Alice Holmes Named Newtown’s Realtor Of The Year

At a luncheon held Thursday, June 16, at Rock Ridge Country Club, the Newtown Board of Realtors named Alice Holmes of William Pitt, Sotheby’s International Newtown’s Realtor of the Year.

Ms Holmes, who has been a Newtown resident since 1975 and a realtor here since January of 1986, was selected by a board of realtors committee consisting of Jean Muraszkin, Jane Phillips, Doreen Kostecki, and Heather Rodriguez. The selection process is guided by procedures handed down by the state board in Hartford, and is based on a realtor’s involvement at national, state, and local levels. It is not based on popularity, nor is the selection based on dollar production.

 Ms Holmes’s impressive service to the board of directors in time, energy, and detail, as well as support of numerous committees over the years, earned her the recognition of her peers. She currently serves as president of the Newtown Board of Realtors.

She has been a regular attendant at Realtors Day at the state capitol, RPAC contributor, and has attended many state legislative and political affairs meetings. Ms Holmes, who holds a bachelor of arts from the University of Texas, also has advanced realty education including ABR (accredited buyer representative), CRS (certified residential specialist), and GRI (graduate, Realtors Institute) designations.

The market in Newtown has had its ups and downs in the eyes of this expert realtor. After a market collapse in the late 1980s, she has seen the return of a steady increase in home sales. “The last three years have seen phenomenal activity,” she says. “The market is a wee bit softer this year, but there is still plenty of activity, and interest rates are still phenomenal, historically.”

When Ms Holmes started out in realty 19 years ago, there was not the amount of new construction and land sales that she is witness to today. Another surprise over the years has been the number of houses on the market priced at more than $1 million.

“There are 41 properties of over $1 million listed now. I absolutely did not expect to see that,” she says.

 One aspect of selling homes that has remained constant, though, is the attraction potential buyers have to Newtown’s Main Street. “People,” says Ms Holmes, “see our historic homes lining the Main Street, the quality of our schools, and the lovely areas scattered all over town.” It makes a positive impact, she feels.

When selecting a Realtor of the Year, the selection committee also looks at the personal contributions of a candidate to the community, as well as their professional qualifications. They found Ms Holmes to be a leader in this area, as well.

The mother of two grown daughters and four granddaughters, including one set of fraternal twins, Ms Holmes’s civic service has included leadership in Girl Scouts, Family Counseling Center, Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, and the American Cancer Society. She is currently serving on the visioning committee and is a co-lay leader at her church.