About Rwambuya | Harrow Team
Luxury Properties Specialists - New Canaan Office
Four Elm Street, New Canaan, CT 06840
Email: RwambuyaHarrow@raveis.com | Cell: 917.670.5053
The Premier Partnership of Melissa Rwambuya and Kristen Harrow have a combined 30 years of experience at William Raveis, New Canaan's #1 Real Estate Brokerage Firm. The Rwambuya|Harrow collaboration means even greater success for their clients. Top Producers throughout their real estate careers, they have transacted over $250 Million in sales. Whether a buyer, or seller, in this ever changing and fast paced market, it is imperative to be represented by seasoned professionals. Rwambuya|Harrow have the knowledge and experience to deliver their clients the best results.
We have a depth of experience in lower Fairfield County and for those looking to relocate to sunny Florida, we can help you in Vero Beach!
About Melissa
Melissa came onto the real estate scene after a high-powered career on Wall Street. For more than 15 years Melissa worked in Corporate Finance and Institutional Sales where she excelled in her field. She received her M.B.A. from Columbia Business School in Finance. She covered a range of clients from large financial institutions, to teacher pension funds, to some of the toughest hedge fund managers, covering both the US and Latin America.
When Melissa moved to New Canaan, and decided to retire from her career in finance, she immediately immersed herself in the community working with the Newcomers Club and The Young Women's League successfully orchestrating the Holiday House Tour and the Annual Gala raising an unprecedented amount for local charities.
Melissa is consistently recognized as a Top Producer since the very beginning of her real estate career and was the #1 Single Top Producer 2017 - 2020, and now the Top Producing Partnership 2021-2023, Currently #4 in Connecticut and #9 Companywide out of nearly 5,000 agents. She served as the President of The New Canaan Board of Realtors 2018-2020, elected by her peers.
Melissa offers extensive experience in all facets of real estate. No matter what the complexities are of a transaction, Melissa has the experience to get it done. For most of us, the sale or purchase of one's home is the largest financial transaction of their lives. Her unique business background lends itself to unparalleled success in negotiating the best outcomes for her clients. Once the deal is complete, Melissa stays in touch with her clients and prides herself on forming long-lasting relationships. Her passion for real estate goes beyond the sale, she truly cares about the people she works with and considers it a privilege and honor to get to know them and their families.
About Kristen
Kristen is a lifelong native of Fairfield County. Having grown up in Darien and having lived in New Canaan for the past 24 years, she has seen the growth and change in the community and provides an unparalleled insight into the current residential market. A seasoned realtor of over 19 years, Kristen's extensive experience comprises of representing both buyers and sellers of the entire spectrum of residential properties, from condominiums to large estates. Kristen's business philosophy centers on building meaningful relationships with her clients. Through her strong communication skills, she gains an accurate profile of her client's needs and desires and then guides them through the real estate process enabling them to make well informed decisions along the way. Her talent lies in understanding and aligning herself with her client. She is direct and honest as well as a skilled negotiator.
Kristen is passionate about residential real estate and has an eye for design. She enjoys working with her sellers to stage and prepare their home to market as well as helping her buyers see the possibilities that lie within a property. Kristen takes an "all hands-on deck" approach to selling a client's home and to searching for the perfect property for a buyer. She is full service and will help arrange staging, consigning and disposing of furniture, and working with handymen. She can refer to excellent mortgage brokers, real estate attorneys and movers. She approaches her job with warmth, enthusiasm, integrity and dedication to excellence.
Testimonials
"Melissa was outstanding in assisting my husband and I with the recent purchase of our home in New Canaan. She truly went above and beyond to make sure we had the most seamless experience through her dedication, responsiveness and huge network of trusted contacts.
Not only is Melissa an unbelievable asset, but she was able to connect us with a team to make the stressful process of buying a home as stress free as possible.
She remains an amazing contact for everything from household contractors to the best spot for a chicken parm in town.
We couldn?t recommend her more!"
(New Canaan)
"Melissa sold our home in a week well over asking price. She was a tenacious negotiator on our behalf. The entire process from listing to closing was done thoroughly and professionally. Her knowledge of both the real estate market and the community was very valuable. We were confident in the process and she communicated freely. We highly recommend Melissa."
Anon
"Melissa is the most engaged and professional realtor we have worked with. She is not only on top of things but more so thinks ahead in order to personalize her service. She always keeps the priorities of her clients top of mind and has guided us with much objectivity and clarity in selling/buying and selling a house again. Melissa is the best!"
Anon
"Melissa has both sold my home in New Canaan and helped with the purchase of a new one as well. I wouldn't work with anyone else. She is exceptional, a true professional. She is honest, intuitive, very pro-active and incredibly knowledgeable. She has a keen understanding of market trends in New Canaan, and has skillfully guided me throughout this (oftentimes) stressful process. I have and will recommend her to friends and family, without reservation. Best agent in our area!"
Anon
"Melissa was a pleasure to work with. She's super familiar with the town of New Canaan and the surrounding area. She has an incredibly strong team that she works with. I genuinely feel like we lucked out with having Melissa as our agent. She was always up front with us and at times, told us the hard truths. When we finally found the place of our dreams she knew we needed to act quick and strategically. She found out as much information as she could so that we came into our offer at the right level with some wiggle room to go up if we needed to. Once our offer was accepted (surprisingly still under ask in this crazy market!), we did our own research on lawyers and mortgage brokers in addition to our due diligence on her team. Even with all that research we stuck with the team Melissa works with and they were amazing. It helped a lot to know everyone works really closely with one another and I always felt like they had our back. I would definitely recommend Melissa if you're in the market to buy, sell or rent!"
Danika L
"Melissa is an ambitious, knowledgeable and caring professional real estate agent. She helped us find our home in Norwalk, CT in an extremely competitive market. When we found our house, she used her negotiation skills, her drive, expertise and enthusiasm to close the deal for us. It wasn't easy finding a house for our family in this market, but Melissa got it done within weeks. When we found this home, Melissa was extremely quick to respond to us, often finishing required tasks within minutes so that we never missed the opportunity to close the deal. Thank you so much Melissa for being so committed to our family!"
Alexa S.
"Melissa was easy to work with and got the job done. We needed to sell a large, out-of-date condo in New Canaan, and Melissa was able to market it and sell it in a matter of days. She is responsive, friendly, and easy to work with. My family highly recommends her!"
Katherine K
"Simply the best. And Melissa is the best for a reason. She knows the market inside and out, has a tremendous network, and provided invaluable guidance in a new area (and state) for us. She helped us find (and more importantly, GET) the house of our dreams, and was extremely proactive and supportive throughout the entire process. I hope we won?t be moving again for a very long time, but if we ever do Melissa will be my first call!"
Whitney P
"Melissa is hands down the best agent in New Canaan. We needed a realtor whose expertise and resources would steer us through the process of selling our home and she delivered above and beyond our expectations. We found her to be responsive, proactive, detail-oriented, honest and highly skilled at negotiations with extensive contacts throughout the community. Melissa's advice throughout the process from the timing of the sale too pricing was spot on. As a result, we entertained multiple offers significantly above list within a few days of our home hitting the market."
David & Mary
"Our RE transaction became very challenging. Melissa navigated the whole mess with confidence and skill and delivered a premium price to an already aggressive listing price. I?m not sure many other agents would have had the skill and patience to pull our transaction together. I highly recommend Melissa if you are contemplating a RE transaction."
Justin King
When it's time to move and relocate to an area you know very little about, it's a must to do your research and find a realtor that can really listen to you. Friendly and timely correspondence makes the house hunt possible and enjoyable. Being a VERY PICKY buyer makes it all the more challenging for a realtor to help you. Melissa was exceptional throughout the entire process. She explained the differences of various communities, the highlights of the town, shared service providers that are valuable in my remodel, and gave lists of great recommendations of other professionals. For my husband and I, she became our guide, someone we trusted and could rely on to make us feel comfortable in moving. If you are any good at sharing what your needs and wants list is, then it's up to a top realtor to partner with you to find it- especially if you are purchasing from out of state. Melissa worked hard to make our dreams come true. When we walked into our new home we looked at each other and we both knew this was the one. That moment is one I know we both will always remember. Once you accomplish that "feel good moment", there is work to be done. Lots of work! The process took a lot of communicating, being honest during the hick-ups of a transaction, being able to resolve concerns, and constantly being able to rely on Melissa to keep the process moving along. We nearly lost the chance to purchase our dream home because of a terrible loan officer, and Melissa jumped in to connect us with another contact she trusted. That lady, magically and at the last minute, was able to "save the day". That's true teamwork! That's an accomplished and reliable professional doing her job to help us start a new life in a new community. We are forever grateful.
Steve Harris
"Having to enter the housing market very unexpectedly and remotely Melissa was awesome. Since we were far away we depended on Melissa to go see the condo we liked. She took photo?s and short movies which were a good addition to the listing information. She kept us updated on other interested parties so we could make a decision at the right time and secure the condo. With regards to everything she could influence it was a smooth and professional process. Melissa knows the market well and communicates easily with other realtors. Happy customers."
Anita
Thank you so much to Melissa and Kristen. The process was seamless and our sale went through without drama. Melissa and Kristen work extremely well as a team and were professional from start to finish. They arrived at our first consultation with a well thought out plan for pricing, preparing the house to list (including staging), and showcasing the property via advertisements and open houses. While it is never fun to have your house on the market, working with Melissa and Kristen made the experience easier. They were very responsive, and my requests were never met with anything other than "We are on it, consider it done". Both are highly regarded by other offices in town too, which is helpful when negotiating a sale. Very glad we choose Melissa and Kristen for our sale!
Trish Desantis
"I have worked with Kristen on a home sale, a home purchase and a rental property purchase. She knows the market. Most of all, I value her ability to provide all the information relevant to a transaction, which is enormously helpful to the decision process"
- T.C.
"When we decided to sell our house we interviewed many agents. Melissa's real estate knowledge coupled with her business background made her our clear choice. Her professionalism, attention to detail and excellent communication skills made all the difference in successfully selling our home quickly. She is an exceptional negotiator and very knowledgeable in the Real Estate market. We would feel very confident recommending her to business associates, family and friends."
Kelly and Andy Welty
"Kristen has her finger on the pulse of the market. I was buying in a very competitive price point and she hustled to make sure I saw houses as soon as they were listed, always seemed to know what was coming on the market and did a great job keeping me informed. She also brokered a sale for me and did a fantastic job. She is energetic, considerate and a pleasure to work with."
- E. S.
"Melissa is a superb real estate broker! Her real estate knowledge, negotiating skills, and professionalism were excellent during both the sale of our old home and in purchasing our new home. She went above and beyond in the marketing process and always put us first. Melissa listened and understood what we wanted in our next home and made sure we saw new property listings immediately. Always easy to reach and attending to our needs, Melissa is a very hard working and passionate broker."
Janeen and Durc Savini
"Kristen's knowledge of the New Canaan market is extensive. Because our goal was to purchase a fixer upper, we relied on her to help us identify a property with exceptional value. Her professionalism and negotiation skills were superb and we are delighted with the home we bought!"
-G.S.
"Melissa was exactly the type of real estate agent that we wanted in our corner when we were looking to buy our first home - she understood exactly what we needed (even when we were not entirely sure) and had an extensive knowledge of the real estate market. We love the house we purchased and are grateful for the advice and support that she provided us throughout the process."
Jane and Ross Weiner (New Canaan)
"Being a resident of New Canaan for many years, Kristen has hands-on knowledge and expertise regarding the various sections of the town... She was very pro-active about staying on-top of the listings that were in my price point when I was looking for a home... Kristen has great energy and enthusiasm for what she does and is an incredibly efficient realtor. She was a pleasure to work with...."
-K.H.
"I have dealt with hundreds of brokers over the years, and Melissa is the only one I've ever recommended. She can be counted on to deliver superior results. She always is one step ahead."
Richard Lewis, Attorney (New Canaan)
"Melissa's sharp instincts, proactive approach and expert ability to assess each buyer's and seller's needs have earned her considerable success, as well as many loyal clients. Further fueling her effectiveness as a top producer is her professionalism and business acumen honed over many years as a Wall St. Executive, and her internet savvy that allows her to maximize her reach and resources."
Bill Raveis
"Excellent all around!!!"
Mr. & Mrs.TJ Jetnil (New York, NY)
"Melissa seemed to instinctively understand what we were going through selling the home we loved. She anticipated our concerns and anxieties and effectively helped us work through them, all the while we were amazed at the depth of her knowledge and commitment to us. She worked harder than any Realtor we have ever used. Her sharp negotiating skills resulted in the successful sale of our home for top dollar."
Faber
"Melissa is a true advocate for her clients in all aspects of a real estate deal, from the emotional undertones to the major financial investment involved. Always putting her clients' best interests first, she provides the full support, strategic thinking and expertise that helps sellers and buyers alike reach their goals."
Mylod
"Melissa is the sort of agent you will work with once then unashamedly recommend to everyone you know because she is totally awesome. Throughout the complicated process of buying our home via a short sale Melissa was always on hand to guide us through the legal process, negotiate hard on our behalf, and confidently deal with any issue that arose, of which there were many. Melissa's sharp instincts and unique ability to think outside the box were instrumental in the buying process, ensuring we completed efficiently and without unnecessary financial penalty. There are few agents out there that can boast an MBA and a successful career on Wall Street. We didn't meet anyone like Melissa whose warmth, tenacity and consummate professionalism shone through from the first meeting to successful completion. Melissa is a smart cookie and someone you definitely want on your side, whether you're in the market to buy or sell we couldn't recommend her enough."
Ruth Goulden (New Canaan)
"Melissa is really solid; reliable and effective. She get's it done without the nonsense that is so common in the business of real estate. She's smart and discreet, focusing on her client's interests. She's honest, straightforward and respectful of your time. She's a pleasure to work with."
Abbie Rawlings Green and Jonny Lach
"When we looked to move to the area, we found the ideal real estate broker in Melissa. Her knowledge of the neighborhoods, schools, commutes, etc. added tremendous value in our search. Melissa listened and absorbed our comments and views, and turned that input into a targeted list for viewing homes that were right for our family. It made our search enjoyable, productive, and far more rapid than it would have been with anyone else. We always felt we were a top priority for her, and when it came time, she was right there with us - advocating and working to make sure we got the best home at the best price. It is not often that you find someone with that full skill set of knowledge, professionalism, warmth and dedication all in one, and we would recommend Melissa wholeheartedly."
Susan and Steve Brown
"Melissa was superb as our buying agent in our new town after relocating for a new job. She went above and beyond to show us the town, get us a rental home and ultimately help us buy the dream home we wanted at the right price. She is smart, knowledgeable, easy to work with, and she'll work hard for you! Highly recommend for either buying or selling."
Nadine Finnerty (New Canaan)
"New to the area, Melissa's knowledge and regional real estate market expertise was very helpful in making a final decision. From the start of our search, to negotiating a unique deal with the seller, she was there every step of the way and made us feel comfortable with our decisions. Melissa is extremely professional, enthusiastic, poised, responsive and patient! We highly recommend working with her"
Alexis Tsoutsoplides (New Canaan)
"I've worked with Melissa a lot over the years, and as always, she can be counted on to deliver superior results. She always is one step ahead and does a fantastic job making sure her clients get the best possible outcome."
Mr. Richard Lewis (Norwalk, CT)
"We were recommended to Melissa by a friend of ours. We found Melissa to be effective and very client focused in her approach. She was always available to answer our questions and troubleshoot through any issues we faced. Melissa's prior background on Wall Street comes through in her work ethic but she was also patient and kind with us. A year after purchasing our home, Melissa made herself available to give her perspective on renovations and upgrades that made sense for our home. I would always recommend Melissa to my friends."
Sunil Kurien
"We had a sale in a weak Real Estate market with a very difficult buyer. Melissa kept the sale on track, managed the buyer and her agent well and got the sale done for us. She also guided us professionally through our next purchase. She knows the market, knows the inventory and gets the sale done. Very helpful and communicative through the entire process."
"We used Melissa as our buyers agent when we purchased our home last year and are so happy we did! She acted as a dual agent for us (the buyer) and seller - she was excellent and was extremely professional in acting well for both parties. She was the perfect person for us and guided us superbly through the entire process. Melissa came as a personal recommendation from a good friend for whom she also brokered a great deal in what was a more complicated process than ours. We give our highest recommendation of Melissa to anyone who's in the market for a great agent!"
Delsa Ivanov
"We had a great experience with Melissa. She helped us sell one house and buy another. She was exceptional in every way. From her extraordinary effort to hold open houses when nothing was selling to her negotiating skills when things finally picked up she was there for us all the way. She is very knowledgable of what's on the market and all conditions bearing upon it. I would highly recommend Melissa!"
Susan Gress
"Melissa's knowledge and expertise helped ease the anxiety of buying a home in a new town. Not only did she know the best people to call for various services such as septic and heating, but she even told us about the best local eateries. We couldn't imagine working with anyone else."
"Melissa is the best. She came highly recommended from a close family friend who is a real estate agent. Outstanding value in terms of her experience and results. She helped us purchase a house and also list it for a short-term rental."
Luke Wilson
"Five years ago I purchased a home through Melissa without selling my primary residence first. She was able to sell my house and I closed on both properties. Not only did she get the job done but she helped me with my punch list. As a working mom I could not have done it without her. She is not someone who sells real estate as a hobby. She is a skilled professional."
Renee Mellas
"I highly recommend Melissa - top service! She understood perfectly what we're looking for, acted always very quickly on the opportunities and did an outstanding job negotiating our house purchase. The cherry on top of the cake was how helpful she was in connecting us with key partners in the process."
Rui Miranda
"Melissa's professionalism, understanding of her client's needs/preferences and knowledge of the market makes her the best possible partner when you are making significant life decisions. She cares deeply about making sure you and your family comes first."
Alex Bombeck
"As we began searching for a home in the evolving real estate market in the area, we met Melissa at an open house she was hosting. While that particular property was not for us, we found Melissa to be a very special person and recognized quickly that she could be a very unique resource as we continued our search to find the right house for us in the area. Her knowledge of the market was great as she was very aware of the details of nearly all of the properties we would have questions about and was able to help us understand an accurate price of where the house would trade in the current market and what about that property, and the market, would lead it there. She was great at seeing what made each property unique which is one of the things that makes this area such a special place. She was highly responsive through the entire buying process, helping us to see whatever properties we were interested in while suggesting others she had seen that may be of interest to us, and quick to get back to us with accurate and helpful information. As we bid for a property she was very thorough about not only communicating our intended bid but also how we had come to that price in the market we were in and ultimately respected our interests and helped us negotiate a good price for our property. What impressed us even more about Melissa was her team of excellent people she brought to the table who were willing to offer help with any question we had. She knew the right people to put us in touch with and everyone was very happy to help us make this complex process as simplified as possible. We found Melissa to not only be a great realtor, but a kind, patient and supportive person. To us, she was never trying to just get a deal deal closed, she was invested in helping us to find the right home for our family. If In the future we decide to sell, or purchase another home in the area, she will be our go to realtor."
Jeff Holden
"New to the area, Melissa's knowledge and regional real estate market expertise was very helpful in making a final decision. From the start of our search, to negotiating a unique deal with the seller, she was there every step of the way and made us feel comfortable with our decisions. Melissa is extremely professional, enthusiastic, poised, responsive and patient! We highly recommend working with her."
Alexis Tsoutsoplides
$3,995,000
5 beds
8 baths
6,629 sqft
533 Valley Road, New Canaan, CT, 06840
$2,595,000
3 beds
4 baths
3,415 sqft
42 Forest Street, #APT 3, New Canaan, CT, 06840
$2,200,000
277 Indian Rock Road, New Canaan, CT, 06840
$1,695,000
4 beds
4 baths
4,257 sqft
14 Appletree Lane, Norwalk, (Silvermine), CT, 06850
$42,000
5 beds
4 baths
6,500 sqft
474 Brookside Road, New Canaan, CT, 06840
$12,989,000
7 beds
13 baths
16,216 sqft
266 Michigan Road, New Canaan, (Smith Ridge), CT, 06840
$6,895,000
6 beds
10 baths
9,096 sqft
58 Greenley Road, New Canaan, (Oenoke Ridge), CT, 06840
$6,895,000
6 beds
10 baths
8,096 sqft
58 Greenley Road, New Canaan, CT, 06840
$5,495,000
5 beds
8 baths
7,916 sqft
794 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, (Oenoke Ridge), CT, 06840
$5,495,000
5 beds
8 baths
7,916 sqft
794 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, (Oenoke Ridge), CT, 06840
Price Reduced
$4,999,000
7 beds
11 baths
10,685 sqft
36 Chestnut Hill Road, Wilton, CT, 06897
Price Reduced
$4,999,000
7 beds
12 baths
11,451 sqft
36 Chestnut Hill Road, Wilton, CT, 06897
Price Reduced
$4,499,000
6 beds
8 baths
8,494 sqft
402 Spring Water Lane, New Canaan, CT, 06840
$3,995,000
5 beds
8 baths
6,629 sqft
533 Valley Road, New Canaan, CT, 06840
Price Reduced
$3,699,000
6 beds
11 baths
10,940 sqft
1421 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, (Oenoke Ridge), CT, 06840
Price Reduced
$3,699,000
6 beds
11 baths
9,296 sqft
1421 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, CT, 06840
Price Reduced
$3,495,000
5 beds
6 baths
6,560 sqft
627 Laurel Road, New Canaan, CT, 06840