Happy Thanksgiving From The 33rd Annual Turkey Trot!

In the spirit of promoting good health and Thanksgiving cheer, every year I proudly sponsor the Boys and Girls Club of Ridgefield’s Turkey Trot 5K, and this year was no exception. Despite the weather, I joined the record crowd of runners and onlookers. It never ceases to amaze me how much community spirit our little town manages to muster and how fortunate we are to have organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club in our community. Every year this wonderful organization provides after school care, and community focused leadership and philanthropic groups to keep our youth engaged in supporting themselves and the community.

The words of the Boys and Girl’s Club Mission Statement sum it up:

To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

I’m also reminded of a quote I came across recently:

“The majority of us lead quiet, unheralded lives as we pass through this world. There will most likely be no ticker-tape parades for us, no monuments created in our honor. But that does not lessen our possible impact, for there are scores of people waiting for someone just like us to come along; people who will appreciate our compassion and our unique talents. Someone will live a happier life merely because we took the time to share what we had to give. Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have potential to turn a life around. It is overwhelming to consider the continuous opportunities there are to make our love felt.”
– Leo Buscaglia

So to everyone who came out to support loved ones, the Boys and Girl’s Club and our community, I say thank you and I hope you are having a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Ridgefield Safest Town In Connecticut

As reported in the Danbury News-Times, the personal finance website ValuePenguin.com researched 2012 crime numbers in 90 municipalities across the state and published its analysis last week. If you judge mainly by the prevalence of violent crime — or the lack of it — Ridgefield is the safest place to live in Connecticut.

Ridgefield led seven other Fairfield County communities that ranked among the state’s 10 safest — including Darien, Wilton, Redding, New Canaan and Greenwich.

“We’ve always fared well when it comes to safety, and I think it has a lot to do with the sense of community that we have and the caring that neighbors do for each other,” said First Selectman Rudy Marconi to the News-Times. “But it also has to do with luck. If you had a social scientist analyze what we are doing here, you wouldn’t find it any different than what they are doing in Wilton and New Canaan and Redding.”

The rankings correspond to an index number based on the assumption that violent crimes such as murder and rape are much more of a safety concern to people than property crime. The state average was 336.

Ridgefield’s violent crime index was Connecticut’s lowest at 39 — even compared to towns with similar geography and demographics. The state’s cities had higher index numbers and were deemed more dangerous.

In Ridgefield, Marconi said the police department deserved credit for the top safety score but added the town’s generous spirit of volunteerism and its culture of compassion was equally responsible for the strong sense of security.

With a host of cultural and volunteer opportunities available to residents, it’s easy to see why a strong sense of community is fostered in Ridgefield. The upcoming Ridgefield Holiday Stroll, Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5K benefitting the Boys and Girls Club, recent opening of the Prospector Theater which employs adults with disabilities, as well as a myriad of community groups and organizations all working together for the common good of Ridgefield and surrounding area residents, lends itself to a strong sense of “watching out for your neighbor.”

If you’re looking move into Connecticut’s #1 small town, contact us at karla@neumannrealestate.com or call/text 203-856-5534.

Ridgefield Market Report for October 2014

October was a mixed month for Ridgefield single family housing sales. The median sales price
decreased significantly from $680,000 in October 2013 to $560,000 in October 2014, which represents a drop of 17.6% The number of properties that sold also decreased from 23 in October 2013 to 12 during the same time this year – a 47.8% decrease. However, the good news is that the properties entering escrow/under contract rose sharply to 35 from 23 in October 2013 – an increase of 52.2%. Overall, sales and median price are still lagging behind last year’s numbers as we head into the Holiday season.

MEDIAN SALES PRICE and CLOSED SALES
October 2014 saw the median price of a property in Ridgefield decrease significantly from $680,000 in 2013 to $580,000, and the number of properties sold also decreased to 12 in October 2014, compared to 23 during the same time period last year. Overall, on the year-to-date, the median price has increased 3.5% over 2013, rising from $650,000 to $672,500. Closed sales are lower than the same time period last year with a total of 282 properties closing since the beginning of the year compared to 337 by this time least year, a decrease of 16.3%.

PROPERTIES UNDER CONTRACT
Reflecting strong sales, the number of properties under contract in October 2014 increased by 52.2% over the same time last year, with 35 entering escrow compared to 23 last year. In the year-to-date figures, 311 properties have opened escrow since the beginning of 2014, as compared to 324 over the same time period last year.

DAYS ON MARKET and INVENTORY
The days a listed home spends on the market continues to decrease in 2014 with properties spending an average of 152 days on the market during October 2014, as compared to 172 days last year. Overall, in year-to-date figures, the days on market has decreased by 24.2%. The months supply of inventory has also decreased to just 9.5 months, from 14.7 months during the same time last year.

NEW PROPERTIES FOR SALE
The number of new properties listed in September totaled 39, which is down from last year’s 46 properties. In the year-to-date figures, 2013 outpaced 2014 for properties listed 610 to 594, a decrease of 2.6%.

For a full graphical analysis of Ridgefield’s October 2014 real estate market, download the report. You can also take advantage of my complimentary Comparative Market Analysis to find out what your home’s worth.

http://108.179.243.173/~d5o7l0g4/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/KMMReport-Oct-2014.pdf

Once In A Lifetime Opportunity To Tour Deer Run

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26 Giles Hill Road, Redding, CT 06896

Sunday, November 9, 1:00-4:00pm

Fabulous Mission Style Manor Home Resides on Pristine Farmland and Connecticut Forest

Under big skies… 1 hour from NYC… 300 breathtaking acres…
Scenic vistas, a lake for boating and fishing, age-old cattle trails, stonewalls, and pristine forests make this unique offering unmatched anywhere in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Whether you want to stable horses, raise cattle, design your own executive golf course, cultivate a vineyard, or simply live a life of peace and splendor, Deer Run’s 300 ranch acres are the answer. Historically used as a cattle-grazing farm, deep stonewalls line the 130 acres of fertile pasture, while hiking and riding trails meander through the additional 170 acres of timberland and orchards. A 7-acre lake, boathouse, and naturally occurring ponds and water sources dot the property. The private, 7 bedroom, 9 bath Mission-style Manor home was designed to permit distant views from every room, and provides numerous indoor and outdoor amenities such as indoor and outdoor pools, an indoor basketball court, tennis court and a billiards room. Caretakers quarters available. Consisting of five land parcels, acreage options and subdivision possibilities exist. Don’t miss out. Join us for this fabulous opportunity!!

AT-A-GLANCE