Call me spoiled, but for three million bucks, I want a garage

And a better design. 19 South End Court, Old Greenwich, has been on the market since early 2017, when it began at $3.848 million and has slowly worked its way down to today’s price of $3.295. Nothing at all wrong with the street: easy walk to Old Greenwich village, the school, and the train, but I can see why this particular spec house is meting buyer resistance.

The exterior is, at least to my eye, unappealing. Of the claimed six bedrooms, two are in the basement, which, I hope, rules them out as full-time rooms for children, separate baths or not. Worst of all is the lack of a garage. A carport offers no place to hide bicycles from our persistent bike thieves who regularly visit from Stamford, and nowhere to store the usual accoutrements of suburban life: lawnmower, yard tools, etc. — garages collect junk and unnecessary items, true, but they can also shelter useful items.

Because of the tiny lots in so much of Old Greenwich and their subsequent FAR limitations, carports are increasingly common, even for houses priced in the mid-threes. I personally wouldn’t want such an expensive home if it came with just a carport..