Hi! Melissa’s daughter Kylee here. It’s been a while since I wrote a blog post, so I wanted to share an update about our move and the journey so far. My mom mentioned we were moving, and if you follow either of us on Instagram you might have seen some behind-the-scenes footage and home tours from our search. We saved those Stories to highlights on our profiles if you want to catch up (@kynoelle, @theinspiredroom, @courtneylane1).
A little background: I’ve shared here over the years about our Seattle townhome (pictured above with one of our pups, Leo). It was the first home my husband and I owned and it served us well for seven years while we settled into careers and life after college.
At the end of 2019 we began planning updates: paint the wood cabinets, replace the dark granite tile countertop with something lighter, swap the lighting, and refresh the fireplace tile. I even made a very rough mockup of a new kitchen look.
Then the pandemic hit and we paused those plans. Like many, we hunkered down and delayed projects that required contractors and visitors. During those months our priorities shifted: I already worked from home and my husband’s job offered remote work permanently, so we decided rather than invest more into the townhouse we were ready to move on to the next chapter.
We began house hunting last summer and put in several offers, always coming close but getting outbid. The photo below is one we almost secured—the first place we bid on. After losing a few times, we realized selling our townhome first would let us make stronger, more competitive offers.
In April we sold the townhouse and moved into my parents’ basement apartment temporarily while we continued the search. We hoped the equity from our sale would give us an advantage, but the market grew even more intense. Homes we loved were drawing 20 offers, many all-cash, often waiving inspections and appraisals, and sometimes selling for hundreds of thousands over asking price—sometimes $300,000 or more above list. In recent weeks many of the houses we liked ended up at least $150,000 over list. The Washington market has always been competitive, but this was a new level of frenzy. I know many of you have experienced similar bidding wars in your areas.
We put offers on many types of homes—in suburbs, near a lake (close to where Courtney lives), out in farm country, in the woods, on islands, and in the city. It’s been an emotional roller coaster imagining life in so many different places. Often we didn’t even find many homes that matched our tastes, and when we did it was disheartening to be outbid repeatedly. We tried to stay patient and avoid getting swept into decisions that felt risky or regrettable.
While our search focused mostly in Washington, we were open to the broader Pacific Northwest and even considered Portland, Oregon, where we grew up. The PNW has a special pull for us—the lush forests, outdoor lifestyle, mild climate, beautiful summers and autumns, relaxed people, and cozy vibes. Even the rain feels welcome compared to the stereotypes.
A few weeks ago, while visiting family in Portland, we toured an open house and immediately fell in love. After a year of searching, we finally had an offer accepted. We’re thrilled, shocked, and a bit nervous—definitely a mix of emotions. It’s bittersweet to be putting more distance between us and my parents and siblings, but we’ll still be close enough to visit frequently. We’re already thinking of trips between our locations as chances to enjoy each of our favorite cities—almost like having vacation spots nearby.
We’re not worried about feeling isolated: we have lots of friends and family in Portland, including Lance’s mom, so it already feels like home in many ways. We’re excited to share the house with you soon. We absolutely love it—it’s charming as-is and has plenty of potential for us to make it our own. I’ll take you on a full tour and share our renovation and decorating plans very soon.
Stay tuned here and on Instagram (@kynoelle and @theinspiredroom) for updates. If you’re a blog subscriber you might even get an exclusive sneak peek of the house first.