Tag Archive for: Community

Ridgefield 2021 Year End Market Report

The 2021 Real Estate Market maintained momentum but felt less panicked than in 2020. The number of sales decreased slightly from 556 to 482 mostly due to a lack of inventory, which remains challenging. Buyers are still out in force and homes are selling in 60 days on average, as opposed to 70 days in 2020. The overall sales volume only differed by $38,000 from 2020 on a total sales volume of $451,645,946. Homes also generally sold at or above asking.

Looking ahead, while it continues to be a seller’s market, the frenzied pace of 2020 has subsided to a dull roar. There are still plenty of buyer’s looking for homes, and with mortgage rates expected to rise slightly – although still remaining historically low – there is a sense of urgency to find the perfect property. Inventory remains the biggest challenge, but we are encouraged already this year with many sellers’ reaching out to begin the process of listing their home. Ridgefield has benefited from continued remote work options and the quality of life and vibrancy of our town is clearly getting noticed. We also continue to see Ridgefield residents trading up and down in this market, which speaks volumes for our community.

SEE THE FULL REPORT HERE

Ridgefield Highlights

• There was a 13% decrease in the number of homes sold in 2021 compared to 2020
• There was a 15% increase in the median sales price year over year
• There was a 15% increase in the average sales price year over year
• Homes priced in the $1.0 to $1.25 million range saw an increase from 47 to 70 sales this year
• The higher end of the Ridgefield luxury market – over $2 million – saw huge gains with 19 sales in 2021 compared to 11 in 2020
• The highest value home sold in Ridgefield in 2021 was $6.6 million

Fairfield County

2021 continued to boast favorable market conditions for towns throughout Fairfield County. While many places saw double digit growth in median sales value, the number of sales decreased year over year in most areas. Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk and Stamford were exceptions to this rule and experienced large gains in both the number and value of their single-family home sales. Weston experienced an unprecedented growth in median sales price (35%) over 2020. As is being felt everywhere, if inventory stays fluid, we expect to continue to see price and the number of sales hold steady

Things To Do During The Holidays!

From our home to yours, we’re wishing all of our clients, community, team members, friends and family a very happy holiday season!

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

1. Karla Murtaugh Homes is proud to be the Presenting Sponsor for the ‘Home for the Holidays’ event at Lounsbury House, which will feature select decorated trees for display in the first floor windows. Festive Holiday music will play on the veranda throughout the day and into the evening. Visitors are invited to walk the grounds and view the beautiful window tree displays. For details please visit lounsburyhouse.org/event/home-for-the-holidays-fundraiser.

2. “Dancing with the Stars” pros Keo Motsepe and Anna Trebunskaya along with other celebrity dancers from “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance” bring the only area performance of Dance to the Holidays to The Ridgefield Playhouse on Sunday, December 19, 2021 at 4pm. For details please visit https://news.hamlethub.com/ridgefield/events/71180-celebrate-the-holiday-season-at-the-ridgefield-playhouse-with-dazzling-dances-holiday-classics-and-stars-from-your-favorite-tv-shows-live-on-stage.

3. The Ridgefield Theater Barn is thrilled to bring The Traveling Lantern Theatre Company to the Barn for a Theater for Young Audiences (TYA) production of Ebeneezer Scrooge based on the Dickens’ classic for two performances on Sunday, December 19! This show is geared for young audiences and their families. There is a talkback with the cast after each show. For details and tickets please visit https://ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org/

4. Take the kids to the Noon Year’s Eve Party at the Ridgefield Library on December 31 11:15am- 12pm! All ages are invited to join us as we count down to 2022 and say goodbye to 2021! Play some games, take photos in front of the photo booth, and dance until the balloon drop at noon! All registrants will receive a take-home bag with some activities and an apple juice box to toast at home! Registration required for the take-home; drop-ins welcome, but goodie bags will be while supplies last. For details please visit https://ridgefieldlibrary.librarymarket.com/events/person-noon-years-eve-party.

Stay warm, stay healthy, and enjoy the festivities!

We’ve Joined Compass!

We pride ourselves on providing the best market knowledge, the best client care, and the most comprehensive marketing to our clients. Integrity, authenticity and knowledge are our pillars of service. As such, we are thrilled to be joining Compass Ridgefield as the Founding Team, becoming part of the fastest growing, independent brokerage in the nation. Renowned for focusing innovative technology and support towards agents and clients, Compass further enhances Karla Murtaugh Homes’ commitment to an outstanding Real Estate experience. We’d love for you to reach each out to us to discover more about Compass and how we can help you with your Real Estate needs!

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!!

Happy Halloween – It’s Going To Be A Spooktastic Year!

Ridgefield offers an incredible amount of fun family activities, and that is especially apparent during the holidays. Starting with Halloween this weekend – we’re so excited the annual Halloween walk is back! If you’re new to the area, check out this list of options to celebrate the holiday:

  1. On Thursday night, October 28th 7-8 pm dress up in your favorite costume, grab a flashlight, and join Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum Educator and poet laureate Barb Jennes for Virtual Halloween Storytelling: A Contemp-BOO-rary Tale! Register here.
  2. Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center’s Ghosts of Ridgefield is a series of spooky and fun ghost tours planned for three nights only: Thursday, October 28; Friday, October 29; and Saturday, October 30. Tours are selling out quickly! For more information, click here.
  3. Do you love horses? Take a stroll through Rising Starr Horse Rescue’s spooky trail in Wilton on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Suggested donation $10. For details visit their site.
  4. The Halloween walk is back! After taking a year off during Covid, this annual tradition will return Saturday morning, October 30 when kids can trick-or-treat with Main Street merchants 10am-12pm. Be sure to stop by our office to say hello!
  5. Paranormal Park is a Halloween ghost walk fundraiser presented by the Ridgefield Fathers Club to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield this Friday, October 29 and Saturday, October 30 from 6 to 9pm at Richardson Park, 729 N Salem Rd, Ridgefield. Click for more information.
  6. The Norwalk Historical Society’s popular fundraiser, “A Haunting at Mill Hill” is back in person at the old graveyard at Mill Hill Historic Park for its 11th season on Saturday evening, October 30 6:30-7:30pm. Click here for more details.
  7. The Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary will host its second annual free SANCTUARY SPOOKTACULAR in Newtown on October 31st from 2-4pm! Explore “haunted trails” while you crunch the leaves below your feet. Collect stickers for each “spooky” find in a woodland scavenger hunt and leave some suet treats for wildlife along the way. Register today to reserve your spot.
  8. St. Stephen’s Church will show the 1922 silent film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, with its eerie gothic feel on Sunday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m. on a large screen in the sanctuary at 353 Main St. And, just as in the silent movie era, an organ – the St. Stephen’s organ, played by Alcee Chriss III – will provide live accompaniment. Suggested donation $20. Register here.

What to Consider When Upsizing or Downsizing

As we discussed in our recent Q3 Market Report, the market is still very busy although we are seeing the “panic” situation of late 2020 receding a little. Homes that are in good condition and priced correctly are still seeing lots of interest, but it is not as frenzied as in previous months.

Our days on market and months of inventory continue at record lows and are a matter of concern given the number of buyers still looking to make the move to the suburbs. With in- office work returning, high crime in many urban areas, and stubbornly low interest rates, it behooves sellers looking to move to jump into the market.

Taking all of this into consideration, many people are currently thinking about upsizing or downsizing. Many families’ needs have changed and their current homes no longer serve their lifestyle appropriately. But figuring out the perfect size home for your family can be difficult. Often, we don’t know exactly how we’ll use a space until we’re in it (and then it could be too late!).

If you’re considering either upsizing or downsizing, we recommend you contemplate the following:

  • Think about your current home. Are there rooms you never use? Are there rooms that are packed to bursting? Do you have enough storage space? Are you bumping into family members when trying to get out the door at night or make dinner at night?
  • Think about the future. Do you have young kids who will only occupy more space as they grow? Or do you have kids who are about to leave the nest and free up a certain amount of square footage?
  • Think about your lifestyle. Do you wish you had more space to entertain and have overnight guests? You might want to upsize. Are you spending more time away from home and don’t want the maintenance that goes along with a larger home? You might be ready to downsize.
  • Think about your budget. Is a smaller mortgage payment one reason you’d like to downsize? Or has your financial outlook improved enough to take on more of a mortgage in exchange for the lifestyle that will go along with it?

As we move into the traditionally slower holiday season, prices are still up but we hope for a more balanced market as we head into 2022. So, if you have been reevaluating your lifestyle and think that making a move would be good for you, now is the time! We offer a complimentary market analysis and would be happy to provide you with a concrete analysis of what your home is worth. For buyers, our expertise in negotiating in a strong seller’s market means you will get unparalleled representation in a competitive marketplace. Contact us today at 203-856-5534 or karla@karlamurtaugh.com.

Karla Murtaugh & Christine Carnicelli Honored By BGCR

The Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield is having their Great Futures Celebration Supporting our Kids, Our Families and Our Club Community on Saturday, November 6th and I am so proud to be honored as the 2020 Champion for Youth! Together with my friend Christine Carnicelli, who is being honored as the 2021 Champion for Youth, we will join a host of community members to celebrate our wonderful local club.

BGCR rose to the occasion, met each challenge, and stayed true to the mission of helping those that need them the most throughout the past years. They truly rallied to do ‘Whatever It Takes’ for the youth and families in our community. Join us and support the Great Futures Celebration at the Ethan Allen Hotel. It wouldn’t be a celebration without all of you!

In addition to Christine and myself, the club will also be presenting Jess Murphy Podrazky with the Boys & Girls Club of America’s National Service to Youth Award recognizing a decade of service to the Club.

Of course, the BGCR also hopes to raise some much-needed funds for our Club members’ Great Futures. Our promise to youth is to continue to be a pillar of support for them, no matter the obstacles they may be facing, and with your help at the Great Futures Celebration, we know we will be able to fulfill this promise.