A LITTLE LUCK, A LOT OF HEART...
Stephanie + Claudio moved to Portland from Washington two years ago with every intention of making it home. But instead of rushing into a purchase, they did it right... they rented, explored, found their people, dialed in schools for their kids, and really took the time to understand where life would feel best for their family.
When we officially kicked off the search in Gladstone, Milwaukie, and Oregon City, the timing threw us a curveball. Interest rates jumped, and suddenly the budget got tighter for a home that needed to fit a lot of life: two teenagers, two parents working from home, plus a dog. We saw some good ones, but nothing quite landed. We even toured a home on the same street that was almost it, but still slighlty missing the mark. And then...magic. A super cool granny home/cosmetic fixer popped up on a Monday with no interior photos yet. We got in right away, and the moment Stephanie walked through the door, she just knew it was the ONE. We connected with the listing agent immediately, got clear on what the sellers needed, and wrote a clean, thoughtful offer with great terms and a little love story about this amazing family. Sellers said yes before things even had a chance to heat up. From there, we negotiated all repairs and credits smoothly and were feeling so good… until the appraiser threw us a curveball. Once the home was cleared out (it was an estate and very full), a few things became more obvious and the appraisal came back subject to repairs. Not ideal, but also not the end. With both sides mindful of costs, we got creative, rolled up our sleeves, and worked together to find solutions that made sense and kept things moving forward.
And that’s the thing, this deal worked because everyone showed up. Collaboration over ego, solutions over problems. It’s always the best-case scenario, and this one really delivered.
Now they’re in. In a home that somehow checks every single box—space for the kids, proximity to school & life, room to work, a yard for the dog, and all the potential to make it truly theirs over time. This one hits especially close to the heart. These are people we love, and getting to hand them the keys to a home that fits their life so perfectly…
it just doesn’t get better than this.