I have been a career Real Estate Agent since 2013 serving residential and commercial clients. The majority of my business comes from repeat clients and referrals. My goal is to make this a great transition for everyone involved and provide an exceptional experience. I want you to feel comfortable and empowered throughout your entire real estate journey. My objective is to customize a plan specific to your situation and needs and to help you make the best real estate decisions possible. I’m your resource and am here to help navigate this journey, so please feel free to ask me questions at any time. I will always have your best interest at heart and with your permission, I will be completely honest when offering my professional expertise. Our discussions will remain confidential to allow you to be open and honest with me; the more I know and understand, the better I can help you make well-informed decisions regarding the purchase of your home. My focus is on building long-lasting relationships and remaining a resource for my clients to turn to long after the purchase is complete. This includes anything from suggesting home improvement contractors to recommending exceptional restaurants in the area.
I am actively involved in my community and serve on several committees for the Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS® and the CT REALTORS® Association. I am also proud to be a Miracle Agent within RE/MAX. Since 1992, RE/MAX has partnered with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The RE/MAX Miracle Home Program is the cornerstone of that partnership. Agents involved in the program make a donation to their local CMN Hospital in honor of the buyer. Agents like myself, who donate a certain amount in a calendar year receive the recognition of being a Miracle Agent. The best part of this partnership is that 100% of this donation goes directly to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford. I can’t think of a better way to thank you for your business!
I look forward to the opportunity to serve you!
My main goal is to prepare you to be an educated buyer. Therefore, I will follow these guidelines to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible.
Your main goal as the buyer is to let me help you find a new home. Therefore, please follow these guidelines to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible.
Before we begin looking at houses, you’ll need to prepare all the necessary materials to present to the lender. The lender will help us determine the price range we need to be in and the type of loan most suitable. There are three key factors that you will need to consider:
There are many different loan types available, some requiring 0% down.
It is often thought that bigger is better when it comes to down payments. In some cases, this may be true. However, this will vary from case to case. A bigger down payment means potentially smaller monthly payments and lowers interest expenses for as long as you remain with a mortgage. This can be an important factor for some people. A smaller down payment, however, may allow you to keep extra cash liquid and available for home renovations, or an emergency. If you can put your available funds to work for you so that they can earn you more than the interest rate on your loan, you could be dollars ahead with a smaller down payment.
What every buyer should know before purchasing
A homeowner can exclude up to $500,000 of taxable capital gain if married and filing jointly, or up to $250,000 if single or filing separately. The home must have been the taxpayer’s principal residence for 2 of the previous 5 years. (Verify with your accountant).
Simply put, DISCUSS everything, especially changes, with your lender!
Once we have pre-qualification/pre-approval/proof of funds, this will give us an idea of the price range we should be looking at and we can begin looking at homes. I can typically show you any home whether it is listed with an agency, a builder, or even For Sale by the Owner. While we are looking, please understand that a perfect house does not exist. However, the information, thoughts, and details you share with me, will help us pinpoint the most desirable homes to focus on.
Remember, first we work from location and must-haves on a home. Then we can work with your wish items.
While we are in houses for showings or an open house:
Assume ALL houses have Alexa or Ring devices, nanny cams, etc., and assume ALL are set on audio and/or video recording. Because of this, try to remain neutral while touring, since the seller can see and hear what you’re saying.
Please do:
Please don’t:
(A certified bank check will typically be required for these costs)
Prorated to the closing date
Taxes, oil/propane, sewer & water, HOA Fees.
Per Closing Disclosure
Attorney fees, loan fees, points, appraisal, homeowners, and recording fees.
I will coordinate the next steps and keep everyone in the loop moving forward. You may have a lot of questions at this point, and that’s okay. Feel free to ask them. Also, don’t be surprised if you feel nervous, anxious, or even overwhelmed. It happens to many clients. But don’t worry, because you are in good hands. I have been through this many times and will be there for you during the entire process. The lender, inspectors, attorneys, and the seller’s Real Estate Agent will all be performing their necessary duties during this time as well.
Enlisting my services is similar to hiring any other professional to help you in their specific area of expertise, such as an accountant to help you with your taxes, a doctor to help you with your health care, or a mechanic to help you with your car. I have devoted many years to researching, learning about, and working in the real estate industry. My vast knowledge and experience are what will help me find the perfect home for you quickly. Although I assist you in becoming an educated buyer, it is my job to take care of the hassles, so you don’t have to. I guide you through the home-buying process and exclusively represent your interests as I help you find a home, present your purchase offer, put contract terms and conditions together, and negotiate for you. I get you to the closing table as smoothly and quickly as possible, so you can get your keys and enjoy your new home. My main goal is to make this a smooth, informative, and exciting process.
With me, you have a professional working hard to find and secure the ideal home for you. You won’t need to spend endless amounts of time driving around looking for homes for sale or trying to search online yourself. When you tour homes with me, you already know that the homes meet your criteria and are within your price range.
Just as your accountant, doctor and mechanic get to know your needs through a steady relationship, I will get to know your real estate needs and concerns. This type of relationship is built by open communication at all times and touring homes together. This way I can get your feedback and hear your concerns about each home.
When you sign the Buyer’s Agency Agreement you are simply agreeing to “hire” me as a personal representative who by law must represent your best interests to the best of my ability. The Seller’s Agent is typically responsible for compensating the Buyer’s Agent. By choosing me as your agent, you will get a professional who is devoted to protecting your needs and helping you make one of the most important investment decisions of your life.
In Connecticut, Real Estate brokers and their salespersons are required to disclose the type of working relationship they have with the clients in a real estate transaction. There are several types of relationships that are available to you. You should understand these nuances at the time a broker provides specific assistance to you in buying real estate. Buyer’s Agent and Seller’s Agent relationships are commonly referred to as “agency” relationships and carry with them legal duties and responsibilities for the broker as well as the buyer and seller.
Definition from the State of Connecticut: “Buyer’s Agent” means a real estate broker or real estate salesperson who acts in a fiduciary capacity for the buyer and/or lessee in a real estate transaction.
When a buyer enters into an agreement for representation with a buyer’s agent, the buyer becomes the buyer’s agent’s client. Buyer’s Agents act solely on behalf of the buyer and owe duties to the buyer, which include the utmost good faith, loyalty, reasonable care, disclosure, obedience to lawful instruction, confidentiality, accountability, and fidelity. The buyer may authorize the buyer’s agent to contact other brokers, including associates of other real estate firms, to represent the buyer in locating the property as the buyer’s agent. The agent must disclose to sellers all adverse material facts concerning the buyer’s financial ability to perform the terms of the transaction and whether the buyer intends to occupy the property. A separate written buyer’s agreement is required which sets forth the duties and obligations of the parties.
A buyer agent represents the best interests of the buyer. An exclusive buyer agent has fiduciary duties to the buyer, and may not disclose to the seller the highest price the buyer is willing to pay for a property. That agent is also required to keep all other information confidential, other than their client's financial ability to qualify for a house.
Definition from the State of Connecticut: “Seller’s Agent” means a real estate broker or real estate salesperson who acts in a fiduciary capacity for the seller and/or lessor in a real estate transaction.
When a seller enters into an agreement for representation with a seller’s agent, the seller becomes the seller’s agent’s client. Seller’s Agents act solely on behalf of the seller and owe duties to the seller, which include the utmost good faith, loyalty, reasonable care, disclosure, obedience to lawful instruction, confidentiality, accountability, and fidelity. The seller may authorize the seller’s agent to contact other brokers, including associates of other real estate firms, to represent the seller in marketing their property as seller’s agents. The agent must disclose to buyers all adverse material facts about the property known by the broker. A separate written listing agreement is required which sets forth the duties and obligations of the parties.
A seller agent represents the best interests of the seller. This agent has fiduciary duties to the seller including keeping the seller informed about comparable prices in their market area, preparing a comparative market analysis for their property, developing advantageous advertising campaigns, and guiding the seller to set an attractive listing price for their home.
Definition from the State of Connecticut: “Dual Agent means a real estate broker or real estate salesperson who acts in a fiduciary capacity for both the buyer and the buyer or lessee and lessor.”
A dual agent may represent both the buyer and seller in the same transaction, provided that such dual agent obtains the informed consent of the parties. The dual agent is then considered a disclosed dual agent and owes the buyer and seller a duty to deal with them fairly and honestly. In this type of agency relationship, the dual agent does not represent either the buyer or seller exclusively, and the parties cannot expect the dual agent’s undivided loyalty. The dual agent may not disclose any confidential information that would provide a negotiating advantage to either party but must provide non-confidential information that each party requests in order to accept the terms of the transaction. Both clients must agree, in writing, that they understand the possible consequences of an agent being unable to maintain confidentiality and loyalty to both clients.
DJ will always have your best interest at heart and with your permission, she will be completely honest when offering her professional expertise. DJ looks forward to the opportunity to serve you!