82 Beacon Hill Lane . . . An Elegant Brick Manor House Set High on the Hill

This custom brick colonial with slate roof sits privately on a PREMIER hilltop on a New Canaan cul-de-sac, just half- mile to town hall. The house has a gated entry, tree-lined drive and stone-paved courtyard that opens to lush flat property with mature plantings.

The sun filled first level has an open floor plan, while the 2nd floor has 5 bedrooms that includes a grand Master with fireplace, double walk-in closets & a separate dressing room.

Large finished lower level has a bar, media room & gym.

Entertain on a huge terrace with outdoor kitchen and pool.

 In the winter you can see through the treeline over the village all the way to Long Island Sound.

No expense was spared in the creation of this grand and elegant brick manor house with limestone quoins, slate roof, stone driveway and expansive grounds. Make an appointment to see it. Call John Engel's cell 203-247-4700

For more information go to http://www.82BeaconHillLn.com

93 Graenest Ridge Road: Live in a Piece of Art

A modern landmark in the heart of Wilton, this meticulously appointed home features 6,500 feet of light-filled living spaces, vaulted ceilings, floor to ceiling windows and extra-large rooms with open floor plan for flexible entertaining and living. Five bedrooms, 5 & 2 half baths include a master suite w/ balcony, master bath, dressing room and walk-in closet. A separate guest suite on its own level. Beautiful pool. A complete package. 

Featured in the October 2013 issue of Better Homes and Gardens, this stylish modern kitchen is a study in form and function. State-of-the art technology, top of the line appliances, sumptuous finishes and dramatic lighting create a wonderful chef workspace. Note the Nubian brown cabinetry, Italian inset tile, and mahogany-framed windows. Oversize windows offer views of the patio, backyard and Bradley Park conservation land.

The heart of the house is the living room, whose soaring architecture allows light to take center stage. The massive stone fireplace rises up through the beams to create a dramatic focal point.

Note the stone floor and African mahogany in the two story foyer.

The stunning modern architecture, with its network of wood beams, walls of windows and vaulted ceilings, invites the outdoors in.
 

A soaring wood ceiling and a dramatic Palladium window infuses the sensational master bedroom and sitting area with light creating an oasis of serenity.

A dramatic glass barn-style sliding door introduces the master bath. Weathered bronze vessel sinks, oyster limestone countertops, radiant heat flooring, a bubble massage air-jet tub and glass tile walls project a Zen-like feel.

  

The home is set on 2.17 acres adjacent to conservation land. It offers a private escape minutes from the village, shopping and train station.

  For more information go to http://www.93GraenestRidgeRd.com

Team Engel January 2015 Market Report

Dear Friends,
 
Often we get caught up in month to month swings. After a big October (sales and pendings) the pan came off the fire and things cooled down in December. It is time to reflect on 2014.
 
- Double digit increases in median and average price show us that buyers and sellers are finally meeting on homes over $2 million
 
- 242 closings is down from last year, but above average for the last five.
 
- the Condo market was strong and will stay strong with too little inventory to meet demand: 68 sales last year versus 47 previously.
 
- Interest rate fears have begun to impart a sense of urgency.  Buyers who were content to to wait for a deal are running out of time. Sellers will be anxious to sell before rates rise later this year. It should be a brisk Spring.  

Note, on page 7 of the Market Report "February is historically the best month to list, with an average of 66 percent of homes listed then selling within 90 days . . . home sellers were better off listing their homes in the winter than during other seasons." 

How about the rest of the towns around us?  Wilton, Greenwich and Stamford are experiencing a similar 10% decrease in sales volume (but Wilton has not seen the corresponding uptick in prices). Darien's volume is merely flat amid modest pricing gains. Rowayton stands out in the county with double digit gains in both volume and prices.

Below is a link to our New Canaan Market Report recapping December and 2014. If you would like to call and discuss the report, or if you would like a price opinion on your house, feel free to let us know.
 
Best regards,

Susan Engel and John Engel
203-247-5999     203-247-4700

 
 PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE JANUARY MARKET REPORT
          
               
       listing prices                    number of listings                 absorption rate              sold to list ratio
  new median list falling       240 is high for Dec                9 months is high             back down to 94%  
           
                                                                                           

106 Dunning Road
$2.0 million
outstanding house

52 Mariomi Road  GONE 
new listing, just sold

82 Beacon Hill
3 acres new listing

Modern House
sneak peek $2.0 mm
in-house exclusive

Oenoke Lane
sneak peek
call (203) 247-5999

20 Toilsome Avenue
great value $475,000

New Canaan Sales  2003

New Canaan Sales  2014

Mechanical Heartbeat

Lillian Engel's "Mechanical Heartbeat‬" school project (student dream video) was picked for inclusion in the New Canaan High School Art Show 

Dream Sequence

WWW.YOUTUBE.COM

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The November Market Report for New Canaan

listing prices                    number of listings                 absorption rate              sold to list ratio          still strong                          relatively high                      should be lower               back to normal?                                                                                                               106 Dunning Road  $2.088 million outstanding house 58 Seminary Street  $1.295 million just sold 7 Leslie Lane  was $720,000 just sold   2 acres Oenoke Ridge        now $1.89 million  20 Toilsome Avenue  reduced to $475,000 New Canaan Sales at this point in 2003 New Canaan Sales at this point in 2014 Dear Friends, Well, it's about time! The market is coming back. The big news is 24 houses sold in October, up from a normal of 11 or 12 each of the last 3 years. You have to go back to the late 90's to see an October like this one. Will it be enough? We are 22 house sales behind where we were at this time last year (235 vs 213) but the condo sales are up by 16 (59 vs 43).  Looking at the crystal ball a moment, we see the gap will be made up by new pending sales which jumped by 7 in October (24 vs. 17)  We predict we will end the year even with last year.   How about the rest of the towns around us?  Wilton, Greenwich and Stamford are experiencing a similar 10% decrease in sales volume (but Wilton has not seen the corresponding uptick in prices). Darien's volume is merely flat amid modest pricing gains. Rowayton stands out in the county with double digit gains in both volume and prices.   Below is a link to our New Canaan Market Report recapping October and the first 10 months of 2014. If you would like to call and discuss the report, or if you would like a price opinion on your house, feel free to let us know.  Best regards, Susan Engel and John Engel 203-247-5999     203-247-4700 PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE NOVEMBER MARKET REPORT                         why New Canaan?       high ceilings, high style    1 acre @ Richmond Hill    twitter @jengel199          Tucker knows!           condo $1.050 million           pool! $2.29 million         or johnengel.com                                  hilltop modern              watch the leaves turn   Federal style Townhouse   1960 Mad Men chic           now rented                  condo $1.795 million         new $1.495 million     live in a piece of art

New Canaan Schools Rank 4th in Connecticut for SAT Scores

http://www.courant.com/data-desk/hc-connecticut-sat-scores-by-school-20141007-htmlstory.html

 "The Fairfield County high schools in Darien, Wilton, Weston, New Canaan, Westport and Ridgefield recorded the best SAT scores among public high schools in the state in 2014. With an average score of 600 in writing, 611 in math and 588 in critical reading, Darien High School had the highest combined scores in the state"

Observations:

-New Canaan was number one in the state in 2012. In 2011 Forbes called us #2 in the nation.

-We rose from 5th in 2013 to 4th in 2014.

- Now, all three scores (Math, Reading, Writing) trail those of Darien and in the case of Math they trail by a considerable margin (611 in Darien vs. 594 in New Canaan)

-The ACT is now a more popular test than the SAT and the SAT is being redesigned this year. These rankings could change dramatically next year with a redesigned SAT.

Questions parents are asking in New Canaan:

-How has our early adoption of Connecticut's common core standards affected these scores?

-Why have New Canaan's math scores decreased consistently each year for the last few years?

- Did we slip because of all of the curriculum changes of the last few years?

New Canaan ranked #17 in Connecticut according to U.S. News and World Report earlier this year. There was an outcry and the school administration has responded by changing the policy with respect to who takes AP classes and the AP tests. While it shouldn't be a major indicator of school quality, it has become the major driver in the U.S. News rankings. If instead of looking at AP scores as an indication of "college readiness" we looked at only the Math Scores or Reading Scores New Canaan ranks higher than rival Darien with scores of 98% and 98% proficient vs. 97% and 96% proficient.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/connecticut/rankings

It will be interesting to see if Dr. Bryan Luizzi can raise those SAT math scores and regain the number one ranking. I'd like to see those AP participation numbers continue to climb as long as US News continues to exert the influence it does. Its important to note that Dr. Luizzi has been our superintendent of schools for less than a year. Give him time, he will get it done.