Sometimes the Best Advice Is “Don’t Buy It”

What do you do when a buyer falls in love with a home that you know, deep down, isn't right for them? Do you cheer them on—or gently talk them out of it?

A few months ago, we were working with a young couple looking to buy their first home in Northeast Portland. They were thoughtful, pre-approved, and had been casually watching the market for a while. One day, they texted us excitedly about a cute craftsman in 97211 that just hit the market. It had charm. It had style. It had...a laundry list of issues we spotted immediately.

We toured it together, and while they were buzzing with enthusiasm, we were quietly taking mental notes: roof nearing the end of its life, knob-and-tube wiring, no seismic retrofitting, and a strange basement smell that screamed water intrusion. The price was just low enough to tempt—but not low enough to account for what it would cost them in repairs and headaches.

After the showing, we sat in the car and talked honestly. “If you were my little sister,” I said, “I’d tell you not to buy this house.” And they paused. They asked more questions. And in the end—they walked away. It wasn’t easy. But two months later, we helped them get into a solid, sun-filled bungalow just a few blocks away, with updated systems and no red flags. They thanked us for the tough call.

That moment reminded us that our job isn’t just about writing offers or unlocking doors. It’s about protecting people—sometimes from decisions they’re too emotionally attached to see clearly. In Portland real estate, where charm often masks deeper issues, a second set of eyes (and decades of experience) can make all the difference.

Clients trust us because we don’t just want to help them buy—we want to help them buy well. And sometimes, that means saying, “Not this one.”

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

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A Listing Years in the Making