What One Empty Living Room Taught Me About Listening

We were halfway through a showing in North Portland when my client suddenly stopped in the living room, looked around, and said, “I don’t think I actually want this.”

It was a great house—priced well, full of light, newly updated kitchen. We had seen six homes that week, and on paper, this one checked all the boxes. But something felt off for her, and she finally voiced it out loud.

So we sat on the hardwood floor—literally—and talked it through.

What came out wasn’t about square footage or finishes. It was about her fear of being too far from her support system, about not seeing herself walking those neighborhood streets at night, about how “perfect on paper” wasn’t enough.

That conversation changed everything. We stopped chasing checklists and started tuning into what felt right for her life. A week later, we toured a quieter home a bit further east—older, less polished—but it had a sense of calm that lit her up. That’s the one she offered on.

Real estate has a way of teaching us things in the in-between moments. That day, I was reminded that my job isn’t to convince—it’s to listen. Really listen. To help people trust themselves more than the data, and to hold space while they figure it out.

That’s what sets our approach apart in Portland real estate. It’s not just about getting you a house—it’s about helping you find the right one, on your terms.

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