Kristi Vaughan

Why Work with a Buyer's Agent?

Kristi Vaughan — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:01:00 GMT

As your buyer’s representative I am your eyes and ears on the local market. I do this 24/7 – or as close to that as humanly possible. I am the person who is out there seeking properties to meet your desires, your needs and your buying abilities. I am the person who tells you what you need to know about the home buying process, who helps connect you with mortgage and legal professionals and who exclusively represents your interests in presenting offers and negotiating the purchase of your home. In short, I am what you don’t have the time, knowledge or tools to be.

So if you are ready to look at homes in Ridgefield CT or surrounding towns such as Redding or Wilton, give me a call at 203-733-6469. I am glad to help!

One year look back - single family house sales, Ridgefield CT, Redding CT and Wilton CT

Kristi Vaughan — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:21:00 GMT

Sales activity Feb 1, 2009 through Jan 31, 2010*

Ridgefield
212 homes sold
$640,000 median price
Highest price: $2,500,000
Lowest price: $180,000

Redding
86 homes sold
$555,000 median price
Highest price: $2,300,000
Lowest price: $168,900

Wilton
137 homes sold
$770,000 median price
Highest price: $4,000,000
Lowest price: $141,000

* source GFC CMLS

9-town Fairfield County Comparison of Single Family House Sales

Kristi Vaughan — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:34:00 GMT

Units Sold

Town 2008 2009 Percentage Change

Wilton 163 136 -16.56%

Westport 271 250 -7.75%

Weston 116 92 -20.69%

Ridgefield 240 220 - 8.33%

New Canaan 144 131 - 9.03%

Redding 75 70 - 6.67%

Fairfield 521 464 -10.94%

Norwalk 416 440 5.77%

Stamford 465 488 4.95%

Average Prices

Town 2008 2009 Percentage Change

Wilton $1,050,144 $ 915,137 - 12.86%

Westport $1,708,803 $1,419,436 - 16.93%

Weston $1,175,978 $ 936,173 - 20.39%

Ridgefield $ 875,163 $ 759,494 - 11.39%

New Canaan $1,991,819 $1,673,862 -15.96%

Redding $ 717,714 $ 664,338 - 7.44%

Fairfield $ 781,750 $ 706,653 - 9.61%

Norwalk $ 684,487 $ 529,072 - 22.71%

Stamford $ 765,420 $ 665,167 - 13.10%

Source: William Pitt Sothebys

2/3/10

Ridgefield CT First Time Homebuyers! Repeat Home Buyers! Tax Credits!

Kristi Vaughan — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:24:00 GMT

Whether you are a first time homebuyer or a repeat homebuyer, a federal tax credit may be waiting for you. But how do you know if you qualify? What do you need to do and when do you need to do it?

Get the answers to these questions from experts in legal, tax and mortgage matters at a free seminar February 9 from 6-8 pm at the Executive Pavilion, 90 Grove Street, Ridgefield. Sponsored by William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty. RSVPs requested so we have the proper amount of materials and food! Email me at kvaughan@wpsir.com

Sharing an Understanding of Aging Parents

Kristi Vaughan — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:48:00 GMT

Wow! I knew my husband and I aren't alone in trying to understand the many options -- and obstacles -- to caring for an aging parent but I think we were both a bit surprised to see how many people are affected and how we share many of the same concerns and frustrations even though our parents' circumstances can be so different.

The other night I, along with two other agents in my office, co-sponsored a seminar at the Ridgefield Community Center directed toward baby boomers caring for their aging parents. Our role as real estate agents was to provide help and guidance in the potential sale of the parents home. Beyond the actual sale we've offered to provide significant help in organizing and dispersing the family possessions and help in getting the house in the best shape for show. We also are available to help parents purchase or rent a home that is more manageable and closer to adult children. For this seminar we were silent partners as the focus was primarily on services provided by visiting nurses, an assisted living facility, rehabilitation facility and an elder care attorney.

The overall message they gave is one of help and caring. While the initial realization that your parent is having difficulty caring for him or herself is somewhat shocking, through networks and referral groups such as the one that sponsored this seminar, there are many caring people to guide you through the process.

Visiting nurses, in Ridgefield or your parents' hometown, can help evaluate a parent's ability to care for himself. They look for signs that the parent is failing in hygiene, not eating properly or showing signs of dementia. If a parent has been in the hospital and needs rehabilitation before returning home, there are facilities such as Laurel Ridge which can provide that interim care and help you set up safe living conditions when your parent does return home. Assisted living facilities such as Ridgefield Crossings are a far cry from what you might picture in movies or remember from long ago days visiting an elderly relative. Quality of life often improves for residents as they are no longer prisoners in their home and gain many social opportunities.

One important message was the need to contact an elder care attorney as soon as possible. These attorneys, explained Michelle Liquori, of Cramer & Anderson, specialize in issues relating to the elderly and can set up healthcare directives, write wills, and provide guidance in protecting parents' assets.

There is much to think about when you become the caregiver or administrator of your parent. It is good to know that help is out there and groups such as the one I am involved with are there to help.

Curb Appeal is Everything

Kristi Vaughan — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Well, almost. But face it, if you can't get the buyer out of the car (or to bookmark your page) they aren't buying your house no matter how wonderful the interior.

First impressions count. Why risk it?

So roll up your sleeves and get to work! Start with a camera, pen and paper. Walk or drive away from your home. Come back with eyes of a buyer. Take a critical look. Do you want to know more about the property or is this one where you say to your agent, "I don't think we need to waste time here?"

What pleased you? What turned you off? Make notes. Take pictures, lots of them. Looking at a picture of your house puts you one step removed thus enabling you to better see what others see.

Each problem will have its own "opportunities" but here are several quick and common curb appeal fixes.

Front door. Is there an outdated screen door blocking the beauty of the door? Can you find the front door or is it hidden behind overgrown shrubs or a clutter of bicycles? Clear away encumbrances. Remove/replace the screen door. A new coat of paint on the door - or a new color - can help. A new doorbell and welcome mat complete the picture.

Front stoop. If you have concrete steps leading to your front door, as do many of the houses in my hometown of Ridgefield, CT, take a close look at their condition. if they are badly chipped or pulling away from the house, consider repairs or replacement. If they are gray and dirty from years of exposure, rent a power washer and give them a good cleaning. Consider facing them with stone or brick.

Walkway. You and your family may always enter through the garage but real estate agents with buyers will use the front door. Can they find their way? Clear weeds off the path, straighten the stones or, if need be, create a path. You' don't need to spend a lot of money, some edging and pea gravel can provide a pleasing path.

Foundation plantings. Have the deer eaten them all? Are they overgrown and covering the windows? Are weeds so interspersed with plantings you can't tell where one begins and the other ends? It may be time to start fresh. Use a garden hose to lay out the shape of a planting bed. Add visual interest with graceful curves. With measurements in hand (length and width of the bed as well as height to the bottom of your windows) see what the local nursery recommends for ease of care, deer proofing, size and amount of sun. A few hundred dollars later you'll have a nice assortment of shrubs and perennials that will brighten the facade of your house. And don't forget mulch! A thick layer of mulch will mitigate weeds, retain moisture and just generally give your plantings a finished look.

Lawn. I have active dogs and a shady front yard so my lawn struggles every year. Chances are you also have bare spots or a lawn that has a few too many "non-grass" plants populating it. I am not going to get into the chemicals vs. natural debate but do take a look at overseeding and generally keeping the lawn trimmed and properly edged.

Garage doors. So many 20-30 year old houses also have 20-30 year old garage doors. Too often they are rotting away at the bottom from years of snow and rain. Consider replacing them or, at the very least, getting a handyman to make repairs. Fresh paint also will help.

My list of suggestions can go on and on but I think you've got the idea. Paint is powerful. So is clearing away the clutter of children's toys, lawn furniture and piles of rotting firewood. neat and tidy is what sells, No one wants another person's mess.

Updated Home Sales in Fairfield County

Kristi Vaughan — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:28:00 GMT

With the spring market now theoretically in full swing, how are we doing? Certainly could be better but tales of the housing market's demise are an exaggeration.

It's no surprise that sales in Fairfield County are slow and in fact off considerably from the "good years" of 2005-2006. But the good news is that homes are selling. Some in just a few days. Hard to believe isn't it when you are reading all these doom and gloom headlines? As always, and especially now, pricing and presentation are key.

Here is a quick snapshot of the single family housing market in many Fairfield County towns as of April 29, 2009. The source for this information of the Greater Fairfield County Consolidated Multiple Listing Service. To search for homes for sale click here.

Ridgefield
     Number of single family homes for sale:     295
           Average list price:     $1,221,178
     Number of single family homes sold year to date:    36
           Average sale price:     $899,880
           Average discount from most recent list price: 7%

Redding
     Number of single family homes for sale:     123
           Average list price:     $1,119,561
     Number of single family homes sold year to date:    10
           Average sale price:     $628,440
           Averagediscount from most recent list price: 4%

Wilton
     Number of single family homes for sale:     208
           Average list price:     $1,278,097
     Number of single family homes sold year to date:    23
           Average sale price:     $861,739
           Average discount from most recent list price: 6%

Weston
     Number of single family homes for sale:     176
           Average list price:     $1,354,030
     Number of single family homes sold year to date:    11
           Average sale price:     $989,045
           Average discount from most recent list price: 10%

Danbury
     Number of single family homes for sale:     297
           Average list price:     $398,871
     Number of single family homes sold year to date:    71
           Average sale price:     $333,745
           Average discount from most recent list price: 6%

Fairfield
     Number of single family homes for sale:     539
           Average list price:     $1,121,762
     Number of single family homes sold year to date:    80
           Average sale price:     $6777,406
           Average discount from most recent list price: 14%

Norwalk
     Number of single family homes for sale:     453
           Average list price:     $ 887,105
     Number of single family homes sold year to date:    92
           Average sale price:     $ 572,398
           Average discount from most recent list price: 10%

Stamford
     Number of single family homes for sale:     542
           Average list price:     $ 985,607
     Number of single family homes sold year to date:    79
           Average sale price:     $ 600,067
           Average discount from most recent list price: 7%

Westport
     Number of single family homes for sale:     401
           Average list price:     $2,159,682
     Number of single family homes sold year to date:    45
           Average sale price:     $1,310,275
           Average discount from most recent list price: 11%

5 Steps to Get You on the Road to a Successful Home Sale

Kristi Vaughan — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:52:00 GMT

Think like a buyer

Today’s buyer’s have lots of choices. And they are looking for value. Put yourself in their mindset and walk around your property. What will attract them? What will turn them off?

Start at the curb and work your way in

You only get one chance to make a first impression so make it a good one from first glance. Paint your front door, replace your plow-damaged mailbox, trim overgrown foundation plantings and reseed worn patches of lawn.

Enhance your assets

You know your house better than anyone else. What are the strongest features and how can you play them up? Clean windows to show off the spectacular view; keep kitchen counters clear of clutter to show off the tremendous work space; place a comfortable reading chair next to the cozy fireplace.

Be flexible and always ready

Selling your house is a business proposition and buyers can come along at any time. Develop a game plan for having the house picked up and being out of the door in short order. You never know when that last minute call will be the right buyer for your house.

Know the market

The price your neighbor sold his house for two or three years ago unfortunately is not the same price your house will command today. Placing too high a price on your home can hurt the ultimate sale by causing the home to be on the market for an excessive amount of time. Talk with your agent about local sales trends. Ask what is selling and look at the reasons other homes have remained on the market. Develop a strategy that puts you in the seat of desirability.

Planning for the Future With Our Aging Parents

Kristi Vaughan — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:23:00 GMT

Like so many others I am part of the so-called “sandwich generation.” We are a growing segment of the baby boomer generation that is caught between the needs of aging parents, in-laws and the like and our own children, spouses and careers. We have lots of questions but we don’t always have answers.

That is why the April 30 seminar “Planning for the Future with Our Aging Parents” is so helpful and timely.

Along with two other members of the Ridgefield William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty office (Deborah Durkee and Eloise Barron) I am proud to be a sponsor of this informative evening that offers knowledge and practical tools to help make sound decisions about aging parents.

A broad range of topics will be covered including:

How to have a meaningful discussion with your parents about aging
Assessing their needs -- and taking practial steps to address them
Getting other family members on the same page
Is it forgetfulness or dementia? And what to do about it
Drawing up a will and securing powerof attorney and healthcare proxy

Presenters include The Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association, an elder law attorney, Laurel Ridge Rehab and Nursing Center and Ridgefield Crossings. A Ridgefield Bank representative will be available to talk about reverse mortgages and my associates and I will be available to provide information about the current real estate market and dealing with your parents’ home, whether it is in Ridgefield or elsewhere.

The seminar is free though we do ask that you reserve you space in advance as a light dinner will be provided. You can call me directly at 203-733-6469 and I will be glad to put your name on the list. The time is 6:30-8:30 p.m. and the location is the Ridgefield Community Center.

Kristi