The Golf Coast Standard
"The site is far from a series of self serving proclamations or listings"...Last Year's Slow Market Fosters Realtor's BlogDarien Real Estate, Antique Home,Shhhhh its a secret….
Looking for a home here in Darien Ct? Always dreamed of an antique home with all the charm of years gone by but totally updated for todays lifestyle. Stay tuned to http://www.thegoldcoaststandard.com for a new listing. Nearly one acre, with a studio out building perfect for work at home, in law suite or au pair.
The house dates from 1865 with new kitchen and baths, 10 foot ceilings,leaded glass etc.I don’t want to give too much away so stay tuned or contact me, at 203-554-0951 or kmbrewer2@aol.com. before it even hits the Web.
Year End Report 2009, Darien,CT Real Estate, Homes,Condos and Land
So, after all the jawboning and constant “pot watching” ,how did the year 2009 turn out for Darien,CT real estate?
Well, actually not too badly. Bear in mind, that 2009 followed what was arguably the worst year in recent history for the homebuyers and sellers alike and that no analysis would be complete without reexamining 2008. Suffice it to say that 2008 saw home values in Darien and surrounding towns down around 22% and volume down nearly 50%. Read the rest of this entry »
100 Great things about Darien,CT…..Skating on Tilley Pond
SKATING ON TILLEY POND ,January 2010
Darien Homes, Property Transfers, Nov-Dec 2009
Below is the list of Darien home property transfers as recorded by the Darien Town Hall for the months of November and December 2009.Publication of transfers typically runs a few weeks behind and I’ll try to keep up and post them as they are published.Most people like reading them to see what Darien homes sold for and even who their new neighbors might be!
64 Camp Avenue, Robert and Rachael Rangelov to Andrea Capasso Puzio, 1,137,000.
• 61 Holly Lane, Holly Lane Associates LLC to Diane Aldredge, $4,300,000.
• 28 Hale Lane, Robert K. Russell Jr. to Eleanor L. Martin Trust, $470,000.
• 24 Phillips Lane, Richard S. and Anne S. Matthews to 24 Phillips Lane LLC, $610,000.
• 2390 Post Road, William H. and Jantina H. Atkinson to Darrin and Glen J. Moore Trust, $750,000.
• 5 Middlesex Road, Craig Jung Revocable Trust to Anthony and Cynthia Princi, $1,525,000.
• 11 Homestead Road, Nathan Peck Jr. and Robin Peck to Ryan E. and Linda L. Romanowski, $1,310,000.
• 160 Long Neck Point Road, Mark M. Montgelas to David Saunders, $2,400,000.
• 2 Red Barn Road, Kevin F. and Joan T. Daley to Cheryl Olson, $1,371,500.
Darien Real Estate Market Report, week Jan.7,2010
Below are this weeks,new listings,deposits and closings. Of note are a couple of homes which bindered after only a couple of weeks on the market. They were 78 Brookside, a renovated Victorian, and Middlesex Rd. which is a small farmhouse.
Darien, Ct Real Estate, Time to Buy?
I REALLY HATE THIS HEADLINE BUT THE ARTICLE MAKES A GREAT DEAL OF SENSE……..
If You Don’t Buy a House Now, You’re Stupid or Broke
Interest rates are at historic lows but cyclical trends suggest they will soon rise. Home buyers may never see such a chance again, writes Marc Roth
By Marc Roth
Well, you may not be stupid or broke. Maybe you already have a house and you don’t want to move. Or maybe you’re a Trappist monk and have forsworn all earthly possessions. Or whatever. But if you want to buy a house, now is the time, and if you don’t act soon, you will regret it. Here’s why: historically low interest rates.
As of today, the average 30-year fixed-rate loan with no points or fees is around 5%. That, as the graph above—which you can find on Mortgage-X.com—shows, is the lowest the rate has been in nearly 40 years.
In fact, rates are so well below historic averages that it should make all current and prospective homeowners take notice of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
And it is exactly that, based on what the graph shows us. Let’s look at the point on the far left. Read the rest of this entry »
Darien High School Among Countrys’ Best
The table below is self explanatory……go Blue Wave!
Best High Schools 2009 Search
U.S.News & World Report—in collaboration with School Evaluation Services, a K-12 education and data research and analysis business that provides parents with education data—analyzed academic and enrollment data from more than 21,000 public high schools to find the very best across the country. These top schools were placed into gold, silver, bronze, or honorable mention categories. Read the rest of this entry »
Merry Christmas Everyone from Karen Brewer-Darien Real Estate
For all of you who live here or are considering it,please remember that its NOT address,location, number of bedrooms or whether your granite has been imported from Michelangelos’ quarry in Italy……
It’s the LOVE INSIDE the house that counts.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Farifield County Business Journal,Karen Brewer,Darien Real Estate
Here is the latest article from the Fairfield County Business Journal about yours truly…..
Q&A from the Corner Office
Karen Brewer, Realtor at William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty in Darien and founder of interactive website, The Gold Coast Standard.com shared from personal experience how the Information Age has evolved the ways a broker advertises.
Q: How are agents using social media to market themselves and their listings?
Brewer: “I continue to be amazed at the number of agents not using social media or who are using it incorrectly. My own foray into the blogosphere really came about when I decided to discover just what a blog was. I was curious to see what other agents in the area were doing. The answer: very little. There may have been 10 people in the whole state of Connecticut that were attempting to connect with buyers and sellers this way.
“I quickly discovered why. The process is self-selective because the commitment is huge. First you must educate yourself on just what social media is. For example, ‘How does one design a blog?’ ‘What are the capabilities of the technology?’ ‘How often do I blog?’ ‘Am I a good writer?’ ‘How can I measure results and success?’
“Further, some agents are using social media incorrectly. Facebook and Twitter are not just another venue to publish listings. They are unique opportunities to connect with and stay connected to people. I recently heard from someone I went to college with over 30 years ago who is going to be selling their home in Fairfield. I would have never heard from this person if not for an alumni group on Facebook.
“We as realtors have been told over and over that over 80 percent of all home searches begin on the Internet. I think the age of the pretty postcard website is over and Realtors must engage in social media in order to remain relevant. However, there are statistics that suggest that over 75 percent of Realtors who start blogs give up after a year. Of course, the jury is out on whether social networking will yield results. Nevertheless, when the market bounces back and the young, technologically savvy buyers come off the sidelines, I hope to be uniquely positioned to take advantage of it.”
Q: How has the buyer changed?
Brewer: “Buyers, particularly young buyers, have become extremely sophisticated in markets like Westchester and Fairfield counties. They come armed with town statistics, pricing analyses and listings. “Buyers are no longer looking for trophy homes. The builders who have survived the downturn will be moderating what they build. While quality will always be a hallmark, square footage will decrease. There will be an ongoing preference for open floor plans and state-of-the-art kitchens, but on a more manageable scale.”
The website ishttp://www. thegoldcoaststandard.com
Darien,Ct Real Estate Market Report December 10,2009
Categories
- Buyers
- Darien Photo Stroll
- The Gold Coast Standard, In The News
- "Green Construction"
- Sellers
- Market Trends
- Neighborhoods
- Schools
- Insider Info
- Community Info
- Property of the week
- The Moving Van
- Realtor ABC's
- Uncategorized
- Etc…..
Local Resources
- Town of Darien,Municipal Information
- All About Darien-An Insiders Guide
- American Towns
- Comprehensive Blog directory
- Darien Patch
- Real Estate Blog Directory
- http://schooldigger.com
- Johndambrogio.com
- Darien Schools
- Darien Community Matters
- Darien Arts Center
- Darien Library
- Darien Times
- Metro North Train schedule
- William Pitt Sothebys International Realty
- RealEstateTomato.com
International Homes
Archives
- Went to see Shutter Island.Thought it would be dopey.Should have known Scorcese doesnt junk.Cool plot twist altho not totally unexpected.
3 days ago - putting on new listing this week.Italianate Victorian antique if you know anyone in the market....$1.495
3 days ago - Things are heating up in this CT real estate market.Dont know how long it will last.I only look in the rear mirror these days.Safer that way
5 days ago - went to open houses today....lots of energy....homes are selling again...prices still down but stable...stay tuned
1 week ago - waiting for more snow...arrrrrgh
2 weeks ago
