Jen Kelley is a local Realtor with the Around Town Team, based in Newtown. She’s also a mom to two and a long-time resident of Newtown. Below she shares some of her favorite things about town and some insight into the current market.
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in town?
I have always lived in Connecticut. I grew up in Shelton, then moved to Newtown in 5th grade (I went to Head O’ Meadow School) and have been here ever since – 30 years. My husband also grew up here, so when we got married we knew we wanted to raise our family in this amazing town.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
Reagan (8) and Declan (5)
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I grew up in a family business…my parents owned several Dunkin Donuts franchises (including Newtown) when I was young. It taught me from a very young age to how to work hard to be successful. I think it has played a very important role in my work ethic and success today.
Favorite things to do with your family?
We love spending time together even if it’s just cuddling on the couch with a game or watching a movie. We try to go for walks around our neighborhood, it is a good way to disconnect and talk about our days. We are also big on football Sundays and cheer for our favorite team – the Buffalo Bills. My favorite is watching the kids play sports, Declan is recently very into baseball, while Reagan loves cheer and working on her tumbling skills.
Favorite spot in Newtown?
There are so many amazing spots in town, we have the BEST restaurants, shops, parks, etc. However, if I have to pick just one spot, it would 100% be the view of the flagpole at the end of Old Castle Dr. I grew up on that road and the view is just stunning.
What is your proudest mommy moment?
There are so many moments, I love watching them grow. Each age has brought about new moments that make me so proud. From their first words, to walking, to playing sports, interacting with their friends…it is truly amazing.
I can imagine how challenging being a Real Estate agent can be – you’re always on call! How do you find balance and still check off all your daily to-do’s?
It is definitely hard to find balance especially in this insane market, but while the kids are at school, I try to follow a daily routine as much as I can. It all comes down to scheduling. I make a to-do list the night before each day with all of the things that need to get done. I get those tasks accomplished when I can around my appointments. Each day is completely different, but that is what I love most about being in real estate. I always have a top 3 to do list so if nothing else I get those 3 things done while still servicing all my clients.
What is the one thing you’ve worked on that you are most proud of?
One of the hardest decisions I have ever made was making the leap to leave my corporate job to start a career in real estate. While it was completely scary at the time, I am so proud of myself for choosing ME and working hard everyday to build my own successful business.
What is the best thing about being a Realtor in Newtown?
It’s the BEST town, its my hometown, there is nothing more gratifying then telling prospective buyers why they will LOVE it here too.
Since we’re heading towards the busy spring & summer market, what’s one piece of advice for anyone looking to buy or sell a home this year?
If you are considering selling, now is the time. Inventory is at an all time low. Houses that are priced correctly are selling in just days on market for over asking. If you are looking to buy, just be patient…while it’s hard to be one of many offers on properties, interest rates are still very low making a purchase very affordable!
If you are interested in listing your home or are searching for a new home, contact Jen today by calling 203-948-2864 or emailing [email protected]. For a list of Jen’s active listings and to learn more click here.