Real Estate Chocolate » Talking Real Estate

Video: Why January and February are Important to Fairfield County Home Sellers in 2010

robgutman — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:55:34 +0000

Hear what Jay Papasan and Bryon Ellington have to say about the usually slow winter months and why they are so important to home sellers in 2010. Economic conditions this year and the home buyers’ tax credit mean home sellers need to get their properties on the market earlier than usual. This real estate advice applies to the cities like Danbury, Stamford and Norwalk as well as the smaller Fairfield County towns like Ridgefield, Redding, Newtown and Wilton. Watch the video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I’ve been Tagged… Now it’s My Turn to Tell All!

robgutman — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:25:52 +0000

I love games and thanks to Talk of Our Town, I’m now engaged in a virtual round of “blog tag” (see their original post here). “The Talk” has challenged me to disclose 10 things about myself and my blog and then tag 5 of my favorite blogs and have them do the same. So, here goes:

Real estate is my full-time profession and I LOVE IT. I have an MBA from the Stern Business School (NYU) and I take my clients’ business of buying and selling residential property very seriously. I have been negotiating deals for over 20 years and work very hard to get the absolute best deal possible for each of my clients.
My real estate business includes traditional buying and selling as well as bank-owned foreclosures and distress sales. My clients rave about my work!
I actively cover all of Fairfield County including Ridgefield, Danbury, Newtown, Stamford, Wilton, Norwalk, Redding, Bethel, Weston, Westport and more.
My favorite recreational activities are road-biking, mountain-biking, hiking and snowshoeing. I always bring my dog (except on the road).
I started Real Estate Chocolate because I have so much to offer and I see a need to help active and passive participants in real estate. I want to share information and insights that will enable people to make the best buying and selling decisions in this dynamic real estate market. I also thought my blog would be good for business. It is.
I am an active citizen in my community and participate and volunteer in several ways: ROAR (Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue), RACE (Ridgefield Action Committee for the Environment), Ridgefield Affordable Housing Committee and Norwalk River Valley Trail Planning Committee .
Why “Real Estate Chocolate”? Well, the blog is mostly centered around smart and honest real estate advice and everyone loves chocolate. So I came up with a name that captures the imagination and makes the blog very inviting: Real Estate Chocolate.
Interesting fact: when I first started Real Estate Chocolate, I used a logo that was a take-off on the ubiquitous Hershey Bar. Not long after I launched, I received a cease and desist letter from Hershey’s attorneys demanding that I stop using a likeness of their trademarked candy bar. I really caught the attention of the big guys!
I enjoy biking and hiking in many of the woods, forests and open spaces throughout Fairfield County (see this post and this post). My favorites include Huntington State Park in Redding, Tarrywile Park in Danbury, Trout Brook Valley Preserve in Easton and Bennetts Ponds State Park in Ridgefield.
My readership has been steadily growing since I started blogging. It is amazing how valuable my readers find my work and how far my readership reaches.

Here’s my 5 fave local blogs:

CTWatchdog – After 40+ faithful years at The Hartford Courant, George Gombossy got canned for DOING HIS JOB! Well, George don’t need no stickin’ Courant! He started CT Watchdog to help keep an eye on things.

CT Green Scene – From air quality and activism to watersheds and volunteer opps, this blog and associated network is devoted to sustainability within our state and beyond.

Fairfield County Business Journal – This blog complements the weekly print edition. Simply stated: everything business in Fairfield County.

CT Bites – Foodies delight! This online foodfest for Fairfield County will make your mouth water.

The Last Great Glass – Ancona’s take on fine wine and craft beer. Great insights on what to drink. Personally, I’m partial to the beer.

Zillow Blog Brings Us Top Digs for Top Dogs

robgutman — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:38:50 +0000

A little diversion from my normal beat on Fairfield County real estate, this Zillow blog enlightens us to the world of celebrity real estate. A few tidbits include:

The most-view celebrity house in December was Tiger Woods’.
Ron “it slices, it dices” Popiel’s Beverly Hills home is on for $6,000,000.
Top “10 most expensive” list is headed up by Joel Horowitz’s Lake Tahoe retreat. Asking price $100 million!
Designer Tory Burch listed her Hamptons TEARDOWN for $18 million!

Check out all these great big deals at the Zillow Celebrity Real Estate Blog.

Here’s an $8,000 Bonus, but it Expires Soon. Act Now, FREE eBook!

robgutman — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:19:38 +0000

Fairfield County Real Estate eBook

Some Fairfield County home buyers might not fully understand how to grab that $8,000 that Uncle Sam if offering. Hey, it’s yours to take, SO TAKE IT!

Here’s a FREE eBook from Real Estate Chocolate that’ll get you understanding exactly what you need to do and when in order to take advantage of this unbelievable program.

EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS! What could you do with that. Let’s see…. buy furniture for you new house, paint and decorate, reduce your monthly payments, by a car.

Check out the eBook now!

$8,000 Closer to Home

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Hey, What’s the Big Deal! 2009’s Biggest Home Sales and What This Means for 2010

robgutman — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:17:46 +0000

How big were the biggest deals of 2009? Big? Really big? Well, actually, not so big. Last year we witnessed a major pullback in luxury home sales at the highest end of the market. In the 7 towns surveyed, the average “biggest deal” was down 20% from 2008.

The transaction price erosion we saw at the highest level is driven mainly by 2 factors: overall decline in market values and the shifting focus of buyers toward more modest dwellings.

Anyone care to make a prediction? Will the high-end buyers be back in 2010? Personally, I think we’ll see more attention on luxury homes in the coming year as pent up demand will bring more buyers to this market segement while at the same time, many are tiring of the selling process and will do “whatever it takes” to get their homes sold.

Northern Fairfield County’s Biggest Deals of 2009 list won’t make the Forbes World’s Most Expensive Homes list, but they are beautiful and luxurious. Check out all the 2009 biggest deals below:

Biggest Residential Real Estate Deals of 2009

Town	Address	BR	Acres	2009 Sold Price	2008 Biggest Deal	Percent Change
BETHEL	6 JENNIFERS WAY	4	1.9	$720,000	$1,100,000	-35%
BROOKFIELD	38 SUNSET COVE RD	3	1.0	$1,350,000	$1,850,000	-27%
DANBURY	19 PETERSONS LN	5	2.0	$1,595,000	$1,817,000	-12%
NEWTOWN	26 BUTTERFIELD RD	5	5.1	$1,150,000	$1,600,000	-28%
REDDING	118 MOUNTAIN RD	4	5.9	$2,300,000	$2,950,000	-22%
RIDGEFIELD	3 PARLEY LN	4	1.3	$2,500,000	$5,500,000	-55%
WILTON	16 MIDDLEBROOK LN	5	4.2	$4,000,000	$2,940,000	36%

How to Find Out What the Tax Man Thinks Your Fairfield County House is Worth and Why it Matters

robgutman — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:20:53 +0000

You’re just a few clicks away from knowing what any house is worth! Whether you’re buying a house, selling a house or just living in your house for the time being, it’s always good to know the local tax assessment. Assessments in Connecticut are updated every 5 years and represent 70% of a homes true market value.

Take Ridgefield for example. In 2007 the Tax Assessor (Al Garzi), worked with a vendor to revalue every property in town. Based on actual sales, they objectively assign a dollar value to each parcel in order to fairly divide up Ridgefield’s tax burden. If a house has recently changed ownership, it is likely that that the new assessment will reflect this transaction price.

When I value a home for sale or purchase, I present my client with 4 different market valuation models based on several factors. The tax assessment is a major input to my valuation model for any individual home. Not only the assessment for that particular house, but the assessments for all the comparable houses that have recently sold and are currently on the market.

Contact me to learn more about how to accurately model the value of any home. Weather you’re buying, selling, or just tracking the value of you current home, it’s important to keep an accurate read on it’s market value.

Online Tax Assessments for Ridgefield, Redding, Wilton and other area towns in Fairfield County

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What Everybody Ought to Know About Their Credit and FICO Score

robgutman — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:06:53 +0000

We’ve all been reading the headlines shouting about the mortgage crisis, sub-prime loans and that home buyers can’t get loans to buy their dream home. I can’t say for Nevada or Florida, but in Fairfield County, those headlines are a load of bunk! I’m still selling real estate in Ridgefield and other towns where buyers are financing 95% of their purchase!

How?… you wonder… it’s their credit score. A good credit score is the key that unlocks the door to low down payments. opening that door becomes much easier when you understand exactly what determines your FICO score.

The company that created FICO, Fair Isaac, has a FREE eBook you must read so you can really understand what a 785 means or how opening a Macy’s charge will affect your score. Download and read Understanding Your FICO Score to learn all you need to know about your credit score.

Then, check out AnnualCreditReport.com to get you free credit report from the big 3 reporting agencies.

Brad and I keep relationships with the best mortgage providers in Connecticut. We’ll help get you the financing you need to buy your perfect home. We are always available to help in any way we can. Contact us anytime.

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How You Can Profit From Getting Rid of Your Junk

robgutman — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:35:33 +0000

You’ve decided to sell, you’re moving or you just need to clear some junk out of your house. Living in Ridgefield, I can tell you how to do it quickly, easily and profitably. I help all of my real estate clients clean-out their homes and ready them for sale. Here’s 4 ways to make it easy and profitable. I love this stuff so CALL ME to help you with any of this! 203-313-0414

Craigslist – I use craigslist to sell mostly oversized or bulky items that are tough to ship. Price items to sell quickly, not to make a huge profit and they’ll be gone in a day or 2. Remember, your primary goal is to rid your house of all the stuff you no longer need or use. When moving last year, I sold a sleeper sofa, several old dressers, bikes and more on Craigslist. And the best part is, people show up, pay you and take your stuff away…. easy money!

Freecycle – Free/Recycle… “Freecycle”. It’s a national network of freecyclers with a growing local presence. I’ve been hearing more about Freecycle lately but haven’t yet tried it myself. The idea is if you’ve got something that’s still within it’s useful life but you need to get rid of it, say an old Laz-y-Boy, a washer/dryer or garden tools, there’s someone out there that will take it for their own use. This gets it out of your house and keeps it out of the landfill; very environmentally friendly. Although you get no cash for your stuff, you get it removed for free.

eBay – I use eBay mostly for things of relatively high value that are easy to ship. I’ve sold used mp3 players, cell phones, cameras and more on eBay with little effort and much success. You can set your own price or run an auction. Either way it helps you clear out your attic or basement of old video cameras, telescopes, toys, shoes, clothes and more.

Goodwill – Donate items at Goodwill. Goodwill Industries has convenient drop-off locations throughout the area and can even be called on to pick up furniture and other large items. Here’s a reliable way to donate items and they’ll also give you a receipt for your taxes.

The Dump – When all else fails, take it to the local transfer station. For a fee, you can drop most anything. The trouble is you do all the work and then pay for the privilege of filling a landfill with your old couch. This is usually my last option but they are always ready to take whatever I’m getting rid of.

Remember, I am always available to help you use any of these websites. Together we can get your house de-cluttered and put some cash in your pocket!

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How Real Estate is Like Fishing. Warning: This Strategy WILL SELL Your Fairfield County House

robgutman — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:02:57 +0000

No matter what you’re hearing, area homes ARE selling. Not like iced tea on a hot summer day, but homeowners that need to sell are getting the job done. I just checked the MLS and here’s the proof: 140 area homes have taken a deposit or have a signed contract. These are all recent real estate deals that have been negotiated and/or contracted but not yet closed. That’s 140 houses!

Home sellers are asking me “how can I be the next one?” If you really want to sell, then let’s talk about a pricing strategy that works. You see, selling real estate is kind like fishing. You can have the best gear, the best bait and even be in the best fishing spot. However, if the fish are 30 feet down and you only let out 10 feet of line, you can fish all day and still have nothing for dinner! Let out 10 more feet, not a bite. 10 more feet and then you’ll be eating fillets for a week!

If you’ve got a great house and your realtor has a proven marketing system and you’re still not seeing satisfactory activity or offers (i.e. no bites), then your bait’s not low enough. Your not fishing where the fish actually are. It’s time to let out more line. And then keep letting it out until you hook your buyer.

The Home Sales Strategy That Will Sell Your House!

First, realize that today there are many more houses for sale than buyers to buy them. Not what you were hoping for but the good news is that if you’re buying something on the other end, then you’ll be benefiting from this situation too! The sooner you “get to 30 feet”, the faster you will hook a buyer and you will actually sell for a higher price than if you stayed at 10 feet for too long. Price your house as competitively as possible. Then for every 2 weeks without an acceptable offer, drop your price by $10,000 – $20,000. Today’s buyers make decisions based on value. That’s it. A periodic price adjustment strategy will get your house sold. Guaranteed!

Northern Fairfield County Real Estate IS selling and at ALL price levels:

Bethel. . . . . 14 transactions currently in process between $314,000 and $549,900
Brookfield . 20 transactions currently in process between $290,000 and $990,000
Danbury . . 45 transactions currently in process between $180,000 and $1,600,000
Newtown . .20 transactions currently in process between $175,000 and $1,199,999
Redding . . . .9 transactions currently in process between $190000 and $1,750,000
Ridgefield. . 19 transactions currently in process between $375,000 and $3,500,000
Wilton . . . . .12 transactions currently in process between $390,000 and $2,399,000

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How Local Experts See the Current Economic Situation and What it means to Ridgefield

robgutman — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:08:53 +0000

This morning’s Ridgefield Press article “The Credit Crunch Hits Home” offers terrific insight into how world economic events are effecting us here in Ridgefield. We get analysis from Yale lecturer and longtime Ridgefield resident Nick Perna on how the entire financial system depends on confidence. Ridgefield Bank’s Gary Smith explains the fed funds market and what that means to our local banks. Local mortgage broker Terry Hastings tells us that not only does he have plenty of money to lend, but rates are at historical lows. Ed McGill at BMW of Ridgefield is still offering car loans and leases. And Ridgefield town clerk, Barbara Serfilippi, reveals how the real estate sales slowdown effects town coffers as conveyance taxes have declined.

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