[NJ987654]

Ok. I know I am asking a lot but I'll try anyway.

We have been house hunting in Fairfield County. We moved from South NJ and we expected to have some sticker shock... but, in a word... "wow"
In South NJ, we had a 400K home that was on .5 acres, level lot, 3400 Sq ft, 4 br, 2.5 bath, built in 2003. Taxes were higher than here but we definitely had much more home for the money.

Here's my scenario:
I'm looking up to 450K but would prefer to be at 400Kish if possible. I have family in Ridgefield so I would like to stay close to there if at all possible. I want CT, not NY. I am a finance professional who currently works at home but I could see a possibility of job opportunities in Stamford, Danbury, or Greenwich in the future so commute is being considered.

I want a single family, prefer 4 BR but could survive with 3 if it was the right house. I would like about an acre give or take with a some privacy in the backyard (pool would be nice but not necessary). I have a 5 year old and 1 year old... schools seem to be good every where but I want to stay out of Danbury.

I've looked at Ridgefield... I love the town and the sense of community, but it is way out of my price range. I've seen 500K tear downs. We also looked at Redding and haven't seen much I'd consider. Today was spent in Bethel... we saw 2 that would do... but they were both closer to 500K and weren't perfect by any means. Newtown seems to offer a lot also and we haven't finished searching there (a lot to look at there). Fairfield had nothing. Southbury seems to have a lot of what I've described but is about 50 min to an hour away. Internet searches on Trumball haven't produced much.

Where am I not looking that I should be?

[Rich Lee]

You've already ruled out the one area in Fairfield County that would have properties in your price range: Danbury. With that being said, you now have to adjust your price, your distance to your relatives, or your expectations for the house that you'll get for $400,000.

I'm in New Haven County and must admit that that's a tough price for Southbury, Middlebury, Oxford, and Cheshire.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by NJ987654

Ok. I know I am asking a lot but I'll try anyway.

We have been house hunting in Fairfield County. We moved from South NJ and we expected to have some sticker shock... but, in a word... "wow"
In South NJ, we had a 400K home that was on .5 acres, level lot, 3400 Sq ft, 4 br, 2.5 bath, built in 2003. Taxes were higher than here but we definitely had much more home for the money.

Here's my scenario:
I'm looking up to 450K but would prefer to be at 400Kish if possible. I have family in Ridgefield so I would like to stay close to there if at all possible. I want CT, not NY. I am a finance professional who currently works at home but I could see a possibility of job opportunities in Stamford, Danbury, or Greenwich in the future so commute is being considered.

I want a single family, prefer 4 BR but could survive with 3 if it was the right house. I would like about an acre give or take with a some privacy in the backyard (pool would be nice but not necessary). I have a 5 year old and 1 year old... schools seem to be good every where but I want to stay out of Danbury.

I've looked at Ridgefield... I love the town and the sense of community, but it is way out of my price range. I've seen 500K tear downs. We also looked at Redding and haven't seen much I'd consider. Today was spent in Bethel... we saw 2 that would do... but they were both closer to 500K and weren't perfect by any means. Newtown seems to offer a lot also and we haven't finished searching there (a lot to look at there). Fairfield had nothing. Southbury seems to have a lot of what I've described but is about 50 min to an hour away. Internet searches on Trumball haven't produced much.

Where am I not looking that I should be?

Southbury is 50 minutes from Danbury? Or do you mean Stamford/Greenwich? From Danbury it is about 20 minutes max without traffic.

I would suggest you look into Shelton. It is near the Merritt for easy access to Stamford, Norwalk, New Haven and Waterbury for jobs. It is a drive from Ridgefield but not too bad. Danbury would be about a 45 minute drive from Shelton.

In northern FFC and eastern NHC (the towns that Rich Lee mentioned above) will have starter homes in the $300-350k range, but if you are looking for a home like you have now, it will be well over $400k.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Southbury is 50 minutes from Danbury? Or do you mean Stamford/Greenwich? From Danbury it is about 20 minutes max without traffic.

Agreed. My house in Cheshire isn't 50 minutes to Danbury, but it is 50 minutes to Ridgefield.

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I would suggest you look into Shelton. It is near the Merritt for easy access to Stamford, Norwalk, New Haven and Waterbury for jobs. It is a drive from Ridgefield but not too bad. Danbury would be about a 45 minute drive from Shelton.

The only other option might be New Milford to the north. They're really making progress on Super 7 which will ultimately cut down the commute time!

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

In northern FFC and eastern NHC (the towns that Rich Lee mentioned above) will have starter homes in the $300-350k range, but if you are looking for a home like you have now, it will be well over $400k.

I wasn't clear on what I said. I meant it would be difficult finding what the OP specified: ...a single family, prefer 4 BR but could survive with 3 if it was the right house. I would like about an acre give or take with a some privacy in the backyard (pool would be nice but not necessary). You're right about the starter homes.

[jdhall1]

Obviously, you are not going to get 3500 square feet in Fairfield County for $450,000. You'll be looking at around 2000 square feet in New Fairfield, Brookfield & Bethel. Have you thought about looking in New Milford (north of Brookfield)?

[kidyankee764]

I always forget about New Milford. Great option for the OP! Only problem is their job search would be limited to greater Danbury, and maybe Waterbury.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by jdhall1

Obviously, you are not going to get 3500 square feet in Fairfield County for $450,000.

Not that i'm endorsing moving there, but there is one city in the county where you could get the above.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Not that i'm endorsing moving there, but there is one city in the county where you could get the above.

[MetsNY]

Look at Trumbull and Monroe. You won't get a house like you have in S. Jersey but you can find something decent. It will need some work and it will be a bit older but there are def. nice homes to be had in the $500,000 price range in Trumbull, Monroe and even Newtown. Ridgefield is not far from these towns and many, many people commute to the Lower FFC/Westchester area.

[usmcfamily]

Originally Posted by MetsNY

Look at Trumbull and Monroe. You won't get a house like you have in S. Jersey but you can find something decent. It will need some work and it will be a bit older but there are def. nice homes to be had in the $500,000 price range in Trumbull, Monroe and even Newtown. Ridgefield is not far from these towns and many, many people commute to the Lower FFC/Westchester area.

I was just going to say the same thing. I would add New Fairfield in there, too. All of these towns are beautiful, family towns, good schools.