Bob and Richelle Ward, Realtors, ABR

Two Newtown, CT annual events are upcoming in June 2009:

• 22nd Annual Lobsterfest:  will be held June 5th and 6th at the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Department on Riverside Road, Sandy Hook.  Advance tickets cost $22.00/each and $24.00/each at the door.  This is an event that many town residents attend.  Go early for better parking.



• 35th Annual Rocking Rooster 5K Run/Walk:  Newtown Park and Recreation will be holding its annual Rocking Rooster Run/Walk on Saturday, June 6th.  Run/Walk begins at 8:30 am and leaves from the Reed Intermediate School.  All proceeds to benefit Newtown Scholarship.  Click here for the registration form.



• The Newtown Rooster Rally:  This event will be held on Saturday, June 13th, from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm on Main Street.  The purpose is to celebrate Newtown.  Come celebrate your favorite rooster articles, memorabilia or activities.

Do you know of another Newtown event that you would like to notify other people about?  Email us with the details and we'll post it on www.LifeinNewtown.com for FREE.

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

Newtown, CT Golf Courses and Parks. For a small town, Newtown offers the golf enthusiast two private golf courses:

• Rock Ridge Country Club - is a full-service club with a 9 hole golf course with separate tee areas when playing 18 holes,
• Newtown Country Club - has a 9 hole golf course, Grill Room and private Dining Room for member parties.

The surrounding towns have golf courses with many residents playing at Richter Park in Danbury. Richter Park is a Municipal 18 hole course designated as one of America's top 25 public courses. Rates vary, but are reasonable.

The Newtown Park and Recreation Department runs many programs in Newtown including the town parks. Newtown's town parks are:

• Dickenson Park - Open to Newtown Residents only. Open from 9 am to Sundown. Dickinson Park has (5) tennis courts, softball field, basketball court, two playground areas, FUNSCAPE creative play area, pavilion and picnicking facilities, complete with charcoal grills. A park permit is required on any vehicle entering the park.
• Treadwell Memorial Park - park is open from 9 a.m. until sundown. Amenities include (4) tennis courts, a ball wall, basketball court, two playground areas, pavilion, multi-purpose baseball/softball field, two regulation size soccer field, and swimming pool complex, which features an 8 lane, 25 yard pool, with a diving "L" and wading pool. Locker facilities are available.
• Lake Lillinonah Park - In addition to a beautiful view of the lake, there are picnic tables, grills and a boat launch. There are portable bathroom facilities and parking. Swimming is NOT allowed, as boats pose too much danger. Open to Newtown residents only.

In addition to the parks listed above, Newtown Park and Recreation maintains Eichler's Cove Beach & Marina and the Orchard Hill Nature Center.

If you have any questions about Newtown's Golf Courses and Parks, please feel free to email us.

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

Recently, we've had a few homeowners ask if now is a good time to move up into a larger home. Our answer is a resounding "YES!" and here's why:

• House prices in Newtown have come down a total of 15.11% in 2007 and 2008.
• Mortgage rates are still at historically low rates
• Many sellers need to get their homes sold and there are definately "deals" out there
• There are short sales available for sale, as well as pre-foreclosure and foreclosure properties.
• Contrary to what you hear on the news, people CAN get mortgages and homes are beginning to sell again.
• If you currently have equity in your home, great credit and have outgrown your exiting your home, you should definitely consider moving up to a larger home.
• Financial experts are speculating that when the housing market recovers, home values will increase at more normal rates (1-3% per year). This translates into more built up equity in a more expensive home than in a less expensive home. Here are examples:
  
  
  • A home worth $300,000 that increases in equity at 1%/year would be worth $303,000 - a gain of $3,000 in equity after one year.
  • A home worth $500,000 that increases in equity at 1%/year would be worth $505,000 - a gain of $5,000 in equity after one year.
  • A home worth $300,000 that increases in equity at 3%/year would be worth $309,000 - a gain of $9,000 in equity after one year.
  • A home worth $500,000 that increases in equity at 3%/year would be worth $515,000 - a gain of $15,000 in equity after one year.

So, if you've been waiting for the "right time" to move up to your next home, the time has come. Contact a Realtor and get movin'.

If you have any questions or if you would like us to assist you with moving up, please feel free to email us.

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

People ask us about mortgage rates all the time. We thought that we would provide you with this information. Keep in mind that rates have many variables to them and that they fluctuate constantly.

This information if courtesy of Dan Ianniello of Connecticut Home Mortgage. Dan is a CMPS which means that he is a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist.

These rates can change in a minute, and assume perfect credit and a substantial down payment other than the FHA rates.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us.

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

Every couple of months, we write about the real estate market in Newtown. Because the real estate market is constantly changing, this is a just a snap shot in time. All information is from the Greater Fairfield County Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for the town of Newtown as of today. Here goes:

As of this moment, there are 285 actively listed single family homes for sale in Newtown whose prices range from $55,00 for a mobile home to $1,999,000 for 5 bedroom, 5 full bathroom & 2 half bathroom Colonial on 2.13 acres. Houses that are not mobile homes start at $134,900. There are seventeen homes that are marked as being under deposit. Fifteen homes are marked as pending sale - which means a contract of sale has been signed. Thirty-one homes have been sold in Newtown since January 1, 2009.

The homes that have SOLD so far this month are:

www.46pondbrook.com www.14NorthRidge.com

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