Tag: video

Downsizing Texas to Portland

Posted on by Mel Marzahl

Everything is bigger in Texas, right?

Well that definitely includes beautiful big homes! Making the move from TX to PDX, Gary is downsizing his home and “up-sizing” his time with family.

This month, I had the pleasure of working with Gary from Texas and his kids. Together we found a beautiful home for him here in Gresham. Relocating from Houston, he was ready to make a move and the Portland area was an easy choice. In his sweet 50’s ranch with mature trees and landscaping, Gary will be close to friends and family. Zack, Sarah, and Jeremy, his son, daughter and her husband, all live less than 25 minutes from his new home. He also has ties to Tualatin, Lake Oswego, and more cities with friends and relatives throughout the PNW!

Buying a home sight unseen is a big deal.

Gary had his family here to be his “eyes on the ground” who knew what he’d like. I toured homes with them, and took lots of detailed video tours before we found this house. I knew it was the right one when I learned that the Gary had been referring to it as the house with the “happy tile”.

Gary was not in a hurry to buy and move. He was able to offer a 3 week rent-back to the seller so she could stay after closing. While we offered under-asking, this was a key term that helped us seal the deal. The seller of Gary’s new home was waiting for the owners of her new home to move as she had given them a rent-back period as well. With all of us making accomodations for the next person, we found terms and a price that worked. Even though he was out of state, we had a smooth and pleasant transaction. I took care of the details of the sale, logistics of a sewer line replacement, and attended all inspections with his kids. Then Gary, provided with detailed inspection reports, videos, and family input, made all the decisions. It worked great and he got a good deal on a great home.

I am so thrilled to hand over keys in a few weeks!

It will not only be the first time he sees his new home, but it will be the first time we meet in person! I know we’ll get along great though. Gary is a fellow foodie, and I’m looking forward to celebrating over dinner with the family at one of Portland’s amazing restaurants. Congrats Gary!

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I always love helping out of state buyers and sellers. It’s a joy knowing I can help provide some calm and extra insight to clients who are far away. It is also very gratifying to close a deal for an out of state client. I know how much trust they have placed in me to handle the in-person logistics for them and to work closely with their family or friends in the area if they have them. If you are out of state too, or have family or friends who need real estate help here in Portland, please reach out. I am always happy to just answer questions or help you get started on your move if you’re ready!

Celebrating a Decade of Living Room Realty

Posted on by Living Room Realty

The first Living Realty office door opened in March 2009 at 1422 NE Alberta Street in the heart of the Alberta Arts neighborhood.

We started small. Adding a few agents at a time—people who were looking for a different kind of real estate brokerage. We were creating a place where we could do the work we loved while supporting each other and the communities we served.

And then a few more agents came. And it was time for another office. SE Portland offered up just the right spot in the Clinton neighborhood.

In 2013, we became the first real estate brokerage on the West Coast to become a Certified B Corp. We were now officially—in a certified way—using business as a force for good.

That brought more agents. And more clients. We were doing something different and word was getting out.

Half a decade in, we opened an office at the coast in Manzanita. Then an office in Vancouver, WA. Then Portand’s westside came calling, and soon we found our spots in the Pearl and Multnomah Village.

And so it went—for 10 years—living by our values every day. Donating 5% of our profits to charity. Launching our Loving Room Fund. Attracting the best agents in the city, and supporting them so they could support their families, friends, and clients.

And then we looked up and it was time. Time to celebrate this important milestone.

We considered having a birthday party where we served cake and champagne and gave speeches and toasts. That would have made for a delicious and enjoyable night, no doubt.

But, instead, we paused and looked around at the 130 agents we work with every day. We considered all the talent they possess beyond expertly negotiating a real estate transaction. And, naturally, our next thought was:

“Let’s put on a show!!”

And we did. And we called it the Decade Party. And it was good. It was really good. Watch the video below while listening to our new theme song, “Make a Move.” You’ll see the joy and fun and talent we swim in. If the video makes you feel good, know that feeling is similar to what you feel when you walk into one of our offices. Try it.

Seriously, come visit us at any of our offices. Come in and say hi. We mean it.

Once you turn 10, you start thinking in terms of decades. We’re thinking about the coming days, weeks, months, and years; and what they’ll look like when they add up to our next decade. We’re asking ourselves, what can we do that we haven’t done yet? What can we do better that we have done before? What can we build on top of the foundation we’ve established over the past 10 years?

We know we want to keep living by our values. We know we want to have an impact on the communities around us. We know we want to keep working with agents who care. We know we want to continue to create space for our agents to tell their own stories and the stories of the buyers and sellers they work with.

Above all, we want to keep fulfilling our company mission to “Develop Vibrant Communities.”