Pending in Old Greenwich — price war? Probably

16 Mortimer Drive, asking $3.5 million, pending after 9 days.

The listing boasts that “the house is built above flood zone”, and that’s true, as far as the living area is concerned: it’s 14-plus feet off the ground, with ladders stairs available to cart your groceries and strolllers inside. The mechanicals are up at that height, too, but, given this area’s propensity to flood, I’m surprised a pair of Zodiac evacuation rafts weren’t included in the offering. Certainly you won’t be driving anywhere when the flood waters are rising: the garage is just 4’ above sea level; and we’ll just hope your Tesla charger isn’t at that level as well — Zap! Sizzle! Boom!

That said, I confess that I was overly pessimistic about the effect our P&Z’s new flood elevation rules would have on house values down here; buyers have proved undaunted by the prospect of climbing up into their homes a dozen times a day, and they keep ponying up ever-increasing sums for the pleasure of doing so.

Bless their hearts.

UPDATE: In view of the comments from readers about the health benefits octogenarians gain from climbing stairs all day, agents with other elevated homes in this flood zone may want to consider marketing them in AARP Magazine, and “Sunset Years”.