By Judy Szablak
Special to WestportNow
Sometimes great properties are overlooked for one reason or another, and in that respect, Westport is not unlike any other town.
Featured Home: This home at 21 Bulkley Ave. North is listed at $1,575,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo courtesy of William Raveis Westport/Jillian Klaff Homes
A few exceptional homes just seem to fall “below the radar” for one reason or another.
This is more frequent than one could imagine, as snippet details from an online home searching source or an MLS feature printout do not necessarily tell the whole story about any given property.
In actuality, some would-be buyers may never even glimpse at a home’s photos because other characteristics don’t warrant a look.
That could mean that one would conceivably dismiss a home sight unseen by any number of factors, some of which seem like they could be relevant, and some that are not.
For example, a home that is of a specific vintage, but without the expected correlating period interior because it has been remodeled or rebuilt might fall below the buyer’s radar.
Others are also averse to homes on main roads, without realizing that the actual house sits far back on the lot, or that the property is located down a separate lane that still carries a main road address.
Additionally, the size of the home may play a factor. That’s not to say that smaller is better, or larger is better; it’s just the perception of size.
In other words, a smaller sized home can feel much more spacious than its square footage suggests, and a larger home can be designed in such a way that the floor plan doesn’t feel nearly as sizable as it sounds on paper.
Properties that fall into these categories offer amazing opportunities, and are worth a closer look.
Market Stats
There are now 282 homes that are actively on the market, which have been listed for an average of 148 days, with a cumulative market time of 244 days. The average list price is now $2,171,774 and the median price is now at $1,686,500.
A home at 114 Beachside Ave. is the highest priced property for sale at $28 million, and the lowest available priced single-family is a three bedroom home on Promised Road for $459,000.
Nine new listings came on the market in the last seven days, and two properties came back on the market after being under deposit, or temporarily withdrawn. Nine properties had a price change.
Nine properties have gone under the initial deposit stage, which we call CTS or Show, and another seven properties went into pending status, which means that the conditions have been satisfied, and the property is scheduled to close.
The average price of those seven pending properties was $1,908,986. There are currently 23 homes in CTS/Show status throughout Westport, and another 32 properties scheduled to close townwide, with an average price of $1,618,653.
Closings: There were 12 single family homes reported as sold in the last week, and they were listed on average at $1,619,583 with an average market time of 140 days. There were 55 status changes in the last seven days.
Condos: There are 10 condominiums that are available, and they have been listed an average of 130 days, with a cumulative market time of 175 days. Their average listing price is $814,513 and the median price is $789,450.
The highest priced condo in town is listed at $1,299,000 and is a three-bedroom home at Terra Nova Circle, and the lowest priced unit for sale is a two-bedroom home on Bridge Street for $254,330.
There was one new listing this week, and no homes came back on the market. There were no price changes, and no property went under the initial stage of deposit. No properties entered pending status.
There are no properties townwide that are currently in CTS/Show status, and no properties are currently scheduled to close.
No sales were reported during the last week. There was one status change.
Rentals: If you are interested in renting year-round, either furnished or unfurnished, there are 84 homes or apartments available. The median price is $4,750 per month and the average price is $5,687 per month. These year-round rental opportunities have been on the market an average of 90 days.
There are 41 short-term rental opportunities that are available, and they have been on the market an average of 112 days. Their average price is $7,414 and the median price is $5,150.
Please note that seasonal rental prices are sometimes listed as an aggregate price for the season, or they can be listed as per the monthly rental cost.
Source — Market data is compiled from the SmartMLS and represents activity through our statewide MLS system. Private sales are not included in these statistics.
Featured Home
This home at 21 Bulkley Ave. North is listed at $1,575,000.
This stunning and gracious 12-room Hunt Club Colonial has exceptional living spaces and exquisite custom millwork throughout.
Set back from the road on a fully fenced level .62-acre lot, every bit of this home’s 5,400-square feet of living area has been thoughtfully designed for ease of living and maximum flexibility.
All four finished levels have 9-foot ceilings, and there is Cherry hardwood flooring on the main and upper floors. Specialty trim, wide hallways, and large open doorways enhance an already sophisticated yet comfortable interior.
The living room has detailed millwork and a fireplace with marble surround with custom mantel.
French doors open to the dining room with recessed panel wainscoting and octagonal tray ceiling and crystal chandelier. Double perimeter inlaid walnut hardwood floors add to its refined feel.
A gourmet kitchen has granite tops, tumbled marble backsplash and high end stainless steel appliances. The matching center island seats four comfortably, and the breakfast nook opens up to the family room.
Both have access to the 769-square foot bluestone patio with built-in seating along the stone wall enclosure.
The sunken family room has a low profile coffered ceiling, and a fieldstone fireplace with raised hearth, as well as a dry bar with beverage fridge.
Upstairs, the master bedroom privacy suite has a sitting room, dual large walk-in closets, and a marble bath with separate vanities, whirlpool and glass enclosed shower.
Three other bedrooms are on this level, and two share a Jack and Jill style bathroom, while the other is en suite.
The finished third floor has another bedroom, full bath, and an expansive bonus room which could easily be a nanny suite or au pair quarters.
An extraordinarily well finished lower level features a fully outfitted and quite impressive home theater with a 9-foot high tray ceiling and custom wainscoting, as well as a recreation room and exercise room or office.
Extras and items to note — five bedrooms, four full and one half baths, two fireplaces, 19-foot long covered front porch, custom plantation shutters, security system, central vacuum system, home theater, natural gas public water and sewer, irrigation system, invisible fencing, 20KW generator, room for pool.
Annual taxes are $18,467.
Listing/photo courtesy of William Raveis Westport/Jillian Klaff Homes.
(Editor’s Note: Judy Szablak of Coldwell Banker Westport — Riverside, Fairfield County CT Realtor since 1984 is author of “The Art of Buying or Selling a Home,” and featured on HGTV’s real estate show, “Desperate to Buy.” Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or visit her online at http://www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com.
