Melissa Rwambuya

Sales Vice President

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Testimonials

"Melissa was the agent we chose to sell our beloved home of 27 years. She walked us through the entire process from start to finish with great care and compassion. Her marketing of the property, showings and negotiations were all done with great professionalism. At all levels, Melissa became our family's trusted advocate. We are most grateful for her. She truly is the best of the best."
Mary M (New Canaan)

"You need Melissa Rwambuya! If you want to find a home in New Canaan, your choice of agent plays a huge part in this small town market. As a former President of the New Canaan Board of Realtors, Melissa knows what she's doing, is well respected, and she lives in New Canaan, which matters more than you'd think. Melissa made us feel like finding our home was her number one priority, answering every call, every email, and every text. She truly shines as a savvy negotiator, and beyond being an absolute delight to be with, Melissa closes the deal. I honestly could not say enough wonderful things about her to express all she did to get us our home in a most challenging market. Melissa Rwambuya is a unicorn in a field of agents, and we are so grateful to have found her.

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K. C. (New Canaan)

"It was an absolute pleasure working with Melissa. There was no pressure as far as purchasing a home, and she encouraged us to independently make a decision regarding whether this was the right home for us. She was able to answer all of our questions and refer those that required others to answer. She followed up on everything I asked for and was very diligent in including us, in the whole process of purchasing the home."
Thomas K (New Canaan)

"Melissa was instrumental in the purchase of our first home. With everything being new to us, it easily could have been an overwhelming process, but her calm, confident demeanor immediately put us at ease. We never felt pushed or pressured in any direction, yet she was happy to give her two cents when asked. Melissa's expertise in the industry and deft negotiation skills made the purchase of our first home a smooth, painless, and even enjoyable process. Now that it's all done, we miss working with her!"
Unknown (Darien)

"Melissa went above and beyond in helping us find and purchase our antique home in New Canaan. After reaching out to another realtor recommended by a friend and getting no response, I was discouraged to start the process again with someone new. I sent Melissa a message through her website and she called me directly within 30 minutes of my message and made herself available to meet that weekend and look at houses. She was friendly, understood our priorities, was respectful of our budget when selecting homes for us to view, accommodated our needs as we were looking with a baby, and her intimate knowledge of the local housing market allowed us to put in a competitive offer that was swiftly accepted. Her referral network for inspectors, attorneys, insurance agents, and mortgage brokers was excellent and we could feel confident that when we went with one of her recommendations we were in good hands. Melissa was available by text/phone/in person throughout our home-buying process and has been an invaluable resource for all things New Canaan post-close. We recommend Melissa highly and without reservations!"
Carina L (New Canaan)

"We couldn't be happier with our new home and home-buying experience with Melissa. Melissa guided us through the process of purchasing a home in New Canaan in a very difficult market. She was always available for phone calls to discuss strategies and thoughts around how to make our bid more attractive--little things that made a big difference in a fierce bidding process. After our closing she connected us to a number of great service providers who help make the house our home. We are extremely grateful for Melissa's care and expertise during our home-buying experience and highly recommend her to everyone!"
L. L. (New Canaan)

"Melissa helped us buy and sell our home in New Canaan. We intended to have this home as a forever home and the need to sell was unexpected and very emotional. Thankfully she knew exactly what we did to bring value to the home as we remained in touch throughout the remodel. She held our hand throughout the process and after only one weekend of open house we accepted an offer. We knew she was capable and caring and her confidence allowed us to have trust throughout the process. Her excellent coordination with us provided for a seamless transaction. Her professionalism brought closure to a sad time in our life. She was the positive energy needed during the sale of this very special home. We remain truly grateful for knowing that she cares for her clients? well being whether a buyer or a seller."
Steve H (New Canaan)

"Melissa Rwambuya of William Raveis is an exceptional real estate agent in a league of her own. We sold our house in New Canaan, CT in March, 2023 and Melissa represented us as the selling broker. From her presentation to win the listing to the completion of the sale, Melissa was professional in every way with in depth current market knowledge and a complete understanding of what her clients need. She is very well versed in all areas of the residential housing market and provided statistics to help guide in our decisions. She is calm and confident and an absolute pleasure to work with. She is excellent at follow through from the beginning to the end of the transaction. We highly recommend Melissa and would use her again as our agent if the need arises."
Brenda and John Mahoney (New Canaan)

"It was an absolute pleasure working with Melissa. There was no pressure as far as purchasing a home, and she encouraged us to independently make a decision regarding whether this was the right home for us. She was able to answer all of our questions and refer those that required others to answer. She followed up on everything I asked for and was very diligent in including us, in the whole process of purchasing the home"
Thomas Kwiatkowski (New Canaan)

"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."
South Ave

"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 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 Landers

"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

"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 Peak

"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 Shelden

"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 Kimball

"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

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

"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 and 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

"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

"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 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."

"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

"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

"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)

"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)

"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)

"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.
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Susan and Steve Brown

"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)

"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.
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Bill Raveis

"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.
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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.

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Mylod

"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

“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

"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)

"Melissa was excellent. <br /> <br />From start to finish she was on top of everything and ahead of the game. <br /> <br />House prep, pricing, identifying the ultimate buyer, all the twists, turns and logistics. <br /> <br />She took a lot of the stress out of the process."
Mr. & Mrs. Jay Lurie (New Canaan, CT)

"Melissa helped me find this home and sell this home. To describe how excellent she was would take more than a few sentences. I will forever use her as my broker!"
Ms. Brittany Bennett (Stamford, CT)

"Melissa Rwambuya is an extraordinary agent. She was fantastic and quick to understand the kind of house we were looking for. Melissa was very criterious and relentless in setting up house visits. And negotiated very professionally to get us the best value. I highly recommend you hire Melissa! For us, was the right partner have by your side when purchasing our home."
Mr. & Mrs.Rui Miranda (New Canaan, CT)

"Melissa was professional and very personable at the same time with the entire transaction. Her experience and communication was stellar, we are very happy with her representation and results."
Mr. & Mrs. Bradley Ellis (New Canaan, CT)

"It was a pleasure to work with Melissa! I would recommend her 100 % ."
Ms. Luz Maria Adrogue (New Canaan, CT)

"Always available, easy to work with. Felt like she was representing us as buyers."
Mr.Charles Antin (Brooklyn, NY)

"Melissa agent was the most competitive, competent, effective, personable and intelligent realtor we've ever had. She's been a top agent for years-- talking from experience, we can confirm that she is truly in a league of her own."
Hanna Bigosinski (New Canaan, CT)

"Melissa Rwambuya did an outstanding job as our sellers agent. A very knowledgeable and capable agent whom we would highly recommend."
Timothy Kenny (Wilton, CT)

"Melissa made the process of selling our home seamless from start to finish. Her instincts, experience and network of contacts ensured the absolute best possible outcome for us. We can’t recommend her enough!"
Mary Blanc (New Canaan, CT)

"Melissa is very personable, knowledgeable and detail oriented. Her experience combine with great communication skills are key in the success of real estate transaction. We can’t speak highly enough of our experience with Melissa. She is a pleasure to work with!"
Gabriela Roth (New Canaan, CT)