219 Plymouth Street on the Market for $289,900 in Stratford

One of the most beautiful and sought-after streets to live on in Stratford, Connecticut is Plymouth Street. This street is located in the Paradise Green neighborhood right behind the bustle of Main Street’s shops and restaurants. It’s a one minute walk to Brewster’s Pond and a few minutes further on foot to Longbrook Park.

Homes in this area are very well kept and neatly manicured with quintessential Fairfield county suburban charm. Homes do not come up for sale too often in this section of town, but a handful do sell each year. Here’s one that just hit the market for the super hot Spring 2021 real estate market in Stratford.

219 Plymouth Street on the market for $289,900 in Paradise Green

This beautifully kept home was just listed on March 10, 2021. It last sold for $148,000 in 1990. It is remarkable to live in one place for 31 years, and with a location like this, we understand the long-term ownership. This two bedroom, one and a half bathroom home boasts a spacious 1,353 square feet of living space and was constructed in 1929.

This pre-war home has seen property taxes lowered from 2019 to 2020; taxes were reduced from $6,497 to $5,713. With such a large drop in property taxes, we suspect the owner most likely appealed the assessment in order to see that large drop; however, a town-wide tax re-evaluation took place in 2020.

I predict that this home will sell for over-asking price, which is very common in the 2020-2021 housing market in Stratford’s Paradise Green. The seller is most likely waiting for offers to come in over this weekend, and may have a highest and best offer scenario. Typically, a home is listed during a weekday, offers then roll in during the week and weekend. To get the best offer possible, the seller’s agent will request all buyers to submit their “highest and best offer on Monday by 12PM”. This situation is very typical and buyers should be prepared for this scenario. It is common for homes to be on the market for less than a week before going contingent.

With the excellent condition of this home, prime location, and very competitive market for smaller affordable homes, I am predicting this home will sell for around $309,000. It does seem underpriced at $289,900 but it may prove to be a better strategy to slightly underprice a home which sparks lots of interest versus being overpriced on the market.

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Information posted is merely the opinion of Time or Space for entertainment purposes only. All information published can be found in Town Records which is made available to the Public.

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New Construction in Stratford’s Paradise Green Just Listed for $469,000

Just a few weeks ago we reported that 224 Wakelee Ave in Stratford’s Paradise Green neighborhood appeared to be nearing completion. On Friday, November 6 the home was finally listed on the market at a whopping $469,000.

This is significantly more expensive than the newly constructed home just down the street at 115 Arcadia Ave that sold in 2017. That home, 115 Arcadia, sold in October 2017 at $405,000. It featured 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and 2,284 square feet of space.

Today, 224 Wakelee Ave features 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and 1,900 square feet of space. It appears that 115 Arcadia was a good buy back in 2017 after all. To be fair, you can’t really compare the housing market of 2017 to that of 2020 – things have changed so much for Stratford in those three years.

The housing market in Stratford has changed dramatically since 2017, and most of that demand growth came in 2020 with the COVID-19 Pandemic as New Yorkers flee to the suburbs. There is little new construction in Paradise Green today, though there may be one or two homes available nearby on Cutspring Road. However, Wakelee Ave is a much better location, just down the road from Wilcoxson Elementary and walkable to all that Paradise Green has to offer.

A new driveway was just added to this completed construction and the home looks great. We expect that it will sell fast, just like everything else in this neighborhood in the Fall of 2020. Zillow predicts the home price index for 06614 to rise about 9% in 2021; experts say the demand for suburban homes in this area will continue to grow through 2021 with no signs of slowing down any time soon.

New Driveway Completed on Stratford’s Wakelee Avenue

What do you think this one will sell for? We will throw in a prediction of $449,000. Check back in a few months to see what the sale price was!

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Information posted is merely the opinion of Time or Space for entertainment purposes only. All information published can be found in Town Records which is made available to the Public.

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Edit November 9, 2020

As of 11/9/2020 this home is Contingent!

93 Brewster Street, Stratford, Connecticut

Just on the market is an extraordinary oversized cape home in the heart of Paradise Green neighborhood of Stratford, Connecticut. This home is nestled just off one of the most beautiful streets in all of Stratford: Plymouth Street. Plymouth and Brewster are two of the most sought after streets to live on – homes here are usually long term ownership, just like this one. 93 Brewster last sold in 2010 for $329,000. It’s now available for the first time in 10 years at a very reasonable $375,000. Considering what smaller homes in less ideal areas are selling for, I would say this house will likely sell over the asking price.

Brewster’s Pond Looking North

This Brewster Street home is only one house away from Brewster’s Pond, a beautiful and popular spot for walkers and runners in Paradise Green. Here is a view from the other side of the pond looking towards the home.

Brewster’s Pond Looking South

Stepping out of your front door, you would be about a 10 second walk from this view of Brewster’s Pond looking South. Heading the other direction would put you right on Main Street in Paradise Green. This house has an excellent location and we think it will sell fast.

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Information posted is merely the opinion of Time or Space for entertainment purposes only. All information published can be found in Town Records which is made available to the Public.

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The Best Real Estate Deal in Stratford’s Paradise Green as of October 22, 2020

If you’re house shopping in the North end neighborhood of Stratford, you might be looking for something – anything- affordable in the Paradise Green area. With multiple offers taking the most attractive homes off the market within days of being listed, it is challenging to find something good in today’s market. After looking around at homes listed in this area as of October 22, 2020 I have found one gem that is still available.

The home at 695 Wilcoxson Ave is a 3 bedroom 1.5 bathroom colonial offering 1,661 square feet of living space on a 4,792 square foot lot. This pre-war home was built in 1918 and offers a ton of charm with stucco siding, large windows, arched interior doorways, hardwood floors and a fireplace. The overbuilt design elements of prewar homes are just charming. After World War II, homes were built cheaper and faster to quench the demand of the booming suburbs. They just don’t build them like they used to.

695 Wilcoxson Ave

This home is listed at $284,900 and has been on the market for over two months. Considering the speed and competition with which surrounding homes are going for, it is surprising that this gem is still available. It is within walking distance just down the road from Wilcoxson Elementary school, one of the best grade schools in Stratford. The only downside that I can see with this home is that Wilcoxson Avenue is a busy road with quite a bit of traffic. However, the location is reflected in the price which still offers a great deal for this area. We think it will go contingent soon, as there is very little supply on the market today.

View from Charlton Street

This home also has an oversized two-car garage which is also unusual for the area. Most homes are lucky to have a single car garage, though the early prewar garages that are still standing are a real treat. The detached two-car garage makes a great workshop space or storage space.

Two Car Garage

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Information posted is merely the opinion of Time or Space for entertainment purposes only. All information published can be found in Town Records which is made available to the Public.

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91 Woodland Ave, Stratford, CT 06614

Now for sale is a super cute 1920 ranch style bungalow with 1,181 square feet of living space, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. This small vintage home was initially listed for $259,750 but after a recent price drop is now available at $235,000. Incredibly, this home was last sold in November 2016 for only $110,000 which was an incredible buy for this neighborhood.

This 100 year old home is unique to the surrounding area for several reasons: it has a stucco exterior, an unusually large lot size of 9,147 square feet and is a pre-war home. Most property lots in this area are approximately half that size, so they’re in the 5,250 square foot range. Prewar homes (built before 1935) are also more rare to find as the majority of the housing supply in Stratford was developed rapidly after World War II. They just don’t build them as well as these prewar homes anymore! Finally, the stucco exterior is not often seen in this neighborhood, which offers a warm vintage charm.

This little gem is also currently the cheapest single family home on the market right now in Paradise Green, with a large lot size that offers the potential for future expansion. Considering the house right next door is under contract (listing price $349,900) this home may offer a good opportunity for someone to buy, renovate and expand.

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Information posted is merely the opinion of Time or Space for entertainment purposes only. All information published can be found in Town Records which is made available to the Public.

192 Reed Street, Stratford, CT 06614

This wonderful Cape is situated on one of the best streets in all of Paradise Green: Reed Street. This quiet north-end street has seen a lot of buying and selling activity this year, with homes in the area selling extremely fast. According to public records this home last sold for $269,000 in 2018 and appears to have since undergone a serious amount of renovation. The home was listed in September 2020 at $349,900 and appears to have gone under contract in contingency within 3 or 4 days – very fast!

This picture-perfect 1940 home was built during World War II and features 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms featuring 1,373 square feet of living space. This corner lot is surrounded by mature trees and sits on the corner of Reed street and Woodland ave. It’s just a short 5 minute drive to Metro North Stratford station and a 5 minute drive to catch the Merritt Parkway – an ideal convenient location for commuters yet offers all of the peace and quiet of Paradise Green.

Directly neighboring this home on the adjacent corner is 91 Woodland Ave, which is also currently for sale. This neighboring home is a cute 1920 ranch bungalow with 1,181 square feet of living space. It was initially listed for $259,750 but after a price drop is now $235,000. Incredibly, this home was last sold in November 2016 for only $110,000 which was an incredible buy for this neighborhood.

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Information posted is merely the opinion of Time or Space for entertainment purposes only. All information published can be found in Town Records which is made available to the Public.

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Home Sold for $11,100 Over Asking Price in Paradise Green

One of the best streets in the Paradise Green neighborhood of Stratford, Connecticut is Reed Street. This beautiful tree-lined street with sidewalks is unique in that part of the street has mature forest land behind the odd numbered homes. While most homes in Stratford are surround by neighboring property on all four sides, a section of Reed Street has no neighbors directly behind the homes because of a wooded area offering greater privacy. This wooded area is also known for a variety of wildlife such as wild turkey, turtles, deer and white egret birds. Any additional privacy is a highly sought after resource in these quiet suburbs.

Recently, a home in this area located at 51 Reed Street sold on October 8, 2020 for $376,000 according to public records. The listing price was $364,900 which means that it has sold for $11,100 over the asking price. While we don’t know what other factors went into the deal such as agreed upon repairs or closing cost assistance, we do know it sold over the asking price by looking at public record. We do know that the bidding wars leading to highest and best offer scenarios are pushing up prices quite a bit for Paradise Green homes as of late; that may be the case here, too. Like we recently reported, it’s no secret that housing is extremely hot in this neighborhood.

This 4 bedroom 2 bathroom Cape was built in 1940 and has 1,916 square feet of living space on a 6,098 square foot lot. Before it was listed for sale, it appears that significant investment was made into it with new siding, possibly new windows, what looks like a new roof and a newly paved driveway. Additional upgrades and renovations were likely performed on the interior as well. Overall this is a really beautiful home on a quiet street.

Comparably sized renovated Capes not far from here in Fairfield, Connecticut can be found at around $500,000. So once again, Stratford is providing some good value here. However, the public school system in Fairfield features a higher rated Elementary, Middle and High School compared to Stratford, according to Great Schools rating system. The balance between space, affordability and school system quality is certainly a difficult decision to make when home shopping in Fairfield County Connecticut towns.

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Information posted is merely the opinion of Time or Space for entertainment purposes only. All information published can be found in Town Records which is made available to the Public.

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886 Riverton Terrace, Stratford, CT 06614

This prewar 1936 colonial was listed just five days ago for an incredible asking price in today’s market. For some reason the seller appeared to grossly underprice the home, at an amazing ask of $244,900. Perhaps this was a brilliant strategy to create a lot of interest and spark a bidding war. This three bedroom, one bathroom home of 1,534 square feet is on an oversized lot of 0.26 acres. Whats more remarkable is this home is on a dead end street at the very north end of Paradise Green just below the Mill River Country Club.

This home looks to be in relatively good condition for the price, with various updates already made. This dead end street is one of the best streets in Paradise Green. The dead end would almost guarantee a very livable and safe street for a family with children. Its also a very quiet street due to being a dead end, where most streets in the neighborhood have a medium amount noise because of the through-traffic.

I heard there are at least 8 other offers on the house, maybe more. I am predicting that the house will likely sell for $30,000 over the asking price – around $274,900 is my guess. Even at this price, it looks like a great buy as it is very difficult to find a solid home in this price range on a dead end street in the neighborhood. It always comes down to the location. Two equivalent homes on different streets (different surroundings) cannot truly be considered comps. I will update this post to share what the sale price is once it becomes recorded in the public town records.

Since this is a larger than usual lot (double lot) the owners of this property over the years decided not to subdivide and sell the land for a new construction. Throughout Paradise Green, there are very few original lots of this size remaining, as most were split off and sold during the boom years of construction. Who can blame them? It must have been tempting to subdivide and sell off some land for a profit, and perhaps then sell your own home and move. Most lots in this neighborhood are half the size, non-conforming by today’s zoning standards, and are around 0.13 of an acre. This lot is still 0.26 of an acre, so there is a nice wide space between this home and the neighboring house to the right.

With that amount of space, I would relocate the driveway to the right side of the house and tear up the current one located on the left. I would then replant that left side with a lawn and add a wall of emerald green arbor vitae plantings for additional privacy as the neighboring house is close.

Stay tuned for new blog posts coming soon where I’ll share a few other rare original “double” lots that were never subdivided. There is one property on Reed Street and another around the corner from Reed on Meritine Ave with the original double lot size. These are cool to see because you can kind of imagine what the town used to look like before World War II, when the homes were more spaced out with larger yards and less population density.

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Information posted is merely the opinion of Time or Space for entertainment purposes only. All information published can be found in Town Records which is made available to the Public.

540 Harvard Ave, Stratford, CT 06614

First up on this week’s Homes for Sale is 540 Harvard Ave in Stratford, Connecticut. Harvard Ave is a beautiful street located off of East Main Street in the Paradise Green neighborhood. This prewar Cape Cod-style home was built in 1924 according to public town records. It features two bedrooms, two bathrooms and 977 square feet of living space on a 4,792 square foot lot. This little gem also features an enclosed front porch, garage and is really well maintained and updated.

This unique home was sold in December 2016 for $221,500 which we believe was a great value buy at the time. After performing extensive renovations and investing into the property, the house was again on the market August 2020 for $249,900. In today’s market I believe this home is slightly underpriced and would be better priced for the seller in the $265,000 range based on the demand in this area and the excellent condition and location of the home.

The Town of Stratford, Connecticut last performed a town-wide reevaluation of properties for tax purposes in 2019. Property taxes dropped from $5,557 in 2019 to $5,178 in 2020 on this home, which is a modest decrease and overall a positive sign for the town going forward. Historically, property taxes and the mill rate in Stratford have been high relative to surrounding towns.

What’s unique about this cute home is that it has a twin, right next door. This home’s twin is located at 550 Harvard Ave (pictured below) which was also built in 1924. It is also a two bedroom home, though it has one bathroom. It is in equally wonderful condition for a prewar home in Paradise Green. These two homes were likely built by the same builder and are the exact same house – or at least they were in 1924. Talk about finding a similar comp! It’s also interesting to mention: 2020 property taxes for 550 Harvard are $5,588; more than its twin despite having one less bathroom.

550 Harvard Ave

550 Harvard Ave last sold for $229,000 in January 2018 which was also a great buy for a wonderfully updated home on this quiet street. I continue to admire the twins of Harvard Ave on our neighborhood walks around Paradise Green.

Check out the slider below to do a side by side comparison of these homes!

540 Harvard Ave + 550 Harvard Ave Comparison

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Information posted is merely the opinion of Time or Space for entertainment purposes only. All information published can be found in Town Records which is made available to the Public.

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