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ABOUT US

JarrettMeet Jarrett Altman
Principal Broker/Owner
When I first moved to Portland 15 years ago, I knew right away that this is where I wanted to be. I felt at home when I was out running, and I felt at home when I was working on something. I met my husband, Bob, ran my first marathon, and bought a fixer in Hawthorne. Our home was considered a duplex, but it is actually two little houses on one lot, which we affectionately named Vern and Velma after the original owners. The homes were barely livable and most people would have likely torn them down and built a “real” house, but we looked at them as an opportunity to work on something together and to afford a home in a neighborhood we loved. We have been restoring them ever since. I’ve met great people in my own neighborhood and I think It’s important to feel like you are a part of something. Bob and I started with a project, but a livelihood ensued combining our interests in planning, old houses, and our desire to create something special. Neighborhoods involve houses, and businesses, but more importantly they involve people, both homeowners and renters alike. We continued on buying fixers that we have restored and now rent, and have become even more vested in our neighborhood as our business evolves. Starting Neighborhood Works was a way to do everything we love, and do it together. We still live in one of our original two houses and are currently working to restore the other to create an office and meeting space for Neighborhood Works and guesthouse for the neighborhood.

  • I have a B.A. in English Literature from the University of New Hampshire.
  • I am a certified Eco-Broker through the Earth Advantage program and have been a broker for over 10 years.
  • I've run 13 marathons around the country and Europe with my husband and am now training for the Newport, OR Marathon.
  • Our latest project is restoring a 1906 Craftsman Home in Hood River where we go with our daughter, Justine and dog Silas whenever possible.

TracyMeet Tracy Dau
Broker
Another old house and neighborhood enthusiast, Tracy has worked with me for the past 5 years. Her background lies in Fine Arts and also restoring homes with an eye to the artistic. She is an experienced color consultant and has worked for Rejuvenation House Parts helping people design everything in their home from lighting, to color palettes. She is compassionate, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to her clients.

  • Tracy has a B.F.A. from University of Tubingen in Germany.
  • Tracy also builds outside chairs and benches from reclaimed wood, which you may see on many porches around Portland!
  • Tracy lives in the Hawthorne neighborhood with her husband, Nate, and two children, Lander and Olivia.

SarahMeet Sarah Knight,
Broker
Sarah joined Neighborhood Works in the fall of 2009 and is proving to be a dedicated and inspired colleague.  Her degree in  Business and Marketing is a great asset, but it is her personal journey of caretaking for her parents that makes her an exceptional person and broker.  Sarah’s empathetic nature allows her to really listen to her clients,  helping them to embrace the process of taking a space and making it a home.  Her passion for sustainable living, including naturopathic health, is what drives her to identify a home as more than a structure but a place of abundance, to give you strength and energy and where you can really flourish. In addition to encouraging people to make  local choices in their lives,  Sarah  is a supporter of global projects such as Kiva and Habitat for Humanity International.

  • Sarah has a degree from Northeastern University in Business and Marketing.
  • She lives in Northeast Portland with her fiancée, Justin, and her two kitties.

Working in collaboration with each other, Tracy, Sarah and I are able to give extra attention to every client. We share our knowledge with each other in a supportive rather than competitive environment.  We have spent many years building relationships with our clients, and neighbors, as well as other professionals. We enjoy being part of the evolving story of each person and home and that in turns has developed into great relationships that continue on long after a transaction.