Wilton Go Green Home Tour on May 20
April 29th, 2012 | Published in From Urban to Suburban, Green Living, Life in Fairfield County, Maintaining Your Home, Uncategorized
Thinking green homes means ugly or out-of-reach? Think again. Improvements can be simple or extensive, depending on your budget and willingness to undergo a little unconventional planning. Wilton Go Green, a group of volunteers whose goal is to develop sustainable initiative, is sponsoring a tour of four local green homes from 1 to 5:30 on Saturday, May 20, in Wilton and New Canaan, CT. Tickets are $20/person or family.
1. This Wilton home reflects the owners’ desire to avoid the excesses and waste of an oversized house, and to live comfortably with an eye to environmental responsibility. Thoughtful planning, including thorough insulation, a heating system run by a computer that senses the outside temperature and regulates the high efficiency boiler, “low e” glass in the windows, and a heat recovery and air exchange system all contribute to an energy-efficient residence. The owners’ love of history, structure and sculpture and their desire to recycle rather than throw away is reflected in the remodeled, attached 1850′s barn that serves as guest quarters for visiting family.
2. A Craftsman style ranch home, also in Wilton, includes options available to the average homeowner, including a geothermal system. The old siding was removed, new insulation installed, the house re-sided with a maintenance-free concrete/wood by-product, and a composite decking material included.
3. A 1775 home in Wilton’s historic district required special consideration when its owners decided to remodel and add a new wing. The addition, barely visible from the front of the house, hosts updated mechanical systems, and the entire home is now thoroughly insulated. A geothermal system heats and cools the home, and photovoltaic solar panels provide supplemental electricity. This historic home has been successfully retrofitted to be more energy efficient while maintaining its architectural integrity.
4. No details were overlooked in an Adirondack style LEED platinum-certified home in New Canaan. The “envelope” of the home is as airtight as possible, and native, natural, and sustainable materials, including stones on the fireplace, chimney and the chimney, were used in its construction. The house is extensively insulated, most windows are triple pane, and reclaimed lumber and FSC-certified Northeastern wood products were used for the structure and other interior items. The home includes countless other details, including solar thermal panels on the roof and pole-mounted photovoltaic solar panels,
All participants must sign in, present photo ID, and pick up maps at Old Town Hall, 69 Ridgefield Road, Wilton, beginning at 1 pm on May 20th. Everyone may tour the three Wilton homes. Tours of the New Canaan home, at 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm, are limited and are by reservation only; reservations may be made the day of the tour at Old Town Hall beginning at 1 pm. Parking at Old Town Hall is available behind the building, accessed off Belden Hill Road.
The Spring Green Homes Tour has been sponsored by the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority through the Community Innovations Grant Program.
Lisa M. Bender, Lisa@CTClassicHomes.com
International Buyers Continue at 2% of Domestic Market
April 26th, 2012 | Published in Financing Updates, Market Updates, Uncategorized
Chart from National Association of Realtors.
It’s a great time to purchase real estate in the U.S. With inventory at an all-time high, prices at or close to rock bottom, and mortgage rates at historic lows, people are again considering real estate as an investment to round out their portfolios. And foreigners are in the game.
A new report released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) details the trend. The number of sales to foreigners not residing in the U.S. continues to be holding in the 2 percent range, proving that individuals worldwide are taking advantage of our market, recognizing its value and the propability of values rebounding. (click here for NAR’s full report)
Other NAR surveys have indicated that an additional 2 to 3 percent of residential sales are made to those international customers who live in the U.S. Additional information on international activities is available here.
For much more detail on what that means specifically to Connecticut, follow the link below.
Lisa M. Bender, Lisa@CTClassicHomes.com
Lilac lovers in Fairfield County: Tips for your blooms
April 21st, 2012 | Published in From Urban to Suburban, Green Living, Life in Fairfield County, Uncategorized
There’s nothing better than walking outside and smelling, ah!……..the first lilacs of the season. Well, the only thing better than that is bringing in a bouquet of your gardening bounty to put on the kitchen counter.
If you want that nirvana to last for more than an afternoon, here are some easy-to-follow tips to extend the counter life of those heady blooms.
1. Leave the leaves on the plants. They’re loaded with chlorophyll, the stuff that feeds them and makes them green. And the leaves create suction to pull water up the vascular system to those luscious blooms. However, don’t let the leaves fall into the water, and fill the vase up just shy of the lowest leaf. Leaves + water = bacteria.
By Lisa M. Bender, Lisa@CTClassicHomes.com
Rating Connecticut Towns: 2011
October 27th, 2011 | Published in From Urban to Suburban, Life in Fairfield County, UncategorizedFairfield County’s towns once again take top honors in Connecticut Magazine’s Annual Ranking of Towns.
Greenwich, Westport, Ridgefield and Weston came in first among towns of similar-size populations. Fairfield came in second, New Canaan came in third, and Wilton in fourth in their respective-sized towns.
While what makes a town seem like home varies from person to person, what can be measured (schools, crime, cost of living, local economy, leisure and cultural opportunities) is what the magazine uses as a measure in its study. Links to the complete findings are listed below, and towns with populations under 10,000 will be ranked in the March 2012 publication.
Lisa M. Bender, Lisa@CTClassicHomes.com
New Listing: 18 Woodchuck Lane, Wilton, $624,000
May 17th, 2011 | Published in Uncategorized
Fabulous 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath ranch in Southwest Wilton location, close to schools, town and highways. Perfect for commuters!
Gorgeous landscaped private acre. Large master suite includes closets and master bath with built ins. Sunny kitchen overlooks enormous deck with hot tub. Lower level family room.
Let us know if we can help: team@CTClassicHomes.com
Moving to Fairfield County with a Child with a Learning Difference?
April 12th, 2011 | Published in From Urban to Suburban, Life in Fairfield County, UncategorizedIf you’re moving to Fairfield County and have a child with a learning difference, you’re in good company.
In Fairfield County, we’re lucky to have top-notch schools that support children with learning differences. So whether you’ve got a son or daughter with a diagnosis of autism, dyslexia or ADD, your needs within a school district may be a little more focused.
1. Do your homework online. If you’re shopping for a district, below are some places to look to get information.
- Early Childhood Special Education
- Private Special Education Facilities
- No Child Left Behind Rights, and Info on Learning Disabilities, ADD and Autism
- State Resource Education Center
- Special Education Rights and Laws
- General Information on Learning Disabilities
- Evaluating Your Child for a Learning Disability
2. Visit the public school that your child would attend. Interview staff members, such as the principal, a member of the special education staff, a speech therapist, an occupational therapist. You can get vibes from these professionals that no amount of online searching can provide.
Here are some questions to consider:
- What’s the student/teacher ratio?
- Will there be an aid in the classroom?
- Will there be other children in the class with learning differences?
- How often will your child leave the class, and what will he or she miss when out of the class?
- Who will be your contact at the school, or your case supervisor?
- How often are meetings to discuss your child’s progress scheduled?
3. Look into local special education networks. These can be invaluable source of information and live people with whom to chat or meet. Here are a few links with valuable information:
- Special Education Network
- Special Education Network of Wilton
- Bringing Knowledge of
4. Ask local experts, such as physicians or service providers, for their opinions. If you’re moving out of the area, they may have contacts near where you’re planning your move. If you’re moving locally, they may be able to offer up some networks or parents who are willing to speak with you.
5. Go with your gut. While the advice of others is very valuable, nobody knows your child better than you. After you finish your research, remember to trust your own instincts in the end.
Lisa Bender CT Classic Homes/Higgins Group
