A $400 million twist: Huguette Clark, owner of New Canaan estate, signed two wills, one to her family

What a fascinating story and full of details. Read on............

A $400 million twist: Huguette Clark signed two wills, one to her family

65 Parkers Glen, New Canaan, Ct Bank Owned Property Closed Today

This home is a classic representation of the banking failures in the height of the housing boom.  Originally listed for $6,195,000 in 2006, it was forclosed on by the bank this year.  My astute client was able to purchase this property for $2,950,000.  With over 7500 sq ft of living space, it is truly a beautiful home and had it been priced in moderation 5 years ago, it would never have met with the same fate.  I believe the buyer is very happy.

Chichester Road estate in New Canaan to be featured on television series

The network television series “OpenHouse NYC” will feature 153 Chichester Road in New Canaan as part of its Sunday, October 30, episode. The show, which airs on NBC Channel 4 on Sunday mornings at 8:30, focuses on luxury real estate properties on the market in the New York metro area. The houses featured in each episode represent some of the finest work in both traditional and contemporary home design and feature expert commentary and interviews with homeowners. The 15,000 square-foot Chichester Road estate, built in 2006 by the home’s owner Joe Sisca, is priced at $13,850,000 and is set on a seven private acres, and features 10-foot coffered ceilings, nine fireplaces, and limestone and oak floors. The home is listed with Barbara Cleary’s Realty, an exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate.

YEAH!! SIDEWALKS COMING TO MAIN STREET NEW CANAAN THIS SPRING

THE TOWN COUNCIL HAS VOTED TO INSTALL SIDEWALKS ON MAIN STREET ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FARM ROAD. THE NEW SIDEWALKS WILL CONTINUE DOWN THE EAST SIDE OF MAIN STREET AND THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN THIS SPRING.  THE PHOTO PRINTED IN THE DAILY NEW CANAAN SHOWS CURRENT SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE WHICH WILL BE REDONE AND CONTINUED TO FORM A PEDESTRIAN WALKING LOOP IN NEW CANAAN.
GOOD JOB!!   READ THE STORY HERE

OPEN HOUSE THIS SUNDAY IN NEW CANAAN OCTOBER 16 1-3PM 264 LUKES WOOD ROAD

264 LUKES WOOD ROAD
JUST REDUCED TO NEW PRICE OF $2,199,000
Custom Built Colonial on 4 private acres.  Over 6,000 sq ft of living space. Quality construction and open floor plan. Come and take a tour. Look forward to seeing you.

Norwalk Waterfront Pending Contract

My clients have signed a contract to close on this fantastic waterfront property located at 64 Quintard Ave in Norwalk.  Yes, you can purchase direct water and fantastic constuction at the listed price of $999,000. 
With over 2500 sq ft, this 10 year old but nearly new Colonial has it all.  Open floor plan, dynamite kitchen, fireplaces, and a killer view.  Check out the pics and let me know if you would like me to go shopping for you.

Palm Beach Mansion for sale

Over the weekend, I visited this home which belongs to a friend. It is now in the estate of his parents and he did grow up in this home. Located incredibly in the crossroads of Palm Beach on 8 Golfview Road, it is situated next to The Everglades Club, is located one block from the ocean and is steps from Worth Avenue.  What a jewel. The house needs total renovation but the location is one of a kind. Priced at $7,250,000, it has maids quarters, a butlers apartment and is sitting on a double lot.  Click here to see more details. It has only been on the market about one month and is listed with Sotheby's Palm Beach Office.

Another Bank Owned Foreclosed Home for Sale in Fairfield Connecticut

Emigrant Bank has foreclosed on this spacious 5 Bedroom Colonial on 2 acres.  Unlike some other foreclosed homes, this property is in good condition and has experienced no vandalism.  It has a spacious and open floor plan and it is an amazing 5479 sq ft. Let me know if you are interested.  It is listed at $1,199,000

The New Iphone 4s vs Iphone 4 Comparision Chart

The new iphone 4s was released yesterday. Although it will have a faster processor, the major change as I see it is better camera/video quality. Not the higher level expected from Apple. The 4s might even be outpaced by rapidly releasing android phones in a matter of months. I think I will wait for a more exciting Iphone 5 in 2012.

Bill Raveis at my office today

Bill Raveis had great news for New Canaan. Of all the towns in Connecticut, New Canaan had the highest appreciation year to date through August 2011. Our average sales price was up14.2% from $1,660,603 to $1,896,725.  In addition, the median price also rose 9.8% and the days on the market dropped to 145 days.  We will be doing a major interior renovation of our office space as the company is continuing to invest in our real estate market. New Canaan is the best place to live and work.

Norwalk Hospital to Open Facility in New Canaan - New Canaan, CT Patch

Norwalk Hospital to Open Facility in New Canaan - New Canaan, CT Patch

If you live in Connecticut, you will spend 54 hours per year in traffic congestion

Read more about our wasted time.........................

We spend 14 more hours per year in traffic now than in 1982

Animal House in New Canaan, Ct as printed in the Wall St Journal

 I toured this highly unusual home in New Canaan listed at 13+ million. It belongs to an avid hunter who has accumulated his finds into a natural history museum highlighting his collection of over 100 stuffed animals, including bears, lions, wildebeasts and even a crocodile.  Click on this link to read the Wall St Journal story. And for the latent hunter call me if you would like to see this house

Open House in New Canaan Today, Sunday Sept 18, 2011 1-3pm

I will be hosting this open house today at

264 Lukes Wood Road
New Canaan, Ct.

Stop by a take a look. This gorgeous 6000 SF Custom Colonial was designed with an open floor plan that really works. It is set on 4 private acres and is well priced. Hope to see you there. Click on the link for more details.

These wine cellars are awesome. I want one

Click here to see more pics.

New Canaan to mark 911 with service of rememberence

A Service of Remembrance and Peace will be held by the New Canaan Clergy Association on the plaza of the Congregational Church of New Canaan on Gods Acre Sunday, September 11. It will be an opportunity for a very special reflection and remembrance that will include readings, psalms , prayers for wisdom and peace and hymns by area choirs.




Representatives of the town’s emergency services will hold a memorial procession from the Metro-North train station to the church plaza after gathering at 4:30 to honor those who selflessly responded the call on September 11, 2001. This will include members of the New Canaan Police Department, Fire Company Number 1, New Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Service and the Community Emergency Response Team. From there, bagpiper Stephanie Moore will lead the assembled group up Park Street to participate in the service.



All emergency responders are encouraged to gather at the train station at 4:30 p.m. or the Congregational Church at 5:00 p.m. as we honor our heroes, consider the lessons to be learned from every tragic event, and dedicate ourselves to a more loving and peaceful future.



In the case of inclement weather, the Interfaith Service will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

This article appears in The Daily New Canaan this week

I was interviewed for this article about my career by Fenella Pearson. Attached is the article.

When Denise Gannalo, a real estate agent with William Raveis, started selling homes in 1982, it never occurred to her that her career would be like a ride on a rollercoaster. "I've seen it all," she says. "The stock market crash of the late '80s, the down market of the early '90s, the exuberance of the dotcom era, the post 9/11 global economic problems and now the current financial crisis."


Denise has sold hundreds of properties in all price ranges throughout Fairfield County in both up and down markets. She says the key to her success is her ability to adapt to changing market conditions. Her years of looking at houses have turned her into a pro at helping clients visualize ways to remodel or reconfigure a space. And as a real estate investor and property manager herself, she has a thorough knowledge of the rental and investment market in Fairfield County.

A longtime resident of New Canaan, Denise has an encyclopedic knowledge of the neighborhoods and properties in town. She particularly enjoys introducing newcomers to the amenities found in New Canaan. "We have wonderful schools — my children are products of the New Canaan schools," she says. And she loves the town center where you're always guaranteed to bump into someone you know.

Denise thinks of herself as a "high-tech traditionalist." A master of the latest computer technology, which allows her to respond quickly, she is a firm believer in old-fashioned customer service. Whatever the client's needs, Denise says she always tries to go that extra mile, especially when the negotiating gets tough.

It's not all about work, though. "I love to laugh with my clients. I share their hopes and their frustrations," she says. Simply put, Denise Gannalo loves what she does. Apart from her family, real estate is her passion. She works it, lives it and breathes it. Finding that perfect Connecticut property for her clients is Denise's idea of a perfect day at work.

New Canaan Advertiser Editorial: So many heroes

Editorial: So many heroes

This editorial ran on Page 4A of the Thursday, September 20, 2001 issue of the New Canaan Advertiser. It is being reprinted here as part of the Advertiser's coverage of the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center.


There was no shortage of heroes last week as New Canaan joined the rest of America, and much of the world, in reaching out to victims of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
Quick to arrive at the front lines, as they are every day here, were New Canaan police, fire-fighters and emergency medical personnel. They gave of their time and immediately responded to the city, some reaching ground zero of the explosions and building collapse that have left more than 5,500 missing, many of whom have ties to New Canaan.

Doctors treated the injured rescuers just feet from where the Twin Towers toppled, allowing them to quickly return to the task of searching for survivors.

Back in New Canaan, human services agencies and charities were collecting needed supplies and transporting them to the city. The Red Cross was swamped with blood donors. From the smallest school children, one of whom offered to donate a toy backhoe to help dig people out from under the ruins, to the founder of AmeriCares, who donated $1 million to a fund to help the families of the New York City firefighters and police officers killed during their initial rescue effort, the entire community seemingly offered its help.

In a show of patriotism, red, white and blue decorated the town and became the uniform of the day.

The community, indeed the nation, has come together. It will need to stay that way to get through the weeks and months ahead, as it will only get harder.

It has been nine days since fanatics flew planes filled with innocent travelers into offices filled with workers. With each hour, the hope of finding any more survivors in New York and at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., fades like the dust and smoke still rising from the wreckage.

Obituaries for those who called New Canaan home, or who have family and friends here, begin to appear in today’s Advertiser. The bereaved will need our strength and support.

While rescue and recovery efforts continue, the world waits for a response to the attack. Certainly America will battle to find those responsible for last Tuesday’s sneak attack. There will be casualties on both sides.

The only way this town and country will get through this is to stay as united as we became during our immediate response to terrorism.

Previous generations have done it. Now it’s our turn.

Is owning a home still the American Dream?

The story as it appears in The Daily New Canaan

Inside One World Trade Center

A look inside the new tower and the city below.
Read more.............

Waterview Renovation in Milford Ct

What a great buy. A friend of mine has just renovated this charming Dutch Colonial on Milford's shoreline with beautiful waterviews of the sound. Just finished and ready to move in, this is an incredible opportunity. Check out the video link above or for more details click here.

New Canaan Taste of the Town Stroll

Last night was the kick off of Restaurant Week in New Canaan.  The town was chocked full of people and the restaurants were packed.  Restaurant Week will begin on Aug 26 through September 3 and will feature three course prix fixe menus at participating restaurants.  The following restaurants will be part of this celebration. Be sure to try some out.

Bistro Bonne Nuit
Cava
Cherry Street East Cafe
Club Sandwich
Fifty Coins
Gates
Kouzina
The Pine Social
Plum Tree Restaurant
Sole
Thali
Tuscan

Chef Luis Restaurant in New Canaan

Chef Luis is open for business. Luis is the best. His good nature combined with his delicious entrees are a winning combination. The expansion is awesome and the bar is spacious and inviting. Stop by and say hello to Luis. Click here to read the story

Sold and Closed in New Canaan for Over Asking. 47 Osborne Lane

When I listed this unique property it was not just pristine and just about perfect,  it was also priced perfectly.  On the market for just one week, we  received multiple bids and the property closed on Monday for $2,000,000 which was slightly above asking price.  The pictures tell the story....................................

New Canaan Construction Activity Picks Up

Building and remodeling in New Canaan is doing fine. Read about it in The Daily New Canaan.

http://www.thedailynewcanaan.com/news/new-canaan-construction-activity-perks

DOES YOUR HOUZZ LOOK THIS GOOD?

Supriya Anand, William Raveis social media guru has found this awsome new app that I would like to share.

If  you are searching for decorating and remodeling ideas! Well at last there is Houzz.  Houzz is an iPad and iPhone app that helps homebuyers and homeowners search for remodeling tips. The app features over 150,000 inspiring photographs of every room imaginable in a house, so you can assemble ideas on how to remodel.

You can create what the app calls “Ideabooks”-batches of photos that you want to store for later use when you are ready to find someone to remodel and redecorate your home. As an additional source of inspiration, you can sift through over 500,000 ideabooks that have been created by other Houzz users!

I have already started my own ideabook and I am excited.

Once you have found a design you really like and think would work in your home, tap into Houzz’s database of designers, filtered by local area. This is a wonderful app that is a must for anyone interested in remodeling a home! Check out Houzz’s YouTube video for more information.  www.houzz.com/iphone

Enjoy!!

How Stock Volatility Affects The New Canaan Real Estate Market

62 Shagbark Drive is an excellent example of the value that is currently available in

the New Canaan market.

What a roller coaster ride the Dow Jones has been recently. In this article regarding insight into the market, I'll provide you with the real-time data about what is happening in New Canaan real estate. How can I do it? I track the sales every day, week, month, annually and over the decades.
Here is what I have seen since July 21 when the Dow started dropping (and since August 4 when it started becoming extremely volatile). Please note this article is based on New Canaan* data only. I track New Canaan because it is an important market in Fairield County real estate and it's at my door step, since my office is on Elm Street in New Canaan and I have been working in this market for the past 28 years.

Sales have been extremely steady and very, very stable since last year. As a matter of fact, since July 21, there were 141 sales compared to 144 last year almost the same. However, the average sales price has increased to $1,795,680 from $1,571,580 up 14%. Be aware that the majority of sales closings take place in the summer with slower sales closings through the fall until years end. This happens at this time of the year, every single year. I don't believe it is connected to the stock market.

My point: The buyers are here and are buying. However, I want to provide you with a market insight that you cannot ‘hear' from the data. All summer I have driven back and forth from one end of beautiful New Canaan to the other a zillion times. On each trip, I have been accompanied by buyers. Their reactions to the volatility, which I hear and experience first hand, fall into three categories:

The legacy buyer

The largest group believes that New Canaan real estate prices are low, are very good value and they feel comfortable buying today. These buyers are purchasing today for the enjoyment of their children's children.

The safe haven buyer

These people are fed up with watching their net worth climb and decline like a yo-yo. As a result, they tell me they are not listening to their finance advisor as much as they used to. I heard them say, “I am thinking for myself more. I'm not so sure our financial guy is really ‘our trusted advisor' these days.” These buyers see that New Canaan real estate is more stable than most other Fairfield County towns so they are buying here.

The ‘I've lost my shirt' buyer

These are the buyers who judge their net worth on market peaks. In essence, their ability to buy is determined by the stock market. These are, far and away, the smallest segment of clients with whom I drive throughout the county.

As you can imagine, this article is a very hard point to illustrate with a specific property, so this photo is an example of the kind of great value buyers are picking up right now. This home, which I listed early this year located in the popular South of the Y neighborhood was originally purchased August 2004 for $1,744,000 with many upgrades. When the owners decided it was time to sell, they listed the property with another broker in March 2006 for $2,095,000 which was the peak of the New Canaan market and it did not sell. I took the listing this year and priced it at 1,590,000. It closed this year on June 15 for $1,450,000!

Market insights for the week

Focus, focus, focus. If you are determined to buy or sell real estate in New Canaan, focus on this market. Know what is going on. Don't guess the impact the stock market might be having. Get the facts and use the facts to guide your decisions.


*Data from Flexmls

The Shift in The Real Estate Industry and William Raveis Real Estate

The shift in the real estate industry is moving fast towards mobile technology. Click on the link to read how William Raveis Real Estate is on the forefront of this tidal wave.

Mobile devices are changing how businesses operate

I certainly well aware of  how my real estate business has changed for the better. Will we be moving to the virtual office???????  Read this article and then read my next post about William Raveis' cutting edge technology.

Mobile devices are changing how businesses operate - infographic

ForSalebyOwner.com founder gives up on own listing, hires real estate broker

How true! Do you know how many times I have witnessed this scenario?? Too many.

Read on............

ForSalebyOwner.com founder gives up on own listing, hires real estate broker

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.