Happy Thanksgiving!

From our home to yours, we’re wishing all of our clients, community, team members, friends and family a very happy Thanksgiving! We’re very grateful each of you and the work we do with you every day.

Ridgefield offers an incredible amount of fun family activities, and there are plenty of events scheduled this weekend if you’re looking for something to do with guests who are in town for the holiday:

  1. We are proud to once again sponsor the Thanksgiving Day 5K Turkey Trot benefitting the Ridgefield Boys & Girls Club. Visit https://register.chronotrack.com/r/53995 to register.
  2. The Ridgefield Theater Barn is thrilled to bring The Traveling Lantern Theatre Company to the Barn for a Theater for Young Audiences (TYA) production based on the Dickens’ classic for two performances on Saturday! This show is geared for young audiences and their families. There is a talkback with the cast after each show. Visit https://ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org/ for details and tickets!
  3. Head to Main Street on Friday at 6pm to see downtown all lit up for the annual Holiday Tree Lighting, with a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus at Lounsbury House.
  4. The Great Trains Holiday Show opens Friday at the Wilton Historical Society. Historic 18th and 19th century buildings are charmingly decorated and transformed into a train-lovers delight with many different model train layouts winding through tiny towns with a variety of buildings, tunnels and all sorts of delightful animals showing up in unexpected places! Visit https://calendar.hamlethub.com/c/wilton-ct-us/events/614853-great-trains-holiday-show for details and tickets.
  5. Head to the Winter Garden Theater on Friday starting at 2:30pm for The Erik F Hoag alumni game, an awesome tradition that raises funds to support a scholarship for one graduating senior. Register here to play, or purchase tickets at the door: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7OFrHP47WTBuDUNpha_axtZmXUdDyt8ErbaS9KQ1krkhJBQ/viewform.
  6. Support the Ridgefield Library by shopping at Books on the Common Friday through Sunday. Show your Ridgefield Library card at the cash register, and 15% of the proceeds of the purchase will be donated by the bookstore to the Library.
  7. West Side Story returns to the big screen to celebrate its 60thAnniversary!  Bonus content includes exclusive insights from Turner Classic Movies primetime hosts! Watch it Sunday at 3pm or 7pm at the Ridgefield Playhouse. Visit https://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/event/west-side-story-60th-anniversary/ for tickets.

 

 

Karla Murtaugh Honored at Boys & Girls Club Gala

The Ethan Allen Hotel ballroom and foyer were transformed on Saturday, November 6th for the return of the annual Boys & Girls Club “Great Futures Celebration” gala. Honoring both the 2020 and 2021 recipients of the Champion for Youth awards, and highlighting speeches by Club staff, supporters, and youth, the evening went off without a hitch. Both the silent and paddle auctions were successful in raising much needed funds to support the ongoing mission of the Club. Together with my friend Christine Carnicelli, I was lucky enough to be honored as the 2020 Champion For Youth, while Christine received the 2021 honor. After a fabulous dinner catered by Gallo, the drinks, dancing and merry making continued into the late hours of the night. Truly a gala to remember!

We Went Hiking With Llamas At Rowanwood Farm!

It was a beautiful fall day in Connecticut when two members of the Karla Murtaugh Homes team joined Ridgefield & Wilton Magazine owner Dee Dee Colabella on a llama hiking experience in Newtown. Rowanwood Farm is Connecticut’s only mini llama hiking adventure company. The Peruvian, Bolivian, Chilean, and Argentinian mini llamas are part of their family and they are always looking for new and exciting ways to share them with others.

Some interesting facts about llamas:

  • They live to between 25 and 30 years old
  • They don’t like to be pet – in fact, in a herd they hardly ever touch each other
  • They like to give kisses by bringing their nose up to yours
  • They like water
  •  They can be trained to go to the bathroom communally in one place!

What an adventure!!

Ridgefield October Market Report – A More Normal Market Returns

October 2021 Prices Remain High Even As Number of Sales Fall
In a turnaround from 2020s frenzied fall market, 2021 presents with sales figures more similar to the seasonal nature of 2019. With the majority of homes closing in October being purchased after the start of school, it is no surprise that the number of sales decreased as it does in a more normal market. As a comparison, October 2020 saw 131 homes sold, while only 32 closed in 2021 and 42 in 2019. Overall sales figures also showed a similar pattern for October 2021 with a 71% decrease from October 2020, but only a 2% decrease when compared to 2019. The overall sales volume in October 2021 was $32,004,400. On the flip side, both the median and average sales prices remain high when comparing past years. The October 2021 median sales price sits at $794,500 which is 9% higher than $730,000 in 2020, and 30% higher than $611,250 in 2019. The average sale price was $1,000,153 in October 2021; 17% higher than $850,161 in 2020, and 28% higher than $779,349 in 2019.


Year To Date Sales Compare Favorably To 2020
While the monthly sales show a return to seasonality, overall the year to date sales and values show an increase over 2020. From January to October 2021 a total of 424 homes sold, which is comparable to the 435 homes changing hands by this time last year. The overall sales volume was actually up 15% during the same time as last year coming in at $397,473,336 in 2021. Median and average values also showed steady increases. The median value to date sits at $822,500 compared to $690,500 in 2020; an increase of 19%. The average value is up 18% from 2020 at $937,437 compared to $795,420.

What Lies Ahead?
While it’s impossible to predict the real estate market, we are seeing sales steady out at more normal levels across all price points. Inventory is still unnervingly low going into the holiday season, but we’re hoping that the increased values and more certainty about Covid-19 leads to increasing consumer confidence. Real estate has become a solid investment throughout the pandemic, and it will be interesting to see if the trend of urban to suburban moves continues or reverses itself in the coming year.