Closer to Free Ride

Each and every year New Haven, CT becomes the epicenter for hope and the pursuit of living a life without cancer. We’ve all felt the effects of cancer in one way or another, and Closer to Free Ride provides an easy way to get involved and help support research initiatives. 

This year, Closer to Free Ride hosts its 11th ride, which will take place virtually on September 11, 2021. 

The best part is 100% of funds raised at Closer to Free Ride goes directly to clinical therapies, survivorship, and research initiatives that include Leukemia & Lymphoma, Melanoma, Lung Cancer, and Gastrointestinal Cancer. The event proves to be successful and impactful every year. 

This year, the One & Company Team at William Raveis Real Estate became the rider bib sponsor. Because the cause is near and dear to me, I’m organizing fundraising efforts for One & Company (so you better believe I am hitting up all my teammates, family, and friends to donate!).

As the official rider bib sponsor, our team will ride and raise funds to support Smilow Cancer Center and Yale Cancer Center. For us, Real Estate is more than just selling and buying of homes. 

It is about the community and the people who live in them. 

The One & Company Team at William Raveis Real Estate has five individual riders and an additional 20-plus agents hoping to make a huge impact in their first year, with a team target goal to raise $20,000.

Want to help us reach this goal? Contact me for the donation link!

Contact Me

The Summer Blues

I don’t know about y’all but this summer is flying by! The days seem like hours and the hours seem like minutes. To quote Benjamin Franklin,

“Lost time is never found again.” 

Benjamin Franklin

As a full-time working mom to two boys, each with individual activities and wants, I feel as though there really isn’t enough time in a day. And let’s not mention the home: laundry piling up (at this point, I keep washing things over and over again because I keep forgetting to put it in the dryer), to the clutter of the four people who dwell in this home, to the dog who sheds incessantly, and the empty fridge which was completely full two days before and thinking to myself, “How am I going to manage it all?!” 

Put Your Wellbeing First

In the middle of this year’s Olympics, Simone Biles made the bold choice to withdraw herself from competition due to her physical safety and mental well-being. 

Her decision cemented to the world that no matter what kind of expectations others have of her, she will not relent in protecting her own well-being. What an example of self-love! 

This leads me to believe that no matter what you have chosen as your profession, your mental, physical, and emotional well-being should be the utmost importance. I know this to be true, but sometimes I lapse in conviction to keep myself a priority. I am now learning (and will relearn again and again) that keeping myself accountable for the things I do and say will make the learning curve a little less. 

The Summer Blues 

Back to my chaotic life. At times during this summer the “blues” creeped in and I did not deal with them appropriately. 

I began to feel that I was always failing. 

Failing my kids, my husband, my clients, my family and friends. Failing because there wasn’t enough time. 

Then, I listened to a podcast on my way to meet a client. It was Jocko Willink’s podcast with Admiral William McRaven. 

Lessons to Learn (and relearn)

A little bit of background: Jocko is a decorated Navy Seal on Seal Team 3 (google this, as my description will not do justice), Lieutenant Commander and just one bad (bleep). In this particular episode, Admiral McRaven was the guest, whose accomplishment is long and very distinguished. We all remember when President Obama announced to the world that our Navy Seals had captured and killed Osama Bin Laden – well, Admiral McRaven was at the helm of this special operation. 

As much as I can go on with this amazing podcast, I want to highlight two thoughts that these men kept repeating. 

1) Take ownership of your life. Stop blaming how things went wrong because of this or that or this person. 

2) Find ways within your control to make the ownership of your life meaningful. Be honest with yourself. Keep yourself accountable by asking what you could have done to an outcome better. 

So, how does Simone Biles and Jocko’s podcast have anything in common? Simone took ownership of her well-being and held herself accountable, fully knowing her decision would have negative feedback. 

That is what taking ownership is all about. 

We all need to understand the difference between self-accountability and ownership vs. being selfish and self-serving. 

It is not self-serving to speak your truth and take actions to ensure your well-being. It is not selfish to set boundaries. It is not self-serving to seek self-help. 

It is selfish and self-serving if we can’t be honest with asking for time, help, or understanding. Others cannot do for you what you want. You as the individual must self-advocate, even if it is unpopular. 

Don’t Be a Grinch

Is the title a little dramatic? 

Maybe. 

But, the rule of thumb in this hot market is to curb the immediate greed impulse and think logically. Logic and greed are not definitely not compatible. 

In real estate, especially the market we are all currently living through now, price is king. It will dictate how fast the home will get that sweet offer! 

The Danger of Pricing Too High

The rule of thumb I tell my clients is: it is not about how fast your home will sell, it is all about how much it will actually sell for. All about that supply and demand! 

Let’s be honest, seeing the current trends of rising prices, I can understand why sellers feel like an initial inflated list price of their home would produce an offer.

But even in a competitive market, buyers have a limit. Many buyers right now have been searching for several months, and they have a general understanding of what homes in their price range look like. So if they see a home that seems overpriced compared to others they have been looking at, they won’t even bother to schedule a showing. 

The smarter move would be the list the home with a competitive, price true to the comparable market trends. In other words, a price in line with current sales pending and closed sales for homes similar to yours. 

List prices are like morse code to the buyers. It sends the message that the physical home truly reflects the list price (or in many instances, the list price is under the current market price), which in turn sends the message that the home is worth every penny! 

Price to Sell

The stronger the appearance in value, the higher the probability of selling your home above the list price. So, how do you decide on the initial list price? 

Well, first hire an agent that will prove and provide the data behind the numbers. Data and numbers do not lie! 

Second, like bread, real estate has a shelf life. If left out too long it goes stale! 

How do you make sure your home doesn’t become stale? 

Go back to the first rule! Hire an agent that knows the data and numbers and remember…the list price isn’t the end price. 

It’s just a starting point to where you ultimately want to end up at. And this seller’s market has shown buyers are willing to do whatever it takes! 

Questions about selling in the current market?

CONTACT ME!

Love Your Own Damn Self

This past year has been a difficult one, to say the least! FOR EVERYONE! 

As a full-time mom, wife, and realtor my energies have been spread thin. The desire to work out eluded me for two reasons: One –  I did not want to work out with a mask; Two – I didn’t want to make the time. 

Yes, they are excuses! 

And, yes, I know that I have the power to change that.

The Wrong Comment

A few days ago at a golf outing to support my town’s youth football and cheerleading, I was asked by a man if I was pregnant. 

No, I am not pregnant.

It is not lost on me that I have gained weight. But here’s a reminder for all: Stay in your own lane!

The comment took me off guard, angered me, and got me thinking. 

The Right Motivation

I want to live a healthy and balanced life, but I’m not going to use disdain for my body, or shame from someone else, as motivation. Often times when women do this it makes them feel worse about themselves than they already did before. 

Listen, this girl knows that eating a bag of Doritos and washing it down with wine is not going to get me to where I need to be. But, when I ate the bag of Doritos with wine it was exactly where I needed to be. Sometimes, we all need some comfort food. 

Does it make it good for me? No. 

But it also does not need to be something I feel guilty about. 

We cannot allow anyone else to judge who we are physically, and we cannot allow shame to become our motivation to take action.

I love who I am, fully knowing that the pounds I have gained have nothing to do with my character. 

I will use that self-love as my motivation to better myself physically. 

So, here’s my commitment to me, myself, and I! 

I’ll make sure to keep you all posted in my progress.

What are you committed to doing out of self-love?

Real Estate Home Selling & Purchasing 101

With the advancement in technology and information overload on the internet, there are some myths about the real estate transaction process. 

Most often, the myths end up being about costs associated with selling or purchasing a home!

So, let take it the basic and keep it SIMPLE!

Are you considering selling your home?

Here are costs associated with selling:

  • Real Estate Commission: This is the most significant cost for the seller. In the State of Connecticut, commission is negotiable and it all depends on your motivation to sell. The commission compensates both your listing agent representing your home and the buyer’s agent bringing in the ready and qualified buyers. 
  • Closing Costs: Typically when selling a home, the seller is responsible for the state and local conveyance tax and attorney’s fees. To be conservative, be prepared to pay 1% of the purchase price. (Example: Purchase Price $100,000/1%= $1,000)
  • Any and all liens: If your home has a lien, the seller will need to satisfy that lien at closing before the property is conveyed to the new owner. The liens will be paid out of the net proceeds.

Are you considering purchasing a home?

Here are the costs associated with buying:

  • Mortgage: The mortgage approval process and qualification process does not have to be complicated if you are working with a trusted and qualified agent. The lender you choose will play one of the biggest roles in the purchasing process as it will determine your monthly mortgage payment. Your monthly mortgage payment will include your principle amount borrowed, your interest rate, taxes, and insurance. 
  • Down payment: The myth that purchasers need to put down 20% as a down payment is bologna. I repeat, YOU DO NOT NEED TO PUT DOWN 20% TO PURCHASE A HOME! However, your down payment will dictate your monthly mortgage payment and it all depends on the kind of loan you qualify for. There are loans that allow down payments as low as 3%. Be sure to be guided by a trusted and qualified lender who will walk you through all the scenarios so you can make a decision that best suits you and your family.
  • Appraisal Fee: The appraisal fee pays for a licensed professional to determine what the home is worth before a lender will extend a mortgage commitment. Estimating the market value of a home will typically range from $300-$450 or more for a larger-sized home.
  • Home Inspections: Purchasers are always responsible for the home inspection. The inspection can include the physical home inspection, pest inspection, radon concentration inspection, water potability/mineral & chemical analysis, private well water system inspection, and/or septic inspection. The home and it’s features will dictate which ones you will be testing for. Furthermore, the size of the home will determine the cost. On average a 2,000 square feet home needing all of the above items listed will cost you around $800-$1,000. 
  • Closing Costs: Typically the purchaser pays for most of the closing costs in a real estate transaction. The fee may include: loan origination fees, discount points, title search, title insurance, surveys, taxes, deed recording fees, property taxes, and homeowner’s insurance and attorney fees. To be conservative, be prepared to pay 3% of the purchase price to cover the closing costs. ($100,000/3%) $3,000. 

These numbers are a great starting point! 

Can the costs fluctuate? Absolutely! But, now you can be better informed to make a move, if and when you decide to!

Quarter 1 Recap

As a real estate agent, I set goals for myself every year. 

That’s one of the reasons I love what I do – by setting and achieving new goals, I get to choose how many people I work with, how many deals I close, and how much I make. 

Every quarter, I take time to reflect on the work completed and readjust as necessary to ensure I meet or exceed my yearly goals. 

This year, things seem to be moving at warp speed! So even though it would be easy to skip the reflection and keep hustling, I know that this step continues to push me forward. 

These properties don’t just reflect a closed deal, but the next step in a homeowner’s journey. 

Some of these clients I worked with for months, navigating a competitive market to ensure we found their dream home. Others took on the wild ride of selling in today’s market! Every deal is important, and I continue to be grateful for all my clients for putting their trust in me. 

Here’s a look at properties closed in Q1 of 2021:

Guilford 

Clinton

Southington 

East Haven 

Ansonia

Branford

While these were my first deals of the year, I am just getting started! 

If you are interested in learning more about the process of buying or selling in today’s fast-paced market, contact me today!

Contact Paige

Awareness Is Only Effective Through Understanding

On October 31, 2007, a beautiful boy weighing 8 pounds, 11 ounces at 22 inches long came into the world! 

He was perfection. 

Still is. 

John Kenneth McLean Slocum II (Jake) forever has changed the way I view love, parenting, and the total commitment in raising a child with special qualities that need an extra dose of TLC. 

I will not go into detail about how we derived his diagnosis of Autism. Putting too much emphasis on what “could” have been undermines who our child really is. 

You see, the diagnosis was merely a shift. It took a bit of time to absorb that the future we had envisioned would not come to be. Quickly, the thought process became: how can we provide the best setting for him to succeed?

A New Perspective

Our son is 13, growing at a warp speed and is 6’1”. This should not be a shocker as his daddy is 6’7” and stopped growing at 15. Nevertheless, a big boy! A big, happy, caring, and quirky boy

who will undoubtedly say the “wrong” thing. 

And let me be clear, the wrong thing usually involves a large social setting, pointing, and proclaiming, “Hey Mom, you know that person!”

Or, not being able to navigate his space in public. 

Or, in a deep conversation with himself while others are watching. 

Perhaps you’ve encountered someone similar. Now, be honest with yourself: have you thought, what is wrong with this kid?

Don’t worry: I am not here to shame you if you said yes. 

But I will ask that if you encounter someone – an individual, another human – to remember they experience the same feelings you do. And while they may not hear your inner thoughts, they are keen enough to sense them.

Autism Awareness Month

Our son is many things and being autistic is one of them. 

I will take a quote from the amazing Temple Grandin, an autistic herself, who navigated her own special world while sharing her gift in becoming a prominent American Scientist and Activist: 

“I am different, not less.” 

Temple Grandin

Read that again. 

Being different should is not a precursor for a life not well lived. My child is different, and he knows he is. 

April is Autism Awareness month, and I appreciate and understand the sentiment behind it. 

But, if you truly want to know more about Autism, reach out to a parent like myself. You’ll gain understanding and awareness for those who are different.