By Living Room Realty, July 22, 2020
Hi Readers!
Today’s story is one that’s from North Portland, and involves my longtime friends and savvy investors Tim and Elizabeth. 15 years ago, they were getting ready to move back to Portland from San Francisco. They knew then that Kenton is a terrific community to raise a family, and that investing in that area would pay off in the long run. They purchased a “skinny” home, new construction, and planned to live in it for a while, then leverage the property as a rental as their family grew.
That’s exactly how their plan played out…
They called it home while they needed it, and then the house was able to generate enough income as a rental to enable them to build a real estate portfolio. Smart. Investing in Real Estate, even in the time of COVID, is a good idea. Homes continue to hold appreciated value in the greater Portland area. HERE is a good visual you can reference to get an understanding. If you’re curious to learn more, please reach out, I can help explain the numbers.
When Tim and Elizabeth were ready to sell, we knew we had to lean into great staging, photography, and online resources to make it easy for people to get a feel for the home. Check! Three days later, they were pending, after reviewing multiple offers.
Here’s where the love story comes in. See, for Tim and Elizabeth, it wasn’t just about the highest offer for the home they were selling. They took the time to read every buyer’s letter who submitted one, and ended up deciding to go with a buyer whose story reminded them a little of themselves. They were early in their relationship. Loved North Portland. Active in their communities. Wanted to start a family. Had a dog. Why do I bring this up? Because as a buyer you should know that a seller’s motivation – even in this market – isn’t always going to be about dollar signs. Take the opportunity to leverage your story. Explain your why. And if you need help crafting that… I would be happy to put my journalist hat back on to help you tell it in a way that will resonate and get your offer accepted.
Til then, high fives,
