Fairfield and Westport CT Real Estate Guide

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

5 Things I Bet You Didn’t Know about Lordship, CT!

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Here are five cool facts about Lordship Connecticut, that you probably didn’t know before. Read on and enjoy!

ONE – Two movies were filmed in Lordship: “Butterfield Eight” with Elizabeth Taylor in 1960, and “Hell Island” between 1981 and 1983.

Lordship

TWO –  The gigantic German dirigible, The Hindenberg was seen by residents flying about 1,000 feet over Lordship on Thursday, May 7, 1937 at about 2:30pm during the flight that would be her last.

THREE – The Dixie Doodle Diner was one of the first of Lordship’s drive-in eateries in the 1940s.

Dixie Doodle Diner
Photo courtesy of Stratford Historical Society

FOUR – In the 1890s, the Lordship Casino was both the commercial and cultural center in addition to housing the first firehouse on its first floor and the first school on its second floor.

FIVE – I can help you find a lovely home in Lordship!  Send me a note below and tell me what you’re looking for or ask any real estate questions.  I’m here to help you make you make your move!

 

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Annie and Andrew’s Story

 

Annie & Andrew

A seasoned recruiter for a financial firm on Merritt 7 in Norwalk Connecticut, Annie knew a good candidate when she saw one.   The perfect asset for the current position was one she had already recruited once before, and that would be her husband!  Given their relationship, Annie’s boss had to step in and seal the deal, but Andrew was on board in no time.

The next step was to move from their home in Avon to a town closer to Norwalk that was affordable and had good schools.  Annie’s boss lived in Fairfield and was a strong advocate.  She convinced Annie and Andrew that this town would fit the bill.

So Annie and Andrew’s agent in Avon called me to help them find a new home in Fairfield.  We spoke on the phone, and I set up their online search.   Immediately Annie saw something she liked and came to see it the next day.  Andrew couldn’t get free until the weekend, and by then the house was gone.  Three more times, the timing was too late or multiple bids got in the way, and three more homes were lost. Homes in their price range in the Fairfield university area were in extremely high demand and flying off the shelf!

New Home in Fairfield

Although Andrew liked the homes he had seen, he was still having a little trouble understanding the value for the prices in Fairfield compared to Avon.  Annie and I gushed about the treasured amenities in Fairfield such as the gorgeous beaches, convenient train stations, chic eateries, vicinity to Manhattan and the fantastic vibrant community. I wish I had this video tour of Fairfield at the time! Still, Andrew just shrugged his shoulders and went with the flow, primarily motivated by a quick commute.  

Finally, a lovely pricier home had a price reduction.  We immediately went to see it and this time lucked out.  Annie and Andrew landed a beautiful expanded Cape on a pretty university area street.  They lost no time starting to make memories with their little son George, their new neighbors and all the block parties scheduled for the year.

A short time later, Annie sent me a note that said, “Hi Linda, we love the house, and we have fallen in love with Fairfield.  We have only been in the house a little over a month, but it truly feels like home, and I would say George agrees!  We cannot thank you enough for all of your help. You were terrific to work with, patient and helped us every step of the way. Relocating to a new area is overwhelming, and you really made us feel at ease throughout the whole process.  Thanks again for everything.  We hope to see you around town!”

So we welcome Annie and Andrew to Fairfield and the university area along with some of our other recent new neighbors, Ping and Danian and Rich and Chris.  Annie and Andrew’s story is all about taking that leap toward the next chapter of exciting new beginnings- A new love. A new job. A new town. A new home.  Follow your dreams, and the rest is history in the making!

For questions about your next move, contact me any time!

If you're thinking of moving in the next 12 months, call now for your free consultation -> 203-912-4440

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Realtor Helps with All New “CKC” Salon in Fairfield: Cut. Keratin. Color!

Remember the fun and adorable couple, Michael and Ella from HGTV?  If you missed the original airing of their eposide, it’s airing again September 19th at 9:00 AM on HGTV’s House Hunters Renovation, “An Old House Gets a New Master Plan”.  Click here for a description and show times.

Michael on HGTV's House Hunter's Renovations

Michael on HGTV’s House Hunter’s Renovations

Well Michael and Ella have been back in action with a new endeavor!  About a month ago, Michael called me and said they wanted a new space for Ella’s hair salon.  They wanted to create an all new CKC salon in Fairfield where their clientele could better enjoy a cut, keratin and colour.  Their current CKC was outgrowing its space, and business was booming!

So I ran a search, and the perfect opportunity surfaced.  The owner of a struggling salon business wanted to call it quits and move to Florida making her space available for lease!  It was an ideal property- in a nice busy plaza on the Post Road in Fairfield with plenty of visibility and parking.  The space was a step up in size and amenties but not too big.  It had all the necessary mechanicals and just needed a face lift.

CKC salon & Keratin bar

CKC salon & Keratin bar

We set to work on negotiations, and within a couple of weeks CKC salon & Keratin bar opened its doors in a glamorous new home!

First where they live, then where they work, Michael and Ella have done complete make-overs in their new spaces. For their new salon, they opened-up walls, infused a fresh chic style and brought in all new furnishings!

Now clients enjoy a bright, airy and elegant atomosphere where they are treated like honored guests.  When they come, they can get a specialized Brazilian Keratin treatment for an unbelievable smooth shiny finish as well a precision cut and colour.

I’m lucky enough to have been one of the first customers at the NEW CKC salon, and they were lining up behind me!  Be sure to visit online and in person for your appointment.

CKC salon & Keratin bar
254 Post Road

Fairfield, Connecticut  06824
ckcsalon.com
ckcsalon@gmail.com
(203) 292-5835

CKC salon & Keratin bar

CKC salon & Keratin bar

Photo Aug 13, 3 49 05 PM

CKC salon & Keratin bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As always, contact me any time for your real estate needs, or even if you just want to hear more about CKC salon & Keratin bar!

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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

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Family Finds New Home in Old Hill

The journey was long for Eric, Roberta and their young son and a new puppy.  Of course, it would be a big lifestyle change from an apartment in Manhattan to a house in the suburbs. First of all, when you could routinely have any nationality of cuisine delivered to your doorstep within 20 minutes, anything less seemed quite inconvenient.  Add to this the perspective of coming from a classic doorman building on the Upper West Side near parks and subways with magnificent pre-war details and 11-foot ceilings, and you were starting with high expectations… as you should!  There was no pressure to move, but it was time for a new experience, a home to spread out in with a yard, an active town, and excellent public schools.

Roberta was drawn to the open space and pastoral scenery in upper Westchester County, New York.  Eric wanted a town with direct train service to Grand Central to make the commute to his Park Avenue office as painless as possible.  The family began their search in Westchester, but after evaluating the homes, amenities and property taxes there decided that Fairfield County Connecticut would be a better fit.

So they set their focus on Westport and rented a summer house there to get to know the town.   Their wish list included a neighborhood with a country feeling and a location on a quiet street, but not too far from the train.  The home needed to be something special- an older house with charm and good bones, or maybe a new construction with timeless style.  There needed to be at least an acre of property with bucolic surroundings.  The ceilings had to be high, and the flow had to be practical as well as aesthetically pleasing.  The architecture had to be true to its form and consistent throughout. High-quality details such as wide plank wood floors and large windows for ample natural light and pretty views were key. A front porch was a plus, and so was a pool.  Last but not least,  the chemistry had to be there.

So we looked.   And we looked.   Over time, we found that the Greens Farms and Old Hill neighborhoods had the location and feeling that Eric and Roberta were looking for.  We saw many, many homes that had many great features. But finding the perfect blend was not easy- as a typical suburban home would not do.   See what Eric, as well as other clients, thought about the process.

Eric & Roberta in Westport

Finally, after two an a half years, the winning home was found!  It was gorgeous.  It was custom built and designed by talented architect, John Fifield.  It had the special combination of flow, uniqueness, proportions,  elegance and setting.   It had a romantic wrap around porch and a pool.   It had the chemistry!

And that’s how the story begins.   A family’s quest leads to their new castle in Old Hill.

…a few months later, all is well!

Photo Jan 07, 11 41 26 PM


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Family from Scotland Comes Overseas to Live in Connecticut

Greg, a client of mine that worked in the landscaping business referred a new client to me that was being recruited all the way from Scotland to join the landscaping company he worked for called Michael Bellantoni located in White Plains, New York.

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So Andew began the process of relocating with his wife Kirsty and three daughters from overseas to join the firm.  They wanted to buy a home in a town with good schools and great prices, and focused in on Bethel, Connecticut.   Despite their stellar credit in Scotland, they could not apply for a mortgage here in the States without any credit history in the US.   So we found them a rental to enable them to establish their credit here while looking for a new home.   After a long search, Andrew and Kirsty found the perfect home, and as Andrew is now well established with his new company, the happy family is enjoying a new life here in Bethel Connecticut!

…Fast forward five years to the family’s move date anniversary, and Kirsty posts her feelings on Facebook, and we have an online exchange,

“Well….today is our 5th Anniversary of moving to the States. It’s been a rollercoaster so far with a couple of highs, but also some lows. I have made life long new friends here, but also miss my besties back home and often long to be able to just jump in the car and go visit them, especially when they’re sick or not doing too well. Our oldest daughter has gotten married and bought her own place with our lovely son-in-law, our middle daughter is in her last year of high school and the youngest will be moving up to become a junior after the summer. I don’t know what the next five years holds, or even the next year. Anyway, here’s to five years in the good old US of A.”

  • Hi Kirsty, I know there’ve been some tough times getting settled here. I wish it was a smoother transition for you and your family. I hope there are many more happy memories to be made here going forward!
  • KirstyBless you Linda, yes, it has been tough at times. But still here five years on…thank you for everything you have done for us, and if I ever need a Realtor in the future, there’s only one person I would trust!  
    If I can help you with any of your moving plans, here or overseas, just let me know!

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Happy Seller Heads South!

Not a big fan of freezing winters, Joe had a dream that he thought was simple:  sell his condo on Madison Avenue in Bridgeport and move to Florida where life is sunny and warm year-round.

Joe after his closing!

Joe after his closing!

It sounded reasonable enough until he put his condo on the market and didn’t get the quick sale he was hoping for.  After trying to sell with four different agents over the course of three years with one deal falling through at the last minute, Joe was feeling quite discouraged and wondered if his plan would ever come to fruition.

Finally, the following summer, he summoned his spirits again and had his son come up from Florida to help him de-clutter.  Then he called me to come and see his place, and I gave him a list of staging tips that he put into play.  We went on the market and received a good amount of activity but were plagued by low-ball offers by investors and a distressed unit that posted for sale at a rock bottom price by a bank.

As the holidays approached, Joe agreed to withdraw from the market long enough to re-do his kitchen.  I referred a great contractor to him that was skilled and well priced.  Joe shopped around for some good deals on appliances, and viola!
2011-09-30 01.52.54      Joe's Condo AFTER

 

 

 

 

 

With a refreshed look, new kitchen and the New Year, Joe closed on his condo within three months and was off to his dream home in Florida with the weather to match!  Here’s what Joe had to say about it, “I will always be happy to give you the highest recommendation for your excellent customer service and professionalism. I definitely couldn’t have sold my condo without you.  The recommendation to upgrade my kitchen was a big factor.  There were so many condos on the market in Bridgeport, I thought I would never get out of there. But you sold my condo in such a short time frame.  You are a Realtor who cares and gives the best possible customer service one could expect, especially if the seller listens to you and takes your suggestions.  I couldn’t be happier now that I am in Florida.”

Take a look at the video to see Joe’s kitchen transition in action.

Feel free to comment below or request help preparing your home for the market.

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