Linda Raymond Real Estate Blog, Fairfield, Westport & More

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Category Archives: Fairfield CT Events


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🌷 Get a Leg Up on the Spring Market! 🏡

Hey there, homeowners! It’s your friendly neighborhood Realtor, and today, I’ve got some exciting news for all you Fairfield and Westport sellers out there.

There are 3 Reasons to get a leg up on the market this year!

Reason 1: Pent-up Demand 📈

As we step into the spring market, there’s pent-up demand from buyers who’ve been eagerly waiting for interest rates to drop. And guess what? They have!

Reason 2: Affordable Rates 🏠

Interest rates have dipped back into the 6% range, and there’s potential for more drops in 2024. Lower rates mean your home is more affordable for buyers, making it the perfect time to sell!

Reason 3: Increased Inventory Forecast 📊

Get this – Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR, predicts a 30% increase in national housing inventory this year. More options for buyers mean more competition for your home as a seller. This makes it a win-win to sell your house now!

So, whether it’s the economic trends, affordable rates, or the competition heating up, now’s the time to act! And hey, bonus point – the 2024 Farmer’s Almanac predicts an early spring! 🌷

Reach out to me, let’s chat about your plans, and get a leg up on your dream sale this season! 💫

#FairfieldHomes

#WestportRealEstate

#SpringMarket

#RealEstateOpportunity

#HomeSellingTips

#AffordableHousing

#SpringForecast

#RealEstateGoals

#LawrenceYun

#HomeBuyers

#SellerSuccess

#MarketTrends

#DreamHome

#Homeownership

#SpringSelling

#HousingInventory

#GetALegUp

#EarlySpring

#HomeInvestment

#RealtorLife

#LindaRaymondRealtor

#William#RaveisSouthport

#WilliamRaveisRealEstate

#Yourcastlemymission 


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Elevate Your Space ✨with Abstract Art 🎆: Discover the Beauty of Personal Expression


Are you yearning to infuse your living space with the elegance and vibrancy of fine art? Imagine the walls of your home adorned with captivating 12″ by 12″ canvases with abstract designs, each piece a doorway to a unique realm of creativity and emotion. Abstract art holds a captivating allure, inviting every observer to interpret and embrace its beauty in their own way.


The power of art lies not just in its visual appeal but in the emotions and stories it evokes. Picture these stunning canvases adorning various rooms, effortlessly mingling to create an ambiance that reflects your individuality and taste. These works, crafted by a talented local artist from the Greater New York area, bring a touch of sophistication and character to any space they inhabit.


Whether it’s a burst of color that speaks to your soul or the enigmatic allure of abstract shapes, these 12″ by 12″ masterpieces offer a canvas for your imagination. The beauty of abstract art is its ability to resonate differently with each beholder, becoming a personal journey through creativity and self-expression.

To explore further and discover the full range of possibilities, visit NikiKetchman.com. There, you’ll find an exquisite collection of these captivating artworks, ready to transform your space into a gallery of personal inspiration.


Indulge in the beauty of artistic expression and let these mesmerizing canvases breathe life into your home. Unleash your creativity and curate a space that not only houses art but becomes a canvas for your soul’s expression. After all, your space is an extension of yourself—let it speak volumes with the language of art.


Another idea, now that the holiday season is quickly approaching, is to give fine art as a gift of love!


Here is some more inspiration.

For more information about this art and artist, Niki Ketchman, or how to find a home to go with it, reach out below! ✨ 🏡 💫


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Hot Properties and Market Trends: Fairfield & Westport Real Estate Update – July 2023

Hello Fairfield and Westport!

If you are like many people I know, you would like to make a move but are trying to figure out the best timing for your goals. We are still in a seller’s market, and here’s the latest market update.

The charts below show a summary of what happened in June compared to June 2022. And my What Sold Reports list all the single-family homes that sold in June 2023 in Fairfield and Westport Connecticut.

FAIRFIELD SINGLE-FAMILY – JUNE 2023


WESTPORT SINGLE-FAMILY – JUNE 2023

Low inventory and strong buyer demand continue to push prices of many homes higher and also limit the overall market pace in Fairfield and Westport. Here are four key points to understand about the market in June this year compared to June 2022.

  1. UNIT SALES WERE DOWN in both towns (20% in Fairfield, 30% in Westport).
  2. THE SELLING PRICE AVERAGED 103% – 105% of asking in both towns.
  3. MARKET TIME DECREASED to a range of 22 – 32 days to contract!
  4. CASH DEALS comprised 31% and 39% of the sales in June in Fairfield and Westport respectively.

If you are buying a home, there’s a 30-40% chance you may be competing with cash offers, so you will want to do everything you can to present a competitive offer.

When you are buying in this market, you need to be prepared with a mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds in hand so you can make an offer quickly when you see a home you want! The good news is that new listings are coming to the market each day.

If you are selling a home that you paid cash for, you can look forward to a high selling price and maximum equity!

There are multiple offers on some properties, while others receive just one, and some will even have a price reduction if the initial price was too ambitious. Homes on average, are selling above the asking price based on June numbers though. Some are selling for full price, some above, and some are selling below. It depends on the demand for the individual property.

Bottom line: Now is a still a great time to sell! Buyer demand remains high. Inventory is still low. But new listings are still coming to the market each day, so committing to the process will ultimately land you your new home!

Reach out to me anytime with your questions about the market and to discuss your plans. Not ready to think about your move yet? Please refer your friends to me using the form below. Referrals are a win-win!

William Raveis Local Housing Data


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Local Real Estate Report – Fairfield & Westport Connecticut June 2023

Hello Fairfield and Westport!

I know many of you are thinking of making a move but may be trying to figure out the best timing. We are still in a seller’s market, and here’s the latest market update.

The charts below show a summary of what happened in May compared to May 2022. And my What Sold Reports show all the single-family homes that sold in May 2023 in Fairfield and Westport Connecticut.

FAIRFIELD SINGLE-FAMILY – MAY 2023


WESTPORT SINGLE-FAMILY – MAY 2023

Low inventory and strong buyer demand continue to push prices of many homes higher and also limit the overall market pace in Fairfield and Westport. Here are four key points to understand about the market in May this year compared to May 2022.

  1. UNIT SALES WERE DOWN in both towns.
  2. THE MEDIAN SALE PRICE WAS UP in both towns.
  3. MARKET TIME INCREASED from last May and averaged 41 days to contract in Fairfield and 83 days in Westport. However, the May Median days on market in both towns was less than in April!
  4. 30-40% of all sales in May were CASH deals.

The amount of cash offers nearly doubled since before the pandemic. Thirty-three percent of all sales in Fairfield from January through May were cash deals, versus 18% during the same months in 2019. In Westport, forty percent of the sales YTD through May were cash, up from twenty-two percent in 2019.

If you are buying, there’s a 30-40% chance you may be competing with cash offers, so you will want to do everything you can to present a competitive offer.

When you are buying in this market, you want to be prepared with a mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds in hand so you can make an offer quickly when you see a home you want! The good news is that you have a little more time to make a decision than you did last year, and new homes are coming to the market each day.

If you will be selling a home that you paid cash for, you will enjoy full equity and a high selling price!

There are multiple offers on some properties, while others receive just one. Homes on average, are selling close to the asking price. This means some are selling for full price, some above, and others below. It depends on the demand for the individual property.

Bottom line: Now is a still a great time to sell! The inventory is still low and buyer demand remains high.

Reach out to me anytime with your questions about the market and to talk about your plans. Not ready to think about your move yet? Please refer your friends to me using the form below. Referrals are a win-win!

William Raveis Local Housing Data


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Local Real Estate Report – Fairfield & Westport Connecticut May 2023

Hello May,🌷and hello home 🏡 sellers in Fairfield, Westport, and surrounding towns!

I know many of you are thinking of making a move but may be trying to figure out the best timing. We are still in a seller’s market, and here’s what you need to know.

The charts below show a summary of what happened in the month of April this year compared to 2022 and 2021. And my What Sold Reports show what single-family homes sold in April 2023 in Fairfield and Westport Connecticut.

Low inventory and strong buyer demand continue to push prices of many homes higher and also limit the overall markets in Fairfield and Westport. Here are four key points to understand about the market this April:

  • New Listings – are DOWN from the previous two years at this time but have been increasing since January.
  • The Median Sale Price – is UP from the past two years and from last month.
  • Pending Sales – are DOWN in April compared to April 2022 and 2021.
  • Months of Supply is UP.

There are multiple offers on some properties, while others receive just one. Some homes are selling on average, close to the asking price. This means some are selling for full price, and some above and others below. The time on market from list to contract is between 50 and 60 days in Fairfield and Westport, respectively, which is up from about 30 to 45 days last April. So buyers are enjoying a little more time and leverage in some cases. It depends on the level of activity on the individual property.

Bottom line: Now is a great time to sell! The inventory is low but has been increasing since January, so listing your house now gets you in front of buyers before peak competition. As a buyer, you have a little more time to make a decision than you did last year, and new homes are coming to the market each day.

FAIRFIELD

Fairfield April New Listings: DOWN 19.3%

Fairfield April Median Sale Price: Up 8.6%

Fairfield April Pending Sales: DOWN 27.8%

Fairfield April Months of Supply: UP 4.5%

WESTPORT

Westport April New Listings: DOWN 1.9%

Westport April Median Sale Price: UP 20%

Westport April Pending Sales: DOWN 40%


Westport April Months of Supply: UP 52.2%


So when you are buying, you want to be prepared with a mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds so you can make an offer quickly when you see a home you want!

Reach out to me anytime with your questions about the market and to talk about your plans. Not sure about your move yet? Please refer your friends to me using the form below.

Data Source: SMARTMLS


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Local Real Estate Report – Fairfield & Westport Connecticut April 2023

Hello Spring 🌸! Where are prices going?

I know many of you are thinking of making a move but may be hesitating due to uncertainty. Of course, no one has a crystal ball for the future, but the charts below and the What Sold Reports show what happened with single-family homes March 2023 in Fairfield and Westport Connecticut.

One thing we know is that the low inventory environment will not be changing anytime soon. Also of note in the following Fairfield and Westport graphs is that the months of supply peaked in June last year. So, if this year follows suit, June will be the time of highest competition for sellers and the most choice for buyers. Feel free to reach out to me for values in additional towns.

FAIRFIELD PRICES & INVENTORY

The median (midpoint) sale price was down 3.1% in March compared to March 2022 (first graph), however it has been increasing since January. This is likely the result of more smaller homes selling. The average price per square foot actually increased 12.9% (second graph)! Smaller homes tend to sell for more per square foot, and prices may be heading upward as well. Lastly, the inventory has remained incredibly low with only 1.8 months of supply (third graph). This low level is the same as last year at this time. A balanced market has 5-6 months of supply!

Fairfield Median Sale Price – March 2023 DOWN 3%

Fairfield Median Price Per Square Foot UP 14.2%

Fairfield Months of Supply 2.5 UP from 2.1 in March 2022

WESTPORT PRICES & INVENTORY

The median sale price was also down in Westport, by 18.5% from last March (first graph). But the sale price per square foot was up 4.9% suggesting price increases (second graph). The months of supply did improve by 3.8% since last month but still remains low at 2.7 months (third graph).

Westport Median Sale Price – March 2023 DOWN 18.5%

Westport Median Price Per Square Foot – March 2023 UP 4.9%

Westport Months of Supply – March 2023 UP 3.8%

Tight Inventory and Strong Buyer Demand Continued

We saw some opportunity for buyers to have a little more time, choice, and negotiating ability depending on the demand for the particular property. However, this leverage was only on a a case by case basis.

Due to the tight inventory, many homes still sold very quickly and with multiple offers.

So when you are buying, you want to be prepared with a mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds so you can make an offer quickly when you see a home you want!

Check out the Instagram Reel

Reach out to me anytime with your questions about the market and to talk about your plans. Not sure about your move yet? Please refer your friends to me using the form below.

Data Source: SMARTMLS


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Local Real Estate Report March 2023, Fairfield & Westport CT

Happy March! Has spring fever 🌸 hit you yet?

I know many of you are thinking of making a move but may be hesitating due to uncertainty. Here’s what’s happening in Fairfield and Westport, Connecticut. Reach out to me for values in additional towns.

Below is a comparison chart for Fairfield and Westport showing changes that favor buyers and sellers when comparing February 2022 vs February 2023 market stats. (March numbers will be out soon.)

FEBUARY 2023 MARKET HIGHLIGHTS

New Listings & Sales Volume: DOWN In Both Towns

New listings were down 27% in Fairfield and 49% in Westport which limited the sales volume. Unit sales were down 53% in Fairfield and 42% in Westport. Average days on the market also increased in both towns.

Price Per Square Foot: UP in Both Towns

Although the Fairfield median and average sale price metrics were down this February, the average sale price per square foot was up! When you look at what sold this February, you can see that more smaller homes sold (average square foot =1,741) and only one sale was above $1M compared to last year. In February 2022 the average size home that sold had 2,215 square feet, and there were seven sales between $1M and $3M. So it appears to be more about the mix of homes that sold that resulted in the appearance of prices decreasing in Fairfield.

In Westport, prices were up any way you look at it!

Tight Inventory and Strong Buyer Demand Continued

We have seen some opportunity for buyers to have a little more time, choice, and negotiating ability depending on the demand for the particular property. However, this leverage was spotty and remained only on a a case by case basis.

Due to the tight inventory, many homes still sold very quickly and with multiple offers.

So when you are buying, you want to to be prepared with a mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds so you can make an offer quickly when you see a home you want!


On a national note, the experts predicted that prices would remain relatively stable by the end of 2023 followed by continued appreciation beginning in 2024. So buyers in the current market may enjoy equity increases in the very near future!


Reach out to me anytime with your questions about the market and to talk about your plans. Not sure about your move yet? Please refer your friends to me using the form below.


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Where Are Home Prices Going As Spring Approaches? February-March 2023, Fairfield & Westport CT

It’s February, but March is Just Around the Corner!

The January numbers are in, so where do things appear to be going at the moment? I know many of you are thinking of making a move but may be hesitating due to uncertainty (see 3rd video below). I will keep you abreast of home values in Fairfield and Westport Connecticut each month here on the blog. Reach out to me for values in additional towns.

Since we are starting a New Year, I pulled the report showing 12 months ending in January compared to the same timeframe the previous year. Below is a comparison chart for Fairfield and Westport showing changes that favor buyers and sellers.

Home values were up.

The median and average sale prices were up as well as the average sale price per square foot in both towns compared to the 12 months ending in January 2021.

Inventory and new listings were down, putting upward pressure on prices. Homes sold on average for 102% of the list price, compared to 100% in the previous year.

In favor of buyers, unit sales and contracts were down. We have seen some opportunity for buyers to have a little more time, choice, and negotiating ability depending on the demand for the particular property. This leverage is very much on a case by case basis.

Due to the tight inventory, many homes are still selling very quickly with multiple offers. So buyers should be prepared with a mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds so they can make an offer quickly if they see a home that they like.

Below are my market comments for the last week in January and second and third weeks in February. (Click each image for the 60-second videos on Instagram). We saw an increase in new listings, but the accepted offers far exceeded this count! 🤷‍♀️ So we need new listings! 🏡 🏠 🏡


On a national note, the experts anticipate prices to remain relatively stable followed by continued appreciation beginning in 2024. So buyers in the current market may enjoy equity increases in the very near future!


Reach out to me anytime with your questions about the market and to talk about your plans. Not sure about your move yet? Please refer your friends to me using the form below.


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Are Home Values Falling? January 2023 Report, Fairfield & Westport CT

It’s January 2023 and you are wondering, are home values falling? As a potential home buyer or home seller, you want to know where the values of your Fairfield County house are now and where they are likely heading.

I will keep you abreast of Fairfield County house values in Fairfield and Westport each month here on the blog. Reach out to me for values in additional towns.

Below is a comparison chart for each town showing the year-to-date change and an estimated forecast to address the question, “are home prices falling”.

As you can see, we are still in a seller’s market. Home values are up 12-25% in Fairfield and Westport at the end of 2022 compared to 2021. Inventory and new listings are down, and market time is down year over year.

Yet, in favor of buyers, unit sales and contracts are also down. And months of supply was up in December in both towns (data not shown). So this offers some opportunity for buyers to possibly have a little more time, choice and negotiating ability in the coming year. This leverage is on a case by case basis though. Due to the tight inventory, many homes are still selling very quickly and some still with multiple offers. So buyers should be prepared with a mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds so they can make an offer quickly if they see a home that they like.


On a national note, the experts have not projected home prices falling in 2023. They expect to see prices remain relatively flat followed by continued appreciation beginning in 2024. So more equity should be there for the taking for home buyers this year!


Reach out to me anytime with your questions about the market and to talk about your plans.


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How Did Your Favorite Holiday Tradition Start?

Happy Holidays! Our family tradition of doing a craft after dinner (and maybe a few drinks) was born in 2006 when my family and my husband’s family celebrated the holidays together for the first time.

My mother, @niki_ketchman is a professional artist and made the suggestion that we all make our own ornaments together. She brought a big box of miscellaneous items and materials from her studio and poured them out on the table for everyone to browse. What came naturally to her caused everyone else complete anxiety at first! We all just stared at the pile drawing a complete blank and glancing side to side to see if anyone else knew what to do. Then gradually we each picked up a button, a piece of fabric, a glittery thread, a shiny piece of metal, a section of wire, etc. and the creative process began to evolve. To everyone’s amazement, we each created something special that we never expected.

It turned out that the ornament pictured above that Mark’s mom created that night was the one and only ornament she made before she lost her battle with pancreatic cancer.

Ever since then, Mark has carried on the idea and made it a tradition. So we have painted ornaments, wine glasses, dinner plates, and this year, aprons! We have had a blast doing it, (now that we’ve gained some confidence). The best thing about it is that we incorporate the items from previous years into each year’s decor and festivities, and it enriches the ambience while bringing back the fun memories of holidays past!

What is your favorite holiday tradition and how did it start?

#holidays #holidaycraft #holidaycrafts #familytradition #holidaytradition #family #familyfun #drinks #homeactivities #homesweethome #homeiswheretheheartis #MyHomeisMyCastle #YourCastleMyMission