Behind the Deal | How It Really Went Down

13180 Bodega Hwy | Sebastopol | $1,079,000

“This deal almost didn’t happen.”

THE STORY

Some sales look easy from the outside.

This one was anything but.

I met these buyers through a referral from a parent at my son’s jiu-jitsu class. They were relocating their family from Michigan back to Sonoma County—a place they loved and had long dreamed of returning to. The husband, a Coast Guard officer, had been stationed in Valley Ford years ago and never stopped wanting to come back.

“By the time we met, they were exhausted.”They had already lost out on three homes while working with an out-of-area agent from Los Angeles. Each loss made them question whether this move was even meant to happen.

When they flew into town, the first home we toured went into contract while we were standing inside it. Another offer followed—then another loss to a cash buyer during counters. That was the moment they decided to pause everything and wait until spring.

“Then an off-market opportunity came up.”

A month later, I heard about a property that never hit the open market—and immediately thought of them.

They weren’t in town, so I previewed the home with their jiu-jitsu friend and FaceTimed them through every detail. They liked it, but we toured one more for comparison.

That second home was the one.

When they realized it was directly across the street from a house they had tried to buy months earlier, everything clicked.

THE RESULT

“Strong offer. Accepted.”

Inspections were clean.

Staging was secured at no additional cost.

We closed the sale before they ever saw the home in person.

When they finally arrived a week later, they loved it even more than they expected.

They were home.

THE TAKEAWAY

“This wasn’t luck—it was strategy.”

This deal happened because of local knowledge, strong relationships, and knowing how to navigate a competitive market when things feel discouraging. It’s about recognizing when to move quickly, when to wait, and how to uncover opportunities others never see.

It’s also a reminder of something I’m incredibly grateful for:

99% of my business comes from referrals.

From friends. From clients. From readers like you.

IN CONCLUSION

If you—or someone you care about—are feeling stuck, discouraged, or unsure how to move forward in this market, I’d love to help.

📩 Send me a message.

Even a quick conversation can change everything.

Thank you for trusting me, supporting me, and continuing to send wonderful people my way. I don’t take that lightly.

Warm Regards,

Jen

Jennifer Klein, REALTOR®

707.536.3019

[email protected]