As I was just saying about Riverside ...

22 Indian Head Road (March contract) has sold for $2.350 million. The owners paid $2.1 for it in 2017, put it back up for sale in July, 2018 at $2.399 and never budged from that price. Amazing.

While this house looks typical enough from the front, someone made a terribly misguided attempt at expanding it back in 2007, put it back on the market at $3.399 and met the appropriate market response, which eventually ended up at that 2017 sale at $2.1.

There is nothing to like about this floor plan; the re-do makes no sense, there’s no clear way to get from room-to-room, and, all in all, it’s just a mess. Not the house itself, mind you, which is perfectly nice, and will surely prove to be a pleasant home — it backs up to St. Paul’s mausoleum, for instance, so quiet neighbors are guaranteed except on October 31st — but the design is just clumsy and ill-thought-out.

But it’s sold, so there’s that.

There's no such thing as an unsellable house in Riverside, and here's proof

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, wherefore art thou Rapunzel?

25 Oval Avenue, asking $1.299 million, is reported as under contract. I am of course a huge fan of Pakistani architecture — who isn’t? — but this particular gentleman/owner missed the mark in his blending of a Steak & Ale exterior with a Pakistani palace interior, in my opinion.

Someone obviously disagrees.

Dressed up, yes, but it still looks awkward

UPDATE: Burning Madoff reminds me that I neglected to include the obligatory Monty Python clip here, and of course he’s right. I apologize for the oversight.

21st Century headline

Lesbian astronaut steals her wife’s identity from space

Gays, sure, but digital pickpockets? Brave new world.

Decorated NASA astronaut Anne McClain is accused of stealing her estranged wife’s identity and improperly accessing her bank account while McClain was on a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station — likely the first crime ever committed in space.

Too good to be true? I hope not

Texas: Hold-up ends when store clerk lassos robber

A clerk at the 7-Eleven store on Polk at Kiest proved he was more beans than broth during an attempted robbery Tuesday night.

The would-be robber tried to stab the clerk with a screwdriver, and the clerk wound up roping him. When police arrived, they had to cut the stickup man loose because he was tied so tightly, WFAA reports.

The clerk told police he is a cowboy from West Texas.

Round Hill contract

88 Round Hill (Edson Road), asking $1.695 million. It’s gone quickly, which I can understand; if I were downsizing, this 3-bedroom, 1964 contemporary looks like a fun project to work on. No lawn to worry about maintaining, either, which can be a real plus for the right couple.

It’ s just one acre in the 2-acre zone, so FAR is limited to 4,300 square feet, but again, I’d work with the existing house, if I could. The owner/agent claims it’s just “two minutes from town” and he should know, I guess, but he must drive a Ferrari, with a radar detector. Even for more cautious drivers, though, it’s not too far out.

Watch for exploding heads

Ruth Bader Ginsburg treated for malignant pancreatic tumor. That’s a recurrence, rather than a new issue, but it’s not a good sign, and the likelihood of Trump still being around to name her successor has probably increased.

I doubt I’ve ever agreed with the Justice on any of her controversial positions, but who would wish her ill, literally?

Though I will enjoy the hysteria that’s about to erupt.Turn on CNN and pass the popcorn.

Smaller homes and their smaller prices still doing well in Riverside

6 Buxton Lane hit the market July 9 at $1.595 million, which is exactly what the owners paid for it in July, 2015. Back then, it took just 11 days to find a full-price buyer, while this time it spent 45 days. That’s still strong.

Given transaction costs, I’m sure the owners would have liked to price it a bit higher, but if you take rental value into consideration, they’re doing well; listing agent JoAnn McCarthy did her job, ably and well.

Buxton’s a good street, close to the train and both schools, and this was a very nice renovation, completed in 2010 and well maintained since. I’m not at all surprised that it’s gone so soon.

Update: I found a picture of what it looked like back in May, 2005, when it was listed at $999, and went via bidding war for $1.127. I’d say the “winners” became that rare thing in these situations, actual winners. They did a nice job renovating it, stayed to enjoy it for ten years, and got back what they put into it. Good for them.

The nation's paper of record weighs in on those new San Francisco euphemisms

San Francisco Board of Supervisors changes “convicted felons” to “elected officials”

SAN FRANCISCO, CA—In a move to make sure criminals are treated fairly, San Francisco has instituted a policy of referring to "convicted felons" by the much more politically correct term "elected officials."

"These convicted felons are finding it harder to advance to higher political office when we keep bringing up their criminal activities," said San Francisco Mayor London Breed. "We must ensure they get a fair shake at ruining even more people's lives when they run for Congress, Senate, or the White House."

"Near the water" is not the same as "on the water"

30 Club Road, which last turned over at $6.453 million in 2012, has sold this time for $4.575. A fine house, beautifully renovated in 2008, but that 2012 price was probably unduly influenced by all the shiny bells and whistles.

Greenwich waterfront still draws

25 Indian Chase Drive, asking $6.995 million, is reported under contract. That’s right in line with two other waterfront sales this month, both in the $6-$7 million range. It’s a very nice house, and perhaps the new owners will keep it, but the value here is in the land. My guess is that the best waterfront lots will be the last to feel a severe downturn in Greenwich property values, simply because there’s so little of it.

Fortunately for us, the Obamas have chosen to schedule their New England vacations further north of us.