Fairfield and Westport CT Real Estate Guide

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


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Hot Properties and Market Trends: Fairfield & Westport Real Estate Update – July 2023

Hello Fairfield and Westport!

If you are like many people I know, you would like to make a move but are trying to figure out the best timing for your goals. We are still in a seller’s market, and here’s the latest market update.

The charts below show a summary of what happened in June compared to June 2022. And my What Sold Reports list all the single-family homes that sold in June 2023 in Fairfield and Westport Connecticut.

FAIRFIELD SINGLE-FAMILY – JUNE 2023


WESTPORT SINGLE-FAMILY – JUNE 2023

Low inventory and strong buyer demand continue to push prices of many homes higher and also limit the overall market pace in Fairfield and Westport. Here are four key points to understand about the market in June this year compared to June 2022.

  1. UNIT SALES WERE DOWN in both towns (20% in Fairfield, 30% in Westport).
  2. THE SELLING PRICE AVERAGED 103% – 105% of asking in both towns.
  3. MARKET TIME DECREASED to a range of 22 – 32 days to contract!
  4. CASH DEALS comprised 31% and 39% of the sales in June in Fairfield and Westport respectively.

If you are buying a home, there’s a 30-40% chance you may be competing with cash offers, so you will want to do everything you can to present a competitive offer.

When you are buying in this market, you need to be prepared with a mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds in hand so you can make an offer quickly when you see a home you want! The good news is that new listings are coming to the market each day.

If you are selling a home that you paid cash for, you can look forward to a high selling price and maximum equity!

There are multiple offers on some properties, while others receive just one, and some will even have a price reduction if the initial price was too ambitious. Homes on average, are selling above the asking price based on June numbers though. Some are selling for full price, some above, and some are selling below. It depends on the demand for the individual property.

Bottom line: Now is a still a great time to sell! Buyer demand remains high. Inventory is still low. But new listings are still coming to the market each day, so committing to the process will ultimately land you your new home!

Reach out to me anytime with your questions about the market and to discuss your plans. Not ready to think about your move yet? Please refer your friends to me using the form below. Referrals are a win-win!

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William Raveis Local Housing Data


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Master the Market: List Your House 100 Days in Reverse!

Maybe you want the equity from your house in time to buy a new one before the school year starts in the fall.

Or you want to sell your home and want to time your closing to minimize capital gains tax.

Perhaps you’ve seen beautiful listings come and go quickly, and you wish you could close ASAP so you can make a competitive offer on the next one you fall in love with.

Whatever your ideal timing is, begin the count down and count backwards on your calendar 100 days (at least, depending on average market time!) from the time you want to close on your sale. That’s the day you should have your listing paperwork signed in this market.

You need to allow time for the listing and sale process to take place.

Home Prep

Most people need two weeks or more to prepare their home for sale. Maybe you need a dumpster to do some quality purging. Maybe there are a few deferred maintenance items you’ve put off. Your agent or stager may have told you that your best selling price will follow a fresh coat of paint. Or maybe you want a top-dollar sale and opt for the wow-factor, offered by quality home staging. Many people need more time, but 14 days for home prep is a reasonable estimate to start with if you feel your home is close to being ready.

Market Time

Every market is different, and the average days on market will also vary with the season and other external factors. Note that the market time refers to the day the listing goes live on the MLS until a purchase agreement is fully executed.

Ask your agent what the current market time is in your town. The the days on the market of homes currently under contract will give the most recent view. The average market time of 76 homes under contract in Fairfield as of today (6/16/23) is 39 days. In Westport, there are 85 contracts with an average market time of 62 days. If we are going to be super optimistic, and say your Fairfield home will have a signed purchase agreement in record time, we can figure at least 35 days for market time.

Buyer Financing

Sixty to seventy percent of buyers YTD have used financing to buy their homes in Westport and Fairfield, so you need to account for the time it takes for the mortgage process, and this is typically a minimum of 45 days for a loan commitment.

Clear to Close

This precious term comes from the lender when they have cleared all the contingencies in the buyer’s loan application. Typically the lender needs another week after the loan commitment to reach clear to close status.

… and BOOM, before you know it, 100 days have whizzed by! These are very conservative time blocks, and most markets have a much longer market time. So before you miss your mark and risk losing your next dream home start the process that serves your goal.

Unlock Your Sales Success: Begin the Countdown! Mark your calendar, and count backwards. Rewind 100 days (or more!) from your desired closing date. This strategic milestone is when your listing paperwork should be completed in today’s market. Then you can enjoy the leverage you will gain to move into your next castle!

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Local Real Estate Report – Fairfield & Westport Connecticut June 2023

Hello Fairfield and Westport!

I know many of you are thinking of making a move but may be trying to figure out the best timing. We are still in a seller’s market, and here’s the latest market update.

The charts below show a summary of what happened in May compared to May 2022. And my What Sold Reports show all the single-family homes that sold in May 2023 in Fairfield and Westport Connecticut.

FAIRFIELD SINGLE-FAMILY – MAY 2023


WESTPORT SINGLE-FAMILY – MAY 2023

Low inventory and strong buyer demand continue to push prices of many homes higher and also limit the overall market pace in Fairfield and Westport. Here are four key points to understand about the market in May this year compared to May 2022.

  1. UNIT SALES WERE DOWN in both towns.
  2. THE MEDIAN SALE PRICE WAS UP in both towns.
  3. MARKET TIME INCREASED from last May and averaged 41 days to contract in Fairfield and 83 days in Westport. However, the May Median days on market in both towns was less than in April!
  4. 30-40% of all sales in May were CASH deals.

The amount of cash offers nearly doubled since before the pandemic. Thirty-three percent of all sales in Fairfield from January through May were cash deals, versus 18% during the same months in 2019. In Westport, forty percent of the sales YTD through May were cash, up from twenty-two percent in 2019.

If you are buying, there’s a 30-40% chance you may be competing with cash offers, so you will want to do everything you can to present a competitive offer.

When you are buying in this market, you want to be prepared with a mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds in hand so you can make an offer quickly when you see a home you want! The good news is that you have a little more time to make a decision than you did last year, and new homes are coming to the market each day.

If you will be selling a home that you paid cash for, you will enjoy full equity and a high selling price!

There are multiple offers on some properties, while others receive just one. Homes on average, are selling close to the asking price. This means some are selling for full price, some above, and others below. It depends on the demand for the individual property.

Bottom line: Now is a still a great time to sell! The inventory is still low and buyer demand remains high.

Reach out to me anytime with your questions about the market and to talk about your plans. Not ready to think about your move yet? Please refer your friends to me using the form below. Referrals are a win-win!

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Thank you for your response. ✨

William Raveis Local Housing Data


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Local Real Estate Report – Fairfield & Westport Connecticut May 2023

Hello May,🌷and hello home 🏡 sellers in Fairfield, Westport, and surrounding towns!

I know many of you are thinking of making a move but may be trying to figure out the best timing. We are still in a seller’s market, and here’s what you need to know.

The charts below show a summary of what happened in the month of April this year compared to 2022 and 2021. And my What Sold Reports show what single-family homes sold in April 2023 in Fairfield and Westport Connecticut.

Low inventory and strong buyer demand continue to push prices of many homes higher and also limit the overall markets in Fairfield and Westport. Here are four key points to understand about the market this April:

  • New Listings – are DOWN from the previous two years at this time but have been increasing since January.
  • The Median Sale Price – is UP from the past two years and from last month.
  • Pending Sales – are DOWN in April compared to April 2022 and 2021.
  • Months of Supply is UP.

There are multiple offers on some properties, while others receive just one. Some homes are selling on average, close to the asking price. This means some are selling for full price, and some above and others below. The time on market from list to contract is between 50 and 60 days in Fairfield and Westport, respectively, which is up from about 30 to 45 days last April. So buyers are enjoying a little more time and leverage in some cases. It depends on the level of activity on the individual property.

Bottom line: Now is a great time to sell! The inventory is low but has been increasing since January, so listing your house now gets you in front of buyers before peak competition. As a buyer, you have a little more time to make a decision than you did last year, and new homes are coming to the market each day.

FAIRFIELD

Fairfield April New Listings: DOWN 19.3%

Fairfield April Median Sale Price: Up 8.6%

Fairfield April Pending Sales: DOWN 27.8%

Fairfield April Months of Supply: UP 4.5%

WESTPORT

Westport April New Listings: DOWN 1.9%

Westport April Median Sale Price: UP 20%

Westport April Pending Sales: DOWN 40%


Westport April Months of Supply: UP 52.2%


So when you are buying, you want to be prepared with a mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds so you can make an offer quickly when you see a home you want!

Reach out to me anytime with your questions about the market and to talk about your plans. Not sure about your move yet? Please refer your friends to me using the form below.

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Data Source: SMARTMLS


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Sitting on Your Moving Plans? You Don’t Have To!

Chief Economist for NAR (National Association of Realtors®) just gave a one-on-one interview with Chris Raveis for all William Raveis agents (early April 2023) , and he had some key takeaways.

💡The rates of sales should pick up as the year goes on.


💡New construction starts have risen for three consecutive months on a nationwide scale.


💡Mortgage rates have improved since last month.


💡The gap between the current rates and what many homeowners have now is narrowing.


💡His advice? 


🏠Sellers: It doesn’t matter when you sell- if you sell high, you will buy high, and vice versa. So you should act based on your lifestyle needs.


🏡Buyers: The key is to get into the ownership ladder if you’re not already. You should also act based on your lifestyle needs, and if rates improve, refinance later.

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Behind the Scenes: Featured Home Tours

Each week there are specific days for each town when Realtors® can tour new listings on the market. Doing this enables us to help you best value your house when you’re ready to sell as well as guide your offer when you purchase.

I wanted to share three featured tours with you, because they are so special and completely different from one another! One is the bright condominium complex that is being constructed in the beach and downtown area. Another is a romantic antique in Greenfield Hill with property that dreams are made of, and the third is a grand and spectacularly renovated home near the Brooklawn Country Club!

Here’s a behind the scenes peek at The Reef at Fairfield Beach. The complex is within walking distance to the train, town, and beach and is comprised of nine townhouse-style units, each with elevator or elevator potential. One unit is under contract at the time of this post. (Click image for tour and tab through the clips.)

The next tour takes you back in time to an antique home in Greenfield Hill with this description in the listing introduction, “ENCHANTED GARDENS – With a magical setting created by renowned botanist and floral designer, Peter Stephens, this beautiful and enchanting 2.9 acre property is enveloped in secluded, private terraces, bubbling fountains, remarkable flower and vegetable gardens, whimsical secret vignettes and meandering pathways, garden sheds, barns (flowers, recreation, storage, poultry, ponies), twin paddocks, and meadows and river beyond.” Relax and enjoy the short video montage!

Last, but not least is a vintage home owned and decorated by an artist in the Brooklawn area of Fairfield. Brooklawn Park is a 69-lot subdivision that gets its name from the private sprawling Brooklawn Country Club founded in 1895. It was a prestigious development built in the early 1900s to serve the elite industrial businessmen at the time. The homes are palatial in size and each has its unique character.

If you would like more information or a tour of these properties, reach out to me using the form below!

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Happy April Housaversaries!

Happy April Housaveraries everyone!!

Celebrating my clients who have bought and sold during the month of April. It has been a pleasure helping you make your moves. Cheers!

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Local Real Estate Report – Fairfield & Westport Connecticut April 2023

Hello Spring 🌸! Where are prices going?

I know many of you are thinking of making a move but may be hesitating due to uncertainty. Of course, no one has a crystal ball for the future, but the charts below and the What Sold Reports show what happened with single-family homes March 2023 in Fairfield and Westport Connecticut.

One thing we know is that the low inventory environment will not be changing anytime soon. Also of note in the following Fairfield and Westport graphs is that the months of supply peaked in June last year. So, if this year follows suit, June will be the time of highest competition for sellers and the most choice for buyers. Feel free to reach out to me for values in additional towns.

FAIRFIELD PRICES & INVENTORY

The median (midpoint) sale price was down 3.1% in March compared to March 2022 (first graph), however it has been increasing since January. This is likely the result of more smaller homes selling. The average price per square foot actually increased 12.9% (second graph)! Smaller homes tend to sell for more per square foot, and prices may be heading upward as well. Lastly, the inventory has remained incredibly low with only 1.8 months of supply (third graph). This low level is the same as last year at this time. A balanced market has 5-6 months of supply!

Fairfield Median Sale Price – March 2023 DOWN 3%

Fairfield Median Price Per Square Foot UP 14.2%

Fairfield Months of Supply 2.5 UP from 2.1 in March 2022

WESTPORT PRICES & INVENTORY

The median sale price was also down in Westport, by 18.5% from last March (first graph). But the sale price per square foot was up 4.9% suggesting price increases (second graph). The months of supply did improve by 3.8% since last month but still remains low at 2.7 months (third graph).

Westport Median Sale Price – March 2023 DOWN 18.5%

Westport Median Price Per Square Foot – March 2023 UP 4.9%

Westport Months of Supply – March 2023 UP 3.8%

Tight Inventory and Strong Buyer Demand Continued

We saw some opportunity for buyers to have a little more time, choice, and negotiating ability depending on the demand for the particular property. However, this leverage was only on a a case by case basis.

Due to the tight inventory, many homes still sold very quickly and with multiple offers.

So when you are buying, you want to be prepared with a mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds so you can make an offer quickly when you see a home you want!

Check out the Instagram Reel

Reach out to me anytime with your questions about the market and to talk about your plans. Not sure about your move yet? Please refer your friends to me using the form below.

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Data Source: SMARTMLS


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More Options in the Fairfield Connecticut Real Estate Market This Week!


Something OLD and something NEW were added to the Fairfield Connecticut market this week providing more of a range of options to buyers. I saw the Victorian home 🏡 on tour, and previewed the new construction near the beach 🌊 to share via WhatsApp with my client in LA.

Reach out if you would like to learn more about the local real estate markets and may be thinking about a move.

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Happy March Housaversaries!

Happy March Housaveraries everyone!!

Celebrating my clients who have bought and sold during the month of March. It has been a pleasure helping you make your moves, Cheers!

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Thank you for your response. ✨