For a 2nd time, Kathleen well exceeded our expectations and we are grateful.
About 8 years ago, we looked to move from our home in Concord to our present home in Benicia. At that time the real estate market was increasing in value rapidly in both markets, and to make the transition was going to be challenging to say the least. We were fortunate to engage Kathleen Olsen as our agent in Benicia, and in a very tight market helped us coordinate the sale and leverage our equity to our present home, well beyond our expectations. To say that we are thankful is an understatement. The result is that we have been extremely happy in this hidden gem of a town, full of artists, friendly neighbors, and people that walk very small dogs.
Our son has been renting a house we purchased in Concord so he could be near the high school our grandson attended. Our grandson graduated a couple of years ago and at a family dinner, I asked everyone, why are we maintaining a home in Concord? Why don't we sell the house and buy something comparable in Benicia area so we can experience the magic of the town we love? How hard could it be? Ahhh - famous last words.
So we called Kathleen again, and we laid out all the relevant information for her and that our objective was to have our family close so we can all enjoy the community that we have learned to love. We determined that a 1031 Exchange would save a lot on capital gains taxes. The challenge was that this would require that the sale and the purchase would need to be timed precisely. She helps us figure out all the components about how we are going to pull this off, and then helped us put together all the pieces.
First, she told us that it would best to secure another agent for the sale who knows that market. She introduced us to Greg Sousa, and worked with Kathleen, communicating every stage of the process. While the property was being readied for sale, the family started exploring homes in Benicia area. We finally found a home that fit our son's family's needs, and then put the Concord house on the market. As is common in this market, we had a mountain of offers. We picked the offer that met our needs and our timeline. We then worked on securing the home we wanted to purchase.
Kathleen did a masterful job of negotiating the price and the terms. We were on pins and needles. The market is unusually sparse and trying to find an alternative home brings uncertainty. I think the skill she had was to manage our expectations and anxiety against her experience in this marketplace to get us a fair deal that we would be happy with. She helped us stay the course with our emotions in check, and the result is that we are able to move our son and family within 10 minutes of us and be able to enjoy the rest of our lives sharing adventures with the people we love.
We are so grateful to Kathleen and her team, as well as all her colleagues who for a 2nd time has changed the trajectory of our lives.
For a 2nd time, Kathleen well exceeded our expectations and we are grateful. read more