Fairfield and Westport CT Real Estate Guide

Local insights on buying, selling, and living in Fairfield County

Author Archives: Luxury Coastal CT Real Estate Specialist Linda Raymond at William Raveis Southport

LoPumpkin Houseoking at unit sales and the average sale price for single family homes in Westport, Weston and Fairfield, there appeared to be a similar trend across the three markets as of the end of September.    Unit sales were down, but the average sale price was up.

In Westport, there were 26 sales in September which was down from 39 from last year and 50 in the previous month.  Year to date sales were 291, down 19.6% from 362 last year at this time.  However the average sale price in September was $1,510,448 which was up 5.7% from last September.  So far this year, the average sale price was $1,566,866 which was 1.9% higher than last year.

There were 54 sales in Fairfield in September which was well below the 77 units in August but just 1.8% below the 55 sales in September 2013.  Year-to-date sales were down 7.6% with 523 vs. 566 last year.  Prices followed a very similar trend to Westport with the year over year value up 5.9% for the month of September and just a slight increase of 1.6% for the year to date average sale price of $723,563.

Weston had the most significant reduction in unit sales of the three towns in the month of September but showed a better tally for the year to date.  With seven sales in September compared to 16 the previous year and 21 in August, the good news was that for the year to date, sales were down just 11.6% (122 vs. 138).   The average price for sales in September was down slightly from August and down 12.8% from last September but followed the trend of the other two towns for the year to date average price, with a small increase over 2013 of 1.8%, resulting in $882,423.

Fall Image 2

Let’s wait and see if the activity catches up to last year.  Tell all your friends that are thinking about moving to go ahead and do it!  In the meantime, click to see a table of all the Housing Market Numbers each month from 2013 to 2014 through September.

If you would like specific market numbers on a neighborhood near you, just send a request below, and I’ll be happy to provide you with the information.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

 


by Leave a comment

Great Finds on Both Sides of Town!

Whether you know someone looking for a cute cape close to Black Rock Turnpike shopping and the new Fairfield Metro Center, or a proposed new construction on the beach near Fairfield’s bustling downtown scene and train, there’s a home for the taking!

Fairfield Metro StationHere are two featured properties for sale.  Scroll down for a link to browse all listings or request to have a search set up for you.

Beautiful Updated Cape, also for rent, in a super convenient location near ample amenities and the new train station! Some of the great features include three bedrooms, two full baths, vaulted ceiling family room with sliders, renovated kitchen, covered deck, central air, fully fenced and landscaped back yard with newly expanded shed and double driveways. Opportunity knocks!

A rare moment is here for you. Introducing Beach Life. Have your custom home built by world class craftsmen on a spectacular near-third acre stretch of beach with mature trees and high dunes! Deep sandy beach and 51 feet of beach frontage at the coast’s curve offer expansive views of the entire shoreline. Dreamy vistas of changing light, tides and the iconic Penfield Light House never lose their magic. Other multi-million dollar new homes nearby add to the great value and good company. Your home will be finished on three levels with a spacious carport underneath for two cars plus extra multi-use space and plenty of expansion potential. One of the very deepest and highest sections of beach five minutes from town, restaurants and train, and an hour from Manhattan is where you will call home. Get ready for your new beach life to begin!

Photo Oct 30, 11 37 20 AM    Photo Oct 30, 11 47 19 AM

 845 FFBR - elevation- 10 - 21 - 14  Photo Oct 30, 12 55 20 PM

 

 

 

 

Search for your home here or submit a request below.   I’m here to help. 🙂

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨


by 2 Comments

Dust and Pet Allergies? You Better Clean Your HVAC System!

I moved into my house 10 years ago and was wondering if getting all the dust and dirt out of the air ducts right out of the gate would be a good idea.  I always had allergies to dust and animals, and the previous owners had a cat.   After finding cat hair in the refrigerator, I figured there must be plenty in the air ducts!

But the days turned into months…. and 10 years later I’ve been thinking that cleaning my HVAC system is surely well past-due.   Then just as I was about to take action, I heard someone say that duct cleaning can actually loosen dust and make air quality worse.  I wanted to do whatever was likely to keep my surrounding air clean while spending as little money possible.  This article from House Logic had some helpful information that allowed me to be more comfortable with my decision to hold off again.

DUCTS

However, after several lousy nights of interrupted sleep due to clogged sinuses, I had to do something!

Air vent returns Before & After cleaning

Air vent returns Before & After cleaning

So I started by taking a quick look at the air vents and returns and the air filter even though it had been changed two month prior.  I was appauled by what I saw!  Filthy returns and a black air filter! No wonder dust was accumulating daily on every surface!  So I immediately changed the air filter and got on a ladder with my vacuum. What a difference this made!  Without cleaning my air ducts, the surfaces actually stayed clean, the air was cleaner, the furnace surely was running much more efficiently and as you may have expected, I had a great night’s sleep!

Feel free to comment or ask a question below.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨


by 3 Comments

Family Comes Back to the Fairfield University Area

Photo Oct 22, 11 07 42 AM

Chris grew up at her parents’ house on Wormwood Road near Fairfield University,  but she later moved to Monroe with her husband Rich.  There they enjoyed more space and land as they raised their two children, both grown up now.

After a couple of decades, they began to tire of the 20-minute minimum drive to get anywhere and the even longer commuting time to both their jobs.  Chris has been a biolology professor at Fairfield U, and Rich was working in information technology  at Bayer Healthcare, also quite far away. So they decided it was time to move back to Fairfield. Chris could be close to her mom who was still in her home in the university area, their commutes would be significantly shorter and they could make very good use of all the cool eateries downtown!

I met Rich and Chris at an open house in 2012, and have been showing them homes on and off since then.  They have always liked the New England colonial with classic charm.   They had made offers on a few homes along the way but found themselves outbid each time.

Finally, one day I happened to be online in the multiple listing service when a new listing popped on, and I knew it was perfect!   I immediately took them to see the charming colonial on Wakeman Road.  They made an offer that was negotiated and accepted, and as of this week they have a new home!  They plan to rent out their house in Monroe for awhile before selling it and will be moving into their new university area colonial right away!

Photo Oct 22, 3 21 17 PM   Photo Oct 22, 3 21 53 PM
If I can help you with your next move or any real estate questions, please let me know by filling in the form below!

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨


by 1 Comment

Remember the New Law for Smoke and CO Detectors

If you are in the process of buying or selling real estate, remember that the new law in support of adequate smoke and carbon dioxide detectors went into effect January 1st this year.

CO detector

smoke detector

Sellers will be required to provide an affidavit confirming that the required working detectors have been installed or pay the buyer $250 at closing. Here is a brochure explaining the regulation as well as the exact language of the new law.

Although the attorneys handle the affidavit during the closing process, it is best for the parties to be proactive.  If you are the seller, put the required detectors in place when you put your house on the market.  If you are the buyer, make sure your inspector looks for the detectors and includes his findings and recommendations in his report.  If there are missing detectors, ask that they be installed during your inspection contingency period so that there is no misunderstanding about it as the closing approaches and the attorneys raise the issue.

This way all the necessary detection devices will be in place, and there will be no delay in having a completed affidavit in time for your closing!

-Linda

Contact me any time with your real estate questions and for help with your plans.
203-912-4440, Linda.Raymond@raveis.com


by 7 Comments

Tune in to HGTV’s House Hunters Renovation!

184 Harborview Rd, Black Rock

184 Harborview Road, Black Rock

Tune into HGTV’s House Hunters Renovation “An Old House Gets a New  Master Plan” on September 19th at 9:00 AM to follow my clients, Michael and Ella on their journey of selling their home in Black Rock and moving to Fairfield to get better schools for their blended family of three kids. Of course, yours truly helps them with this part.  I had originally helped them buy their house in Black Rock in 2010 and then got it sold for them the first day on the market which made them very strong buyers for this new home purchase.

Then the HGTV design team takes over to make their fixer-upper that’s missing one bedroom into a designer dream home that works for the whole family!

Below is a behind the scenes peak with Michael, Ella and the onsite director and camera crew at a lunch break during filming.

Photo Sep 24, 1 33 34 PM

With Michael, Ella the director and camera crew during a lunch break from filming.

The show went well, and Michael and Ella are enjoying their new digs as well as the excellent schools in Fairfield CT!


by Leave a comment

Find Your True Colors

Are you in the process of renovating, building new or just changing the colors in your home?  Maybe your room colors are still there from the first owners of your home and you would have changed them years ago if you only knew where to begin.

RUBIX CUBE

Check out these two great resources to help guide you to the perfect hue.  Start with a tour of different color schemes on HGTV’s website and how they create a range of energy levels or certain moods in various rooms.   Then visit Benjamin Moore’s site for a great downloadable guide to Color Language – Guide to Home Decorating.

You’ll find your true colors in no time, then go ahead and color your world!

COLORED PENCILS


by Leave a comment

Visit this Lovely Fairfield Beach Area Home Sunday 10/5 Between 1 & 3 PM!

Come visit us and see this gorgeous home in the bustling Fairfield Beach area during our Open House tomorrow, Sunday October 5 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM!
Check all weekend O P E N   H O U S  E S here!

35 LALLEY
Request a showing or complimentary home valuation below.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨


by Leave a comment

Open H O U S E S this Sunday… Plan Your Day Right Here!

Open House Blog Graphic 9-14

Click to search open houses!

Ever wish there was one place to go and find out about all the open houses for the upcoming weekend?  Look no further!

Just click the image to go to raveis.com for the best open house search tool around, and find out what’s open in every town in all these states:

Connecticut
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Vermont
New Hampshire
New York

You can also set filters for your choice of neighborhood, property type and price range to get to the results you are looking for quickly.   So check out the open house search tool, send it to your family and friends, and let me know how you like it in the feedback form below!  Feel free to use the same form for questions or to request a private showing.

Remember, I’m here to help you with your next move, near or far.  Whether your move is out of town, out of state or overseas, I  can work with you directly or place you with another excellent agent almost anywhere in the world.

Here’s a previously featured open house:
286 Old Stratfield Road in Fairfield, CT listed for $369,900.

Cool Cape private fenced yard, two driveways and many updates

Cool Cape with private fenced yard, two driveways and many updates

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨


by Leave a comment

Quick Scoop on July’s Local CT Housing Markets

Word on the Street: Fairfield, Westport & Weston
2013 vs. 2014

House Clip Art

Just checking in with a quick report on the real estate markets in July before joining the masses and taking a little vacation-

We would expect the housing market to be seasonally slower in the months of July and August as people are in full summer mode and focused on enjoying the warm weather.  However, this July appeared to be slower than last July in Westport and Fairfield.  Weston was singing a different tune though-

In Fairfield, unit sales were down almost 43% from 122 to 70 last month.   The median (midpoint) sale price was also down 9% to $577,500.  The average time on market was up 9% to 97 days.   All this is good news for the buyers out there though since it affords them more bargaining power.    One measure that favored sellers was a 5% increase in the price per square foot from $290 to $305 of homes that sold.

Sales were also slower in Westport with a 6% reduction and 44 July closings.  The median sale price was $1,225,000, down almost 2% from last year.  Market time increased 37% to 101 days.  Yet the price per square foot increased 11% to $436.

Sellers take note: Weston rallied last month with numbers in your favor!  Unit sales were 24% higher this July with 31 compared to 25 last year. The median sale price was up 6% to $820,000.  Giving some leverage to buyers was market time up 40% to an average of 137 days and price per square foot down 3% to $257.

So that’s the quick scoop for now.  Check out the charts with more numbers and print this report following the link below.  I assume there will not be much change in pace next month, but I’m anticipating a rally in September and October when everyone works on making their moves before the holidays and cold weather take over.

Word on the Street Snapshot JULY 2014