The Place Portland Team

DM us if you’re thinking about selling and want to position your home correctly from day one

Buyers may finally have some negotiating power again.

For the past several years, buyers got used to competing hard.

Multiple offers.

Waived contingencies.

Very little room to negotiate.

But in many parts of the Portland market, we are starting to see buyers regain some leverage.

Seller concessions are becoming more common.

That can mean closing cost credits.

Repair negotiations.

Rate buy-downs.

Or more flexible timelines.

And certain price points are definitely softer than others right now.

Especially homes that are overpriced, need work, or have been sitting on the market longer.

That creates opportunity for buyers who are patient, prepared, and strategic.

Now, that does not mean every home is suddenly a bargain.

And it definitely does not mean competition has disappeared.

Well-prepared homes in desirable neighborhoods can still move quickly.

But overall, buyers today often have more room to negotiate than they have had in quite a while.

So if you have been sitting on the sidelines, it may be a good time to reach out and look at a few places.

The right opportunity may look different than it did a year or two ago.

Ben Droukas & Amy Walsh-Droukas
Principal Brokers with Windermere Realty Trust in OR, Brokers with Compass in WA

DM us if you’re thinking about selling and want to position your home correctly from day one

When people compare Portland to other West Coast cities, there are a few things that consistently make it stand out.

First, affordability. While Portland has certainly become more expensive over the years, it remains more accessible than places like Seattle, the Bay Area, and much of Southern California—especially if you're looking for a home with actual yard space, character, and room to breathe.

Second, the lifestyle balance here is hard to replicate. You can enjoy a true neighborhood-oriented community feel while still being minutes from incredible restaurants, coffee shops, outdoor recreation, and some of the best natural scenery in the country.

And third, Portland has a level of architectural personality that many newer cities simply don't have. People here value character homes, unique neighborhoods, local businesses, and individuality. There's a real appreciation for places that feel authentic.

Is Portland perfect? Of course not. No city is.

But for many people, the combination of lifestyle, nature, creativity, and relative value is exactly what keeps them here for the long term.

What do you think makes Portland different from other West Coast cities?

Ben Droukas & Amy Walsh-Droukas
Principal Brokers with Windermere Realty Trust in OR, Brokers with Compass in WA

Reach out if you want help understanding what buying could realistically look like for you

When it comes to selling a home, the way a property feels can be just as important as its features.

A well-staged home helps buyers emotionally connect to the space and picture themselves actually living there. It creates a sense of comfort, possibility, and belonging that empty rooms often can’t convey.

Staging also improves how a home flows. Strategic furniture placement can make rooms feel larger, more functional, and more intentional. That changes how buyers experience the home—both online and in person.

Photos almost always perform better when a home feels styled and cohesive.

Today’s buyers scroll through listings incredibly fast. Staging helps your property stand out, capture attention, and stay memorable long after they've moved on to the next listing.

The goal isn’t to make your home look fake or over-designed.

It’s to help buyers see its full potential.

It may seem like a small detail, but it’s something we’ve seen pay off for sellers time and time again.

If you're thinking about selling and want advice on how to prepare your home to attract stronger buyer interest, feel free to reach out.

Ben Droukas & Amy Walsh-Droukas
Principal Brokers with Windermere Realty Trust in Oregon and Brokers with Compass in Washington.

Reach out if you want help understanding what buying could realistically look like for you.

Buying a home? At some point, you're going to choose a Realtor to work with.

And that relationship will often include signing something called a Buyer Broker Agreement.

A lot of buyers get nervous when they hear that because it sounds formal. But when it's done right, it actually creates more clarity, transparency, and protection for you throughout the process.

First, it clearly defines representation and expectations. Everyone understands how the relationship works, what services are being provided, and who is advocating for your best interests every step of the way.

Second, it allows your agent to fully invest in helping you succeed. From building a strategy and touring homes to negotiating terms and navigating challenges, your agent is committed to guiding you from start to finish.

Third, it creates transparency around compensation upfront so there are no surprises later. Commissions are always negotiable, and the agreement helps outline how that process works before you're under contract on a home.

At the end of the day, a good Buyer Broker Agreement shouldn't feel like pressure. It should feel like a clear plan for how you and your agent are going to work together to achieve your goals.

Have questions about what a Buyer Broker Agreement means or how it works in today's market? Send us a message. We're always happy to help.

Ben Droukas & Amy Walsh-Droukas
Principal Brokers with Windermere Realty Trust in OR, Brokers with Compass in WA

Buying a home? At some point, you're going to choose a Realtor to work with.

And that relationship will often include signing something called a Buyer Broker Agreement.

A lot of buyers get nervous when they hear that because it sounds formal. But when it's done right, it actually creates more clarity, transparency, and protection for you throughout the process.

First, it clearly defines representation and expectations. Everyone understands how the relationship works, what services are being provided, and who is advocating for your best interests every step of the way.

Second, it allows your agent to fully invest in helping you succeed. From building a strategy and touring homes to negotiating terms and navigating challenges, your agent is committed to guiding you from start to finish.

Third, it creates transparency around compensation upfront so there are no surprises later. Commissions are always negotiable, and the agreement helps outline how that process works before you're under contract on a home.

At the end of the day, a good Buyer Broker Agreement shouldn't feel like pressure. It should feel like a clear plan for how you and your agent are going to work together to achieve your goals.

Have questions about what a Buyer Broker Agreement means or how it works in today's market? Send us a message. We're always happy to help.

Ben Droukas & Amy Walsh-Droukas
Principal Brokers with Windermere Realty Trust in OR, Brokers with Compass in WA

DM us if you’re thinking about selling and want to position your home correctly from day one.

We work throughout the entire Portland metro area, on both the Oregon and Washington sides of the river.

Our personal experiences and years in the business have given us a deep familiarity with many different communities across the region. That includes Portland, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Happy Valley, Beaverton, Tigard, Sherwood, Vancouver, and many surrounding areas. Depending on the situation, we also help clients in wine country and as far south as Salem.

A big part of that comes from our own roots in the area. Ben grew up and went to school in Beaverton, Amy lived in Salem for several years, and we have family spread throughout the metro area. Because of that, these communities are personally familiar to us—not just places where we've sold homes.

One of the most important things we help our clients figure out isn't just which house is the right fit—it's which community will truly feel like home for years to come.

Ben Droukas & Amy Walsh-Droukas
Principal Brokers with Windermere Realty Trust in OR, Brokers with Compass in WA

DM us if you’re thinking about selling and want to position your home correctly from day one

How do you buy and sell a house at the same time?

It’s one of the most common questions we get—and the answer is usually less about luck and more about strategy.

Every situation is different. We look at things like whether you need the proceeds from your current home to purchase the next one, how competitive the market is, and whether it makes more sense to buy first or sell first. The right approach depends on your goals, finances, and timeline.

One concern we hear often is:

“What if my home sells and I haven’t found the next one yet?”

That’s where options like a rent-back can be incredibly helpful. A rent-back allows you to stay in your home temporarily after closing while you continue searching for your next property. It creates breathing room, flexibility, and helps remove some of the pressure from the process.

We also work with a lender that offers a strong Buy Before You Sell program. For some homeowners, that means securing the next home first, then taking the time to fully prepare, stage, and strategically launch the current home afterward. In many cases, that can reduce stress and help maximize the final sales price.

There are a lot of moving parts when you're buying and selling simultaneously, but with the right plan, clear communication, and experienced guidance, the process can be much smoother than most people expect.

The goal is simple: reduce stress, create clarity, and make sure you always know what your next step is.

Questions about your situation? Send us a message and we're happy to walk through your options.

Ben Droukas & Amy Walsh-Droukas
Principal Brokers with Windermere Realty Trust in OR, Brokers with Compass in WA

DM us if you’re thinking about buying your Portland dream home

One of the most common questions we hear from both buyers and sellers is:

**"What fees should I actually expect during the real estate transaction process?"**

The truth is, every transaction is a little different, but understanding the major costs upfront can help you plan with confidence and avoid surprises later.

For buyers, the biggest upfront expenses are typically your down payment, closing costs, inspections, and moving expenses.

Closing costs can include lender fees, title fees, prepaid taxes, and insurance. And in today's Portland Metro market, we're still seeing sellers frequently contribute toward things like a buyer's agent commission and, in some cases, buyer closing costs as part of the overall negotiation. Since commissions are always negotiable and every brokerage structures services differently, it's important to understand how these costs apply to your specific situation.

When seller contributions are available, they can help buyers preserve more cash for their down payment and future reserves.

For sellers, costs often include REALTOR® commissions, title and escrow fees, potential repairs, staging, prep work, and sometimes concessions toward buyer closing costs.

That's why we make it a priority to walk our clients through estimated net sheets and detailed cost breakdowns before the transaction moves forward. The more clarity you have at the beginning, the smoother the process becomes from contract to closing.

If you're planning to buy or sell and want a realistic picture of what the numbers look like, we're always happy to help.

Ben Droukas & Amy Walsh-Droukas
Principal Brokers with Windermere Realty Trust in OR, Brokers with Compass in WA