When "Not Yet" Is the Right Answer

Most people think real estate agents are always trying to close the deal—but sometimes, the best advice we can give is “don’t buy this house.”

Last month, we met with a first-time buyer looking in NE Portland. She’d been saving for years, was pre-approved, and eager to find something quickly before her lease ended. On paper, she was ready. But at the second showing of a 2-bed bungalow in 97212, we paused. The house had charm—but also a lot of unseen issues: aging electrical, a roof nearing its life expectancy, and a steep hillside backyard that would be tough to maintain. She didn’t notice all of that at first. She just saw the cute built-ins and imagined summer dinners on the porch.

We asked her to slow down. We walked the property again—this time, pointing out every red flag we saw. We even looped in a trusted contractor for a rough cost estimate on repairs. The numbers added up quickly. By the end of the week, she decided not to write an offer. She felt torn at first—like she was giving up her shot. But we reminded her: the right house will feel right and make sense long-term. This one didn’t.

That moment reminded us how powerful patience can be. Real estate isn’t just about writing offers—it’s about helping people make decisions they can live with, literally. By choosing to hold off, she protected her budget, avoided a future renovation headache, and gave herself time to find something better.

We take pride in giving honest, sometimes hard, advice—because we’re not here for just one transaction. We’re here to be trusted guides, even when it means saying, “Let’s wait.”

If you’re thinking about buying or selling in the Portland area, we’d love to be part of your story.