For 17 years, our next door neighbors along with their two young daughters and their big dog were a steady presence on the street. We had seen Kellyâs parents come and visit fairly often and become familiar faces. We didnât know until some time later, that this had been her parentâs house, and Kelly had grown up there.
They had made many improvements to the house over time- new kitchen, windows and doors, new siding, new covered front porch, new stone patio, etc. It never occurred to us that they might move some day. They never talked about the house not suiting their needs anymore.
We joined the neighborhood in 2004 just before I had become a Realtor after experiencing first-hand how emotionally charged making a move and buying a home could be- especially in a hot sellerâs market! Steve and Kelly knew I was a Realtor.
But it seemed to come out of the blue the day Kelly called me and told me she had ânever planned to stay in that little house so longâ and that they wanted to make a move right away! Even more surprisingly though was that their oldest daughter was in college and the younger one was a senior in high school, and yet she said they wanted a bigger and newer home with a pool.
They âhit a wallâ with the home theyâd been in, and they couldnât stand it another minute!
It was time to move on and get into that dream home that Kelly had planned to be in years ago but never got around to! They said that even though the girls wouldnât be there all the time, they loved to have family visit, and they have a very big family.
Once she and Steve made that decision, it seemed like nothing about their current house worked for them any more. The four of them all shared one full bath, the only office they had was tiny, there was just the living room for company to hang out in, there was no AC, no garage, and the interior needed updating because most of the improvements they had done were on the outside.
With their timeline tight, I quickly crafted a plan to get them into their dream home within the shortest timeframe possible.
It was the end of March 2020, and the pandemic was just beginning to ramp up. Steve and Kelly wanted to purchase a home (with a mortgage) before selling their current home. The plan was to find their dream home and move in, so they wouldnât have to worry about timing or dealing with showing their old house.
We got the pre-approval in place, and I set up a search to match the very specific criteria they were looking for: more space, more property, updated or new condition, a pool or room for a pool, in the same town, and possibly in the same neighborhood. We reviewed the options.
We looked at two top contenders, and they loved the second one, so we submitted a competitive offer right away. However, it had not been disclosed to us that the house had been tied up with seller issues, so the search continued. Very soon afterward, we looked at a gorgeous home that checked all the boxes and was even closer to the beach! That was the one, and the purchase went very smoothly.
Now happily settled into their exciting new home it was time to get the old one sold!
We did some minor staging, had the photos taken, and hit the market. Immediately there was interest from 10 prospects. Some were not local and couldnât get there right away, some still had to sell their home before they could buy.
But one family had been looking for a long time, loved the neighborhood, and had a May deadline to move. They came to see the house but were unsure about it because they would need to add a master bath and finish the basement. They took a day to think it over and then made an offer. The negotiations went well, and we arrived at a deal. It turned out that this was the first buyer to see the house the first day it came on market!
Of course it couldnât have gone that smoothly, right? Sure enough, all went well until the inspection. The inspector found an old pipe repair in the basement and decided to investigate further. He fed a camera through the pipe and discovered an underground sewer line repair that was not up to code.
This issue was unexpected, but in real estate, thatâs what happens sometimes. Itâs important to go in knowing that roadblocks occur. Nonetheless, I worked closely with the buyerâs agent to solve the unexpected issue so that we could reach the end goal for our clients. Steve and Kelly had the pipe repaired and the process was back on track. We sailed through a smooth final walk-through and closing.
One and Done!We sold their house in one day for 97% of asking.
They grew up there and then raised their own kids there. Generations of fond memories were there. And yet, one day, there was a driving force to move on. Stronger than the ties that kept them there was the urge for the excitement of a new chapter, a new space, new memories, a new castle , a new home.
Do you have a story you can share in the comments? Are you ready for your next chapter ? Let’s have a conversation, 203-912-4440.
How did I get Steve and Kelly out of their childhood home and into their dream home in record time?
With great care and understanding, a clear plan and strategy, creativity, technology, and abundant cutting-edge resources and solutions on hand, I guided them through the plan. I have managed many home sales for my clients in the last 16 years and was happy to include Steve and Kelly among them.
Selling a house is a big deal. It can feel daunting when youâre ready to let go of the family property and move to a home thatâs more suitable for your current lifestyle. There are so many moving parts and potential roadblocks you can face on this journey, and you want to be prepared.
Thatâs why you deserve the guidance of a professional that can help you maximize your equity and sell in the least amount of time. A professional who can help you make informed decisions and avoid the common pitfalls of buying and selling. Itâs my job to make this happen.
Thinking of selling in the next 12 months?
Call today to get started ==> 203-912-4440
Weâll discuss your goals and timeline, briefly cover how I work with clients, and if we seem like a match, weâll discuss next steps from there.
Some of you may have also received this newsletter in the mail. If you did not and would like to receive one, please send me a note below with your name and the address where you would like it sent with my compliments!
Like so many others, you probably want to make a move to a home that is better suited to your current needs and desired lifestyle. You want the right amount of space for privacy, relaxation, and recreation. But the problem is, youâre worried about the monumental stress of actually making it happen. This is completely understandable.
For most of the population, real estate transactions are the biggest and most difficult financial transactions of their lives. There are so many moving parts and potential roadblocks. Thatâs why understanding the market youâre in is so important for making the best decisions. From there, working with a well-qualified real estate expert can help you lock down your hard-earned equity. As you consider your next move, here the top things to know about the Fairfield real estate market right now:
Sales are Up
The inventory remains low, yet the volume of sales is up. One hundred and five (105) sales closed this June, despite some buyer fall out, compared to just 93 single-family home sales last June 2020. This shows that the market is very dynamic. Many homeowners are listing and selling their homes, yet the current demand is still exceeding the supply.
Sellers who seek the guidance of a real estate expert to market their home and manage the turbulent activity are able to navigate this opportunity for a successful sale.
Supply is Way Down
In June this year, there are only 2.46 months of housing supply, whereas in June of 2020 we saw seven months worth of homes for sale. A balanced market has about six months of inventory.
Homes that show beautifully, are well-priced, and marketed strategically continue to sell quickly.
Since the start of the pandemic, I have worked with many clients to successfully reach their goals and accomplish over $15M in sales. The market continues to be fast-paced, yet tricky with the need to navigate multiple offers, coordinate timing, and be in tune with whatâs happening up to the minute. Buyers are looking for beautiful turnkey homes, and with my strategic listing preparation, solutions for sellers, and marketing plan, my clients are well positioned to get the highest possible price and best possible terms for their priorities.
As a homeowner, what does this mean for you?If youâre thinking of selling in the next 12 months, itâs time to start preparing for market.
What if you could off-load all the complicated worrisome steps to me and coast through a seamless, collaborative, positive, maybe even a bit fun, experience with peace of mind while you achieve your desired goal of capturing your ROI in as few days as possible? You deserve the utopia of the perfect home and lifestyle that youâve worked so hard to enjoy.
If you are thinking of selling your home in the next 12 months, call me today for your Strategic Marketing Consultation â 203-912-4440
Weâll discuss your goals and timeline, briefly cover my unique approach to getting you the highest possible price and best terms for you in the fewest days on market, and if we seem like a match, weâll discuss the next steps from there.
Call Today â 203-912-4440
To Your Success,
Linda Raymond License # 077359 William Raveis Real Estate LindaRaymond.raveis.com Linda.Raymond@raveis.com 203-912-4440
Like so many others, you want to make a move to a home that is better suited to your current needs and desired lifestyle. You want the right amount of space for privacy, relaxation, and recreation. Problem is, youâre worried about the monumental stress of actually making it happen. This is completely understandable.
For most of the population, real estate transactions are the biggest and most difficult financial transactions of their lives. There are so many moving parts and potential roadblocks. Thatâs why understanding the market youâre in is so important for making the best decisions. From there, working with a well-qualified real estate expert can help you lock down your hard-earned equity. As you consider your next move, here are two top things to know about the Fairfield real estate market right now:Â
Inventory Remains Historically Low
Youâve probably heard that the number of homes for sale has been declining. Well, this overall trend has continued despite some more homes for sale in the last couple of weeks. At the end of May, there were just 257 single-family homes on the market in Fairfieldâa 39% decrease from 421 in May 2020 and a 59% decrease from 627 in May 2019. Buyer demand is still high, so itâs no wonder sellers who correctly market their homes are receiving multiple offers! Homeowners that seek the guidance of a real estate expert can be sure to navigate this opportunity for a successful sale.
Mortgage Rates are Low, But May Rise
Due to inflation reported in May, and the growing percentage of fully vaccinated adults in the US, most economists and investors are expecting a boom in the economy. Since mortgage rates increase with these factors, theyâre expected to increase but also fluctuate throughout the summerâpotentially making home-buying more expensive.
Housing and financial agencies are predicting rates to be in the low to mid 3s in the later part of 2021; but, according to The Mortgage Reports Editor, Tim Lucas, buyers are just as likely to find comparable rates by shopping around as they are by trying to time a rate lock later this year. No matter what the market is doing, working with a real estate professional to properly price and position your home can have you getting multiple offers in a short period of time.
Time on Market is Down
The average number of days a single-family home in Fairfield is on the market before entering into a contract dropped 56% since May 2020. It took an average of 107 days to go to contract last May, and just 47 days in May 2021. Homes that show beautifully and are well-priced continue to sell very quickly.
I have worked with buyers and sellers since the start of the pandemic to successfully reach their goals and accomplish over $15M in sales. The market continues to be fast-paced, yet tricky with the need to navigate multiple offers, coordinate timing, and be in tune with whatâs happening up to the minute. Buyers are looking for beautiful homes to bid on, and with my strategic listing preparation and marketing plan, my clients are positioned to get the highest possible price with the best possible terms for their priorities.
As a homeowner, what does this mean for you?
If youâre thinking of selling in the next 12 months, itâs time to start preparing for market.
What if you could off-load all the complicated worrisome steps to me and coast through a seamless, collaborative, positive, maybe even a bit fun, experience with peace of mind while you achieve your desired goal of capturing your ROI in as few days as possible? You deserve the utopia of the perfect home and lifestyle that youâve worked so hard to enjoy.
If you are thinking of selling your home in the next 12 months, call me today for your Strategic Marketing Consultation â 203-912-4440
Weâll discuss your goals and timeline, briefly cover my unique approach to getting you the highest possible price and best terms for you in the fewest days on market, and if we seem like a match, weâll discuss the next steps from there.
Call Today â 203-912-4440
To Your Success,
Linda Raymond License # 077359 William Raveis Real Estate LindaRaymond.raveis.com Linda.Raymond@raveis.com 203-912-4440
Pictured below are scenes from a fabulous elegant lunch hosted by Bill Raveis and his wife Candy at their Fairfield Connecticut home to celebrate ð the careful selection of our new Southport office manager, Tammy Fenelstein (after Amy Arnheim retired), and getting back to ânormalâ after the pandemic! The festivities began earlier in the day at the weekly morning sales meeting in our Southport office where Tammy was introduced to us. The meeting adjourned with a group photo outside the building.
At Willliam Raveis the company’s mission is to be laser-focused on supporting the agents as their customers. So everything they do is driven by the goal of ensuring our success in serving you. This means providing the best cutting-edge technology, a family of companies to support seamless transactions, key solutions to solving the challenges you face when moving to a new home, the best agent training, and the best local, national, and global marketing resources. So we work hard, play hard, and celebrate our happy clients as we go.
You are right to want to work with the agent whoâs company has a supportive, joyful, family culture which we are so grateful to have at William Raveis Real Estate, because this positive force ð supports everything we do, and I bring that great energy along with all our resources to work for you! âĪïļ
If you are thinking of selling in the next 12 months, now is the time to start planning. Call me at 203.912.4440 or reach out using the form below.
One of the challenges buyers are facing, along with would-be sellers, is that they can’t find what they are looking for on the market.
Many agents are sharing the criteria their buyers are looking for with the hope that someone who is thinking of selling may have a match to add to the market.
Here is my urgent buyer wish list,
Westport – New or contemporary style, ~4,000 square feet, 4+ bedrooms, $1,500,000-$1,800,000, (Need two of these!)
Westport – Renovation project or tear-down, 1+ acres, preferably with no wetlands, price flexible.
Westport – Renovation project or tear-down, any property size, preferably with no wetlands, price flexible.
Fairfield – Beach, town, Southport, or University areas, new or like-new home, 4,000 square feet, up to $1,700,000.
Fairfield – Home with charm and character, preferably in the beach area, but open to anywhere in town, 3+ bedrooms, at least 1,400 square feet or room to expand, $700,000-$850,000.
Fairfield – Home with charm and character, high ceilings, preferably in the beach area, center of town or Stratfield areas, 3+ bedrooms, at least 1,400 square feet or room to expand, finishable basement and/or attic, office space, level yard of .16 acres or more, $500,000-$640,000.
Fairfield – Beach area, near Penfield, .23+ acres on which to renovate or build new, under $700,000.
Fairfield – Town center, new or move-in ready 2-bedroom condo for rent, or sale up to $350,000.
New Canaan – Walk-to-train location, 3 bedrooms, preferably new or move-in ready, high ceilings, up to $1,500,000.
If a matching property is found for the buyer needs above, the following new listings will in turn be added to the market,
Westport – Gorgeous new construction home, likely with 4,000+ square feet and 5 bedrooms.
Westport – ANOTHER gorgeous new construction home, likely with 4,000+ square feet and 5 bedrooms.
Westport – Lovely 4-bedroom, move-in-ready home with lovely property in the Greens Farms area.
Fairfield – Charming cape in the beach area.
The lack of inventory is limiting the market despite the opportunity of very low interest rates and an excellent time to sell for all interested home owners.
So if you have something, say something! ð If you know of something, say something! ð Want to talk options? Say something. I’m here to help, 203.912.4440.
The 2021 housing market is still hot and median sale prices are still up! ðâŽïļâïļ
Did you know you can easily compare real-time sales and inventory trends on our Local Housing Data link which you can keep right on your phone? Or for comprehensive local data reports, sign up for our Local Market Insights newsletter on raveis.com.
Take advantage of all of our curated tools to help you make your move and contact me today, 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 ð !
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.
Commanding a premium location on the road with a coveted dock at the ready, this home will make your dreams come true. Enjoy the blissful existence of waterfront living whether you’re in the water, on a vessel or just taking in the sea breezes! No matter which direction you gaze, awe-inspiring beauty will make your spirits soar, as you have found a true work of art on the water.
Re-imagined in 1993, this home was featured on the cover of book, “Designing with Glass – The Creative Touch” for its soaring ceilings and walls of glass capturing breathtaking water vistas that extend into the clouds.
The cunning design strategy arranges this home ‘right side up’ ensuring the main living spaces are guaranteed the most phenomenal views. Changing tides, a winding waterway, and spectacular sunsets are always on display from the architectural windows and the upper deck. The open-concept space puts the kitchen at the bow featuring a built-in bench, limestone counters, stainless appliances, and of course, an island.
The open dining and living areas in a great room with a fireplace and two fans hanging from the vaulted ceiling complete this space.
The chic master bedroom likewise captures dynamic views of vessels cruising Pine Creek from the lower deck. At high tide, you feel like you’re looking out to sea from your penthouse cabin on the ultimate cruise ship. A guest bedroom, third bedroom or office, elegant hall bath, and laundry complete the garden level. Seaside gardens with a romantic pergola, climbing hydrangeas, flowering crab apple, and roses present themselves at the entrance to this exceptional property and maintain your gaze as you enter the glass-walled foyer.
The home blends natural materials like seabed fossil stone and ultra wide-plank wood floors with high tech surfaces like the UV wind-resistant windows. It marries an antique front door with contemporary architecture. And it resides on prime waterfront in a vibrant town rich in culture, arts, and history.  Chic eateries, universities, train stations, beaches, and even a SportPlex, are all a few minutes from here and just an hour from Manhattan.  Welcome to Water Craft, your dream come true!
Click to take a twilight tour!
Please use the form below to request more information or schedule a showing. You can also call or text, 203.912.4440.
and then raised their own kids 
there. Generations of fond memories were there. And yet, one day, there was a driving force 
to move on. Stronger than the ties that kept them there was the urge for the excitement 
of a new chapter, a new space, new memories, a new castle 
, a new home. 
? Let’s have a conversation, 203-912-4440.
The chic master bedroom likewise captures dynamic views of vessels cruising Pine Creek from the lower deck. At high tide, you feel like you’re looking out to sea from your penthouse cabin on the ultimate cruise ship. A guest bedroom, third bedroom or office, elegant hall bath, and laundry complete the garden level. Seaside gardens with a romantic pergola, climbing hydrangeas, flowering crab apple, and roses present themselves at the entrance to this exceptional property and maintain your gaze as you enter the glass-walled foyer.
Linda Raymond Real Estate Blog, Fairfield, Westport & More 