By Erika George & Kari, May 30, 2018
When John and Johanna called to ask us about helping them with a move from St. Paul, Minnesota, we PRETENDED to be excited about the prospect of finding them the perfect Portland bungalow. But, if truth be told, the house hunt was just icing on the cake for us. Our REAL excitement was the prospect of, once again, being able to work with Minnesotan clients. Minnesotans can brag about more than just their Red Wing Shoes, Hockey Haircuts and Bundt Cakes; They are also, practically speaking, the nicest, most level-headed, down to earth people on the planet.
John and Jo had the formidable task of having to put an offer on a house “sight unseen.” Luckily, we have technology and a good system that works well for out-of-town buyers. They easily adapted to FaceTime tours and GoToMeeting chats. When repair negotiations with the seller got a little tense, they kept their cool and their “eyes on the prize.” They even thanked the sellers personally for their repair concessions when all was said and done. DON’T ROLL YOU EYES! Because John and Jo were so gracious, the seller returned the good will by making another concession right before closing — one that the seller wasn’t legally required to make.
It’s easy to be cynical in a real estate transaction. But if you can channel your inner “Minnesotan,” you will be rewarded! John and Jo are now the proud owners of this darling three bedroom/two bathroom Creston home — which is perfectly sized for their young family. It boasts a welcoming front porch, beautiful wood work in the open living and dining rooms, a nicely renovated kitchen, three bedrooms upstairs and a nice-sized private back yard with a deck. They are excited to explore the neighborhood — so close to great parks, shops and restaurants, and, even better, just down the block from Creston School.
Congrats John and Jo — Portland will be a better place because you are here. We’ll be knocking on your door with a hot dish soon, maybe with a side of VooDoo Doughnuts!
Are you a proud citizen of another state looking to call Portland home? Kari and Erika specialize in out-of town buyers! We have many tools in place to help you successfully search for and close on a home here in Portland, even if you’re NOT from Minnesota!
Erika George & Kari McGee
Broker-Esquire | Principal Broker | Senior Real Estate Specialists
She/Her
Meet cousins Erika George and Kari McGee - the highly skilled HouseLovePDX Team at Living Room Realty in Portland, OR.
Realtor® Erika George brings to the table 20 years of experience as an attorney specializing in construction and contracts and has been a full-service real estate broker since 2013. Principal Broker Kari McGee is an 11-year Portland Monthly 5- Star Realtor® and has helped clients successfully navigate the evolving Portland real estate market for more than 20 years.
What this means for you is that there's not a lot we haven't seen. We will be proactive, where others will miss important opportunities. We like to negotiate and operate with a deep understanding of what it means to be your fiduciary: your strenuous advocate, not merely your transaction coordinator.
Our step-by-step system will be tailored to your specific goals. And, we will provide you with expert resources to help you make informed decisions at each milestone stage of your transaction.
As designated Seniors Real Estate Specialists (SRES®), we specialize in helping Seniors and their families navigate aging in place, downsizing, multigenerational housing, senior community living options, and probate sales.
We strive to help people with a wide variety of needs, prepare for life’s transitions with compassion and expert guidance. We would be honored to help guide you through your changing real estate needs in the greater metropolitan Portland area.
Here are our Top Five Favorite Things to do for you:
1. Ask you questions (lots of questions!) and actually listen to your answers. 2. Show out-of-area Buyers all the fun neighborhoods and important spots that make the Portland Metro area special. 3. Crack you and ourselves up with funny photos and random moments of hilarity that pop up in a day of touring homes or after a long day of listing preparation chores! 4. Negotiate and advocate strenuously for you and your goals. 5. Celebrate the many (big and small) milestones in a real estate sale or purchase. 6. Watch your life grow and change after the sale closes, and be there for you when you need us. ps - oh how we adore your "look at what we did to this house" photos! And lunch. We also adore lunching with you. (Yes, we know, that's two in one and we're already at six...). 7. Make "Top-Five" lists that always have more than 5 top-fives. Just goes to show you how much we love to exceed your expectations! We would be honored to help guide you through your changing real estate needs in Portland Oregon. CONTACT Erika George and Kari McGee 503.349.5449 | 971.322.6612 Team@HouseLovePDX.com www.houselovepdx.com
