Marie Fodor Heads The Newtown Board Of Realtors

By Jan Howard

Marie Fodor of Newtown, a realtor with Bob Tendler Real Estate on Church Hill Road, is the new president of the approximately 110-member Newtown Board of Realtors. She took office January 1.

Mrs Fodor has been a resident of Newtown since 1976. Born and raised in Bridgeport, she lived in Fairfield after she was married.

She and her husband, David, who were high school sweethearts, have been married for 33 years and have three sons. Daniel, 31, is married to Tara and lives in New Jersey; Gregory, 29, and his wife, Mayra, live in Newtown; and Darrin, 22, attends the University of Connecticut. Mr Fodor owns a gas station in Bridgeport.

Mrs Fodor has been a realtor since 1984. She became a realtor, she said, because “I always liked houses. I went for a job in this field as a secretary, and after hearing about all I would have to do in the secretary’s job, I decided to sign up for the realtor’s course.”

Previous to becoming a full-time realtor, Mrs Fodor was a teacher’s aide at Head ‘O Meadow Elementary School.

Working as a realtor allows flexibility to a working mom, she said. “It gave me the flexibility of going on class trips,” she said. “I wouldn’t have had that with another job.”

Mrs Fodor has been employed with Bob Tendler Real Estate for eight and a half years. Prior to that, she was with William Raveis Real Estate.

“I’m so happy to be working in this office,” she said, noting Mr Tendler’s spirit and generosity to the town. “I’m proud Bob asked me to join this group.”

Mrs Fodor graduated from Notre Dame High School and attended the University of Bridgeport prior to her marriage. She has taken several continuing education courses required for real estate licensing and other courses in Connecticut real estate law, equal housing, home inspection, antique and vintage, restoration and development, time management, sales and listing development, appraisal, computer, radon, buyer brokerage, agency, and professional standards.

Mrs Fodor has earned the real estate designations of Graduate of Realtor Institute (GRI), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), and Professional Standards Certified Specialist (PSCS). 

She is a former officer and member of the St Rose Women’s Club, a religious education teacher and coordinator for nine years, and Eucharistic minister. She is a past president and member of the Laurel Homemakers Club. She also participated in fundraising efforts for Newtown Pop Warner and Newtown High School Football and was a member of the Sports Support Group of Newtown High.

She was a member of Parent Connection, a drug and alcohol abuse support group, and member of the Newtown Substance Abuse Task Force. She chaired the Newtown After Prom for four years. She enjoys reading, crafts, and gardening.

As president of the Board of Realtors, Mrs Fodor said she is responsible for overseeing the committees to make sure everything runs smoothly. The board of directors and the general membership each meet once a month.

Her real estate related activities include serving as an officer and on various committees of the Newtown Board of Realtors. She served as legislative chairman for two years, board director for five years, house tour for two years, vice president, and secretary, and was a member of the Beautification Committee for two years, Grievance Committee for four years, and Professional Standards for four years.   She also served two terms on the William Raveis Advisory Council.

Mrs Fodor said there have been significant changes during her years as a realtor. “There are a lot more rules and regulations that we are obliged to abide by now. Professionalism has stepped up to a higher level, definitely.”

“The newest thing is technology. Everything is computerized now. It’s another phase we have to learn. We have no choice,” Mrs Fodor noted. “We have to provide all information to clients as soon as possible. We have to know how to implement the system. I have the same system at home. Today you have to invest more in yourself to serve your customers better.”

Another change she noted was the growth of Newtown. “The houses that are being built are just beautiful, large homes for the families that are moving into them,” she said. “Subdivisions have progressed.”

Newtown still has the ability to attract homebuyers of every income, she said. “We have houses in all price ranges. You can satisfy different buyers.”

Real estate sales were very strong in 2000, she said. “The inventory is a little low now,” Mrs Fodor noted, but added,  “Interest rates are down now.”

The rental market in Newtown is tight, she said. “We don’t have a great deal of that market. We have some calls for rentals, but there are not a lot of apartments.”

As a realtor, Mrs Fodor said, “Honesty is the best policy. You need to be up front with people. You have to know your product. If you don’t have the information, you have to know where to find it.”

She said during her term of office technology and the realtors Code of Ethics will be emphasized. “We will talk about them at each meeting to remind us of what we should be doing. It creates more professionalism in our business.”

Mrs Fodor said members of the local Board of Realtors have a great deal of respect for each other. “I’m very proud to be in this position. It’s a wonderful organization and group. I’m proud to serve the membership and do the best job I can.

“I am very fortunate to live in this community and proud to serve the real estate community at this time,” Mrs Fodor said. “I fell in love with this town when I first saw it, with its rolling hills and scenery. I still feel that way today, and I hope it’s conveyed in my work.”