Have I already sent a resounding thank you to de Blasio?

86 Lower Cross Road spent a year on the market and expired unsold at $1.995 in February 2019. It came back on 52 days ago at $2.295 and has a contract. it’s a good house, gutted and rebuilt just a few years ago, but 0.66 acres in the 4-acre zone, three hours (approx) from downtown Greenwich, it seemed like it would be a tough sell, and it was, until the Chinese so nicely intervened in our housing market.

Credit listing agent Danielle Malloy with not only staging and photographing it beautifully but also coming up with the perfect text to appeal to naive NYC co-op evacuees:

Sensational, ultra chic light filled pied a terre. Meticulously rebuilt down to the studs, this Manhattan North colonial has superior quality finishes & sophisticated design. Over 3600SF, 4 BDRMs, 3.1 BTHs, FP, 5'' Character White Oak hardwood floors, wired for speakers & recessed LED lighting. Stunning custom Italian made state-of-the art kitchen. Luxe master suite with vaulted ceilings, master bath is a spa like experience w/marble tile, soaking tub, separate shower & radiant heat floors. Peaceful haven located on beautiful professionally manicured picturesque gardens & stonewalls backing up to Babcock preserve. 10 min drive to train, town, restaurants & shops.

(If her estimation of driving time to the train is a wee bit optimistic, well I’ll merely direct the buyers to Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House, and its depiction of Greenwich realtors — you should know better.)

One note: it has long been common sense, and thus ignored by sellers, that if a house hasn’t sold at a lower price, an improving market is not the time to raise the price, but rather, put it back on the waters at the price you would have accepted before, and be happy. This market may be different, maybe, and will allow a bit more. It worked in this case, but I’d advise against it as a general rule.