Tag: lydia hallay

Storytelling Through Persona Marketing with Lydia Hallay – Open House Podcast

Posted on by Jenelle Etzel

We’re back with another episode of Open House: Everyday Excellence, a podcast from Living Room Realty that explores how real estate agents can do their work with heart, skill, and creativity.

In each episode, we sit down with agents who are reshaping what it means to serve clients well. We talk about the practices, the challenges, and the lessons that help us grow both as professionals and as people.

🎧 Episode 4: Storytelling Through Persona Marketing with Lydia Hallay

This week’s guest, Lydia Hallay, believes that every home has a story. She shows us how important it is for agents to tell that story in a way that connects with people.

Instead of relying only on the basics like square footage or the number of bedrooms, Lydia goes further. She gives her listings names, creates playlists, stages with intention, and even brings fresh flowers. All of these details create an experience that allows buyers to picture their lives in the space.

In this episode, Lydia shares:

  • How persona marketing makes homes feel alive and memorable

  • Why talking with sellers about what they love helps attract the right buyers

  • Ways to build anticipation by pulling back the curtain on your process

  • How authenticity and joy set you apart in a crowded market

Who It’s For

This episode is for agents who want to move past the pressure of “selling” and instead focus on building stronger connections. If you have ever struggled to make your marketing feel authentic, or wondered how to bring more of your personality into the work, Lydia’s approach offers both inspiration and practical steps.

Why It Matters

Real estate is about more than transactions. It is about trust, imagination, and belonging. When we treat each home as a story worth telling, we help buyers and sellers feel seen and understood. We also create excitement and confidence about what comes next.

Lydia reminds us that joy and creativity are not extras. They are tools that can elevate your practice and make your work stand out. As she says: “Stay human.”

Listen Now

Episode 4 is live. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you listen. Search for Open House: Everyday Excellence and start with Storytelling Through Persona Marketing with Lydia Hallay.

Building Community, Not Just Sales | Lydia Hallay on Authentic Real Estate | Open House

Posted on by Jenelle Etzel

Welcome to Open House: Everyday Excellence—the podcast where we talk with agents who do real estate with heart, skill, and honesty.

Each episode looks at the lessons, challenges, and moments that shape how we serve clients and support each other. We focus on the everyday choices that make a real difference.

🎧 Episode 4: Building Community, Not Just Sales

For many agents, the word “sales” feels uncomfortable. The pressure to “always be closing” does not match why they started this work.

In this episode, I talk with Lydia Hallay about another way forward. With her background as a union organizer, Lydia shows how real estate can be about helping people, building community, and finding joy—rather than just making deals.

She shares:

  • How her organizing work shapes the way she helps clients

  • Why buying or selling a home should feel more like leadership than pressure

  • How care, authenticity, and advocacy can build stronger client relationships

  • Why choosing collaboration over competition helps everyone succeed


Who This Episode Of The Open House Podcast Is For

This episode is for agents who love real estate but dislike the “salesperson” label. If scripts feel fake or forced, and you want to build a business based on relationships, this episode will inspire you.

You’ll get simple, practical ways to bring more advocacy, confidence, and heart into your work.

Why It Matters

Clients want more than someone who can sell. They want an advocate. They want an agent they can trust.

As Lydia reminds us, we don’t have to follow one standard path. By being authentic, kind, and helpful, we can create a business that fits our values—and serve better in the process.

Listen Now

Episode 4 of the Open House Podcast is live! Find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. You can also watch the video version of the podcast on our YouTube Channel.

Portland Real Estate Market Update for August 2025

Posted on by Lydia Hallay

Hi y’all, it’s Lydia Hallay with Living Room Realty, here with your Portland real estate market update for late August 2025.

 

 

Portland Real Estate Market Update

The weeks leading up to Labor Day are usually a little sleepy—buyers sneak in one last camping trip, and sellers hold back until after the holiday. But once September hits, things wake up fast. My team has four listings set to launch in early September, and many other agents are on the same timeline. Translation: buyers are about to have a lot more options.

For sellers, that means prep and pricing matter more than ever. Right now, homes are taking about 52 days to go pending—longer than last year, and creeping up month to month. Dreamy, well-priced homes still move quickly (our last two went pending in under eight days), but most buyers are more deliberate. With borrowing costs remaining high, every decision carries extra weight.

Inventory sits at 3.7 months—the highest since early 2023. Four months is generally the tipping point into a buyer’s market. We’re not quite there, but we’re edging closer. More homes this fall means more competition, so success depends on realistic pricing, sharp presentation, and flexibility.


Looking Ahead

And remember: getting under contract is just half the job. Buyers are digging deep in inspections, and sellers aren’t always saying yes. Failed sales are climbing nationally- and here in Portland. The secret isn’t hiring a “hard-nosed” realtor—it’s working with someone strategic, communicative, and creative when challenges arise.

For buyers, September and October will bring a wave of new homes. More listings mean more choice and (hopefully) a little less frenzy. If you want to land before the holidays, now is the time to get your ducks in a row.

And for sellers—even if you’re aiming for next spring—fall is the right season to start prepping – with guidance from your realtor. Tackle projects, freshen up landscaping, and work on a launch plan that positions you for success when the market heats back up early next year.


Make A Move

So whether you’re ready to buy this fall or planning a spring 2026 sale, let’s connect now. The earlier we start your strategy, the stronger your position will be when it’s time to get rolling. Give us a call!