Greater Danbury Real Estate Trends by Dawn Grabover

Keller Williams - Danbury CT

2006-11-08T07:58:00.000-08:00

Keller Williams Realty - New Listing

New Price plus Buyer Credit at closing towards fantastic mortgage program -100% Financing or low % rate - Owner says Sell before winter!!

Move in immediately to this luxury 3 bedroom plus loft townhouse in the Woodland Hills complex built in 2002 by Ginsburg LLC in Danbury CT - 2660 square feet total upgraded Ives style loaded with every upgrade available, Gourmet kitchen w/ Cherry cabinets, Granite counters, stainless steel appliance, beautifully finished hardwood floors throughout the main level, gas fireplace and 3 1/2 baths and crown moldings galore!! 3 BR including a faboulous Master Suite w/oversized closets. Finished lower level with full bath and walk-out to private block patio facing a wooded preserve area, perfect for home theater or guest suite. Spacious loft finished and wired for today's technology perfect for home office.

Pet friendly complex ammenities include an unbelievable Clubhouse, Indoor Basketball Court, Fitness Center, Pool, and Tennis Courts. Located in Danbury minutes to shopping, highways and Richter Park championship golf course with discounted fees for Danbury residents.
Also available as a long or short term rental or rent w/option to buy - Pet OK!! Email or call Dawn at (203) 417-2697 for details, a private showing or Open House schedule.

Go to www.SearchHomes-CT.com to search local homes for sale or rent. Subscribe to my automated email service to receive listing updates on homes that meet your search criteria in Ridgefield, Danbury, Brookfield, Newtown, Bethel, Oxford, New Fairfield, New Milford and throughout the Candlewood Lake region - Dawn (203) 417-2697 Keller Williams Realty

Cooling Real Estate Market

2006-09-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

Will we see a rise in real estate foreclosures. This time last year all those exotic mortgages -- borrowing over 100% of home value or adjustable-rate mortgages, the result, some people are struggling to make their payments, and some aren't making it.

Also, a glut of new property supply, especially the condominium market in Danbury, thousands of new condominiums are getting ready to come to market, just as the market softens. With the new condos coming on line, and the market, at the best of times, can only absorb about 100 per year, this means an estimated 5-7 years of supply will be ready for market in the next year. As interest rates rise and the number of eager new buyers begins to diminish, adding supply to an already slow real estate market for sellers may mean a very good market for buyers and for property investors.

The people who are in the most trouble are flippers -- people who aim to buy low and sell high within a short space of time. Many were buying condominiums off the plans, which means the projects were yet to be built, in the hopes that when the homes were completed, they would sell for a tidy profit. The trouble is many of these flippers, lured into the market by stories of people making a huge killing earlier with a similar strategy, are now the ones to be slaughtered.

In the coming months, we'll see an increase in people dumping real estate they can't afford. They'll be forced to sell because they'll be eaten alive by negative cash flow. Investment properties that you have to feed money to every month -- if you can't afford to the property every month, it eats you.

Over the next couple of years, keep your eyes open for some great bargains But be patient, keep looking at real estate, but keep your hand on your wallet.

Dawn deLemos-Grabover, real estate agent at Keller Williams Realty. My service areas include Candlewood Lake, Ridgefield, CT, & Greater Danbury home of the championship Richter Park Golf Course. Virtually search homes and land locally or nationally from my web page. Or, I can email you weekly updates. I look forward to developing a long-term relationship. Contact me to discuss how I could best assist you. Call me at 203 438-9494 or visit www.SearchHomes-CT.com.

If I can be of any assistance to you when buying or selling your home feel free to contact me mailto:dawng@kw.com. My name is Dawn Grabover and I am with Keller Williams Realty. I service the Northern Fairfield County area with a focus on Danbury, Ridgefield and the beautiful Candlewood Lake Region.

Greater Danbury Real Estate Trends by Dawn Grabover

2006-03-01T06:58:00.000-08:00

Greater Danbury Real Estate Trends by Dawn Grabover

Open House - Sunday3/13 - 1:00 to 4:00 pm

25 Ken Oaks Drive Danbury, CT

Spacious, well maintained 3 bedroom ranch with lots of updates. Custom hardwood floors, skylights, vaulted ceilings and a 3 season sunroom with seasonal views of tranquil Lake Kenosia. The lower level has built-in shelving, new carpeting, and sliders to a patio perfect for entertaining. Located on a quiet cul-de-sac on the westside of Danbury, close to shopping and all commuter routes. Owner is motivated so come view the home and submit an offer. Call Dawn for directions (203) 417-2697.

Click here for home details

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Greater Danbury Real Estate Trends by Dawn Grabover

2006-03-01T06:46:00.000-08:00

Greater Danbury Real Estate Trends by Dawn Grabover

A Christmas Poem by a U.S. Soldier

2005-12-09T08:24:00.000-08:00

Twas The Night Before Christmas
He Lived All Alone
In a One Bedroom House
Made Of Plaster And Stone

I Had Come Down The Chimney
With Presents To Give
And To See Just Who
In This Home Did Live

I Looked All About
A Strange Sight I Did See
No Tinsel, No Presents
Not Even A Tree

No Stocking By Mantle,
Just Boots Filled With Sand,
On The Wall Hung Pictures
Of Far Distant Lands.

With Medals And Badges,
Awards Of All Kinds,
A Sober Thought Came
Through My Mind.

For This House Was Different,
It Was Dark And Dreary,
I Found The Home Of A Soldier,
Once I Could See Clearly.

The Soldier Lay Sleeping,
Silent, Alone,
Curled Up On The Floor
In This One Bedroom Home.

The Face Was So Gentle,
The Room In Such Disorder
Not How I Pictured
A United States Soldier.

Was This The Hero
Of Whom I'd Just Read?
Curled Up On A Poncho,
The Floor For A Bed?

I Realized The Families
That I Saw This Night,
Owed Their Lives To These Soldiers
Who Were Willing To Fight.

Soon Round The World,
The Children Would Play,
And Grownups Would Celebrate
A Bright Christmas Day.

They All Enjoyed Freedom
Each Month Of The Year,
Because Of The Soldiers,
Like The One Lying Here.

I Couldn't Help Wonder
How Many Lay Alone,
On a Cold Christmas Eve
In A Land Far From Home.

The Very Thought
Brought A Tear To My Eye,
I Dropped To My Knees
And Started To Cry.

The Soldier Awakened
And I Heard A Rough Voice,
"Santa Don't Cry,
This Life Is My Choice

I Fight For Freedom,
I Don't Ask For More,
My Life is My God
My Country, My Corps.

The Soldier Rolled Over
And Drifted To Sleep
I Couldn't Control It
I Continued To Weep.

I Kept Watch For Hours,
So Silent And Still
And We Both Shivered
From The Cold Night's Chill.

I Didn't Want To Leave
On That Cold, Dark, Night,
This Guardian Of Honor
So Willing To Fight.

Then The Soldier Rolled Over,
With A Voice Soft And Pure,
Whispered, "Carry On Santa,
It's Christmas Day, All Is Secure."

One Look At My Watch,
And I Knew He Was Right.
"Merry Christmas My Friend,
And To All A Good Night."

This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan. During this holiday season let's stop and give thanks to all the soldiers who put their lives in danger everyday so that we may live in freedom. Say a prayer to all the families that must endure the pain of loved ones lost defending our freedom. Be thankful everyday for what you have!

Happy holidays!

Dawn deLemos-Grabover

Characteristics of Successful Salespeople

2005-11-18T15:25:00.000-08:00

Dawn Grabover - Keller Williams Realty

The most successful sales people, in virtually any industry, possess the following characteristics:

1. They are persistent. They refuse to give up.

2. Successful sales people are avid goal.

3. Great sales people ask quality questions.

4. Successful sales people listen.

5. Successful sales people are passionate.

6. Successful sales people are enthusiastic.

7. Successful sales people take responsibility for their results.

8. Successful sales people work hard.

9. Successful sales people keep in touch with their clients.

10. Successful sales people show value.

We all have what it takes to become successful. Are you ready to make it happen?

Virtual Home Searches
Contact Dawn Grabover
View my website

Should I pay a Realtor?

2005-10-19T14:33:00.000-07:00

Is it worth it to pay a Realtor?

One of the biggest – and most often cited – expenses related to selling a home is the commission paid to professional real estate brokers. There is a perpetual debate over the value of services provided by real estate sales professionals. In real estate marketing campaigns this controversy is sometimes confronted head-on by those agents who are courting you for your business. After all, getting “listings” (contracts to sell properties for a commission) is the bread and butter of the real estate sales profession.

In this article we’ll examine the underlying factors that come into play when a house is sold with – or without – a real estate salesperson, so that you can make your own informed decisions about the subject. After all, it’s your money, your property, and your choice.

Selling your house by yourself, or “for sale by owner” (people in the real estate industry use the slang acronym “fisbo”) is worthy of consideration, and can save you five percent or more of your sales price. To sell your house, you will need to advertise, and these days you can include your property in the Realtor database or Multiple Listing Service for a fixed fee, which will give you access to the greatest number of potential buyers and will ensure that everyone in the real estate business knows your property is on the market. But many brokers are hesitant to show houses to clients unless they can expect to be paid for their efforts, and for that reason it is a reasonable and common practice to offer at least a 3 % commission to those who find you a buyer and help to close the sale. So even as a “fisbo”, you may have expenses of 4% in order to find and secure buyers in a competitive market.

For buyers to view your house, someone has to show it to them. Normally the Realtor coordinates this, but if you sell your house yourself, you will have to take calls and e-mails, set appointments, and conduct tours of your home for prospective buyers.
You have to negotiate with those who want to see your house on short notice, while you are at work, or at other times when it’s convenient for them but inconvenient for you. You also must be prepared to screen buyers to assure that they are qualified for purchasing a home in your price range. After finding interested buyers, you negotiate the price, through offers and counter-offers. If they want to sign a contract, you should have attorney-approved contracts available, but you will also want to ensure that they have adequate financing, which can involve running credit reports or meeting with mortgage lenders. Many “fisbos” find these logistics not only inconvenient but also stressful.
But the real stress usually comes after the contracts are signed, and the push for a quick and efficient closing begins. Sellers have an emotional attachment to their home and the hard work and investment they have put into it. Buyers are emotionally charged because they are making the biggest financial decision of a lifetime. For four to six weeks, there is a potentially strained series of ongoing but separate miniature “tug of war” procedures, as the buyer and seller compete with each other to get the best deal possible, while trying to maintain businesslike emotional composure.

You will negotiate the dates for completion of inspections, loan approval, and closing. There may be a lien on the property you didn’t know about, or an issue with an easement that could become a deal-killer. You might need an extra weekend to pack and move, but have to get written permission from the buyer. Without quick and professional resolution of these types of problems, you could lose the sale or even end up in court for violation of a contract.
For these reasons, the most overlooked, underrated, and valuable justification for hiring a broker is that it gives you the opportunity to negotiate through a professional, experienced, and emotionally objective third party who has your best interest in mind.

Because the real estate sales person will be negotiating on your behalf, it is essential that you hire someone you can trust, communicate with, and rely upon. Many sellers feel most confident when they are able to choose a broker from their own community who understands their needs.

The decision to hire a broker or go it alone as a “fisbo” is a complicated and important one, and there are many variables to take into consideration. But if you hire a skillful mediator and negotiator to help you sell your house, you will probably get your money’s worth, and may save enough money while making enough money to cover all or part of the sales commission.

If I can be of any assistance to you when buying or selling your home feel free to contact me mailto:dawng@kw.com. My name is Dawn Grabover and I am with Keller Williams Realty. I service the Northern Fairfield County area with a focus on Danbury, Ridgefield and the beautiful Candlewood Lake Region.

Thanks for reading!!

Market Cool Down??

2005-10-07T07:50:00.000-07:00

Slowing Seen in Housing Prices

A real estate slowdown that began in a handful of cities this summer has spread to almost every hot housing market in the country, including New York.
More sellers are putting their homes on the market, houses are selling less quickly and prices are no longer increasing as rapidly as they were in the spring.

Some houses seemed to be on the market longer because sellers priced them too high, assuming that their value was still rising sharply. In other cases, people who otherwise would have waited a year or two to sell their homes - like empty nesters ready to move into smaller quarters - had listed them now out of fear that prices would soon fall.

The question remains whether all of this represents a momentary cooling off of some overheated housing markets, or it presages a more pronounced downturn that would end a decade-long boom.

The market is not as hot as the last two years. The cooling off has forced both sellers and real estate agents to begin changing their attitudes about residential property. Houses that are priced too high are sometimes on the market for weeks or months now, rather than gettining even more money than their owners had imagined they could get.

In our area of Connecticut, we have more over-priced inventory in this market than we have had in years. The most amazing thing is that regardless of all the documentation you bring to a homeowner trying to impress on them that they cannot list their house too high, they just do not listen. I am so tired of trying to sell houses 30,000 to 50,000 over fair market value and spending money on marketing them - it is truly frustating

Email me with your opinion at dawng@kw.com - to view properties in Northern Fairfield County Connecticut, home of beautiful Candlewood Lake, visit my website at www.calldawng.com

Costly Mistake When Selling Your Home

2005-09-30T17:20:00.000-07:00

Avoiding 7 Costly Mistakes of Selling Your Home

Sometimes sellers can misdirect their intensions when it comes time to put their house on the market. In my business, I've seen each one of these mistakes played out. Here are some points to avoid.

Mistake 1: Putting the home on the market before it's ready. Most times this happens because the seller gets impatient or is a procrastinator and has pushed himself up against a moving deadline without getting the pre-sale work done. Presentation is everything -- so get some of the work done before marketing the property.

Mistake 2: Over improving the home for the neighborhood. This happens with additions, bump outs, and upgrades that make the home stick out from among its competitors so much that it's an anomaly, instead of a nice addition to the community.

Mistake 3: Pricing the home based on what the seller wants to net. Sellers can control the "asking" price, but they don't control the "sales" price. The market does. It doesn't matter what the seller wants, the price is determined by the black-and-white, matter-of-fact reality of the market.

Mistake 4: Hiring an agent based on non-business factors. Make sure you're hiring a professional with a who has the knowledge to keep the deal together.

Mistake 5: Getting emotionally involved in the sale of the home. Once you decide to sell your house, it's no longer a home, but a commodity. It needs to be prepared as a commodity, marketed as a commodity, and priced as a commodity. So try not to get emotional about how they may or may not appreciate the nuances of your home.

Mistake 6: Trying to cover up problems, or not disclosing them. Most states have a property disclosure/disclaimer form -- use it wisely. Just because you disclaim doesn't mean you cannot be sued later for the leaky basement, or dilapidated heating/air system that's discovered 30 days after settlement.

Mistake 7: Not getting your ducks lined up before trying to sell. This would involve financing, reading the fine print on your current mortgage to ensure no pre-payment penalties, not listening to the particulars of your local market. It is not that difficult to avoid these mistakes. As your REALTOR®, I am here to assist you from the beginning to the closing table. Visit my website at http://www.calldawng.com/ or call me at (203) 438-9494 and I will walk you through the process.

Keller Williams Extreme Home Make-over

2005-09-19T13:23:00.000-07:00

Don’t miss Keller Williams Realty's debut on‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’. Make some popcorn and turn on the tube. It’s show time!

After months of anticipation, it’s finally here. Tune in Sunday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time to watch Keller Williams Realty and the Clarksville, Tenn., market center in action on the two-hour season premiere of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

More than 60 Keller Williams Clarksville market center associates and their families worked through five days and four nights this past June to help construct a new house for injured Iraq veteran Army Master Sgt. Luis Rodriguez and his family.

During the show’s production, Keller Williams Realty International CEO Mo Anderson flew from Austin, Texas, to Clarksville to personally deliver a special gift to the Rodriguez family after the new home’s unveiling.

“It was one of the most special moments in my life,” Mo Anderson recalls. “And I can’t tell you how proud I am of Maurice Vaughn and his team in Clarksville. Their commitment to building a better life for someone in need is exactly what Keller Williams Realty is all about. They walk the talk!”

Keller Williams Realty family members in Tennessee went above and beyond to make this “extreme” season premiere a win-win deal for ABC, the Rodriguez family and the community of Clarksville.

My name is Dawn Grabover and I am proud to be a Keller Williams Agent and look forward to pitching in to make things like this happen in the greater Danbury area. If you have any ideas that you would like to move forward with give me a call at (203) 438-9494 or visit my website at www.calldawng.com.