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Today, a wife and mother of two shares how her real estate agent helped her write a winning offer in the competitive market of Trumbull, Connecticut—one of the hottest ZIP codes of 2025.
What was your home experience when you were growing up?
My parents owned a home before they got divorced. After, my dad ended up renting and my mom bought a condo that she still owns. When she remarried, she bought a new house. Growing up, I saw both what it looked like to rent and to own.
Had you owned a home previously?
I always thought I would buy a home—and I did: a 1,400-square-foot starter home.
Why did you start thinking about buying again?
As my daughters were getting bigger, the living room and dining room started feeling small. My girls didn’t have anywhere to play or keep their toys. It felt like we were on top of each other, which was stressful.
How did you decide upon Trumbull?
We were already living in the same county, just 15 miles away. We were in a city with a population of 100,000 and liked that Trumbull’s population is just above 35,000. We wanted an area with lower density that felt less city-like. Trumbull also has a combination of affordability, the great amenities that you get for your taxes, and great outdoor spaces. This town has pools, parks, opportunities, and a sense of community. This whole town feels very family-focused.
How long did you look before finding your home?
We were actively looking for about two to three months. I connected with a real estate agent really early in the process—too early. I was ready to start looking at homes right away, and he told me we had to list our current home first. Once we had an accepted offer, we could start looking.
What was his reasoning?
He said that in this market, if your offer states that you have to sell your home first, nobody will accept. Homes in this area, if priced right, sell in a couple weeks.
Did you have to rent a house after the sale of your home?
Luckily, no. The people who bought our home agreed that we could do a one-month rent back.
How many homes did you see in person?
After our old home was under contract, we saw 15 or 16 in person over the course of about five to six weeks. Online, we looked at well over 100.
Did you have any non-negotiables?
The biggest thing was community. We wanted outdoor spaces and parks, which is why we were pretty set on Trumbull. As for the home, I wanted a kitchen big enough that we could hang out. I had this picture in my mind where the kids could come home from school and have snacks in the kitchen and we’d talk about their day. We also wanted more land. The house we left was on 0.12 acre. It had just about 5 feet on either side.
How did you know this was the one?
My real estate agent said that the longer you spend in the house, the more it shows that you want it. He was right. In this house, we were lingering, envisioning ourselves living there. With this house, I could see it. It wasn’t about how nice the countertops were or if the bathrooms were remodeled. It was that feeling, kn