Tag Archive for: Community

Fairfield County Schools Produce High Marks and High Prices

The old adage that says “education is the best investment” may not only be true about investing in learning. Realtor.com’s recent survey shows that parents are willing to pay a sharp premium to be in towns with great schools, which is great news for homeowners in Fairfield County.

According to the survey, 63 percent would go without a pool or spa, 50 percent would give up accessible shopping, and about 40 percent would be willing to give up an extra room or nearby trails and parks. A full 90 percent of home buyers ranked school boundaries as a top concern when purchasing a house. While housing values are still down, but quickly rising, it means that moving to a town with great schools is not only good for your kids, but it might also be great for your finances when the time comes to sell.

Fairfield County, beyond its rustic charm and convenient location, is home to some of the best schools in the country. Ridgefield High School was ranked #4 among Connecticut high schools, just behind the other Fairfield County towns of Darien and Weston. Ninety-nine percent of seniors graduate each year – a sterling record by any standard – and 91% of its 2013 graduating class went on to 4-year colleges, among them the Princeton, Dartmouth, Cornell, Columbia, the University of Chicago, and MIT. The entire Ridgefield Public School system is ranked top 10 in Connecticut. Between the beautiful town, plentiful parks, and educational excellence, Ridgefield emerges as an optimal place to own a home.

As the world becomes more connected, education has become an invaluable commodity. As such, places like Fairfield County, whose schools are truly among their greatest assets, are sure to rise in value. Ridgefield and the surrounding towns have a long history of producing excellent students and providing an ideal environment for young minds.

If you’re interested in moving to Ridgefield, sign up to receive the latest new home listings delivered right to your inbox, or contact me to see how I can work with you to find you a great home in Connecticut’s Number 1 ranked town.

Ridgefield Equestrian Property Listed For $55 Million

A former dairy farm owned by one of Canada’s most important rail men is heading to market for $55,000,000. The property, which spans over 100 acres, features luxe accommodations for horses and humans alike. Hunter Harrison, the current owner, had planned on settling down at the property indefinitely, but after once again returning to the rail industry and spending much of his time elsewhere, he has decided to sell. Surrounded on all sides by rolling hills, the property takes full advantage of the considerable natural beauty in Ridgefield.

Stretching along both sides of Old Stagecoach Road, the expansive estate features a range of equestrian and human amenities. For the horses, Harrison installed a 3.5 acre jumping field, two barns, indoor and outdoor riding rings, and multiple enclosed outdoor areas. In addition to their gorgeous barns, the horses have access to an equine spa and treadmill.

No expense was spared for two-legged inhabitants of the farm either. The property features two smaller homes in addition to the 14,500 square foot main house. Even with a lavishly appointed living room featuring 38 foot ceilings and multiple fireplaces, the main home is easy to overlook in light of the sheer variety and quality of the property’s amenities. In addition to the extensive equestrian facilities, the home is equipped to meet any sportsman’s desires. It also features a 7-car garage, a golf room with virtual golf, a wine cellar, and a koi pond. Rounding out the home’s recreational features are a Jacuzzi spa and a waterfall behind the house.

This property represents the height of luxury and an exciting development in Ridgefield real estate. The owner’s choice of Ridgefield attests to the rustic charm of the town, while also confirming the relevance of Ridgefield in the current luxury market.

Sally Slater of Douglas Elliman holds the listing. She aims to expand the home’s marketing to the emerging areas of equestrian interest in the Middle East and China.

For what’s happening in the Ridgefield Real Estate market, sign up below or view my comprehensive market reviews.

Ridgefield’s Holiday Stroll Is Here!

Join us at Neumann Real Estate for the Annual Holiday Stroll on Friday, December 6 from 6-10pm. Stop by, say hi and enjoy some hospitality celebrating you, our wonderful real estate friends and clients!

holiday stroll invite

Happy Thanksgiving from the Ridgefield Turkey Trot!

Thanksgiving is always a great way to kick off the Holidays. I am thankful this year for all the wonderful individuals I have met and continue to serve in the great community of Ridgefield and surrounding Fairfield County. I couldn’t do what I do without you, and I am truly grateful.

I was pleased to once again sponsor this year’s Turkey Trot 5K in support of the wonderful Ridgefield Boys and Girls Club. The event was well attended, raising money for the Club and bringing the Ridgefield community together. The kids race was especially wonderful to witness – so many budding young athletes! And congratulations to the Karla Murtaugh team’s own Jana Williams, our intrepid runner, who braved the 28 degree temperatures and shaved 7 minutes off her previous best time!

Wishing everyone all the best for a healthy and propserous 2014.

Now Open – Ridgefield’s 16th Biennial Festival of Trees

Don’t miss out! The Ridgefield Recreations Center’s Lounsbury House is opening its doors and becoming a veritable Winter Wonderland during the 16th Biennial Festival of Trees held Thursday November 21st though Sunday, November 24th.

The house will feature decorations and a forest of beautiful, creatively decorated Christmas trees, among other holiday surprises. Almost all of the decorations will be available for purchase and a Christmas boutique will feature an array of unique gifts for the holiday season.

Special events during the weekend include a Festival Preview Party on Thursday, Nov. 21, and a Teddy Bear Tea with Mrs. Claus. The preview party will feature refreshments and hors d’ouevres. The Teddy Bear Tea will be at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23, and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24.

The Lounsbury House at the Ridgefield Community Center, 316 Main St., Ridgefield. Thursday, Nov. 21, 7-10 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 23, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $10, seniors $5, ages 6-12 $3. Teddy Bear Tea $15, Preview Party $50. 203-438-6962

Information courtesy of ctpost.com

The Christie’s Conference

Last week, Jana and I journeyed to Rockefeller Center in NYC to attend the Christie’s Northeast Conference. Joined by Russ Neumann, we had ample opportunity to learn about the Christie’s Bespoke marketing program; unique advertising avenues for us as Affiliates; how the art market mirrors the real estate market; and what interior design brings to a home.

Along with some fabulous networking, perhaps the most important nugget of information we took away from the day was that the luxury market is slowly gaining ground, and is being particularly influenced by investment from markets such as China and Russia. Armed with new contacts, new information and new resolve, we came back energized and ready to get to work helping put buyers and sellers together in meaningful transactions.

Pictured above are Karla Murtaugh and David Kornmeier of Brown Harris Stevens real estate.

Fairfield County Schools Are Making The Grade

The most recent ranking by the U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools places many Fairfield County public high schools among the Top 10 schools in Connecticut, with Wilton, Redding, Westport, Weston and Ridgefield – the real estate markets I service – making the cut. This year’s rankings within Connecticut place Weston, 3rd; Ridgefield, 4th; Wilton, 6th; Westport’s Staples High School, 7th; and Redding, 9th.

Although Fairfield County has a reputation for academic excellence, these schools constitute an extraordinary example of high standards. The rankings were assigned based on the level of proficiency in reading and mathematics, as well as the students’ performance on standardized tests and the performance of minority students.

This year’s rankings continue a well-established trend in our county. Ridgefield, for example, has maintained its ranking to within one position for a number of years. Among its 2013 graduating class are over a dozen students headed to Ivy League institutions, as well as a number of students who will matriculate to similarly impressive schools, among them the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, West Point, and the University of Chicago. Ridgefield has also had major athletic success, with students moving on to Division I sports at universities such as Princeton, Brown, and Columbia.

Ridgefield, though impressive, is not atypical. Our other towns have also performed historically well. Between the bucolic charm of historical Fairfield County and the draw of the excellent schools, our towns are all perfect choices for raising children and living well.

US News & World Report

Annual RVNA Breakfast Auction

It was an early morning celebration at the Annual Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association Spring Breakfast this morning at The Amber Colonade in Danbury. The breakfast served to bring people together to support a cause bigger than themselves, while providing some light-hearted ribbing as pillars of the community delivered coffee and juice to their friends and neighbors. But above all, the event served to raise critical funds for the organization. After some moving speeches and rowdy auctioneering, the morning adjourned at around 9:30am and was a resounding success!

In today’s healthcare, it is becoming increasingly apparent that home care services, and preventative and rehabilitative services, are of the utmost importance. Few us can say we don’t know of someone affected by a long (or short) term disability requiring rehab. Founded in 1914, the RVNA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to providing exceptional home and community health services, and supporting public health and safety. Last year RVNA provided 36,802 home care visits, 3574 vaccines, 136 free rides for seniors or those requiring transportation, and put in over 4667 volunteer hours. In addition, the organization offered rehabilitation services, paraprofessional care, medical alert services, care solutions, community health services, travel clinics for those headed abroad, pediatric services, and public health and safety solutions to those most in need.

I wholeheartedly support their wonderful work and I hope you will too. To find out more about the organization, visit the RVNA website.