Featured Town: East Haven, CT

Welcome to East Haven Quick Facts LOCATION New Haven County, East of Quinnipiac River, 3 miles east of New Haven AREA & GEOGRAPHY13.4 sq mi.  The southern edge of East Haven is bordered by Long Island Sound, providing a unique coastal landscape with waterfront condos and homes, a town beach, and sea food restaurants. POPULATIONAppx. 29.3K (as of 2020 census) COMMUTER INFORMATION (average car trip times)Hartford: 45minNYC: 1hr 35minBoston: 2hrs 30min Communities MOMAUGUIN – The Shoreline The Momauguin area is located in the southern section of East Haven, from the Caroline Creek section of East Haven on the west to Branford on the east and starting at Short Beach Road in the north. This section includes the town beach, numerous condominiums, and summer cottages.  TOWN CENTER The East Haven Town Center is a hub of administrative facilities, shops, and recreational venues. Landmarks include the Town Hall, Fire Department Headquarters, Hagaman Memorial Library, and the “old” East Haven High School. The old high school has been adapted for use by the East Haven Historical Society, and a teen center. The Police Department and Public Works Department reside on the “Center” – Foxon line. The most recognizable landmark in East Haven is the Old Stone Church. Built in 1774, the steeple of the church stands out against the low horizon. The Town Green is a 2.4-acre (9,700 m2) park located at the eastern end of the central business district (two blocks east of the town hall) and is mostly covered by trees. Monuments are dedicated to honor war veterans and firefighters. The focal point of the green is the gazebo or bandstand. The Green is the site of the annual East Haven Fall Festival and summer concerts. Margaret Tucker Park is considered the second East Haven Green, with its location across the street from Town Hall and the Old Stone Church. They have developed additional land to the park, along with a water fountain. Included in this section is the “West End”, which borders New Haven. Since the late 20th century, conditions have declined in this area of older housing. Efforts are underway to revitalize the area that most residents think have been overlooked with all the focus of the re-development efforts in the center of town. The Senior Center is located one block from Town Hall. The town has a weekly Farmers’ Market held at the Town Hall on Sundays. This market features fresh produce, flowers, baked goods and crafts. Some weeks feature fundraising for town institutions. FOXON The Foxon area of East Haven is the hilliest area of town.  It borders Branford and North Branford on the east, New Haven on the west to about Grannis Pond in the south, and surrounds State Route 80. Landmarks include the town high school, Foxon Park Beverage (a locally famous soda manufacturer), and Camp Murray, a Girl Scouts day camp. Architecture Summer Cottages and Luxury condos along Shoreline Single family homes in Colonial and Ranch style in Foxon area Resources Use the resources below to explore the town amenities, services. Town Hall Website East Haven Schools Library Parks & Recreation Department UTILITIESRegional Water Authority United Illuminating – electric Southern Connecticut Gas Company East Haven Police Department (a great resource to ask about local safety statistics) East Haven Fire Department Town information source:  Wikipedia (Creative Commons License)

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6 Tips For a Successful First Time Home Buying Experience Without Putting Yourself in Financial Hardship

Stay Withing Budget Buying your first home is very exciting! However, once you set your eyes on that perfect one, it can be tempting to push your budget just a little.  But that little could be just enough to put financial strain on your household finances when times get tough.  My goal is to find you a home you can be happy with at a price that will keep your budget within your current financial means.  Sometimes that means letting go of that perfect house and looking for something else.  Set Yourself Up For Success So before you set your mind on a home and start arranging furniture in your imagination, first set yourself up for a successful home buying experience with the tips below: First and foremost, get a pre-approval quote from an experienced and qualified mortgage banker. That will give you an idea of what price range to start looking in. Take 80% of your pre-approval letter amount and use that as your budget limit.  This will leave you room for extra expenses that come along with owning and maintaining a home. Make a wish list of your must-have and nice-to-have features in a home. Having a wish list and a no-list make the home search much more efficient in finding you something that fits your needs and wants within your budget. Be flexible and open-minded.  A house is not yours until the title is signed and the keys are in your hands.  Sometimes, you may lose a potential house by being outbid by another buyer or because of finances falling through.  Keep your budget in mind when deciding whether or not to submit a higher counter offer. Also, be prepared and willing to move on and continue your search. Prepare an after-purchase budget to help you settle into your new home.  Whether you plan on purchasing new furniture or making any fixes or improvements to your new home, keep funds for those expenses in a savings account separate from your daily expenses. That way you can make your new house feel like home without worrying about having enough for your new utility payments or other expenses. Ask me questions! No question is out of limits, and as a first-time homebuyer many things will be new and strange in the process.  Always feel free to contact me with any questions of comments so we can stay on the same page and get you into your dream home quickly and smoothly. Ready to go find your dream home? Let’s start looking!

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