Karen Brewer

Market Trends Category

Darien Real Estate,2010 Year End Market Report

I’ve published a snapshot report of how the real estate market in Darien fared over this past year. In spite of gloomy reports from other markets around the county, Darien is bouncing back from a poor 2009. All the numbers are headed in the right direction for recovery,owing largely to the recuperation on Wall Street. For those of you who don’t know,Darien, Ct is to Wall Street what Silicon Valley is to Northern California.It’s the engine that drives this market. As  Wall Street bonuses and income go-so does Darien real estate.

As you can see, volume has picked up over the past year.There were 436 homes sold in 2010 versus 426 the prior year which is not huge but compared to other local markets, is terrific.Additionally, average price is up indicating that homes on the higher end of our market are also being sold.In fact in 2009, only 5 homes in the $3million plus range were sold compared to 13 in 2010 including several in the $6million plus category. The entry level of $600k-$1.5million accounts for the lions’ share of the market, which is not unusual. The” days on market” or average time it takes a home to sell has not decreased much and I attribute that to lingering, unrealistic expectations on the part of many sellers.

If we have learned anything in 2010, it is that if you price your home correctly, a buyer will turn up quickly.Most sellers,however, afraid of leaving “money on the table” prefer to start their pricing high and take their medicine in small,protracted doses.

Darien condos remain a soft spot int his market.Few were marketed and sold and I don’t have a good explanation for that.In 2010 only three condos here in town were sold compared with 13 in the prior year.

Basically,if you’re looking for a rebounding market with good value,great schools,waterfront and  a terrific commute to New York City,Darien and environs is the place.This market,combines with historically low interest rates provides the long anticipated “bottom” for Darien,CT homes and condominiums.

Fairfield County Christmas Trees,When Home Depot Just Doesnt Cut It.

This year for the first time in ages my husband and I decided to cut down our own Christmas tree. The kids are working or off in college so we would have to contend with only our own opinions about how big, what type,who gets to saw etc. There are no tree farms in Darien of course so we had to do a little driving.The day was moderately cold with just a bit of wind, so off we went. Jones Tree Farm was full of kids,lots of dogs and Great Christmas anticipation (which id you ask me is the best part of this holiday).Choosing a tree was child’s play.The selection was great. I wanted a Charlie Brown tree but was overruled.Instead we have a beautiful 7′ blue spruce that smells great! Pine is notoriously soft wood so the actual sawing was easy.

Back in the car afterwards we and another couple snacked on cheese and crackers,coffee and oh and egg nog with rum. HO HO!

Below is a list of local farms where you and yours can make a day of it too!

Jones Family Farms

• 266 Israel Hill Road (near intersection of Route 110 & Walnut Tree Hill Road) Shelton, CT 06484
• 203-929-8425; http://www.jonesfamilyfarms.com open daily 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• $60
• Trees available include Blue Spruce, Fraser Fir, Douglas Fir, Balsam Fir, White Pine and White Fir

Audubon Society H. Smith Richardson Tree Farm

• Sasco Creek Road, Westport, CT 06880
• 203-623-0646
• Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends, 12 to 4 p.m. on weekdays, closed on Mondays.
• $60-85
• Trees available include Douglas Fir, White Spruce, Blue Spruce

Bob’s Tree Farm

• 66-68 Turkey Plain Road, Rt. 53, Bethel, CT 06801
• 203-241-3450
• Open Sat. & Sun., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• $50
• Trees available include Douglass Fir, Concolor Fir, White Spruce, Blue Spruce varieties

Caesar’s Nursery & Christmas Tree Farm

• 883 Federal Road – Rt. 7, Brookfield, CT 06804. 203-775-2944
• Open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily
• $36.80 and up
• Tree available include White Pine, Fraser Fir, Douglas Fir, White Spruce, Colorado Blue Spruce

Everett’s Corner Tree Farm

• 136 Sherwood Road, Easton, CT 06612
• 203-268-2508; http://everettscorner.com
• Open 9 a.m. till dusk Dec. 4 & 5 and Dec. 11 & 12
• $50
• Trees available include White Spruce, Blue Spruce, and White Pine

Fairview Tree Farm

• 486 Walnut Tree Hill Road, Shelton, CT 06484.
• 203-944-9090; http://fairviewtreefarm.com/
• Open Friday-Wednesday 9 a.m .to 5 p.m.; Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• $49
• Trees available include Blue Spruce, White Spruce, Serbian Spruce, Fraser Fir, Douglas Fir, Con Color Fir

Maple Row Tree Farm

• 538 North Park Avenue, Easton, CT 06612
• 203-261-9577;  http://www.mrfarm.com/
• Open daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Call for current prices
• Trees available include Balsam Fir, Canaan Fir, Colorado Bruce Fir, Con Color Fir, Douglas Fir, Eastern White Pine, Fraser Fir, Norway Spruce and White Spruce

Darien Homes for Sale,Market Snapshot Nov. 2010

Darien Real Estate,New Listings,Week of December 1,2010.

 I can’t believe we are closing in on another year end! Here are the Darien real estate statistics for the first week of December, 2010.Usually by this time of year things are in the drip mode with precious little going on. If I may continue with the coffee metaphors we  are seeing things  continue to perk along. Nothing over the top but moving forward.Last year at this time, the market actually took off  in the last weeks of the year and defied the seasonal swing.Lets see how we progress in 2010.

Darien Homes for Sale,Market Report,Week of October 13

Darien Real Estate and Homes for Sale, Year to Date Report

Darien Homes Sales Market Report September 15,2010

The New “F” Word…..”Fear”,Darien Ct Homes

This summer,I have had a bullish outlook on the local real estate market here in Fairfield County and anticipated a strong selling season this fall.Recent events in the news have caused me to think otherwise, however. It’s not the actual news that bothers me although there are some disconcerting numbers out there. It’s more like the media itself that I find troubling. We’ve all said at one time or another that the media has an unfair choke hold on the  on the tone of the news. Cable TV,print media and the Internet all have various agendas to serve regarding what they wish to report and how to report it.

It seems to me that the upcoming elections in November have caused the “spin” to pick up speed with bad economic news aimed at the Obama administration or the Republicans, depending on where you get your news. The local economic news here is Fairfield County and Darien is stable and home sales bounced upward last spring.I believe, in large part, because the “f “word….FEAR…was removed from the equation. People stopped feeling like the world was coming to an end,that the local NYC job market had stop hemorrhaging ,and therefore that maybe it was OK to dip their toes back in the real estate pond.

But here it comes again. According to various reports  we are either headed for a double dip recession or a recovery, however protracted.Is it a coincidence that there are mid term elections coming down the pike in 60 days and  that the natives are once again beating  apocalyptic drums.I think not.I wonder too if these guys realize that not all markets are like Las Vegas and Florida. Prices have stabilized. here and elsewhere.The media has the ability to kill the goose that laid the golden egg for everyone. A recent article on the Opinion pages of The New York Times by none other than Greg Case of the Case-Schiller index makes the point.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/opinion/02case.html?_r=1

In the article he makes a very persuasive argument for buying a home now as well as the fragility of the market based upon the news of the day.Interesting reading especially from a guy whose livelihood is statistical information.

Darien and Fairfield County Home Rentals,A Tight Market

This weeks New York Times, Real Estate section ran an accurate article about  home rental conditions in Darien,CT and surrounding towns.They include  the  rentals at Yale and Towne in Stamford which I wrote a post about a few weeks ago. The market for Fairfield County rentals is tight and anyone looking would be well served by reading the article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/realestate/22wczo.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=in%20the%20region%20connecticut&st=cse

Rental Potential, Darien Real Estate

For one reason or another the rental market in Fairfield County is on fire. No sooner do homes for rent come on the market as they seem to disappear.Its not uncommon for a rental to be listed and leased in one day. During the dog days of August, I think people are looking last minute to get their children in school or have given up for the year on finding their dream home.

Whatever the case, it takes a good Realtor to figure out where dormant rentals may be. A current client has just recently sold their home and (yes I sold it for them) and needed a rental as soon as possible.We saw just about everything on the market in their price range and came up empty.With the clock ticking I decided to use my access to the Fairfield County Multiple Listing Service to look up homes and condos that had been on the market over 120 days to see if those homeowners would be willing to rent.

As a Realtor I have homeowner and listing broker information for all listings in Darienand surrounding towns,something the average renter or home buyer does not.(in spite of the Internet age).I called about a dozen of them to see if they were willing to rent for a year and voila, I got a couple of new properties to show that previously had only been on the market for sale.

I found the rental for my client literally by looking in places they dont exist.Similarly Realtors have knowledge of listings that are yet to come on the market and may be just what you are looking for. The moral of the story”Sometimes you have to dig to find what you’re looking for.”

Still think you dont need a Realtor?  The Internet can’t do it all.Call me if you need help.203-554-0951