Tag: Dogs of Portland

A new yard for Duck.. Or, its my apple and you can’t have it!

Posted on by Martin Cross

Like most couples, when I first started talking with Josh and Alyssa, they had the usual list of desires for their new home. Some of which were “needs” and some just “desires”. At least two bedrooms, two baths. 1700 ft.² or more. Hardwood floors, some kind of cool attic or bonus room, a porch or a deck and of course a fenced yard for Duck and Oliver.

After a couple of long days touring, a serendipitous price reduction that combined with some shrewd negotiating by yours truly, we had locked up a great house that combined all of their wants, including, a HUGE fenced back yard.

But, what became most evident after move-in day was that really, this was all about a fenced yard for Duck.

 

Hollywood has a lot of Heart

Posted on by Jené DeSpain

As it has been said so often it’s become the market’s mantra, “location, location, location” can be the essential pillar of any buyers’ search for a new home. In Portland, this quest for the ideal location can feel like trying to choose your favorite coffee shop, because the truth of the matter is the coffee here tends to be pretty darn delicious almost anywhere you go. The neighborhoods in this beautiful city are pretty spectacular, and while I may be seeing things through my local rose-colored glasses, I think you could chat with most folks who live here and hear a similar take on Bridgetown.

When Pete and Carley started thinking about where they wanted to live, there were a handful of neighborhoods that met many of their hopes. We saw some really lovely options in North Portland with gorgeous views of Forest Park and the river. Then we peeked at a few places around Alberta and Kenton, and went out to Roseway to visit a noteworthy bungalow. Once we saw the classic English Tudor in Hollywood, they knew they had found their home. Right around the corner from Carley’s work, an easy commute for Pete, and the best dog park in NE where their pup could run free – this plucked at every heart chord. Congratulations to these incredible clients! It’s been SO rewarding to help make this dream come true with you two. 🖤

Dog Days of Fall

Posted on by Natalie Tracy

When you want a house that’s as much of a fit for your dog as it is for you, finding one that you love — with a huge yard and a dog park nearby — is the fairytale ending. This is exactly what we found for Rebecca and her adorable dog, Jack.

As a first time buyer, Rebecca was prepared. She met with me and her mortgage broker early on, and we helped create a plan well ahead of starting her search. So when she was ready to move forward, she had a clear vision of what she wanted. After we explored a few neighborhoods, she honed in on what would give her the perfect blend of access to transit, walkability, and space for Jack. On one of our weekend outings, we had five houses lined up to see – the first three were a clear no, but the last two both had potential. It was a tough decision momentarily, but when she pictured herself in each house with Jack, one stood out as the clear winner.

Like every good fairytale, there were a few bumps in the road, and the victory was sweet. She got the dream house. Jack got the dream yard. Jack has never had a yard before, and now he has one of the best in Portland!

Goodbye Seattle, Hello Portland!

Posted on by Natalie Tracy

Helping folks relocate from out of state is a grand adventure. They see homes pop up online and get stressed about missing out on “the one”. The key is making sure I understand their needs from the get go and maintain a high level of communication. I love making this process less stressful and easier than they anticipate!

Kristin and Mitch had moved from Portland to Seattle for a job relocation, and were quickly disenchanted. They missed Portland too much to not return, and they wanted to take the leap from renters to homeowners to put down Portland roots. They were such proactive partners in their home search. We would block out a chunk of one day each weekend, and they would head down if houses came up that looked like contenders – I did a fair number of previews to ensure their trips were useful. One week, Kristin even flew down on a moment’s notice when a great house came up on a Monday.

That house wasn’t actually the one, but another house a few days later was. And we weren’t the only ones who thought so – the house ended up with seven offers. They had already been through one very competitive multiple offer situation, so when I let them know what it was going to take to win this one, they were all over it. After a few stressful days of waiting, they were under contract, and it was smooth sailing from there on out.

And just like that, they have an amazing house in a neighborhood they love, with a beautiful backyard for their sweet dog, Ellie. Goodbye Seattle, hello Portland!