From Busting at the Seams to Finding Room to Grow in Forest Heights

Sometimes buyers come to us because they aren't quite sure what their next home should look like.

These clients were different.

They had a very clear picture of what needed to change.

Their family was busting at the seams, and they needed a home with significantly more room. They wanted to be in the Lincoln High School area for their children, but their wish list went beyond school boundaries and square footage. They wanted their kids to grow up somewhere with a real sense of community—somewhere they could walk, explore, meet other families and have a little more independence as they got older.

That made Forest Heights particularly appealing, with its neighborhood amenities, community events, parks and extensive network of walking trails.

How They Found Us

Interestingly, their relationship with Sharon Marciniak and Beth Benner at the Bridge to Portland Group started before we ever spoke.

They had seen one of our listings in Portland's West Hills and were impressed with the way the property was presented and marketed. That prompted them to research us further.

Several things stood out to them.

Our years of experience and the number of transactions we've completed were important. Buying a home is a major financial decision, and they wanted an experienced team helping them evaluate the options and navigate the transaction.

But something else mattered to them, too.

They noticed that we are active in the Portland community and support local nonprofit organizations. They weren't simply looking at sales numbers—they were looking at the people behind the business.

Our online presence ultimately gave them enough confidence to pick up the phone and call.

That's something we don't take lightly.

Two Houses. One Quick Decision.

By the time we connected, they had already done a lot of thinking about what they wanted and had narrowed their choices down to just two homes.

We toured them together, talked through the advantages and tradeoffs of each, and within only a few days of seeing the homes, they were under contract.

The winning house offered exactly the kind of flexibility they had been missing.

Set on a private dead-end street in Forest Heights and backing to a wooded setting, the home has space for virtually every part of their family's life.

There are multiple living areas, generous bedrooms, a main-floor office, a loft with built-in shelving and sitting area, a downstairs recreation room, exercise room and additional bedroom. Upstairs, the primary suite includes two walk-in closets, while the remodeled primary bath has quartz counters, a soaking tub and glass-enclosed shower. 

And for a family that needed more room, this house doesn't skimp on the less glamorous—but incredibly valuable—kind of space either. There are multiple storage closets, a dedicated basement storage room and an approximately 16' x 8' under-house storage area accessible from the backyard. 

A House Built for Everyday Family Life

The kitchen is one of our favorite parts of the house because it's clearly designed to be used.

It includes quartz countertops, a Viking Professional six-burner gas cooktop, Bosch dishwasher, touchless faucet, warming drawer, spacious pantry, soft-close cabinetry, under-cabinet lighting and even built-in spice racks. French doors from the breakfast nook lead directly to the deck. 

The home has also received a number of meaningful updates, including refinished hardwood floors and new air conditioning, new carpet, and a newer Presidential composition roof. 

Outside, the deck overlooks the greenery behind the home and includes an underlayment system designed to keep the lower deck dry—another feature that is especially useful in Portland. 

But the feature list isn't really what made this the right house.

It was how all of those pieces fit the life they wanted to create.

More room for the kids.

More room for guests.

Places to work, exercise and relax without everyone being on top of one another.

Trails outside the neighborhood for walks and adventures.

A community for their children.

And the schools they had been hoping for.

Our Favorite Part of This Sale

There are transactions we remember because of a difficult negotiation, an unusual house or some dramatic moment along the way.

We're going to remember this one because of the people.

These clients are friendly, hilarious, smart and practical. They asked great questions. They thought things through. They were enjoyable to be around from the very beginning.

Basically, they're the kind of clients you secretly hope will become friends after closing.

And that's one of the best parts of what we do.

A family initially discovered us because they noticed the way we represented another seller's home. They did their homework, learned about our experience and our involvement in the community, and decided we might be the right people to help them.

A few days and two house tours later, they were on their way to a new chapter in Forest Heights.

Congratulations to our clients on their beautiful new home.

We hope it gives their family all the room they need to grow—and that the trails, neighbors, schools, parks and community surrounding it become just as important to their story as the house itself.

Welcome home.