Hello Fairfield and Westport!

Here’s your September market report. If you are like many I know, you would like to make a move but are trying to figure out the best timing for your goals.

The charts below summarize what happened in August 2023 compared 2022. You can also view the What Sold Reports to see all the single-family homes that sold in August 2023 in Fairfield and Westport Connecticut. Additional metrics including the sale-to-list price ratio and number of cash sales are included from the MLS below.

FAIRFIELD SINGLE-FAMILY – AUGUST 2023

WESTPORT SINGLE-FAMILY – AUGUST 2023

William Raveis Local Housing Data

Low inventory and strong buyer demand continue to maintain upward pressure on prices.

Yes, mortgage rate increases have sidelined some buyers, but not enough to offset the low inventory. Here are six key points to understand about the market in August this year compared to last year.

1. INVENTORY WAS DOWN 19.2% in Fairfield and 5.3% in Westport.
2. UNIT SALES WERE DOWN 11% in Fairfield and 20.4% in Westport.
3. MARKET TIME WAS DOWN to an average of 42 days in Fairfield and 39 days in Westport.
4. SALE PRICES AVERAGED 104% – 105% of asking in both towns.
5. ACCEPTED OFFERS VS ACTIVE LISTINGS WERE SIMILAR TO 2019 LEVELS with 13% of active listings having accepted offers in Fairfield and 8% in Westport at the end of August, (Compared to 11% in Fairfield and 6% in Westport in August 2019).
6. CASH DEALS DECREASED in August to 28.8% of sales in Fairfield and 26.8% in Westport. This is lower than in the previous month of July when 35.1% and 38.5% of the sales were cash in Fairfield and Westport respectively. These could be purchases that were committed to before the most recent mortgage rate increases.

When you are buying in this market, it is important that you are prepared to make an informed decision and to submit a competitive offer. This means that you have your mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds in hand, because an offer is not complete without this critical piece! The good news is that new listings are coming to the market each day, so you can look forward to having new options.

If you are selling a home for which you put down a solid down payment or paid cash for, you can look forward to enjoying a high sale price and maximum equity!

On average, homes sold 104-105% above the asking price in August, yet some homes also had price reductions. The market response to your listing depends on how compelling your asking price is for the property you are presenting and the demand for your property at the time you list it for sale. Your agent will guide you on the strategy to maximize the demand for your listing in the current market.

Bottom line: Now is a still a great time to sell! Buyer demand remains higher than the supply and inventory is still low. As a buyer in this market, you can anticipate increased equity from price appreciation that is expected to continue. New listings continue to come to the market each day offering new choices. Rates may also come down in the next year or so enabling you to refinance.

Embrace your dream lifestyle with the expert guidance of your agent to secure your new home. Reach out to me anytime with your questions about the market and to discuss your plans.

If you’re not ready to think about your move yet, please refer your friends to me using the form below. Referrals are a win-win!