What Do All Those Letters Mean After a Realtors Name?

If you have decided to sell your home, a purchase a new one, you have probably performed searches online to find an agent to represent you.

Some of those agents have initials after their name, however most do not. Should you care if an agent has those initials, or multiple sets of initials after their name? The short answer is yes.

Those initials are only for agents who have completed  (and passed) advanced education in real estate through  the National Association of REALTORS, and are referred to in the industry as designations.

A few of the most prestigious designations to look for when hiring your next agent are:

ABR - Accredited Buyers Representative. Extensive training on negotiating and representing buyers. Documentation of a number of buyer controlled sales is mandatory for completion.

CRS - Certified Residential Specialist. A very structured course on how to best represent sellers. Documentation of a number of seller controlled sales is mandatory for completion.

GRI - Graduate, REALTORS Institute. Overall detailed review and training on how to be the best real estate agent.

E-PRO - Internet Certified. Training and hands on implementation on technology for real estate professionals.

SRES - Seniors Real Estate Specialist. Training on  and unique real estate needs of senior citizens.

Yes, I have attained all of these designations. (See my bio here)  I believe, as a real estate agent, that the more education and training I can get, the better for my clients, and the better for my knowledge of the business.

When you need a Realtor in  Easton, Fairfield, Norwalk, Trumbull or Westport, you will see very few, if any, agents with ALL of these same designations. My commitment to education is also a commitment to my clients, and I sincerely hope that you are one of them some day.

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County? We'd be honored to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Is The Town's Tax Assessment of Your Property an Accurate Indicator of Value?

Most people know that the property tax on their home is determined by its assessment. In Connecticut, your property assessment is equal to 70 percent of its appraised value at the time of valuation. So, if your home is valued at $1,000,000, your assessment (or the amount that you would pay taxes on) would be $700,000.

In Connecticut, it is mandated that towns review your property's value every five years. Sometimes the appraisal company will ask to gain access into your home, other times, and most often, they do not request an interior inspection.

The reason for the five year revaluation process is a constantly fluctuating real estate market. Years ago, the state mandated revaluations were every ten years. Each home was valued, and every commercial building was valued, or assessed. During the course of only a few years, the percentages of what is fair to tax homeowners, businesses, and commercial enterprises changed significantly, and one or more of the three different subsets could be paying much more, or much less, than their appropriate fair share.

So the short answer as to whether the town's official appraisal on your home is accurate depends on exactly when it was done. If you are one, two or three years out from the last "official" appraisal, then do not rely on that number for current market value.  Your agent (that would be me) can compare your home to more recent comparables that would be more indicative of your home's true value.

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County? We'd be honored to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Delay After Delay- Are You a Seller Being "Held Hostage" by Your Buyer?

It can be QUITE frustrating. You get through the negotiating process, the building inspection, and contract signing, and then the buyer seems to proceed in virtual Slo-Mo .

The closing is set for one date, and then it gets pushed off. It gets pushed off again, and yet again. I sincerely hope that no seller has to go through this scenario, and unfortunately it happens. Actually, it seems to happen more frequently these past few months.

Your first inclination is to blame "some one" or " some entity". Now while someone or some thing s certainly slowing up the transaction, it doesn't help to get angry about it. It just never gets you anywhere except discouraged.

If you are in the midst of a snails pace transaction, ACT. Don't let things sit. A push ( or a number of gentle pushes, by either your attorney, your agent, or both will generally speed things along. Your professionals are on your side, and you are not alone.

When is it time to just say NO MORE delays?

That can be a tough question to answer without having all of the information. Best to speak with your attorney about it.
A few points to consider:

Have the buyers always proceeded slowly?
Is the buyers agent experienced enough  to know how to direct their clients?
Is the mortgage company  backed up, and the repeated delays are truly no fault of the buyer?
Has the buyer (through tehir attorney or Realtor) kept your attorney or your agent notified throughout, or have they waited to the last minute each time there was a delay?

And lastly, do you have another buyer waiting in the wings to purchase your home? If you do, when does it become worth it to tell your original buyers, "Good Bye".

This can be a difficult decision to make, so do not  make any kind of commitment either way without speaking at length to your attorney and/or Real Estate Broker at length to discuss the ramifications, and future possibilities. Most often, BUT NOT ALWAYS, try and stick it out with your buyer if it makes sense.

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County? We'd be honored to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Living in Fairfield County CT- Otherwise Known as Beverly Hills East

All you have to do is mention that you live in Fairfield County Connecticut to most anyone in the country, and they have probably heard of it- they may even recognize a few towns here, too- and that kind of notoriety can only come with what all Fairfield County residents know, but may not be able to explain very quickly. It's just that certain "je ne sais quoi" that maybe comes from having a consistently fine reputation for its wealth, property values, the public school systems, and its close proximity to New York City.

While you can do some searching online and find out information about the individual towns in the county, it's not that easy to get an  overview of the County itself, which we have found quite interesting, and have put together some information for you  in order to fill that void.

A little demographics and history:

Fairfield County is located at the southwestern part of the state of Connecticut,  and one of eight counties with a land area of approximately 626 square miles, Although it is the most populous county in Connecticut, it is fourth in the size of its land mass. (Litchfield is the largest county, and Middlesex is the smallest)   There is roughly about 211 square miles of water area within the county which does not include Long Island Sound. Cost of living index is at 142.8 as of January 2011.

One of the original four counties settled  during colonial times in 1666, Fairfield County is the wealthiest county in Connecticut and sometimes referred to as "Beverly Hills East" or "The Gold Coast". While Connecticut still refers to counties, there is no countywide government. Each municipality manages itself. In 1960, the state abolished county government, and  it is used mostly now for geographical reasons, with the exception of the organization of its judicial and state marshal systems.

This southwestern portion of Connecticut is comprised of  twenty three towns, which include Bethel, Bridgeport, Brookfield, Danbury, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, New Fairfield, Newtown, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Shelton, Sherman, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport and Wilton. Check out each town's Facebook Fan Pages, too. We have a dedicated page  For our Facebook Town connections with links to all the towns that we service.

There are so many great places to explore in Fairfield County, they would be too numerous to list. A few highlights include the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium and IMAX Theater, The PT Barnum Museum. The Beardsley Zoo and The Arena at Harbor Yard located- the latter all located in Bridgeport,  The Audubon Centers in Greenwich and Fairfield are popular, and there area as many historical sites as you could possibly imagine. VisitFairfieldCountyCT.com has a comprehensive list of attractions broken down by Art & Antiques, Points of Interest, Recreation & Activities,  Shopping, Touring by Car, Foot, Boat & Bike, Vineyards and Farms.

So where to buy your next home?  Get a feel for the majority of  Fairfield County towns right here on our website. Just click the town of your choice that is listed above to get interesting history, facts and demographics about each town, and even search the MLS for your dream home- right on the town's respective page. When you are ready to buy or sell your home in Fairfield County Connecticut, just contact us and we'll get you the very best deal possible!  It's what we do best.

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County? We'd be honored to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Connecticut Financing Update and Today's Mortgage Rates 8/3/12

The rates are looking good and it looks like a perfect time to purchase a home and/or refinance your existing mortgages.  Markets are relatively quiet as all eyes will be on the Fed today.  Expectations vary broadly but most expect Mr. Bernanke to wait until September to announce potential QE3 plans.  However, extending the horizon of low rates out to late 2015 seems to be a popular option that may be implemented. 

In any case, investors will be scrutinizing every word change to glean hints of future policy changes.  In other economic news, the ADP employment report showed employment in the private sector increased by 163,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis in July. Economists had expected 120,000.  And the ISM index showed that U.S. factory activity rose to 49.8 from 49.7 in June. Economists had expected a level of 50.2 (a reading below 50 indicates contraction).  

 Today's Mortgage Rates

Conventional 30 year fixed          3.5%                      APR 3.546%

Conventional 15 year fixed          2.875%                  APR 2.956%

Conventional 5/1 ARM                  2.5%                       APR 3.117%

Conventional 7/1 ARM                  2.625%                  APR 3.076%

The above rates are based on a loan amount of $417,000 for a single family home, a borrower’s middle credit score of 740 and a 20% down payment.

This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend. All loans must satisfy company underwriting guidelines. Information and pricing are subject to change at any time and without notice. This is not an offer to enter into a rate lock agreement under any applicable law.

 

As a lending professional, Nima Rezvan meets a wide range of real estate lending needs, whether it be a first time purchase, second home purchase, or refinance. He welcomes the opportunity to serve your needs with quick and accurate real estate financing advice. With his expertise and knowledge, he will make sure you understand the features associated with the loan program you choose and that it meets your unique financial situation.

With more than 10 years of mortgage lending experience, Nima specializes in  Conventional Mortgages,  Jumbo Loan Financing, Refinance, First Time Home Buyers and Federal Housing Administration/Veterans' Administration (FHA/VA)

 NMLS #110681

send Nima an email

Mobile: 203-913-6016
Fax: 877-804-5752

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Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County? We'd love to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy