I want to thank my wonderful clients for trusting in me to guide them through the exciting time of making one of their most important moves to buy and sell a home! Thank you to William Raveis Real Estate for giving me all the resources and training needed to provide my clients with top notch service!
Happy Valentine’s Day 2021, everyone! After receiving lovely pink roses and a new pink sweater from my dear husband, I am off to try and make the day special for my home buyers as well.
I have found the perfect homes after whirlwind searches in Fairfield and New Canaan for four different buyers and am working on offers. My clients are coming from New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York and are ready to put the current low interest rates to work for them. Today I’m off for a second look at a lovely top choice in New Canaan for my New York buyer.
Here I am in downtown New Canaan to make sure this could be the special Valentine gift for my client this weekend.
Even when we are finding that special home, we are facing multiple-offers on all fronts, and I’m utilizing every possible strategy in the toolbox, so wish us luck!
Sellers, this is the time to enjoy top dollar in record time for your property in Fairfield County. If you’re ready and willing to capitalize on this market, please give me a call, 203.912.4440!
You only need one powerhouse to get the best real estate company and services, and you just found it with William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage, & Insurance. As your agent for this company, I want to share the top three reasons why we are the best real estate company for you, which are the same reasons why I chose to work with this company over all the others 16 years ago!
Private Family-Owned Company – Because William Raveis is owned by Bill, Chris, and Ryan Raveis, it is an agile family-based company that is one hundred percent focused on its customers with no stockholder distractions or obligations. The company’s mission is to serve its agents as their customers to ensure we are poised to be the best at serving you!
Leader in Real Estate Innovation – Our company leads the industry with forward strategic and competitive thinking, cutting-edge technology, and cultivating, training, and by empowering the best agents. Our family of companies also provides our clients with premier mortgage, insurance, and closing services for a seamless transactactifon.
Well-Connected, Next Door & Overseas – Our 4,000 regional agents have you covered here and abroad. Our luxury listings are represented by over 565 premier brokerages across 70 countries. This same network also enables me to connect you to your next purchase overseas.
These three high-level value propositions are key to why we are the best, but there is ample detail beneath, including new tools for us to leverage on a regular basis. And now, the best just got better with our new Raveis Essential and Raveis Premium service packages listed below.
I am grateful for the extensive resources William Raveis continuously provides for me to utilize on your behalf. When it rains, it pours with the ever-new and cutting edge resources I have at my disposal. I even received a new umbrella 🙂 !
In all seriousness, my goal is to understand your real estate plans and priorities and to curate a custom solution for reaching your goals. If you would like a deeper understanding of how I can meet your real estate needs, I would love to have a conversation with you. Please feel free to visit my website and company page, give me a call at 203.912.4440, or send me a note below.
Buyers are waiting. Home sale prices are up. Interest rates are outrageously low. Is there a price at which you would consider selling your house? If there is a price that motivates you, are there other barriers?
It sure appears to be the perfect storm for owners to want to sell their homes, right? Sure, except for two major roadblocks- As a potential home seller, where do you move with the limited choice in the market? And if you could work through these details, do you really feel ready?
If you are one of these homeowners, here are three things you can do to manage the logistical challenge.
You can list your home with a published contingency to find suitable housing. This relieves the pressure of not having your destination pre-determined by letting potential buyers know up-front that you reserve the right to take the time to find a new home. It also gives you an ‘out’ if you cannot find a suitable solution. You can reach out to me and also select a real estate attorney to learn more.
Alternatively you can put your home on the market and negotiate a long closing period, such as a few months, when you receive an offer- or multiple offers. Many buyers are flexible with timing, especially if they are buying a second home. This will give you time to look around.
A temporary housing plan is another key option. Are you aware that you may even be able to sell your home and rent it back from the buyers for a period of time! This can be an excellent solution for bridging the gap until you find your new home. Even if this is not doable, there are other options. If it is feasible to stay with family, go to a second home or vacation home, or get a short term rental, and put things in storage for a while, this is a great way to take the timing pressure off. It may not be convenient, but it may still be worth it in order to capitalize on the opportunities of this market and move to the home that truly satisfies your current needs and desires.
Get creative!At William Raveis, we are here to get creative with solutions to our clients’ challenges. We understand the complexities of the current market and in bridging the gap between buying and selling. So we have an entire array of services that can enable you to become a cash buyer before you sell, fix up any issues with your house without paying until it’s sold, and bridge the financial gap as well. Call me today to discuss your ideal outcome, and let’s discuss how to get you there!
All that being said, what if the above solutions are all well and good, but you still feel hesitant? It is even more important than strategizing the logistics to be sure your heart is really in it. You must be sure you are ready to sell before going on the market. Here’s the journey one home seller went through to get ready to ultimately make her dream come true.
Keep in mind that even though the inventory of homes for sale is low, the market time is also short, so the choices of homes to purchase is constantly refreshing and there are always new homes to choose from if you want to make a move.
Imagine if all you homeowners who would love to sell but have been sitting on the sidelines decide to go for it using some of the safeguards and creative solutions above? The market would be rich with choice for everyone searching (yourselves included!), and many more home buyers and sellers would be on the move toward making their dreams a reality!
You can browse around and set up some searches for yourself here if you would like to get a feel for the markets as you think about your plans. Call me today to discuss your options, 203-912-4440. We will have a brief consultation to understand your goals, the market, and how I might be able to help.
What’s the pulse of the local single-family housing market in Fairfield and Westport, Connecticut in the first three weeks of January 2021? How many accepted offers? Where are they? What are the price categories? Days on market? Inventory levels and new listings? Here’s an update from the SmartMLS.
FAIRFIELD ACCEPTED OFFERS AND INVENTORY
Fairfield CT locations of accepted offers
69 New Year accepted offers!
Offers are located all over town
PRICE BREAKDOWN? 64% Priced < $1 million 36% Priced > = $1 million
69 Median days on market
At the end of December 2020, Fairfield inventory levels were at historic lows, as illustrated by the graph below from William Raveis Real Estate.
There have been 25 new listings since January 1, ranging in price from $285,000 to $4,295,000.
WESTPORT ACCEPTED OFFERS AND INVENTORY
18 New Year accepted offers!
Westport CT locations of accepted offers
Offers appear to be concentrated near the downtown area and the Post Road
28% Priced < $1 million 72% Priced >= $1 million
18 Median days on market
At the end of December 2020, Westport inventory levels were at historic lows, as illustrated by the graph below from William Raveis Real Estate.
There have been 26 new listings in Westport in all price points, ranging from $699,000 to $12,000,000!
So it’s fair to say that the Fairfield and Westport housing markets have been ramping up following the lull of the December holidays and there is a good amount of activity. Despite the new listings that have been trickling onto the market though, there is not enough choice to satisfy the current buyer demand and the added purchasing incentive of low interest rates.
The seed was planted years ago that maybesomeday they would leave their comfortable bubble in Westport, Connecticut, and follow one of their dreams. They knew they would love to go abroad for a while, pursue the adventure of a live-aboard, or follow their passion for waterfront living.
He was excited to go for it, but she, not so much. Selling their home would allow them to be untethered for a while but the emotional consequences of leaving their home and hometown of 17 years with deep connections to friends, the community, and their love of Westport, was not lost on them.
For starters, the limited choice of homes on the market made homelessness seem a clear outcome. The process of having to show the house day after day during a pandemic and having to deal with the whole listing, selling, and the moving process felt daunting. How could she argue with her grown daughters who rightly said they should keep the beautiful home they had made perfect over the years by putting their hearts and soles into it?
But, wasn’t this the perfect time? Wasn’t now the time to sell your home, especially in Westport with properties flying off the shelf at record speed for top dollar?
As it turned out, the low inventory and logistical barriers were really not the problems.
Becoming emotionally ready for adventure and following the dream was what she needed to take the leap out of her comfort zone. Only once she was at peace with letting go, moving on, and embracing the adventure, had all the pieces, one at a time, fallen into place.
I had come to see their home and discuss their hopes, dreams, plans, and concerns. Following that, we met via Zoom due to the pandemic. I explained the market, the recommended listing price, options for giving them flexibility for their timing, and shared my custom comprehensive marketing plan which included an added detailed walk-through video for buyers to watch before requesting a showing.
Still, for weeks she struggled with the decision. But as they explored their ideas for their next chapter, she shared their dreams with their daughters who became very supportive of their vision. The response from several friends was also positive and supportive of their decision to sell, and in fact many even said they too had been considering making changes of their own and following their dreams.
So they gave me the green light and I put the house on the market while they went to Boston for the weekend to visit family. During that weekend, I managed 25 showings and multiple offers. They chose a buyer who paid more than their asking price and who was agreeable to a long closing period to give them time to find a new home.
They researched their options and visited potential new homes in various areas. Sure enough, they came upon a fabulous waterfront home further north with breathtaking views that they absolutely loved!
So you may want to ask yourself- Does your home truly satisfy your current needs, wants, and, desires? Can you brace yourself to stretch your comfort zone for some adventure? If so, then now is the time to trust the process, and make it happen!
There are numerous logistical options for making your dream a reality. And there happens to be a jackpot of opportunity presenting itself to sellers right now, with buyers from the New York City area searching in droves, low inventory to compete with, and low interest rates to help you and your buyer with your purchase.
A great way to inspire your journey is to explore our Raveis Escapes website with destination locations featured by local Realtors and browse those areas. Set up searches for yourself in any areas that intrigue you get a feel what’s available there. If you are thinking of moving cross-country or overseas, I can refer you to the perfect agent through my elite brokerage network and oversee your satisfaction with them.
Give me a call or send a note below, and let me lead the way!
If a move is on your horizon this year, you can set up your own search here to browse the market. Reach out to me anytime with questions or to discuss your plans. Call 203.912.4440, visit my website, or send a note in the form below.
Who would think that Penfield Beach was the place to be at around noon on Christmas Eve 2020?
The temperature was mild but the winds were high, so the walkers, dogs, and sea gulls were there along with about a dozen kite boarders in wet suites. The scene was festive and vibrant as always, and a great way to kick off the holiday week!
What a fabulous town to call home! If you are thinking of making a move, you can set up your own search here to browse homes in any areas that intrigue you. If you are thinking of moving cross-country or overseas, I can refer you to the perfect agent through my elite brokerage network and oversee your satisfaction with them. Give me a call at 203.912.4440, visit my website, or send a note in the form below, and let me lead the way!