I plan on writing individual posts on each of the condo complexes here in Darien. In the meantime, I thought Id offer some information on what is typically covered under monthly condo fees. Although many of these items are not applicable to Darien properties, it is helpful to have a full overview should you be looking to buy elsewhere.
So what are the typical things that condo fees cover in Darien or nearby towns?
The first thing is what is called Master Insurance.This is the insurance policy that the condo association purchases to cover the buildings structures and common areas. Usually,you are responsible for insuring the contents of your unit and some banks insist upon it.
Depending on the town ,your fees may or may not cover water and sewer bills.Some associations use a formula that prorates the cost according to the number of residents and others simply pay from one meter and use the association fees.
Most of the expenses covered by fees are simply the dividing up the cost of home ownership and are used for things such as snow removal,landscaping,common utilities,management fees and building maintenance.
Some condominium complexes offer amenities like swimming pools, tennis courts,paddle courts,gyms, doormen, and elevators. If these amenities are not important to you,look for another complex. You will be paying for them whether you use them or not.
Large scale projects like replacing roofs,painting etc can be financed in a couple of ways depending on whats laid out in the condominium association documents. If the association takes a long term view, these expenses may be anticipated and will not require an additional assessment.
Other boards prefer to keep common charges low and assess the residents as large project come up.
Be sure you review the “condo docs” carefully before buying to assess what your additional fees are likely to be as well as how well the board is managing your money.
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As has been the case over the past year, the entry level of the market is the most popular. The difference this year however is that the upper end of the market is moving as well. Guess those buyers that were circling like planes over LaGuardia have gotten permission to land. Welcome.
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Even those actively looking for a Darien home have asked me, “What is the correct way to say the name of the town?” Dictionaries list the pronunciation as “DAIRy-yen” but most of Dariens’ 19,000 residents pronounce their town name as “dairy-ANN, like Maryann.
Similar confusion surrounds the pronunciation of the neighborhoods of Tokeneke and Noroton. For the record, it’s “TOW-keh-neek” and “Nor-O-ton”.
There- now you’re a local.
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South of Interstate 95,the area known as Tokeneke is an exclusive enclave within the town of Darien.The homes are prized for their privacy and access to the inlets and bays around Long Island Sound.Most of the oldest homes were built as part of the original Tokeneke Park development, which took its name from a Native American sachem who is said to have led a tribe that hunted and fished in the area. An Indian’s silhouette is used to mark the park boundaries.
Prospective Tokeneke Park buyers were invited to stay at Eagle Rock, a colonial-style inn constructed by the development company. The inn, which overlooks picturesque lagoons at the bridge crossing to Contentment Island, has been extensively renovated for use as a private residence. .
More modest Darien properties can be found farther inland, though prices rarely dip much below $1 million.Homes in the Tokeneke area can sell for as much as $7million. Read the rest of this entry »
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This article was written several years ago and published in The New York Times Real Estate section . With minor adjustments to number of pupils enrolled in the schools and the median price of a home,this is a very accurate picture of the area. It was also where I lived when I first came to town!
If You’re Thinking of Living In/Noroton and Noroton Heights; A Haven for Both Sailors and Commuters
By LISA PREVOST
Published: December 14, 2003
The Noroton section of Darien is defined by two peninsulas that reach into Long Island Sound. They provide many inlets and coves to create lovely areas for sailors and beachgoers alike.From there Noroton spreads inland across the Boston Post Road,past I95 and into the inland neighborhoods of Noroton Heights.
The shorter of the peninsulas, Noroton Neck, is divided into shore communities like Noroton Bay and Pratt Island, both notable for their multimillion-dollar properties. A new four-bedroom colonial on the Pratt Island waterfront was recently listed at $5.69 million. The peninsula is also home to the world-renowned Noroton Yacht Club, whose former members have included two America’s Cup skippers. The club currently runs the largest junior sailing program in Fairfield County. Read the rest of this entry »
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As you can see, there is a great divergence in the price points of the properties which are selling.Last year at this time,the entry point of the market ($600K-$1.5million) was the strongest.This year however, the upper end ($3milion and up) is showing strong activity.It is worth noting that while 2009 was a poor year for Wall Street
bonuses, that is not the case,like it or not, in 2010. Read the rest of this entry »
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While checking MLS today,I noticed that three-yes three homes in the $3million range had gone to “deposit” status.
While it’s too early to call it a trend, it is indeed a promising sign of life .And on the heels of a better than average December, I’m starting to look forward to spring.
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Inside this week’s Darien Times — out today
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News:
•Want to own a piece of Darien history? Donate $100 to a town charity
• Parents and students packed the Town Hall auditorium calling on the Board of Ed to preserve its budget
•Avalon parents say moving their children to a different school district won’t help the budget
•Remember the chimney sweep scams? A police sting, with the help of a private resident, nabbed two men who have been preying on the elderly
•The town is not finished studying flooding
•How many accident’s did last Thursday’s surprise snow cause?
•Darien teens got a chance to check out many volunteer opportunities
•Police are searching for a man who tried on a Rolex then ran out of a Darien jeweler’s with it
•Thanks to a grant, the Darien Police are teaming up with two neighboring towns to enforce drunk driving laws
Sports
•Which former Super Bowl champion is taking over Darien football’s defense?
•Both boys and girls indoor track repeated as FCIAC East champions
•Both Darien basketball teams fell to powerhouse St. Joseph’s
•Girls skiing remains undefeated
Obituaries:
•Elio Betty Jr., a former Darienite who worked for WTNH in New Haven and helped launch what is now CNBC
•James F. Kelly, a longtime Darienite who served in the National Guard
•Frank L. Infante, a former Darienite who owned a Stamford tire company
Opinion:
•Editorial: Connecticut needs Chris Shays back
• Is history bound to repeat itself this fall? State politics columnist John J. Ryan looks remembers what the 1984 election led to. Could be 2010 be the same?
•Was last week’s RTM meeting an example of the body’s dysfunction or prudence?
Happenings:
• Tom Weber sings tunes to moms and tots at Mom’s Morning In
• Darien Library launches a new teen film series
• The Darien Domestic Violence Task Force hosts a talk on relationship red flags
• The Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk is now hosting informational meetings
• The next Passport Day is Saturday, Feb. 13
• Plans are underway for the 43rd annual Darien Antiques Show, which will benefit A Better Chance
• Darien Book Aid hosts a jewelry sale in Stamford
• Center for Hope groups promote health and wellness
• A Darienite is a part of a team of professionals teaching a career management class series at Norwalk Community College
• Darien Junior Sailing sign-up begins Saturday
• Exhibits: Atria Darien’s February show, Artifacts Lanier’s “Kissed by Genius” show, and Larrabee’s photos on display at a salon
• “Jack the Beanstalk” pantomime benefits the YWCA Darien/Norwalk this weekend
• A Darienite’s culinary boot camp kicks off next week
• The chosen books for Darien Library’s One Book, One Community are now available at the library, and events have been planned for the annual program
Haiti relief
• First Congregational Church of Darien hosts a town-wide summit to discuss Haiti relief efforts
• Royle School students plan several fund-raisers, while Tokeneke School continues its school-wide collection
• Troop 35 Boy Scouts are seeking donations, in addition to a cargo plane and pilot, to assist in a service project for Haiti
Business:
• A workshop teaches how LinkedIn can be used as a job search tool
• Ring’s End hosts a “Decorating for Kids” workshop for moms at its Wilton location
• Robeks is now offering samples of its new smoothie flavors
• “Resetting the HR agenda” is the topic of a networking luncheon at Giovanni’s
Features:
• EspressoNeat, a newer coffee shop in town, serves up made-to-order brews and brings a city vibe to town
• Darien fifth graders receive awards for their entries in the DAR essay contest
• More than 440 people have signed up for Darien Times news bites and bulletins on Twitter. You can, too, by stopping by http://twitter.com/DarienTimes. |
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I ran into the Director of Dariens’ Chamber of Commerce this morning at the gym and was able to confirm that there are several new retailers and eateries coming to Darien…JosABanks menswear,CAVA Restaurant (there’s one in New Canaan too…), Go Figure Excercise,(next to Espresso Neat) . The Whole Foods opening has been pushed from March to May 2010 despite workers on site 7 days a week. Stay tuned.
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