Shelton CT Condo Market Report ~ April 2011 ~ Shelton CT Real Estate Condo sales continue to increase in Shelton CT.  Sales were up by one, or 11%, over the same period last year.    All April 2011 averages showed significant increases over April 2010.  However, a closer analysis shows an outlier sale of $775,000 at the Renaissance brought averages up.    Even so, the condo market is stable and has been trending upward the last three months.  See chart below.     Moving forward, there are 11 condos under deposit and 22 condos in contract.   40% of the condo sales for April fell within the $200-$300K range.   Take a look at the Shelton CT April 2011 condo property transfers as recorded in the MLS for the month to see sales specifics.    The absorption trend for the last three months indi... 05/09/2011

Happy Mother's Day -- I've Worked Really Hard So I'm Taking a Break Today! Oh....It's been a busy week and an even busier year.  I'm so glad Mother's Day is here so I can kick back and take a break..... .....Maybe just lounge around and do nothing         .....something like this. We ALL need to take a break, Mother's Day or not.  But if you are a mother, you deserve it. We mothers who work full-time also have another full-time job with our families. To all mothers out there, Happy Mother's Day.  I hope you are able to take a well deserved break today like one of my 'kids' is doing here! E n j o y    Y o u r    D a y !   05/07/2011

Do You Love Books? Get Ready for the Shelton CT Library Book Sale!Love books, but find that they've grown a bit too expensive to indulge your taste for them? Problem solved! The Plumb Memorial Library will hold its book sale from Thursday, May 12 through Sunday, May 15.   Be prepared for books in all sorts of categories - both fiction and non-fiction. Definitely a family event, the sale will include children's books as well as those for older readers. The proceeds from the sale are gifts that keep on giving, because they go toward purchasing new books for the library.                        Plumb Memorial Library Book Sale Hours                            Thursday, May 12:  6 - 8 p.m.                           Friday, May 13:      10 a.m. - 8 p.m.                           Saturday, May... 05/06/2011

Shelton CT Single Family Real Estate Market Report for April 2011 Shelton CT single family home sales for April 2011 were off 21% from the same period last year.  Average list and selling prices also declined 10% & 11% respectively.   Looking further at the numbers shows more than half of the sales were in the $200-$300K range while 61% of the April 2010 sales were in the $300-$400K range; hence explaining the dropoff in the averages. Days on the market stayed relatively flat with a 2% decrease at 92 days showing houses likely priced well and in good condition can sell fairly quickly and defy the high absorption rate of 11.27% as shown below. Shelton CT April 2011 Property Transfers (as recorded in the Greater Fairfield County MLS) The hot spot this month was solidly in the $200-300K ra... 05/05/2011

ActiveRainPhotoBlogger Contest ~  'Snowy' Spring Trees in Shelton CT! Here in CT we were pummeled with snow in an unprecedented winter.  I kept saying I could not remember there ever being so much white stuff ever.  I was right. CT broke records for snowfall.  At first, it was nice.  Fast forward after multiple rapid fire storms, and it quickly became dreadful.  Spring is something most people around here wanted very badly.  However, spring has come in VERY slowly, with cool weather and VERY slow budding of trees and flowers.   I have been blinded by the snow for so long I think it sharpened my senses though.  Here is why. This spring I hear the birds sing more, I see and find myself looking for colorful flowers more (I call it color therapy), and I smell spring in the air more than I e... 05/03/2011

Another Great Connecticut Resource - our Shelton Senior CenterShelton CT residents aged 55 and over have a great resource: the Shelton Senior Center. The center offers membership for a very nominal cost, and that membership brings a great many services and events to its members.   Some of the things available at the center are:  - Services, including assistance with tax returns and benefits    (such as Medicare, ConnPACE)  - Informative and Educational programs including computer classes    and those on financial programs  - Social and recreational programs, such as bingo, trips, etc. For those who require transportation to and from the center, there is a van which provides door-to-door service. There is also an Outreach program which provides transportation for Shelton residents for me... 05/02/2011

Soupstock Music and Arts Festival Returns to Shelton CT May 15 Mark your calendars.  Soupstock Music and Arts Festival is returning to the "slab" (Veterans Memorial Park)  in Shelton, CT on Sunday, May 15 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for its second year.   Soupstock is an annual fundraiser for the Mary A. Schmecker Turtle Shell Fund which exists to further art, craft, and music education for children and young adults in the Lower Naugatuck Valley.  The festival will include perfomances by local and national bands featuring: Kung FuTurbineHubinger StreetScarecrow CollectionOld SchoolCorkscrewShawn TaylorHousatonic River Band  Other events will include an artisan expo, a classic car show, and a kids activity tent.  The tastiest part of the festival will feature a pro/amateur soup cook-off-compe... 04/25/2011

Dr. Neal Graber at Dental Center of Huntington CTLooking for a truly exceptional dentist in the Huntington area of Shelton, CT? Look no further! Dr. Neal Graber and his excellent team at the Dental Center of Huntington CT is where you need to go.     Last Memorial Day weekend, I had a sudden pain when biting into a sandwich. It quickly became clear that a tooth had broken vertically. A throbbing pain had already started and I was afraid that would soon change to a sharper, less endurable pain.Luckily, I had recently starting going to the Dental Center of Huntington, so I knew where to turn. However, it was Sunday afternoon on a holiday weekend. Could I really expect to get help when most people would be away?The answer was a resounding "Yes!"  I called the number for emergencies given o... 04/22/2011

Where are the ‘Bloomin' Flowers?  It's spring in Shelton CT in eastern Fairfield County and typically we have warmer temps and a ‘bit' more color in our landscapes.   This particular forsythia bush on the left is my barometer for the 'real' beginning of spring with warmer temperatures.  This spring it seems to be blooming because it HAS to.  That usual vibrant yellow color is not there...yet.   Temps this week have only been in the 50s. This year our Shelton CT flowers VERY slow to bloom.  We all need some color therapy right about now and this is about all that is blooming today.         Hopefully, next week will bring warmer temps and some more bloomin' color.  When it blooms here and ‘greens' up, spring in just outstanding. Where are the ‘Bloomin' Flowers?     04/20/2011

Huntington Wood Shelton CT ~ Exclusive Homes in A+ Location    Huntington Wood, located in the Huntington section of Shelton, has been defined by its luxury colonial homes with custom features in a premiere family neighborhood. Opened in 2002 with 72 half-acre homesites, Huntington Wood is situated just south of Aspetuck Village Condos and adjacent to the Shelton Greenway in the lower (southern) end of Shelton off Buddington Road.  Click here to Find your new home in Huntington Wood.   Each of the colonial homes has distinctive architectural styling and pride of ownership shows throughout the subdivision with meticulous landscaping and curb appeal.      Features common to all homes are:  ½ acres lots3,000+ square feet4+ bedrooms2.5+ bathsCity waterCity sewersUnderground utilitiesUI Star... 04/16/2011

Shelton CT Condo Market Report for March 2011 Condo sales in Shelton (Huntington), CT for March 2011 were only down one sale in comparison to the same period last year.   All averages showed a decrease due to the bulk of sales being in the $100K-$300K range compared to higher end sales in March 2010. See property transfers below.     The good news  this month is that sales are up 60% over last month.  Moving forward, there are 9 condos under deposit and 7 condos under contract.   Condo sales were solidly entrenched in the $100-$300K range.   Here are the Shelton CT March 2011 condo property transfers as recorded in the MLS for the month.    The absorption trend for the last three months indicates a 12.26% rate for all prices.   Based on the current inventory and the number of solds, it ... 04/06/2011

Shelton CT Single Family Market Report for March 2011   Shelton CT single family home sales for March 2011 went UP 9% from the same period last year, but --  even better -- sales are up 85% from just last month (Feb=13; March=24) .  Averages were all down due to the 46% of March sales being below $200K.  See property transfers below.  Market time went down 10% from the same period last year. Shelton CT March 2011 Property Transfers (as recorded in the Greater Fairfield County MLS) The hot spot this month was totally embedded in the lower end of the price ranges as mentioned above, which accounted for the much lower listing and sales averages and the lower than usual median.   The absorption trend, which shows the number of months it would take to sell the entire inventory at the same pa... 04/05/2011

Oh, the Riches to be found in Shelton, CT Public Libraries!Books? Check. Magazines and Newspapers? Check. Videos, DVDs and Blue-Rays? Check. So far, so good, and about what you'd expect from your local public library.   But how about the fact that in Shelton, CT, you have the luxury of the main Shelton Library - the Plumb Memorial Library - as well as a smaller branch library - the Huntington Branch Library, which is connected to the Shelton Community Center.   And then there are the fun and fabulous activities, planned and coordinated by the knowledgeable and friendly staff at each location. Things such as celebrating Poland this Spring, with events that include the Orieta dance troupe, delicious food, the art of Polish paper cutting, and so much more. The Shelton Public Library Newsle... 03/29/2011

Is That Condo Complex FHA Approved? ~ FHA Approved Condos in Shelton, CT FHA (Federal Housing Administration) financing has become an increasingly popular way to finance a property in the last few years, with particular appeal to first time homebuyers.   The primary reason for this is the low down payment requirement of 3.5%, which is much less than the typical conventional loan counterpart.  Buying a condo has its own appeal also for first time buyers. They can typically buy a condo for less than a house and still experience the benefits of home ownership.  So, consider this scenario.  A first time buyer (or any other buyer) does not have a lot of money to put down.  The same buyer has stable employment and a good credit history.  An FHA loan just might be the way to buy that condo.  T... 03/23/2011

Shelton CT Community Center: Swim, Dance, Work Out, Do Yoga - and More!Shelton, CT, is a delightful, thriving community, with much to offer people of all ages. The Shelton Community Center is really a fantastic hub for everyone in this city.   Where else can you find an affordable gym and swimming pool, with classes for children to learn how to swim, for young adults to get their life guard certification, and where anyone interested can learn the basics of scuba diving? Interested in getting into shape - or staying that way? Sign up for a class to stretch and tone, step up your cardio, pump up your energy with zumba, and stretch and relax with yoga. The community center has many rooms available for other types of specialized classes, at a small fee. You can decide to create your own cra... 03/19/2011

Shelton CT Paws and Kisses ~ Pet Sitters ~ Celebrating 3rd Anniversary Shelton CT professional pet caregivers and sitters Paws and Kisses will be celebrating their 3rd year in business with a Biscuit Party gift pack giveaway on Saturday, March 12, at H3 Pet Supply, 350 Bridgeport Avenue, Shelton from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Free packages of dog biscuits will be handed out, and the 25th person to visit the store will receive a pet gift basket valued at $40.  If you are going away on business, taking a vacation, or otherwise spending too much time away from your pet at home, Paws and Kisses can help by providing pet sitting, dog walking, exercising, trips to the vet and groomer, and special care for young, old or infirmed animals - not only for dogs, but also cats, birds, fish, reptiles and ot... 03/10/2011

Warm Atmosphere, Great Food - and Music! - and Laughter!You move into a new town. You drive around, looking for good places to eat, to gather with friends, to take your computer for a little time out of the house. And you find a convivial place, with terrific food, great people, and on some nights, entertainment!   Here in Huntington, CT (part of Shelton), that place is the Huntington Street Cafe. In addition to a good variety of breakfast items for those weekend mornings when you just want to get out of the house and have someone else make the food, the Huntington Street Cafe has a wonderful menu of sandwiches and salads.   Each item is named for a song, which makes for some awesome and bizarre selections such as: Kryptonite (a hot sandwich of grilled chicken, melted mozzarella & provo... 03/10/2011

Second Year in a Row -- Shelton CT named the Best Affordable Suburb in CT for 2010    For the SECOND year in a row, Shelton CT has been named the Best Affordable Suburb in CT for 2010 according to Bloomberg Businessweek.The focus on selecting the winning city or town is on communities where people can live well and get a lot of value for their money by comparison to other towns...and who isn't looking for value these days?   In a time when all we hear is prices and taxes are going UP, it is almost unbelievable that the mil rate in Shelton CT, which is among the lowest in Fairfield County,  is slated to go DOWN in July.  Albeit, not by much; but, really, taxes going DOWN??    So, what is the criteria to be named the Best Affordable Suburb and what made Shelton CT the winner?    Criteria ... 03/09/2011

Shelton CT Condo Market Report for February 2011 The condo market in Shelton (Huntington), CT for February 2011 showed a slight increase  in sales compared to the same period last year.   Following that lead, the average list price and average selling price showed a 16% and 15% INCREASE respectively.  The median sales figure came in 44% higher than February 2010.  Days on the market were down significantly.     The year in review shows condo activity was relatively flat with the exception of June 2010, which is when the  homebuyer's tax credit contract deadline expired.    Condo sales leaned more on the higher end during February.   Here are the Shelton CT February 2011 condo property transfers as recorded in the MLS for the month.    The absorption trend for the last three months indic... 03/07/2011

Shelton CT Single Family Market Report for February 2011   Shelton CT single family home sales for February 2011 went UP 18% from the same period last year.  Averages list and selling prices went down 10% and 12% respectively, while the median sales price remained relatively flat at 3% decrease.   See property transfers below. Shelton CT February 2011 Property Transfers (as recorded in the Greater Fairfield County MLS) The favorite 'hot spot' over the course of the last few months has been in the $200K-$300K range as it is for February with 38% of sales.   The absorption trend, which shows the number of months it would take to sell the entire inventory at the same pace, came in at 10.93 for the last three months.   Keep in mind that this rate is for ALL houses.  If you are selling your ... 03/04/2011