How To Split And Purchase A New Home After Divorce? – Kelly Fraasch
On this episode of The Closing Table, we sat down with Kelly Fraasch!
To watch the full episode, check it out on YouTube below. In the meantime, here’s a summary of the conversation…
Here’s what you missed from Kelly Fraasch…
The conversation began with Kelly, a seasoned real estate professional, offers a glimpse into her life beyond the realm of real estate. As a devoted mother to two young adults, a caring sister, and a longstanding advocate for various issues close to her heart, Kelly emphasizes her commitment to creating a healthy and happy life. Additionally, she cherishes her role as a dedicated friend and finds immense joy in her hobby as a gardener, showcasing the multifaceted aspects of her identity as an imperfect human navigating life’s complexities.
With a decade of experience as a licensed real estate agent in the Pittsburgh area, Kelly specializes in several key areas. Drawing from her training in senior living transitions and veteran support, she has also developed expertise in navigating real estate transactions arising from divorce situations. This specialization is informed by her personal experience, having entered the real estate business during her own divorce. Kelly’s ability to empathize and guide clients through challenging situations sets her apart, contributing to her notable achievements in the field.
Kelly provides insights into Pittsburgh’s unique real estate landscape, dispelling stereotypes and highlighting the city’s beauty. Having lived in various cities across the country, she ranks Pittsburgh as a top choice due to its charm, manageable size, and a welcoming sense of home. Noteworthy is the city’s consistency in housing market trends, with a lack of drastic fluctuations seen in other areas. Kelly appreciates this stability, enabling her to reassure clients about resale values. The majority of Pittsburgh’s homes date back to the 20s and 30s, with newer constructions from the 80s and 90s, presenting both challenges and opportunities for realtors. Kelly navigates these elements with expertise, ensuring a seamless experience for clients in both selling and purchasing homes in this unique market.
As a former Commissioner of Mt. Lebanon, Kelly’s extensive background in planning and development decisions, encompassing zoning, land use, and economic development initiatives, significantly influences her perspective as a real estate agent. Serving as a commissioner for eight years in the tight-knit community of about 36,000 people within 6 square miles, Kelly played a pivotal role in shaping the community’s direction from 2012 to 2020.
Despite certain restrictions on participating in development decisions as a commissioner, Kelly found that her dual role as a realtor and a community leader offered valuable insights. As one of five commissioners steering the community’s vision and direction, she grappled with the occasional collision between her roles. Her experience on the development board for 3-4 years allowed her to contribute to initiatives focused on boosting awareness for mobility and accessibility in the Main Street district. Balancing the needs of incoming residents with those of current community members, Kelly emphasized the importance of ensuring safe transit and a fulfilling community experience for everyone, be they families, elderly individuals, or others seeking recreational opportunities.
Transitioning to her personal engagement beyond real estate, Kelly recounted the profound impact of a family tragedy in June 2022. Losing a cherished family member, Daisy, just three weeks before her return home from Colorado, deeply affected Kelly’s life. In honor of Daisy’s passion for the environment, Kelly recently participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a pollination garden in Edgewood, Pennsylvania, where she currently resides. This event, tied to Daisy’s 21st birthday, serves as a lasting tribute to her memory and commitment to environmental causes.
Beyond this, Kelly also dedicates her time to mentoring women contemplating separation or divorce. Drawing from her own experience, she recognizes the importance of providing support and resources during such challenging life transitions. This commitment has not only created a network of assistance but also empowered others to seek guidance and support from Kelly. Through these diverse experiences, Kelly seamlessly weaves her professional and personal endeavors, embodying a holistic approach to community, advocacy, and real estate.
In discussing instances where technology integration was a crucial factor for homebuyers, Kelly sheds light on her approach, particularly when dealing with older housing stock. She explains that upon a client expressing a desire for smart home features, her attention is immediately drawn to the electrical panel upon entering a house. Kelly emphasizes the importance of ensuring the property’s infrastructure aligns with the technological needs outlined by the client. In cases where upgrades may be necessary, she provides transparent guidance, enabling clients to make informed decisions. Kelly recounts experiences where clients had to weigh the suitability of one house over another due to limitations in accommodating their desired features.
Shifting to another aspect of her professional life, Kelly delves into her passion for assisting mothers and families, especially those with children facing chronic illnesses. Reflecting on her personal journey as a mother, she shares the story of her eldest child, born prematurely at 23 weeks, weighing only 1 pound 4 ounces. Despite the challenging early months spent in the NICU, her daughter has thrived and is now attending school and working. This personal experience has fueled Kelly’s commitment to supporting families facing similar struggles.
Illustrating the intersection of her personal and professional worlds, Kelly recalls instances where she connected with clients undergoing similar challenges. Some clients experienced premature labor during the home-buying process, requiring Kelly’s assistance in unique ways, such as arranging for a closing company to visit the ICU for document signings. She emphasizes the importance of providing comprehensive support to these families, recognizing that their focus should rightly be on their child’s well-being. Kelly views her role as an agent not only in facilitating the home-buying process but also in addressing the unique needs and challenges that families with children, particularly those with health concerns, may encounter. In doing so, she strives to create a supportive environment that allows these families to concentrate on their child’s care and well-being while navigating the complexities of real estate.
The analogy of taking a leap of faith, akin to jumping out of an airplane and enjoying the ride despite uncertainty, resonates deeply with Kelly’s approach to life. She draws this connection from a personal experience of skydiving on her 40th birthday, an endeavor that changed her perspective on life. Applying this fearless approach to her real estate career, Kelly recounts a compelling story involving a couple going through a divorce.
In this particular case, the couple had put their home on the market and were actively searching for separate residences. Despite the emotional challenges inherent in such situations, they cared deeply for each other. Kelly observed that, as they narrowed down their choices, the husband was downplaying every house the wife was interested in, struggling to let go. Sensing an opportunity to positively influence the outcome of this challenging situation, Kelly took a leap of faith. She had a private conversation with the husband, encouraging him to support the wife in moving on and ensuring the decision felt positive for her. This bold step proved impactful, with the husband later expressing gratitude for the conversation, and the wife subsequently deciding to make an offer on a home.
The conversation wraps up with Kelly reflecting on her own homeownership journey; she provides insights into her recent experience of purchasing her first place in 2021—a small yet significant condo. Highlighting the financial aspect, she emphasizes the importance of planning and saving, citing her five years of redirecting monthly rent payments toward building equity. Kelly acknowledges the challenges posed by the pandemic but observes a renewed interest in financial planning for homeownership. She encourages individuals to regroup, reassess priorities, and make a plan for financial stability. This includes redirecting funds from rent to property investment, even if it starts with a smaller property, to pave the way for future homeownership goals. Kelly’s advice underscores the significance of making deliberate financial choices and planning for stability to achieve the dream of owning a home.
Check out Kelly Fraasch:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.r.fraasch
Facebook Business Page: https://www.facebook.com/sellspittsburgh
If you loved this episode subscribe so you never miss one! Want more The Closing Table content? Head over to our blog.