Not all good things come to those that wait, but some do.

55 North Street, custom built for its owners back in 2003 (or thereabouts), is now asking $4.8 million, down from its June, 2017 price of $5.750. It's a pretty special house, and though it's on a back lot, on this section of lower North Street, that can be a good thing.

While it's certainly true that some houses, especially in our hotter neighborhoods, are so well priced and demand so high that buyers should probably listen to their agent and make a quick bid (if they trust that agent to know her business — not all do), my general advice is that there's always another bus coming around the corner. Unless you absolutely love a particular house, and must have it, you might want to let a listing mellow for a while and see what the market reaction is to that initial price. Like 150 Riverside Avenue, discussed below, you might save a million bucks, or more, and still end up with the house you want.

That assumes, of course, that you have the luxury of time — not everyone does — but patience can be a virtue.

Finally, this Riverside home is (very) reasonably priced

150 Riverside Avenue has dropped its price to $2.595 million. It's a beautiful house, built in 1873 and renovated and updated over the years, located on the corner of Pinecrest and two doors up from Gilliam Lane.

It's been on the market for four full years now, when it started off at $4.150 million. And that was a shame, because, while it was never worth that starting price, I, and I'm sure other agents had customers who loved the house but hated the price. I'm pretty sure I could have sold it in the low threes, high-twos a couple of years ago, and I could have used the money.

Regardless, if you like Riverside, and prefer older homes, this is now very much worth looking at.

Or that's my opinion, anyway; if it's still for sale in September, feel free to ridicule me.

Pending in Riverside

19 Willow road

19 Willow, $3.995 million.

New in 2009, when it sold for $3.4, this time it was listed in December, and went to contract soon thereafter.

This could probably be corrected at minimal cost

The truth shall set your free, and maybe even pay off

8 Mayo Lane, an older, small, home that will probably not live to see the next year, just closed for $2.7 million. It hit the market at $2.695 million, attracted multiple buyers and had a signed, sealed contract within days. 

I don't know the listing agent, Kristy De La Sierra, of Hooligan & Lawyers, but I'm hugely impressed by what she included in her description of the property:

The over one-half acre property is located on a quiet lane inside the Belle Haven security gate, though outside the waterfront association. Attached garaging for two cars.Agent to Agent Rmrks: Please note this house is not part of the Belle Haven Land Association. Property being sold ''AS IS'. Photos with furniture are virtually staged. Please see the updated survey in the documents for FAR calculation. The FAR is restricted due to the ''right of way'' to 9 Mayo Avenue. 

A description like this saves buyers' time and more important, from my perspective, an agent's time, by not having to show the property to buyers who are looking for something else. I'm not suggesting that a listing necessarily disclose the presence of the crazy old loon next door who shrieks out her window from midnight to dawn and hangs her size-19 underwear out to dry on the front lawn — those may be delights best left for the new owner to discover — but the basic facts about a property are always welcome and, as seen here, don't hurt its ability to attract buyers.

Nice job.

The Left has entered into (what I hope) is terminal Trump Derangement Syndrome

Really? I mean, REALLY?

Ivanka Trump stops into an hair salon in Iowa, and its (supposed) customers go absolutely batshit crazy. Can you think of a single instance where this absolute hatred was unleashed against an establishment that accommodated one of Obama's children? For that matter, the Obama himself had his hair cut at this very same shop, and not a single one of his opponants threatened to boycott the place or threaten the owner.

Pray for our country.

Oh, just shut up, will you?

stupid is as stupid does

Former weight lifter Arnold Schwarzenegger, who just last week announced his intention to file a complaint against oil companies "for First Degree Murder" and called for global warning stickers on cars, gasoline pumps and plastic toothbrushes, is now offering free helicopter rides over Los Angeles".

"If the New York Times can send fifty of its reporters on a world-wide junket in a private jet", Schwarzenegger asked FWIW, "why can't I join in the fun too? Tell me that."

In contract, out of contract, and back in contract again

64 Butternut Hollow Road, which was reported here at the beginning of February  as having finally found a buyer, was returned to the market after that deal apparently fell apart, is again under contract. I hesitate to speculate on something I don't know for sure, but I notice that the house is clad in that synthetic stucco, Dryvit, which had quite a few problems with moisture penetration and rot back in the the late 90s. In fact, a class action suit was settled in 2002 over the issue. Did the first contract fail after a building inspection? Again, I have no knowledge of the situation, only speculation, but if this house comes back on the market again, that speculation will escalate to suspicion.

Its asking price has been $1.750 million for some time now, which must be a source of disappointment to the owners, because it was originally listed at $3.250 all the way back in 2014. Agents and owners can make mistakes in pricing homes — we're all human — but missing the mark by this much is unusual. 

Here's a price cut

After two years on the market at $12.995 million, 17 Aiken Road was dropped today to $9.995. It's quite a house — in fact, compared to replacement cost, it's probably a bargain — although it failed to fetch the $21 million its owner (and then listing agent David Ogilvy) hoped for in 2006-2007. You can't always get what you want.

The current listing describes it as "AN ESTATE LIKE NO OTHER. FOR THE MOST CREATIVE AMONG US" — perhaps that's a reference to creative financing?

Pretty cool digs, though.

Land sale pending in Deer Park

2 acre lot at 49 Midwood Road, asking $4.250 million. It looks as though the builder can split these 2.3 acres into two lots, which probably won't please its neighbors, but the land's been for sale since 2014 (when it started at $5.795), so they've had plenty of time to step up to the plate and buy it themselves. 

CORRECTION: I've just been informed by one of Greenwich's finest realtors, a woman who's far too dignified to want her name associated in any way with this blog, : ) that lots here are deed restricted, so this property will remain intact. I'd assumed that the price of $4 million -plus reflected the value of two lots, but that's not the case.

Pricey land.

It's a snow day, but a bit of real estate news has been reported nonetheless

18 Bryon Road

18 Bryon Road, Old Greenwich, sold for full asking price, $3.095 million. Owners paid $3.1 for it in 2014, did a bit of touching up, and have moved on. Listed in November, January contract.

14 Crescent Road, Riverside, $2.3 million min an asking price of $2.395. Hit the market last September, went to contract in December (the market doesn't die entirely during the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas).