2008 June | Real Estate Chocolate

Archive for June, 2008

Ridgefield’s Eco-B&B Green Rocks Inn: It Rocks!

June 16th, 2008 categories: Eat, Drink and Be Amused, Green Living, Ridgefield, Talking Real Estate

An ever growing number of people have transformed parts of their lifestyle to be more conscious of sustainability and our environment. So when you travel to the region, there’s no need to leave these good habits at home. In fact, now when you visit family and friends in Fairfield (CT) and Westchester (NY) Counties, you can bring all these important habits with you and even pick up some new ones while staying at Ridgefield’s own Green Rocks Inn.

Green Rocks Inn in Ridgefield, CT

As explained in yesterday’s New York Times article, House Won’t Sell? Turn It Into a B&B, homeowners Kim and Barbara became proprietors of their B&B after Brad (my partner on Real Estate Chocolate) floated the idea. What an ingenious way to benefit from a somewhat shifted Ridgefield real estate market and take a home that was slow in selling and turn it into a lifestyle dream come true.

The region’s best B&B is known as much for its hospitality as it is for it’s eco-friendly approach. On her blog, Kim maintains a list of more that 35 ways she keeps her inn green including composting, buying wind-generated electricity, and paperless billing. They also hosted last month’s Green Drinks and have sponsored the Ridgefield Farmers Market.

When traveling to Ridgefield or if you live here and need a place for family and friends to stay, count on the Green Rocks Inn for hospitality, service and an environmentally friendly approach to doing business.

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Ridgefield, CT Real Estate Market Report: Home Sales June 2008

June 10th, 2008 categories: Market Data & Statistics, Ridgefield, Talking Real Estate

Ridgefield Real Estate Market Commentary

May brought us into Ridgefield’s Spring real estate selling season. We continue to see a decline in the number of closed transactions from the previous year, down by almost half compared to May, 2007 and down about 35% year-to-date. After a few months of decline, one measure of price levels, price-per-square-foot, has rebounded to $287 on average – back in line with historical levels of the past couple of years. . Buyers are still in control but they are generally taking a long time to make decisions and are most nervous about a market decline. Although sales are down, luckily Ridgefield has not experienced a huge erosion in property values mostly due to how desirable people find the town. Great schools, proximity to New York City, many employers and corporations within a manageable drive and overall property values (AND TAXES) that remain extremely attractive compared to Westchester County and lower Fairfield County towns like Darien and New Canaan.

The savvy buyers are taking advantage of current market conditions (lower prices, GREAT SELECTION) to “trade up” to a more expensive house for themselves and their families. They are realize that they might have to “give a little” on the sale side but “make it up in spades” on their purchase. Read this Time Magazine article: Ignore the Headlines.

The question most often heard from buyers is about their new house maintaining value in the short term. My view on this is that you can’t “day trade” houses like you can try to do with stocks. Prices will fluctuate up and down in the short term but history has totally proven that in the medium to long term (say 3-4 years plus), real estate will reliably return above average investment gains. And while your asset appreciates, you can also LIVE IN IT! You can’t live in a stock certificate, can you?

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Woofs Wines and Felines: Be There or Be Square!

June 6th, 2008 categories: Eat, Drink and Be Amused, Local Events, Redding, Ridgefield, Wilton

Don’t forget that tomorrow is ROAR’s annual fun-fest under the big tent across from CellarXV, Woofs Wines and Felines. We’ll all be enjoying spectacular wines from around the world, delicious food and great music… all in support of ROAR (that’s the Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue) and their terrific programs that serve so many of us in Ridgefield and throughout the region.

Tickets are available all day today at CellarXV Wine Market on Danbury Road in Ridgefield (203) 894-8690) or on the ROAR website and will be available at the door. Admission is just $45 purchased in advance or $55 on the day of the event.

When Monica and Jane approached us to get involved in ROAR, Brad and I were excited to find out more. It amazed us to learn that ROAR help’s to recsue >500 dogs and cats each year and then places these animals in loving homes. The Kimmelman-GutmanGroup is proud to support the ROAR mission and to ” headline sponsor” this wonderful event. We’re looking forward to getting more involved and continuing our support for ROAR well into the future.

Join us at Woofs Wines and Felines: sign up for our blog and pick up a special free gift. See you tomorrow!

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Home Sales Roundup – Ridgefield, Redding and Wilton CT Real Estate – May 2008

June 1st, 2008 categories: Market Data & Statistics, Recent Transactions, Redding, Ridgefield, Wilton

Closings in May reflect home sales that were generally negotiated in the prior 30-90 days. Each of these transactions closed during the month. The list includes all of the single family home sales for Ridgefield, Redding and Wilton, Connecticut for the month of May 2008. Contact us with any questions regarding today’s shifting real estate market.

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Search All Homes Currently For Sale: Ridgefield, Redding, Wilton and all the other towns in Fairfield County

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