paradise green – time or space

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

March 13, 2021Blog, connecticut, Homes for Sale, paradise green, StratfordLeave a Comment

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

November 8, 2020November 9, 2020Blog, connecticut, Homes for Sale, new construction, paradise green, Stratford, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

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!

1929 Colonial at 104 Newtown Ave in Stratford, Connecticut

October 30, 2020October 30, 2020Blog, connecticut, paradise green, Stratford, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

This picture-perfect 1929 Colonial is located at 104 Newtown Ave in Stratford, Connecticut. According to public tax records, it appears that until recently, this home had been occupied by the same owner since 1955! Truly amazing. Newtown ave is a quiet, tree lined street in the Paradise Green neighborhood just steps from Motil Pond.

There are several large prewar homes like this one in the area built in the same style with architecturally steep roof arches and a rounded front door. It is wonderful to see the original rounded front doors kept on these homes, a big part of their historic charm. See another similar door in yesterday’s post here.

It appears that this home may have just recently sold for $369,000 on October 6, 2020.

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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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English Tudor Cottage Style 1928 Home in Stratford, Connecticut

October 29, 2020October 29, 2020Blog, connecticut, paradise green, Stratford, Uncategorized2 Comments

Stratford, Connecticut has a wonderful variety of home styles, and if you look hard enough, you’ll find some really unique prewar homes around town. Before World War II, during the roaring 1920’s, ornate and complex building styles were embraced as materials, money and labor was abundant. During the war however, everything was scaled back as many resources were dedicated to the war effort. Today, we can appreciate prewar homes for the special time in which they were constructed. They just don’t build them like this anymore.

This English Tudor cottage style home is located at 919 Wilcoxson avenue in Paradise Green. The round arched front door is still original and is set back in 3-4 layers of brick arches. The craftsmanship and detailed masonry work that was done on this home could only be created during prewar times. Priorities forever changed in 1939, and period homebuilding in particular provides this signature in history we can forever look back on.

This home was built in 1928, and is located in Stratford’s Paradise Green on Wilcoxson Ave, just a few hundred yards from Donut Crazy on Main Street. The home is featured on page seventy of Stratford Historical Society’s Images of America: Stratford.

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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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Muted Purple and Pink Toned 1920 Bungalow in Stratford, Connecticut

October 28, 2020October 28, 2020Blog, connecticut, paradise green, Stratford, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

One home that has always caught my eye in Stratford’s Paradise Green neighborhood is a 1920 Bungalow at 62 Glenwood Ave. This historic home is now 100 years old and looks as well designed as it ever has. The exterior has a sun-kissed, muted pink and purple tone that looks wonderful as the afternoon sun hits the front door. A red maple tree stands tall out front, a tree which must be at least one-hundred years old, too. Mature neighborhoods just exude a charm that new developments just can’t recreate.

According to public tax records, it has not been sold since 1991. That’s not surprising; why would one ever leave this special home’s great location? Take a look at the dead-end road it sits upon at the corner of Reed Street. The street is lined with maple trees that tower above the homes bursting with fall color. This street view could be right out of a scene from a 1982 Hollywood movie, like Steven Spielberg’s E.T.

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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 at 224 Wakelee Ave Stratford, Connecticut

October 27, 2020October 27, 2020Blog, connecticut, new construction, paradise green, Stratford, Uncategorized1 Comment

The home at 244 Wakelee Ave in Stratford is a very nice Cape Cod originally built in 1949. It was in a very rundown state as of September 2017, when it was sold to a developer who completely renovated the home. The vacant lot at 224 Wakelee ave (to the left of the home) appears to have also been a part of the sale of number 244. The total deal value was $256,750 for both pieces of property. The renovated home at 244 Wakelee Ave was sold in January 2018 for $344,500 according to public record.

Site of Former Vacant Lot at 224 Wakelee Ave in Stratford, Connecticut

Several years later, it appears that the once vacant and overgrown lot is finally being put to work. To see what the vacant lot originally looked like on Google Street View, click here. A brand new home (pictured above) has been newly constructed on the property at 224 Wakelee Ave and looks to be a real show stopper. The construction team did an incredible job, and we can’t wait to see the finished product soon.

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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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Longbrook Park in Stratford, Connecticut

October 26, 2020October 26, 2020Blog, connecticut, paradise green, Stratford, Uncategorized1 Comment

One of the most unique parks in the Fairfield County town of Stratford, Connecticut is Longbrook Park. Yesterday, we posted here about a new home overlooking the park which is going to hit the market soon. This park has new athletic fields where baseball and football games are held, along with a track and children’s playground. One hundred years ago this property was actually a swamp and farm land which was converted to a park in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The land was donated to the town by Elliot Peck.

In August of 1912, the U.S. Army arrived in Stratford to perform military training exercises. This was known as the Camp Lee war maneuvers that took place along the park’s current area and Walter Wilcoxson’s neighboring farm land. Today, the farm land is long gone, developed for suburban homes in Paradise Green. What’s left is the 34 acre park we know today. For amazing original historic photos of the camp in 1912, see this book on Stratford here.

Do you have a favorite park in your town? Does it have a unique history like Stratford? Let us know in the comments below.

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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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1939 Colonial at 9 Elk Terrace, Stratford, Connecticut

October 25, 2020October 25, 2020Blog, connecticut, paradise green, Stratford, Uncategorized1 Comment

The 1939 Colonial home at 9 Elk Terrace in Stratford, Connecticut has been under construction and renovation most of 2019 and 2020. It appears the home will be finished soon and will hit the market shortly. This large home has been expanded and completely renovated top to bottom and it looks like a new house. They have done an incredible job at this property.

The home sits right at the end of Elk Terrace and corner of Glendale road overlooking Brewster’s Pond. From the front of the house, you can see the entrance to Longbrook Park. It is an ideal location for a family with children, just a short walk to athletic fields, the park, Brewster’s Pond or across the pond up to the shops and restaurants on Main Street in Stratford.

The view of 9 Elk Terrace from Longbrook Park

One thing is for sure: when this property finally hits the market there might be a bidding war to win this home. A great comp for this home is 59 Elk Terrace, a few houses down, which just went contingent. That home was listed on the market in October 2020 for $424,900. Number 59 has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and 1,861 square feet. If I were to guess, this house might hit the market in the $450,000 range.

Here you can see the park on a Sunday afternoon in Autumn, 2020. A football team practice together in the distance, and the youth playground is pictured in the foreground. From the back of the home, a view of Brewster’s pond is in full view. Imagine all of the mindful moments you could enjoy looking out at the ducks floating across the pond from your living room window.

The home sits above large stone retaining walls along the paved path that is popular with walkers, runners and families pushing strollers. This quiet area of Paradise Green was one of Stratford’s best kept secrets. With the influx of New Yorkers snapping up homes in town this year, the secret is out.

According to public tax records, it appears this home was kept with one family from 1940 through at least 2006. The home was sold in September 2019 for an incredible low price of $169,100. The property has been under construction since about that time.

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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

October 22, 2020October 23, 2020Blog, connecticut, Homes for Sale, paradise green, Stratford, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

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.

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.

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.

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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 Smallest Single Family Home in Stratford’s Paradise Green

October 20, 2020October 23, 2020Blog, connecticut, paradise greenLeave a Comment

If you walk down the beautiful tree lined sidewalks of Paradise Green, a tiny, yellow home just might go unnoticed as you pass by. Not me, I think about that tiny gem every time. You are not forgotten, tiny home.

223 Reed Street is, what I believe to be, the smallest single family home in the Paradise Green neighborhood. It may even be the smallest home in all of Stratford. This one bedroom, one bathroom house has only 492 square feet of living space. That’s the area of a generously sized one-bedroom New York City apartment!

The lot size is also abnormally small, coming in at 3,920 square feet. Most older homes like this have non-conforming lot sizes which really just means that houses were built too close together by today’s standards. Most non-conforming lots are in the 5-6,000 square foot range, making 3,920 exceptionally small. These details might just give us a clue as to what was going on in the world when this home was built.

In September and October of 1929, Wall Street experienced the Great Crash. This crash happened long before safety measures were put in place to limit trading and protect people during a panic-causing market sell off. This was a very difficult time in America, one which put an end to the success of the roaring 1920’s. The recession that followed ultimately led to smaller homes being constructed and more modest investments.

This small yellow abode was built in 1930, right in the period of time where funding new construction must have been quite difficult. As someone who lives in a small 1930’s home myself, I often think about how the economy must have affected the lives of the people who lived in these small homes. While some who pass by may look down upon these unassuming homes, one thing is certain: those who live and have lived in them, are grateful to have them.

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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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