<p>Not a real estate agent, but I’m not sure New Canaan is any less expensive than Darien. And there are actually several condo places in Darien within walking distance of the train station. Agree that NC downtown probably has more going on than Darien, although that is starting to change.</p>
<p>Thanks friends for such an interesting education in CT real estate. I live just across the Sound and can wave to Bridgeport from my porch.</p>
<p>VeryHappy – Are you back in CT full-time?</p>
<p>Fairfield - 20 mins by train. Live downtown within walking distance of train station, library, shops, bookstore, beach, 20+ restaurants, most with outdoor patios.</p>
<p>jyber: congratulations on accomplishing so much during your trip. Whew! Here’s an interesting website to use as you search. It includes not only listings (which are multi listings, so whatever broker you end up with has these) but also helpful maps.</p>
<p>I started with condos in Cos Cob because my son knows of someone who lives in a condo in Cos Cob right along the water and it looked so nice. It’s also very close to the train station.</p>
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<p>Then go to refine your search and look for nearby cities, or a different price range. Also go to the listings to see many more photos. You’re right. There’s a lot to discover through the internet!</p>
<p>^ Thanks, I have added that site to my favorite places.</p>
<p>The employer gives us a relocation consultant (using Cartus) and I am eager to get going on that process. With all the helpful feedback we have gotten here, I feel we should be able to make good progress promptly. </p>
<p>I expect we will be making another trip up in a couple of weeks (H still recovering from knee surgery, so don’t want to do it too soon).</p>
<p>mythmom, on the weekends I’m still in my house of 23 years in CT, but unfortunately I’m in New Jersey during the week, living with a roommate – at my age, what a ridiculous thing to do!! I drive down Monday morning and drive back Friday night.</p>
<p>The good news is that they pay me money to work there. In this economy, I’m not complaining too loudly. Closer would have been better, but hey – employment is good.</p>
<p>I knew you were doing that. I was hoping that something had changed for you. But at least you have your cozy house on the weekends, VH.</p>
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<p>You’re right–I was thinking of another place that is downtown. Can’t recall the name, though.</p>
<p>I spent my wedding night at the Roger Sherman Inn, and many of the guests stayed there. 
Our rehearsal dinner was at the Silvermine Tavern, which I believe may have recently closed.</p>
<p>OP, I second the advice to take a look at the areas within walking distance of the Glenbrook and Springdale stations in Stamford. Talmadge Hill in New Canaan is where you are most likely to actually be able to park a car at the station–the spots at the downtown station probably turn over every 25 years at best! 
--but there are less likely to be apts/condos near there unless things have changed a lot.</p>
<p>I think you are at the point where you need to find a real estate agent to pick things to look at in each of the possible towns. Once upon a time, you would have needed an agent in each town – but things may have changed as I have not house hunted in Fairfield County in almost 20 years. </p>
<p>The wpsir.com site, with the ability to draw a search area is a really good tool. </p>
<p>What I was thinking about your search though is that there are possible areas … some with rentals and some without … and I can think of neighborhoods in (for example) Wilton that would suit your needs that might not show up on a search. That’s why I am suggesting it’s time to contact an agent with your top three town suggestions but tell her you are open to others that meet your specific criteria.</p>
<p>*** I am not an agent and don’t know who is good at the moment across the area.</p>
<p>Thanks again, all!</p>
<p>I have a phone appointment with our Cartus relo consultant tomorrow morning. We will then, I presume, plan our next trip up.</p>
<p>Just an update:</p>
<p>H starts the new job on 10/4. We will be staying in a hotel in Stamford that first week, and I will go out with a realtor Monday morning.</p>
<p>After that, we will be in the Avalon Darien (corporate furnished apartments) for a month or possibly longer. </p>
<p>At the moment, we are seriously considering getting just a *pied a terre *in Fairfield County, and keeping our PA residence. (Although after we got water in the basement from the big rains last night, I could be tempted to just let the PA place go!)</p>
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Ah-h-h, my former stomping ground! Avalon is very near the Noroton Heights train station; Palmers is a great market; Darien Doughnut is right there for a cup of coffee +;and the new Library & Whole Foods are fairly close. Enjoy!</p>
<p>There’s a town across the border called either York or New York (I forget). Housing is on the expensive side, but they have some really nice restaurants and even off-Broadway shows. I hear a lot of people commute from there to Stamford, or possibly from Stamford from there (I forget).</p>
<p>mantori, if you live in NY you will have to pay state and local NY taxes at the full rate. </p>
<p>Not a minor consideration.</p>
<p>Good luck to you. I live in Stamford and can tell you that the commute from anywhere north is horrific. People are leaving very early in the morning to avoid the traffic, and the bumper to bumper traffic in the evening starts at 4 PM most days, so people are also working late to avoid it. Depending on where you live and where you work in Stamford Metro North (the train) is an option.</p>
<p>CTparent, are you talking about commuting via the parkway or 95?</p>
<p>They’re both horrendous.</p>
<p>Yes, but driving to New Canaan or other abutting towns on local roads is significantly less so.</p>
<p>And living in New Canaan and taking the train to Stamford is ridiculously easy … especially if you can walk to the train in the center of NC. The OP said her H’s new job is walking distance to the Stamford train.</p>
<p>update:</p>
<p>Looks like we a zeroing in on New Canaan, with a split location.</p>
<p>re commute:
H will be commuting by train and we want a walk to train station location. His office is at First Stamford Place, very convenient to the Stamford train station. </p>
<p>Looked at both single family houses and condos this past week. Looks like to be walk to train and shopping, and a house without any need for redo, or without issues, would be upwards of seven figures – in other words, $1 million is pretty much starter home territory. H and I don’t want to get into something like that so close to retirement (again, we are 60). We also do not want to have to remodel (been there, done that) – want to simply move in.</p>
<p>So we are leaning towards keeping the paid-off PA home and just getting a small condo in CT. I will spend half a week in CT and half in PA. </p>
<p>What’s the word on the Park Mead complex? H likes the idea of being across the street from the park – thinks he could run after getting home from work. I am looking at a unit with a redone kitchen and bath and view of the park tomorrow. </p>
<p>Again, thanks for all the input.</p>