Sarah Willsey, Realtor

03/01/2022

Lots of exciting things happening in West Hartford this year! I'm so happy to hear there's a Chop't location that will be opening 🤩 for any salad lovers who haven't been, it is soooo good and so fun to customize your own salad! And a drive through Starbucks is also very good news! Check out this article to hear more fun things and exciting business news happening in Weha 😊

A round-up of openings, closings, and other news about West Hartford businesses. By Ronni Newton I am very happy that we have reached the end of February and that tomorrow will be March 1 – the first day of meteorological spring! I like to consider the seasons I like (which are all seasons other t...

02/22/2022

Any day I get to have is automatically a great day 🤩

BEST falafel ever, my favorite hummus & pita, and delicious tabouli, baba ganoush, and more (I could list the whole menu because it’s all so good 😋)

Highly recommend if you’re looking for a new lunch/take out spot 😊🧆🥙

02/11/2022

Here are a few tips to help elevate your rental application!

There are lots of things you can do to make yourself stand out and look like a strong tenant candidate. Make sure you only offer and choose what you feel comfortable with and can truly afford to do though! It’s important to stay within your budget/means so keep that in mind as you search. And while finding a rental can be competitive, not every listing will be this way, so feel out the situation and adjust your approach on a case by case basis!

If you have any questions about renting or need help with your search shoot me a message or text at 860-729-6969 🏡🔑

02/10/2022

What this means: this is quite possibly the BEST time to list your house! Inventory is low and buyer demand is high. You’ve gained a TON of equity over the past few years & now can sell for top dollar, turn around and buy with a mortgage interest rate that is still historically low, and have another run at the home price appreciation that is anticipated to come this year and over the next 4-5 years.

Concerned about being a buyer once you sell? You can negotiate TIME and TERMS on your listing to give you flexibility to make a smooth transition!

If you’re curious what your options are for selling & buying in this market or would like to know your home’s new value, shoot me a message and I’d be happy to chat and put together a free (no obligation) home evaluation report (CMA)!

02/09/2022

This one is for all the current or future renters out there! Searching for a rental is exciting but can also be overwhelming! Here are a couple tips to help you be more prepared in your rental search and avoid applying for rentals that are out of reach.

👉🏻 The most important thing is having a solid credit score and many landlords will set a minimum requirement for this (often above 700, sometimes above 600). Having a good credit score shows that you have a track record of repaying borrowed money and are likely to pay rent in a timely manner.

👉🏻 They will also want to see that you have solid income coming in to support paying the rent so be sure to look in a price range that you can afford. While there’s no universal standard when it comes to how much income is enough, a good general budgeting guideline for you to follow as a renter is to spend no more than 30% of your monthly income on rent. So if you earn $6000 a month, you will want to look for a monthly rent of ~$1800.

👉🏻 Keep in mind that you will need to tailor this to your own circumstances and budget for other expenses too! So if you also have student loans, credit card debt, health insurance, etc you will likely want to look at a lower price point (or consider getting a roommate) so you can pay for your rent, utilities, food, and those other bills & still have money left over to live comfortably! This approach isn’t one size fits all so you can determine how this works for you, but it can be a useful general guideline to follow as you search for a rental.

If you’re looking for a rental or have questions about the process, message/text me 860-729-6969. I’d love to help 🏡🔑😊

02/05/2022

So excited to share that our team has earned a Chairman’s Club award for 2021 🤩 Thank you to all of our clients who made last year so amazing!! I feel so blessed that I have a career that I love, an amazing team to learn from, and the best clients and friends who have trusted me and our team to help them buy and sell houses ❤️🏡 I’m so lucky!! I’m looking forward to another great year 😊

02/03/2022

What does it mean when they say real estate is a hedge against inflation??

During a period of high inflation, prices rise across the board- and while home prices aren’t immune to this, here’s why inflation shouldn’t stop you from buying a home in 2022:

👉🏻 Buying real estate allows you to lock in a monthly mortgage payment so even as other prices rise, your monthly payment will remain constant. Homeowners are shielded from rising costs because their monthly cost is fixed, while someone renting will likely face housing cost increases each year (they are expected to increase nationally over 7% this year). There’s no doubt that renting is the right move for some people! But for those who are in a position to buy, feel ready, and WANT to buy, it will allow you to maintain the biggest portion of your housing expenses at the same payment.

👉🏻 Today’s mortgage interest rates are still historically low. Inflation decreases what your dollars can buy, but low mortgage rates help counteract it by boosting your purchasing power so you can get more home for your money. They also help keep your monthly payments down. The cost to borrow money right now is cheap! Interest rates are expected to rise this year, but will still be comparatively low vs other points in time.

👉🏻 Homes are not expected to depreciate. Many housing market analysts have predicted more appreciation over the next 4-5 years (albeit at a lower pace). For those who may be hesitating to sell or buy: selling now will give you the equity you have in the house, then the ability to get a mortgage with a great interest rate as well as the opportunity to gain the forecasted home price appreciation that experts are expecting over the next few years.

Let me know if you have any real estate questions I can help with!

01/28/2022

All bundled up for this blizzard!! I hope everyone stays warm & safe this weekend ❄️☃️😊

01/24/2022

✨🏡 BUYER NEEDS 🏡✨

Thinking of selling your home? Or know someone who is soon?

I have a wonderful couple looking to buy a home along the shoreline. Please reach out and let me know if you know of a home that might be a good match (and share this with someone who may be interested) 😊

And if any of my realtor friends have a listing coming soon, please send them my way!

Sarah Willsey
860-729-6969
[email protected]
William Raveis Susie Hatch Team

01/21/2022

How long does it take to buy a house?

It depends! There are buyers who put an offer on the first house they see and buyers who look for months before finding a house they love- it all depends on the area you’re looking in and how much inventory there is (and yes inventory is low everywhere!), the price point you’re looking in (are there a lot of other buyers also looking in this price range?), and your needs/preferences (are you looking for something very specific or more open-minded?)

Here are some helpful tips to consider:

👉🏻 Give yourself time and be patient during your house search- due to increased demand and the fact that inventory is low everywhere, it’s taking longer to find the perfect home. You’ll want to start preparing when you’re still ~6+ months out from when you have to move (a typical closing is 30-45 days, and you will need additional time to get pre-approved, find a realtor, search, & get under contract). It may take seeing a lot of houses before finding one you want to write an offer on and it’s possible it will take a couple tries before your offer is accepted. The sooner you start, the less pressure you’ll feel and more comfortable your search will be.

👉🏻 Keep an open mind and embrace compromise. Flexibility is going to be a necessity in this market, so it is important to know what is truly a must have for your home and what is just an added bonus. Many buyers are looking for a move in ready-everything upgraded home, but thinking outside the box and being a little willing to put in some sweat equity yourself will open you up to those houses that may be a little less competitive. Remember your dealbreakers like school district, location, or specific layout that can’t be changed, but keep an open mind to other factors. Sometimes you don’t know what you’re looking for until you find it and you may surprise yourself at what you love!

Have faith that the right house will cross your path! As cliche as it sounds, what’s meant to be yours will be 😊

Message me with any real estate questions or if you want to plan out your home buying plan 🏡

01/21/2022

Happy Friday from Chloe & me 😊❤️❤️

01/19/2022

How to Find Your Ideal Location When House Hunting 🏡⬇️

Here are a few things you can start doing now to find a home AND a location you love:

👉🏻Tour different neighborhoods- are there areas you really love or that have attractions that are importnat to you like a bike trail, walking distance to downtown, or a community pool? Get to know what’s out there in different towns/areas

👉🏻Look for nearby attractions that are important to you! Is is the coffee shop, yoga studio, library, park, etc

👉🏻Tourist mode- while you’re out and about, stop for lunch, grab a latte from the local coffee shop, pop into the local boutique, and walk around to see what else you like or don’t love about the area!

👉🏻Keep an open mind! Sometimes we don’t realize how great a particular area is because we think it’s a little too far (from family, from work, etc) or maybe there’s a town you haven’t really explored yet that would be perfect for you!

👉🏻Test out your work commute- actually make the drive from the area you’re considering to the office and see if it works for you

Pro tip! Don’t narrow your search location too much or you’ll see less listings/options on your automatic mls home search. Sometimes it’s best to keep your options open especially in a competitive market!

If you have any questions about house hunting or are looking to get your search started, shoot me a message and let’s work together to create your home buying plan 😊