By Tracey Henkels, August 23, 2021
It was just meant to be!
If you know me, you know that I love helping people make a move. I love my peeps and I’m super committed to getting my clients into the home of their dreams. I will negotiate until my face turns blue and call every contractor in town to get information for my clients. I am committed to making this a great experience but unfortunately, you can’t always control how things go? For instance, I can’t make a seller accept an offer. I just can’t.
So here’s the short version of one of my all-time favorite stories 🙂
Leonard and Dovina really wanted to live in Newberg to be close to their daughter and grandchildren. Last spring and summer, we looked at just about everything that Newberg had to offer. It’s not unusual for the search to take a little longer when you’re looking in a small and popular town, like Newberg. After months of looking, they found a gem, a darling house that is close to downtown with a cute yard and great character! It quickly became competitive and we pulled out all of the stops. Long story short, Len & Dovina’s offer was the highest with exceptional terms, but in the end still beat out by a lower cash offer because they totally waived the inspection period. I just can’t ever recommend that a buyer waive all inspections.
It just wasn’t meant to be is what we told ourselves. That’s what we have to say sometimes to make sense of things when it doesn’t go the direction we would like. But this one kept nagging at us! We continued to look in Newberg for another year and kept comparing every house to the ‘one that got away’. …And then it came back! Almost exactly a year later it popped back up and wouldn’t you know it, we put it in an offer and got it this time!
Cheers to my lovely friends, Leonard and Dovina! I wish them all the best in their home that was definitely meant to be!
Tracey Henkels
Principal Broker | Earth Advantage | OR
She/Her
Tracey grew up rooted in the rhythms of her family’s Iowa apple orchard, where rising with the sun instilled a deep work ethic and a grounded, thoughtful approach to life. That Midwestern foundation shapes the values that Tracey brings to her clients: compassionate guidance, perseverance and a commitment to making a difference for the people she serves.
With a degree in Architecture from Iowa State University and six years of experience in the architecture field, Tracey has a keen eye for design and a deep understanding of how homes are built—literally and metaphorically. In 2004, she transitioned into real estate, combining her technical expertise with a passion for helping people find a sense of sanctuary and belonging.
Tracey is known for her integrity, patience, and optimism, making her a trusted advisor and advocate for our clients. She thrives on helping people navigate important transitions, whether buying their first home, selling a cherished property or finding the perfect place to put down long-term roots.
Tracey is deeply connected to her community and is passionate about making a meaningful impact beyond real estate. She’s been a resident of the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood in SE Portland since 2002; you’ll often find her in her garden nurturing vegetables and flowers, hosting neighbors and friends, exploring Oregon’s great outdoors, or planning her next travel adventure. Through every step of her clients’ journeys, Tracey embodies the grounded guidance and thoughtful care that define Rooted Realty.
Tracey works as a team, alongside Kelsey Burkett, Broker Licensed in OR. You can read more about them on their website: Rooted Realty.- T: 503-715-6140
- traceyhenkels@gmail.com
