[mksCT]

Currently renting in Fairfiled county and are looking at possibly purchasing home in Litchfield county...thinking of Torrington (good prices on homes) but worried about it being a bit run down in some areas. Notice certain revitalization about town which may make it an "up and coming" town worth looking at.
Any input on the area? Also looking at Goshen and Harwinton.
We are a married couple - early 40s - no children.
Active in hiking and outdoors, interested in rural areas with quaint downtown areas nearby.

[skytrekker]

Torrington has some very good areas, and they should not be dismissed. There are some rather faded sections as well. But prices are very good for homes- and since you have no children schools good or not good are not an issue.

You might also try and look into Thomaston to the south, as well as Watertown. Litchfield is positively beautiful , but can be expensive. A third Idea would be Winsted to the north.

[JayCT]

Torrington is indeed seeing a bit of a rebirth. They have a very young energetic Mayor (I believe he is the youngest to ever be elected MAyor in the State) and there are some sparks of development that will help improve the small city's image. The east side (called Torringford) is booming with a new Target under construction and a new Stop & Shop planned. There are new homes going up there and it seems to be becoming an affordable alternative to Hartford's pricey Farmington Valley suburbs.

Downtown has the great Warner Theater which has wonderful shows, a number of wonderful restaurants and the state is going to be building a new County courthouse complex there that will hopefully be the catilist for other new development. Also the owner of the old Torrington Parkade is planning a massive redo with a major home improvement center (can't remember which one). So it does seem that Torrington is on the rise after recent problems it has experienced. It will be interesting to see if it works out. Jay

[davfar]

Torrington really is a great town. I used to not think so, but then I started hanging out up there (friends from work). What's nice is that it's the kind of town where you don't have to travel far for any of your needs, yet it's kind of in the middle of nowhere. The real estate market is very diverse as well. Everything from multifamilies to starter homes to luxury condos and country estates.
There's also the whole surrounding area that is very nice. I deliver for UPS up there and I completely fell in love with the area. Norfolk, Cornwall, Salisbury, Sharon, Falls Village are all very nice areas with nice town centers. The only thing is they aren't that affordable, but there's always something that might pop up in the real estate market.

[mksCT]

thanks for all the input, it is very much appreciated. I agree that it definitely has some great surrounding towns, yet has many conveniences for shopping, etc. hope to see a rebirth of an old fashioned downtown area.

[tom62]

The downtown is really cool. We are ticket holders for the Warner theatre, and I enter my musclecar often at Friday night cruise nights at the "Mickey dees". A friend of mine owns a propane company just north of town.
There are still a few shady areas that have been slow to revitalize since T-towns ball bearing manufacturing hey-days, but YES it is slowly becoming an interesting town. The real estate prices reflect basically the lack of major employment in the area-ie: great paying jobs... The Route 8 corridor from Winsted to Waterbury endures similar..

[razzmichi]

Same age group as you. My boyfriend and I also have no kids. I bought a house that is technically in Torrington, but near the Litchfield town line. That area is fine as are the areas to the northwest of the town going towards Goshen. Once you get out of the downtown area, it gets much nicer. The preferable areas are West and North of downtown. I would avoid East Torrington until you get past Route 8.

I originally looked at houses in the Greenbriar subdivision and ended up buying a house on one of the side streets at the bottom of the hill. Much better off. Less expensive, more land, and quieter than if you walk a few minutes up the hill.

Winsted also has nice areas, but in the downtown area, there are some spots to be avoided because of the prevalence of for sale or foreclosed homes that are vacant but have attracted squatters or kids breaking into them to party. My buyers' agent specifically told me to avoid any houses on Rock Street. As you go out of the town towards Winchester, it gets very nice. Be very vigilant about flood potential if looking for houses in Winsted as flooding is common there.

If you want something more remote, Goshen is nice, but a bit more expensive. Bantam is less expensive than Litchfield and worth a look. Harwinton and New Hartford are also nice. I would avoid Bristol.

I agree with the poster who mentioned Thomaston. My boyfriend delivers to Watertown area for his job and that town has some nice areas as well, but a bit more expensive than areas more North.

Colebrook and Norfolk are nice, quiet and rural but more expensive.

Hope this helps.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by razzmichi

Bantam is less expensive than Litchfield and worth a look. Harwinton and New Hartford are also nice. I would avoid Bristol.

FYI: Bantam is a hamlet in the town of Litchfield; Bristol is in Hartford County.

[KH02]

I DMed you incase your interested...

[mksCT]

we ended up buying a house on the harwinton line, love it around here.