05/06/2026
Some homes sit on the market for a reason. And this one had a few.
Dated finishes. Deferred maintenance. A leaking roof. Originally listed at $1.4 million — then dropped to $1,299,000 — and still sitting. But walk through the back of that house and your jaw drops. Unobstructed 180-degree views — ocean, mountains, and the Channel Islands all at once.
My clients didn't see a problem property. They saw home. Family nearby, with that view as the backdrop to every Sunday dinner.
My job was to make sure they didn't overpay for someone else's deferred dreams.
Before we ever got deep into negotiation, we brought in 5 — yes, five — contractor inspections. Roofers. General contractors. Specialists. Because when a home has deferred maintenance at this price point, you don't guess. You get real numbers, real scopes, and you walk into that negotiation armed with facts, not feelings.
And then we fought.
We opened low. The seller pushed back. We went back and forth — more than once. The roof alone was a negotiation unto itself. Every round, I had to balance holding the line for my clients without losing the deal entirely. That tension is real, and it doesn't resolve itself. It takes strategy, patience, and knowing exactly when to push and when to give just enough.
We closed at $1,270,000. Nearly $30,000 under asking on a property that needed real work — and had one of the most breathtaking views in Ventura County.
Most people see the sold sign. They don't see the five contractor walkthroughs, the rounds of negotiation, the repair credits fought for, the calls at night running numbers to make sure this investment actually made sense for family relocating to the beach.
That's the job. And I love it. The BEST part?? They just found out their first grandbaby is on the way!
To my clients — your grandbaby is going to grow up with the Pacific Ocean as their backyard view, surrounded by so much love. I am so honored I got to be part of this chapter. 🤍
__
