Newtown, CT

How is Buying a Home Like Running a Marathon? Let us count the ways! It's amazing how two such diverse activities can follow a similiar cycle of emotions. Here's how we see it:

• When you first start your home search or your marathon, you experience a sense of excitement
• Next, you're working toward your goal (finding the right home or finishing your race) - setting your pace
• Somewhere along the way, you start to feel restless
• Then you begin to doubt that your goal is achievable
• Your mindset changes and hope begins to shine through again
• Finally, success is in sight
• Lastly, you cross the finish line - new home purchased or marathon finished.

It sounds kind of corny and perhaps, it is. But think about it. This cycle of emotions holds true for most goals we work towards. They don't necessarily follow the order of emotions laid out above and some of them may repeat - like in a loop. In the end, if you don't let the pressure or self doubt keep you from accomplishing your task, you'll cross the finish the line.

So, buying a home is like running a marathon. Go the distance. Stay the course. Ready, set, go!

Feel free to email us if you are interested in purchasing a home in the Greater Danbury, CT area (Danbury, Bethel, Newtown, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford, Candlewood Lake, Lake Zoar, Lake Lillinonah).

Bob & Richelle Ward, Realtors, ABR
Prudential Connecticut Realty
www.connecticuthomesforsale.com
Cell - (203) 470-9818

Recap of Short Sales in Newtown, CT for 2011 Over the course of 2011, we posted several blog entries about the status of short sales in Newtown, CT. With the advent of the New Year, we thought a recap of this segment of this local real estate market would be in order.

In the table below, we have provided both 2011 and 2010 short sale information for a comparison.

It's interesting to see that the number of sold short sales decreased in 2011 and the number of actively listed short sales increased. The numbers pretty much flip flopped. We attribute this change to buyers being less willing to wait an indefinate period of time for banks to approve the short sale. Depending on the lender, the approval process can take a few months or a year - you never know.

Check out last year's recap of short sales in Newtown, CT.

We hope that you found our Recap of Short Sales in Newtown, CT for 2011 to be informative.

If you would like a list of the short sales in Newtown, CT, just email us and we'll forward you our Excel report.

Need to seel your house and think it might be a short sale, please contact us. WE CAN HELP YOU. We are experienced with short sales and we are also SFR Certified. Anything you tell us will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone else.

Bob & Richelle Ward, Realtors, ABR
Prudential Connecticut Realty
www.connecticuthomesforsale.com
Cell - (203) 470-9818

Comparison of the Newtown, CT Real Estate Market: 2000 to 2011 People ask us all the time, "How is the market doing". Many people still believe that the real estate market in our town is in a free fall and some believe that their home has not lost any value at all.

We decided to do a comparison of the average sale price, days on market and number of single family homes sold for each year from 2000 to 2011. All information was pulled from the Greater Fairfield County Multiple Listing Service (GFC MLS). Here is what we found:

The greatest number of sales in Newtown, CT happened in 2002 and the fewest number of sales ocurred in 2009. Starting in 2006, the days on market increased with 2009 having the most number of days on the market. What surprised us the most? The number of sales in Newtown has increased two years in a row.

So, where are we with prices? The average sale price decreased once again in 2011 by 7.6%. This change puts the average sale price back in the range of 2002! Overall from the high point in 2006, real estate market values have declined almost 30%.

What does this mean to you? If you purchased a home in Newtown, CT after 2002 or have refinanced your home since 2002, there is a good possibility that you could be under water. Under water means that there is more owed on your home than what its current market value is.

Like in life, change is constant and it applies to real estate, as well. The comparison of the Newtown, CT real estate market: 2000 to 2011 clearly shows the ever changing real estate market.

Bob & Richelle Ward, Realtors, ABR
Prudential Connecticut Realty
www.connecticuthomesforsale.com
Cell - (203) 470-9818

Food Donations to Local Food Pantries It's been a while since we've posted a blog. Business has been good and the holiday season has kept us busy. We do have a recent event that we feel is blog-worthy.

On Tuesday, December 26, 2011, Bob received a phone call from the Big Y, a local supermarket here in Newtown. In the past, we have blogged about the F.A.I.T.H. Food Pantry and Newtown's Victory Garden, which provides fresh grown produce to the food pantries. With the help of Google, the Big Y found us!

Seems that they had some left over bakery goods to donate to the local food pantries. The F.A.I.T.H. Food Pantry is closed this week and Newtown Social Services was closed on the 26th. After learning what the Big Y had to donate, Bob told them to "bring it all to our office" and boy, did they did! This is what we found when got to the office:

We made some phone calls, rounded up the troops (our friends, Paul and Cris Fadus) and distributed the food on Tuesday, 12/27, to Newtown Social Services and Dorothy Day in Danbury.

A big thanks goes out to The Big Y!! All the local food pantries are in need of food. They need it all year long - not just during the holiday season. Please feel free to drop off your donations to our office at 84A South Main Street, Newtown. We'll make sure that your donations get to those who are in need.

Now, don't you think Food Donations to Local Food Pantries was blog-worthy??

Bob & Richelle Ward, Realtors, ABR
Prudential Connecticut Realty
www.connecticuthomesforsale.com
Cell - (203) 470-9818

Sandy Hook, CT (December 2011) - Situated in Walnut Tree Village, an age restricted community (55 and older) located conveniently near I84/Exit 10. This beautiful 2 bedroom condo comes complete with:

* Open & entertaining floor plan
* 1,850 sq.ft. of living space
* 2 bedrooms & 2 full baths
* Hardwood floors
* Fireplace
* Central Air
* Garage
* Club house

Welcome home to Walnut Tree Village and Congratulations on the purchase of your new home!
Sandy Hook is a great place to live.

Looking to buy, sell or relocate to Fairfield County?

Call a Fairfield County representative today! Lisa Brown at REMAX Unlimited Real Estate is here to help you every step of the way. Call 203-733-1613 or email lisaandyou@gmail.com.

Walnut Tree Village home sold by Lisa Brown, REMAX Unlimited Real Estate

For more information on this age restricted community (55+ or older) or other communities in Fairfield County, Call 203-733-1613 or email lisaandyou@gmail.com

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Servicing age restricted and lake communities in Fairfield County: including Danbury, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford, Sherman, Ridgefield, Newtown, Sandy Hook & Southbury

(Walnut Tree Village, Regency in Ridgefield, Dunham Pond, Newbury Village, Heritage Village, The Woods at Newtown, Liberty at Newtown, Carlson Ridge, The Summit, Rivington, Candlewood Shores, Candlewood Isle, Candlewood Point, Candlewood Cove, Chimney Point, Sail Harbour, Hemlock Ridge, Candlewood Acres, Arrowhead Point, Candlewood Landing, Candlewood Springs, Candlewood Terrace, Candlewood Trails, Ferris Estates, Lakewood Terrace, Millstone Ridge, Oak Point Club, Pruchnik Estates, Candlewood Orchard, Hickory Hills, Harbor View, Poets Landing, Knollcrest, Bogus Hill, Chatterton Point, Hollywyle, Inglenook, Kellogg's Point, Lavelle, Turtle Bay, Atchinson Cove, Candlewood Echoes, Candlewood Hills, Candlewood Lake Estates, Deer Hill, Holiday Point, Mill Pond, Orchard Rest, Pinewood Shores, Pleasant View, Crystal Bay, Aqua Vista, Candlewood Pines, Candlewood Vista, Cedar Heights, Cedar Terrace, Driftwood Point, Hawthorne Terrace, Hemlock Shores, Longview Meadows, Plesant Acres, Pocono Point, Shady Knolls, Shoreview Estates, Siboney Terrace, Snug Harbor, Sunset Cove, Ta'Agan Point, Twin Rocks and more)

RE/MAX Unlimited
100 Mill Plain Road
Danbury, CT 06811