Moving from CA -- Any info on these towns? (Bridgeport: relocating, fsbo)

[mitchell2360]

Hi all. We're considering a move to Connecticut from Orange County, CA. We're really taking our time with this one as we want to choose the perfect town for our tastes.

We are looking for a town away from the crowd, with winding country roads, horse farms, homes with character, good schools, no bustling town center and within 30 miles of the beach, good shopping and would prefer western CT (within two hours driving from NYC). New Haven area and west seems about right.

We're also looking for an affordable town (upper-middle class) where 500k will buy us more than a small ranch on little property.

The towns we have considered are Ridgefield, Oxford, Redding, Easton, Woodbridge, Woodbury, Southbury, Newtown, Bethany, Bridgewater and Sherman.

A few questions:

Are folks in CT rude?
Do these towns have a lot of wealth? (ideally we'd like to be in a 'down to earth' community)
Drugs in the schools?
Best town for resale price?


I know it's a lot to ask, but any info on these towns is GREATLY appreciated!

[skytrekker]

Dear Mitchell

Some of The towns in the areas you specified are very expensive, especially Ridgefield, Redding, Bridgewater and Sherman- so finding a small ranch or horse farm will cost well over 1.5 million dollars.

The other towns listed are more reasonable- with single family homes ranging from 275K and up. A ranch or horse property might be had for 500k and up.

You will find the pastoral peaceful world you seek more in eastern Connecticut- called the states 'Quiet Corner'- which is the most rural part of the state. Towns like Coventry, Willington, Hebron, Marlborough Stafford, and Bolton just to the east of Hartford are very pleasant- and 20 miles or less to Hartford. Home and property prices are very reasonable- median home price around 263K- and a small farm or ranch for perhaps 375K and up.

Further to the east, towns like Woodstock, Pomfret, Putnam, Eastford all have plenty of farms, and large acreage for much less money then the rest of the state. These towns are about 30 miles from Hartford and Providence RI. All are about 45 minutes from the CT Shore and coast. These towns are small (under 10,000 pop) are near farms, forested hills, B & B's, wineries (Horse farms/ranches- there is one in Killingly) Plus antiques and the arts. Here small farms or a ranch can be had for 350K and up.

Questions?

People here rude? They can be reserved- but generally will go out of there way to be helpful- rude? No

Towns with lots of wealth? would be the pricey towns I named above. Most of Fairfield county in southwestern CT are very wealthy- in the Hartford area- West Hartford, Avon, Simbsury, Canton, Glastonbury.

Drugs in schools? A problem that can exist just about everywhere- from the most upscale wealthy enclave to the inner city. The drug problem here will be far less of a problem then most of So Cal- and the gang problem here is virtually zero outside of Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport and Waterbury.

A 'down to earth' attitude will likely be found outside of swanky Fairfield county and the pricey towns I named above. Eastern Connecticut would have to the most 'earthy attitude'.


Most towns have excellent resale value here outside of the cities I named above- the states very favored location between New York and Boston, with access to the ocean and mountains guarantee that.

Also- you will not be alone in coming from SoCal- I see vehicles regularly here with California plates in eastern CT.
The most popular places they settle in the greater Hartford area are; east of the CT river (Willington, Tolland) and west of the CT river(Farmington Valley) Eastern Connecticut is a hidden treasure many are looking at- since a new home of 2200 square feet on 1 acre can cost as little as 295K.

Some prefer the upscale areas like Redding and Ridgefield- towns that have an upscale classic New England ambiance- with a price tag to match.
In any case consider CT- it offers much. I think you might be happier here then parts of the Midwest- where some from your state are now relocating to. Welcome!

[mitchell2360]

Thanks for the info. We really would like to move to western Connecticut (west of the river?) because we have family in Manhattan.

We found a home this morning in Oxford. It's a 3 bedroom colonial, 2900 sq ft on 1.5 acres and we absolutely fell in love with the pictures. The price is $629,900, a little more than we wanted to spend, but we will spend the extra if the town is nice. We're booking a trip to CT for next week to check it out.

I did some research on Oxford and found that it's not far from NYC, about 20 minutes from Fairfield County beaches and a great commute for my husband (who will be working in Shelton). I read that Oxford is building its first high school, so that's a plus. Anyone know what the town is like, firsthand? Quiet and down to earth, or full of snotty soccer moms?

I did research on the towns you said were too expensive, and I agree...even more than Orange County!!!! Oxford seems pricey but more reasonable for western Connecticut.

What is the closest shopping town to Oxford? I see it's smack in between New Haven, Trumbull and Danbury. Do they offer good shopping?

I'm so excited to live a train ride away from NYC!

[mels]

Oxford is a quiet suburban town, not a ton going on in-town but very nice. Plenty of soccer moms, but not snobby in the least. My husband grew up there and had a good experience all around. Southford Falls is a nice place to take a little hike or walk and has a waterfall, and is just a pleasant place to spend a day.

You have access to big malls in Waterbury right off I-84 (Brass Mill) and Trumbull right off the Parkway/Rt. 15 (Westfield shopping mall) those may be the closest. Danbury is a bit further but also has a big mall right off of I-84, as does Milford right off of I-95. There is plenty of other shopping nearby (like Home Depots and all that stuff) so you won't travel too far for whatever your needs may be.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by mitchell2360

Thanks for the info. We really would like to move to western Connecticut (west of the river?) because we have family in Manhattan.

For clarification purposes, East of the River is generally those towns east of the Connecticut River. They don't have to be part of Greater Hartford. Western Connecticut is west of Waterbury, Fairfield or Southern Litchfield County, or west of the Housatonic. Lastly, West of the River is Greater Hartford west of the Connecticut River.

Originally Posted by mitchell2360

We found a home this morning in Oxford. It's a 3 bedroom colonial, 2900 sq ft on 1.5 acres and we absolutely fell in love with the pictures. The price is $629,900, a little more than we wanted to spend, but we will spend the extra if the town is nice. We're booking a trip to CT for next week to check it out.

I checked the Statewide MLS and the local MLS for Western Connecticut and didn't see this property. Do you have an MLS number? My brother purchased his house, a FSBO, back in January 2003 and loves Oxford. He shares (or shared) a property boundary with actress Barbara Hershey.

[deadcrowsflyeast]

for 600-800K you're pretty much almost top dog in oxford...the bang for buck ratio is great, but oxford is in the valley though, and it's not a place I want to bring/raise a family w/ all the other lower priced homes and lower economics.

I live by a couple of rules..Never by the best/biggest house in a lower economic town or by the smallest house is a higher economic town..at least w/ a better town to can add on though

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by deadcrowsflyeast

for 600-800K you're pretty much almost top dog in oxford...the bang for buck ratio is great, but oxford is in the valley though, and it's not a place I want to bring/raise a family w/ all the other lower priced homes and lower economics.

Oxford is in transition. It's successfully being compared as an alternative to Monroe, Newtown, Southbury, and Middlebury. I doubt folks considering Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Derby or Ansonia have Oxford on their shopping list.

Originally Posted by deadcrowsflyeast

I live by a couple of rules..Never by the best/biggest house in a lower economic town or by the smallest house is a higher economic town..at least w/ a better town to can add on though

I couldn't agree more with the FIRST part of your statement. I tell all of my buyer clients never to buy the high-priced property on the street or in the town. They might think it's a steal compared to other towns. However, in a micro-sense (on the same street or within the same town, that is), it will always be known as the white elephant. This is known as the principle of price regression (the lower ones will always pull your better property's value down!).

[westguy22]

Originally Posted by deadcrowsflyeast

for 600-800K you're pretty much almost top dog in oxford...the bang for buck ratio is great, but oxford is in the valley though, and it's not a place I want to bring/raise a family w/ all the other lower priced homes and lower economics.

I live by a couple of rules..Never by the best/biggest house in a lower economic town or by the smallest house is a higher economic town..at least w/ a better town to can add on though

Oxford is considered the "Valley" but is actually on the outskirts. Those considering Naugatuck, Ansonia, West Haven, Bristol and other like towns don't consider Oxford because home prices are about double what they are in these towns.

Oxford has always been in a seperate league from "the valley". Most people know the valley for it's many old factories. Oxford has none. The valley is also known for poverty and lower classes. Looking at Oxford's income and home prices, they are definitely the higher-end of the valley. Oxford has good schools, safe neighborhoods, pristine homes and is the fastest growing community in all of Connecticut because of this.

The previous poster is right. Oxford is more like Southbury, Newtown, Monroe and Brookfield than Ansona, Derby, Shelton and Naugatuck.

Most new homes in Oxford sell between 600 and 800k. It's a bang for your buck compared to Fairfield County (which borders Oxford) but is very expensive compared to those towns out in eastern Connecticut.

deadcrowsflyeast, do some research before you post. Oh, and use a spell checker, please.

[deadcrowsflyeast]

rich,..west,....good posts..and informative


I see plenty of value in a new 3500-4000sq ft, 3 car garage, 3 acres home in oxford....it's hard to look past these magnificent homes for 700-800k ...you don't have to go that far away oxford and the price doubles for the same thing

the town and area just isn't upscale enough for me to want to bring my family there and go to public schools, not to mention the commute to where you would prolly work from living there

[mels]

Originally Posted by Rich Lee

Oxford is in transition. It's successfully being compared as an alternative to Monroe, Newtown, Southbury, and Middlebury. I doubt folks considering Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Derby or Ansonia have Oxford on their shopping list.

I completely agree. You really can't consider Oxford as part of "the valley."