Moving from Bend to Kennewick: An RV, a Canceled Sale, and the Perfect Home

Here’s something we know inside real estate, but not a lot of buyers do: Sometimes you figure out what you really need only after you’ve started looking.

That was certainly the case with my wonderful clients, Roger and Jeannie, who moved to Kennewick from Bend, Oregon. They came to the Tri-Cities with a clear list of what they wanted. What they didn’t know was how that list would change during the process — there were houses that didn’t work and a deal that they walked away from. But the moment they walked through the right door, they knew it was a home that had everything on their list and none of the things that weren’t.

Hi, I’m Cari McGee. I’ve helped more than 650 people buy and sell homes in the Tri-Cities. This article is part of my Buyer Case Studies series, where I share real stories to show you what it’s like to buy a home in the Tri-Cities.

From Bend to the Tri-Cities

Roger and Jeannie were living in Bend, Oregon, and connected with me in early 2025 when they were passing through the Tri-Cities in their RV, exploring options. We looked at a house together, they liked the area, but then they went back to Bend. It was one of those situations where the timing just wasn’t right yet.

We stayed in touch. In April, we did some video tours and talked through the logistics of selling their home in Bend and buying here at the same time. I connected them with a trusted agent in Bend to handle their sale. By August, that house was under contract, and things moved fast from there. The cash buyer closed quickly, and suddenly Roger and Jeannie had very little time to figure out where they were going next.

On September 3rd, I got a message: “Hi Cari, we’re on our way to Kennewick. Will you be available?” I was! And we got to work.

Specific Needs, a Tight Budget, and a Deal That Fell Apart

Roger and Jeannie had a clear list of requirements. Single story. Room for their RV — either a garage or dedicated parking on the property. They had a budget they were firm about holding, around $500,000 to $525,000. And since they were relocating and paying cash, they wanted to move quickly once they found the right place.

We found a house that checked most of the boxes. It had been on the market for just two days, but we came in under asking with a cash offer, and we got it! Everyone was excited because offers below asking price usually don’t get accepted when the house has only been available for a couple days.

But the inspection turned up issues that gave Roger and Jeannie pause. They wanted out of the deal, and I respected that. It’s their home and their money, and my job is to support their decision, not talk them into something that doesn’t feel right.

We walked away from the contract, and they drove back to Bend in their RV.

Privately, I had a pretty strong feeling about where this was heading. The inspection reaction made me think that an older home with age-related wear was going to be a hard sell for them. If they were going to find something they felt confident enough to buy, I felt like it needed to be new construction.

The House Down the Street

In October, Roger and Jeannie came back to the Tri-Cities. By this point they were living in their RV and the search felt more urgent. We looked at a bunch of properties, each time working through the RV question:

Is there room here, and if not, what’s the nearest parking option?

We made plans to see a home in Kennewick that seemed like it might be a good fit. I knew there was a new construction home nearby listed at $550,000 that seemed exactly right for them. It was already finished — single story, the right layout, space for the RV, etc. The problem was the price. They had been clear about how much they wanted to spend, and $550,000 was a little above it. I don’t push clients to spend more than they’ve told me they can spend. That’s a line I won’t cross.

We went to see the home on that same street. It wasn’t quite right. But as we were leaving, they noticed the new construction home down the street and asked about it. I told them honestly: It’s $550,000, but here’s why I think it’s the one.

We walked in, and that was it. Brand new, move-in ready, and it checked everything on their list. Since it was new construction, the price wasn’t negotiable the way a traditional sale would be, but the builder did provide a credit at closing. Roger and Jeannie stretched their budget a little, but they got exactly what they wanted. And about a week later, they had the keys!

What Roger and Jeannie Said

They each left a review, which meant a lot to me. Roger wrote:

“Every trip, we found ourselves being hard to please. Cari was great about it all, never a discouraging word. She was a lot of fun to look at houses with, and by doing her homework, was able to find the house with all the things we liked, and none of the things we didn’t like. She cared and continues to care at a level I’ve never experienced.”

And Jeannie added: “Cari McGee gave us a better house hunting experience than we ever could have dreamed of. She really paid attention to all of our needs and was very patient.”

The moral of the story is that real estate doesn’t always move in a straight line. (Hint: It usually doesn’t!) Sometimes you don’t know exactly what you want until you get out there and start looking. And some searches take longer than others, too. That’s okay. My job isn’t to close a transaction as fast as possible, it’s to make sure you end up in the right home. For Roger and Jeannie, that took five months, multiple visits, one canceled deal, and a house they almost didn’t see.

But they’re happy now in a new home that’s just right. It was worth every bit of the journey to get there!

Is It Your Turn?

If you’re relocating to the Tri-Cities — whether from Bend, somewhere else in Oregon, or somewhere beyond — and want someone who will stay with you through the whole process, however long it takes, reach out anytime. I’d love to chat and see how I can help.

-Cari