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 with private fenced yard, two driveways and many updates
Word on the Street: Fairfield, Westport & Weston 2013 vs. 2014
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.
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.
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.
Folks have been asking me if the market’s been picking up, and I have to say YES! Here’s a mini-update on what’s happened with me within the past month or so.
My listing on 113 Charles Street in Fairifield SOLD at the end of May for $500,000. It went for 95% of the asking price to a nice young couple that has joined the beach area. The previous owners moved on to a new job promotion in Boston and new home in South Norwalk.
My listing at 479 South Benson Road, Fairfield also SOLD at the end of May for $750,000 at 94% of list. This was a short sale through Bank of America in which my clients were accepted into BoA’s “Cooperative Short Sale Program”. Believe it or not, I have to say that I was extremely impressed with the bank’s process and efficiency. The entire transaction was managed via the online program called Equator and through educational resources available on the bank’s website. They provided a chart with an overview of the steps in the process and how much time was allotted for each step- and they stuck to it! We closed on time, and my clients moved on with their plans!
Currently under CONTRACT with my buyers, is 921 Kings Highway West in Southport. This is a lovely new construction home that is bank owned with a listing price of $819,900. They can’t wait to move in and enjoy!
Also under CONTRACT with my buyers is 5 Ermine Street in Fairfield’s lovely University area. The asking price is $659,900. The happy couple will be uniting here as they prepare to get married. He is coming here from New York’s Big Apple, and she is coming from New Hampshire. They will be moving to Fairfield in time to enjoy the beaches this summer.
So what’s up and coming, you may ask?
We have an OPEN HOUSE coming up on Sunday June 23rd from 1:00 to 3:00 at 1284 Fairfield Woods Road, Fairfield CT. This is an impeccable and charming home with four bedrooms, two full baths and nearly a third of an acre with completely fenced level yard. Asking price is $459,900. Click the image below for more pic’s and info!
…And COMING SOON to the market is Black Rock Gem, 184 Harborview Ave, to be listed at $324,000.
Stay tuned for more….
So, you can say that things are definitely moving out there! Let me know if you are ready to move on with your plans. As always, I’m here to help! -Linda
I just sent this beautiful post card to three of my clients who are having home buying or selling anniversaries this spring. One was a two-month anniversary, one a two-year, and the third was a seven-year anniversary!! Isn’t Spring great?
The Fairfield Beach Area will soon be welcoming a very excited young family!
Relocating here from North Carolina, the wife is working in Wilton and the husband is the new branch manager for a bank on Black Rock Turnpike. Only Ken was present for the closing yesterday while Jenn was off to Belgium on business, but they will be together again shortly with their two little ones and nearby relatives.
This happy family can’t wait to enjoy their gorgeous new home on Cummings Avenue and to meet their new neighbors this spring!
Tina had an exciting day today, because she closed on her long awaited condo in the Foxwood community in Milford, Connecticut. Today was smooth sailing, but it was quite a journey to get here.
We had been looking for the perfect unit since last year. It had to be on the first floor with plenty of space, two entrances, two bedrooms, a den, space to install full-size washer and dryer (vs. smaller stacking ones) and in good condition. We thought we found it the first day when we looked at a nice For Sale By Owner. But we got all the way to contract signing before finding out that this section of the complex did not allow hard wood floors to be installed- a deal-breaker for Tina.
So, we looked at several others that fell short of the requirements and then waited and waited for the right unit it come to the market. Units came and went without anything fitting the bill. I created custom postcards and mailed them to all the owners in qualifying units… Nothing.
Mailer for Tina
Then finally one day a few months ago, the ‘perfect’ unit hit the market, so we went for it. We got it- the listing agent wrote in an email to me. But after she told me our offer was accepted, a client of hers came in with a cash offer. Ours was higher but still declined. We didn’t get it!
So we waited, and I sent another mailing.
Finally, the absolute perfect unit came to the market. It was like the one she lost, but a nice end unit with a park bench right out front. This one was meant to be.
Tina was so excited she planned to have the entire unit renovated before she even closed on it. She arranged to open up several walls, install hardwood and tile floors, redo the kitchen and change from her previous beach style to ‘country’!
The road was long, but the closing was short and and the reward was the perfect new home. I think the rest will be history!
Here’s a note from Tina a few months later, “Hi Lin’, I really love living here….I couldn’t be in a nicer spot. Thank you for finding this home for me….I will always send you more clients when I can.”
Fairfield and Westport CT Real Estate Guide 