Let’s Get It On: From On Hold to Sold
Hi, we’re Julie Avellino and Nicole Grywalski.
Julie is a Connecticut real estate broker and owner of Connecticut Realty Studios, helping clients navigate buying, selling, downsizing, divorce, inherited property, and life’s many housing transitions.
Nicole is a Connecticut licensed clinical social worker who helps individuals, couples, and families work through life’s challenges with practical tools, insight, and compassion.
Together, we believe that many of life’s biggest decisions involve both your head and your home. Every week, we have honest, down-to-earth conversations about the obstacles that keep people feeling stuck—and the practical steps that help them move forward.
Whether you’re facing a major life transition, feeling overwhelmed by clutter, navigating family dynamics, preparing to sell a home, or simply trying to figure out your next step, we’re here to help you solve problems, make confident decisions, and move forward with clarity.
Because sometimes all it takes is the right conversation to get it on.
Episodes

6 days ago
6 days ago
1 hr 6 min
Julie and Nicole dig into the emotional and practical sides of money—why people avoid budgeting, how credit and instant gratification shape spending, and what happens when high earners feel cash-poor. They discuss parenting, shame around income, credit mechanics, car loans, and small habits that can make big financial differences.Listeners get candid stories, concrete tips (envelopes, paying down balances immediately, using targeted cards), and perspectives on long-term planning versus short-term satisfaction.

Oct 21, 2026
Oct 21, 2026
41 min
This episode explores the illusion of control in housing and finance—why variable mortgage resets and rising rates can create hidden debt and negative equity, and what practical options (selling, renting, refinancing, seller credits, or creative financing) people can consider.
It also dives into the emotional side of housing decisions—anxiety, loneliness, grief, and how working with trusted professionals and asking the right questions can help people make clearer choices and regain some agency.
Julie and Nicole unpack how fear, stress and emotional ties to a home can leave people feeling trapped — financially and psychologically. They explain negative equity, why waiting often isn’t a strategy, and how the bond market and Treasury yields influence mortgage rates.
The episode offers practical options (renting, seller credits, buying down rates, tapping equity, or creative financing) and encourages working with trusted professionals and therapists to make informed choices that fit both your numbers and your mental health.

Sep 29, 2026
Sep 29, 2026
34 min
Julie and Nicole examine a listener’s blended-family dilemma: adult stepchildren still following an old custody schedule and filling the house every other weekend, blocking plans to downsize.They discuss the emotional roots (guilt, avoidance, and different visions for the future), recommend starting with honest spouse-to-spouse conversations, and suggest practical steps like asking the kids what they want, seeking therapy, and planning a positive path to independence for everyone.

Sep 13, 2026
Sep 13, 2026
35 min
Hosts Julie Avellino and Nicole Grywalski explore the emotional roadblocks that keep homeowners stuck when it’s time to sell. They explain the difference between procrastination and avoidance, and why identifying the underlying emotion is the first step toward action.
The episode offers practical strategies for partners and adult children: break tasks into tiny, manageable steps, reflect and validate feelings, rank projects by what will give momentum, and consider harm-reduction options like hiring help or adjusting priorities.
Julie and Nicole also discuss tough conversations—how to support someone who resists change, protect autonomy, and use short, focused routines (timers, quick lists, set check-ins) to move from overwhelmed to on-the-move while preserving relationships.

Sep 13, 2026
Sep 13, 2026
46 min
Hosts Julie Avellino and Nicole Grywalski explore the high‑stakes realities of multi‑generational living: moving in with in‑laws, caregiving decisions, sibling tensions, probate complications, and when housing choices collide with marriage and finances.
They emphasize the importance of honest communication, clear boundaries, legal and financial planning, and using mediation or therapy to avoid long‑term resentment and messy disputes.

Sep 13, 2026
Sep 13, 2026
23 min
Hosts Julie Avellino (real estate broker) and Nicole Grywalski (licensed clinical social worker) discuss homeowners falling behind on mortgages, the choice between selling or facing foreclosure, and how financial stress can cause paralysis.
They offer practical communication tips, emotional strategies to unfreeze decision-making, and real estate considerations like downsizing, confidentiality, and using your equity to regain control.



