Back in the Future!

The title is a reminder of where my career in Portland real estate started.  My first clients (in Portland), Justin and Cheryl, were distraught.  They had an agent that wouldn’t answer calls, handed them over to an assistant, and made them feel unimportant.  That agent had become very successful but was “a friend” so they just accepted his advice.  After moving on and deciding they weren’t able to buy a home we had met talked real estate and I said I would love to help them.  We searched and found a place soon after.  They have lived there for 2 years and called me again.

They wanted to find something with a yard and more space for their growing family of 3 girls.  We talked about what it would take to buy a home.  All of their money was tied into the home they purchased with me.  We came up with a plan with a tight timeline and a contingent offer.  This became even tighter due to their townhome going under contract in just a few days.  We searched and they considered homes that required lot’s of work, money, and possibly dangerous scenarios for  their kids.  We had just toured a home that had holes in the floor, smelled of cat urine, and had a junkyard next door.  We talked outside and they both brought up a home that was nearby but was not listed as FHA.  I called the agent and asked if the seller would consider an FHA offer and with our situation of being contingent we would be more inclined to close but also a higher risk.  He said he would think about it.

We went to the home that day and I could tell they loved it.  The girls went straight to the back yard and started running around.  Justin and Cheryl couldn’t believe how much space was in the home.  They also found out they knew some people in the area and the home was closer to work for Justin.  We immediately made an offer that was accepted and we are moving in this week!

Justin and I were talking at the home during the final walkthrough about how 2 years ago nobody would help them buy a home.  He couldn’t believe where they were now and how real estate has helped them realize their dreams.

Ben Samson

Broker

I have been told by many people that "Portlanders don't like outsiders". Well I'm not from here. I come from a place that rates high in food culture, architectural history, and questionable politics. It's called Chicago and I miss it a lot and loved being born and raised there. That being said, I am not going back. I came here to Portland for a visit and couldn't get it out of my mind. The proximity of Mt. Hood and all of its wonders, the food carts, the waterfalls, the Gorge...are just a few of the beautiful aspects of this state that spoke to me. I moved here in July 2013. The first year of living here I wondered if I would stay despite the aforementioned qualities of Portland and Oregon in general. The more I worked and had some introspective moments the more I realized, I'm staying because of the people. Portland and its people are nice. Plain old nice and proud. They are open and welcoming. They ask "What made you want to move here?" knowing that they want to share their reasons for living here. The air here is literally and figuratively clean. I've had multiple conversations with people about their love of Oregon and all it has to offer. A LITTLE MORE... I went to college for business, dropped out, went back and finished with a degree in healthcare. Then went back to finish my BS in Business Administration with a minor in International Finance. While working in some of the busiest Emergency Departments in Chicago, Manhattan, and San Francisco I was always searching for more. I co-founded a sports uniform business that supplied basketball uniforms to approximately 45 schools throughout the city of Chicago. After selling my shares to the co-founder I obtained my Realtor license in Chicago in July of 2007. I became rookie of the year for my company and fell in love with all things real estate. Now I'm here and have purposely waited to obtain my Portland Realtor license until I felt I could speak to clients about the neighborhoods, schools, personalities, and quirks of Portland. I want to share my knowledge and new found love for Portland and its people with others and help them find their LIVING ROOM.

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• T: 503-217-4449
• F: 503-961-8224
• ben@livingroomre.com