Our Big Land Deal in Redmond
Some real estate deals are simple. Others? They turn into long-term projects with unexpected twists, late-night brainstorming sessions, and the kind of negotiation work that makes you feel like you’re playing 4D chess. This land sale we’ve been working on? Definitely one of those. And now, after years of discussions, strategizing, and a whole lot of persistence, we officially have six properties under contract with Murray Franklyn—a huge step forward in bringing this vision to life.
How It All Started
It all began with a single home on English Hill in Redmond. A family inherited the property and wasn’t sure what to do next. Should they sell as-is? Renovate? Rent it out? Hold onto it? We ran through every option, crunching numbers and looking at the long game. That’s when I noticed something interesting—a home across the street had almost been part of a development deal before, but it fell through because the neighborhood was still on septic. Bringing in sewer access would be a huge investment, making things tricky for any developer.
And that’s when the lightbulb went off: What if multiple homeowners worked together?
From One Seller to a Movement
So, I did what I do best—hit the pavement, knocked on doors, and sent letters to see if anyone else was interested. Some neighbors were immediately curious, others skeptical, and a few were like, “Thanks, but no thanks.” Totally fair! But for those who wanted to hear more, we hosted a virtual meeting to lay out the possibilities. That one conversation turned into a full-scale neighborhood effort, and what started as a single property sale turned into a multi-year project that could reshape this entire area.
Where We Are Now
Right now, 11 properties have the potential to be part of this sale. If all of them eventually sell? We’re talking about a development that could support more than 50 new homes.
Murray Franklyn saw the potential, and as we started putting agreements together, the energy shifted. Homeowners who were on the fence got excited when they realized their homes could sell for nearly double what they’d get on the open market. (That part never gets old—watching a seller go from “I don’t know...” to “Wait... how much?”)
Now, after years of ups and downs, we’ve officially hit a major milestone: six properties under contract. That’s the magic number needed to start a feasibility study with the county to see what’s actually possible. There are still plenty of unknowns—Will the study uncover unexpected roadblocks? Will more homeowners join in? What infrastructure updates will be needed? But this is the exciting part.
Why This Deal Matters
For me, this isn’t just a big real estate deal—it’s personal. Every home involved belongs to a family with memories, history, and stories. Watching this process unfold, seeing skeptical homeowners turn into enthusiastic sellers, and knowing we’re helping shape their financial futures of the current homeowners, as well as what comes next for this neighborhood? That’s what makes this work so rewarding.
Bryndis and I are thrilled to be part of this transformation, and we’ll keep you updated every step of the way. Who knows what the feasibility study will reveal? Stay tuned—this is just the beginning!