Come on down and check out the SoNo Arts Celebration going on this weekend! So much to see and do and of course stop by the Spread to have a drink and some of the best food around! See you there!!
For more info visit:
The Resurrection of SoNo
The Resurrection of SoNo
Norwalk has many reasons to celebrate its City. As a lifelong resident, I know what Norwalk has to offer. One of the most successful and popular spots in town is in South Norwalk also known as SoNo. From it’s heyday in the early 1900’s to its depressed state in the 70’s. SoNo has now been resurrected to a new grandeur.
SoNo represents the vibrancy of Norwalk. It’s a wonderful place to live, visit and relax. From its night life, boutique shops and art galleries to its waterfront activities there is so much to do here. It is definitely a destination for all.
SoNo has some great options for real estate. There are charming vintage buildings that have been renovated into luxury condominiums, to newly constructed modern buildings with all types of amenities. The exposed brick, large full view windows and water views are the reason why people love the architecture. These homes come in all sorts of price points starting in the lower two hundred thousanddollar range up to one million plus for penthouse suite overlooking the water. Buyers are flocking to this area as they know the value of these properties and what they have to offer. SoNo also has a mix of commercial and multifamily dwellings as well.
You can rent properties in SoNo too! At this time there is a real demand for apartments in this area. There are lovely rentals starting at $1350 and up depending on your space requirements. The rental market is bringing in many young professionals who are working in the area. They all want to live in SoNo as it is the only place to be and it gives them a SoHo like experience without being in New York City. All within walking distance to the South Norwalk train station, you can be in Manhattan in 45 minutes.
The website www.visitsono.com is a fabulous website which gives regular updates on all the latest news and happenings in the area.
One of the biggest tourist destinations in town is the Maritime Aquarium and IMAX Theater. You can see the local marine life, exhibits, and learn about the past too. It’s very popular and a great place to take the family. If you want to dine at some of the best and trendiest restaurants in town then this is the place to be. There is a food style for every budget and taste. Some of my favorites are The Spread, Barcelona, Strada 18, Quartina Trattoria and Local Kitchen. Need a cocktail and want to sit outside? Then head over to Harlan Publick or Washington Prime two recent additions to the area. There are quite a few local breweries if that’s your thing. Sono Brewhouse, The Gingerman, Guvnors Brewery or The Beer Garden should make you happy. Kazu offers some of the best Sushi around. If you need a chocolate fix then head on over to Chocopologie on South Main Street. My favorite chocolate treat is the caramel with sea salt. Yum!
A fun thing to do on a summer day is to take a boat ride out to the Historical Sheffield Island Lighthouse. You can pick up the boat at the Seaport Dock right before the bridge in SoNo. The Norwalk Seaport Association has a new 49 passenger ferry boat just waiting to be chartered. For more information please check out their website www.seaport.org.
As SoNo continues to grow with residential and commercial space it will only make our City more attractive and increase real estate values in the future.
South Norwalk is on the edge of coming back to life. There are so many good things happening at this time we need to embrace the change and make it work for our community. What will the new rental spaces, retail and restaurants mean for our town?
Density is a good thing. More people, more success in local economy and business. Walkability is necessary and oh so wanted at this time in our growing City. I grew up in Norwalk and still live here. I am a small business owner who wants to see our City grow properly so it can prosper. We are at a point in time where the decisions made will either make or break this City. Watching the improvements that are happening now is definitely a step in the right direction. Walk down Washington Street, meet your neighbors out dining and experience the positive vibe in SoNo.
Betty Bondi
Bondi Realty Group LLC
203-899-9990
2014 Norwalk Summer Real Estate Market Update
2014 Summer Real Estate Market Update
Wonderful news for buyers and sellers! Inventory is finally increasing and a nice balance is occurring in our home marketplace. Sales numbers are up from last quarter and pending sales are looking good. Our spring market was off to a late start due to the colder than normal weather this year, but as of now the buyers and sellers are ready for action.
Here are the latest statistics from Consolidated Multiple Listing system for the second quarter.
Inventory in Norwalk is finally up compared to last quarter with 415 single family and 193 condos on the market right now. Home sales are up dramatically from the first quarter with the numbers showing an increase in sales from 101 to 176 single family homes and from 50 to 85 condos sold in the second quarter. Next quarters numbers are off to a good start at with 118 pending sales.
Westport inventory is up showing 382 single family homes and 18 condos for sale right now. Single family sales are up significantly from the first quarter. The numbers show a total of 72 sales last quarter compared to113homes and 11 condos sold within the last three months. The next quarter numbers are looking good with a total of 62 properties which are under contract at this time.
Wilton single family inventory is also up from the first quarter showing 205 single family homes as of July 1st. Condo inventory is down, showing 7 units for sale. Wilton sales are up from the first quarter. The numbers show a total of 39 sales in the first quarter compared to 76 homes and 8 condos sold within the last three months. Home sales are looking positive for the next quarter with a total of 30 under contract so far.
Our local real estate market is holding steady, despite the fact home prices are still in the adjustment phase. It is very important to listen to your experienced real estate agent when they present the Market Analysis report on your property. Careful research using recently sold properties are the best way to find the right price for your home.
Betty Bondi
Bondi Realty Group LLC
203-899-9990
Norwalk CT property tax lookup
Norwalk CT is ready to send out notices for new taxes. Did yours go up or down?
Click on the City of Norwalk link to find out http://my.norwalkct.org/eTaxbill/
Betty Bondi
Bondi Realty Group LLC
Home buyers checklist
Buying a home is like making a puzzle. Are your skills up to par?
Hire a realtor
Most buyers these days start their home search online. It can be a bit overwhelming but it’s a good way to get a feel for the housing market in your area. Be careful, the information on line is not always up to date and accurate so have your realtor work with you in finding the right listing.
What is the best way to find a Realtor who is a perfect fit for you? What is their reputation in the community? Are they honest and looking out for your best interest? Are their negotiation skills top notch? Can they keep the deal together when things start to fall apart? You want the answer to be yes to all of these questions. If you feel comfortable and the agent has all of these qualities, plus experience, good communication and happy clients then you have chosen the perfect agent for you.
Get a pre-approval
This is the next big key to the puzzle of home buying and the most important. Without funds you won’t be able to make your home buying dream come true. When looking for a bank or mortgage broker you might want to ask your Realtor for some referrals. Some banks are easier than others to work with. At the end of the day, when you select your new home, you want the bank to lend you the money. This can all fall apart in the final hour if your mortgage broker is not doing their job. I love working with small independent banks and mortgage brokers. My clients have had good luck and successfully closed on their new homes with little stress.
Find a home
You now have your Realtor and the bank pre approval in place. This is the fun part. Home shopping is exciting. You never know exactly what is inside – it’s like opening up a gift and being surprised. Yes, I know there are photos, but somehow it always looks different in person.
Hire a building inspector
It’s always worth the money to hire a qualified building inspector. Trust me, some are better than others. Your Realtor or friends should be able to suggest a few for you to call. You want to hire a company with lots of experience. Ask them what their fee will be so you can compare your options. Ask to see a sample of their report. This shows you how detailed the inspector will be.
Hire a real estate attorney
An experienced real estate attorney is priceless and a necessary part of your home buying transaction. They should definitely have good communication skills and have experience with all types of real estate transactions. Ask your Realtor for a few recommendations.
Home owners insurance
You will need to purchase a homeowners policy before the closing. This is a mortgage financing contingency. Make sure you have good coverage for your new home. This is part of your closing costs.
Set up your utility accounts
Don’t forget to call the electric company in your new neighborhood. Your Realtor can let you know who provides service in the area. Do you have gas or oil heat? You may have some choices when it comes to starting up a new account with a company in the area. Check pricing and see if they have a budget plan to make payments easier, especially during the winter months.
Move in
Find a mover in your area to help you on closing day. You have finally made it and are ready to move into your new home!! Ask your Realtor, attorney or friends who they have been happy with. There is nothing like a personal recommendation to make you feel comfortable about someone moving your precious belongings.
Everything should fall into place if you follow these suggestions. The importance of having an experienced qualified team like Bondi Realty Group LLC makes all the difference for a stress free transaction. We work with buyers and sellers in Norwalk, Westport, Wilton, Weston and lower Fairfield County. Call us today!
Betty Bondi
Bondi Realty Group LLC
203-899-9990
The Quest for the perfect Mid Century Modern home
This is the story about our client and their search for the perfect home
Two and a half years later, working within their budget, a very small amount of showings, one outbid offer and a closing from 6700 miles away my clients have found and purchased their perfect house. The style of the house they were looking for is one of the rarest forms in Fairfield County. It’s called Mid-Century modern architecture. These homes are usually situated on great pieces of property and are small in size. This unfortunately gives a perfect opportunity for someone to knock the house down and build a much larger home in its place.
Mid- Century modern architecture is sometimes called “California Contemporary and usually defined as buildings constructed between the 1940’s through the late 60’s.Typically the features include clean lines, open floor plans, walls of glass and the feeling of living within nature. These innovative architects with their simplistic styles were considered ahead of their time.
It all started with a phone call. The person on the other line wanted to know how much I knew about Mid- Century modern architecture. I told him as a Mid-Century modern enthusiast, I have a great respect for the architects like the Harvard Five who fought to be accepted in a world of traditional Colonial styles. And this is how the journey began.
We would attend the New Canaan Historical Society’s modern house tour. We would trade ideas back and forth about how the homes were designed and how some owners and contractors would change the pure style of the home to reflect a more traditional colonial décor and style. Those changes would always upset my clients.
I would always keep them updated on any properties that looked promising. Our journey took us through several different towns like Stamford, Wilton, New Canaan, old Greenwich and Weston. We bid on the famous Michael Crichton house, designed by Lanasberg and built by Hobbs. This house was a very pure example of what Mid –Century modern architecture should look like. Unfortunately we were outbid and the price went over budget. The search continued into the next year with more showings. But we just couldn’t find that pure untouched house in the right location. Some agents would have given up, but I loved going to look at all the homes, even if my clients didn’t want to bid. Fast track to January 21st 2014 and there it was. I brought my clients to the open house of a pure, perfectly sited Mid-Century modern Thomas Flemming designed house in Weston. We bid over asking price on it that day, only to be out bid again. But we were not going to lose this one and after going back and forth and winning over the sellers, the closing took place on April 11th while my clients were away. I finally had the pleasure of handing Roger and Betty the key to their new home on April 29, 2014.
So the journey doesn’t end here. I have made two great friends and I will someday get that call again and someone on the other line will say to me “What do you know about Mid-Century modern architecture”?
My advice is to always work with a Realtor who not only knows the area but also knows a little about the architectural styles you are looking for. In the end you too will find the perfect house.
Peter Bondi
Bondi Realty Group LLC
203-899-9990