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Some real estate deals unfold in quiet conference rooms. Others involve spreadsheets, strategy sessions, and neatly timed deadlines. And then… there are the ones that happen while you’re standing on a cliffside, holding your phone up to the sky like you’re trying to summon a signal from the gods.
This past August, I had the pleasure of helping a wonderful couple purchase a scenic vacant lot on Piuma Road in Malibu (yes, that Malibu) during what might have been the most outdoorsy real estate transaction of my career. The property was going up for auction, and my clients were determined to give it their best shot. I was determined to make it happen for them… even if I had to do it from the wilderness.
Seven Rounds of Counteroffers From the Road
The auction kicked off as I was packing my kids into the car for a long-planned road trip to Crater Lake, OR. Because who doesn’t love embarking on a fast-paced yet drawn-out real estate transaction while driving through national forests and hunting for dependable Wi-Fi?
My kids looked for waterfalls; I looked for hotspots.
They asked for snacks; I asked the universe for stable reception.
Teamwork.
The auction escalated quickly, round after round after round. Seven days in total. Every evening, on the days counteroffers came in, I went back into “agent mode,” even if I’d been in “outdoor-adventurer mode” thirty seconds earlier. But we stayed focused, we strategized, and in the end…
We won.
Crater Lake Oregon
Escrow Begins, and So Does the Hunt for Cell Service
Naturally, the moment escrow opened, I was on a ferry heading to a remote campground on the Channel Islands. The seller’s agent was aware of my plight, and I had a fellow agent on stand-by to help as needed because I was expecting zero service on the island. Imagine my surprise as we get there and the ranger informs us about the presence of wifi by the visitor center. I hated myself for not bringing my laptop along, because filling out all those forms and dealing with DocuSign on a phone was PAINFUL. Picture me roaming around at regular intervals, arms reaching in different directions, whispering motivational words to my phone in hopes it would find just one bar of wifi, because you did not expect it to have a strong signal, did you? And then filling out pages and pages of agreements and then tapping the wrong pixel on the phone screen and losing everything. I cried more than once, NGL.
Santa Cruz Islans, Channel Islands NP
Closing in 10 Days. Because Why Not Add a Little Extra Challenge?
Despite the rugged setting, the bouncing between campground and visitor center, and the occasional “Please hold, I’m losing service, but it should be back in 10 seconds,” everything came together beautifully. The sellers were cooperative, my clients were wonderfully calm (bless them), and escrow closed in just 10 days.
The Best Part? The Reason Behind It All
This was a VERY small transaction, one of those deals that, on paper, might only earn an agent a few hundred dollars. But here’s the thing: every client gets the same commitment from me, whether they’re buying a multi-million-dollar estate or a humble sliver of land.
Real estate isn’t about the size of the commission. It’s about the size of the dream.
And my clients’ dream was to own a piece of Malibu.
Now they do.
My clients’ sliver of Malibu
Everyone Ends Happy. Especially Me.
We crossed the finish line with smiles all around. They have their new Malibu lot with breathtaking views, and I have a great new story about juggling auctions, escrows, camping trips, and mom life—all at once.
Honestly? I’d do it again in a heartbeat. (Really. Wanna purchase a property? Or sell one? My next travel plans are Dec 20-26, February 12-18 (this time frame would be great, ’cause I’ll be traveling internationally. It would be the best challenge!)
