By LeAnn Raschke, September 30, 2023
Key Day is the Best Day!
The actual handing over of keys is quite literally one of the best parts of my job as a Realtor helping first time home buyers in Portland! The other part is connecting with and supporting people as they move through a huge (sometimes stressful) transition in their lives. I mean, who likes to pack up everything they own into various brown boxes, move them, move them again, and then again and again a few more times?? When buying your first home, you’re doing this move with the added financial stressor of using up a whole lot of your savings to make it happen. So when things start to feel heavy or overwhelming, I work really hard to try and keep things cool, calm and collected and to remind us all of the bigger, brighter picture; the incandescent light bulb, if you will, at the other end of the moving box tunnel. In the end, that key day becomes even more special, knowing you too, can do hard things.
Where We Began
Jeannette and her partner had just started thinking about the prospect of buying but didn’t know exactly where to start or what to look for when purchasing a home. Narrowing in on some important aspects of where they saw themselves, starting with what they loved about their current house and neighborhood, moving into what they didn’t love so much or wished they could change really guided us in the initial direction of what we were to look for. Then, after touring a few different homes in different parts of Portland, we discovered the biggest, most important boxes required for the right house.
The Boxes to Check:
- Single level home with accessibility for when mom visits
- A splash of character with room to make it their own
- A yard for gardening
- 3 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths
2 Parts Argay, 1 Part Ranch
So, with it’s gentle rolling landscape, filled with larger lots and a variety of mid-century modern homes; including but not limited to single-level ranches, Argay Terrace (aka The Palm Springs of Portland) turned out to be just the right neighborhood. And then this listing practically manifested itself right before our eye balls!!
So, after a fairly clean inspection and a very smooth transaction, we inched our way to close in no time! Cheers to these first time home buyers!! I’m super stoked for them and their new, old Portland home!
Tasteful Updates w/ Vintage Highlights
**Before going to market, the amazing sellers had updated just about everything in the house and left a few of the great features like the front door that sing back to its past. I’ve included a couple of the old listing photos here just for funsies.
If you’re interested in taking the leap into home ownership, I’m ready to listen and help you strategize your next big move.
Sincerely,
LeAnn Raschke, Broker Licensed in Oregon
LeAnn Raschke
Broker | OR
She/Her
Owning a home always seemed out of reach for me, or so I believed.
Growing up in the rolling fields of rural Wisconsin, I remember spending summer evenings in my grandparents 1900’s farmhouse, dancing across the hardwoods in the rainbow luster of their stained glass entry door. During holidays, my granny would pull out the good china from the dining rooms built-in cabinets, and we'd gather in the country kitchen, preparing family meals together, taking turns peeling potatoes and washing dishes. These experiences instilled in me a deep appreciation for vintage architecture, traditional craftsmanship, and the timeless beauty of historic homes, while also understanding the love of contemporary kitchens and the absolute necessity of the modern dishwasher.
Following my journey from photography school in Seattle to ventures in small business ownership and event planning in San Francisco, I settled in Portland in 2014. Landing a role managing a commercial portfolio at the Ford Building, I found myself immersed in a vibrant creative community, fostering artists and entrepreneurs alike. It was here that my passion for real estate was ignited, driven by a desire to help individuals achieve their dreams.
My experience in assisting small businesses find their footing taught me a valuable lesson: homeownership often serves as the cornerstone for pursuing artistic and entrepreneurial endeavors. Recognizing this, I embarked on a mission to secure a home for myself. Obtaining my real estate license in 2019, my husband and I took the plunge and purchased our first home—a 1900s fixer-upper in NE Portland.
Today, as a dedicated broker at Living Room Realty, I merge my passion for real estate with my love for art, craftsmanship, and diverse architectural styles. Coming from the rural landscapes of my upbringing, my greatest fulfillment comes from empowering others—especially first time homebuyers, creatives, and small business owners—to attain financial independence through home-buying and strategic property investments in Portland and its beautiful surroundings. Whether it's matching clients with their dream vintage bungalow or sleek contemporary abode, I take pride in imparting the knowledge and skills necessary to transform dreams into reality.
“Life is a canvas, and you are the artist. Your home is the masterpiece where every stroke of love and every shade of experience creates the artistry of your existence." - Unknown
When I'm not out real estating, I'm hanging out with my dogs, making things out of clay or riding scoots w/ my hb!
Read More
- T: 503-442-1756
- leann@livingroomre.com
