GRAND OPENING THIS SUNDAY IN NEW CANAAN. DON'T MISS THIS OPEN HOUSE

Never Before On Market

Built by Dinyar Wadia with recent additions by Frank Palmer, this extraordinary Contemporary is in a class by itself. Stop by on Sunday and take a look.

34 Wardwell Drive

1-3PM

$2,395,000

Maria Bartiromo comes to New Canaan

Maria Bartiromo came to the New Canaan Library yesterday to promote the new book she has just written called The 10 Laws of Enduring Sucess.  Maria is a veteran business journalist and is well known as the anchor of CNBC's "Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo" (M-F, 3-5pm) and host of the nationally syndicated show "Wall St Journal with Maria Bartiromo".  She spoke before a crowded Lamb Room audience and while she takes a middle of the road position, she is a very competent and intelligent speaker.  Growing up in Brooklyn and attending Catholic Schools like myself, she has interviewed  many noted celebrities, powerful business figures etc, and  regards the #1 rule of enduring success is having a passion for what you do. Those who love their work and can't wait to jump into it every day, reach not only success but a high level of satisfaction which is measured on many levels not only financial. I can truly relate to this concept as my degree of satisfaction with my choice of work is really high.

Her thoughts about her industry are not as strong as she avoids the extremes of opinion. "At the heart of everything on Wall St. has to be Integrity. I am outraged to see some of these executives walk away with giant pay packages. I am a firm believer in pay for performance, but some of them are just ridiculous. However, I also believe that an across-the-board, blanket statement that all business is "bad" is just not true."

As a result of what we've just been through, Bartiromo believes this is a great time for women to advance...and to garner equal pay. "Women are soaring. Sixty percent of higher degrees are going to women. Women are the CEO's of their households. The elephant in the room is that they are still making 20% less than men. Women are in a great position to take leadership positions."

Open House Sunday April 18, 2010 1-4pm Eco Friendly New Construction

New Canaan Newest Green Home

Located at 274 Mariomi Road, this beautiful newly constructed home is environmentally conscious and eco friendly. With over 9000 sq ft on 3 hilltop acres, it incorporates the latest green technology. Stop by for a visit. Recently reduced to $3,495,000

Luxury Baths – Your Personal Retreat

Luxury Baths – Your Personal Retreat

This is a recent post by Angela Thelin, Director of William Raveis Exceptional Properties referring to luxury trends in bathrooms.

Posted using ShareThis

Lake Murray, Columbia, SC. It's not New Canaan but it is a nice place to visit

I spent the weekend visiting family in Chapin, South Carolina.  They live on Lake Murray which is a large and picturesque lake which is actively used for recreational activities.  If you are thinking of visiting, the temperature was 49 degrees at night and 75 during the daytime with dry sunny conditions. Delightful. Chapin is a small town of about 12,000 residents located 20 minutes from downtown Columbia. It is accessed by a small easily accessable airport.. While the average adjusted gross income is less than New Canaan at $78,442,  the cost of living is 88% below the national average so it is quite affordable and the median price home is $297,772. The home next door just sold in September 2009 for $680,000. It sold for above the median price because these homes are waterfront. It has a glorious view of the lake and is a large 4300 sq ft brick Colonial home with 5 bedrooms 4 1/2 baths and private dock. This home is under renovation by its new owners and is just being finished.

New Canaan rated one of the Ten Best School Systems in the Nation

In a recent study rating public schools, New Canaan, with a score of 94.97 was rated one of the best. Click on the title to read more........

What a perfect rental in New Canaan

Just Listed for $4500 per month, this immaculate 4 bedroom Colonial with many upgrades available soon for yearly lease.

This New Canaan Home has Never Been on the Market. I will be hosting a Public Grand Opening Soon

For Sale: 5BR/6+1BA Single Family House in New Canaan, CT, $2,395,000

Just Listed. Elegant Modern in New Canaan, Ct.

Designed by Dinyar Wadia, noted architect, with new additons by Frank Palmer, this 5000 sq ft signature home has never been on the market. Click on the title to view the website.  Priced at $2,395,000, it is truly one of New Canaan's most exceptional properties.

$8000 Tax Credit Reminder to Homeowners.

Thirty Days and Counting: Treasury Reminds Potential Homebuyers of Deadline on Recovery Act Expanded Tax Credit
Up to $8,000 Available to Homebuyers Under Contract Before May 1, 2010

Credit Has Helped 1.8 Million Taxpayers Buy a New Home

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today reminds potential homeowners that they have 30 days left to take advantage of the First Time Homebuyer (FTHB) tax credit before it expires. The FTHB credit provides qualifying taxpayers with up to $8,000 to buy a new home and is available for home purchases under contract before May 1, 2010.
"The First Time Homebuyer credit has helped nearly two million families achieve the American dream of owning their own home," said Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal S. Wolin. "The expanded tax credit has been one of the great successes of the Recovery Act. Potential homeowners across the country should know about it and should take advantage of it."

Last year, more than 700,000 taxpayers were able to buy their first home with assistance from the Recovery Act expansion of the First Time Homebuyer Credit. Overall, nearly 1.8 million taxpayers have collected $12.6 billion in tax credits to buy a home, due largely to the Recovery Act.

The Recovery Act expanded the First Time Homebuyer credit by increasing the credit amount to $8,000 for purchases made before Dec. 1, 2009. The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act, which became law on November 6, 2009, extended the deadline and expanded eligibility to help more American taxpayers. The new deadline extended eligibility to taxpayers who have a binding contract to purchase a home before May 1, 2010 and who close on the home before July 1, 2010. Taxpayers who are long-time residents of the same home are also eligible for a credit of up to $6,500 if they purchase a new principal residence by this deadline.

"This tax credit has helped put money back into the pockets of Americans at a time when they need it most, and it has played a significant role in the Administration's efforts to stabilize the housing market and the economy as a whole," Deputy Secretary Wolin added.

The FTHB credit is fully refundable, meaning the credit will be paid out to eligible taxpayers, even if they owe no tax or the credit is more than the tax owed. For qualifying purchases in 2010, taxpayers have the option of claiming the credit on either their 2009 tax return, due April 15, 2010, or their 2010 tax return, due April 15, 2011. Qualifying homebuyers who purchased a home in 2009 could claim the credit on either a 2008 tax return, due April 15, 2009, or a 2009 tax return, due April 15, 2010.

Is this the spring market?

As we approach the end of March, which would traditionally be the beginning of the spring market, the activity certainly has not sprung yet. However, there is some movement with the market, but not the flurry of activity that some of us would like.  The single family home inventory in New Canaan is beginning to climb. As of today there are 237 homes on the market which is up from last month and that is due to the 31 new listings which came on the market this month, which does not include any homes that were relisted.  We have 10 new pending contracts (not terrible) and there were also 9 sales.  The properties that closed were:

110 Forest St $419,000
17 Strawberry Hill $850,000
45 Weeburn Drive $1,050,000
226 Putnam Rd $1,400,000
198 North Wilton Rd $1,450,000
498 Valley Rd $1,637,500
82 Arrowhead Trail $2,275,000
34 Brookwood Lane $3,200,000
945 Oenoke Lane $3,815,000

Of these sales, the average selling price was $1,788,500 with a list to sell ratio of 94.95%. They were on the market for an average of 199 days.

If you are thinking of selling your home this year, act soon before the inventory continues to climb and before any significant mortgage interest rate rises which discourage buyers.  And most importantly, price accordingly. Look at the recent sales, not the prices of homes on the market because the homes on the market are the ones that have not sold.

Average US Spending puts New Canaan at the Top

Bundle.com, the new social money comparison site backed by Citi, Microsoft, and Morningstar, released a report today on "How America Spends." According to the study, the average American household spent $37,782 in 2009, including $6,514 on food and drink. It also includes a 50-state ranking of household budget behavior and a data analysis of trends by marital status/kids, income level, and age.

For all 50 states, Connecticut residents lead the nation in spending, while West Virginians rank last, spending 35 percent less than the national average in 2009. Residents of New Canaan, Conn., last year averaged $25,486 on dining out, more than the average West Virginia resident spent, total ($24,517).  That means households in New Canaan spend $70 per day for food and drink outside the home. Thats all the teenagers eating out in town.