Community. Why do I feel it on one block and not another? Every week I drive to an old house in the Alberta Neighborhood that my business partner and I bought to fix up. I get a fuzzy feeling in my gut as I pull up in front of it. Not because I feel great about where the house is in terms of completion, we still don’t have walls, no… its something else.
While I often dread working on it, I’ve been trying to pinpoint what it is about this place that makes me smile every time I pull up to it. I’ve decided it’s the neighbor’s that live around this old house. I’m not sure if any of them own computers or TV’s or smart phones, I know they must all have those devices and go to work each day, but every time I go over, one of them will walk out of their front door, come clear across the street and greet me. They proceed to take the time to ask me what I intend to work on that particular day, quick to give encouragement, often noting that the house is lucky to have Chris and I. On occasion they will ask if they can help me extend my heavy ladder or ask if I have things to put in their truck for a dump run. Larry has even brought me ice tea when I have fallen off that high ladder. I notice these folks sit on their porches when the sun is out and hear them extend hellos to those that walk by. They lend a hand to one another by edging each other’s grass strips and pulling in one another’s recycling cans after the truck goes by. Homeless folks have first names on this block. This group of neighbors has worked to build this slice of heaven by being mindful. Whether they know it or not, I feel their kindness every time I am over there.
It makes me miss having that same sort of community vibe on my own street in SE Portland. I must work harder to cultivate it if I want it to feel similar, I know that. But in the mean time, I will feel gratitude that we have been taken under the wings of this tight-knit block and treated so wonderfully. Community – It’s pretty incredible to watch it in motion when its healthy and thriving.

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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