Stratford real estate – 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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Edward Dillon Flower Shop Building Circa 1910

November 1, 2020November 1, 2020Blog, connecticut, StratfordLeave a Comment

To follow up with yesterday’s Halloween post, this wonderful building circa 1910 was looking rather macabre this October. The store front’s windows are filled with witches, pumpkins and a haunted New England charm that only a town like Stratford can provide. The town of Stratford was established in 1639, some fifty years before the Salem Witch trials took place.

This building has long been the home of Edward Dillon Flowers since the 1970’s. Long before it was a flower shop, this small building was a grocery store called WM Lawrence Groceries. You could buy roast beef, coffee and penny candy inside. The building is pictured on page 24 of Stratford’s Postcard History Series available here. Today the original awning and front steps into the building are gone. It would be interesting to know if the original store sign is still around in an attic, barn, or collection.

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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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New Construction Completed on Lordship’s Margherita Lawn

October 21, 2020October 23, 2020Blog, connecticut, Lordship, new constructionLeave a Comment

Remember last week’s post about the rare double lots in Stratford, Connecticut? Well, it looks like another one has bitten the dust with the completion of a new subdivision. The owner at 98 Margherita Lawn has subdivided the property and sold it off for a new house to be constructed next door – or so we think. Based on town records, this empty lot next to 98 Margherita Lawn was last sold in 2004 for $74,166. It was just recently sold to a property developer in February 2019 for $130,000.

The owner of 98 Margherita Lawn appears to have also sold their house on August 20 of this year 2020 for $480,000. That home was last purchased in 2004 for $74,166. With the home sale and lot sale combined, that is not a bad payday! With home prices in Stratford getting frothy again, it looks like the property owner made a great choice cashing in and moving on. Then again, they will no longer live in this great community a short walk to the beach.

Taxes on the home in 2004 are listed as being $4,669. In 2020, property taxes have swelled to an incredible $11,771. That represents a 152% increase in property taxes in that period; meanwhile median wage growth has averaged only 3% growth per year. To see actual wage growth rate charts click here. Town governments can make it hard to hold onto a good thing.

So, what was constructed on this lot that sold for $130,000? A beautiful new cape style home with three dormer windows has just reached completion, and looks like it will be 100% complete very soon. With new construction there is no need to worry about home repair for a long time, which is a huge plus. We’ll keep you updated when the listing goes live.

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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

October 16, 2020October 22, 2020Blog, connecticut, Homes for Sale, paradise green, Stratford1 Comment

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

October 16, 2020October 23, 2020Blog, connecticut, Homes for Sale, paradise green, Stratford, Uncategorized1 Comment

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

October 15, 2020October 23, 2020Blog, connecticut, Homes for Sale, paradise green, Stratford, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

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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Housing is Hot in Stratford’s Paradise Green Neighborhood

October 12, 2020October 23, 2020Blog, connecticut, paradise green, Stratford5 Comments

Paradise Green is a quaint North-end neighborhood in the Fairfield County suburb of Stratford. This neighborhood is nestled along the beautiful Housatonic River that empties out into Long Island Sound next to Milford. It’s located above I95 and below the route 15 Merritt Parkway. In the center of the neighborhood is Paradise Green Park, a large triangular shaped green situated between Huntington road and Main Street where the farmers market operates during the summer months.

The Paradise Green neighborhood is within walking distance to Longbrook Park, which is next to beautiful new athletic fields, and offers many shops and restaurants on Main Street. On Main Street you’ll find brick oven fired pizza, a wine shop, an American tavern, a donut shop, bakeries, coffee shops, Italian restaurants and more. This area is excellent for commuters due to its convenient location. Paradise Green residents will enjoy a 5 minute drive up north to get on the Merritt Parkway or a 5 minute drive south down to the Stratford metro north train station.

Fairfield County is now experiencing a very hot seller’s market this year due to several factors; read more about that here. Paradise Green is arguably one of the best neighborhoods in Stratford due to its convenient location, good schools and amenities. This neighborhood has beautiful mature tree-lined streets with sidewalks, offering a high quality of living in a peaceful suburban setting that’s perfect for families. New York City transplants and Connecticut homebuyers looking for a safe and affordable place to call home often land here.

Homes in this area are well-kept and often extensively updated with a wide range of styles to choose from. Smaller ranch homes, two story colonials and a mix of large and small pre-war homes can be found here. Pre-war homes are more rare as the building boom in town didn’t take place until the post-war years once servicemen returned home. With the support of the 1944 GI bill promoting home ownership, low interest mortgages helped fuel the growth of the suburbs.

The Great Recession from 2007-2009 had a large impact here in Town. Foreclosed homes resulting from this recession were still widely available in 2015-2016 when I began looking at homes in Stratford. However, from 2015-2019 home prices recovered dramatically, nearing pre-recession levels. The pandemic in 2020 has further pushed the already hot market into an even hotter one, with homes going under contract within a day or two and prices at or above historical peaks.

Even with home prices continuing to rise, Stratford still offers the best value proposition in Fairfield County today. Beautifully updated 3 bedroom homes in the $350,000 price range in Stratford would easily reach into the $500,000 range and beyond in the town of Fairfield, just over 10 minutes drive away. While these two towns offer different benefits, the fact remains that Paradise Green offers quite a lot for those looking to affordably break into a Fairfield County town on the metro north train line.

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