Karen Brewer

14 Broker Open Houses Tomorrow

Here we go….as promised… the Darien real estate market will begin to heat up as the weather warms.Tuesdays and Thursdays are”Broker Open House” days and tomorrow will be busy one.There are 14 homes on the tour in Darien and Rowayton alone.Some  of the homes for sale are inventory leftovers from the winter but many are new and range in price from $700K to $6million.Ladies and gentlemen…..start your engines.

44th Annual Darien Antiques Show Opens This Week

The 44th Annual Darien Antiques Show open here in town with a preview party on Friday,March 4. The show itself runs through the weekend to Sunday March 6.

The  show is run by the First Congregational Church of Darien and the proceeds support local charities including emergency shelters,and food banks.The weekend of events will kick off with a preview party ,”An Evening Out” on Friday March 4 from 7-9PM. The preview party will specifically benefit St.Lukes LifeWorks, a non profit organization that provides support services to the homeless in Fairfield County. Tickets to this event are  $50 and you can go to the show all weekend with this ticket. The best part of the preview party is the opportunity to view and purchase antiques before the general public.                                                                                                             

The show itself will feature Classical American and European furniture,fine art,silver,estate jewelry, glass and ceramics in a relaxed and totally unintimidating setting. Bring in a family heirloom for a free appraisal by Christine Downing, a featured appraiser on HGTV’s Cash in the Attic.

The hours of the show are Saturday,March 5 from 10AM-5PM and Sunday,March 6 from 11Am-5PM.Admission is $10 or $8 for seniors.

For more information and directions call 203-202-7342 or Facebook.com /The Darien Antiques Show.

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.

Why is The Darien Real Estate Market Like The Weather?

Why is the Darien real estate market like the weather? Well think about it. This has been one of the worst winters in recent history for most of the country and particularly in the Northeast. The snow has piled up, literally holding us hostage in our homes as we wait for the next storm.

The real estate maket has behaved similarly. We’ve been hit by one punch after another for the past couple of years. While some volume has returned to the market, in 2010,the first two months of 2011 have been off to an anemic start.Houses have come onto the market one and two at a time. There have been sales but buyers and sellers are,for the most part  waiting for spring.In my conversations with other agents and homeowners, there is a backlog of buyers and sellers  who will ignite a  buying spurt at the first sign of crocus.

As a result, I’m going to go out on a limb and make a prediction. As the ice melts and snow recedes, the Darien market will take off like a Ferrari.The most popular price point,as always, will be the $1-$2million price point. If you’re a buyer or seller, keep your eyes open and ear to the ground.This year is being recognized as one that is very near the bottom of the Darien market and I think we will come out of the bad economy and bad weather stronger and more resilient than ever.

Darien Ct, School Budget 2011….It’s that time of year again

I have written in the past about the excellence of the Darien, Ct school system. The town of Darien boasts one of the highest average SAT scores and percentages of grads going to 4 year colleges. in the state.Those numbers are the result of  an annual rite known as “school budget season”. For as long as I’ve lived here the issues have been the same.

Half day kindergarten or whole day. (right now its whole day).  Then there is enrollment projections and facilities.(we’ve got all new schools now,although we are outgrowing them-again),teachers aides (can we afford them?), teacher salaries and benefits (always  going up,never down) and special education funding.

This year is no exception and I want to recommend reading Darien Patch and their coverage of events in order to get a real flavor of what’s in the offing this year.

I could write about it endlessly but Patch and its reader blog do a much better job.

In the end, first ,a budget is proposed,then people gnash their teeth,parents cry foul and  finally the budget gets approved with a modest increase over last year.In between,great drama and wringing of hands. Dont take my word for it. Follow the goings on and decide for yourself.

Ultimately, the kids and  the town of Darien win out, but its always a tussle.

Darien Downsizers, Where to Go?

If you’re a downsizer in Darien,don’t get all excited.I don’t have a reasonable answer to the question.Lots of my contemporaries, with kids out of the nest,wish to  move to smaller digs yet,stay in the town of Darien. However,Darien has a  real lack of  alternatives for those wishing to rid themselves of  lawn maintenance and snow plowing.

There are of course condominiums in Darien such as Middlsex Common,Villager Pond,Sedgewick Village and Darien Close.Few if any of these offer one floor living or privacy though.

Darien Real estate inventory is at an all time low,owing I hope, to recent meteorological events.If you happen to be a seller with a home on the smaller side,say 2500 sq ft or less, this spring real estate season in Darien may be a great market for you. I guarantee there are “in town” buyers ready to jump.Beware however, these buyers are demanding homes in ship shape. No kitchen remodels, knocking out walls and the like.They have done their share of that and are looking for a breather.Contact me for a price opinion of your home, big or small. 203-554-0951 or kmbrewer2@aol.com.

Year End 2010 Real Estate Market Report, Darien and Fairfield County.

Every quarter and and year end,William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty publishes a recap of the real estate markets in Fairfield and Litchfield,Ct counties.Unlike other reports that just provide statistics, this report is well worth reading.It provides context for the various marketplaces in Connecticut and offers excellent insights into,what’s selling,why and who is, in fact buying.Its a must read primer for anyone entering the Darien real estate market in 2011.

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/ddb5fafd#/ddb5fafd/1

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.

Darien Ct Homes and Condos,The Trifecta of Real Estate

 I am naturally asked by prospective buyers of Darien real estate about market conditions and home values in Darien Ct.As we all know,real estate markets and conditions change from year to year and even season to season. So why choose Darien,Ct as a place to buy a home?The answer is simple. Darien, Ct has the trifecta* of real estate.

In case youre new to town and/or to this blog,Darien CT has three things that no recession,no bad lending practices and no overzealous agent can take away.  They are waterfront, excellent schools and a  1 hour commute to New York City. The best hedge against a negative real estate market or any market for that matter is VALUE. In Darien,you’ve got it- times three!

Considering a move? Take look at Darien.There is even a video on this blog that can help you decide.

*A trifecta is a  type of horse racing bet where one must  predict the first, second and third  place winner in exact order.

Why Your Darien Home Won’t Sell,and What You Can Do About It.

2011 is a brand new year but there is one thing that I guarantee has not changed form 2010. An overpriced listing in Darien or anywhere, will not sell.

Contrary to popular belief, it is the MARKET that determines value. whether it is for a stock, a used car, or your home.The only thing that counts is what someone is willing to pay.

One of the first things a  Darien homeowner does when they wish to sell their home is call their real estate agent.Typically, that agent will do a Darien Home Comparative Market Analysis and determine the best price for that particular property based upon factors including past sales,location and condition.

Many homeowners however, have a number in their  minds of what their house is worth that may or may not have a strong connection with reality.

If an agent suggests a price with which a homeowner doesn’t agree, the knee jerk reaction is to suspect the motives of the agent and price the home where they wanted anyway. This will only result in an overpriced listing that will languish on the market.

If you find yourself in this dilemma, I suggest a simple solution.HIRE A PROFESSIONAL APPRAISER. For $400 or so, and impartial appraiser can be hired to offer his opinion of your property.Appraisers are used all the time to determine value for insurance companies and banks who underwrite your mortgage. Why not use one for helping to determine the  asking price for your house?

If you and your agent are at an impasse over asking price,get a certified,local appraiser and break the logjam.You’ll sleep easier and get your Darien home SOLD.