Happy July, friends!
Often in this newsletter, I write about the big things - multiple offers, record-breaking sales, and beautiful homes selling well over asking.
This month, I want to tell you about two little things that remind me why I love this job.
First Home Ever
After searching for almost a year, my client - who has also been my plumber for the past 30 years - will get the keys to his first home on Friday.
This escrow has not been easy.
He's a first-generation, first-time homebuyer. English is his second language. He's self-employed. Each of those brought its own challenges, and together they created a financing puzzle that seemed to invent a new obstacle every week.
One thing this transaction reminded me is that buying a home isn't just about finding the right house. It's about having people in your corner who know how to navigate financing, contracts, taxes, DocuSign, inspections, and all the other things no one teaches you.
A huge thank you to Brenda Wyatt at LaSalle Mortgage, who somehow kept finding creative solutions every time another hurdle appeared.
I can't wait to hand my plumber and his family the keys.
(And yes, if you need a fantastic plumber who's kind, reliable, and reasonably priced, I know a guy.)
The Little House That Could
This week, my new listing at 7848 Hillmont went live.
It's not a sprawling Montclair view home or a stately Berkeley Craftsman. It's a 500-square-foot cottage with a detached bonus structure on 1/3 acre lot in Oakland's Eastmont Hills.
On paper, it has some challenges.
The sellers bought at the height of the market. The neighborhood isn't as well known. The detached structure can't be marketed as an ADU, even though the sellers used it that way.
But here's what doesn't show up on paper.
A backyard that feels like a boutique resort. Bay views from the porch. A fire pit. Hot tub. Covered outdoor living room. Raised garden beds. Space to breathe. Space to dream.
For the past five months, Ilan Penson and I have worked with an incredible team of vendors, contractors, and stagers to help this property become the best version of itself. Every buyer who walks through the gate says the same thing:
"Wow, this is incredible!"
Now our job is simply getting the right people through that gate.
If you know someone who's looking for something beyond the cookie-cutter, send them my way.
Sometimes the smallest houses have the biggest stories.
If you know someone who is interested in buying, selling, or investing in real estate, I would appreciate your referral.
With Gratitude,
Marissa
P.S. Follow me on Instagram; if nothing else, you'll laugh.
