Market Overview

June continued to be another strong month for Fairfield’s real estate market.  The median sales price for single family homes dropped slightly from $767,500 in May to $765,000 in June.  That puts home prices up 10.55% for the year.  Sales were strong, as more houses sold in June; 106 sales, compared to 76 and 71 sales the previous two months.  Those houses sold much quicker as well, as the days on market dropped to a 3 year low at just 29 days. Buyer demand still remains high, as in most surrounding towns in Connecticut, due to low inventory.  Sellers also received the prices they were asking, as the % of list price to sales price was again at 100%.  And, with just 2.4 months of supply, Fairfield continues to be solidly in a seller’s market.   Fewer sellers listed their homes, with 108 new listings in June.  This has been a consistent trend all year, although new listings had been increasing in March, April and May.   With interest rates still holding steady below 3%, buyers continue to want to move to Fairfield.  The 30 year fixed rate was 2.98% by the end of the month.  A 12% jump in pending sales to 100, July looks to be another strong month.  For anyone considering a move, this is still a great time to sell a home in Fairfield.  Do you know anyone looking for more information about their real estate market?  I’d be happy to help.

12 Month Sales Activity

Housing Stats

(change from previous month)

Median Sale Price:$765,000
change:-0.33%
YTD change:10.55%
Units Sold:106
change:39.47%
Active Listings:229
change:0.44%
New Listings:108
change:-22.86%
Days on Market:29
change:-12.12%
Months of Supply:2.40 (Seller's Market)
change:0.00%

Interest Rates

Market Temperature

Local Median Sales Price Trends

May '21Jun '21Change
Bethel$390,000 $515,000 32.05%
Bridgeport$290,000 $300,500 3.62%
Brookfield$490,000 $540,000 10.20%
Danbury$410,000 $447,500 9.15%
Easton$852,000 $889,450 4.40%
Fairfield$767,500 $765,000 -0.33%
Milford$428,000 $432,500 1.05%
Monroe$485,000 $505,000 4.12%
Newtown$540,000 $572,500 6.02%
N. Haven$350,000 $342,500 -2.14%
Orange$470,000 $461,500 -1.81%
Oxford$472,450 $447,500 -5.28%
Redding$815,000 $750,000 -7.98%
Ridgefield$722,500 $757,500 4.84%
Seymour$356,000 $277,500 -22.05%
Shelton$463,750 $419,900 -9.46%
Stratford$335,000 $373,000 11.34%
Trumbull$495,000 $518,000 4.65%
Weston$1,050,000 $1,162,500 10.71%
Westport$1,636,000 $1,628,000 -0.49%

Tips

4 Reasons Downsizing Makes Sense

If you’re considering making a move to a smaller home, now may be a great time to list your property. Here’s why.

It’s a seller’s market. The real estate market is hot right now in most areas of the country. If you’ve been thinking about selling your current house and purchasing a smaller one, the timing is ideal to make your move.

Retirement is approaching. As you near retirement, it may make sense to reduce your monthly expenses and add those savings to your retirement nest egg. Downsizing your home means you’ll likely pay less in property taxes, insurance and mortgage payments.

Maintenance is reduced. A smaller home means less maintenance. If you have extra rooms you rarely use but still have to clean, heat and/or cool, it may be time to lessen the effort of maintaining a larger space.

You want to travel. If you’re hoping to spend more time visiting family or exploring the world, you’ll love the freedom of having less to take care of when you return home.

Remote Work: How To Hold Yourself Accountable

Working from home has its advantages, but it can also be filled with distractions. Try these tips to help you focus and hold yourself accountable when working remotely.

Set up a separate work space. Having a designated space for your home office can help you mentally separate your work and home life. Choose an area of your home that’s away from distractions such as kids, pets and household chores.

Establish tangible goals. Set daily, weekly and monthly goals for what you want to accomplish. Hold yourself accountable by writing down your tasks and crossing them off as you complete each one.

Follow a routine. Wake up at the same time each day and work a set number of hours. Try to complete work tasks during business hours and save personal and household tasks for when you’re off the clock.

Get dressed. While it can be tempting to stay in your pajamas all day, changing into “real clothes” sends a signal to your brain that it’s time to get to work.

Maintain communication. Check in regularly with your boss, coworkers and clients to ensure you’re supporting them with all necessary tasks. Follow up on in-progress projects and let everyone know if you have a change to your schedule or will be unavailable during a specific period of time.

Schedule your breaks. Instead of getting up from your desk any time a distraction pops up, schedule regular breaks by using a timer or calendar reminders. This can help you remain focused on the task in front of you while also allowing you time to eat lunch, take mental breaks or enjoy a quick walk.

Find an accountability partner. Find a coworker who is also working remotely, and share your routines, goals and to-do lists with each other. Check in periodically to see how you’re doing with following through on your intentions.

Real Estate Headlines

Housing Moving Past Pricing Peak, But Inventory Still Low:  Nationwide, the rate of home price growth has started to slow, and the competition for homes may be showing some signs of easing somewhat.  “The market’s topping out,” Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, told realtor.com®. It’s “starting to show cracks. It feels like we’ve hit the apex, and we’re moving to the other side of it.”  But that doesn’t mean the housing market is heading for a bubble that is bound to burst. Mortgage lending has remained tight. Real estate economists have long said the current frenzy in the housing market is no housing bubble that is reminiscent of nearly a decade ago with the run-up in real estate.  Some buyers are getting priced out of the market. There is also a severe shortage of homes for sale: Total housing inventory is down 42% year over year.  Buyers still in the market may soon start to see less bidding wars and fewer offers that are way above the asking price. Regardless, economists are predicting an overall slowdown in prices and more moderation rather than any major downfall.

Plummeting Lumber Prices Little Help to Builders:  The price of framing lumber has plunged about 50% over the last seven weeks, offering up a hopeful sign that skyrocketing building costs would ease. However, builders say that the prices they pay have only declined by a fraction of that percentage.  The disconnect in pricing has always existed in the lumber supply chain. It can still be a “long lag time” before the full price reductions come to builders, the National Association of Home Builders reports.  Meanwhile, new-home building prices for home buyers continue to rise. May’s price was 18% higher than last year.

The Home Improvement Boom Isn’t Letting Up Soon:  Half of U.S. homeowners recently surveyed say they plan to spend more on home improvements in 2021 than they did last year. Many homeowners are using cash to complete these home renovation projects. kitchen and bathroom renovations tend to offer some of the highest returns on investment.

Top 7 Hot Spots for Undeveloped Land:  Realtor.com® evaluated the 100 largest metros in the U.S. to find where land values have increased the most since the pandemic (comparing the first half of 2020 with the first half of 2021).  The top 7 areas with % increase and price per sq. ft. of raw land are:  North Port/Sarasota, FL (+92% / $2.52), Portland, OR (+72% / $9.17), Los Angeles, CA (+67% / $1.38), Boise City, ID (+52% / $3.06), Raleigh, NC. (+50% / $1.71), Syracuse, NY (+50% / $0.40), Spokane, WA (+47% / $0.43).

Upcoming Events

Connecticut’s event schedule is back this Summer, with outdoor concerts, plays, festivals, craft shows and more.  So grab the family, hit the road and enjoy some of the area’s great fun filled events. 

Sales Trends: January - June

June Single-Family Home Sales

(OLP: original list price • LP: list price • SP: sale price • DOM: days on market)

AddressStylesq ftBRBA (f/h)OLPLPSPSP/OLPDOM
34 New England AveCape Cod, Bungalow75021/0$250,000$250,000$300,000120%6
274 Old Stratfield RdCape Cod1,09831/0$399,000$399,000$430,000108%17
1030 Jennings RdCape Cod1,61332/0$549,900$549,900$549,900100%21
1263 Brooklawn AveColonial3,36642/1$649,000$609,000$577,00089%25
300 Godfrey RdCape Cod1,70332/0$599,000$599,000$661,000110%54
1009 Powder Horn LnColonial1,99142/1$789,000$789,000$728,00092%69
1236 Hulls HwyColonial, Antique3,34642/1$1,300,000$1,300,000$1,200,00092%28
37 Patrick DrColonial2,71644/1$975,000$975,000$1,205,000124%11
86 Judson RdColonial3,13733/1$1,599,900$1,599,900$1,650,000103%15
155 Rose Hill RdColonial, Antique4,52654/1$2,485,000$2,485,000$2,400,00097%21
64 Hamilton CtColonial3,47043/1$800,000$800,000$800,000100%12
475 Algonquin RdColonial5,49354/1$1,450,000$1,450,000$1,450,000100%17
69 Trail StColonial2,82042/1$899,000$899,000$930,000103%47
99 Eastlawn StColonial2,37042/1$949,000$949,000$1,015,000107%14
1345 Fence Row DrContemporary5,46443/2$1,500,000$1,396,000$1,260,00084%241
787 Knapps HwyRanch1,00821/1$349,900$349,900$345,00099%2
7 Pierce StColonial1,97242/0$384,900$379,000$375,00097%87
806 N. Benson RdRanch1,32022/0$559,000$559,000$601,000108%16
44 Lockwood RdCape Cod, Colonial3,04253/1$699,000$699,000$780,000112%68
130 Lakeview DrColonial6,14455/1$1,249,000$1,249,000$1,315,000105%26
444 Pine Creek AveColonial2,55034/1$2,495,000$2,395,000$2,200,00088%102
120 Argonne StRanch1,77632/0$495,000$495,000$520,000105%31
5797 Park AveColonial2,31033/0$529,000$529,000$650,000123%22
420 Romanock RdCape Cod1,90133/0$750,000$719,000$725,00097%67
139 Roseville StColonial2,18133/1$550,000$550,000$545,00099%277
1156 Oldfield RdColonial1,55541/1$640,000$640,000$690,000108%22
261 Hemlock Hills Rd S.Colonial4,77643/2$969,000$969,000$945,00098%41
377 Ruane StColonial3,20042/1$1,299,000$1,299,000$1,300,000100%22
1731 Bronson RdColonial4,02543/1$1,249,000$1,249,000$1,362,500109%18
68 Prince StCape Cod, Colonial1,12321/1$424,900$424,900$435,000102%24
30 Boroskey DrColonial1,79132/0$649,000$649,000$650,000100%62
55 Pepperbush LnColonial2,78043/1$959,000$959,000$952,40099%66
24 High Meadow RdCape Cod, Colonial3,13153/1$1,200,000$1,158,000$1,158,00097%31
71 Mona TerColonial3,45054/1$1,399,000$1,525,000$1,550,000111%18
293 Andrassy AveRanch2,05232/0$549,900$549,900$581,000106%11
40 Sedan TerColonial1,69931/1$545,000$545,000$630,000116%33
40 Mayfair RdRaised Ranch2,72032/1$659,900$649,900$642,50097%77
1789 Fence Row DrContemporary, Modern9,09453/2$829,900$829,900$675,00081%71
2486 Congress StCape Cod2,48532/0$799,000$799,000$770,00096%54
511 Riverside DrCape Cod1,73332/1$799,000$799,000$825,000103%64
80 Potters LnCape Cod, Colonial3,57343/1$1,050,000$1,050,000$1,020,00097%42
384 Rowland RdColonial2,37241/1$1,125,000$1,125,000$1,275,000113%1
329 Jennings RdRanch2,23232/0$394,900$394,900$370,00094%8
429 Lockwood RdColonial2,30832/0$443,000$443,000$443,000100%0
473 High StCape Cod2,00432/0$500,000$500,000$490,00098%38
59 Warren AveColonial1,82732/0$520,000$520,000$520,000100%32
43 Brookdale RdColonial1,81832/1$579,999$579,999$626,000108%30
1241 Holland Hill RdColonial1,96043/1$649,000$649,000$660,000102%19
175 Parkwood RdColonial4,36353/1$710,000$674,900$675,00095%100
191 Doreen DrRanch2,33621/0$519,000$519,000$550,000106%66
386 Valley RdRanch3,61032/1$700,000$700,000$740,000106%11
128 Clinton StColonial1,97532/0$849,000$799,000$799,00094%59
1429 Mill Hill RdColonial3,49643/1$1,125,000$1,125,000$995,00088%5
62 Round Hill DrColonial, Split Level3,68153/1$1,099,000$1,099,000$1,116,000102%10
88 Stratfield RdColonial, Tudor2,79441/1$529,000$499,000$454,00086%70
2445 Congress StCape Cod2,43443/0$849,000$799,000$795,00094%19
21 Ennis LnColonial2,34042/1$875,000$875,000$895,500102%50
915 Old Post RdColonial5,10564/1$2,399,000$2,275,000$2,225,00093%56
1462 N. Benson RdRanch2,03422/0$509,000$509,000$509,000100%27
341 Crestwood RdColonial3,79754/1$799,000$799,000$750,00094%18
95 Greenleigh RdColonial3,38454/2$985,000$985,000$975,00099%27
21 Daybreak RdColonial4,11242/1$1,139,000$1,139,000$1,346,000118%18
1 Hubbell LnColonial, Other10,82476/2$3,499,000$3,499,000$3,300,00094%26
342 Warde TerRaised Ranch2,14643/0$699,000$699,000$680,00097%37
310 Taintor DrColonial2,36042/1$1,400,000$1,400,000$1,298,50093%37
114 Hillcrest RdCape Cod1,59432/0$525,000$525,000$525,000100%12
170 Rolling Hills DrColonial3,48342/2$719,000$719,000$730,000102%49
286 Palamar DrCape Cod, Colonial2,24942/0$725,000$725,000$731,250101%58
4375 Congress StColonial, Antique3,66542/1$1,149,000$1,149,000$1,187,000103%34
361 Brookbend RdColonial5,37043/2$1,750,000$1,750,000$1,655,00095%108
75 Harvester RdCape Cod1,84032/0$510,000$510,000$510,000100%29
32 Fleming LnRanch, Cottage1,71823/0$729,000$729,000$800,000110%14
680 Stillson RdColonial3,75043/1$999,000$999,000$1,017,000102%25
70 Hersh RdColonial3,43042/1$1,075,000$1,075,000$1,100,000102%28
70 Meadow Ridge RdColonial5,57054/1$1,799,000$1,799,000$2,010,000112%142
637 High StCape Cod1,36942/0$525,000$525,000$525,000100%0
162 Papermill LnColonial3,02842/1$815,000$815,000$835,000102%44
956 Oldfield RdCape Cod2,13232/1$999,000$949,000$945,00095%59
171 Fulling Mill LnContemporary5,25143/2$1,350,000$1,350,000$1,532,000113%5
352 Melville AveSplit Level1,41131/1$420,000$420,000$425,000101%6
250 Colonese RdRanch1,14431/0$464,950$464,950$458,00099%46
201 Edgewood RdColonial2,80642/0$649,000$629,000$629,00097%73
461 S. Pine Creek RdCape Cod1,40032/0$695,000$695,000$750,000108%32
244 N. Pine Creek RdColonial, Farm House2,64043/1$814,900$814,900$836,000103%15
1368 Burr StColonial, Cottage5,45565/1$2,395,000$2,395,000$2,395,000100%36
38 Beaumont StColonial1,17621/1$525,000$525,000$550,000105%3
200 Longdean RdColonial2,13442/1$625,000$625,000$627,100100%19
143 Hulls HwyCape Cod1,99733/0$729,000$729,000$705,00097%63
234 Catherine TerColonial1,98231/1$799,000$799,000$850,000106%12
99 Burrwood CmnColonial6,58454/1$1,890,000$1,890,000$1,890,000100%12
427 Fairfield Woods RdCape Cod2,23642/0$549,000$549,000$595,000108%10
32 Lookout Dr S.Colonial3,86853/2$1,148,000$1,148,000$1,225,000107%25
965 Old Post RdColonial6,66565/1$1,895,000$1,895,000$1,895,000100%148
211 Church Hill RdColonial1,99931/1$489,000$465,000$465,00095%147
231 Henderson RdColonial1,65031/1$509,000$509,000$500,00098%16
41 Alma DrRaised Ranch2,00032/1$600,000$600,000$646,000108%14
195 Ross Hill RdColonial1,87631/1$600,000$600,000$700,000117%6
526 Beach RdRanch1,67042/1$825,000$825,000$825,000100%69
118 French StColonial2,26543/1$1,249,000$1,249,000$1,300,000104%8
390 Harbor RdColonial, Antique4,94254/1$3,500,000$3,000,000$3,000,00086%572
86 Moody AveColonial2,22252/0$569,000$569,000$559,00098%30
122 Stratfield RdColonial, Victorian2,74933/0$649,000$649,000$634,00098%140
83 Buena Vista RdColonial1,89232/0$680,000$680,000$760,000112%6
423 Lucille StColonial3,57045/0$874,900$839,900$792,00091%123
499 Hemlock RdColonial3,65663/1$1,250,000$1,250,000$1,100,00088%50
1510 Fairfield Beach RdColonial3,15044/0$1,999,999$1,899,999$1,815,00091%208
Units Sold: 106$794,000$794,000$765,000100%29
Are You Interested In A Real Estate Review?
A real estate review is designed to give you information about sales in your neighborhood you can use to make sure you are properly insured and aware of your home’s value.  Contact me today to get your personalized complementary review. phone:  (203) 895-2783.  email:  peterlamastro@kw.com