When Walking Away Was the Smartest Move

She was ready. Pre-approved, eager, and tired of touring. The townhome in NE Portland seemed like a slam dunk—updated, priced right, in a walkable neighborhood. On paper, it was everything she said she wanted.

But during our second walkthrough, something shifted. She kept asking questions—about the HOA fees, the tiny outdoor space, the resale potential. And then she said, “It just doesn’t feel like me.”

We paused. We sat in the empty living room and talked. Not about comps or timelines—but about her life. About what she really wanted: a yard, a little more privacy, something that felt rooted.

She could’ve made it work. But we told her what we believed: “You don’t need to force it. Let’s keep looking.”

It took another three weeks, but when we found her home—a cozy Cape Cod with a garden and big windows in 97213—she knew. There were still compromises, but it felt right.

That first house? She thanks us all the time for helping her walk away from it.

This work isn’t about pushing people into deals—it’s about helping them trust their instincts, even when the finish line is in sight. In Portland real estate, that means sometimes the best advice we can give is: “Don’t buy this one.”

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