Inman News Votes William Raveis Real Estate The Most Innovative Real Estate Broker

This is quite an honor and a tribute to the hard work and leading technology of a great company.

2011 Innovator Awards Winners Inman News

3 New Canaan Closings 3 Different Scenarios

On Monday these 3 properties closed but each one had quite a different story.

49 North Wilton Rd was originally listed in 2009 for $5,900,000 but it fell victim to the harsh realities of the real estate market particularly for high end homes.  It closed at $3,750,000 and the buyer got a great deal for this property on 6 acres, 11000 sq ft main house, separate pool house and gorgeous swimming pool.

64 Butler Lane, located in the South of the Y neighborhood, was listed for $1,795,000 and sold in one week for over asking price at $1,820,000 with multiple bids. This traditional Colonial on 1 acre was in great condition and obviously benefited from it's much sought after location.

1 Mead St, a pristine condo located in Mead Commons was purchased for $1,000,000.  It has 3 floors, 2 car garage and an elevator.  The buyer got a great price considering that these condos sold in 2004 for $1,375,000.

Waveny House in New Canaan is Buzzing Again.

What a great place to host a special event and it is really quite a bargain for such an elegant selling. Read on to learn more about Waveny House as story appears in The Daily New Canaan
NEW CANAAN, Conn. – Business is booming again at Waveny House, the stately mansion that is the centerpiece of the New Canaan's most spacious park. After a year of fewer bookings, the English country manor-style beauty is being used plenty, said Steve Benko, director of New Canaan's Recreation Department.


From mid-August to the first weekend of October, Waveny House will host at least two events every weekend, most of them weddings. In the past year, Benko said, the house was being rented only one day each weekend, largely because of the sluggish economy. “Business is picking back up,” he said. “Until the economy went south, it wasn’t unusual for us to have it used Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for events.”

Waveny House, built in 1912 for the Lewis Lapham family, has been available to rent for 35 years and is used for town functions as well, including the New Canaan High School post-prom party. Residents can rent Waveny House for $1,500 a day. Out-of-towners pay $2,650.

With the uptick in use, the Recreation Department wants the building looking its best. Benko has already received approval to recaulk portions of the roof. The department will also spend about $250,000 to replace the floor of the patio, a project several years in the making. “The tiles were cracking,” Benko said. “In the winter, they would freeze and pop. They’ve had a useful lifetime.”

The patio renovation will begin sometime in late October when events are more likely to be held indoors, he said.

A Nod for Sidewalks on Main Street in New Canaan

The sidewalk on Main Street currently ends at Main and Oak. Click here to read the story

The highest property tax payers in the State of Connecticut. Guess who pays the most in taxes?

Click here to see the homes.

Gannalo earns top honors from Raveis for 2010

Gannalo earns top honors from Raveis for 2010
Denise Gannalo, sales vice president of William Raveis Real Estate, has been honored as a Company Top Producer for the year 2010. Gannalo was also awarded the New Canaan office honor of the No. 1 individual sales agent receiving the awards for Top Listing Agent and Top Producer for 2010 as well as Top Agent in closed units for New Canaan.




In addition to her achievements in New Canaan, Gannalo was also awarded the recognition of the No. 4 Top Producing Agent in Connecticut and No. 6 Top Producing Agent in the entire company of 2,700 sales associates in 80 offices in seven states spanning New York through Maine. Gannalo currently has a personal listing inventory of properties for sale exceeding $35 million dollars.



Bill Raveis, chief executive officer and chairman of William Raveis Real Estate, presented the awards to Gannalo at the company’s annual awards luncheon at his home held Wednesday, May 25.



“Congratulations on your outstanding success as a Top Producer in the company for 15 years and New Canaan’s Top Individual Producer,” Raveis told Gannalo. “You have continuously demonstrated your superior sales knowledge and commitment to excellence throughout your 29 year career supported by your recognition as the No. 1 individual sales executive in the New Canaan office.



“As a member of our company’s ‘Chairman’s Elite Club,’ you also represent the top one percent of all agents nationwide. This achievement is testimony to your leadership and understanding of the New Canaan real estate market where you truly understand the high level of commitment that is required to service your clients.”



Gannalo has been a sales vice president for the company since 1996. She is also a managing director of the Exceptional Properties Division for the firm which focuses on the luxury home market. She is a Connecticut appraiser, a graduate of the Real Estate Institute, and is an industry trainer for the company often speaking to agents on the real estate industry. She ranks in the top one percent of all agents nationally. Gannalo is often quoted in the media as a real estate expert and writes a real estate blog newcanaanhomes.blogspot.com



Gannalo holds a broker’s real estate license and is a member of The New Canaan Board of Realtors as well as a member of the Consolidated Multiple Listing Service, which covers Fairfield County.



Her office is located at 4 Elm Street and she may be reached at 966-4444 or at denise.gannalo@raveis.com

Home sellers who bought after 2007 now overprice their homes 14%

This is a great article and holds true even for the New Canaan market. I deal with this on a constant basis. Read on................

Home sellers who bought after 2007 now overprice their homes 14%

A visit to The Glass House in New Canaan

I recently visited Philip Johnson's Glass House with a friend. I have posted some beautiful pictures below. The property is a statement in spacial order and design. The sum of the elements of the property each fit together to make  a whole masterpiece. The tour lasted one and one half hours, was well commentated and is truly worth the trip. You can buy tickets on the website and pick them up at The Visitors Center on Elm Street in New Canaan.

Second Quarter New Canaan Results are in

Well, in spite of the latest weak job and economic reports, the following hard data supports the New Canaan Real Estate market improving.  After the first half of 2011, there is a distinct increase in average price, number of sales and sales volume over the first half of 2010.

The number of sales increased to 136 vs 116 for the first half of the year, a 17% increase.
Total volume increased to $255,314,365 from $183,758,650, a 38% increase.
Average selling price increased to $1,877,311 from $1,597,857 a 17% increase.
Days on the market decreased to 181 from 238, a 23% decrease.

We will be watching this positive trend and see if it continues.  Meanwhile.............................

                        34 Wardwell Drive, New Canaan,  Closing Today

My other June closings............

84 Stonehenge Closed at $1,950,000

58 Lakeview, Closed at $800,000

21 Shady Knoll, Closed at $1,650,000

2 Oakwood Lane, Westport  Closed at $950,000

383 Greenley Road, Closed at $1,975,000

314 Birch Road Fairfield, Closed at $1,475,000

Prime Elm Street Retail available in New Canaan, Ct

Wow. What an opportunity. 6 Elm Street, a prime retail location near the corner of Elm and Main has just come available. I have just listed this retail space for $3500 per month. The owner will do a 5 year lease. The store has high visibility and lots of foot traffic with street parking right in front.  It has a full basement, large picture window and great presence.  Call me to take a look.

Happy Fourth New Canaan

A Happy and Safe Holdiay to All

Nicholas Roberts Restaurant mentioned as One of the Top Ten Spots for The Best Burger

Check out the story on CT Bites