By Erika George & Kari McGee, August 24, 2019
Erika George celebrated six years with Living Room Realty this year. Through Erika’s partnership with her cousin and real estate maven Kari McGee, Erika has been able to create the career she wants for herself – helping people buy and sell houses, a.k.a. find HouseLove. Where did her journey begin?
Before you became a realtor, what did you do for a living?
I was a lawyer specializing in construction and contracts. I worked in private practice for 12 years, and then spent three years working for the City of Portland, representing the construction and contracts bureaus. While I had my fair share of days in the courtroom, I spent even more days on construction sites and building remediation projects all over town!
How does your past experience influence your current role as a realtor?
My legal skills are invaluable to my real estate clients. I continue to use them on a daily basis: client advocacy, problem solving, contract analysis and negotiation, and excellent client service.
It’s especially helpful to have a working knowledge of contract law. It allows me to pre-identify tricky issues and help explain potential pitfalls and ramifications to clients.
Why did you decide to pursue a new career as a realtor?
As much as I love being a lawyer (I really do!), after 15 years I was ready for a change. I could no longer deny the fact that my heart beat faster every time I had the chance to educate friends and acquaintances (and random people in coffee shops and wine bars) about all Portland has to offer when it comes to real estate and life. I believe that a home is more than the four walls you live in, and I love the process of turning a house into a home.
Do you miss your old job?
The truth is I still practice law “on the side.” While real estate keeps my schedule pretty darn full, I am still a part-time lawyer associated with a small law firm, and if you are interested to learn about the firm you can learn more at JD Injury Law website. I love being able to keep my skills sharp and my legal relationships intact!
Do your clients value your legal experience?
Kari and I often get really positive feedback from our clients, like this recent Google Review from David Lashen: “We highly recommend using Kari McGee and Erika George for your home buying/selling needs. We can’t thank them enough for finding us the perfect home in Portland. Having two agents is like two for the price of one! They are always available and will provide you with the best service. Kari and Erika’s negotiating skills are also fantastic. We felt like we got more than we thought was possible during the inspection period. Do yourself a favor and hire Kari and Erika!”
When I read reviews like that, my heart soars! I know I made the right choice to team up with Kari to create HouseLovePDX and join Living Room Realty.
Erika George & Kari McGee
Broker-Esquire | Principal Broker | Seniors Real Estate Specialists | OR
Meet cousins Erika George and Kari McGee - the highly skilled HouseLovePDX Team at Living Room Realty in Portland, OR.
Broker Erika George brings to the table 20 years of experience as an attorney specializing in construction and contracts, and 10 incredible years of real estate success stories. Principal Broker Kari McGee is an 11-year Portland Monthly 5-Star Realtor® with almost 20 years of real estate experience under her belt. As Seniors Real Estate Specialists (SRES®) we love to put our superpowers to work to help all kinds of folks transition to new chapters with compassion, expert guidance, and a customized plan.Here are our Top Five Favorite Things to do for you:
1. Ask you questions (lots of questions!) and actually listen to your answers. 2. Show out-of-area Buyers all the fun neighborhoods and important spots that make the Portland Metro area special. 3. Crack you and ourselves up with funny photos and random moments of hilarity that pop up in a day of touring homes or after a long day of listing preparation chores! 4. Negotiate and advocate strenuously for you and your goals. 5. Celebrate the many (big and small) milestones in a real estate sale or purchase. 6. Watch your life grow and change after the sale closes, and be there for you when you need us. ps - oh how we adore your "look at what we did to this house" photos! And lunch. We also adore lunching with you. (Yes, we know, that's two in one and we're already at six...). 7. Make "Top-Five" lists that always have more than 5 top-fives. Just goes to show you how much we love to exceed your expectations! We would be honored to help guide you through your changing real estate needs in Portland Oregon. CONTACT Erika George and Kari McGee 503.349.5449 | 971.322.6612 Team@HouseLovePDX.com www.houselovepdx.com
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- Team@HouseLovePDX.com
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503-961-8224