If you haven’t been to Amis in Westport Connecticut yet, you should definitely give it a try, and go on a nice evening. Set in the heart of Downtown Westport next to Anthropologie, the large picture window opens to the street. The atmosphere inside is cozy with a little bar, yet bustling as it draws the sidewalk energy in. Sitting inside is nice as are the other options like eating al fresco under the archway to Bedford Square, or sitting in the square itself. Both areas are beautiful and festive!
As for our dinner, we felt compelled to start with the Soft Pretzel Bites with pecorino cheese sauce and house-made whole grain mustard for dipping. It was a fun appetizer and quite tasty. I had the Crispy Eggplant Chips with garrotxa cheese and lavender honey for my main dish, and Mark had the Hedgehog Mushroom Risotto with roasted fennel, crème fraîche, pecorino for his. It was a dinner of color and flavor for all. Check out the menu here, and call for a reservation, (203) 514-4906 or reserve your table online. There is another location in Devon.
Feel free to reach out to me as well if you would like more info or would like to talk real estate!
It has been a long road to find the right home in this very challenging market, but we prevailed.
We are closed!
Coming all the way from Texas to the east coast, Robin secured a rental in the Fairfield Beach area for herself, her two children, and her little chihuahua, about a year ago. They were just beginning to feel at home in the new community, when the pandemic hit.
Hunkering down at home as we all were, Robin prepared to renew her lease. However, upon seeing the spiking sale prices, the landlord changed his mind about renting, and told her they were selling the house as soon as possible, giving her only two months to vacate.
In a panic, Robin convinced them to give her a few more months and sent out a text to our neighborhood chat group asking if anyone knew of an available rental.
I reached out and offered to help. After talking with her, and learning what her ideal home would look like and how much she was planning to spend on rent, I suggested that she get pre-approved for a mortgage and put her hard earned money toward a purchase that would build equity for her. As the leader of a large software development group, she had no trouble securing a loan.
So the quest began! Loving the Fairfield beach area, and looking for charm, character, a light and bright feel with room the family and guests, we searched! At first there was almost nothing to look at, but then some homes began to trickle onto the market. Then we found a lovely home and put in an offer. We were faced with ~10 other buyers and were out-bid. We tried again. And again. And again! But the bidding wars were driving the prices out of range.
Unfortunately, the search was taking more time than she had. Her time was up at the current rental, but luckily she found a homeowner nearby that let her rent for three more months. So Robin packed up her entire three-bedroom home and two kids, moved a few blocks away, and unpacked again.
It seemed there was nothing that matched the wish-list for the right price… until we ventured over to the popular beachy neighborhood of Woodmont in Milford. Under construction was a beautiful, bright new home with four bedrooms and finished space on three floors. It even had treetop water views and two balconies! After much negotiation, we secured the home and closed last week.
After so much time being unsettled by a cross-country move, a pandemic, and two limited rentals, Robin had to pack up her family, furniture, and belongings, and move it all one more time. But this time, she can relax, decompress, and enjoy. Finally, a sweet new place by the shore to call home!
Please reach out to me anytime if you have real estate questions or would like to have a conversation about your plans.
What has sold in these two hot spots? Where are the accepted offers by mid-May? Check out the lists below!
FAIRFIELD DOWNTOWN – Within a one-mile radius of the train.
There have been five sales and 11 more accepted offers in Fairfield’s downtown and beach areas during the first half of the month, from May first through the 15th.
SOLD:
NEWLY ACCEPTED OFFERS:
WESTPORT Greens Farms
SOLD:
There were three more sales but no additional accepted offers in Westport’s Greens Farms neighborhood during the first half of May.
NEWLY ACCEPTED OFFERS:
Please reach out to me if you are thinking of making a move, and let’s have a conversation! 203.912.4440
How’s the single-family housing market in Fairfield and Westport Connecticut as of the end of April? Take a look at the bullets and graphs below to see how things have changed dramatically this April compared to last April, 2020, and look at the opportunities.
If you would like access to our William RaveisLocal Housing Data tool and run your own graphs like the ones below, just send me a note for the link! Here are the specifics.
In WESTPORT
Single-Family HomesSales are DOWN 8% from 39 to 36 homes sold.
The Median Sale Price is UP 27% from $1,100,000 to $1,401,500.
Inventory is DOWN 35% from 271 to 177 homes for sale.
Months of Supply is DOWN 62% from 8 months to 3.
Market Time is DOWN 37% from 137 to 86 days.
In FAIRFIELD
Single-Family HomesSales are UP 70% from 56 to 70 homes sold.
The Median Sale Price is UP 10% from $645,250 to $712,500.
Inventory is DOWN 46% from 426 to 231 homes for sale.
Months of Supply is DOWN 66% from 7 months to 2!
Market Time is DOWN 39% from 107 to 65 days.
The trend of extremely low inventory, increasing median sale price, and short market time continues through April into May, though we are seeing more homes come on the market. The strong buyer demand in the face of this limited choice is still causing frequent multiple offer situations and has even slowed the rate of sales in Westport compared to April 2020.
Opportunities are here for both buyers and sellers, but the market can unquestionably benefit from more sellers entering the market! Vaccines are here, spring is here, interest rates remain low, and buyers are circling. If you have been wondering, yes, now is the time to sell!
How’s the single-family housing market in Fairfield and Westport Connecticut as of the end of March?Take a look at the bullets and graphs below to see how things have changed dramatically this March compared to last March, 2020, and look at the opportunities.
If you would like access to our William RaveisLocal Housing Data tool and run your own graphs like the ones below, just send me a note for the link! Here are the specifics.
In WESTPORT
Single-Family HomesSales are UP 29% from 31 to 40 homes sold. The Median Sale Price is UP 29% from $1,375,000 to $1,774,500. Inventory is DOWN 47% from 289 to 153 homes for sale. Months of Supply is DOWN 70% from 9 months to less than 3! Market Time is DOWN 49% from 132 to 67 days.
In FAIRFIELD
Single-Family HomesSales are UP 69% from 54 to 91 homes sold. The Median Sale Price is UP 20% from $587,450 to $703,000. Inventory is DOWN 55% from 479 to 217 homes for sale. Months of Supply is DOWN 71% from 8 months to 2! Market Time is DOWN 19% from 96 to 78 days.
The trend of extremely low inventory, increasing median sale price, and short market time continues through March into April, though we are seeing more homes come on the market. The strong buyer demand in the face of this limited choice is still causing frequent multiple offer situations.
Opportunities exist for both buyers and sellers, but the market can unquestionably benefit from more sellers entering the market! Vaccines are here, spring is here, interest rates remain low, and buyers are waiting. If you have been wondering, yes, now is the time to sell.
What has sold in these two hot spots? Which listings have accepted offers as of the first two weeks in April? Check out the lists below!
FAIRFIELD DOWNTOWN – Within a one-mile radius of the train.
There have been five more sales and 10 more accepted offers in Fairfield’s downtown and beach areas during the first two weeks of April.
SOLD:
NEWLY ACCEPTED OFFERS:
WESTPORT Greens Farms
SOLD:
There has been just one (yes, just one) more sale and three more accepted offers in Westport’s Greens Farms neighborhood during the first two weeks of April.
NEWLY ACCEPTED OFFERS:
Reach out to me if you are thinking of making a move, and let’s have a conversation! 203.912.4440
One of the challenges buyers are facing, along with would-be sellers, is that they can’t find what they are looking for on the market.
Many agents are sharing the criteria their buyers are looking for with the hope that someone who is thinking of selling may have a match to add to the market.
Here is my urgent buyer wish list,
Westport – New or contemporary style, ~4,000 square feet, 4+ bedrooms, $1,500,000-$1,800,000, (Need two of these!)
Westport – Renovation project or tear-down, 1+ acres, preferably with no wetlands, price flexible.
Westport – Renovation project or tear-down, any property size, preferably with no wetlands, price flexible.
Fairfield – Beach, town, Southport, or University areas, new or like-new home, 4,000 square feet, up to $1,700,000.
Fairfield – Home with charm and character, preferably in the beach area, but open to anywhere in town, 3+ bedrooms, at least 1,400 square feet or room to expand, $700,000-$850,000.
Fairfield – Home with charm and character, high ceilings, preferably in the beach area, center of town or Stratfield areas, 3+ bedrooms, at least 1,400 square feet or room to expand, finishable basement and/or attic, office space, level yard of .16 acres or more, $500,000-$640,000.
Fairfield – Beach area, near Penfield, .23+ acres on which to renovate or build new, under $700,000.
Fairfield – Town center, new or move-in ready 2-bedroom condo for rent, or sale up to $350,000.
New Canaan – Walk-to-train location, 3 bedrooms, preferably new or move-in ready, high ceilings, up to $1,500,000.
If a matching property is found for the buyer needs above, the following new listings will in turn be added to the market,
Westport – Gorgeous new construction home, likely with 4,000+ square feet and 5 bedrooms.
Westport – ANOTHER gorgeous new construction home, likely with 4,000+ square feet and 5 bedrooms.
Westport – Lovely 4-bedroom, move-in-ready home with lovely property in the Greens Farms area.
Fairfield – Charming cape in the beach area.
The lack of inventory is limiting the market despite the opportunity of very low interest rates and an excellent time to sell for all interested home owners.
So if you have something, say something! 😃 If you know of something, say something! 😃 Want to talk options? Say something. I’m here to help, 203.912.4440.
Financial stress is a never-ending problem that can lead to physical and mental health challenges for older adults. While research shows seniors aren’t the group most stressed by finances, they often have unique challenges when it comes to money. Mainly, they have fewer options for finding relief.
If you or a senior loved one is experiencing financial stress, there are some big and small ways to manage the situation.
1. Get better healthcare and insurance rates.
Now is the time to shop around for your insurance options. You may be paying more than you should or for services you don’t need. Healthcare is a complicated system and can be challenging to navigate alone. You may find ways to save money by talking to an agent.
We also recommend looking at the costs of other kinds of insurance, like life and homeowners insurance, to see if there are more affordable options out there.
2. Downsize.
The costs of maintaining a larger home can add up. If you’ve got sky-high utility bills and more space than you need, it may be time to consider downsizing. By selling your current home, you may be able to purchase a new home outright and use the remaining money to help fund your retirement. Take a look at this informative Guide to Downsizing for Retirement as you weigh your options. Before putting your home on the market, research how much you can expect to earn from a sale, and make sure you consult an experienced realtor in your area.
3. Explore alternative transportation.
If you are a senior who is driving less and less, you might be able to save money by changing your transportation methods. If driving isn’t necessary, consider selling your car. This will not only give you quick cash on hand but also save you monthly car insurance payments, as well as routine car maintenance and upkeep.
Senior support website Daily Caring notes that seniors have many transportation options — some can get everywhere they need to by bus or through a family member, while others take advantage of rideshares or senior-specific public transportation options.
4. Shop at secondhand stores.
Seniors can save a great deal of money by purchasing gently-used items at secondhand stores. There are many upper-end consignment stores that allow seniors to purchase high-quality clothes, furniture, appliances, kitchenware, and other household goods at even greater discounts. Be sure to look and see if there is a certain day or time of day where seniors can take advantage of additional discounts. There are even online secondhand options like Thred-Up and Poshmark.
5. Take advantage of senior deals and discounts.
Many businesses offer seniors special deals and discounts to help make their goods and services more accessible and affordable. People over 65 can get anything from meals to groceries, entertainment to investments, at special rates and discounts. The Senior List provides one of the most comprehensive lists of senior deals and discounts. These deals can help you enjoy a quality of life that is fun and exciting without worrying excessively about costs.
6. Share meals with neighbors and friends.
Senior isolation can be a serious health condition for people over 65, especially those concerned with finances. They may go out less for fear of spending too much money. However, sharing meals with neighbors and friends can relieve both burdens. You’ll share the financial cost of cooking, while also spending quality, social time with loved ones. Even cooking together can be a social occasion. Seniors who share meals two or three times a week often report a social and financial benefit.
Any health issue can be exacerbated by financial stress and strain, which makes seniors particularly at risk. That’s why exploring these free or low-cost activities can help both the mind and body cope with financial hardships.
If I can be of assistance to you, please feel free to reach out.
Fairfield and Westport CT Real Estate Guide 