I recently did some more upgrades to my website in an effort to help buyers and sellers see what we Realtors see. The MLS system is the number one resource for networking and co-operatively selling homes. By searching the MLS via a direct link, you avoid the pitfalls of being spammed by advertisers or contacted without your consent by hungry Realtors. 

I recently drove past a home that I had sold to a young couple several years ago. At the time, they were engaged to be married and just starting out with their first jobs post college days. We connected right away and I remember the house hunting process being a lot of fun, sifting through all the different homes until we had the "this is it" moment. 

I've seen them since then, both around town and also via the wonderful world of Facebook, and it's so great to see how well they're doing. One wedding and two kids later, they're still in that house and loving life. These are the stories and the reasons that I can honestly say I love being a Realtor. I try to make a personal connection with all my clients and many of them have become repeat clients as they outgrow their home, or relocate for work or other reasons. 

I'd like to consider myself a trusted member of the "family" so to speak. I'm there to guide people into the very best decision for their purposes. I personalize and put myself in their shoes... I keep it light and we definitely laugh our way through the process. Believe me, there have been some doozies in the houses I've shown. I'm the first one to make light of a neon purple bedroom, or a pair of dirty underwear sitting on the bathroom sink. But, when it comes down to decision time, I'll ask you the serious questions that you need to answer in order to make the choice that is best for you.

It's holiday season now, which is probably why I'm in the "reflecting" mood. So if any of my past clients are reading this, I hope you're doing well. I think about each one of you in my travels and hope that the fun we had during the buying and selling process continues in your new home.

There's been a huge spin in the news lately that focuses on Wall Street losses and big hurricanes that supposedly will swallow us whole and ruin our economy. I understand that fear factors tend to grab news headlines much easier than the happy-go-lucky news stories, so I figured I'd find one that mirrors the success I've had lately in getting my listings UNDER CONTRACT! (Yes houses do sell in this doomsday world we are surrounded by in the news!)


This video explains in very clear terms why housing is well worth getting into RIGHT NOW, and also explains why short sales and foreclosures have the market in a deceptive slowdown. Also, check out his discussion on reasonable offers. Coming in as a serious offer stands the best chance of grabbing a great deal. 

CT First Time Buyer mortgages - CT Home Search - Southington CT Real Estate

“We can always go down, but we can’t go up.” (excerpt from an AOL.com article)

When setting the sales price of their home, many sellers are tempted to tack on a few percentage points to “leave room to negotiate”.

Overpricing a home can have many ramifications for a home seller.  It can limit the number of potential buyers who can afford your home, reduce showings and create an impression in the marketplace that the homeowners aren’t really serious about selling their home.  Serious homeowners who overprice their home often get caught in the trap of price reduction after price reduction trying to catch up to the market.

During the past year, U.S. home sellers slashed more than $24 billion from home listings on Trulia.com. Trulia’s Q1 Home Offer Report indicated that on average, most sellers will reduce their list price after 79 days on the market, choosing to cut their original list price by 8 percent. Following a first reduction, 35 percent of these sellers will make a second.

Most homebuyers look at 10-15 homes before making a buying decision. Because of this, setting a competitive price relative to the competition is an essential component to a successful marketing strategy. Underpricing a home isn’t good either. Educating your clients about the importance of properly pricing a home is key to the home sales process.

In the recent days I've been reflecting on life, as I often do, and the passage of time. I know that sounds heavy, but it always blows me away to think how fast time goes. 9-11-01 was ten years ago. TEN! Where did that time go?  I was watching some online videos and coverage of the 10th anniversary preparations and was very moved by the unveiling of the memorial park at the Trade Center Site. It is slated to be revealed to families of the victims on 9-11-11.

I found this article online that goes into detail about the park and its design. I am adding a visit to this site to my bucket list. I was there on the first day they re-opened the PATH train from New Jersey to WTC. Coming out of the tunnel, seeing the sunlight, and then the total devastation of the area from below was something I'll never forget. I hope we all can make peace with the site by visiting and reflecting... 10 years goes so fast, but the memory of that day is frozen in time.

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2011/08/a-first-look-at-the-soon-to-open-national-september-11-memorial-a-tough-work-of-abstract-minimalism-.html