The market continued to tank despite my silence. Go figure. Case Shiller Index looks terrible and “experts” are predicting another 10-15% price decline. Makes sense to me and probably worse in Greenwich since we still haven’t taken the hit areas like California and Las Vegas have. This might be a good time to present that low-ball offer you’ve been thinking about because surely sellers, or some of them, anyway, are getting nervous about their “wait til the market comes back “strategy.
On the other hand, I was astonished to see that 8 Bramble Lane in Riverside sold in just 30 days at its full asking price of $1.795 despite an assessment of $1.2 million. Someone must have really really wanted to live on that street and had a bonus check to spend in a hurry.
More typical is 108 Park Avenue in Greenwich, which started two long years ago at $5.7 and sold for $3.2. I received several complaints from readers that the listing agent refused to accept bids if they came from a buyer represented by another agent. I hope this isn’t true (but what an odd story to make up) but in the event, it did produce a double commission for the listing agent. Won’t she have a merry Thanksgiving.
Way up north in Farwell Street they’re probably planning on a sawdust replica of turkey. The owners paid $5.15 million for their house back in 2002, relisted it at $6.650 in ’08 and dropped the price while I was out trying to reduce the deer infestation in Delaware County to $4.9 million.
And so it goes.
I used to play four-square on the street right in front of 8 Bramble–with nary a car to worry about. We had the playground opposite (when
St. Paul’s Fair used to be on the treed other side of Riverside Elementary), the field to EJHS above, Ada’s up Hendrie, Binney and the library down Owenoke, Ole’s and the village … well, I could go on.
It was the perfect location and it still is; Hidden Brook doesn’t even come close.
The Morgans, the Marks, Mathewson and McDonald families were all on that street in my time, but I’m pretty sure it was open to people whose last name did not begin with an “M”. Didn’t the Devitos live there?
If I remember right, there was a huge renovation done in the past 2 yrs so the assessment hasnt caught up.
CF,
What rock have you been living under?
Your good friend – the listing agent for 108 Park in Greenwich has been doing this for years.
Actually, I know you’re being sarcastic, because she’s renowned for double-dipping throughout the RE community – usually at a huge cost to her unsuspecting clients.
You give the assessor and his model too much credit.
Chris,
You forgot to mention the sale of 21 Hawkwood lane… Almost at asking price!
Pricing is key.
Seems like Bramble and Druid are pretty well situated. Any idea if any more houses on either street are coming onto the market anytime soon?
You know CF, I thought it was bold of you to share where you went hunting. It caused me to wonder, how many Greenwich developers followed you in the Bovina woods? Anywho, you survived. Whew.
Piling on to the news while you were away: a house sold on Field Road in Cos Cob for a surprising (positive) price and 73 Loughlin sold for 703k, well above assessment…so not bad.
I usually do not write back to protect stories that are not true but in this case, I am doing so. Yesterday, at my open house, agents told me that you, Chris Fountain, had an offer on 108 Park Ave. That was a huge surprise to me, since you didnt even show it. (Another story with no basis)
I now am challenging you to get the truth, no one gave me an offer on 108 Park ave, even after the reduction was put thru on Tues. How dare you and who ever is telling these lies, not come to me so that they can face the truth. In 32 years, I have never hidden an offer or such from any one. I am only writing this because the least you should do, as a writer of these stories is to tell the truth, talk to someone who I thought you respected and at the very least, call the attorney and owners involved to prove whether or not you have any basis for the incorrect story that you have chosen to speak about. Im very disappointed in you.
isn’t the listing agent for 108 Park the one who sold more than a Billion dollars of real estate?
Glad to hear that the stories were untrue, Jean. I can’t imagine the depravity of perfect strangers who would dream up such lies and write to me with them. Have a happy Thanksgiving.
Can’t say I didn’t warn ya, CF: BOOM!