Lately I’ve been paying more attention to the rhythm of my work days and the interactions I have with my clients and what moves them to feel the things they feel and act in the way they do under times of joy and stress. Right now my days are helter-skelter, I’m out in the thick of handling client’s dreams and losses, experiencing extraordinary moments as well as the humdrum. I’ve found myself taking a sideways glance at myself when I feel frustrated by some of the attributes that mark real estate: greed, happiness, generosity, ego, humility, consumption and fear. I ask myself, can I say something in a new way that allows my person to see this moment differently? How can I turn the tables so that they can step into the other side’s shoes to come to a conclusion which might bring forth better understanding if not empathy. The temptation in real estate is to reduce life to – me vs them. This mindset is foolish to me.
I believe we are all in this rat race of life together. And it only takes a moment of reflection to note that in the vast mystery of it, we all wish to have less pain, fear, boredom and scarcity and more happiness, security, excitement and love. The person on the other side is often more like you than we might realize. I often play a game with myself when I don’t jive with another in business transactions. I make up pretend questions in order to humanize them: Have you cried at anything during this past year? Does your heart beat fast when you see someone you love? Who? Is there something that brings you incredible amounts of joy? And since I know they will likely answer ‘yes” to all of these questions, I already like them just a little bit more. I do believe if we start putting ourselves in others shoes more often than not, ‘balance or grace’ might come knocking on our doors.

Tracy Dau
Broker | Earth Advantage | OR
She/Her
When you meet Tracy Dau, it doesn’t take long to realize where her true passions lie.
She loves houses and loves matching her clients with the place that’s perfect for them. Ask her clients and they’ll tell you she’s a whirlwind of energy, a juggler of projects, a creative force, a good listener and a tireless advocate. She comes to the job with a vision for what’s possible and the background to make that happen.
Maybe it’s because she grew up in the breathtaking town of Juneau Alaska, where it rains 250 days a year. It’s the kind of place where you either give into gloomy weather or dig deep and find the will to preserve. Maybe it’s because her folks instilled in her the drive to succeed.
For the past sixteen years she has gutted and restored many houses, using any opportunity to work with her hands. Blending her formal training as a fine artist and designer with her experience as a builder, these old-house remodels have become her creative canvas. Her time as a product developer and architectural consultant at
Rejuvenation House Parts introduced her to a community of like-minded folks who encouraged her to become a REALTOR®.
She is drawn to vintage homes. The artist in her is drawn to their detail, the builder in her to their craftsmanship. Their charm and imperfections make them all the more fascinating and soulful.
That’s what drew her to her first home. Stripped of all her painted-lady features, she sat sadly on a corner lot in SE Portland waiting to be loved and cared for. She had a yard full of shopping carts, a tree that had grown through her facade, motor-oil soaked mattresses and a basement full of the neighbor’s missing car parts, and yet, in spite of this her husband Nate and Tracy bought and fixed her up. This renovation lead to the next house-love-affair, followed by another and another. It only made sense to apply this knowledge and the valuable lessons learned along the way to help others looking to buy or improve their own homes.
Which brings me to why she became a REALTOR®.
Tracy chose this job because she is passionate about houses and loves the chance to develop relationships with her clients. When you choose to work with Tracy, she will advocate for your best interests, guide you through the home buying process and protect you from the stressful moments as they inevitably arise. She will advise you every step of the way to enable you to make good decisions, stay centered and reach your goals. Even after your transaction has come to an end, Tracy is still available to
answer your questions and help with your home projects.
When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors. Her hobbies include teaching her children, Lander and Olivia, about nature, hunting for sea creatures, spotting birds, drinking bourbon in the winter and gin in the summer, eating chocolate and traveling to warm destinations.
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