Wendy Dixon Fog Archives - Wendy Dixon Fog

Rev your engines.. Caffeine and Carburetors is Back!!! April 22, 2018- New Canaan’s premier car event

February 21, 2018/in Blog, Exploring New Canaan/by Wendy Fog

Forget the robins and the sprouting daffodils…this event truly signals the beginning of spring!

Caffeine & Carburetors has become a celebrated gathering of automotive enthusiasts located in New Canaan, Connecticut. Doug Zumbach, owner of Zumbachs Coffee, began hosting these get-togethers in 1995 with only a handful of sports cars aficionados. C&C has now grown to approximately 1500 spectacular automobiles and motorcycles and is a wonderful chance for motor fanatics, as well as the average layperson and family, to socialize and appreciate these beautiful machines.

There are four events this year held in alternating venues starting in the heart of downtown and then moving to New Canaan’s 300-acre Waveny Park. The event starts early with cars arriving around 8:00 am and exiting by 11:00. So grab a cup of coffee and join us!

It is the best free car show on the Eastern seaboard!

2018 Schedule:

April 22 – Downtown
June 17 – Waveny Park
September 16 – Downtown
October 21- Waveny Park

Caffeine and Carburetors is a way to indulge the gear head in all of us, whether you are two legged or four! For more information please visit our website…you’ll get the gist. Caffeineandcarburetors.com

New Canaan 2016 4th Quarter Real Estate Market Report

February 1, 2017/in Blog, New Canaan Market Statistics/by Wendy Fog

For most of 2016, local markets in Darien and New Canaan were driven by a nagging oversupply of inventory and a resulting lack of urgency on the part of homebuyers. As such, the picture painted by the typical year-end statistics is not particularly pretty for sellers: The number of homes sold in Darien and New Canaan during 2016 was down 10.3% and 24.3%, respectively, compared to the 2015 totals.

That said, a careful look at the fourth quarter (particularly the post-election period) reveals some compelling reasons for optimism. Consider the following:

New Canaan year-end pending sales are higher. In New Canaan, the number of transactions pending on December 31, 2016 was 28, compared to only 13 pending transactions on that date in 2015; this marks a year-over-year increase of 115.4% in pending sales activity. For more detailed information..

Click on the image below to view and download the

2016 New Canaan 4th Quarter Market Report.

Fox Hollow, New Canaan CT

February 15, 2016/in New Canaan CT Condo Guide/by Wendy Fog

One of New Canaan’s smaller complexes, Fox Hollow consists of 6 units, each with approximately 1500 square feet of living space. Built in 1980 these condominiums have 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, fireplaces, personal laundries and their own attached garage. Finished walkout lower levels and pull down attics add extra storage and living capacity.

Art Classes

August 12, 2015/in Arts and Culture, Blog/by Wendy Fog

New Canaan has a thriving art community that encourages and supports both professional and emerging artists. From finger painting to advanced fine arts you can find a venue to inspire the artist within.

Silvermine Art Center 203.966.5617 – https://silvermineart.org

In the early 1900’s a colony of artists settled in the Silvermine area, lured by the picturesque countryside. The artists gathered around noted sculptor Solon Borglum, whose barn was the meeting place where these artists, the so-called “Knockers Club” came to socialize, exchange ideas and critique each other’s work. Eventually, the group outgrew the barn and purchased a larger one, on the present site of the Silvermine Guild Arts Center. Founded in 1922, the Guild of Artists was formally incorporated in 1924. Today, Silvermine presents abundant opportunities for individuals of all ages to enjoy and learn about the arts. The Guild of Artists now has over 300 members. The award winning Galleries present over 20 exhibitions each year. The award winning School of Art is the preeminent learning destination for visual arts in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Hundreds of courses and workshops in numerous disciplines are offered through the School of Art. A variety of programs and lectures are presented in the intimate setting of our auditorium.

Carriage Barn Art Center 203.972.1895 – carriagebarn.org

A unique Nineteenth Century stone barn on the grounds of the Lapham estate is home to exceptional exhibition and performance space. The Carriage Barn Arts Center is host to several premier art exhibitions annually, including two major juried events and curated exhibitions of member and invited artists, as well as art classes for adults and children, lectures, and a variety of live musical performances in the NCSA Acoustic Series and the Waveny Chamber Society concerts.

Arts for Healing 203.972.2982 – www.artsforhealing.org/

Arts for Healing is a unique, nurturing community-based center that helps people with learning and developmental disabilities improve the quality of their lives through music and creative arts therapy. A not-for-profit organization, we’ve been working with special needs children, adolescents and adults, and their families for over a decade. By providing safe and enriching artistic experiences, our students emerge to increase communication, attention span, fine and gross motor skills, social skills, and language development. As they progress, their renewed awareness and self-confidence is carried with them into their family relationships, school settings, and community.

Winter Blues? Maybe not……

March 1, 2015/in Blog/by Wendy Fog

Despite record cold and snow drifts that swallowed mid size cars, the real estate market has shaken off the freeze. 90 single family residences, 9 condominiums and 19 land listings came on for sale since January 1, 2015. Some of these properties were taken off the market for the 2014 holiday season and reintroduced with adjusted pricing, but many are new.

Call this the bonus market, which precludes the traditional spring market. With checks in their bank accounts buyers are now more confident about their purchases. They are still looking for value and new or updated continue to be their preference.

Since beginning of the year there have been 22 single family homes sold, 11 others have signed contracts and 19 additional homes have accepted offers awaiting contracts. 4 condominiums have sold with an additional 7 pending and 4 others have accepted offers. Building remains strong with 2 land listings pending and an additional 14+ acre property, that will be sub-divided, with an accepted offer.

Inventory is still low with many homeowners waiting for better weather to show off their properties.

Staging on a Budget…5 Essential Rules and Tips

January 19, 2015/in Blog/by Wendy Fog

If you want potential buyers to choose your property over the competition, staging your home can make your house stand out from the crowd.

Staging is a new concept for most sellers, but a crucial step in getting your house sold. Presentation is everything!

As a marketing tool it helps to get people in the door. Today’s buyers look on the Internet before contacting a realtor to show them the house. If you don’t have beautiful pictures of your property they will not take the time to visit your home. It also adds perceived value to your home which can translate into a higher sales price.

Home owners can make the changes themselves or hire a professional home stager. Professionals have an expertise that the home owner may lack to successfully stage their home. They comes into the home with an unbiased eye. They are not emotionally attached to the home or the objects within it, allowing them to be objective, which is essential for a successful stage and ultimately a quicker and profitable sale.

Should you choose to do it yourself, here are some rules and tips to follow.

Rule # 1: DE-PERSONALIZE

People want to envision themselves in the house – not you. Children and wedding photos may be important to you, but are a distraction to the buyer and prevents them from seeing their family in the home.

Rule # 2: MAXIMIZE

Declutter and organize. This will maximize the space in your home. Children’s toys strewn about and rooms stuffed with that extra table or chair make the place seems small. Closets packed tight with clothes gives the illusion of a lack of closet space. Consider temporary off site storage.

Rule # 3: SANITIZE

The easiest and cheapest way to stage your home is to just clean it. Dirty dishes in the sink, pet and garbage smells and grim in the bathrooms are a turn off for any buyer. Nothing is better than walking into a house that smells and looks fresh. Take the extra time to wash down walls, floors and baseboards. Clean, sparkling windows brighten the space.

Rule # 4: MODERNIZE

Unless you live in a new construction (2009-2014), or have done a recent renovation, every home can benefit from a little updating. Buyers will offer a lower price if they feel the house is dated. Simple changes such as replacing the kitchen and bathroom hardware from brass and gold to nickel or chrome creates a fresh, contemporary look. A new coat of paint, or stain, on those dated cabinets will dramatically transform the space. Organize cabinets inside as well as out.

Rule # 5: NEUTRALIZE

Color can make or break a buyer’s interest in your home. Your daughter may love her shocking pink walls, but the buyer will only see $$ signs if the colors do not match their own style. A new coat of a gender neutral color is one of the most inexpensive ways to change a look and also to modernize. Consider removing or raising window treatments to allow the light in which makes a room feel spacious and inviting.

Here are a few related articles you might want to read prior to putting your house on the market.

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