Nice house, but you'd better like your neighbors

11 Center Street, OG, is newly listed today at $2.695 million. I really like its clean lines, but it’s a backlot with another backlot house next to it. That’s typical of this part of Old Greenwich, and many NYC transplants don’t seem to care, but I find it a tad off-putting.

That said, its design is a lot more interesting than much of what’s out there.

Peek-a-boo, I see you!

Smoke signals warn heap big trouble for native daughter

Warren comes in fifth in Iowa’s Pocahontas County

From $7.850 million to $3.2 in 12 years

31 N. Porchuck Road has sold at auction for $3.2 million (including 12% “buyer’s fee”). This property sold new for $7.850 million in 2007 and for $6.250 in 2009. There were five bidders this time, none of whom were willing to be exposed to more than $3.2 on this house, in this market.

There are a lot (46 plus) homes in the $3-$3.9 range right now; their owners might want to consider what this sale signifies about buyers’ attitude and mood. For that matter, would-be sellers of more expensive homes might mull it over too.

UPDATE: Let me unpack that a little: a buyer looking to spend, say, $2.8-$3 million looks at a house asking $3.650, compares it to this one and says, “I know what $3.2 brings, and no way is this one equal to that house on Porchuck”, and either passes, or bids $2.8. “Oh, but Porchuck was an auction” doesn’t mitigate; the market value is what it is, and that $3.6 ask is above market.

Congresswomen send silent protest against Bolshevik Bernie

abajo con castro!

They dressed like Cuba’s ant-Castro Ladies in White last night. One can applaud their rejection of communism, but have they looked at the socialist platforms of Bernie’s co-religionists? Maybe they’ll wear red at the inauguration.

Restraint of tongue and pen — briefly

Suicide nets have been installed for the safety of downsized staffers

It took almost 24 hours before the NYT figured out a way to blame Trump for yesterday’s disaster in Iowa. It’s all about his sowing “distrust of institutions”, by which I assume she means fine institutions like the New York Times and the Democratic party.

Sad.

You want entry to Greenwich, it will cost you

No minimum wage for these ladies of Greenwich Invisible. Their yard signs, however, are yours for just a $10,000 donation

Bloomberg campaign stages Greenwich meetup for “volunteers”

Like our houses, we don’t come cheap:

Bloomberg purchases first supporter for $1.7 billion

And back for more abuse

25 Close Road, which at one point sold for $19.5 million, is back on the market asking $12. Built in 2000 by a Russian oligarch, it’s exactly what you’d expect from that combination of money and steppe taste. Back then I was having trouble with the publisher-supplied artist who was illustrating my forthcoming book, “The New Millionaire’s Handbook”, a guide to being rude, rich, and arrogant and inculcating a sense of entitlement in one’s children. The artist wasn’t capturing the full spirit of the excrescent buildings going up around the country, especially in Greenwich, so I put daughter Kate and her camera in my car and drove up here to take pictures for him.

A year later, the house was on the market and I showed up on the broker tour. “Oh”, I told listing agent Julie Church, “I have pictures of this house in my new book! Let me go get a copy”. I returned with the book and showed it to Julie. She flipped through a couple of pages and said, horrified, “Oh my God, get this out of here!”.

I think my somewhat strained relationship with Julie started then.

Where I lost my innocence and learned that there’s such a thig as a natatorium

Sale price reported

One Macpherson Drive closed yesterday for $3.550 million. We discussed this property here back when it was reported as pending last October. Owners paid $3.105 for it in 2003 on an asking price of $2.8895, proving once again that you never win in bidding wars, completely renovated it and added on, and put it up for saale i’m September 2018 at $5.250.

Contract fail on North Street

474 North Street, reported as under a contingent contract back in October is back on the active list, now marked down to $2.1 million from last fall’s price of $2.250.

Long ago, when this house was “new” (remodeled) in 2006 Tamar Lurie marketed it at $5.495. That was a silly price, so it didn’t sell, but as its price has slowly declined it kept hitting and then continuing past price points that I was sure would finally produce a buyer.

So far, it hasn’t.

Socialism, as explained to children

(Just discovered a free “TFW” generator on the web, and couldn’t resist - ed)