(A little) real estate news

Nothing too exciting in the way of new listings, which is disappointing, because many buyers, having picked through the available inventory, are awaiting something new that might catch their eye. If you are planning on putting your house up for sale this year, I'd advise trying to do so in the next few weeks, if possible. The buying cycle in Greenwich is geared to the public school schedule, which means a lot of people are looking to close and move into a new house at the end of June or in the early summer, and they're out looking now. "If you wait 'til the dogwoods bloom, you're too late", was the adage of one wise old real estate broker, and she was right: your house is  certainly more attractive with the gardens in bloom, but you'll have lost a good deal of the market to earlier deals.

24 W. End Ave

That said, there is a sale price to report, 24 West End Avenue, in Old Greenwich, closing at $2.125 million. I've always liked this house, despite it having been built sideways on a long, narrow lot, and I think the new owner got a good deal. It sold new in 2004 for $1.8, then, after that buyer finished the basement, $2.5 million to these sellers in 2005. They in turn started at $2.750 just a year later (job transfer, I believe), rented it out when it wouldn't sell, and now it has. 

77 Maple Avenue

In Greenwich proper, 77 Maple Avenue has had to drop its price, to $5.2 million, from its 2004 purchase price of $5.5 million. We've discussed this house before, several times; great, newish (2003?) construction, busy stretch of road. I like it, a lot, but that rush hour traffic is daunting, and not just to me, apparently.