Fairfield County's Best Towns to Live in- Trumbull, Connecticut

If you are not familar with Trumbull,  it is a highly commutable and affordable town in Fairfield County. Right now, the Trumbull real estate market is among the healthiest in the area, and certainly deserves your attention. Home prices range from about $200,000 to 1 million.

Trumbull, Connecticut Quick Facts: Land area is approximately 23 Square miles and the elevation is 266 feet. Incorporated in  1797, Trumbull currently  has about  33,000 residents in 12,300 households, 89% of which are owner occupied.  Approximately  17.2%  of the housing stock was built prior to 1950. The 2011-2012 property tax rate for Trumbull is 25.00 mills.

Check out our 12 page detailed demographic report HERE. 

The town of Trumbull, Connecticut is located just a few miles inland off the coast of Long Island Sound in the mid-eastern section of Fairfield County. One of the many fine qualities the town of Trumbull has to offer is a very well planned mix of old and new, of residential and commercial, and of town and city.

Historic Nichols is a lovely enclave in town, and you'll hear townsfolk give directions based on the Bunny Fountain.  Play golf at Tashua Knolls, or go shopping at the mall. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how this comfortable town has many amenities that only larger cities generally offer.

Trumbull was named after Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull, who was a widely respected figure during the revolutionary war.His second son, Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., also resided as Governor of CT. Brother John was one of our nations most noteworthy early American artists. Famous works include The Declaration of Independence, and other scenes form the American Revolution.Trumbull has two well known historic districts, Nichols and Tashua, and its Historical society is an active one. When you go into town hall you will see many photographs of the older homes in town.

Trumbull's great pride in its parks is evident as you drive through town. Over 1300 acres of preserved land include eight major parks in town, and each has its own claim to fame. You can go swimming or hiking, listen to a concert at the amphitheater, enjoy the BMX racetrack or go fishing, skating or picnicking-and the list just goes on and on.

Trumbull is also home to a vocational agriculture program where students learn to tend animals and plants. You can drive by the school's farm area and maybe catch a glimpse of a couple of cows or sheep, but don't let that fool you into thinking that Trumbull is a rural community. Trumbull is home to the immediate region's shopping plaza with over 200 stores. You will really find whatever you're looking for here, and that means whether you're shopping for a home or shopping for something for your home. This is the town I call "home". One of the greatest things about Trumbull is that you can feel like you're in the country, but everything is really only five minutes away!

SEARCH TRUMBULL PROPERTIES HERE

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Town
Type	Single Family Rental Land Multi-Family Condo
Min $	0 $25,000 $50,000 $75,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $325,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $600,000 $650,000 $700,000 $750,000 $800,000 $850,000 $900,000 $1,000,000 $1,250,000 $1,500,000 $1,750,000 $2,000,000 $2,250,000 $2,500,000 $2,750,000 $3,000,000 $3,500,000 $4,000,000 $4,500,000 $5,000,000 $6,000,000 $8,000,000 $8,000,000 $10,000,000 $50,000,000
Max $	No Max. $25,000 $50,000 $75,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $325,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $600,000 $650,000 $700,000 $750,000 $800,000 $850,000 $900,000 $1,000,000 $1,250,000 $1,500,000 $1,750,000 $2,000,000 $2,250,000 $2,500,000 $2,750,000 $3,000,000 $3,500,000 $4,000,000 $4,500,000 $5,000,000 $6,000,000 $8,000,000 $8,000,000 $10,000,000 $50,000,000

TRIVIA: Trumbull hosts the state's largest single day fair; The town is named for Jonathan Trumbull, a supporter of the American Revolution; A painting of Jonathan Trumbull hangs in the State Capitol building.

 View an interactive map of Trumbull

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in Trumbull, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

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Common Problems With Attic Pull-Down Ladders in the Home

Attic pull-down ladders, also called attic pull-down stairways, are collapsible ladders that are permanently attached to the attic floor. Occupants can use these ladders to access their attics without being required to carry a portable ladder.

 

Common Defects

 

Homeowners, not professional carpenters, usually install attic pull-down ladders. Evidence of this distinction can be observed in consistently shoddy and dangerous work that rarely meets safety standards. Some of the more common defective conditions observed by inspectors include:

• cut bottom cord of structural truss. Often, homeowners will cut through a structural member in the field while installing a pull-down ladder, unknowingly weakening the structure. Structural members should not be modified in the field without an engineer’s approval;
• fastened with improper nails or screws. Homeowners often use drywall or deck screws rather than the standard 16d penny nails or ¼” x 3” lag screws. Nails and screws that are intended for other purposes may have reduced shear strength and they may not support pull-down ladders;
• fastened with an insufficient number of nails or screws. Manufacturers provide a certain number of nails with instructions that they all be used, and they probably do this for a good reason. Inspectors should be wary of “place nail here” notices that are nowhere near any nails;
• lack of insulation. Hatches in many houses (especially older ones) are not likely to be weather-stripped and/or insulated. An uninsulated attic hatch allows air from the attic to flow freely into the home, which may cause the heating or cooling system to run overtime. An attic hatch cover box can be installed to increase energy savings;
• loose mounting bolts. This condition is more often caused by age rather than installation, although improper installation will hasten the loosening process;
• attic pull-down ladders are cut too short. Stairs should reach the floor; 
• attic pull-down ladders are cut too long. This causes pressure at the folding hinge, which can cause breakage;
• improper or missing fasteners;
• compromised fire barrier when installed in the garage;
  
• attic ladder frame is not properly secured to the ceiling opening;
• closed ladder is covered with debris, such as blown insulation or roofing material shed during roof work. Inspectors can place a sheet on the floor beneath the ladder to catch whatever debris may fall onto the floor; and
• cracked steps. This defect is a problem with wooden ladders.
• In sliding pull-down ladders, there is a potential for the ladder to slide down quickly without notice. Always pull the ladder down slowly and cautiously. 

Safety tip for inspectors: Place an "InterNACHI Inspector at work!" stop sign nearby while mounting the ladder.

 

Relevant Codes

The 2009 edition of the International Building Code (IBC) and the 2006 edition of the International Residential Code (IRC) offer guidelines regarding attic access, although not specifically pull-down ladders. Still, the information might be of some interest to inspectors.

2009 IBC (Commercial Construction):

1209.2 Attic Spaces. An opening not less than 20 inches by 30 inches (559 mm by 762 mm) shall be provided to any attic area having a clear height of over 30 inches (762 mm). A 30-inch (762 mm) minimum clear headroom in the attic space shall be provided at or above the access opening.

2006 IRC (Residential Construction):

R807.1 Attic Access. Buildings with combustible ceiling or roof construction shall have an attic access opening to attic areas that exceed 30 square feet (2.8m squared) and have a vertical height of 30 inches (762 mm) or more. The rough-framed opening shall not be less than 22 inches by 30 inches, and shall be located in a hallway or readily accessible location. A 30-inch (762 mm) minimum unobstructed headroom in the attic space shall be provided at some point above the access opening.

Tips that inspectors can pass on to their clients:

• Do not allow children to enter the attic through an attic access. The lanyard attached to the attic stairs should be short enough that children cannot reach it. Parents can also lock the attic ladder so that a key or combination is required to access it.
• If possible, avoid carrying large loads into the attic. While properly installed stairways may safely support an adult man, they might fail if he is carrying, for instance, a bag full of bowling balls. Such trips can be split up to reduce the weight load.

• Replace an old, rickety wooden ladder with a new one. Newer aluminum models are often lightweight, sturdy and easy to install.

In summary, attic pull-down ladders are prone to a number of defects, most of which are due to improper installation.

From Attic Pull-Down Ladders - InterNACHI http://www.nachi.org/attic-ladders.htm#ixzz1qAKfxCDl

by Nick Gromicko and Rob London

Nick Gromicko, FOUNDER. http://www.nachi.org
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) is the world's most elite, non-profit inspection association.
President, ComInspect, www.cominspect.com
Director, Master Inspector Certification Board, www.certifiedmasterinspector.org
Author, 15 books and Co-Host of  http://www.NACHI.TV

And a note From Judy: If you have a question about buying or selling a home in Fairfield County, and are in need of an Realtor to represent you, I invite you to contact me, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Connecticut Financing Update and Today's Mortgage Rates 3/23/12

Mortgages Rates continued pushing into their highest levels of the year today after yet another volatile session for bond markets.  Most lenders initial rate sheets were slightly improved from yesterday earlier this morning, but market movements during the course of the day prompted widespread repricing.  By the end of the day, it's questionable to continue thinking about Best-Execution in terms of 4.0-4.125% and more appropriate to shift that range from 4.125% to 4.25%.  That said, the combination of rate and fee at 4.0% is still competitive at many lenders, but it's doubtful that many could offer 4.0% without some lender-related closing costs.

This is now the largest magnitude move higher in mortgage rates since October 2011.  But things are potentially more painful this time due to extended period of flat, low rates, which makes the current movement much more abrupt with respect to recent norms.  Things really have changed overnight.  

Compounding the pain is the fact that markets pulled back from ugly level quickly enough last time, and sufficient economic risk remained for us to hold out more optimism for a return of "high 3's in the intermediate to near term future."  This time around, trends are suggesting it would take a longer time to get back down to those rates, if it is indeed in the cards.

Are rates on a one-way trip higher?  Despite the ugliness of the past few sessions, we still can't be sure about that.  Underlying bond markets are approaching some levels that many market participants are looking to for support.  Markets again today operated close to those levels without making a definitive gesture back towards recent, lower rates.  Despite the higher rates today, in terms of those market levels, the Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) that most directly influence mortgage rates, ended the day in similar territory to yesterday.  Although the absence of weaker MBS and Treasury levels is a good thing, it's not the sort of thing that it makes sense to plan on.  We continue to expect things to be volatile, and ultimately, volatility can cause rates to move higher even if the day-over-day changes in bond market metrics are not.

Today's BEST-EXECUTION Rates

30-year fixed 4.00% APR-4.050% 0 points

20 year fixed-4.00% APR-4.036% 0 points

15 year fixed-3.375% APR-3.458% 0 points

10 year fixed-3.250% APR-3.342% 0 points

5/1 ARM-3.125% APR-3.419% 0 points

7/1 ARM-3.250% APR-3.489% 0 points

FHA

30 year fixed-3.875% APR-3.934% 0 points

15 year fixed-3.125% APR-3.230% 0 points

Jumbo- over $576,000 (Fairfield County)

30 year fixed-4.125% APR 4.240% 0 points

15 year fixed-3.500% APR 3.574% 0 points

5/1 ARM-3.250% APR 3.540% 0 points

7/1 ARM-3.625% APR 3.940% 0 points

Pat Leary is  a mortgage banker with over 12 years experience as a lending specialist in Connecticut. Her passion is to guide her clients through the mortgage process. Pat takes pride on providing great customer service, through communication, trust and integrity, and strives to offer the best mortgage products and service in the industry. We're confident that you will receive the personal attention that you deserve. As a leading Mortgage Banker in Connecticut, Pat  is responsible for structuring your financing with the expertise to answer any questions you may have on rates, fees and products.

Pat Leary

NMLS #99279
Atlantic Home Loans
830 Post Road East

Westport CT 06880
203-645-1037 cell
203-691-9788 ext 226
1-203-413-5647 fax

And a note From Judy: If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in Fairfield County, and are in need of an Realtor to represent you, I invite you to contact me, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

 

Westport CT's Best Deal of The Week is Only $500,000

If you know of anyone looking to buy a home in Westport, tell them about 12 Warnock Drive. It's listed for just $500,000 . It's over 1800 square feet and has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a 2 car attached garage- all on one level acre. Click here for details and to see this home!

 To make an appointment now- Call  Judy (203 257-5892

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in Westport, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Lots of Showings, and No Offers. Solve it and Sell it.

PROBLEM:

Your home is (or was) on the market ,  there is  (or there was)  no shortage of showings, but there were no offers either.

I hear  this from many disappointed home sellers after their home failed to sell within the listing period.  Surprisingly enough, I have had listing agents also ask me why this is happening to their own listing.

Three Very Important factors must all be present in order for your home to obtain an offer. If one of these three key elements of salability is missing, your chances of obaining an offer decrease exponentially.

 
It could be one of the three issues that need to be addressed, or a combination of any two. Sometimes it's all three.  But truly, these three are THE ONLY REASONS YOU DON'T HAVE AN OFFER, no matter what  any broker or anyone else tries to tell you.

Marketing: Is your home's marketing geared towards attracting  the most probable buyers? Is  your listing complete and truthful? Does it have current photos that accurately represent it condition and appearance?

Price: Is your home priced correctly? Do you have any negotiating room built in to the asking price?

Condition: Does your home have any deferred maintenance?Does the  exterior or interior  need any  staging?

When we talk about the three key factors in obtaining an offer, remember that if any ONE is not properly positioned, your chances of getting an offer are minimized.

Let's look at a few scenarios:

You could have the BEST house for the BEST price but if the most probable buyers never find it because of improper marketing, you won't get an offer.

If your agent has marketed your home on the most visible websites, and painted an accurate picture of your home, then it's not the marketing. It's something else- either price or condition

Price: The best marketing in the world will not help you to obtain offers on a home that is overpriced for the market.  A slightly overpriced home may indeed get showings,  but NO offers.

Condition:If your agent does a phenominal job of marketing your home,  and the price seems reasonable, it is the condition or the price. This is why feedback is so important on the showings that get. If an objection continues to arise, address it.

By the way, you may have noticed that I did not include location in this list. Location is already addressed by price. So if you keep hearing that buyers don't like the location, it is the price that must be addressed.

Contrary to what many agents will tell you, it is NOT ALWAYS the price. Try to have a neutral mindset and look at the condition of your home, look at the marketing, and make sure BOTH are in line with the market before you  consider adjusting the price.

And a note From Judy: If you would like to sell your home in Fairfield County, have not had any offers, and are in need of an Realtor to represent you, I invite you to contact me, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.