Ifyour 2022 New Year’s resolution Includes more pickle ball, you’ll be glad to know that “pickle ball for all” was the most popular vote at this town meeting.
The Fairfield Parks and Recreation department hosted a town meeting at Fairfield Ludlowe High School at the end of November to ask residents for their input regarding what they would like to see regarding park facilities, recreation, ⚽️🏀🥎 and events. This input was part of the process of building a longterm plan.
There was a Strong Turnout and Professionally Facilitated Discussion
The meeting, facilitated by a professional team, had participants break into small groups to discuss and tally responses. Each small group discussion was led by a facilitating team member, and each small group shared their input with the full participation at the end of the meeting.
Many Great Ideas Were Discussed
There was discussion about adding cement walkways at the beaches, more bike lanes, more functioning restrooms in the winter, more dog parks, a large field house (possibly in the vacant lot along Grasmere Avenue, adding more basketball and pickle ball courts, and of course, my request for a clearer process for implementing flash mobs 💥 💃🕺🏻around town to further integrate the arts into the community 🙂 ! …So flash mobs didn’t get the most votes, but pickle ball courts did! 🤷♀️
This process contributed to the creation of a comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan to develop a vision reflecting the needs and priorities of the community and a roadmap for implementing that vision over the next ten years..
It can be fun to shop for gifts during the holidays and closing gifts for clients. But the experience is taken to a whole new level when shopping at Terrain in Westport, Connecticut.
The vibe is warm, festive, beautiful, and calming all at the same time. Enjoy the images below from my recent visit in search of the perfect gifts.
Click image for video clip of the garden water features
If your shopping spree works up an appetite, the garden cafe has you covered. Winter or summer, it is always a joy to stop in and browse. Maybe I will see you there soon!
Special thanks to our guest writer, Sharon Wagner for this article! As a senior herself, Sharon Wagner understands that an older body and mind impacts the daily lives of many seniors. She created SeniorFriendly.info to offer advice geared specifically toward seniors to help them make healthier choices and enjoy their golden years.
Maximize the Excitement and minimize the Stress!
As exciting as moving may be, settling into any new city or state can be a major adjustment — especially if you’ve lived in the same area for many years. Plus, there’s the added stress of finding a new place to live, moving your belongings, changing your address, updating the information on your driver’s license, and transferring your utilities.
These tips from Connecticut Realtor, Linda Raymond will tell you everything you need to know about finding and settling into a new Southport-area home, so read on to make your move much less stressful and a lot more enjoyable!
Hire a Local Real Estate Agent
Whether you’re moving from one Connecticut city to another or from outside of the Nutmeg State, it’s important to work with a real estate agent who’s knowledgeable about your desired area. Linda Raymond, Realtor based in Southport, for instance, can help you to find the perfect home in
Fairfield County, CT — whether you’re looking to relocate to Fairfield, Southport, Westport, or another city in Fairfield County.
Plan Your Move
Once you’ve found your new home, you’ll need to start planning your move. Neighbor shares some tips for relocating to a new state if you’re moving from outside of Connecticut, covering topics like packing your belongings, hiring interstate movers, and applying for a new driver’s license. If you already live in Connecticut, however, RT Relocation is one local moving company that serves the area. They offer services such as packing and unpacking, storage, and residential and commercial moving.
If you own a business such as a limited liability company (LLC), you’ll also need to move your company when relocating from outside of the Nutmeg State. Local laws and regulations require you to register your out-of-state business in Connecticut, even if it’s already registered in another state. This means forming your LLC with the Connecticut Secretary of State (SOS). You may also need to find a commercial space for your business.
When starting an LLC in CT, you’ll need to appoint a registered agent, file a Certificate of Organization, and obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) if you don’t already have one. Online formation services such as ZenBusiness can help you with all of these tasks and so much more.
Settle Into Your New Home and Neighborhood
After moving into your new home, you’ll be ready to put down roots in Southport. Start exploring your new neighborhood by visiting local grocery stores, pharmacies, cafes, and gas stations — and using apps such as Eventbrite, Meetup, or Facebook to find nearby events and activities. Meetup, for instance, can be used to find social activities, art classes, book clubs, volunteer opportunities, fitness classes, and so much more. Also, Fairfield, Westport, and the neighboring towns are only about an hour from all that New York City has to offer. Fairfield has three train stations including the Southport Station, and Westport has the Saugatuck Station.
Furthermore, the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities is a great option for Southport-area adults over 50 years of age. The Center offers services and events such as dance aerobics, yoga and Zumba, bingo, walking club, educational programs, and more.
Reduce the Hassle of Relocating
Relocating to a new city or state can be stressful, especially when you’re moving with children or don’t know anyone in the area you’re relocating to. But fortunately, an experienced real
estate agent can help to reduce the hassle of relocating — making your move to Southport a lot less stressful and much more fun from start to finish.
Are you looking for a home in Fairfield, Southport, Westport, or another area in Fairfield County? Contact Linda Raymond Real Estate to begin your Southport housing search! 203-912-4440.
Where did the market go in November? The Westport and Fairfield town-wide sales pace in November, though below that of last November 2020 coming off the Covid spike, was still above that of 2019. Inventory dipped below two-months of supply in Fairfield and stayed at three months of supply in Westport. Low inventory continued to be the most significant limiting factor, and multiple-offers were still happening with many listings. The median sale price in Fairfield was 12% below November 2020 numbers and was up 25% in Westport. Days on market averaged 49 days in Fairfield and 63 in Westport.
Purchasing a home now can award instant equity in addition to exponential savings over the life of a mortgage if home values continue to appreciate and rates begin to creep up as projected by economic experts. Waiting until next year to buy a home could result in a more expensive purchase. Homeowners that sell now can benefit from a larger buyer pool than next year when homes will be more costly for buyers if interest rates increase. Sellers have much less competition in the winter months than during the spring market, and buyers in the winter are very serious.
If you are like many others who want to sell but are still on the fence, this winter still offers an excellent opportunity to make your move. Interest rates and inventory are still low, and buyer demand is still extremely strong. You are right to seek an expert guide to help you put your strategy in place to reach your goal! Call me today to discuss your plans ==> (203) 912-4440.
What Happened in November in these two hot spots, downtown Fairfield and Greens Farms Westport? Check out the following lists of the homes that sold and where homeowners accepted offers. The big charts also show the town-wide stats.
FAIRFIELD DOWNTOWN – Within a one-mile radius of the downtown train.
Below are the 12 single-family closings and seven new accepted offers in downtown Fairfield in November.
SOLD:
NEWLY ACCEPTED OFFERS:
Take a look at the Fairfield town-wide stats from the William Raveis Local Housing Data. Send me a note below if you would like the link to add the LHD shortcut to your phone!
WESTPORT GREENS FARMS
There were three single-family sales and one accepted offer in November in Greens Farms.
SOLD:
NEWLY ACCEPTED OFFERS:
Take a look at the Westport town-wide stats from the William Raveis Local Housing Data. Send me a note below if you would like the link to add the LHD shortcut to your phone!
Call me if you are thinking of making a move in the next 12 months, and we will have a 15 minute consultation to discuss your goals, the market, and whether I can help ===> (203) 912-4440.
Looking at how the market did in October… The Westport and Fairfield town-wide sales pace in October slowed a bit from the previous month, consistent with the seasonal trend, and was also down significantly compared to the Covid spike in October 2020, but the sales pace was still above the same time of year in 2019. Inventory remained at two-months of supply in Fairfield and three months in Westport. Low inventory continued to be the most significant limiting factor in these markets. The median sale price was within 2-3 percent of October 2020 numbers and remained significantly higher than in 2019. Market time was still brisk ensuring a constant refresh of available homes for sale.
Industry experts predict continued appreciation of property values and rising interest rates next year. Purchasing a new home now can award instant equity in addition to exponential savings over the life of a mortgage. Waiting until next year to make a purchase can result in a more expensive purchase. Homeowners that sell now benefit from a larger buyer pool than next year when homes will be more costly for buyers if interest rates go up.
If you are like many others who want to sell but are still on the fence, this fall continues to offer an excellent window to make your move. Interest rates and inventory are still low, and buyer demand is still strong. You are right to arm yourself with an expert guide to help you put your strategy in place to reach your goal! Call me today to discuss your plans ==> (203) 912-4440.
What has sold in these two hot spots? Where are the accepted offers in October and the beginning of November? Check out the scoop below and take a look at the charts showing the town-wide data.
FAIRFIELD DOWNTOWN – Within a one-mile radius of the downtown train.
Looking at single-family sales, there were 14 closings in October. Market activity showed 16 new accepted offers, including three condominiums and one commercial building in October through November 8th in Fairfield’s downtown and beach area.
SOLD:
NEWLY ACCEPTED OFFERS:
Take a look at the Fairfield town-wide stats from the William Raveis Local Housing Data. Send me a note below if you would like the link to add the LHD shortcut to your phone!
WESTPORT GREENS FARMS
There was one single-family sale October in Greens Farms. There were four new accepted offers, all single-family homes between $1-4 million, in Westport’s Greens Farms neighborhood through November 8th.
SOLD:
NEWLY ACCEPTED OFFERS:
Take a look at the Westport town-wide stats from the William Raveis Local Housing Data. Send me a note below if you would like the link to add the LHD shortcut to your phone!
Call me if you are thinking of making a move in the next 12 months, and we will have a 15 minute consultation to discuss your goals, the market, and whether I can help ===> (203) 912-4440.
When my clients and the markets bring new challenges to me, I want to be sure to respond by bringing new solutions and a compelling marketing strategy to the table. That’s why I work for a company that thinks out of the box and always supports me and my clients with cutting-edge innovation. We are not thinking in terms of black and white, (or even 50 shades of gray 😃), but with an exhilarating and vibrant focus on color and creativity!
William Raveis is about to make a big splash! This week, we will begin launching our new campaign, “Your Best Just Got Better” that highlights the individuality of Raveis agents and how our company empowers us to express our creative freedom to help our clients reach their goals. (Here’s a sneak preview of how some of the images will look on billboards, in magazines and newspapers, on TV, and online.)
Creativity is the key to our success! We don’t dream in boring black and white; we dream in color, and we dream BIG. The powerful paint splash represents the variety of creative programs and services our agents have to accomplish their clients’ home goals. The colors in our new campaign are expressions of all the resources we have as a company.
It’s truly revolutionary: Not only does our company have the resources to buy the home you want to sell (Raveis Purchase), we can also buy the home you want to buy so you can present an all-cash deal (Raveis CashBid™) and finance it later (William Raveis Mortgage). We also offer bridge financing to help bridge the gap between selling and buying. In addition to our stellar tech and local expertise, our financial resources truly provide an edge over our competition.
On that note, stay tuned for the new look and feel of William Raveis Mortgage and all of the exceptional products and services. The new look pays tribute to our company’s heritage, and it is purposeful, bold and as distinctive as the high-quality service we provide.
We are in the very unique position of being a mortgage company that understands real estate, and this gives our clients a competitive advantage. Our home-selling expertise means we can provide our clients the best financing advice, service, and insight to win competitive offers.
Do you have a challenge my team and I can solve for you?
We had a fun time and a great dinner at Malibu Taco last weekend! The vibe was definitely lively 🎉 with up beat music in the background that made me think maybe I felt more like dancing than eating. 🙂 The upper and lower outdoor patios were bustling and equipped with multiple heaters. The super-cool and airy interior and bar were completely open to the patios which made everyone in all the eating spaces feel included.
The restaurant definitely attracted a very young crowd, and I think it’s the first place I’ve seen that seemed to have a dozen or more high school kids quietly having dinner together. Yet, there were plenty of older peeps like us enjoying ourselves as well.
The food and drinks were very good and also well-priced. We enjoyed the guacamole with house-made corn chips (which were not too salty) to start. Mark had the Nashville Hot Chicken Taco 🌮 and Spicy Crumbled Chorizo Taco which cooled off perfectly with the Patio Lemonade (yes, with vodka)🍹. I LOVED the Duck and Pineapple Taco and my Malibu Marg (without the salt).
Be sure to check out Malibu Taco in the Brick Walk at 1177 Post Road in Fairfield, (203) 292-8544. Here’s the link to their menu. We will definitely be back. Maybe we’ll see you there!
For more information about our fabulous local communities or how I can help you with your moving goals, give me a call or send a note below.
Looking at how the market did in September… The Westport and Fairfield town-wide sales pace in September was slower than the previous month of August as well as the Covid spike in 2020, but the pace was still above sales in September 2019. Low inventory remained the strongest limiting factor. Our local housing markets in both towns progressed with strong sales and a continued increase in the median sale price during September.
If you are like many others who want to sell but are still on the fence, the fall season will continue to offer an excellent window to make your move. Interest rates and inventory are still low, and buyer demand is still strong. You are right to arm yourself with an expert guide to help you put your strategy in place to reach your goal! Call me today to discuss your plans, (203) 912-4440.
What has sold in these two hot spots? Where are the accepted offers in September? Check out the scoop below and take a look at the charts showing the town-wide data.
FAIRFIELD DOWNTOWN – Within a one-mile radius of the downtown train.
Looking at single-family market activity, there were 16 closings in September compared to 19 in August, and 13 new accepted offers in Fairfield’s downtown and beach area at the time this post was written.
SOLD:
NEWLY ACCEPTED OFFERS:
Take a look at the Fairfield town-wide stats from the William Raveis Local Housing Data. Send me a note below if you would like the link to add the LHD shortcut to your phone!
WESTPORT GREENS FARMS
There were 7 single-family sales in September compared to 10 in August. There were two new accepted offers in Westport’s Greens Farms neighborhood at the time of this post.
SOLD:
NEWLY ACCEPTED OFFERS:
Take a look at the Westport town-wide stats from the William Raveis Local Housing Data. Send me a note below if you would like the link to add the LHD shortcut to your phone!
Call me if you are thinking of making a move in the next 12 months, and we will have a 15 minute consultation to discuss your goals, the market, and whether I can help ===> (203) 912-4440.
Despite all the obstacles from this pandemic, you may very much want to make a move to a home that is better suited to your current needs and desired lifestyle. Like so many others, you want the right amount of space for privacy, focus, relaxation, and recreation. Problem is, you’re worried about the monumental stress of actually making it happen, and this is completely understandable.
For most of the population, real estate transactions are the biggest and most difficult financial endeavors of their lives. There are so many moving parts and potential roadblocks. That’s why understanding the market you’re in is so important for making the best decisions. From there, working with a well-qualified real estate expert can help you lock down your hard-earned equity. As you consider your next move, here are the top things to know about the Fairfield real estate market right now:
A house lovingly named “Tween Waters” can only refer to a cherished home by the shore! This quintessential beach home is nestled on a generous .21-acre property between the Long Island Sound and the Pine Creek waterway. Radiating charm and character, this Nantucket-style home features ample curb appeal with a gracious covered wrap-around porch. Cheerful sunlight radiates through the tall windows into the living spaces accentuating the bright airy feel and beach vibe. Scenic views of the property, Pine Creek, and the tidal grasses are enjoyed from inside as well as the porch and deck. The primary bedroom also enjoys peeks of the Long Island Sound. The home features abundant storage in the walk-up attic and in the above-ground full-height storage area under the house. Yet the endearing style and open flow of this home are second to the coveted lifestyle here on the peaceful, yet vibrant Fairfield Beach Road. Enjoy watching the people walking dogs, jogging, and riding bikes from your porch. Gaze out at the sea birds from your rear deck. Jump into your kayak, or head over to the beach for a swim. Within a five-minute drive are downtown Fairfield’s abundant chic eateries, boutiques, a bustling Sportsplex, the train, and the highway! Get into Manhattan in a little over an hour, and then return home and diffuse with the calm of the sunsets, tides, and sea breezes.
Fairfield and Westport CT Real Estate Guide 