Karen Brewer

Neighborhoods Category

The Gold Coast Standard and 2012,There Is Much to Learn, Grasshoppers…

Well one way or another you have found your way to this blog.As advertised I try to write about news and views of living here in Darien,CT. Yes,I am a Realtor and yes I do want your business. But I could go about prospecting for business by advertising on say Facebook,Trulia,Zillow etc which, from time to time, I do indeed tinker with.

But what I hope to really accomplish here is to fill in a much needed gap between information and insight…Information is everywhere.You know how it goes…3 bedrooms, two baths, dead end street… misleading photos.If you ask me its dead end information.

What is it like to live on that “dead end” street? Does it lead to the town dump? Or a nice little park? And what about those three bedrooms? Does the master bedroom face train tracks. You get the idea. I’ve posted about this before and its all about context baby. When you’ve gotten your Zestimate or whatever they are calling it these days come to www.TheGoldCoastStandard.com to find out what the neighborhood is like,how long your kid will have to ride on the bus and whether the highway is expanding into your backyard.I also provide links to Darien Patch and local newspapers to increase your feel for the place. After all you cant live in a Zestimate.  And that’s what I hope to accomplish in 2012. If I sell you a home in the process, well, win-win. Call me. 203-554-0951 or just keep tuning in here. There is much to learn grasshoppers.

Rowayton Ct, Sister Town to Darien….

I’m always writing about real estate in Darien,CT but thought I’d offer up an amazing alternative to our great little town,namely Rowayton,CT. Long considered a sister town to Darien,Rowayton is actually part of the town of Norwalk. Located on Long Island Sound,Rowayton has traditionally been a real estate choice among young and old alike who may be moving to or from Darien. Less than two miles from the center of Darien, it feels more like Cape Cod, or Cape May,New Jersey.You can commute to NYC from the Rowayton Metro North station or drive a couple of miles to downtown Darien and grab the train there.

Rowayton is a shore town,and homes are located close together in a charming mix of old, seaside houses and grander, waterfront manses. Pricing is similar to that of Darien and of course, water views carry a premium. Also in the spirit of full disclosure, taxes in Norwalk are higher than here in Darien but for many the feel of the place more than offsets the cost. William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty has produced a nice video on Rowayton real estate and I offer it here for you to consider.As always to see what’s on the market in Rowayton contact me here via the blog or at my email , kmbrewer2@aol.com.

http://media.onlinewalkthru.com/index.php?pid=135&cid=24&eid=366&mid=410&username=wpittsir&password=wpittsir

Hurricane Irene and Darien,CT

There us plenty of information out there regarding the storm and its aftermath here in Darien and surrounding towns. As of Wednesday,August 31, nearly half the town is still without power.Electricity to the schools has been restored and Darien students will be returning to school tomorrow,Thursday September 1.

As far as the storms impact on the real estate market,its safe to say it has basically brought things to a crawl. The Darien MLS has no power but is operating out of a nearby office. New listings are negligible.Closings seem to be going forward but water in basements has hampered some efforts to close deals.

There are lots of people stranded,but thankfully no one hurt.

I Know Something You Don’t Know.I’m a Realtor Darien Real Estate

I was chatting with a colleague last night and we were discussing the current state of the real estate market in general and how it has been transformed by the Internet.It has by and large, been a great thing for buyers and sellers alike and offers information in ways no one dreamed of just a few years ago. Pictures,videos,town statistics- all at the click of a button. But there are some things the Internet can’t supply.At the end of the day, there is no photograph or chart that can offer you the information and insight of a “boots on the ground” Realtor. For example,

1.Is that adorable house on the Internet located mere steps from the interstate? Will your windows rattle in the night because it’s in the flight path of almost every plane leaving LaGaurdia.

2.Is the home located on a  preferred street for resale?

3. How close is the house to the street or will you need a electrified fence to protect your kids from traffic.

4. How do the schools differ? Really.

5. How’s the commute? Really.

6. Are taxes going up? When?

7.How long is the wait for a Metro North parking pass? Really.

8 .How crowded are the beaches? Really.

9. Why do so many homes have sump pumps?

10. How do you get your kid into nursery school? Really.

11.How many people send their children to private school? Why?

12. Are there entire neighborhoods that flood? Really.

13 .What ARE wetlands anyway?

14. What is the crime rate? Really.

The Internet, for all its advantages cant offer CONTEXT. It won’t show you whether the railroad tracks run through your yard or tell you who your neighbors are.It can’t take you under its wing and make sure you don’t make a mistake,overpay for a house, or reveal insights into the history of a home. It can’t reliably refer you to mortgage professionals, help you get your lawn mowed or answer questions when you run into it in the supermarket.  And that’s what Realtors are for.  Really.

 

 

 

Property of the Week..95 Leroy Ave. Another Great Darien Antique…

 You’ve driven by it a hundred times.You know that house near the corner of West Ave. and Leroy Ave. that used to look so old and sad…the one with the mansard roof.Yea, that one.I know.You’ve always wanted to go in and see it.Well, now you can and you can even own it if you like what you see and I guarantee that you will. This familiar Darien,CT landmark is on the market for $2.395 million and worth every cent.

95 Leroy Ave. has been rescued from its former life as a three family rental residence to that of a superior state of the art home that beautifully retains its historical and architecturall integrity. The exterior boasts exciting roof lines of the mansard variety, dormers,French doors and wraparound porches.

Inside is a beautiful great room and it is GRRREAT. The dimensions are 21′x42′ and it houses the living room,dining room and state of the art kitchen.As wonderful as that is, there are original, cozy rooms too such as a  library and additional family room with doors to a flagstone patio.

Upstairs, 95 Leroy has a beautiful sitting room with built ins and no fewer than 5 bedrooms,most with en suite baths. The real stunner though is the third floor which is currently in use as a guest suite but would work very well as a playroom or au paire suite.This area has a full bath and small kitchen area with sink and fridge. It also opens out onto a lovely balcony overlooking the back yard.

This historical gem is literally a few blocks to the Darien ,Metro North station ,downtown, and Tilley Pond Park. Children would attend Royle School which is also easily walkable from the house.Call me at 203-554-0951 for a private showing or email me at kmbrewer2@aol.com.

Pasta Parmigiana,Worth Traveling For…

Every once in a while I write about things that have nothing whatsoever to do with Darien real estate.Living in Fairfield County and particularly Darien, allows for a quick and relatively painless commute into New York City, whether its for work,theatre,shopping etc. One of the  lesser known perks though is the ability to travel just 30 minutes down the road to a less heralded part of New York City,namely The Bronx.There you can take in a Yankee Game,visit the world famous Bronx Zoo or visit the majestic New York Botanical Gardens.

Last Sunday I had occasion to do just that and visited the famous Arthur Ave section, neighborhood to  to generations of immigrant Italian Americans and home to some of the best Italian restaurants in the tri state area.

I have been to Arthur Ave.many times having grown up in the Bronx but this time our meal at Marios’ Restaurant held a wonderful surprise. We ordered a dish called Spaghetti Parmigiano. Little did we know that its preparation would entail creating a flambe of brandy sauce that was ignited inside a full wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

The cheese was partially hollowed and a mixture of brandy and cream was ignited. Then the pasta was added making a rich ,cheesy sauce.  Ive been eating Italian food for over 50 years and I’d never heard of much less seen such a gastronomic spectacle.By all means, visit Mario’s at your first opportunity. Got a good Fairfield County or New York City restaurant recommendation? Id love to hear about it.

Property of the Week, 4 Duffy’s Lane. $1,399,000.

I wrote about this house back in January before it was ever listed. Well, 4 Duffy’s Lane in Darien, CT is now on the market.At an asking price of $1.399 million it resides right in the “sweet spot” of  Darien home sales. The most popular price point is the $900K-$1.5 million range and these homes allow first time buyers and those trading up in town to take advantage  of a nice location and more than a postage stamp sized yard for the little ones.

This home is on over 2/3 acres,set back from the street on a coveted cul de sac, convenient to town and transportation to NYC. The street has a couple of dozen kids living on it, and is a chip shot to the heralded Darien YMCA. Its a mini neighborhood!

With 4 generous bedrooms,a new kitchen and new master bath, there is very little to do in this home. The basement is finished and has outdoor access so the children can run in and out to the yard which is flat and generous. There’s a fireplace in the living room and a family room just off the kitchen.

It’s a move right in home. Call me for a showing of 4 Duff’ys Lane. I’m available this weekend. 203-554-0951 or kmbrewer2@aol.com

Property of the Week, 8 Flintlock,Norwalk Ct. $469,000.

ATTENTION FIRST TIME  CT HOME BUYERS!  As a favor to a good friend,I conducted a public open house at this great house in Norwalk,CT and thought I’d share the information. It is the perfect starter home , great for someone with a couple of children, teenagers, or even visiting family. How can one house be all this. First of all,the house is located on a cul de sac in Norwalk, making it perfect for those with young children. There are three bedrooms on the main level as well as 1 and one half baths on this floor.  The street is full of kids and block parties.

The baths as well as the kitchen have been completely and tastefully remodeled,Stainless appliances, granite counter tops,tumbled marble back splash, new bath fixtures etc. There is a full living room,dining room and separate step down  family room. On this level of the house, one child, two children, no problem.

But what if you have older kids or teens? No worries. 8 Flintlock has it all. A FULLY FINISHED BASEMENT complete with seating area, two bedrooms and a FULL BATHROOM. Again- all in immaculate condition.

There is a deck, and a lovely backyard with babbling brook. Don’t take my word for it. Take a look at the photos. Or call me for a video of the property. Let me know whats important to you about this home, I’ll capture it on video and send it off to you. Reach me at 203-554-0951.

8 Flintlock is off of West Norwalk Road minutes to the Post Rd, Darien and New Canaan shopping districts. The nearest Metro North station would be Darien which is about 2 miles south of Flintlock. At $469,000 this home has it all.

Property Transfers, Darien Ct, February 1-10.

Only five property transfers were recorded so far this month.Most notable is 58 Mansfield Ave, which when originally listed  three years ago was listed for over $3.5 million. You can see where it has ended. RIP.

Midbrook Lane was a wonderful colonial with great bones and great potential.Morehouse Lane was one of the last great building lots in town. Congratulations to the lucky buyer.

Darien Real Estate,Short Sale in Town…

Blessedly, the town of Darien,Ct has been largely spared from the real estate meltdown of the past few years. It is true that real estate values in Darien have declined nearly 30% but compared to other parts of the country, that’s actually not so bad.

The number of foreclosures and short sales have also been on the low side. Many have come on the market and quietly been turned over to the banks.One such property is  12 Five Mile River Road.

If any of you know Darien,Ct homes,you know that this is a pretty, prestigious address. I had occasion to reacquaint myself with this home this past weekend and I’m amazed that it remains available.

This Darien house is in a great location, although on a back lot,it is walkable to Five Mile River,one of the prettiest waterfront streets in town.The house was purchased in 2006 for $2.1million and is being offered now for $1.495.The home itself is in fine shape.New kitchen,updated baths and a lovely pool.For you investors out there take a look. TO VIEW THIS HOME CONTACT ME AT :kbrewer@wpsir.com or 203-554-0951.