By Lydia Hallay, December 16, 2024
Thinking of buying or selling a home in 2025? Setting clear resolutions can help you navigate this transformative journey with confidence.
Here are three resolutions to guide your real estate success in 2025.
Resolution 1: Clarify Your Vision for the Perfect Home
Embarking on a home-buying journey without a clear idea of what you want can be overwhelming. Take time to define what “home” means to you. Consider factors like location, size, design, and key features that match your lifestyle and future plans. Are you drawn to a contemporary townhouse or a craftsman bungalow? The more specific your vision, the easier it will be to find the right fit.
Dreaming & scheming is fun! It’s never too soon to consult with a realtor re: what’s possible and reasonable in the current market.
Resolution 2: Get Financially Prepared
Financial planning is essential for any real estate transaction. Whether saving for a down payment or budgeting for moving expenses, preparation is key. Start by evaluating your finances and creating a realistic budget that includes costs like closing fees, inspections, and renovations. Sellers should work with professionals to set a competitive listing price and forecast potential outcomes.
Consult financial advisors or lenders for expert guidance to reduce stress and gain confidence in your financial readiness. Need recs? Happy to send some.
Resolution 3: Partner with a Trusted Real Estate Pro
Navigating real estate complexities is easier with the right expert by your side. Connect with a seasoned agent who understands the local market and can offer valuable insights. A skilled professional can simplify negotiations, paperwork, and market analysis, making the process smoother for first-time and experienced buyers or sellers alike.
Looking Ahead to a Successful Year
The new year is a chance to embrace growth and transformation. By clarifying your vision, preparing financially, and building the right support team, you’ll set yourself up for real estate success in 2025.
No matter if you’re still in brainstorm mode- or already packing boxes… I’d love to help you develop a plan & get to the finish line. Ready to get to work? Reach out!
Lydia Hallay
Principal Broker | OR
She/They
Calm, prepared, and people-first—Lydia brings a steady presence to what can be a high-stress process.
As a licensed Principal Broker, she leads Ello, a collaborative team within Living Room Realty known for its neighborly approach to real estate. Ello works with buyers and sellers who value thoughtful strategy, good design, and clear communication.
Lydia is consistently top-rated and ranked among the top 150 agents in the city, and is known for listings that sell faster than average (often with multiple offers), with distinctive, design-forward marketing that stops buyers in their scroll.Before real estate, Lydia spent 17 years as a union organizer and negotiator, advocating for worker rights, leading large-scale strategic leverage campaigns, and navigating complex contracts. That background shows up in her work today: calm under pressure, sharp in negotiations, and deeply attuned to the human side of big decisions.
With roots in the Sonoran Desert (she owns a vacation rental in Tucson), Lydia is an avid gardener, a devoted fan of Portland's food & small business scene, and loves hunting for secondhand/vintage gems. Lydia & her spouse (a longtime restauranteur & golf nerd) enjoy taking their vintage camper (named Puff the Magic Eurovan) for mini adventures. They live in a midcentury home in SE Portland with their dog (Maybelle) and two cats (Kenny & Caroline).
A lifelong advocate for social, economic, and housing justice, Lydia supports organizations doing on-the-ground work in the community. A portion of every paycheck she earns is donated to Taking Ownership PDX, which helps Black homeowners age in place and build wealth.
- T: 503-807-0156
- lydiah@livingroomre.com
