[Seattle's Best 28]

Scratch New Canaan because you can't find a house there for under a million dollars. Your $550k in New canaan might get you a small condo.

[trishguard]

Originally Posted by ChrisFromChicago

Okay guys I just got a job offer in Norwalk CT. Though we have family out east, I don't know CT very well.

Questions
1) How far East/West/North can I commute from? I don't want to kill myself on the roads everyday. . . .

2) What are the "areas" to stay away from?

3)if you recommend an area, how are the schools there?

What I really love: Walking to places. . .grocery, food, whatever. A train to take downtown on weekends would be icing, but I suspect that would increase the cost a lot!

Keep in MInd: I'm hoping to get approved for a mortgage. . .(fingers crossed I would love to get a 500-550 loan). In this economy, who knows?

You might like Stamford, but I'll have to leave it to someone else to tell you the good areas to live in.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Seattle's Best 28

Scratch New Canaan because you can't find a house there for under a million dollars. Your $550k in New canaan might get you a small condo.

There are plenty of livable homes for sale at under a mill in New Canaan. 550K will easily buy a condo, but condo stock in the town is essentially older low-end variety. Townhouses tend to be nice, but they run for more than 550K, with the exception of one complex of tiny(~600sq.) one's on Locust.

[Seattle's Best 28]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

There are plenty of livable homes for sale at under a mill in New Canaan. 550K will easily buy a condo, but condo stock in the town is essentially older low-end variety. Townhouses tend to be nice, but they run for more than 550K, with the exception of one complex of tiny(~600sq.) one's on Locust.

Yeah if starter houses aren't a million they are slightly under, lowest around $800k. Trust me I looked there last year, even though house prices went down, it is still prohivitively expensive and out of the guy's price range.

Instead of telling this person to high ball it and go for the exclusive towns, why don't people recommend a town where $500 will get them something decent instead of a house that would need all kinds of work? That's why we are in this financial mess in the first place.

[LateNiteCruisin]

Fairfield is a good choice. Stamford is generally more pricey. I would give Fairfield the nod. Schools are very good there too. For 500+/-k you can get a nice split level or . In a nice part of town.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Seattle's Best 28

Yeah if starter houses aren't a million they are slightly under, lowest around $800k. Trust me I looked there last year, even though house prices went down, it is still prohivitively expensive and out of the guy's price range.

Instead of telling this person to high ball it and go for the exclusive towns, why don't people recommend a town where $500 will get them something decent instead of a house that would need all kinds of work? That's why we are in this financial mess in the first place.

I wasn't attempting to steer this person to New Canaan. I was only pointing out that your statement was no longer valid. Yes, it's expensive, but, there is a sizeable supply of homes for sale at the price point you referenced. Please perform some diligence before you throw out the snarky yeah, yeah, trust me nonsense. TIA.

[Seattle's Best 28]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

I wasn't attempting to steer this person to New Canaan. I was only pointing out that your statement was no longer valid. Yes, it's expensive, but, there is a sizeable supply of homes for sale at the price point you referenced. Please perform some diligence before you throw out the snarky yeah, yeah, trust me nonsense. TIA.

Have you visited the houses to tell they are livable? Im sure you have not. They need work I'm sure.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Seattle's Best 28

Have you visited the houses to tell they are livable? Im sure you have not. They need work I'm sure.

Just out of curiosity, where in town, were the homes located that you looked at last year?

[Rich Lee]

Here's a summary of the single-family properties currently available in New Canaan per realtor.com (not exactly the most reliable source):

2 - Under $500,000
3 - Between $500,001 - $600,000
6 - Between $600,001 - $700,000
12- Between $700,001 - $800,000
6 - Between $800,001 - $900,000
5 - Between $900,001 - 1000,000

NOTE: If you go to realtor.com to check my figures, you're going to get different results. For example, you will find 21 listings between $700,001 - $800,000. Many of these are listed 2 and 3 times to reflect the fact that the property is listed on the New Canaan MLS, the GFC MLS, and the Statewide MLS.

[trishguard]

This is what I find in New Canaan for under $500,000

$495,000 3-Bedroom 1 full bath 2 half baths 2 car garage Single Family 1196 sqft .81 acres

$399,000 1-Bedroom 1 bath Condo in a 50 unit complex. 743 sqft

$285,000 4-Bedroom 2 baths 2 car garage Single Family 1855 sqft .99 acres