By Living Room Realty, October 16, 2024
Congratulations to Rachel and Ryan on the purchase of their first home!
Rachel and Ryan took a few detours in their home journey. They originally reached out to me via Instagram in 2020, but surprise, had to make some life pivots that year.
They landed in Seattle, had a second child, and traveled through Europe. This summer Ryan landed a job in Portland, so they reached back out and we picked up right where we had left off.
Y’all see me post a lot of *pretty* houses, but there’s a special kind of house, a pragmatic choice, an underdog in a sea of MCMs and Craftsmans, that I encourage my buyers to consider. The humble, the plain, the practical Snout House. (The “snout’ refers to the garage-forward design of these homes).
You’ve seen ‘em all over SE neighborhoods. They are small but mighty, and often a better bang for your buck. No unlivable basements or 100+ year old foundations. Newer systems and one-level living. Convenient attached garages and fairly open living spaces. And if you’re lucky: two full baths and vaulted ceilings.
Not everyone’s cup of tea – but Rachel and Ryan were open. As we toured more homes, the benefits of a home like this became more apparent.
We found this South Tabor Plain Jane in a stellar location on a tucked-away cul-de-sac. As we toured it, it started checking off boxes. Maybe every box except for “cute.” But that is the beauty of a blank canvas – you get to cute-ify it to your own taste, at your own pace, without paying for someone else’s design choices.
Fortunately, R+R both work in design, so the *vision* piece came naturally. We scooped her up right after a big price drop, $25K under their max budget – money they can now invest in upgrades THEY choose. Lovingly cared for by the original owner for 30+ years, and with fresh paint and flooring already done, she’s also move-in ready for this family of 4.
The bonus? I helped my friends (another young family) purchase the house two doors down a few years ago. They met during our showing, chatting on the sidewalk with the kids running around in the cul-de-sac. Instant community, we love to see it.
CONGRATULATIONS Rachel and Ryan! I’m excited to see how you transform this house into your home.
#portlandrealtor #pdxrealtor #snouthouse #firsttimehomebuyers #southtabor
