January 21, 2005
Paging Sylvester McMonkey McBean
In a development that can’t possibly be of interest to anyone but the incestuous group of Realtors in town, we’ve had a sale/merger of two chain stores in town. One group of the merged agents is delighted with their new cachet. The other group is appalled. At least, that’s what I conclude after noticing the alacrity with which the first group began identifying themselves with the second group—within hours of the announcement of merger—and the deafening silence from the second group. There are excellent agents at both companies (although there are at least two fewer at one of them, as of this writing) but I’ll bet that the founder of the first firm would be disappointed to learn how quickly his agents are abandoning his name.
All of which brings to mind Dr. Seuss’s story about Star-bellied Sneetches: “Now the Star-bellied Sneetches had bellies with stars. The Plain-bellied Sneetches had none upon thars. …. Because they had stars, all the Star-bellied Sneetches would brag, ‘we’re the best kind of Sneetch on the beaches.’ ” Readers are referred to the full poem for a complete discussion of the philosophical and economic ramifications of this merger. Not to give away the ending, but Sylvester McMonkey McBean turns out to be entirely willing to apply or remove belly stars as the whim and the wallets of both kinds of Sneetches dictate.
Get a Horse!
The new owner of that eighty-acre parcel in Conyer’s Farm recently applied for a continuation of its tax treatment as farm land ($2,000 an acre) instead of residential ($300,000). The town’s appraisor went up to the property and counted only four horses which, in his opinion, did not a horse farm make so he denied the application. That’s a difference in the annual tax bill of around $120,000.00 . Anyone capable of earning the money to buy this place for $45,000,000 certainly doesn’t need business advice from me (my dog doesn’t need business advice from me) but wouldn’t it make sense for him to buy a dozen old nags and hire someone to look after them? Instant farm, instant saving. As for myself, I’m looking into expanding my pumpkin patch in Riverside.
New Listings
As happens every January, the new year has seen the beginning of the spring market. Several nice houses came on this week, including Wilson Alling’s at 10 Copper Beech, a good house on an undivisible 2.28 acres. A comfortable residence as is, on beautiful grounds, it would be perfect for a couple looking for one-floor living. Or the buyer could add a second floor; the street would certainly support the expense. Asking $3,150,000. Eight Serenity Lane (Betsy Johnson) is asking $2,100,000 and again, I thought that a good deal. Serenity is one of those side streets off of Mimosa, sort of, and its one acre lots offer more land than comparable houses in Riverside or Old Greenwich. This house was renovated in 1999 and was bright and cheerful even on the dank, foggy day I viewed it. Moving down the price range, Carolyn Anderson has a listing for $1,220,000 at 248 Stanwich Road. It’s small: just two bedrooms, but in beautiful condition and sits on over an acre in the woods. Nice house. Not in the woods and certainly not in the same price range, Vicky Harris has returned 41 Tomac Avenue to the market at $2,995,000, which is $500,000 less that its last appearance, this time with a new kitchen. A neat old house from 1907 and nicely renovated, right on the Innis golf course. For new construction fans, Russ Pruner’s listed what was once Rocco D’Andrea’s vegetable garden and is now a huge, beautifully built new house at 35 Lockwood Road. No yard to speak of (no rutabagas anymore, either) but lots of interior space, including a basement dance floor large enough to accommodate the entire Round Hill Community Center’s Saturday night contra dance. $2,995,000.
Where did you go? Out. What did you do? Nothing.
The Lockwood Road property reminded me that, long ago, suburban families wanted large yards for the kids to play in. This seems far less important now, and I’m not sure why. Perhaps the children are all so busy with their travel team sports that, when they get home, they just want to wander off to the media room and play video games. Or possibly the little darlings are busy in their bedrooms cramming for the SATs. Regardless of the reason, the market preference is clearly for larger houses at the expense of a yard. Builders have long since noticed this; I’m slower on the uptake, probably because of my fond memories of playing baseball in my parents’ back yard.
In a development that can’t possibly be of interest to anyone but the incestuous group of Realtors in town, we’ve had a sale/merger of two chain stores in town. One group of the merged agents is delighted with their new cachet. The other group is appalled. At least, that’s what I conclude after noticing the alacrity with which the first group began identifying themselves with the second group—within hours of the announcement of merger—and the deafening silence from the second group. There are excellent agents at both companies (although there are at least two fewer at one of them, as of this writing) but I’ll bet that the founder of the first firm would be disappointed to learn how quickly his agents are abandoning his name.
All of which brings to mind Dr. Seuss’s story about Star-bellied Sneetches: “Now the Star-bellied Sneetches had bellies with stars. The Plain-bellied Sneetches had none upon thars. …. Because they had stars, all the Star-bellied Sneetches would brag, ‘we’re the best kind of Sneetch on the beaches.’ ” Readers are referred to the full poem for a complete discussion of the philosophical and economic ramifications of this merger. Not to give away the ending, but Sylvester McMonkey McBean turns out to be entirely willing to apply or remove belly stars as the whim and the wallets of both kinds of Sneetches dictate.
Get a Horse!
The new owner of that eighty-acre parcel in Conyer’s Farm recently applied for a continuation of its tax treatment as farm land ($2,000 an acre) instead of residential ($300,000). The town’s appraisor went up to the property and counted only four horses which, in his opinion, did not a horse farm make so he denied the application. That’s a difference in the annual tax bill of around $120,000.00 . Anyone capable of earning the money to buy this place for $45,000,000 certainly doesn’t need business advice from me (my dog doesn’t need business advice from me) but wouldn’t it make sense for him to buy a dozen old nags and hire someone to look after them? Instant farm, instant saving. As for myself, I’m looking into expanding my pumpkin patch in Riverside.
New Listings
As happens every January, the new year has seen the beginning of the spring market. Several nice houses came on this week, including Wilson Alling’s at 10 Copper Beech, a good house on an undivisible 2.28 acres. A comfortable residence as is, on beautiful grounds, it would be perfect for a couple looking for one-floor living. Or the buyer could add a second floor; the street would certainly support the expense. Asking $3,150,000. Eight Serenity Lane (Betsy Johnson) is asking $2,100,000 and again, I thought that a good deal. Serenity is one of those side streets off of Mimosa, sort of, and its one acre lots offer more land than comparable houses in Riverside or Old Greenwich. This house was renovated in 1999 and was bright and cheerful even on the dank, foggy day I viewed it. Moving down the price range, Carolyn Anderson has a listing for $1,220,000 at 248 Stanwich Road. It’s small: just two bedrooms, but in beautiful condition and sits on over an acre in the woods. Nice house. Not in the woods and certainly not in the same price range, Vicky Harris has returned 41 Tomac Avenue to the market at $2,995,000, which is $500,000 less that its last appearance, this time with a new kitchen. A neat old house from 1907 and nicely renovated, right on the Innis golf course. For new construction fans, Russ Pruner’s listed what was once Rocco D’Andrea’s vegetable garden and is now a huge, beautifully built new house at 35 Lockwood Road. No yard to speak of (no rutabagas anymore, either) but lots of interior space, including a basement dance floor large enough to accommodate the entire Round Hill Community Center’s Saturday night contra dance. $2,995,000.
Where did you go? Out. What did you do? Nothing.
The Lockwood Road property reminded me that, long ago, suburban families wanted large yards for the kids to play in. This seems far less important now, and I’m not sure why. Perhaps the children are all so busy with their travel team sports that, when they get home, they just want to wander off to the media room and play video games. Or possibly the little darlings are busy in their bedrooms cramming for the SATs. Regardless of the reason, the market preference is clearly for larger houses at the expense of a yard. Builders have long since noticed this; I’m slower on the uptake, probably because of my fond memories of playing baseball in my parents’ back yard.
posted by Chris Fountain at 9:04 AM
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