W hen Terrence and Sarah Murray called Debbie Rybka-Howard five years ago about buying a house, she started by giving them a tour of Maplewood. “I wanted them to fall in love with the community first and from there find the right house that fit their needs,” she said, introduc- ing them to Arturo’s and other places in the village. As they strolled down Maplewood Avenue, she bumped into several Columbia alumni and intro- duced them to the Murrays. Terrence laughed, “She kept talking about Columbia and we couldn’t fig- ure out why.” It wasn’t until they drove by the high school that they figured out she wasn’t talking about the university but her beloved alma mater. Rybka-Howard showed them a number of homes and what impressed the Murrays was how she wouldn’t let them buy a place that she thought was overpriced. Terrence remembers, “She’d just say, ‘Nope, you’re not doing it. I don’t want you to overpay.’” Rybka-Howard explains, “It’s not about just finding a house. It has to be the right home for you. In this competitive climate, I don’t want my clients to get caught up in the moment and overbid just to win a house. When the dust settles they need to be happy with their decision.” Soon enough the Murrays closed on a home on Courter Avenue. According to Terrence, Debbie didn’t disappear. She stayed in touch with them over the years with emails and calls to talk about the mar- ket. She even dropped them a note on their wedding anniversary. But their favorite is the colossal pie she gives them every Thanksgiving. Apple or pumpkin – their choice. They simply have to pick it up at her office and she gets to catch up with them. The Murrays were in their home for five years, adding a baby boy 18 months ago, when they determined they wanted a larg- er home. There was no question who they would call. As Terrence put it, “We called our friend Debbie.” If the Murrays could’ve stayed on Courter Avenue by adding on to their home, they would’ve. “We absolutely loved the street and our neighbors,” Terrence said. Unfortunately, their small back yard would’ve been further reduced and that’s just not what they desired long-term. When they called Rybka-Howard, they told her they wanted more bedrooms, a playroom on the first floor, a bigger yard, and an office so Terrence could work from home more frequently. The Murrays looked at many homes, but none fit the bill until November when Sarah saw a house in the Montrose section of South Orange. She com- pletely fell in love with it for its strong bones, high ceilings and architectural details. Unfortunately, the house went under contract before they could act. They thought they were back to square one until Rybka-Howard called Terrence a week before Christmas saying, “The house is back on the market. If you guys still want it, you’ve got to move right now.” Terrence says, “We jumped on it.” The dis- cussion was straightforward and they were able to secure it under the asking price. As for selling their house on Courter Avenue, Rybka-Howard brought her team in – window wash- ers, a stager, painters, even a photographer to make a 3D virtual tour – so the home could be shown at its best. The extra effort paid off: within one week- end they received eight offers significantly over the asking price. Although Terrence says they will miss living in Maplewood, they look forward to making new memories in South Orange. finding home / 17 Finding Home Working with Debbie Rybka-Howard by ellen donker Terrence and Sarah Murray are thrilled with the new home Debbie Rybka-Howard found for them. Terrence and Sarah Murray's patience paid off when they found this beautiful new home. Debbie Rybka-Howard has successfully placed the Murrays in two homes during the past five years.