Local community and real estate information for Cheshire CT by your Cheshire Real Estate Experts, Sally Bowman Real Estate

As much as we would all like to take a vacation in the summertime, sometimes time and money constraints hold us back. In Cheshire Connecticut, there are always ways you can take a "stay-cation" that costs little money, but takes you away from your day-to-day worries.

This Week's Featured Cheshire Stay-cation: Castle View Hot Air Balloon Rides

Located on the north side of Cheshire on Route 10, this attraction is truly a getaway from the every day. You have never quite seen Cheshire like this before. Fly over central Connecticut and gaze out at majestic views of Long Island and the rolling hills of Berkshires, set against a breathtaking sunrise or sunset backdrop.

To make this stay-cation official, it is completely necessary to pamper yourself with a champagne toast and possibly even a stay at the charming bed and breakfast.

If you're a little hesitant about the safety of a balloon ride, there is nothing to be worried about. According to the Castle View Website, modern balloon technology makes it one of the safest means of flight. On top of that, Castle View boasts safe, state-of-the-art balloons and the chase crew follows you on the ground, keeping in radio contact for the entire flight.

How does it all work?

Step one - cold inflation of the balloon. Step two, the burner is pointed into the balloon and heats enough air to lift the balloon. Step three, you board the basket and one final systems check is done. Step four, lift off!

I can't think of a better way to view the enchanting New England landscape of Cheshire Connecticut. While you're up there, you'll understand why I call this place home and love to help other people do the same. Contact me if you are interested in Cheshire Real Estate - or if you need an adventurous soul to join you on the balloon ride!

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert

An active lifestyle and community is important to a lot of people when they are considering where they want to live. Living in a community that encourages sports and fitness, like Cheshire CT, speaks volumes about that town's personality. Whether you are already active, or you strive to be, the active lifestyles of your Cheshire neighbors are sure to push you in the right direction. See below for a list of facilities and organizations that contribute to an active Cheshire lifestyle.

Crossfit Cheshire
www.crossfitcheshire.com
382 S. Main Street, Cheshire, CT
Over 4600 square feet of facilities, machines of all shapes and sizes, Olympic lifting platorms, sandbags, climbing ropes, gymnastic rings, a 20 yard indoor sprint track, and more. On top of all the equipment, they also have personal coaches, adult classes and youth classes.

Physique Plus
www.physiqueplus.com
1303 Highland Ave, Cheshire
This gym's mission is to ensure that each and every member feels welcome and comfortable in its friendly environment. For those of you who enjoy group exercise classes, this is the gym for you. Spinning, Body Pump, Body Attack, Zumba, Body Combat, Ultimate Abs, and more - they have it all. The juice bar, tanning salon, and customized nutritional system program are just added bonuses.

Cheshire Karate and Dance Studio
www.cheshiredance.com
For those of you with children, at Cheshire Dance Studio, you can kill two birds with one stone. Drop one kid off at karate and the other at dance in one trip! The dance studio has classes for students age 3 through 18. It offers an annual program that begins in September and concludes in May with an Annual Recital. Cheshire Karate teaches self discipline, self defense, sparring, strikes, and Korean terminology to students young and old. are sure to push you in the right direction. Check out what Cheshire has to offer.

Cheshire Pilates
www.cheshirepilates.com
345 Highland Ave. Suite 202
, Cheshire
With a studio that has a state-of-the-art cloud lighting system, small class sizes to encourage personal attention, and highly qualified Stott Pilates instructors, it's no wonder that Cheshire Pilates has been voted "Best of New Haven" for 2010.

Coplex Sports Ice Skating Rink
345 Highland Ave. Suite 202, 
Cheshire
An indoor rink open all year round, this is a great place to come to stay active without feeling like you are exercising. Whether you are an adult who likes to skate for fun, you have children who are looking to learn, or you are a hockey buff who wants to pick up a casual game, Coplex Sports caters to everybody.

The list goes on and on for the number of facilities here in Cheshire that contribute to an active lifestyle. The great thing about the summer is that you can get active right in your Cheshire backyard - kicking around a soccer ball, shooting hoops in your driveway, or going for a run around the block. If you need more information or you want to take a look around as some Cheshire real estate to find some backyards of your own, give me a call.

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert

Whether you are just moving to Cheshire, CT or have lived here all of your life, there are always ways that you can get involved in your Cheshire community. Although you may have thought the days of clubs and organizations were gone along with your high school year book, joining them are often the best ways to make friends and learn new things.

Here is a short list of some great Cheshire organizations.

Cheshire Kiwanis Club
http://newenglandkiwanis.homestead.com/index.html
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to making the world better for the future of Cheshire - its children.

Cheshire Historical Society
http://www.cheshirehistory.org/membership2004.htm
For all of you history buffs, Cheshire Historical Society is just what you have been looking for. Their mission is to help preserve and teach Cheshire's past. The best part is that you can get involved as little or as much as you want.

Cheshire Jaycees
http://www.meetup.com/Cheshire-Jaycees/
Serving the local community since 1954, this organization is rock solid and responsible for some of Cheshire's most popular activities. It's a great way to develop leadership skills, network, and develop professionally and personally.

Cheshire Small Dog Play Group
http://www.meetup.com/small-breed-play/
If you are a small dog lover, then this one is for you! Bring your little dogs to make friends with others of their size and stature (under 30 lbs) while you become closer with your fellow Cheshire small dog owners.


There are plenty more Cheshire clubs out there than listed here. But if there is something you are looking for, that you can't find, then why not start your own Cheshire club? After all, a community like Cheshire, CT is the kind of town where neighbors don't just mean the person living next door to you. Becoming a Cheshire resident means joining together with your community to continue to make it a better place.

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert

July 2010 Market Watch for Cheshire CT

Cheshire Active Listings: There are a total of 152 properties actively on the market with an average list price of $452,600.

Cheshire Sold/Sale Pending: There are currently 33 properties with sales pending and 116 properties that closed in the past 6 months.  The average sold price for Cheshire is $351,015 and the average time on market is 105 days.

Absorption Rate/Supply: The current month supply of homes on the market is defined as the ratio of the current inventory of active listings compared to sales.  In other words, given recent sales activity, one can estimate how long it would take for the entire inventory of active listings to sell, assuming no new listings were to appear on the market.  At the present time it will take a little more than six months to sell all of the current active listings, without adding any new homes for sale.  

Data and charts based on the last 6 months, data provided by the Multiple Listing Services.

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert

The 4th of July is upon us here in Cheshire CT. You can just picture all of Cheshire coming out to play on this long anticipated, picture perfect summer weekend.

Children run around with firecrackers, smells of delicious barbecue fill the air from backyard grills, and neighbors become a little bit closer after spending another blissful Independence Day together. The classic movie The Sandlot comes to mind when all of the kids are gathered on the field for their annual 4th of July night baseball game...

There was only one night game a year - On the 4th of July... the whole sky would brighten up with fireworks, giving us just enough light for a game. We played our best then because, I guess, we all felt like the big leaguers...under the lights of some great stadium.

It may be a movie, but growing up in Cheshire means having that same simple childhood experience portrayed in The Sandlot. It means being surrounded by neighbors who know each others' names. It means friendships begin with children's play dates and extend to parents and beyond. It means community gatherings for for big holidays like 4th of July, or for no reason at all.

For this 4th of July, come out and celebrate with Cheshire. It's a wonderful town to call home. If you are looking for Cheshire real estate, I would love to be the one to show you around.

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert

The wonderful thing about a town like Cheshire, CT is that it truly is an old fashioned community with modern conveniences. Just this last week was the 100 year Birthday Celebration of R.W. Hine Hardware Store.

My family bought this store in 1979 when I was 11 years old. I worked at R.W. Hine all the way through high school to college, up until 2003 when I began working with Real Estate in Cheshire.

I went form selling people the nuts and bolts to fix their houses, to selling the whole house. I could not have asked for a better education in real estate. It was the perfect place to learn all about houses, along with a little about plumbing, electrical and construction.

Established in 1910, R.W. Hine Ace Hardware is a family owned and operated hardware store well known among the community for their amazing customer service.

A quick look at the R.W. Hine Facebook Wall and it is obvious how much this store means to the Cheshire community. One wall post says "When I used to come back home, I loved walking around Hines...Glad you still exist."

If you long to be a part of a community in which the local hardware store could exist for 100 years and still be going strong, then give me a call. Growing up here, I know Cheshire Connecticut like the back of my hand. There's nothing I love more than showing homebuyers beautiful Cheshire homes and the community that surrounds those homes. When it comes to community ties, Cheshire's bond is unbreakable, but we are always welcome to newcomers.

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert

You Are Cordially Invited to the First Congregational Church Strawberry Festival!

When: Saturday, June 12
Where: First Congregational Church, 111 Church Drive, Cheshire, Connecticut 06410
Time: 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Parking: Free, located behind the church.
Website: www.cheshirecongregational.org

Join the entire town of Cheshire for a day of food, family and fun!

Start off with juicy hot dogs and hamburgers, then go watch the live entertainment while the kid play games, watch the magic show, bounce on the Moonbounce, take a pony ride or enjoy the petting zoo. Of course, don't forget to fill up on lots of strawberries - from strawberry pies, to chocolate dipped strawberries, to the best strawberry shortcake around!

73 years and still going strong, the Cheshire Strawberry Festival is an institution in this town and is not to be missed! As an added bonus, The Cheshire Historical Society’s antiques and collectibles show will be held at the same time on the grounds of the Cheshire Historical Society next to the church.

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert

Cheshire's love for sports has always made us a little bit of a competitive community. We love to win and are not afraid to show our pride. The strength of the Cheshire community, however, does not stop at sporting events. One particular organized event that we have come to be known for is the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

Time and time again, Cheshire has broken records for funds raised and the number of participants involved. We have reached records as high as $579,873 in 2006 and have been in the top 25 nationwide since 1999. The funny thing is, as exciting as it is to "win" at something like this, the victory does not mean nearly as much as the cause.

Thousands upon thousands of people will gather this June 11th-12th once again at Cheshire High School to honor and remember their family and friends that have been struck with cancer. Teams of cancer survivors and their families, corporations, clubs, hospitals and churches lap the Cheshire High track lined with thousands of luminary bags that light up the night.

People make lifelong connections and emotions run high. Participants who may never have been touched by Cancer are happy to join and learn something new, while others who have find new friends who understand their plight. It's a long night, but it's worth every minute. The funds raised help support the American Cancer Society's programs of research, education and service to patients and their families.

Come prepared and get your luminarias at any of the following Cheshire businesses: Paul's Restaurant, Oliver's Supermarket, or Bagelicious.

Check out Cheshire's Relay for Life website for more information. The event will begin at 5 pm on June 11th and end at 2 pm on June 12th. I look forward to seeing you there!

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert

You are cordially invited to attend Cheshire's Memorial Day Parade on Sunday May 30th 2010. Held by the Veterans Council of Cheshire, this year, the parade will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War.

Starting at Highland Elementary School, the 2 mile long parade runs through Route 10 all the way to Cheshire High School.

We often celebrate holidays without knowing exactly what it is we are celebrating. Of course Memorial Day is known as the unofficial start to summer. A time for family gatherings, barbeques, picnics and sporting events, it really is a wonderful time to bring the Cheshire community together metaphorically shouting "Summer is here!" But it is always nice to have a reminder as to why we celebrate Memorial Day - to celecommemorate U.S. men and women who died while serving the military.

If you are interested in being a part of this year's parade, or would like to enter a float, please call 203.272.2743. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:00pm. The deadline to register is May 21st.

For a little preview of the Cheshire High School marching band before the parade, click here.

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert