Built by Andy Frank, everything is perfectly thought out— from the large sunny kitchen and family room, elegant living room and spacious dining room, to the first floor office and luxurious master. There are 5 bedrooms, 5 full and 2 half baths, and a large walk-out finished basement with high ceilings and plenty of light. There is a pool site on the property and a roomy 3 car garage. This ideal location is close to town, beach  and trains.

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Westport Library is known for their Meet the Author programs. Barbara Taylor Bradford was recently promoting her new book and answering the questions of her many loyal followers. Keep your eye on the library’s calendar and you can meet anyone from a famous ballerina to a chef! Also, don’t miss the café and their famous annual book sale under the big tents in July.

Weston Library is located in the center of town on Norfield Road. Weston is a smaller library and known for their personal attention. Miss Joy runs the children’s room and she is beloved by the entire town. You can always count on Miss Joy for an age appropriate book suggestion or help with a project. Adults can step up to the counter and take a look at the always present NY Times Bestseller list. If the book isn’t in, the librarians will put your name on the wait list and give you a call when it comes in. If you’re a Weston teen with a library card you can study for your SAT’s from any computer at PrepMe.com.

Wilton Library located in Wilton Center has something for everyone. Need to learn a foreign language? The library has Byki (Before you know it) an online language learning program with over 70 languages that can be used by any patron. Teens can take a babysitting course or participate in “Poetry in Motion”, which promotes creating poetry that will be performed and published. If you have small children check out the Lego Club, which incorporates stories with Lego building and Math Club which teaches math through puzzles and trick questions. Adults can sit by the fireplace with a good book or enjoy an art show.

Fairfield is our largest town featured in this article and has two libraries. One library is located in the beach area and the other is on Fairfield Woods Road. Fairfield library offers some excellent help for business owners. They have offered classes in business writing and small business website designing. Some unique programs for children are Drop-in Pajama time and Dad Storytime. Teens can drop in the first Saturday of every month and from 10:30-3:30 pm they can perform community service. The library will give teens duties such as shelving books, clerical work and getting ready for special programs. This is a wonderful and flexible program for teens.

Easton may be small but they also have a wonderful town library. Easton is currently featuring a Short Story Mystery Writing Contest through the Mystery Writers of NY Chapter. For children there are craft lessons and storytimes. Adults can enjoy coffee and tea every day courtesy of the Friends of the Library. Teens can access PrepMe to study for their SATs.

The good news is that you can visit any of the above libraries and keep up to date on their many programs through the websites listed below:

www.westportlibrary.org

www.biblio.org/weston

www.wiltonlibrary.org

www.fairfieldpubliclibrary.org

www.eastonlibrary.org

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Here are some suggestions for new and veteran homeowners.

1)      Give your yard a quick makeover:  cool weather is perfect for planting bulbs for perennials such as tulips, and crocus which bring a little spring color to your yard. It’s also a good time to plant or transplant small trees and shrubs. 

2)      Clean up flower beds: take out any old annuals and cut back perennials that are no longer blooming.  When raking leaves, think about using the leaves to “mulch” flower beds to keep any weeds from growing before winter.

3)      Check your large trees for weak or over grown limbs.

4)      Exterior touch ups: take a walk around the house and check to see if the exterior needs any paint or small repairs. Take care of small repairs in roof tiles and shingles before the winter can make more severe damages.

5)      Clean gutters and down spouts.

6)      Check your systems. It’s a good idea to have a service plan with your HVAC provider. Having your heating system cleaned and serviced will help extend the life-span of your system.

7)      Have chimney’s cleaned, and order or chop your wood for the season.

8)      Check the seals and weather stripping around doors and windows. Give windows good cleaning too.

9)      Once the temperatures get closer to freezing at night make sure to empty outside faucets and hose lines.

10)   Get markers for your driveway to mark for the plows, once the ground is frozen they are much harder to put in.

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Stamford, CT Public Golf Courses:

Sterling Farms Golf Course located at 1349 Newfield Avenue was renovated in 2005 and features 18 holes and a par 72 course. Sterlings Farms is consistently rated as one of Fairfield County’s finest public courses. Additionally there is a heated driving range and The Royal Green Restaurant is on site for lunch, dinner or drinks. To book an online reservation and to find out more information visit sterlingfarmsgc.com or call 203-461-9090

E Gaynor Brennan Municipal Golf Course located at 451 Stillwater Rd was once privately owned. This public course has 18 holes with a course rating of 71.1 and is a par 71 course. Voted “Best Places to Play” in Golf Digest 2008/2009 Brennan’s is another wonderful course in Stamford. Also on site is Zody’s 19^th Hole Restaurant. To book an online reservation visit brennangolf.com or call 203-356-0046

Norwalk, CT Public Golf Course:

Oak Hills Golf Course located at 165 Fillow Avenue features 18 holes with a course rating of 70.5 and a par of 71. At the tenth tee you will find the “Tenth Tee Snack Shack” and if you are interested in more formal dining you can visit Quatro Pazzi Restaurant. To book an online reservation visit oakhillsgc.com or call 203-838-1015.

Westport, CT Public Golf Course:

Longshore Golf Course is located at 260 Compo Road South with views of The Long Island Sound. This 18 hole/Par 69 course was renovated in 2007. In addition to the course there is a practice range and two practice putting greens. After your round stop at Splash Restaurant and bar for waterfront dining. To book an online reservation visit longshoregolf.com or call 203-341-1833.

Fairfield, CT Public Golf Course:

Fairchild Wheeler Public Golf Course located at 2390 Easton Turnpike features two 18 hole golf courses. The Red Course features a par 72 with a course rating of 71. The Blue Course features a par 71 and a course rating of 71.5. Snack bar and Grill on site. To book an online reservation visit fairchildwheelergolf.com or call 203-373-5911.

H. Smith Richardson Public Golf Course located at 2425 Morehouse Highway features an 18 hole, par 72/73 Championship Golf Course. Additionally there is a 250+ practice range with 20 hitting bays. Also on site is Andrew’s Restaurant. To book an online reservation visit hsrgolf.com or call 203-255-7300.

South Pine Creek Golf Course located at Old Dam Road is a 9 Hole Par 3 golf course which sits a short walk away from Fairfield beaches. Pine Creek is the perfect course for beginners, seniors or experience players who want to enjoy a short course and Long Island Sound breezes. For more information call 203-256-3173

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There are always fun things to do in Fairfield County, running, kayaking, plays and music…here are just a few:

“Rites of Spring” Outdoor Dance Festival: Sunday May, 16, 2010 at 3PM, Weston Town Hall Green

Buddy Guy featured at the Fairfield Theatre Company Klein Auditorium, Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 8PM, www.fairfieldtheatre.org

Dinner With Friends and the Westport Country Playhouse, running June 1-June 19, 2010. For information and ticket sales www.westportplayhouse.org

Discovery in the Garden Tour, a self guided tour of five distinct private gardens in Greenfield Hill and Southport, followed by a catered banquet.  Friday, June 4, 2010, 10AM-4PM.  Call the Discovery Planetarium for more information, (203)720-3521

“Arrival: The Music of ABBA”. ABBA’s foremost tribute band featured at the Levitt Pavilion in Westport, Saturday, June 19^, 2010 at 8PM. Call (203)226-7600 or www.levittpavilion.com

Westport Roadrunner’s Summer Series, starting July 3, 2010 at Staples High School at 7:30 AM, go to www.westportroadrunners.org for schedules and information.

Kayak for a Cause, Kayak across the Long Island Sound starting in Norwalk to make a difference for five worthy charities in our community: Save the Sound, Maritime Aquarium, Outward Bound, Builders Beyond Borders, and Canine Companions, July 24, 2010. www.kayakforacause.com

DNR, Fairfield County’s all-physician rock band, Friday, July 23,^, 2010 at 8PM, Call (203)226-7600 or www.levittpavilion.com

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 Why is it important to use an attorney for a real estate purchase?

An attorney is the only protection you will have during this process, to explain and to enforce your rights.  A real estate agent’s job is to bring parties together and put the pieces in place to move toward a closing, providing guidance along the way.  Only the attorneys can assure that those pieces are ultimately in the proper form, protecting each side. A purchase or sale of real estate is typically the single biggest transaction in someone’s life.   The documents are not straight forward, and neither are the rules.  Moreover, every lender will require that an attorney handle the transaction for the purchaser, representing both the purchaser and the lender (A buyer can hire a personal attorney in addition to the bank’s representation, but will have to pay for both.  In other states the buyer is often required to pay for separate lawyers-1 for the bank, 1 for personal representation.  Connecticut’s custom is for one attorney to represent both-As lender counsel to ensure the documentation is done properly and funds handled securely; as buyer counsel to ensure the contract is enforced, and that the buyer gets what is expected under the contract).

What are the charges I should expect from the lawyer’s office?

1. Legal fee (covers attorney, paralegal and administrative staff charges) based on complexity of the transaction and needs of the client.
2. The Title Search usually passes through an outside searching entity with a charge typically around $175-$350 if municipal records searches are indicated. The Title Insurance cost is set by statute and based upon price of property and loan amount. This is a onetime charge at the beginning of each loan, though reduced for a refinance if there was an original policy in place.
3. Courier, wire or other charges transactional or documentation charges incurred for the transaction

 What happens to my deposit if there is a problem with: the inspection, my financing, my job, my health?

If the contract calls for a refund for failure of a contingency, and the contingency is not met in time, on proper/timely request, the money is returned, with the exception of a document preparation fee to the selling attorney (if stated in the contract).  The biggest catastrophe is where the time for canceling the deal passes and the buyer loses his/her job and cannot close.  The deposit is fully at risk, but there are certain circumstances where part could be retrieved: the seller may have an obligation to attempt to sell the property to “mitigate” (reduce) the damage from the lost sale.  If the new sale generates close to the same net return to the seller, the buyer may be entitled to a return of deposit funds

Is the binder I signed with my broker binding?

In Fairfield County, the standard and custom is that the binder does the following: stops the seller from agreeing to a better deal, unless the buyer does not move toward contract as called for in the binder; obligates the buyer to take good faith steps to move to a contract.  A binder is almost entirely unenforceable by either party, unless bad faith can be shown, which is very difficult and costly to prove. The formal contract drafted by the seller’s attorney, once signed by both parties, with deposit paid/collected, is the only truly binding document, and its terms dictate the path the transaction must follow, absent a written agreement to change it.

Explain the process of acquiring Title Insurance? Why is it important?

Every lender requires Title insurance.  It is regulated by state statute, and priced according to the purchase price and loan amount.  It is required by every lender to protect their mortgage security position on the land records, and critical to insure the owner’s interest as well.  The buyer’s attorney must file documents on the land records.  The mortgage filing with the Town Clerk is the method by which the world knows that a lender has a security interest in the property so that on sale, they get paid first.  Even though a title search will be performed to review the land records for the property, not every problem can be found in that process, including big ones.  Title insurance insures that there are no historical problems with the security interest the lender has on the property.  Likewise, Title Insurance insures that the owner of the property has protection of the equity after the mortgage loan is accounted for.  It does not protect against a drop in the value of the property.  It does include potential future claims that are not historical in nature.  Issues that can arise that are not immediately apparent from a title search are:  claims by neighbors regarding boundary lines, encroachments of buildings/out-buildings or pavement, rights in and to water supplies, rivers, ponds or drainage, easements and sharing agreements on private roads and beaches, to name just a few.  If there is ever a claim against the status of, ownership of, title to or rights in the property, the title insurance company provides a defense, or even payment if the case is lost.

What should a buyer bring to a closing? A seller?

Each transaction is different because each lender has differing requirements for their loans.  Some must haves, however:

Buyer:      

-          Driver’s License or other form of Official Photo I.D. and Checkbook

-          A written list of questions for your attorney or for the seller (where are keys, garage door openers, alarm codes, warranties/manuals, service contracts)

-          All documentation you have from the transaction (best to start a folder right from the outset)

Seller:            

-           As a courtesy, all keys, codes, brochures, pamphlets, warranties, manuals, service contract and service provider contact information is a good way to pass along good karma.

-          Documentation of any repairs that were required from the inspection or by agreement, which should always be by a licensed and insured contractor, rather than Uncle Joe or a neighbor.

How can a seller protect themselves from a buyers backing out of a sale in between contracts and closing?

A buyer can back out of a sale if there is a failure of a contingency that was included in the contract (inspection was unsatisfactory/financing fell through/seller failed to do what was required under the contract terms).  This is also a breach of the sales contract.  The most important things a seller can do to protect themselves

1)         Work with a highly ethical and competent team of real estate professionals, starting with the Real Estate Agent, and very closely followed by an Experienced Real Estate Attorney.

2)         Once your team is in place, and an offer has been made, only accept an offer from a bona fide, well qualified buyer, holding a “Pre-qualification” letter signed by a legitimate lender.  Or, if the buyer is paying cash, the seller should require a statement from a financial institution showing adequate funds for the deal.

3)         Finally, the seller must comply with all aspects of the contract.  In most cases, the following are mandatory:

• Allow access to bank appraisers and inspectors
• Provide written documentation that agreed upon repairs or services were performed
• Have the property ready for sale on time, or penalties are typically assessed starting five (5) days after the contract closing date.   “Ready for sale” means :
• Have everything out of the house, garage, basement and out-buildings that was not specifically purchased
• Have the house itself “broom clean” which means not professionally cleaned, but neat, tidy and swept out
• Have all keys, codes etc at the closing table, or delivered prior to the buyer taking title

If the buyer does have to back out, and it is not for a protected reason (failure of a contingency), the seller’s remedy is to keep the security deposit.  The amount of the deposit is almost certainly enough to cover the actual losses incurred by the seller where a deal falls through, and it is the limit of the recovery a seller can make for backing out.

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American:

Match, South Norwalk*

Napa & Company, Stamford

The Schoolhouse at Cannondale, Wilton

French:

Ondine, Danbury*

Bistro Bon Nuit, New Canaan

Gaia, Greenwich

 Italian:

Roberto’s, Monroe*

Da Piertros, Restaurant, Westport

Valbella, Greenwich

Paci, Southport

 Asian/Thai:

Asian Bistro, Shelton*

Ching’s Table, New Canaan

Papaya Thai, South Norwalk

 Mexican/Latin:

Rio Border Café, Norwalk*

Brasitas, Norwalk, Stamford

 Indian:

Coromandel, South Norwalk, Darien*

Continental:

Red Barn, Westport*

Bistro du Soleil, South Norwalk

 Seafood:

Rowayton Seafood, Rowayton*

Elm Street Oyster House, Greenwich

 Steak/Prime Rib:

Morton’s, Stamford*

Giovannis Steakhouse, Darien

Barbeque:

Bobby Q’s, Stamford*

Ash Creek Saloon, Norwalk

 Romantic:

Cobb’s Mill Inn*, Weston

 Family:

Roberto’s, Monroe*

SBC Restaurant and Brewery, Southport

Joe’s American Grill, Fairfield

Bailey’s Backyard, Ridgefield

Ash Creek Saloon, Norwalk

 Brunch:

Red Barn, Westport*

Bear & Grille, Fairfield

 Lunch:

The Dressing Room, Westport*

Zest, Westport*

 Desserts:

Chocopologie, South Norwalk*

 Outdoor Dining:

Splash, Westport*

L’Escale, Greenwich

Paradise Grille & Bar, Stamford

River House Tavern, Westport

 Vegetarian:

The Lime, Norwalk*

 Sushi:

Sakura, Westport*

 *Denotes Connecticut Magazine’s “Reader Choice Restaurant Awards 2010” To view complete article visit: http://www.connecticutmagazine.com/site/news.asp?brd=2329&dept_id=578310

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Hunt Clubs:

Stables:

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Jones Family Farms located at 605 Walnut Tree Hill Road, Shelton CT, 203-929-8425. Jones Family Farm is the farm that my family has been visiting for many years. Jones has over 200 rolling acres of Christmas trees with many varieties available. The helpful staff will point you in the right direction for the type of tree you would like. Handsaws are provided and dogs are welcome as long as they are leashed. Once you cut down your tree a truck will come by and pick it up to be baled or you can drag it yourself (bring a tarp). Twine is provided to tie the tree to your car and often the salespeople are available to help you. Payment is by cash or check. After you pay for your tree you will receive a pewter ornament commemorating the year.

Now that you have picked out your tree, don’t forget to visit the Christmas Barnyard to check out the handmade garland, wreaths, swags, bows etc. The Barnyard also features pre-cut Christmas trees for your convenience. Stop by the Christmas canteen for homemade Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cranberry cookies and hot mulled cider that can be enjoyed around the bonfire. The Holiday Gatherings Gift Shop offers wine tasting, gifts and visits from Santa Claus on select weekends. For more information visit www.jonesfamilyfarms.com

Maple Row Tree Farm located at 538 North Park Avenue, Easton CT, 203-261-9577. Maple Row Tree Farm also offers a special experience with over 200 acres featuring a variety of trees. You can cut your own tree or choose from a pre-cut selection. Maple Row also provides a handsaw and twine to tie the tree to the top of your car along with transport to the parking lot. Dogs are once again allowed as long as they are leashed. On weekends Maple Row provides free hay rides that are pulled by an antique tractor.  Also, local crafters are featured in the Holiday Gift Shop, seasonal refreshments and oxen are available for petting. For special events and more information visit www.mrfarm.com

CT Audubon Society H. Smith Richardson Tree Farm, Sasco Creek Road, Westport CT, 203-623-0646. This local tree farm offers 12 acres of flat terrain where Fido is welcome on a leash. Douglas Fir, White Spruce and Blue Spruce are available for cutting and Fraser and Balsam Fir are available pre-cut. Handsaws and twine are provided and a portion of the proceeds from your sale will benefit CT Audubon Conservation and Education programs. Cash and checks are welcome and don’t forget to visit the gift shop featuring wreaths, roping, tree stands and swags.

 A few helpful hints for visiting a Christmas tree farm are: Wear boots in case of mud or snow, bring work gloves, tarp and dress warmly for your adventure. Also, don’t forget a leash for your dog and holiday music for the car ride home…

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