Monthly Archives: April 2009
Walter, we hardly knew you
Reader Sambone sends this link to Bloomberg – the suit against Walter Noel and Fairfield Greenwich Group has been amended to include fraud as a cause of action. Judgments awarded for fraud can’t be discharged in bankruptcy, among other bad … Continue reading
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An honest judge, once bought, stays bought
Last fall I criticized Wall Streeters for giving the hangman the rope he would use to hang them, but several readers defended the industry’s campaign contributions to Obama as “protection money. Well that’s an effective strategy only if your money does … Continue reading
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We’re from Morgan Stanley and we’re here to help
Losing sleep over the decline of your retirement savings? Morgan Stanley has a solution: wipe it out and stop worrying – it can’t go below zero, unless you’ve margined the damn thing. Does it work? Well MS tried it themselves … Continue reading
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A sale! But don’t get excited, Mad Monkey
18 Sandy Lane (4 acres off Porchuck and close to the Merritt Parkway) listed for $2.995 in May, 2007. Sold last Friday for $1.350 million.
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Riverside Market
26 Weston Hill sold for $2.995 million in October 2004. It came back on at $3.095 recently and today it’s marked down to $2.999. I think we’re below 2004 prices, but it’s interesting to watch the process of prices adjusting.
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More on Wall Plates
There seems to be some confusion among certain readers about wall plates. Here are three types, each distinctive to their neighborhood:
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What is “Bad News”, Alex?
Computer program to take on Jeopardy, according to the NYT. This is the only thing I ever watch on television (well, some NFL playoffs are fun) and I love the show. It’s just hard enough to make you think you’re smart … Continue reading
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Observations on showing houses
Interesting day out there, looking at very expensive houses. The day started (last night started, actually) with two cancellations from the same seller who apparently wanted nothing to do with the evil blogger of Greenwich. Now if I owned two … Continue reading
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TARP – an ongoing criminal enterprise?
That’s what some people, including federal investigators, are thinking. I don’t know much about that, but I do think that all this federal bailout money is ultimately good for the Greenwich real estate market because sharp people everywhere are quickly figuring … Continue reading
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Stock market heading up, or down?
The WSJ has a nice synopsis of the bull and bear arguments about whether we’ve hit bottom and are going up or just experiencing a bear rally. The conflicting predictions sound an awful lot like what we hear about the Greenwich … Continue reading
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Pension fund crisis hits Greenwich
We’re facing at least a $40 million deficit due to the need to make up for stock market losses in our municipal pension fund. A $10 million to $15 million spending deficit is forecast for the 2010-11 fiscal year, according … Continue reading
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Stay on the sunny side, always on the sunny side, …
Tucson’s best realtor reports: I’ve been out showing homes for the past week or so and, for the last couple of days, we’ve been inside the pearly gates of Catalina Foothills Estates 10 and Pima Canyon. Both very desirable, lovely, … Continue reading
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If you still have a job there, Wall Street wants to make nice
The Times reports that bonuses are back. If anything will bail out our 519 spec builders, it’s a load of rich idiots with money burning a hole in their pockets. If there are enough of these guys left, all will … Continue reading
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Is Antares still using that name?
I was thinking it might be a fun sort of name for a dynamic, growing real estate firm in Old Greenwich, but I wouldn’t want any confusion. I checked the tax records just now to see how the boy’s are … Continue reading
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Ghost Buildings of 1929
NY Times From the New York Times real estate section, a fascinating tale of what might have been. In April, a group headed by Albert Mayer, an architect and planner, acquired a swath of West Street south of Rector Street … Continue reading
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Here’s some change that’s better
John P. Murtha under fire for his corruption. The old fraud has endured in Washington since just after Lincoln’s assassination, though – if it takes that long to weed out all the crooks, Chris Dodd could die in office of old … Continue reading
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New name contest
No one (except Frank) likes his pick of EBT Realty for an operating title, so we’re opening the gates for a better one. Winner gets a free cup of coffee at our new offices, a free price opinion from David … Continue reading
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Here’s my idea, Mr. President: fire half of them today, half the remainder next week
Obama asks federal workers for ideas on how to save money. Even the New York Time’s Krugman admits that the One’s idea of cutting $100 million from the budget is meaningless: “pretty soon, even here in Washington, it adds up to … Continue reading
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