From Boring — But Definitely Not Boring
I grew up as Leslie DeMain in the little town of Boring, Oregon—yes, it really is a place! I'm a seventh-generation Oregonian and have lived in or around the Portland metropolitan area for most of my life. Oregon isn't simply where I sell real estate; it's home.
I've watched Portland and its surrounding communities grow and change over the decades, and that lifetime of local knowledge comes in handy when helping clients decide not only which house to buy, but where they want to live.
Experience That Matters
I have been a licensed REALTOR® in Oregon since 1998 and joined John L. Scott Real Estate in early 1999. Now a Principal Broker, I've spent more than 28 years helping people buy and sell homes throughout the Portland Metro area and surrounding communities.
I've received numerous sales and production awards throughout my career, but the accomplishment I value most is that much of my business comes from repeat clients and referrals. I've had clients return years later for their next move—and I've been fortunate to help their friends, parents, children and other family members as well.
Over the years, I've also been active in the real estate profession, serving as a Director for the East Metro Association of REALTORS®, chairing the local Multi-Million Dollar Club, participating in Governmental Affairs, serving on the John L. Scott President's Advisory Council, and participating in a fraud prevention group of real estate and law-enforcement professionals.
Real estate changes constantly. Continuing education, market statistics, changing laws and regulations, technology and good old-fashioned experience all play a part in staying current.
More Than Putting a Sign in the Yard
Good real estate representation is about much more than putting a listing in the MLS, taking a few photos or opening doors for a buyer.
I'm naturally curious and detail-oriented. I've been called a "sponge for knowledge," and that's probably accurate. I want to understand the property, the market and the transaction well enough to help my clients make informed decisions.
That can mean researching property history and permits, analyzing comparable sales, studying current inventory and market trends, looking closely at disclosures and inspection reports, helping prepare a property for market, or working through the inevitable surprises that can arise between an accepted offer and closing.
I also believe good communication and negotiation go hand in hand. Sometimes the best negotiation isn't the loudest one—it's knowing the facts, understanding the priorities of the parties involved and finding a way to keep a transaction moving forward while protecting my client's interests.
City, Suburban & Rural
My experience isn't limited to one type of home or neighborhood.
I've represented properties throughout the Portland Metro area and Northwest Oregon—from Portland neighborhoods and suburban subdivisions to condos, estates, investment properties, acreage and rural homes.
And rural real estate is a world of its own.
Wells. Septic systems. Shops. Barns. Arenas. Outbuildings. Fencing. Creeks. Timber. Water rights. Multiple tax lots. Access issues. Zoning. Legal—and sometimes not-so-legal—additions and second dwellings.
My rural-property experience is personal as well as professional. My family has owned acreage in Oregon's Coast Range for decades, and we also live on nearly two acres in rural, unincorporated Gresham. Over the years we've raised cattle, pigs and chickens, and I'm comfortable with the equipment and work that come with maintaining country property—from tractors and excavators to chainsaws and brush clearing.
I've also learned firsthand that some of the most important questions about rural property can't be answered simply by looking at a listing or a tax record. Years ago, we discovered a lot-of-record issue involving our own property and spent nearly two years working through Multnomah County to correct it. Experiences like that taught me not only what questions to ask, but where to go and who to talk to when the answer isn't obvious.
That doesn't mean I have every answer—and a good broker shouldn't pretend to. It means I know when something deserves a closer look and how to help my clients find the information and professionals they need to make an informed decision.
Unique properties don't scare me. They usually make me curious.
Analytical — With a Creative Side
Numbers have always come easily to me, and analyzing a real estate market is one of the parts of the business I particularly enjoy. Pricing isn't simply finding three nearby sales and averaging them. Location, condition, improvements, land, amenities, competition, inventory and today's market all matter.
But real estate isn't only numbers.
I also have a background and longtime interest in writing, journalism and photography. Those skills are especially useful when I'm marketing a property. I want to identify what makes a home or property special and make sure potential buyers actually see it—whether that's a beautiful kitchen, an enormous shop, a territorial view or some easily overlooked feature that may be exactly what the right buyer has been searching for.
Technology gives us wonderful tools for research, communication and marketing, but technology is just that—a tool. Experience, judgment and personal service still matter.
Living Life as a Contribution
John L. Scott's philosophy of “Living Life as a Contribution®” has always resonated with me because it reflects how I try to approach both my work and my life.
I'm a two-time cancer survivor. Having faced cancer twice—and being blessed to survive it twice—has given me a deep appreciation for every minute of life we're given. I try to live those minutes intentionally, make them count, and appreciate the people, experiences and everyday moments along the way. My faith is an important part of that perspective and of my gratitude for the gift of simply being here to live it.
Giving back is part of that intentionality. I support the John L. Scott Foundation and its fundraising efforts benefiting children's hospitals, including OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital, which holds a special place in my heart for personal reasons. Our individual contributions often help support events and fundraising efforts that multiply what we're able to give—helping children and their families when they need it most.
I'm also part of a longtime first-responder family, with close ties to law enforcement, fire service and EMS. Over the years, I've had the privilege of working with many first responders and their families. I understand the unusual demands of those careers and am accustomed to working around shift work, nights, weekends and changing schedules—because neither real life nor real estate always happens between 9 and 5.
When I'm not working in real estate, you'll often find me with a camera in my hand, working on one of our rural properties, gardening, hiking, reading, writing, exploring Oregon, or heading off on a road trip with family or friends. I'm fascinated by Oregon history and particularly enjoy the stories of the people and places that made this state what it is.
Whether I'm working, spending time with the people I love, photographing something beautiful I happened to notice, working on the property, or simply enjoying another Oregon day, I try to live intentionally—to appreciate each moment I've been given and, whenever I can, contribute something worthwhile to it.
28+ Years of Helping People Move
The map below shows many of the homes and properties I've helped clients buy and sell over the years.
Those dots represent everything from first homes to final homes, moves across town and moves out of state, city houses and country acreage, happy occasions and sometimes difficult transitions.
But behind every dot is a client—and a story.
If you're thinking about buying or selling, I'd be happy to talk with you about yours.
Local Expertise. Proven Results. Personal Service.