Archive for January, 2008
How Ridgefield and Redding are Like This Year’s Super Bowl Winner
January 22nd, 2008 categories: Redding, Ridgefield, Schools, Wilton
You know the scene: every year as the clock winds down on the Super Bowl, the winning players frantically point their fingers skyward yelling “We’re Number 1!”
Well neighbors, get those fingers waving ’cause once again, Ridgefield and Redding are Connecticut’s #1 towns! And Wilton ran a very close 2nd. Our communities consistently offer home buyers some of the best values in Connecticut real estate. Not always the cheapest homes, but these are towns that offer the most of what people are looking for: the best schools, no crime, plenty of leisure and recreation activities, and proximity to great jobs.
Each year Connecticut Magazine conducts its “Number 1 Town” survey. All the Connecticut towns are evaluated on factors that directly affect quality of life: Education, Crime, Economy, Cost of Living and Leisure. The scores are totaled, the towns are ranked, the results are published.
Redding - #1
For towns in the 6,500 - 10,000 size range, Redding tops the list over it’s neighbor Easton. With an emphasis on maintaining open space, strong education and virtually no crime, it’s no surprise that Redding home owners enjoy a tremendously satisfying small-town lifestyle. You can read the survey results here.
Ridgefield - #1
For towns in the 15,000 - 25,000 size range, Ridgefield once again leads and Wilton comes in a strong second. A focus on schools, a vibrant main street with terrific shopping and restaurants and the lowest crime stats in the survey’s history make Ridgefield an unbeatable place to live.
With 2 “Number 1 Towns”, mid-Fairfield County provides an affordable and safe lifestyle rich in education, leisure activities and economic opportunities. This survey certainly helps to better understand why real estate values in the area remain strong.
Being “Number 1″ is good in most everything and real estate is no different. The fact is that everyone likes a winner.
| Discussion: 2 Comments »
Where to Find The Best “Ridgefield Pizza”
January 19th, 2008 categories: Eat, Drink and Be Amused, Keep Your Kids Busy, Ridgefield
Ridgefield might not have the most famous pizza in Connecticut (remember Julia Roberts’ breakout performance in Mystic Pizza) but we certainly have some of the best! There’s an abundance of Ridgefield restaurants offering pizza “in” or pizza “to go” and for many of us, pizza is the mainstay of family life.
The kids love pizza (the moms and dads too!) , it’s easy, it’s wholesome and when you bring a salad home with it, a pizza dinner is relatively nutritious too. Ther’s a pizza place on the way to almost anywhere in town, offering a convenient dinner on those craziest of carpool nights.
So here’s what we’ve got for pizza restaurants and it’s a darn good selection:
Piccolo - This intimate Ridgefield restaurant is famous for pizza AND jazz music. It’s “always-friendly” wait staff and exciting menu make this a local favorite. Friday nights, they keep baking pies so you can just stop in and there’s always one ready to go. Piccolo offers delivery and take out.
Village Pizza - This NY style pizza place has great. NY style Pizza by the pie or slice, salads, pasta and other Italian favorites. Village is another favorite in my family. They offer take out and delivery. BONUS: Carvel is right next door!
Planet Pizza - this local chain (6 restaurants in Fairfield County) offers terrific pizza as well as a complete menu of salads and Italian food. It’s convenient (located on Main Street) but offers little in eat-in ambiance (but perfect for kids of all ages). They offer on-line ordering for pick up or delivery. I recommend pizza and salad for take out.
Genoa - Genoa Italian Deli offers take out Pizza, pasta and more. They have a few tables but it’s not a restaurant by any means. Their huge calzones can feed 2 or 3 for dinner (no kidding!) Conveniently located near the Super Stop N Shop.
Venice Restaurant - Venice is a complete “sit down” Italian restaurant that has one of the most active pizza take-outs in town. Great pizza but I can’t say much about the restaurant… we only get take out from here. And one more thing, if you call in your order, don’t forget your number. They don’t do names.
Wooster Hollow - Located on Route 7 but haven’t had their pizza in years. No comment.
Pizza Hut - it’s America’s standard bearer of pizza. Impersonal, greasy but extremely dependable. If you like Pizza hut, you’ll certainly like ours. And here’s a bonus, check their website and enter 06877 for a load of coupons.
Now, which is the BEST… hmmmmm… that’s hard to say. Enter a comment telling us your favorite “Ridgefield Pizza”.
| Discussion: 2 Comments »
How Is The Ridgefield, CT Real Estate Market?
January 17th, 2008 categories: Buying Your House, Market Data & Statistics, Ridgefield, Selling Your House, Talking Real Estate
The Good News about The Ridgefield Market
As Realtors in Ridgefield CT, it is difficult to navigate between the harsh reality of where our market is today and the expectations of buyers and sellers in the market. Much like the stock market, influences outside the market effect the activity within the market as a whole. While sellers were very lucky up until 2005 to have a market that had steady price growth for 10+ years continuously, sadly the market has shifted. There is good news about the Ridgefield real estate market: the excellent quality of life here in Ridgefield, the Ridgefield School system, and our proximity to New York City has kept our property values, relative to the rest of the Country, from dropping dramatically and interest in Ridgefield is steady.
The Reality…
Expectations for double-digit growth in the market to have continued indefinitely was unrealistic. In 2005 the market began its corrective path. Prices of homes held relatively steady in 2005 and the first 3 quarters of 2006, while many areas of the Country saw significant decline in values. In the end of 2006 and through 2007 we have seen the trend in a slowing market continue. Homes are staying on the market significantly longer and prices have come down 2-16% depending on location, condition and the perceived value of the seller at the time of listing (original pricing).
With the availability of market information flooding the Internet, buyers now have real-time statistics available to them without having to consult a Realtor. By the time they speak with an experienced real estate specialist, they have their own ideas on how to interpret these stats and ideas on how the market is reacting to National economic and political conditions and the messages the media put out regarding each. Right or wrong these perceptions drive the market, and the for the moment the market is, for the most part, being driven by the few buyers that are in the marketplace.
If you are a seller who bought a house more than 5 or so years ago, there is a good chance that you will make a nice profit on it if you choose to be on the market today. The better the location of that property, the more appreciation you will demand. A great house, in a great location, priced realistically in todays market will still sell relatively quickly (1-3 months). Location is paramount. A house with potential on a great lot, priced accordingly, will also command a better price and stay a shorter time on the market (1-6 months). Followed by the great house in a challenged location (4-12 months) and finally the house with issues on in a challenging location (6 months +).
A Win-Win Deal is Still Possible!
In the current market, pricing is key. Even the most challenged home will sell if the price is right. It is important, when the market shifts, to also shift your perception as a seller or a buyer. In a town like Ridgefield, CT, sellers should expect to get less than they may have 1-2 years ago for their home, and buyers should not expect sellers to take any offer given. Somewhere between the two mindsets, there is a fair deal that can make everyone reasonably satisfied.
| Discussion: 1 Comment »
10 Things To Know About Rainbow Lake in Ridgefield, CT.
January 16th, 2008 categories: Buying Your House, Lake Living, Recreation & Sports, Ridgefield, Selling Your House, Talking Real Estate
I moved to Rainbow Lake in Ridgefield, CT from the Upper West Side of Manhattan in December 2001. We bought one of the original little lake cottages built in 1940. It was an 860 square foot, “winterized” summer cottage on 1/2 an acre with fantastic lake views.
The house itself was”charming” but lacked the creature comforts that Americans have come to expect: a working bathroom, insulation, and enough room for my small family to hear ourselves think. Regardless, it was the best purchase I’ve ever made. In November 2004 we began remodeling (which became demolition and the biggest nightmare of our lives), and now live in the 1800 square foot home you see below. If it weren’t for the rustic beauty of the lake and the incredible spirit of our neighbors and friends around the lake, we couldn’t now say that we are living our dream. Here are 10 things you should know about our magical lake community:
1 ) Originally named, Wataba Lake, Rainbow Lake is a wonderful community of lake homes in Ridgefield, CT ranging in value from $299,000 to about $1,600,000.
2 ) Rainbow Lake is a private 44-acre, man-made lake that was developed in the early 1940’s by Willie Winthrop as a summer destination for wealthy New Yorkers. Our community is now inhabited mostly by full-time, year-round residents.
3 ) Rainbow Lake is just over 1 hour to Mid-town Manhattan by car and by train.
4 ) Some of the largest bass in Connecticut can be caught while fishing on Rainbow Lake (residents only).
5 ) The Ridgefield Lakes Association (RLA) is an optional association open to those residents who live within the Association’s boundaries. The RLA is responsible for maintaining the lake’s two beautiful beaches, water quality, and the dam. There are two social events held for the RLA membership every year: the holiday caroling & party, and the summer beach barbecue.
6 ) The people who live on Rainbow Lake are an eclectic bunch of people: artists, attorneys, educators, surgeons, contractors and even a celebrity singer who has weekended here for decades. We walk around the lake and wave hello at every chance we get.There is a wonderful combination here of privacy and friendliness.
7 ) The lake does not allow motor boats, but you can canoe, kayak and sail on Rainbow Lake until your heart’s content.
8 ) We abut hundreds of acres of open space including, Hemlock Hills, and the Bennett’s Farm Trail System where you can hike and mountain bike like a champ.
9 ) The roads are narrow, and there is limited parking, but somehow we all get where we are going and rarely (never) have to drive around in circles looking for a parking space like I did in NYC.
10 ) Rainbow Lake is quite possibly one of the best place to Live in Connecticut, if not the United States.
If you are a Rainbow Lake resident, please feel free to post a comment about your experience of living on Rainbow Lake.
| Discussion: 5 Comments »
How to Uncover the Secrets Hiding in Every Real Estate Listing
January 13th, 2008 categories: Buying Your House, Talking Real Estate
Every home shopper finds interesting homes while searching for real estate on the internet. However, part of the story is always missing. Somehow, the pictures and remarks that accompany each listing never tell whole story. How close the house is to the street. Is the street busy? Is there a yard? How close are the neighbors? Or any other details of the adjoining geography.
This is where a satellite mapping website is your friend! Both Microsoft and Google offer free satellite photos of nearly every neighborhood in the country. Just enter the address and in a moment, you’ve got a clear picture of the home, property and surrounding area. You get a detailed bird’s eye view of any property, street or neighborhood. See if the house is near the lake shore, in the woods or close to the neighboring property. Check out your own house, too.
Get the whole picture to make better decisions on which houses to view and which to pass on.
Here are a couple of examples of what you can learn from these free (and easy) shots from the sky!
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