Spring Market Takeaways: Why Spring Remains Competitive 

The Fairfield County real estate market continues to reward the prepared — whether you're buying, selling, or simply watching. Here's what we're seeing on the ground this spring. 

Inventory Is Still the Story 

New listings across Fairfield County fell 12.5% from January through March. April brought some relief, but the year-over-year decline still sits at 6.8%. That gap between supply and demand is driving the competitive conditions buyers are feeling right now. 

The pressure is sharpest at key price points. In Darien, listings in the $1.5M–$2.5M range, where many first-time luxury buyers begin their search, have dropped 35% over the last six months. New Canaan is seeing a similar story. In Fairfield, the $750-1250K segment is experiencing the tightest squeeze of all. 

What This Means for Buyers 

The entry-level buyer is competing against a large pool of equally motivated shoppers, which leads to frustration and tough choices. Many buyers are expanding their geographic criteria, pausing their search, or submitting offers significantly above asking price. Homes selling $100K–4500K over list price are not outliers right now; they're the norm across the most competitive price ranges in Lower Fairfield County. 

The good news? April saw a meaningful uptick in new listings, and May is off to a strong start — particularly in Fairfield, where the first week of the month outpaced last year's pace. We expect May and June to be more active than prior years, with the typical summer slowdown pushing out to July. 

What This Means for Sellers 

Even in a seller's market, preparation and pricing strategy still matter. Homes with a neutral, move-in-ready presentation attract a broader pool of buyers and let people envision themselves in the space. The listings that are sitting? They tend to share one or more of the same characteristics, including challenging features like open water exposure, highway proximity, or back-lot positioning. 

How It's Playing Out in Sales Numbers 

The biggest news?  Westport is down nearly 12% in the median sales price for the year. We expect that number to recover as inventory improves, but it hasn't kept pace with neighboring markets. New Canaan is up 25.5%, Fairfield is up 17.6%, and Darien is up 12.4%. In Westport, we see large fluctuations in neighborhoods with Greens Farms up and areas with smaller homes like In-Town down to last year.  Ultimately, local market knowledge is key no matter what side of the coin you are on.