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Greenwich, Connecticut real estate, politics, and more.
Greenwich, Connecticut real estate, politics, and more
19 Witherell Drive, down from its 2017 price of $5.795 million to, today, $4.950. Back last March I wrote about this house, praising it, but pointing out that, just as the previous owners had initially priced it at $8.695 before settling for $5 from these folks, owners of this cottage seem to let their enthusiasm for the place displace a realistic view of its market value. I suggested then that a price below $5 million might be more appropriate, and it seems that the market agrees.
I say “cottage”, by the way, because, while the current listing describes it as encompassing 6,500 square feet “per tax card”, the only tax card I have access to shows 3,835 sq. ft (which is what previous listings show also). Perhaps there was an addition put on during current ownership that isn’t mentioned, or maybe the listing broker has a set of double-secret probationary tax cards that show different figures. Either way, you might want to confirm the more optimistic number.
12 Bailiwick Road, off Riversville, has dropped to $1.993 million. Owners paid $2.025 for it back in 2003, tried reselling it for $3.297 (I guess they like odd numbers) in 2009, and then pulled it off the market in 2010, after it had dropped to $2.750. They did some further renovations, and put it back up for sale in 2016 for $3 million; today’s price cut reflects the sad results of sales efforts so far.
The Bailiwick neighborhood is well liked by those who live there, but potential buyers seem to focus less on the small community swim/tennis club and more on the proximity of Merritt Parkway, and the far-western location, and balk.
The actual property of 12 Bailiwick is exceptional, but the house itself is rather unappealing, if market response so far is any judge.
I think putting more money into a house that won’t sell, as happened in this cace, is unwise: cut the price and move on, rather than put good money after bad.
Not a kitchen to die (or pay) for
democratic socialist candidate, 2019
Democrat socialists destroying their party’s success in coming election
JOSH KRAUSHAAR: Democrats Are Boosting Trump’s Re-election Prospects.
When you look at the polls breaking down the actual Democratic electorate, you’ll find limited support for such socialist-minded schemes. Broaden out to the overall electorate, and it’s easy to see how Democrats could be giving President Trump a lifeline to a second term despite his widespread unpopularity.
“We are on an out-of-control roller coaster going 100 miles-per-hour, and we have no functioning brake,” said one liberal Democratic strategist who is alarmed by the rising tide of socialism within the party. “No one is leading and that void could not be more clear.”
What’s so remarkable about this rapid leftward shift is that it’s working against the party’s best interests—both for the individual candidates and their chances of defeating Trump next year.
Steven Green, whose post this is that I’m linking to, sums it up pefectly:
All the Democrats had to do was not act crazy, but instead they’ve become the party of Florida Man on Bath Salts Running Naked Down the Interstate Chewing Off His Own Face.
Mind you, just because some of us think that Americans aren’t stupid enough to believe that we can, or should, ban airplanes and beef cattle and internal combustion cars, rebuild every building in the country and provide a living for those “unwilling to work”, all in ten years, doesn’t mean that the majority of voters will agree with us. As Glenn Reynolds likes to warn, “don’t get cocky, kid”.
75 Long Meadow Road, Riverside (NoPo), from $1.229 million to $1.185. I’m posting about it here because presumably not all readers are in the market for multi-million-dollar homes, and this house is probably worth looking at for those searching the lower end of our inventory. Long Meadow is a good, low-traffic road, especially here, at its terminus. The yard’s a bit dodgy, given its a perch on a hill, and certainly there are no Architectural Digest articles to be expected here, but the house is clean, updated, and in the North Mianus/Eastern school district, which is a plus. Last sale was for $1 million, in 2005, so no crazy inflation here; and Long Meadow never collapsed the way more expensive homes did after the 2008 crash.
And as a member of this neighborhood, use of the small community association beach at the other end of the Long Meadow comes with it. Right on the Mianus Pond, the beach offers swimming off a small sandy beach, and racks to hold kayaks and canoes. One of the major benefits here, to my mind, and one that sets this neighborhood apart from similarly-priced ones.
Were I currently working with clients in this million-dollar range (and I’m always happy to, I just don’t have any at this instant) I would certainly suggest that they visit.
Nice views from the deck
39 Perkins Road
36 Perkins Road, on the market since November, 2014, when it was priced at $6.2 million, has been marked down again, and now asks $3.995.
Once owned by a Chinese native, who tried to sell it in 2004 for $7.995 million, fiscal difficulties arose (tax records show a $9,958,195 million mortgage extended to him by a Hong Kong bank in December, 2007, which just illustrates the risk of lending from far away, in a market you know nothing about), and title eventually passed to the lender, who sold it to these owners for $2.1 million in March, 2014.
The new owners returned it to the market November 24, 2014, priced at the aforesaid $6.2 million after what the listing claims was a “complete, down-to-the-studs renovation and redesign”. Maybe, although nine months is pretty quick to accomplish all that; regardless, at least to my eye, the interior renovation work was done more with an eye towards speed, than taste, but that’s just my opinion.
Three-nine, or at least, three-five isn’t an unreasonable price for Perkins Road, so perhaps this latest cut will do the trick, although that depends on the market’s reaction to this particular house and that, so far, has not been favorable.
The cost of those renovations must have been substantial, and even with a low basis of $2.1, four-plus years is a long time to wait to recoup one’s “investment” and move on. In the meanwhile, the house sits vacant.
39 Perkins, circa 2014
At least these have been replaced
The new bathroom: even if that isn’t formica veneer on the cabinets, it’s a bad look
You mean we’re the onky ones here?
OCA demands that borders be opened to all latinos because this is really their land.
I really couldn’t care less about what this silly, stupid woman says, but this bit of reporting, buried at the end of the article, caught my eye:
'Thank you. I'm mad, y'all,' a smiling Ocasio-Cortez said when applause erupted among a small crowd assembled to provide a video backdrop.
It’s the oldest trick in the book: gather up a handful of “demonstrators” — in this case, probably congressional staffers, group them together and have them jump up and down waving signs in front of network TV, which is always happy to do a close-in focus to hide the paltry size. In my experience, it’s only been when a conservative group posts a pull-away shot showing the fraud that the insignificance of the crowd is revealed. I’m surprised that a liberal reporter from The Daily Mail chose to out them.
549 North Street is back on the street again, new agent, but still at the same $7.995 price it was asking last November, when its listing was cancelled. The owner’s ben trying to sell this since 2006, when he started at $12.5, and with an occasional year-or two off in the past thirteen years, has had it on the market ever since.
The house was built in 1997, and maintenance notwithstanding, it’s not getting any younger. Maybe the spring market will yield a buyer in the mid-$7 range, but maybe not; check back in June.
39 Keofferam Road, Old Greenwich, is new to the market today and priced at $3.150 million. That’s a bit startling, because this 1909 house sold for $3.250 in 2007 (admittedly, at the height f the market) and totally renovated and expanded by these owners. Improvements also mechanical upgrades, like ripping out the original steam radiators and installing a central air and heating system. In short, a large amount of money was put into this house, and the owners aren’t going to see a penny of it back.
To my eye, the house (inside) is beautiful, and Keofferam has always been a great street, so I wonder about the reason for the decline in value. The listing agent, Amy Rabenhorst, is a very talented, experienced agent and knows Old Greenwich, so I trust her judgement; she hasn’t undervalued the house, but has instead gone with current market conditions.
So what gives? The unpopularity of old homes among our current crop of buyers, is my guess, and that’s too bad; they’re passing up charm in favor of bland, modern construction that will be dated within ten years.
But that’s the market.
virginia lady democrat delegation attends sotus
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