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Susan and Laura Calabrese, a mother-and-daughter real estate team at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Greenwich, don't have much trouble convincing people that Old Greenwich and Riverside are perfect places to live. "It's very Norman Rockwell," Susan says.
The Calabreses say young families, often with at least one child, are anxious to move out of New York City, and are looking for a community with plenty of outdoor-living opportunities.
Laura points out that the short commute to Grand Central Terminal about 34 minutes is especially appealing to fathers because they are so much more involved with their children nowadays. "They want to be there for their kids' soccer games," she says.
Many newcomers to Riverside and Old Greenwich were not originally from New York. They want to return to their suburban roots and get their family established. "They're buying into a whole lifestyle," Laura says.
Access to the water is also huge factor for young families. "These people have been working out their whole life," says Susan. "They love to play." And the Greenwich beaches and quiet side roads are perfect for running and safe for children to ride their bikes. Old Greenwich is a real community, she adds. There are mom-and-pop stores on the main street, good restaurants and a farmers' market on Wednesdays. "It's a real neighborhood," she says.
In addition to young families setting up homes, the Calabreses often work with older couples exploring relocation or downsizing options. "We are seeing people sell their homes and moving to Florida or Texas for tax reasons," Susan says. "Others are buying smaller homes in the neighborhood so they can be close to the grandchildren." After downsizing from a house to a condo, one older couple decided to move back into a house. "They wanted a yard for when the grandchildren came over," says Laura.
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