Fantastic private end unit near the pool and extra guest parking!
Featuring a 1st-floor primary suite, gleaming hardwood floors, and a walk-out lower level with in-law potential!
Welcome to the sophisticated living of Terra Nova at Westport. Enter via the tree-lined boulevard with natural stone walls, lush landscaping, and an elegant iron gate. Enjoy privacy and scenic wooded views from your deck and backyard patio.
The open floor plan features a grand entry with soaring ceiling that opens to the living room with a fireplace and sliders to the private deck. The eat-in kitchen with granite counters, stainless appliances, and an island is open to the dining room. The coveted main-level primary suite features a spa bath and two walk-in closets. Two bedrooms, a full bath, and a huge hall closet reside upstairs. Possibilities are endless in the expansive finished lower level with a second fireplace, renovated full bath, sliders to the patio, and ample storage. Set up your home gym, studio, office, extra bedroom, media room, or maybe all of the above!
This coveted home enjoys a private park-like setting with the convenience of key amenities just minutes away. Head downtown, to the train, Westport Country Playhouse, Levitt Pavilion, or Compo Beach on a whim. Spacious, luxury accommodations are ready for all your needs. The beautiful pool and club house offer cool relaxation all summer just steps from your door.
Come home to Terra Nova, and embrace the lifestyle you deserve!
Fantastic private end unit near the pool with a first-floor master suite and walk-out lower level! Approach via the tree-lined boulevard with natural stone walls, lush landscaping, and an elegant iron gate. Welcome to the sophisticated living offered by this luxury condo in Westport, Connecticut. Enjoy the privacy and scenic views of the woods framing your deck, backyard, and patio outside the lower level. The open floor plan features a grand entry that opens to the living room with a vaulted ceiling, fireplace, and private deck.
This coveted home enjoys a private park-like setting with the convenience of key amenities just minutes away. Head downtown, to the train, Westport Country Playhouse, Levitt Pavilion, or Compo Beach on a whim. Spacious, luxury accommodations are ready for all your needs. The beautiful pool and cabana offer cool relaxation all summer just steps from your door. Come home to the lifestyle you deserve!
Reach out for more information and an invite when the listing hits the market!
As we plug away toward spring, let’s take a quick look at what happened in the first month of the year our local Fairfield and Westport markets. If you’re curious which homes sold, take a look at the What Sold Reports.
Here’s what happened in January 2024.
Prices were up.
Sale prices averaged just under 100% of asking in Fairfield and 101% in Westport. This is about the same as January when both ratios were 100%.
The median sale price in Fairfield was $805,000, up 36.4% compared to January 2023. The median sale price per square foot was up 7.9% to $341. In Westport, the median sale price was $1,850,000, up 16.4%, and the median sale price per square foot was $482, which was up 15.4% from last January.
Pacewas down.
Days on market increased from 48 in November to an average of 63 days in Fairfield and 74 days in Westport. This is approximately 30% more time on the market than last December in both towns.
Unit sales were down 13.5% in Fairfield and 5% in Westport compared to January 2023. Inventory was also down with just 100 single-family homes for sale in Fairfield and 83 in Westport. There were seven new listings in Fairfield and six in Westport at the time of this post.
The months of supply was up from January 2023 but still in the two-to-three-month range in both towns. This is the result of a slower rate of sales, and due to an influx of homes coming on the market.
What does it mean?
The market in January showed the continued trend of low inventory with ongoing buyer demand which maintained upward pressure on prices.
Bottom line.
People buy and sell in every season and in every market. So you can embrace your new lifestyle goals if now is the right time for you. The expert guidance of your agent will help you navigate this market to secure your new home. Reach out to me anytime with your questions about the market and to discuss your plans.
When you are selling, your agent will guide you on the strategy to maximize the demand for your listing in the current market. Here’s an overview of what you can expect.
If you plan to buy in this market,there is still solid competition and a relatively short window of time before sellers are accepting offers. So it is important that you are ready to make an informed decision if you see a home that meets your top criteria. This means you have everything you need to submit a competitive offer. This also means that you have your mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds in your agent’s hands, because an offer is not complete without this critical piece! Here’s a guide for what you can expect.
What are your thoughts about the market and interest rates? Do you think this year will be a better time for you to move than last year? Share your thoughts in the comments or send me a note below.
Head downtown, to the train, Westport Country Playhouse, Levitt Pavilion, or Compo Beach on a whim. Enjoy shopping for luxury clothing, furniture, and fine eating and dining!
You will love Sherwood Island State Park and…
you’ll flip over beautiful Compo Beach!
If you are thinking of making a move in the Westport, Connecticut area, reach out to see what timing is right for you.
Reach out for more information if this community looks exciting to you!
This fabulous estate sale is happening ONLINE via auction house NOW! 🕗💼
This isn’t just any estate sale – it’s a chance to score exquisite pieces for your new home! From designer furniture, jewelry, and a road bike, to high-end decor, this condo is selling it all! 😍💎 And the best part? You won’t even have to leave your couch to bid! 🛋️💸 Don’t miss out on these luxury finds! 🚗✨
Start browsing and bid on your dream pieces today! 💫🏡
Stay tuned for the luxury condo itself to hit the market around the end of February! 🎬🔥🏡
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! 💫
Linda Raymond’s Journey to Becoming a CT Realtor: From Westport to Worcester and Back
I came to Fairfield County when moving to Westport, Connecticut from New Jersey just before entering the eighth grade.
After attending Staples High School in Westport, I went to Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts and graduated as a biology major before returning to the area for my first job as a research assistant at Yale. I continued school part time and earned a Masters degree in exercise science from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. My career then moved to corporate health and fitness in Stamford, Connecticut where I worked for corporate consulting firms that served companies seeking to improve the health of their employees. I worked closely with the employees of our corporate clients.
From there, I evolved into program design and management for employee health and productivity in large companies like IBM with dispersed national populations. I worked with my team to develop and deliver innovative programming with a range of delivery strategies to engage employees through their benefits and occupational health departments. After 13 years of facilitating programming and data management on a population-scale basis, I began to feel the need to re-connect with people on an individual basis.
At the same time, my husband, young daughter and I decided to pursue our first home purchase in the Fairfield and Westport Connecticut areas where the schools are excellent.
This changed everything, my home, my career, and my lifestyle!
What Does the Journey to Your New Home Look Like?
Navigating the competitive Fairfield County home buying market in 2004 just before the housing bubble burst, I learned first-hand that the strategy of home buyers and home sellers had to adapt to the existing market conditions.
The Emotional Rollercoaster of Home Buying
As a first-time home buyer looking in Fairfield and Westport Connecticut, I was amazed by how intense, emotional, and complicated buying a home and making a move really was.
Your Castle, Your Asset: Understanding the Home as an Investment
Your home is one of your largest assets. It requires a huge financial commitment. Your homeownership, is a critical investment in your future. You invest in it to gain equity, and you want it grow. Unlike most other investments, your home also holds tremendous emotional value. Your home is your castle. It’s where you live, love, grow, work, and play. It’s where go to be safe and sound, to feel peace and joy.
Making Informed Decisions: My Approach to Real Estate Assistance
So it’s not surprising that making a move is a monumental endeavor. Add to this the challenges of housing market conditions and the complex process, and the stress can be over the top! When you’re preparing to move to a home that better suits your current needs, you need an expert guide to navigate both the challenges and the opportunities, and to help set your mind at ease. You need to feel you are best positioned and on the right track to your new home!
Your Castle. My Mission: How I Can Help You Move with Confidence
So my current passion is to guide you as my client through the process of moving from one home to another while focusing on achieving the best terms and outcomes to meet your priorities and help you enjoy the process with peace of mind at the same time.
The focus on science in my education drives my reliance on data and facts to inform sound decisions. Decades in the business sector serving results-focused corporate clients drives my focus on strategy, planning, and accountability in the customer service I provide to my clients. And most of all, my genuine passion for understanding you and your priorities and my end-goal of making you a very happy client, are the forces that drive me!
Since May of 2005, I have been back to working one-on-one with home buyers and home sellers here in Fairfield, Southport, Westport, and surrounding areas to guide them through the huge decision to transition to the home sweet home.
Providing Input, Insights, and Resources
Putting my business skills and experience to work for each client, my focus is to provide the insights, information, and resources my clients need to feel confident in making informed decisions and to ensure they are thrilled with their end result.
My strategic approach to helping my clients reach their goals integrates the key elements of listening, understanding, strong communication skills, facilitating collaborative relationships, a customer service focus, effective negotiations, market intelligence, leveraging technology and creativity, creative and strategic marketing, and business collaborations.
I specialize in helping people pursue their plans for downsizing, resale, first-time home buying, home sale and home buying.
What Is Your Ideal Lifestyle?
Some of my passions include dogs (we have a Havanese from a breeder, and a Terrier mix from Pet Finders!) dance, swimming, skiing, travel, family, and crafts. I love the ease of making these things a part of my life in my home. Are you in the right home to support your current lifestyle passions?
The Perfect Next Step!
If you are thinking of making a move now or in the future, I encourage you to start with a conversation now, and you will be well on your way. Give me a call today or send a note below and tell me what your ideal Castle looks like!
My blog is here to provide informative insights into the home buying and selling process and fun information about the local community. Comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome!
If you are like many people looking for a new home you may wonder, when do I need to get a Realtor on board, and what will they do for me? In the current fast-paced market in which listings often arrive and disappear within days or weeks, it is important to be well prepared. You should get your agent on board within six months of when you want to be in your new home. This allows time for your agent to inform you of the process, set up your searches, understand what is most important to you and research properties of interest so that you are completely comfortable and ready to act when the home you love come along!
Securing a new home is one of the most monumental life changes you will make. Yet it is not something you do every day, so how would you know what you don’t know?
There are many components to the process that need to be managed including everything from honing in on your true priorities to tempering the emotions and personality types of all parties involved. There is property valuation and strategy when considering your offer terms, especially in the current competitive market of multiple offers. Your agent must work to bring everyone together to work as a team serving your best interests, including the two attorneys, the seller’s realtor, the lender, appraiser, contractors, town hall personnel, the sellers, and you. There is due diligence to conduct and there are pitfalls to avoid. There are laws, regulations, and legal forms. There are incremental deposits that need to be carefully handled. There is a strict timeline that could result in the loss of your deposit if not adhered to and managed. There are a wide range of inspection items to consider and negotiate. And before any of this, there is the process of considering all your lifestyle factors and priorities when choosing a new location, neighborhood and home.
So my service for you falls under the categories of understanding your wants and needs, providing key information so that you feel comfortable in making informed decisions, and managing the communications, negotiations and relationships to ensure the smoothest possible experience for you.
As we dive into 2024, let’s take a quick look at what happened in December in our local Fairfield and Westport markets. If you’re curious which homes sold, take a look at the What Sold Reports, and if you love the charts 📊, scroll down. ⬇️
Here’s what happened in December2023.
Prices were up.
Sale prices averaged 102% of asking in Fairfield and 103% in Westport. This was an increase from November when both ratios were 100%. Most homes, (57% in Fairfield and 70% in Westport), sold above the asking price, and more than 90% of the sales sold for over 95% of the asking price.
The median sale price in Fairfield was $1,010,000, up 41.3% compared to December 2023. The median sale price per square foot was up 12.2% to $421. In Westport, the median sale price was $1,750,000, up 2.9%, and the median sale price per square foot was $605, which was up 38.3% from last December.
Pacewas down.
Days on market increased from 48 in November to an average of 63 days in Fairfield and 74 days in Westport. This is approximately 30% more time on the market than last December in both towns.
Unit sales were down 17.3% in Fairfield and 37% in Westport compared to December 2022. Inventory was also down with just 88 single-family homes for sale in Fairfield and 58 in Westport. There were seven new listings in Fairfield and six in Westport at the time of this post.
The months of supply was up from December 2022 but still in the two-month range in both towns. This is the result of a slower rate of sales, and due to an influx of homes coming on the market.
What does it mean?
The market in December demonstrated more of what we saw all year. Low inventory with buyer demand maintained the upward pressure on prices and limited the pace of sales.
The good news was that rates began to tick downward in November, and there were some signs that the market might start moving in a more balanced direction. At the time of this post, you could get a 30-year Fixed Jumbo at 6.625% and 30-year FHA for 6.125% from William Raveis Mortgage. This pointed to us being past the peak of interest rates.
Udate 1/11/24: The National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun forecasts an improved housing market in 2024. He said, “The demand for housing will recover from falling mortgage rates and rising income. In addition, housing inventory is expected to rise by around 30% as more sellers begin to list after delaying selling over the past two years.”
As we head into the New Year with rates ticking downward, more sellers may be ready and willing to enter the market. With the improved affordability from these lower rates and new listings to choose from buyers should be able to appreciate more options. So, if you have been waiting to make your move, now is a good time to get ready to do so.
Bottom line.
People buy and sell in every season and in every market. So you can embrace your new lifestyle goals if now is the right time for you. The expert guidance of your agent will help you navigate this market to secure your new home. Reach out to me anytime with your questions about the market and to discuss your plans.
When you are selling, your agent will guide you on the strategy to maximize the demand for your listing in the current market. Here’s an overview of what you can expect.
If you plan to buy in this market,there is still solid competition and a relatively short window of time before sellers are accepting offers. So it is important that you are ready to make an informed decision if you see a home that meets your top criteria. This means you have everything you need to submit a competitive offer. This also means that you have your mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds in your agent’s hands, because an offer is not complete without this critical piece! Here’s a guide for what you can expect.
What are your thoughts about the market and interest rates? Do you think this year will be a better time to move than last year? Share your thoughts in the comments or send me a note below.
William Raveis Local Housing Data
FAIRFIELD SINGLE-FAMILY – DECEMBER 2023
WESTPORT SINGLE-FAMILY – DECEMBER 2023
If you’re not ready to think about your move yet, please refer your friends to me using the form below. Referrals are a win-win!
As the year comes to a close, we’re reminiscing about the wonderful moments shared at our holiday party with family and close friends. Each year we love to do a fun craft project with our guests after dinner. In the past, we have painted glass ornaments and wine glasses that we incorporate into the next year’s tree decorating and table setting.
This year, we painted birdhouses. See the video clip! Each painted birdhouse represents more than just a craft—it symbolizes the unique creativity and personal touch that makes a house a home. 🏠✨
Just like these one-of-a-kind birdhouses, your home is a canvas waiting to be personalized. Thinking outside the box when buying or selling a home can turn dreams into reality. It’s about envisioning possibilities and finding the perfect match for your lifestyle.
Let’s carry this spirit into the new year—where creativity meets homeownership, and each stroke of imagination brings you closer to a new beginning. Cheers to embracing the art of homeownership, and Happy New Year! 🥂🏡
Linda Raymond Real Estate Blog, Fairfield, Westport & More 