While not until the end of the month this year, Thanksgiving is already in the air. With unending thanks for your support & friendship to KMS, we prepare this concierge list of events and ideas to enlighten, entertain, inspire and help you and yours appreciate life in Connecticut.
Those of us in Connecticut breathe a sigh of relief as hurricane season comes to a close. While our premiums may be impacted by weather events nation-wide, we certainly empathize with others dealing with catastrophic devastation, and the resulting clean-up, rebuilding process. Is your home properly insured?
Today, we are noticing that an increasing desire to be together, for companionship and shared experiences, is driving relocation. While the great recession in 2007-2008 may have created a financial need, the Covid pandemic spurred an emotional one. Living in the same household is not necessarily the goal, but being in close proximity to family is important.
In our years of real estate, the KMS Team at Compass has seen it all. We listen to, offer advice and respect our clients immensely - even when they opt to sell their home by owner. Affirming what we already know — we work hard for our clients — they learn several things along the way. While things may work out in the end, professional guidance can help maximize the value and minimize the stress surrounding your real estate sale.
Maintenance-free, single-family style living has an appeal to those accustomed to single-family homes but no longer interested in the upkeep – snow removal, lawn care and the like. The bottom line? People love Westport and all its fabulous amenities, including its beaches and waterfront recreation facility, Longshore Club Park. Moving from a single family home to a condominium is no longer just down-sizing, it is right sizing in style.
Whether ghosts or spirits occupying a house is something you’ve experienced first-hand or only in the movies, everyone has felt the tingle on their neck when confronted by a strange noise or creak in the night. Most of us feel that tingle just talking about these stories — yes, this client’s experience is just one of several we’ve heard through the years.
We always caution against relying on a "zestimate". Zillow itself claims these to be a "starting point" and encourages buyers, sellers and the just curious to do their own research.
The KMS Partners team has met several times this summer for a socially-distant cocktail at Compo beach. While business is inevitably discussed, food (of the restaurant, and sometimes the homemade variety) is too! Here, in no particular order are the local mentions from a recent summer’s eve…
We’ve said it before, COVID has changed the way we all look at our houses. We want private offices, in-law suites, craft rooms, home gyms — and truthfully, some separation and privacy. A home with outbuildings sounds pretty attractive to those housing adult children seeking space outside of city living.
As the saying goes, “nothing is certain but death and taxes”. Yes, no matter where you live in the United States, taxes are a certainty. When considering a move across state lines, it’s important to understate the tax implications. Biased for sure, but we think the “bang for your buck” is a lot better in Connecticut than the surrounding states!
The trend to move within the tri-state region is not new but it is accelerating in our direction! Whether the pandemic has shortened the timelines of those planning to move at some point or making people rethink their definition of home, we the team of KMS Partners, stand ready to help.
At KMS Partners at Compass, we love every aspect of homes: buying them, selling them, doing whatever we can to make the folks we work with feel part of a broader community. At a time when so many of us are sheltering in place, it’s more important than ever to think about – and actively work for – those who lack the luxury of shelter.
As we stay safe at home, many are rediscovering their kitchens, cooking and baking like never before and getting the whole family involved. Making our lists and picking up essentials on a weekly, no longer daily, basis. But still we yearn for our favorites, those local businesses that have made their mark in our communities and our lives….
Working from home is not that different for many of us, but keeping children engaged while doing so can make it a little more complicated. Educators are working hard to adapt to this new normal. We've compiled a list of instructional yet fun websites that may also help keep your children engaged during this transition.
We at KMS Partners like to take a more modern approach to the holiday that is essentially inescapable this time of year. Yes, we adore spending the holiday with that special someone, but we also enjoy that the holiday gives us the opportunity to show our love for friends, co-workers and kids in our lives! Our favorites places to shop for Valentines…
In 1930, Weston residents Lawrence Langner and his wife, Armina Marshall, purchased a cow-barn-turned-tannery on what was then the fringes of Westport. As co-founders of New York’s Theatre Guild, they were excited by the opportunity to offer new plays, reinterpretations of classics & tryout new talent away from the spotlight of Broadway.
We help young couples buy their first home. We’re there as their families grow, and when they need more space. If they relocate -- across town, or across the country -- we work with them to replicate the house they’re selling, or perhaps try something entirely new. Years later, when they become empty nesters, we work together to find a smaller, more manageable space.
Spend Sunday morning as you wish and then head out for a late breakfast/early lunch that will tide you over until dinner. Absolutely perfect for #realtor life, where hosting Sunday afternoon open houses is the norm.
Over the years, we’ve all tried many places – some have come and gone while others have stood the test of time. Give our current favorites a try and let us know what you think.
Summer’s un-official end doesn’t mean the days of sipping a cocktail outdoors are over. We’ve scouted out a few locations that have outdoor patios designed just for that …. AND have a happy hour line-up to entice you.
In the fall of 1648, five men from Fairfield — Thomas Newton, Henry Gray, John Green, Daniel Frost and Francis Andrews — acquired land from the Native American Machamux tribe, on what is now Beachside Avenue and Sherwood Island. They earned the “Bankside” nickname, because of their location on the banks of Long Island Sound.
One unexpected delight of home-buying here is discovering gorgeous backyard gardens. The Westport Historical Society even sponsors a special “Hidden Gardens” tour. But another type of garden is hidden in plain sight. Community gardens -- town-owned, group-run and wildly popular -- have sprouted all over Fairfield County.
It’s hardly the first time the town rallied around a great cause. In fact, Westporters pride themselves on making their voices heard. Over 50 years ago, a utility company wanted to buy Cockenoe Island -- to turn the beloved camping and fishing spot a mile off Compo Beach into a nuclear power plant!
Here at KMS, we’ve noticed an intriguing trend. Antique homes are back in favor with buyers. Younger folks, European transplants, down-sizers – all have asked to see homes that were built long before they (or sometimes, their grandparents) were born. As we’ve shown some outstanding antiques in Westport and throughout Fairfield County, we’ve noticed a few things.
When we talk to potential homebuyers about Westport’s history, we mention our agricultural past. As we show you possible homes, we point out repurposed barns highlighting that farming heritage is an important part of this town’s charm. But whenever one of our KMS Partners talks about Wakeman Town Farm, Westport’s past truly comes alive.
