By Alina Aliyar, September 25, 2025
So, you’ve decided to buy a house. Congratulations! You’re about to embark on a magical journey that combines equal parts excitement, despair, and building permits. Buying a home in Portland is a lot like online dating: sometimes pictures can be deceiving, it’s helpful to have a support system in place when you get into it, and it helps to have a clear understanding of knowing who you are and what you want.
Here’s how to do it without losing your your will to live.
1. Figure Out the Money.
Take some time and look at how you spend money. This will help you figure out how a monthly mortgage payment will affect your bottom line. This part is scary for so many people. If this is you, you aren’t alone and I would say that doing this will help you tremendously in the long run. Tracking your spending and understanding your finances can help you feel like you are in control of it and actually reach your goals. We might all hate the system, but we still have to live in it. If it feels too overwhelming, read The Soul of Money: Reclaiming our Wealth of Our Inner Resources by Lynne Twist & Teresa Barker.
2. Figure Out your Team.
You will need a lender (unless you are paying cash) and a Realtor (unless you want to make this harder on yourself). Interview a few lenders; you will want to compare rates (these vary day to day), the cost of the loan, and their service. You want a lender who will be reachable throughout your entire transaction, can close efficiently, is a problem solver, and communicates in a way that you understand. You want to know who you are working with on the lending side before you start seriously shopping for a home. Most listing agents will want to make sure that a potential buyer is working with a solid lender. Your lender will inform you of what you are approved for & what you’ll want to spend to keep to your targeted monthly expenses (these aren’t always the same things).
You also need to pick a Realtor. You can find Realtors from online reviews, asking friends/family, or contacting the person who is writing this post. There are many wonderful agents out there, so make sure that you find someone that you feel comfortable with and listens to you. This is the person who will be advocating for you during your due diligence period (inspections, title, disclosures, etc.). They are also the person who will help you get clarity around your wants and needs in a home and if your expectations are realistic.
3. Figure out your Wants & Needs (for the next 5ish years)
Most people today aren’t buying their forever house. Thinking about your home purchase as a place that you will be for the next five years makes thinking about your wants and needs a bit more manageable. Think about your commute, how you want to use your space, and consider pets, children, and/or other family. Do you like to have space to host 20 people for holidays? Will you spontaneously combust if there is no bathtub? A good Realtor should talk through this with you and help you figure out if you really need a regulation sized basketball court or you would be fine with a place to put up a hoop.
4. You’ve got This.
Buying a house is a big deal and can feel overwhelming, but a little prep work & clarity can help set you up for success.
Alina Aliyar
Broker | OR & WA
She/Her
I think my background as a pastry chef prepared me well for real estate. Structure and visual appeal are key in both. The analogy really drops off with taste - because I need to strongly advise you against eating the paint chips in any home, especially those built before 1978.
I've been in Portland since 2013, after a decade of popping around the northeastern section of the U.S. Personally, I've gone through the buying and selling process in multiple states, for varied reasons, and in a range of markets. The whole process of buying and selling a home can be incredibly stressful and scary. I like being able to lighten this load. I aim to work with my clients to sort out what it is that they actually need, want, and hope. I am a big believer that knowledge and information can be the most empowering tool. It doesn't matter if you are thinking about making a move in 3 months or 3 years, let's have a conversation.
Outside of work, I am on the board of Our School, a non-profit providing community advocacy for LGBTQ youth, a seasoned storyteller, and the proud parent of two rad teenagers.
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- T: 503-964-7065
- alina@livingroomre.com
