Blog Stories THE ONE

THE ONE

By Cristen Lincoln, July 21, 2021

Courtney & Chris are no strangers to making a move. As their family’s needs have changed over the years, we’ve been there to partner with them through the home buying and selling process multiple times. Their last move was from a small but very charming craftsman bungalow in Irvington, that Courtney had put her designer touch on, to a much larger Old Portland style craftsman home in the Piedmont neighborhood. This home allowed their family to spread out and Courtney could once again add her designer’s eye and make it shine. This last spring, we got the call they were ready to move back to their old neighborhood in Irvington. They missed their neighbors and friends much more than they originally thought, and they really wanted to get back within walking distance to their school and community. (Covid had a way of shining a light on many folks’ core priorities around what is “home” to them.) Chris, Courtney and the kids are a joy, and we were more than happy to jump in and help them make their dreams a reality. We got to work right away working toward getting their house ready for the market. It was a breeze as Courtney had made this home just as beautiful as the last one! At the same time, we listened to what they wanted in their new forever home. If they could have dragged this home in Piedmont to Irvington they would have! But that isn’t the case and we had a high bar to meet.  We knew we would need to find them something just as special as the house they were leaving behind. The caveat was that they would need to write offers contingent on their house closing. In a seller’s market this can prove tricky to do. Unafraid of the challenge, we set out to find them their dream location with the right home attached to it. Experienced shoppers, they knew what they wanted, and there were few homes to tour. We all knew when THE ONE came on the market. We wrote an offer right away, only to learn that someone else did too. While our offer was strong on price and terms the other offer was not contingent on a home closing. Ultimately, the sellers choose the lower offer with no contingency. While we were disappointed we took the backup position offered to us and kept looking. I didn’t feel worried though. Somehow we knew it was their house. But, we kept looking anyway. Four days later we were looking at another house just a few blocks away, when I got a call from the agent of THE ONE letting us know the other buyers had walked away. They were put off by an older roof and broker sewer line. We were thrilled by the news and didn’t waste any time moving into first position. We were able to learn more about the items that needed repair during our own inspections and they didn’t scare us. Those things can be fixed! We got a substantial credit for the work, and everyone was happy to move forward with closing. We were even able to close and give them the keys before they had to be out of their old house, so they could take their time moving in. They couldn’t be more thrilled to be back with their friends in the neighborhood they love.

Cristen Lincoln

Principal Broker | Earth Advantage | Business Development | OR

She/Her

Cristen has been a Portland real estate broker since 1993, giving her an exceptional understanding of the industry and the local market. She was born here, grew up here, and raised her own family here. She knows the parks, the farmers’ markets, the schools, the hidden corners, and the joyful quirks of Portland’s bustling neighborhoods.

Cristen’s deep-rooted knowledge of the area means she understands the audience for a house. She understands what a potential buyer is looking for, the process they go through when choosing a home, and what details matter most. This makes her the ideal guide to help you prepare your home for market. She is an expert in maximizing the value of your home while minimizing unnecessary improvements.

With the confident and tranquil mastery that comes with experience, Cristen is often three steps ahead—holding future possibilities, ideas, and strategies that will navigate her clients toward achieving their long-term goals. Known for her calm demeanor in the face of any size challenge, Cristen is respected in her industry for being an exceptional negotiator and strong advocate for her clients, even in the toughest of circumstances.

With intention and spirit, Cristen has built her real estate team around her core values of honesty, hard work, follow-through, and serious play.

A top broker in the city, Cristen has been named a Portland Monthly Five Star Agent year after year. She has received the Seven Star Certificate of Excellence and the Top 500 in the nation award from Broker★Agent™ Advisor. Cristen is a key member of Living Room Realty’s leadership team where she mentors, teaches, and coaches Portland’s top real estate brokers.

When not working, Cristen is likely immersed in outdoor play with her husband, her kids, or a pup by her side. Whether she’s hiking, gardening, snowboarding, or walking the sands of the Oregon Coast, nature is the place Cristen goes for inspiration and restorative balance.

ADDITIONAL AWARDS & AFFILIATIONS
  • BrokerAgent™ Advisor ‘Top 500" and "Certificate of Excellence"
  • Portland Monthly Five Star Agent for past 7 years
  • 10 Best of 2015: Client Satisfaction – American Institute of Real Estate Professionals
  • Mt Tabor Park Stewardship Fund Committee Member
  • Past PMAR Public Relations Committee Member
  • Former Mt Tabor Middle school PTA and Auction Committee Member
  • Past PTA board member at Atkinson school and Auction Committee Member
  • Franklin High School PTA Member
  • Impact NW Volunteer and Community Liaison
  • Past Member Rose Chapter National Charity League
  • Member 99 Girlfriends Collective Giving For Impact
AT YOUR SERVICE Meet my Team • Owner/Partner: Jenelle Isaacson • Principal Brokers: Cody Thurman and Paul D'Souza • Licensed Broker: Stacey Pongracz-Bartha • Team Coordinator/Principal Broker: Deborah Holmes • Client Services and Marketing Department: Whitney Diffenderfer References available upon request.
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  • T: 503-260-2414
  • cristen@livingroomre.com

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