Some real estate wins come down to timing. Others hinge on strategy. And sometimes, like in this case, it’s about truly understanding the people on both sides of the transaction.
This fall, I helped a wonderful family (referred to me a year ago by a Seattle realtor friend) purchase their dream home here in Bend. And together, we secured it for $250,000 under the original list price plus $10,000 in seller credits.
When we first connected six months prior, they told me they were likely a year out and that they have a tendency to make quick moves. We stayed in touch, and by late summer started casually touring homes. We weren’t in a rush; the goal was simply to learn the market and get clear on their priorities.
But there was one home that Mrs. Buyer couldn’t shake. It was out of budget, but she visited every open house and couldn't get it off her mind. Sometimes a home speaks to someone long before the numbers make sense. When that happens, it’s my job to explore why.
So we dug deeper. We needed to understand the seller’s story, their “why,” and what mattered in the sale of their home.
Fast forward a few months. My buyers’ home in Seattle closed, and the very next day we decided it was time to write an offer based on what they could realistically afford.
We started creatively by proposing a seller-carry option that would have put more money in the sellers’ pockets long-term and helped reduce their tax burden. They declined that structure.
So we pivoted. We wrote a clean, traditional financed offer at a number the buyers were comfortable with and accompanied it with the most heartfelt, genuine love letter. Not a gimmick. Not a template. A true expression of why this home mattered to this family.
And the sellers accepted.
$250,000 below the original list price. $10,000 in seller credits.
And a story that proves real estate isn’t just about numbers. It’s about people, motivations, and alignment.
Today, these clients, now friends, are settled into the dreamiest neighborhood on a quiet cul-de-sac, exactly how they envisioned raising their beautiful children here in Bend.
