RobGrodmanHomes.com
Over 25 Years of Experience helping buyers and sellers
RobGrodmanHomes.com is led by Rob Grodman, an experienced agent with over 25 years of experience in the Fairfield County real estate market.
Rob has seen both the market's high and low points. His approach to his clients has remained the same. Survey the market daily to understand where it is trending, work with a limited number of seller and buyer clients to give them the best possible service, and establish a rapport of openness and honesty.
It may seem like everything sells in our local market, but that’s not always the case. If you were one of the sellers whose home didn’t sell last year, you’re not alone—and there’s no need to feel discouraged.
There are many reasons why a home might not sell: Was it priced too high? Did it need repairs? Did it have the right marketing strategy?
In 2024, sellers in our area received an average of 104.1% of their list price at sale, with home prices rising 14.4% year-over-year, according to Smart MLS and the Annual Report for the Mid-Fairfield County Association of REALTORS® Service Area. If your home didn’t achieve those results, let’s talk about what we would do differently to position your home for success in 2025.
Economists predict a more active housing market this year, with existing home sales and inventory expected to rise. If you’re still planning to move, now is the time to reassess your strategy. Let’s connect and make 2025 the year your home sells!
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Hello
Welcome to RobGrodmanHomes.com
We specialize in residential homes in lower Fairfield County, Connecticut. Our office is centrally located in Westport. We cover the following towns: Westport, Weston, Wilton, Norwalk, Easton & Fairfield. We watch the market and can find you that hard to find home. Contact us today to get started!
Client testimonials
Rob Grodman did a great job in helping us to find a property. He recognized that our dreams and the realities of the market sometimes clashed, so he patiently evolved his approach. Rob is also a pleasure to work with because he is erudite and amiable, someone we looked forward to seeing at the properties. See that perfect "5.0" rating, believe it!
Rob Grodman is a pleasure to work with and an expert on the Westport, Weston, Wilton and Redding areas - and we took him to them all! Or I should say, he patiently took us. Rob gives real estate agents a good name. He is not only a great agent, he is a great person. We trusted him 100% throughout the process of finding and buying our home and feel lucky to have found him.
Rob was the exemplary agent in working diligently, professionally and very very patiently with us - specifically, he was invaluable/indispensable in helping us navigate the arduous process in searching for, finding, and constructing our dream house over a 2.5 year period. He was always responsive to our asks/needs and demonstrated detailed knowledge of the Westport market. Proof is in the proverbial pudding- we've worked with him twice and highly recommend him (selling/buying).
We had a terrific experience with Rob and would HIGHLY recommend him to anyone looking for a home in the Weston/Westport area. We were coming from NYC and had little idea about the area and about home buying in general. Rob patiently explained each part of the home buying process, helped us identify and narrow down what we were looking for (we were all over the place so this wasn't an easy job for him), didn't pressure us into the most expensive deal (and indeed identified 'bargain' opportunities that he thought were good buys), and then when we found our dream home, walked us through from bid to close, providing excellent advice on how to handle and win a tough bidding war. Even after we moved in, Rob has provided invaluable advice as needed. Thank you Rob!
Rob Grodman is a skilled , knowledgeable and personable realtor, who was so helpful in getting my condo sold, not only at the optimal prove, but in a weeks time!! Done!! He found the perfect home for me and was a skillful negotiator, all the while showing a gracious attitude, yet firm enough on negotiating that I got my new place at a good price as well!!! I highly recommend Rob.
We have known Rob Grodman for 15 years. During that time he has worked with us to sell, buy and rent several houses. In all aspects of real estate Rob shows vast knowledge and expertise. He does his research to bring about the best results. He is well liked and respected within the real estate community which is a big asset in negotiations. Rob has been a pleasure to work with and is always super responsive when anything is needed. We are happy to recommend Rob Grodman as truly an exceptional real estate broker.
We love Rob! We were looking for an investment property in Westport for almost a year. No luck! We were with another local agent at that time, we made three offers and none of them went through. So we decided to change agent. We found Rob. He is truly a pleasure to work with. He will take care of everything you need. He really does go above and beyond your expectations. He helped us to found the house that we rally love, however, someone have already submitted the offer. But Rob didn't hesitated. He said let's submit our offer right away. He did tons of homework and advised us what is the best price to present. And we did it and the owner accepted our offer. We absolutely love the house and it was a great buy. Rob also helped us find a great tenant. I am sure that you will be happy if you use Rob as your real estate agent! Highly recommend him!
Helped me buy a house 16 years ago, have worked with him ever since on a number of transactions. Very knowledgeable and responsive. Thorough knowledge of Westport and the surrounding areas. Have recommended him to several friends and acquaintances.
Rob has assisted us with 2 home purchases in Westport, CT and we could not be more satisfied with the entire experience. His patience and commitment to his clients is impressive. For our second purchase, we looked at many, many homes before we found "the one". Rob was great to work with throughout the entire process.
Rob is a gracious, knowledgeable and very proactive professional. He worked diligently to understand our objectives and helped us secure a property quickly in a very competitive market. I couldn't recommend him more highly.
We found Rob to be intuitive, caring, and flexible. His knowledge of the region is extensive as he stays very in tune with all matters concerning the towns that he shows properties in. We would highly recommend Rob Grodman, as we know that he would not disappoint on any level when dealing with a home purchase.
Rob lead me through the entire process of helping me get prepared to sell my home. He was extremely professional and knowledgeable throughout every step of the process. I would highly recommend him
Rob showed us the property we needed, helped negotiate a couple of issues about who pays for repairs, arrange for us to meet with the owner to iron out a couple of issues, responded quickly to all our requests. Rob is both very nice and professional. Made the process go smoothly.
It was an absolute pleasure to work with Rob Grodman. I hold Rob in the highest esteem. He is a rare commodity in this day an age. He has integrity and works very hard to come up with any type of solution to resolve any issues that arise during the process. He is very knowledgeable about house construction and very knowledgeable about the local resources that are available. I would highly recommend Rob to handle any Real Estate transaction.
I have bought and sold many homes over the years and in the course of doing so, have worked and dealt with many brokers. Rob Grodman stands out head and shoulders above the rest.
Selling your home is no easy task. Far from it. What was great about Rob, is that he made it as easy and stress-free as humanly possible. There was nothing he thought was outside the scope of his job in getting the house sold! He was part broker, part coach, part home guru and part problem solver all rolled into one.
Rob was also instrumental in helping me find a home outside his service area by recommending an excellent broker that he knew and had worked with. Again, making the process easier and less stressful for me. I would highly recommend Rob Grodman.
Rob was wonderful to work with. At one point I though one house was the right choice for us and he pointed out some issues that helped me to rethink the decision. We finally found the perfect house and I am so glad we waited. We recommended him to two family members one of whom also bought a house through Rob. I highly recommend him.
Rob Grodman was recommended to us by a close friend when we started to look for our first home. What made us so comfortable from the very beginning was Rob's patience and calming presence at every step of the process. We love our home and continue to recommend him to our family and friends, in fact he's helping my in-laws find a home near us right now!
We have worked with Rob Grodman since 2000 buying and selling multiple homes. After moving to Connecticut from North Carolina and realizing the "sticker shock" on the price of homes in the Fairfield County area, Rob spent countless hours/days with us. He helped us understand the different towns within Fairfield County and what each one offered. We bought a home in Weston and after 5 years decided to sell that home and move to Westport. We knew that Rob would "take care" of us and always look out for us on both sides of selling and buying. He ensured that we were making sound decisions and kept us "grounded" throughout the entire process. We highly recommend Rob Grodman as your Realtor!
It is rare to find a realtor which seems to be on top of every detail. Way before one thinks of what needs to be done, Rob is already on it. He is very fair in his commitment to work inside the highest industry standards and Rob never attempts to take advantage of the client for short-term gain. Five star all the way.
Rob was extremely professional, polite, knowledgeable and patient. He was an integral part in our successful search for our home. He is a true gentleman.
I have bought and sold 4 houses with Rob. He is sooooo totally not like any realtor that I have ever dealt with in the past. I generally view realtors in a very low light in the same class as used car salesmen or plaintiff lawyers. However, Rob was absolutely different from the first day that we met him. He is a true professional in every sense of the word. He also happens to really care about his clients buying and selling experience.
As a quick couple of easy examples that I personally experienced, and of the trust that I have in Rob.....We were on vacation when he finally convinced us to paint our house. He did all of the work to find us a painter, and pick the colors. Then, he paid for the job to be finished while we were gone. Unbelievable!!
Example two...During our move, the movers damaged a few things including the stairs to the entrance. I was out of town and could not take care of the repairs. Rob didn't even hesitate to personally repair the damage.
I can give example after example of his stellar work for his clients. However, he has also been a tremendous advocate for us as buyers. He is tirelessly committed to finding his clients the right house. On one of our buys, he showed us over 50 houses and kept going whenever one came up that we might be interested in seeing. During all of our negotiations, he has presented our thoughts very clearly and appropriately to the sellers agents. I have never had any doubt at all about his abilities to close a deal.
All and all....I could not recommend a better realtor than Rob. He is truly that good at his trade. I would highly highly highly recommend him to anyone looking to either sell or buy a house!!! Plus, he is just a great guy to spend time with during the very stressful time buying and selling a house.
Rob, was very helful in selllimg my house. he help me pack boxes... rearrange furniture...make dump trips....without him I do not thinkIwould have ever sold hold my house..he went beyond what ar ealtor does with 5 stars
Rob's Blog
Decluttering Tips To Suit Every Type of Person: 6 Expert Methods for Whipping Your House Into Shape
By Jennifer Kelly Geddes
Jan 6, 2025
New year, new you, right? For many, January heralds the start of a new era, whether it involves hunkering down with hot drinks, hitting up the post-holiday sales, or turning over a new leaf for the coming 12 months.
But for a lot of people, this time at the start of the year also represents an opportunity to refresh your living space, yanking down festive decor and ridding yourself of clutter to begin the year on the best foot possible.
Whether you own a home or rent a room, tidying and decluttering are a vital part of everyday living—no matter how much you might hate the tasks.
The good news is that you don’t have to follow one particular method for cleaning up your space. In fact, experts say there are tips, tricks, and techniques available to suit all manner of people, from those who love a Sunday reset to those who abhor any form of chore.
That’s right. The reality is, you don’t have to follow the same path as your loved ones when it comes to organizing drawers and closets. Instead, consider the half-dozen choices, below, and then pick the one that suits you best.
1. The Marie Kondo method
What is the Marie Kondo method?
The KonMari method of decluttering comes to us from Marie Kondo, the famous Japanese organizing consultant who penned the 2014 book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” selling millions of copies along the way. She also starred in her own Netflix show, “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.”
The method here encourages homeowners to purge their items by category (clothes, books, papers), rather than by room, and to keep only those objects that “spark joy.”
As you cruise your piles, Kondo suggests that you thank your items for their service before tossing or donating them.
Who should try it?
If you’re a fan of mindfulness and intentional living, Kondo just might be your spirit animal. And the pros are behind her.Laura Burton of the eponymous design firm, for one, identifies with this approach as she likes to work in stages.“I’m also a believer in not keeping things that don’t bring you joy,” she adds.
2. Five-things approach
What is the five-things approach?
The five-things process is fairly logical—its premise is that there are just a few (five!) kinds of clutter around the house that need tidying. The idea is to attack one or two of the five things in the time you have.
This handful of items includes dishes, trash, laundry or clothes, things that have a place, and things that don’t.
Who should try it?
The five-things idea means you can take on just one or two a day and then take a break. With this approach, you can feel like a hero when every dish is back in the kitchen or the laundry is finally folded and put away.
3. Swedish death cleaning
What is Swedish death cleaning?
This Scandinavian idea might sound morbid, but it’s a gift in disguise. Swedish death cleaning entails ridding your home of junk before you end up leaving the mess to your children to deal with. Fans of the method suggest starting with easy excess first (junk drawer, clothes that don’t fit) and then moving to more precious things that you might give away to special people in your life. The process is designed to be slow and allows you to keep sentimental objects as you declutter.
Who should try it?
You don’t have to be from Stockholm to consider this idea, nor do you need to be elderly. Instead, give this one a go if you long to reduce personal chaos and (ideally) live a more serene, organized life.
4.The One in One Outh approach
What is the one-in, one-out technique?
Simple and streamlined, the one-in, one-out rule means you can’t add another pair of boots until you donate one you already own. The same goes for books, sets of glassware, napkins, etc. If you follow this program properly, you’ll never accumulate more than you should.
Who should try it?
Homeowners who love a strict approach should dive right into this one. It’s rigid—but it works extremely well. O’Brien herself follows the one-in, one-out method.
“It helps cut down on impulse buying, and if you bring something into the house, it’s a good reminder to remove another item,” she explains
5. The 20/20 rule
What is the 20/20 rule?
Nope, this isn’t about eye vision. Rather, the 20/20 way asks you to decide whether you could replace the item you’re thinking of tossing for less than $20 and within 20 minutes, if you needed to.
Who should try it?
Do you have nine spatulas? If so, 20/20 could be for you.
McCann also urges clients to ask similar questions, such as “Is this easily replaceable if I donated it?” and “Is there someone that would value this more?”
6. The Four Boxes
What is the four-boxes method?
All you need here are a few boxes—four to be exact. Label these “trash,” “donate,” “keep,” and “relocate.”
Who should try it?
Do you have nine spatulas? If so, 20/20 could be for you.
McCann also urges clients to ask similar questions, such as “Is this easily replaceable if I donated it?” and “Is there someone that would value this more?”
Weekly Housing Market Update: Get Ready for the First Balanced Market in Nearly a Decade in 2025
Realtor.com’s 2025 Housing Forecast shows that there will be gains in both home prices and sales. And the biggest positive story for buyers is that we expect housing inventory to continue to grow in the year ahead which will mean the first full year of a balanced housing market since 2016.
This week, our key data covered the labor market as unemployment edged up and hourly wages climbed. Hiring rebounded in November, and hourly wages climbed 4.0%, faster than recent inflation. And while job openings are down from one year ago, they still remain relatively abundant. This gradual adjustment should clear the path for the Fed to continue normalizing monetary policy, and I expect another quarter point rate cut later in December, especially if inflation is moderate next week.
Mortgage rates dipped for a second week to 6.7%, pulling back from their recent highs as markets continue to calibrate expectations around the economic outlook and policy implications of the 2024 elections.
How Do Zoning Regulations Affect Housing?
Housing affordability challenges in the United States are closely tied to zoning laws, which influence where and what types of housing can be built. While zoning regulations were originally designed to manage urban growth and land use, many have evolved to restrict housing supply through measures like minimum lot sizes, height limits, and parking requirements.
Innovative approaches are emerging to overcome zoning barriers and foster affordable housing. Cities like Minneapolis and Salt Lake City have eased restrictions on housing density, while states like California and New York are using statewide policies to override local exclusionary zoning laws. Moving forward, a combination of zoning reform, public-private collaboration, and policies that prioritize flexibility and efficiency could create more inclusive, affordable housing opportunities nationwide.
NAR’s Chief Economist Forecasts 4.71M Existing-Home Sales in 2024
Lawrence Yun also said the housing market will improve for buyers next year.
WASHINGTON – NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun forecasts 4.71 million existing homes will be sold, the housing market is expected to grow, and Austin, Texas, will be the top real estate market to watch in 2024 and beyond. Yun unveiled the association's forecast yesterday during NAR's fifth annual year-end Real Estate Forecast Summit: The Year Ahead.
Yun predicts home sales will begin to rise next year – by 13.5% compared to 2023, and the median home price will reach $389,500 – an increase of 0.9% from this year.
"Metro markets in southern states will likely outperform others due to faster job increases, while markets in the Midwest will experience gains from being in the most affordable region."
Yun expects rent prices to calm down further in 2024, which will hold down the consumer price index. He predicts foreclosure rates will stay at historically low levels in 2024, comprising less than 1% of all mortgages.
Yun forecasts the U.S. GDP will grow by 1.5%, avoiding a recession, with net new job additions slowing to 1.7 million in 2024 compared to 2.7 million in 2023, and 4.8 million in 2022. After eclipsing 8% in late 2023, he expects the 30-year fixed mortgage rate to average 6.3% and for the Fed to cut rates four times – calming inflationary conditions – in response to slower economic activity.
Yun also foresees 1.48 million housing starts in 2024, including 1.04 million single-family and 440,000 multifamily.
Right Now May Be the Best Time for Homebuyers in 5 Years
By Julie Taylor
Nov 18, 2024
If you’ve been holding off on buying a home, the waning weeks of 2024 might be your moment.
Rising home prices, scarce housing stock, and relentless mortgage rates have made for a tough real estate market.
But now, the tide is starting to turn, and the end of the year is turning into the most buyer-friendly market we’ve seen in a long time. Five years to be exact—before the COVID-19 pandemic turned the real estate market into a wild roller-coaster ride that came to an abrupt halt when mortgage rates doubled.
More Housing Stock
More homes for sale indicates a basic economic principle of supply and demand. For the past few years, there haven’t been as many homes on the market to meet the pent-up desire for housing stock.
“Those days are over,” says real estate professional and attorney Bruce Ailion, of Re/Max Town & Country in Atlanta.
“For years, buyers have complained there is no selection, inventory is so slim that multiple offers above list price is the only way to get a home, and too often, they had to compromise just to buy,” adds Ailion.
When inventory rises, buyers gain an incredible advantage.
“More homes on the market mean more choices, which is crucial for finding the right property with the features and amenities you want,” says Mike Wall, CEO of eXp Realty/EZ Sell Homebuyers in Dayton, OH.
A family he recently worked with had a specific wish list, including a large backyard for their kids, a home office, and a finished basement.
“In a tighter market, they might have had to compromise on one or more of those features,” says Wall. “But with today’s higher inventory, they were able to tour multiple homes that met their criteria. Ultimately, they landed a property that checked every box—without exceeding their budget.”
Impact on Housing Supply from Americans over 50
The demand for homes may surpass supply over the next decade, affecting housing availability across generations due to older Americans retaining homeownership longer. The Mortgage Bankers Association's Research Institute for Housing America's updated study shows that as more people over 50 choose to age in place, fewer homes will be available from older Americans moving or their expected lifespan.
The study highlights that homeownership rates among those over 70 have increased significantly since 2015, partially due to the Baby Boomer generation's size and longevity. While it’s projected that around 8-9 million homes will eventually enter the market from older homeowners, shifting demographics suggest that this will not be enough to balance the growing demand.
Widespread Home Price Increases (November 2024)
In the third quarter of 2024, 87 percent of metro markets saw home price increases, with a 3.1 percent rise in the national median single-family home price compared to a year ago. Double-digit gains occurred in 7 percent of metro areas, though this was a decrease from the second quarter, indicating a moderate slowdown in rapid price growth.
The South held the largest share of single-family home sales, while California remained the most expensive market. Housing affordability improved slightly as mortgage rates decreased, leading to lower monthly payments for typical homes and first-time buyers, who spent a smaller percentage of income on mortgages compared to previous quarters.
Mortgage Demand Falls
Mortgage applications declined by 10.8 percent for the week ending November 1, 2024, with both refinance and purchase activity showing notable decreases. The Refinance Index fell 19 percent from the prior week, though it remained 48 percent higher than the same week last year, while the Purchase Index dropped 5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Higher mortgage rates, influenced by volatile Treasury rates, contributed to the reduced application volume. Per Joel Kan, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist, “Applications decreased for the sixth consecutive week, with purchase activity falling to its lowest level since mid-August and refinance activity declining to the lowest level since May. The average loan size on a refinance application dropped below $300,000, as borrowers with larger loans tend to be more sensitive to any given changes in mortgage rates.”
Developer Outlook Varied
Conviction in new multifamily housing showed mixed outcomes in the third quarter, with the Multifamily Production Index (MPI) rising slightly to 40, while the Multifamily Occupancy Index (MOI) dropped to 75 compared to the previous year. The MPI, indicating sentiment in new apartment and condo construction, remains below the neutral threshold of 50, signaling developers’ continued caution amid rising costs and regulatory challenges.
Despite lower confidence in production, occupancy remains strong, with all segments above 50, suggesting steady demand for rental units. High construction and financing costs are limiting new development, and multifamily construction starts have slowed significantly, with expectations for a continued weak outlook into 2025.
Economic Outlook from Lawrence Yun November 13, 2024
“Consumer price inflation notched up to 2.6% in October from a year ago. Though an acceleration from 2.4% in September, the overall trend is towards stabilizing prices and away from the shock of the 10% killer inflation seen two years ago. The falling energy price was not enough to offset the 4.9% rise in housing rent, which is the biggest weight in the measurement. Economists are debating whether housing rent is that strong, considering the huge number of newly completed empty apartment units hitting the market, especially in the southern states. Irrespective, the overall inflation rate is normalizing, and the Federal Reserve can move away from its current restrictive monetary policy, which means further cuts to the short-term interest rate in upcoming months.
The Fed does not directly control mortgage rates. However, they can decrease if more homes are available in the market, more workers enter the labor force, and energy prices decline further. Tariffs can be inflationary in the short term, and budget deficits can push mortgage rates up. Given that tax increases appear unlikely under President Trump, meaningful cuts in government spending are required to control the deficit. Let’s see what Elon Musk can do in the newly created role.”