Market Overview

Fairfield’s real estate market experienced a slowdown in July.  After several months with up and down home prices, July saw a 7% drop in single family homes median sales price, from $765,000 to $706,500.  That puts home values up 2.1% since January.  Other statistics pointed to a slowdown as well.  The number of houses sold dropped from 106 in June to 98 in July.  The number of new listings in July was also lower than those in June:  91 vs. 108.  It took longer to sell a house in July than the previous month by 9 days.  Fairfield is still well in sellers-market territory, as the months of inventory is 2.3, slightly more favorable to sellers than in June.  Historically, July has seen increases in Fairfield’s sales prices over June, with increases in 2018, 2019 and 2020.  Even with the lower median sales price, sellers on average received 100.3% of asking price.  The decrease in new listings may also indicate sellers caution as the Delta variant of the Corona Virus begins to become the dominant strain.  Although pending sales point to another slow month for August, buyers are still looking for houses in Fairfield.  Interest rates continue to be extremely favorable at 2.8% for a 30 year fixed rate by the end of July.  Rates have been below 3% for the past 4 months.  For anyone considering a move, this is still a great time to sell a house in Easton.  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:$706,500
change:-7.65%
YTD change:2.10%
Units Sold:98
change:-7.55%
Active Listings:210
change:-8.30%
New Listings:91
change:-15.74%
Days on Market:38
change:31.03%
Months of Supply:2.30 (Seller's Market)
change:-4.17%

Interest Rates

Market Temperature

Local Real Estate Price Trends

Jun-21Jul-21Change
Bethel$515,000 $500,000 -2.91%
Bridgeport$300,500 $325,000 8.15%
Brookfield$540,000 $437,500 -18.98%
Danbury$447,500 $400,000 -10.61%
Easton$889,450 $682,000 -23.32%
Fairfield$765,000 $706,500 -7.65%
Milford$432,500 $404,500 -6.47%
Monroe$505,000 $511,000 1.19%
Newtown$572,500 $500,000 -12.66%
N. Haven$342,500 $438,500 28.03%
Orange$461,500 $500,000 8.34%
Oxford$447,500 $510,000 13.97%
Redding$750,000 $640,000 -14.67%
Ridgefield$757,500 $875,000 15.51%
Seymour$277,500 $325,000 17.12%
Shelton$419,900 $442,500 5.38%
Stratford$373,000 $362,500 -2.82%
Trumbull$518,000 $507,500 -2.03%
Weston$1,162,500 $1,145,500 -1.46%
Westport$1,628,000 $1,557,500 -4.33%

Tips

The Value of Using an Agent in Today’s Market

In an age where all the information we could possibly need is at our fingertips, many people have embraced a DIY lifestyle. But when it comes to real estate, it’s better to leave it to the pros. While saving commissions may seem appealing, you could end up losing time, money and bargaining power without a real estate agent’s expertise.

Why Do You Need a Real Estate Agent?

  • An agent will devise a marketing plan specific to your home and will utilize their network to advertise your home to an audience you wouldn’t likely reach on your own.
  • Agents are knowledgeable on the laws and regulations of the industry. Having an agent on your side can save you from legal troubles.
  • Agents understand the market and can price your house to sell. They are also skilled negotiators that can get top dollar for your home.

Top 5 Home Improvements

Looking into home renovations? Here are the five improvements that will reward you the greatest ROI, according to RISMedia.com.

  1. As an eye-catching feature, garage door replacements boast the best ROI (94% of the cost) at resale time, especially with a strategic design that complements your home’s architectural style.
  2. Manufactured stone veneer is a high-reward, affordable siding material that can enhance both the curb appeal and interior design of your house.
  3. To maximize kitchen remodeling, opt for mid-range changes like refacing or replacing cabinets and countertops, updating fixtures and hardware, and/or replacing appliances.
  4. If stone veneer isn’t for you, try fiber cement siding for surfacing that looks like authentic wood but isn’t prone to warping and rotting.
  5. Window replacements will serve both your home’s aesthetic appeal as well as its energy efficiency.

 

Real Estate Headlines

Bidding War Winners Are Getting Cold Feet:  Some home buyers are reportedly backing out of purchase contracts due to second-guessing the contract price, after winning a bidding war. The trend is most common in the Northeast and Mountain regions of the country.  After losing out in several multiple offer situations, a buyer may head into a new bidding war with an “I’ll offer anything” attitude. After the jubilance of winning wears off, the reality of overpaying sets in.  Many develop cold feet and back out of the contract, thus putting the now stigmatized house back on the market.

Sales of $1M-Plus Homes Soar:  Unlike past housing booms, the real estate market is seeing a surge in sales at the very top of the housing market. More expensive properties are selling nearly twice as fast as lower and mid-priced homes.  “Wealthier Americans have benefited greatly during the pandemic thanks to the rising stock market, which typically helps grow net wealth,” Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of REALTORS®, told The Washington Post. “So there’s greater demand for luxury housing now and that sector isn’t as hamstrung by inventory shortages as the rest of the market.”

MLS Finds That Listed Homes Sell for 17% More:  In a two-year analysis, homes on a mid-Atlantic MLS sold for more money than similar homes that sold off of it. Bright MLS, a multiple listing service from Pennsylvania to Virginia, conducted the study of 442,829 records for home sales transactions completed between January 2019 and December 2020.  The median sold on the MLS was about 17% higher than homes sold off of the MLS, through for sale by owner.  The study found that the fastest sales for the most money use the MLS to market the homes for sale.

30-Year Mortgage Rate Dips to 2.77%:  New fears over the fast-spreading COVID-19 delta variant are moving mortgage rates lower. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage spent another week under 3%.

Delta Variant Could Cause Housing Volatility:  The fast-spreading delta variant of the coronavirus is prompting more pandemic precautions to return. It’s also affecting the hot housing market and likely will continue to be housing’s wild card over the next few months, economists say. The fears of a more contagious version of the coronavirus could prompt some homeowners to delay selling their home, which would press on inventory levels just as they were starting to see some improvement. If buyer demand stays high and inventories fall again, that could then press on home prices even more and ignite more bidding wars for limited housing stock.

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

July Single-Family Home Sales

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

AddressStylesq ftBRBA (f/h)OLPLPSPSP/OLPDOM
324 Villa AveCape Cod1,00921/1$359,000$359,000$325,00091%40
20 Reid StSplit Level1,82231/1$585,000$525,000$486,50083%37
20 Homeland StSplit Level1,93432/0$479,500$479,500$520,000108%64
2976 Black Rock TpkeCape Cod1,96532/0$525,000$525,000$525,000100%63
367 Toll House LnColonial2,41942/1$669,000$649,000$630,00094%80
324 Steiner StColonial1,50041/1$650,000$650,000$650,000100%65
133 Cardinal StColonial2,49852/1$650,000$650,000$657,500101%2
450 Riverside DrCape Cod1,61332/0$649,000$649,000$684,000105%63
983 Congress StCape Cod, Colonial4,09032/1$849,900$699,900$700,00082%79
132 Shelter Rock RdColonial1,60042/1$600,000$600,000$703,000117%65
142 Oldfield RdColonial2,11132/0$775,000$775,000$799,000103%27
178 Taintor DrColonial3,19754/1$1,399,000$1,299,000$1,300,00093%55
371 Orchard Hill LnColonial4,82053/1$1,449,000$1,449,000$1,530,000106%25
275 Lalley BlvdColonial3,57743/2$1,879,000$1,879,000$1,840,00098%16
206 School StColonial, Farm House1,36031/1$437,500$437,500$480,000110%18
927 S. Pine Creek RdCape Cod1,70532/0$674,000$674,000$686,000102%12
1495 Westport TpkeColonial, Farm House3,22743/1$1,100,000$1,100,000$1,050,00095%29
524 Sturges RdColonial, Farm House6,01853/2$2,195,000$2,195,000$2,200,000100%18
1451 Fairfield Woods RdCape Cod1,53832/0$449,900$449,900$501,000111%21
118 Papermill LnRanch1,38221/0$524,000$524,000$540,000103%66
160 Windermere StRanch2,93442/0$659,000$659,000$650,00099%35
86 Chatham RdColonial3,87842/1$815,000$815,000$865,000106%68
105 Homefair DrCape Cod, Colonial3,24753/1$925,000$925,000$972,000105%54
200 Longmeadow RdColonial5,18332/1$985,000$985,000$999,000101%14
62 Marlborough TerRanch90421/0$375,000$375,000$362,00097%27
120 Marne AveColonial1,62032/0$529,900$529,900$554,000105%66
30 Jackman AveColonial2,06733/0$599,000$599,000$630,000105%21
149 Country RdRanch1,53932/0$565,000$565,000$560,00099%43
138 Sunnyridge AveCape Cod1,19731/0$399,900$399,900$410,000103%48
50 Edison AveHalf Duplex2,62142/1$525,000$525,000$530,000101%65
194 Ludlowe RdColonial1,47631/1$599,000$559,000$550,00092%103
239 N. Pine Creek RdColonial1,34131/1$550,000$550,000$575,000105%45
245 N. Cedar RdColonial2,48642/1$1,199,900$1,199,900$1,260,000105%23
208 Old Mill RdColonial4,46943/1$1,399,000$1,399,000$1,515,000108%64
90 Mill Hill LnColonial, Other2,88443/1$1,750,000$1,750,000$1,750,000100%2
283 Euclid AveColonial1,26031/1$499,900$499,900$530,000106%12
201 Old Mill RdColonial2,85953/1$995,000$995,000$1,020,000103%34
16 Osborne LnColonial2,83243/1$1,184,000$1,099,000$1,105,50093%53
59 Mona TerColonial3,45043/1$1,349,000$1,399,000$1,600,000119%76
18 Revere Ln, Unit #18Colonial, Contemporary2,70632/1$819,000$819,000$820,000100%12
40 Pope StColonial2,86742/1$694,900$694,900$694,900100%0
613 S. Benson RdRanch1,32222/0$729,000$699,000$697,00096%40
91 Tide Mill TerColonial2,08042/1$1,025,000$1,025,000$1,051,190103%12
135 Tuller RdCape Cod1,49532/1$670,000$649,000$639,50095%47
347 High Ridge RdCape Cod1,75043/0$650,000$650,000$660,000102%45
1341 Bronson RdColonial, Farm House2,80043/1$1,099,000$1,099,000$1,200,000109%39
267 S. Pine Creek RdCape Cod, Bungalow97221/0$409,500$409,500$435,000106%40
1566 Stratfield RdCape Cod1,21032/0$459,000$459,000$455,00099%18
67 Flora BlvdCape Cod1,23741/0$649,000$649,000$610,00094%76
66 Meadowcrest DrRanch, Split Level4,21832/1$599,000$599,000$650,000109%33
261 Old Post RdColonial2,19242/0$889,000$889,000$890,000100%18
52 Romanock PlCape Cod1,90142/0$649,000$619,000$619,00095%67
180 Oldfield DrRanch1,54232/0$965,000$895,500$765,00079%42
406 N. Benson RdColonial1,81242/0$775,000$775,000$765,00099%15
39 Michaela CirColonial2,63642/1$999,000$999,000$1,020,000102%20
171 Ridge CmnContemporary3,97043/2$1,295,000$1,295,000$1,250,00097%39
110 Farmstead Hill RdColonial6,52355/2$2,495,000$2,250,000$2,100,00084%57
166 Northwood RdColonial3,24832/1$879,000$879,000$933,333106%20
193 Sky Top TerRanch6,41865/1$939,000$939,000$945,000101%62
10 Sleepy Hollow RdColonial, Modern3,00043/1$1,250,000$1,250,000$1,220,00098%40
402 Sasco Hill RdColonial7,95678/2$6,500,000$6,500,000$6,200,00095%74
56 Rugby RdBungalow40111/0$324,900$324,900$300,00092%107
156 Buena Vista RdColonial1,48032/0$549,000$549,000$535,00097%70
687 Stratfield RdColonial, Farm House1,86732/1$450,000$450,000$450,000100%0
781 Valley RdCape Cod2,11833/0$599,000$599,000$599,000100%51
593 Towne House RdColonial3,25842/1$969,000$969,000$980,000101%34
325 Wood House RdColonial4,37655/1$1,225,000$1,225,000$1,255,000102%22
131 Colony StColonial1,34431/1$439,000$439,000$445,000101%22
335 Oakwood DrSplit Level1,59231/1$479,000$479,000$468,00098%38
200 Autumn Ridge RdRanch2,42432/1$500,000$500,000$492,50099%12
94 Farist RdRanch2,39833/0$600,000$600,000$600,000100%28
152 London TerColonial, Contemporary3,74043/1$725,000$725,000$765,000106%43
67 Shady Hill RdColonial1,90242/1$725,000$725,000$785,000108%5
114 Brookmere DrColonial3,19142/1$899,000$899,000$965,000107%17
1133 Cedar RdColonial6,30855/1$2,799,000$2,799,000$2,650,00095%44
44 Brookfield AveColonial1,54531/1$425,000$425,000$480,000113%79
166 Bailey RdSplit Level3,57653/0$799,000$799,000$762,50095%15
50 Forest AveCape Cod2,09542/0$799,000$799,000$850,000106%34
43 Palamar DrColonial2,18631/1$629,900$629,900$652,000104%16
1084 Sturges HwyColonial, Georgian Colonial8,26368/1$2,200,000$2,200,000$2,200,000100%61
176 Fairview AveColonial1,23731/1$525,000$525,000$505,00096%20
2196 N. Benson RdCape Cod1,68031/1$550,000$550,000$585,000106%7
138 Woodridge AveColonial2,26042/1$725,000$725,000$745,000103%68
229 Lakeside DrColonial, Ranch2,95244/0$949,000$949,000$935,00099%24
265 Warner Hill RdColonial4,64643/1$1,849,000$1,849,000$1,849,000100%24
823 Oldfield RdCape Cod1,32631/0$630,000$630,000$615,00098%5
62 Morehouse HwyCape Cod2,15033/1$649,000$649,000$710,000109%14
543 S. Pine Creek RdCape Cod1,93132/0$825,000$825,000$800,00097%54
1415 Mill Hill TerColonial2,50142/1$925,000$925,000$1,080,000117%7
3960 Redding RdSplit Level2,71232/1$1,195,000$1,195,000$1,200,000100%19
1037 Fairfield Beach RdColonial3,51263/2$1,599,000$1,599,000$1,500,00094%86
84 Merry Meet CirColonial8,71456/3$1,949,000$1,949,000$1,870,00096%236
431 Wilson StCape Cod1,21032/0$425,000$425,000$425,000100%48
273 Osborne Hill RdRanch3,25443/0$549,000$549,000$600,000109%56
46 Baldwin TerSplit Level1,29432/0$639,000$639,000$655,000103%25
975 Holland Hill RdColonial1,93942/0$664,000$664,000$730,000110%18
195 Lalley BlvdColonial4,60054/1$2,399,000$2,399,000$2,500,000104%23
847 Sasco Hill RdColonial4,77944/1$2,950,000$2,950,000$2,900,00098%175
Units Sold: 98$709,950$696,950$706,500100%38
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