Luxury condominium developments are gaining momentum across Connecticut as buyers snap up new units at record prices, prompting developers to reconsider condos after years of focusing heavily on rental apartments.
In West Hartford Center, heavy equipment is already at work preparing the site for Center Park Place, a high-end residential project where future buyers are reserving units based solely on renderings. Prices for the development range from $1.3 million to $2.8 million, underscoring the depth of demand in one of the state’s tightest housing markets.
“Timing is everything, and West Hartford has consistently ranked as one of the nation’s strongest real estate markets over the past few years across multiple metrics,” said Kate D'Addabbo, a broker in the West Hartford office of Coldwell Banker which is marketing Center Park Place to potential buyers. “We’re the only in-town, high-end new construction luxury development currently on the market.”
Statewide, condominium construction and planning activity has surged since 2022. A CT Insider review of municipal filings and real estate listings shows that roughly 3,500 condo units have either been built or proposed during that period. Many of the projects are emerging in markets facing severe inventory shortages, where rising home prices have pushed buyers toward new construction.
Sales data reflects that trend. Through November, Connecticut condo and townhouse sales increased 4.3% year over year, totaling about 7,365 transactions, according to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties. Single-family home sales grew by comparison at a more modest 1.4% during the same period.
Nationally, the shift toward condos is also becoming more visible. As of June, 6.6% of newly built multifamily units nationwide were marketed for sale, rather than rent, according to Urban Institute calculations using U.S. Census Bureau data. While that figure remains well below pre-Great Recession levels, it represents a notable increase from just three months earlier.
Connecticut has also seen growing interest in townhouse-style developments governed by homeowners associations, including projects such as Founder’s Ridge in Middletown and the Enclave at Barn Island in Stonington, which combine ownership opportunities with shared amenities and maintenance structures.
Market conditions continue to favor sellers. Zillow listings show nearly 10,000 rental units statewide, compared with fewer than 2,000 condos listed for sale, including properties already under contract. That imbalance has fueled especially strong condo sales in towns like Newtown and Colchester, where transactions jumped about 80% year over year, and Woodbury, which posted gains of roughly 75%.
Other markets are moving more cautiously. Stamford and Fairfield have seen slower condo sales growth compared with single-family homes, though multiple projects are in various planning stages. Local officials say interest is building as zoning rules evolve and demand remains strong.
“We are definitely starting to see more interest in new condo development,” said Mark Barnhart, director of community and economic development for the town of Fairfield. “[The Town Plan & Zoning Department] did revise its regulations earlier this year to allow for a modest increase in density as part of changes to its designed residence district overlay zone. The changes were appealed, and nothing has yet been built, but there is interest and market demand for new condo development.”
Danbury remains one of the most prominent examples of large-scale condo growth. Toll Brothers is nearing completion of its Rivington development, which includes more than 2,000 units, with just over 60 homes remaining for sale in the Meadows section.
Luxury demand has also reshaped shoreline and suburban markets. Guilford’s Residences at 66 High St. set a New Haven County record in August when a penthouse sold for $5.45 million, signaling how far the high-end condo market has expanded beyond urban cores.
At the same time, more affordable condo projects are moving forward in communities like Meriden, Wolcott and Watertown, where prices range from under $190,000 to $350,000, broadening the appeal of condo ownership across income levels.
Looking ahead, builders expect momentum to continue into 2026 as homeowners with accumulated equity look to downsize or simplify.
“The passage of time has an amazing psychological effect on people finally saying, 'I've done well in the markets, I have equity in my house, I have a resale market that's pretty darn good,'” Toll Brothers CEO Doug Yearley said.
Originally reported by Alexander Soule,Staff Writer in CT Insider.
