the listing price and they included a commitment to move forward with the purchase as long as the home appraised for at least the listing price. That did the trick. Inspections took place during the chaos of the February ice and snow. Despite the crazy weather we got the job done and negotiated seller credit to cover some important repairs for the home.
The South Tabor home has been owned by the same family for 90+ years, since it was built in 1930. There’s a nice big yard that overlooks another neighbor’s even larger yard. The setting almost feels like it backs up to a park. Rarely do we find a small home with grand house features like this one. The living room has charming leaded glass windows and a fabulous fireplace. Built-in cabinets add old-world charm. The bathroom is spacious with cool vintage tile and hardwood floors run throughout the main floor. Clearly the house has been lovingly cared for by it’s original owners, but there’s great potential for the buyers to invest some sweat equity and polish things up a bit. Maybe someday they’ll finish off the basement. But for now they are picking out paint colors, planning a garden and settling in nicely to the South Tabor neighborhood. Congratulations to my favorite pandemic newlyweds!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Interested in making Portland your home?
Call Cheri Harney, at 503-319-4858.
Upon arrival, you’ll notice the high level of care and attention given to this home. A lovely landscaped front yard welcomes you with well-designed cedar fencing, fresh exterior paint and newer double-pane windows!
Once inside this south-facing home, you’ll enjoy wonderful natural light, gorgeous wood floors, tasteful updates and classic details. The living room is stylish with a beautiful picture window, wood moldings and gorgeous, recently installed white oak, hardwood floors.
Take in the character of the home as you make your way seamlessly from the living room into the kitchen with tasteful modern updates and timeless period finishes. A picture-perfect dining nook rounds out the kitchen. Updates include newer integrated dishwasher, fridge, gas range with range hood, wood floors, solid wood cabinets and countertops, sink and white oak hardwood floors. Through the hall you’ll find 2 lovely bedrooms with tall windows. The well-maintained bathroom features a claw-foot tub with shower.
Step out into the beautiful, ample backyard which feels very private. The space is highlighted by a custom brick patio, custom cedar fencing and lush green landscaping. The oversized garage, with alley access, could be used for so many things! Currently, owners are using the garage as a woodshop, but it is ready for your imagination, possibly an ADU? The backyard boasts plenty of room for entertaining, a firepit, gardening or playing with furry friends! Clean, unfinished partial basement has great ceiling height and plenty of room for storage and laundry area.
Lucky you because this house is located in the sweet spot! Just blocks from Woodstock town center, Woodstock park and the wonderful shops and restaurants the neighborhood has to offer.
So much to love in this darling home! It is ready for you to move in and enjoy so come check it out! This is one level living at its best!
I helped Eddie buy a house about 5 years ago and was so happy to work with him again. If you know me, you know that I love homes and helping my clients make life transitions. I love being a real estate agent for so many reasons! And, I’ve got to tell you, there was a little sparkle in this story for me because Eddie purchased this condo so his parents could live closer to him and his daughter, Viv! It really is so fun to help families to be closer to one another.
The single-family home market is definitely experiencing a very competitive seller’s market and a lack of inventory. However, on the condo side of things, there are a lot more units available so if you are considering a condo, it’s a great time to buy. Eddie and his Mom found a sweet 2 bedroom condo with a view in the Lloyd Center neighborhood for a very reasonable price!
And one more thing! Speaking of lovely people to work with people- a big shout out to Uli Sommers, my favorite home inspector. I know that everyone who works with her is going to get the best service at the best price and she did a great job for Eddie and his parents as well.
This transaction was a great example of sticking with it until you get what you want! Amanda and Iain are whip-smart and tenacious, which are the best qualities a buyer could have in this current market.
Jasmine and I love working with first-time home buyers and homeownership is something we want to see for everyone who is interested. We pride ourselves on our initial buyer’s meeting setting up reasonable expectations to empower our clients. By breaking the process into manageable pieces the whole thing makes sense, flows nicely and clients know they will get the home they want.
I appreciate so much how Iain and Amanda kept their eyes on the prize, they didn’t let disappointments slow their roll and, in the end, they made their dream come true! They bought a gorgeous home!
And, as we all know, in real estate, there is truly nothing better than a GREAT referral and I am thrilled that Jasmine was referred to Amanda and Iain by their mutual friends! They are fun and wonderful people and I’m so happy to have worked with them.
One of the biggest challenges for would-be Sellers in the Portland real estate market, is what to do after you have sold your home. With this quite possibly being the hottest Seller’s Market we have ever seen, it often feels like selling your home is a forgone conclusion — it’s just a matter of how many offers you will get, and how high over your asking price those offers will be. While this isn’t always the case, it certainly stands true that if you price your home appropriately, and you have a solid product to offer, there will be a line of Buyers ready and willing to offer you the moon for your home. But, what do you do next?
Knowing that the market is extremely competitive and challenging for Buyers, many people are nervous about the prospect of selling their current home, simply because they don’t know where they will live once it’s sold. They would love to take advantage of the current market on the selling side, but don’t relish the prospect of having a ticking clock on when they need to find their next home. So, here are three tips for how to make that transition, without feeling the stress of needing to make a major life decision, with a finite amount of time to make it.
Whichever route you end up choosing, there will be a certain level of discomfort involved, so it’s wise to spend some time strategizing and preparing, prior to embarking on the journey of selling and buying in this market. This will allow you to feel well-prepared and open to making short-term sacrifices, which will ultimately help you accomplish your goal of finding your next home!
My buyers Alexandra and Ray are first time home buyers and just scored on a great ranch house in Fo-Wo section of Woodstock- between Foster and Woodstock. They were fantastic to work with because they knew what they wanted and they were prepared to jump head first into this nutball of our early 2021 market where there is 1 house for every 20 buyers. After walking into what would become their house, the first thing they said was- we could be friends with this seller. The seller had quite the display of rocks, gems and minerals and before we got very far into the house, my buyers were ooohhhing and ahhhhing over the sellers collection- admiring and even naming some of the rocks. Once we got past the rocks we explored the house, a mid-century 900 sf with 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom on an oversized lot graced by a front yard tree with a trunk the size of a truck. I could tel as we walked around that this was “the one” for them. They are also woodworkers and one of their strong wants was a home that had a great space to build stuff in, and this house has a newer oversized garage/ shop that is perfect for woodworking.
We had talked extensively about the state of the market, and how every house was getting multiple offers with buyers offering appraisal make-up gaps in case the house does not appraise for purchase price, buyers taking on homes as-is with few if any repairs made by sellers, and with home prices up between 15-20% over January of 2020. The house was priced at what would have been the top of the price-range only a few months ago for a house like this and in this location, which made it really difficult to decide what to offer without going to crazy. But Alexandra and Ray were prepared to go over asking, and with interest rates as low as they are, their monthly payment was still in a comfortable range for them. It takes some true hardiness as a buyer to be able to succeed in getting their offer accepted, and after I spelled out all the potential bells, whistles and deal sweeteners they could use in an offer, Alexandra and Ray put their trust in me and offered well over list, stated in the offer that they would limit repair requests to only bigger issues, offered the seller free rent-back after closing and wrote a letter to the seller mentioning how much they loved his rock collection. They were also able to offer what has become the number one denominator in winning offers- the ability to make up an appraisal gap if the appraised value came in less then purchase price. Prices are rising faster then appraisals can keep up with them, and to mitigate the real threat of a low appraisal, buyers who can state in writing that they can bring in a higher downpayment to cover that gap are who are having offers accepted. Alexandra and Ray’s offer was not the highest, but the seller and the listing agent loved their terms and letter enough to come back to me and give them the opportunity to come up just a hair to match the highest offer, which they did. Fortunately the house inspected like a dream- one of the best houses my inspector has seen to date this year. We did run into a slight appraisal issue when the house did not appraise at the purchase price, but Alexandra and Ray were prepared so that was an easy enough hoop for them to crawl through. The seller is holding onto the house for a few weeks after closing while he prepares to move, and I am looking forward to handing the keys to my buyers at the end of the month.
Even in a Seller’s market, prepping your house for Buyers’ eyes is vital. Whether you’re painting in more neutral shades, de-cluttering or hiring a professional stager, you will definitely garner a higher sales price with some good old-fashioned elbow grease. My clients took their darkly painted great room and turned it into a bright and light family oasis! A neutral paint shade, turning the fireplace white and investing in a professional stager paid off. They received multiple offers within 2 days and closed their sale well above their asking price. Congratulations, Laura & Joe! Thank you for working with me.
Dave used to live across the street from me until about 2 or 3 years ago (who can keep track of time these days?) when he and his partner divorced and he moved into an apartment a few blocks away. His oldest kid and my oldest kid have been besties since before they could walk or talk, and it was Dave and his 2 kids who we had our last out of our family bubble non-socially distanced get together with on March 14th, 2020 at my older son’s 10th birthday party. When we parted ways that day, we didn’t know when we would be able to get together again in such a carefree way because the following day we all went under lockdown. And nearly a whole entire year later, we are still waiting for that day.
Dave’s plan was to eventually buy another house, and on January 15th of 2021, he texted me to let me know he was ready to start shopping. He had a very narrow list of needs that were absolute musts- including a location within a mile of his kids mom’s place, at least 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a yard and some sort of studio or garage to tinker around on bikes and he had a maximum price that he would be willing to pay and was expecting to pay. He had his pre-approval on hand and so I went through RMLS to send him a list of all of the properties that sort of kind of matched his needs. And there were only 2 properties. And neither was really a decent option. On January 19th, a sweet bungalow in Brooklyn came on the market. As the crow flies, it was less then 8 blocks from his apartment. From what we could tell from the listing,it could not have been more perfect location wise, size wise, bedroom/bathroom count, the detached huge garage and great back yard. We went to see it in person on January 20th and it was as perfect in person as it seemed like it would be from the listing. It took Dave all of 5 minutes to decide this was going to be his house.
The house was listed at what last year would have been a very reasonable price, but since the floodgates opened and the buyers came spilling out, the supply of houses on the market shriveled to next to nothing, we knew it was going to go way over. The house was listed about 15% under what Dave’s maximum was, so he did have room to go up. Dave approached his offer price from a very practical and logical lens. As long as his monthly payment was within his comfort zone, how much he paid for the house wasn’t all that relevant. With interest rates well under 3%, money is cheaper then it’s ever been (a huge reason for the flood of buyers on the market) so a monthly payment on a house priced at $550k today, is about what it would be on a house priced at $600k a year ago. Savvy buyers know that it’s much more about the monthly payment then it is the sales price. Once interest rates start rising well over 3%, then it’s possible we might see prices stabilize, but for now, home prices are out of control. For this Brooklyn house, even though it was well priced, with 12 offers on the table, Dave’s offer won out between a combination of writing 15% over asking, offering a 3 weeks to close, being able to make up an appraisal gap if the appraisal came in lower then the purchase price (which didn’t happen, it appraised fine!), and stating in his offer that he would not ask for repairs under $4,000. This meant that if a larger issue was found during the inspection, my buyer could expect to negotiate it, but for the smaller stuff, Dave was basically saying he would take the house as-is. Thankfully the house breezed through the inspection and nothing needs to be done to the house anytime soon.
Dave’s story is highly unusual in this market because not that many buyers have the ability to and willingness to do what it takes to rise to the top in a heap of offers. As long as a buyer understands the current market and is willing to and has the means to write up an offer with all the deal sweeteners on the table along with the ability to offer well over asking, as Dave was, then it isn’t rocket science to snag a house even with multiple offers. And on February 16th, 32 days after Dave texted me to let me know he was ready to start the home buying process, he got the keys to his perfect house.
Charming starter bungalow with with loads of potential, and ready for personal touches. Bright space with hardwood floors and period molding. Practical floorplan with main bedroom in the back, Jack and Jill bath, and front bedroom with French doors- for an ideal home office. Throw a space heater in the partially finished garage/studio, and enjoy a great additional flex space. Dynamic backyard with covered patio, chicken coup, garden with mature perennials, and an outdoor shower/clawfoot tub.
2 bed | 1 bath | 916 sq. ft.
MLS# 21068036 | Taxes: $2209 | Lot Size: .11 Acre
$350,000
What a knockout! Gorgeous, wonderfully preserved Craftsman Bungalow with hard-to-find classic woodwork details, an impressive list of updates and character galore. Situated perfectly on a quiet street you’ll notice the lovely architectural details that include deep soffits, cedar lap siding and an inviting, pillared front porch.
Entering into the home, you will find a sought-after layout with over 1000 square feet on the main floor containing multiple flex spaces for a home office, homeschooling, media, or extra family space, plus 3 bedrooms and 1 full bath upstairs!
The living room is open and inviting with original hardwood floors and a beautiful picture window. This home has great natural lighting with so many windows and custom blinds from Smith & Noble!
The formal dining area is lovely with classic built-ins and ample room for hosting large dinner parties. Around the corner, you’ll find a darling dining nook with a barrel-vault ceiling, a big picture window and leaded glass built-ins!
Moving through to the kitchen you’ll see the fantastic updates including a newer gas range, dishwasher and refrigerator plus storage, counter space and cabinets.
Just off the kitchen, you’ll also find an office with high ceilings and a deep storage closet. And on the other side of the living room is a lovely bright den, easily imagined as a media room, home school room, office or flex space.
An exceptionally wide and beautiful staircase leads you to a perfectly laid out upper level with 3 bedrooms plus a full bathroom and large closets. The primary bedroom is very spacious with closets on one side and a dressing room with closets on the other. Again, gorgeous custom blinds are a perfect touch to these spaces as windows abound.
Winding downstairs to the basement you’ll find a clean unfinished space with great ceiling height. It’s great as-is or has so much potential for being finished out.
To the side of the home, next to the driveway, is a perfectly placed mudroom with ample space, convenient for daily use and storage.
Back patio has flagstone tile and a firepit ready for outdoor entertaining. The driveway offers lots of off-street parking and leads you towards the back of the property to the oversized garage.
This home touts a newer roof, furnace, air conditioner, water heater, gas range, dishwasher and refrigerator. Not to mention, so many wonderful built-in closets and nooks, you’ll have fun finding them all!
Convenient walk to Downtown St. Johns shops and restaurants, Pier Park, disc golf course, outdoor public pool, and Cathedral Park.
Check out this gorgeous and inviting home, you will want it to be yours!
Who doesn’t love getting an email from new buyers letting you know they want to work with you because you could be their dream agent. And that’s exactly what my buyers Liz and Alex wrote to me when they first got in touch. After we had a Zoom meeting, I could tell they were going to be dream buyers. Liz and Alex were looking for a home where they could start a family, live as close-in as possible on the east side, and wanted vintage charm out the wazoo.
We started off by seeing a few homes that at least on paper looked like they checked the boxes, but when we went to see them in person, I pointed out all sorts of flaws with foundations, layouts, and other not so fun stuff. After our first foray into seeing what was on the market- which wasn’t much, it really helped them hone in on what was important to so they put together a needs and wants list that was super helpful for both of us in narrowing down their search.
A few days after they put together their magic lists, Liz sent me a listing that had just popped up on the market in NE in the Rose City Park/Laurelhurst neighborhood. This house hit all the marks. The address sounded familiar, and after looking at the photos, I realized that I had listed this very same house back in the summer of 2016! It had belonged to some dear friends of mine that I met when our kids were born around the same time back in 2010, and it was a house that I had spent many hours in. When I sold it in 2016, the buyers had a great agent, and thankfully that same agent was now representing the same folks, this time as sellers. Because I had a really good idea of what Liz and Alex wanted, I was able to tell them with confidence that I thought this might be the perfect house for them. I even let my past sellers know that I now had buyers interested in their old house, which tickled them to no end.
As I had predicted, Liz and Alex loved the house. The worst part about the house when my sellers sold it was the very dated kitchen. The current owners had re-done the kitchen so it was super efficient and stylish. I shared with Liz and Alex all the good times and warm memories that I had in this house and what my sellers had done to the house, along with what was new since I sold it. I called the listing agent to let her know my buyers were really interested. We both remarked how strange but exciting it would be to work together again, on the same house. Liz and Alex wrote up an offer a hair over asking, and that was enough to get the sellers to joyfully accept our offer. Right after we finished up repair negotiations, a tree in the backyard fell over. Alex is an arborist and the sellers asked us for a recommendation for who they should call to have the tree removed, and Alex volunteered to do it himself on the next Saturday, his day off, which the sellers greatly appreciated. Good vibes all around.
When my sellers sold the house in 2016, the roof was nearing the end of it’s life, but still had a good 3-5 years left. This g0-around, our inspector noted that the roof was past due for replacing. The sellers were on it and with only a couple days to spare, the sellers had the roof replaced and we closed on time. I’ve been selling homes since 2007, and this was the first time I’ve sold the same exact home twice- once on each end. The sellers are remaining in the home for 30 days after closing, but I can’t wait to meet Liz and Alex next month to hand them keys!
