Country Places Seeking Squires

Real Estate News from Ira

By LISA PREVOST in the Connecticut Section of the New York Times
Published: September 25, 2009

Literary associations have not yet sold the home of William Styron in Roxbury, which has been listed six months. The price has been reduced to $1.895 million.

Styron's House in Roxbury

JUST as the leaves are beginning to turn along the country lanes, Stacey Matthews is anticipating a fall season that will transform the local housing market as well.

Nearing the end of a sales year so abysmally slow that the number of houses sold in Roxbury only ticked into the double digits last month, Ms. Matthews, an agent with William Raveis, has country homes galore to sell here in this part of Litchfield County.

She can offer houses connected with luminaries, houses with drop-dead views, and more than a few with impeccable interiors. But while her target buyers — those in line for fat Wall Street bonuses — have begun to browse in Litchfield over the past month or so, “prime” isn’t the only descriptor they’re looking for in a weekend property.

“Everybody wants a deal,” Ms. Matthews said. “That’s their No. 1 concern.”

Thus, an air of resignation mingles with the scent of fall these days in the Litchfield hills. Throughout a region known to affluent weekenders as the anti-Hamptons, sale prices are generally down about 30 percent from asking, agents said. Many of the properties on the market have been heavily discounted.

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R E A L  E S T A T E  |  Ira Goldspiel

As an Associate at Sotheby’s International Realty, I’m pleased to offer some GOOD NEWS:

Single-family home sales in Connecticut rose 4 percent in July, the first increase in home sales year-over-year in two years, according to a new report from The Warren Group, publisher of The Commercial Record. “This is a significant pick-up for the housing market in Connecticut, where sales have slumped for months. The last time there was even a slight increase in monthly sales year-over-year was July 2007,” said Timothy M. Warren Jr., CEO of The Warren Group. A GREAT TIME TO BUY WITH GREAT INTEREST RATES!

Sotheby’s | Sotheby’s International Realty has been leading the pack. Come find out why!
SEE IRA’ S PROPERTIES
e-mail | ira.goldspiel@sothebyshome.com for more information.

KENT FALLS NEWSLETTER October 2009

Kent Falls NewsLetter  |

BEAUTIFUL FALL IN KENT | The rainy days of Summer are leading us into – what I believe to be -  an exceptionally beautiful Fall Season. The first hints of russet leaves are just appearing and our warm dry weather is the perfect accompaniment to  this imminent chorus of color.  We are also pleased to announce that The Inn at Kent Falls is currently featured in the September issue of Connecticut Magazine as BEST Bed and Breakfast 2009! As always in our Newsletter, we try to update you on key Fall events as well as the local real estate market so come up…breathe, enjoy…see you soon.
—Ira

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L O C A L   F A L L   E V E N T S
Below are just some of the Fall events in the area. Don’t miss the HVA Auction or the Kent Pumpkin Run! Then there’s Apple Picking at Ellsworth Farm, colorful walks through Macedonia State Park or leisurely stolls on the Cobble to experience the magnificence of a New England Fall.

10/25/2009 to 10/25/2009
33rd Annual Pumpkin Run | Kent Chamber of Commerce. Phone: 860-927-1463. On Sunday, the 33rd Annual Pumpkin Run — a five mile road race begins. The event, with cash prizes for winners in a range of categories, usually draws at least 200 entrants from across the region. Race starts at Kent Town Hall. Beginning at 11AM the Kent Park and Recreation Commission conducts two “fun run” races for children all beginning at Town Hall. Pre-register by calling 860-927-1463. Runners can also register between 10AM and 11:45AM on Sunday (always the last Sunday) . Go to: KentCt.com

08/31/2009 to 11/29/2009
Corn Maze at Ellsworth Hill Orchard and Berry Farm, Sharon – 461 Cornwall Bridge Rd., Rte. 4, Sharon, CT 06069. Phone: 860-364-0025. The Corn Maze at Ellsworth Hill Orchard will be open from the end of August through November. A fun and educational activity for children as well as adults. $7 Admission. Children under 5 free.

10/17/2009 to 10/17/2009
Tour de Chair – 46 Great Hollow Rd., off Rte. 4, Cornwall, CT 06753. Phone: 860-618-0075. Tour de Chair–Chairish the Arts– is being held from August 8, 2009 thru October 12, 2009. Discover 100 plus art chairs in Northwest CT. Prizes for those who take the Tour. Map sites listed at chairishthearts.org. The chair will be auctioned off on October 17, 2009 at Mohawk Mountain Ski Lodge, Cornwall. Check the website or call for further information.

11/22/2009 to 11/22/2009
19th Annual Housatonic Valley Association Auction – Bryan Memorial Town Hall, Washington Depot, CT Phone: 860-672-6678. On Sunday, November 22, 2009 at Bryan Memorial Town Hall the 19th Annual Auction to benefit the Environment sponsored by the Housatonic Valley Association. Join Honorary Chairmen Diane von Furstenberg, Annette and Oscar de la Renta, Hamilton South, Christine Baranski, Robert Couturier and Nancy Novogrod. Champagne Reception an Silent Auction at 1PM. Live Auction – 3PM. Pre-Auction Brunch or Twilight Supper. Call 800-TEAM-HVA or 860-672-6678. http://www.hvatoday.org/

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I N N   N E W S
Not too late to book (especially weekdays!) for Fall Leaf Peeping. As we approach the holidays, remember the Inn is available for exclusive weekly booking throughout the winter – perfect for a family reunion, corporate, or spa retreat. I can help you put together the perfect package. And, as always, Gift Certificates make the perfect gift

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N E W S

If you haven’t seen our website in awhile, go have a peek: theinnatkentfalls.com. The Home & Rooms pages have a beautiful new look! Thank you, cyberNuns.com – our webcrafter.

Ira’s Real Estate Links

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER | Informative Links

Everything Real Estate, ahead of the curve. I’ll be adding even more Links but for now, check this one out, news for brokers, agents & investors: http://www.inman.com/

Here’s another. This is a charming but informative story about a house & the owners in Sherman, Connecticut: www.nytimes.com

–Ira

Real Estate Property Tax Update

Most towns in Litchfield County are going through a new assessment. Below is an article specific to Kent, Connecticut and how it will affect your real estate tax. Most towns in the county follow a similar process. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call.  

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KENT GRAND LIST UP 36%
An update on the Town’s property tax revaluation

The new Grand List—the sum of all assessments of taxable property—was signed and released by the Kent Assessor on Friday. The total of all taxable real estate, personal property (equipment) and automobiles is $654,268,020—up 36% from last year. The size of the increase is attributable to the new real property assessments resulting from the recent town-wide revaluation conducted by Massachusetts-based Vision Appraisal Technology.

As was originally projected, real estate assessments (which are calculated at 70% of full value) rose by an average of nearly 40%. The total assessed value of taxable personal property was up $1.2 million, while the taxable value of motor vehicles dropped $1.7 million—perhaps reflecting the national trend of sharply reduced spending on new vehicles.

As we’ve reported before, if the increase in your assessment is 40% or less, the tax burden won’t have shifted against you. The Board of Finance is reported to be working on a budget with a zero increase in revenue for the upcoming fiscal year. However, since the increase to the Grand List has been held down by the decrease in total motor vehicle value and an increase in tax-exempt real property, a budget with no increase in revenues will still mean an increase in property taxes.

For this reason, it’s important for property owners to review their new assessments to make sure they accurately reflect the value of their property (remembering that the assessments are 70% of assumed value as of October 2008). We met with Vision Appraisal earlier this month on behalf of clients who felt their assessments were too high. In most cases, we got meaningful adjustments. For those who believe their properties are being overvalued, we recommend appealing them to the Board of Assessment Appeals. Formal appeals must be filed before 20 March 2008. We have application forms available or they can be obtained from the Assessor’s office.

Remember that your new assessment will be the basis for your property taxes for the next five years when the next revaluation takes place. Feel free to call us if you have questions or concerns about your assessment, or if you wish our help in making an appeal. 

Ira D. Goldspiel | Sotheby’s International Realty

27 N Main St | Kent, CT 06757 

Tel: (860) 927-7724 | Cell: (917) 626-3481  | Fax: (860) 927-1755

 

Kent Falls NewsLetter

The start of this New Year has been quite eventful both locally and globally. We’ve all experienced and/or witnessed distress and personal difficulties but we’ve also been given many reasons to be optimistic.  For me, this is the YEAR OF HOPE, a year to be resourceful, creative and to think outside the box.  Where there are problems, there are also solutions hence, the inspiration to create the Kent Falls NewsLetter, which will offer you the opportunity to join or contribute to a positive dialog about subjects that concern all of us. I look forward to hearing what you have to say, meanwhile, here’s some good NEWS…

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N E W S

This past week in Kent we had tremendously exciting news when we learned that the Litchfield County Jazz Fest will be relocating to Kent this summer. 

KENT — Town officials gave the Litchfield Performing Arts and Kent School the green light on Monday to bring the 2009 Litchfield Jazz Festival to the school’s campus this summer. The nationally-acclaimed three-day festival, launched in 1996 at Litchfield’s White Memorial, has been based since 1998 at the Goshen Fairgrounds, where Muir said attendance has averaged between 4,000 and 6,000 over its three-day span the first weekend each August. The festival, which brings high-level jazz musicians to perform under several tents, comes at the end of the four-week Jazz Camp. That program, held until now at the Forman School in Litchfield, enrolls several hundred students from many states who practice and perform under the direction of professional jazz musicians and recording artists. 

Note from Ira: I’m very pleased to also announce that Sotheby’s International Realty, where I’m an Associate, is a Sponsor of this event.

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N E W S

You don’t have to wait for summer as The Kent Film Festival kicks off in March, and The Inn at Kent Falls is proud to continue it’s support of this ever-growing event. See their website for schedules and updates.

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N E W S

ONE BODY FITNESS: by Howard Schissler                  

Pilates Teacher | Howard Schissler

 

Look forward to monthly contributions on Pilates, Fitness and Health from renowned Fitness expert and pilates instructor,  Howard Schissler,  who teaches in his studio in New York City but weekends in Kent.  Here’s a slice of Howard’s uplifting philosophy: “I truly believe that Pilates can change the way you move and even how you feel. Besides the obvious benefits of a stronger and more flexible body, I’ve seen the impact of Pilates on people’s lives. It has the power to change the way you relate to your body, which infiltrates the way you do everything else, even something as simple as walking. But this is only one aspect of Pilates, which is really a journey with endless benefits.”

Howie’s Entry: VISUALIZATION

I do believe in visualization.  I know it might sound hokey to many people, but I remember when I was a young dancer and I was having trouble with a difficult piece of choreography; I would envision my body performing the sequence of steps that were giving me trouble.  In my mind’s eye I would see myself performing the steps, easily and effortlessly with grace and beauty. It wasn’t always instantaneous, but if I were patient, eventually the choreography would slowly but surely come to me. 

2009 |  What’s in your Future?  See it. See what you want for yourself and see yourself doing it. So just like what I used to do when I was having trouble learning choreography, I’d like you to figure out exactly what your desires for the upcoming year might be.  A new job, a healthier body, or even a new lover, whatever it might be, then I want you to take time to see yourself in your mind’s eye, with whatever it is that you’re longing & hoping for in your future.  Be specific, be clear — see if you can visualize every detail. If you can see it, it can happen. 

Howie’s Entry: ABOUT PARTIES

You’re Out ‘n About with Everything Screaming, “Eat Me, Eat Me.” What to do:

1) Eat a healthy meal or healthy snack BEFORE you go to any parties because you know there’ll always be an excess of high caloric food. Remember….it’s easier to show restraint when you’re not ravenous.

2) Set some time aside for your workouts and schedule them in your appointments book.  Put a Post-It on your fridge, your front door, in your car. Don’t break those appointments with yourself because this should be the year you take care of yourself. There’s always a reason NOT to…always so much to do. Think of it this way. All we really have is our health. Do your Workout then you have a Treat.

3) Treats. You already know in advance there’ll be lots of temptation at parties, so allow yourself only one indulgence, but remember only one.  This way you won’t feel deprived. And since you remembered not to forget to do your Workout, you can enjoy that one Treat without guilt. You’ll be amazed at how good you’ll feel practicing restraint. The results will be self-evident and, while we cannot control world events, we can control what we do to ourselves. 

4) Drinking. Alcohol has way too many calories without any nutritional value. A glass of red wine is one thing, 4 cocktails are another. And after that first drink or four it will make you less inhibited, and with your guard down, you won’t remember what you ate (or what you did). Take it easy. Change happens moment by moment, decision by decision.  Repeat after me:  If You can See it, it Can Happen. 

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O P I N I O N | Ira Goldspiel

As an Associate at Sotheby’s International Realty, many of my clients are asking me about the Real Estate Market and I’m cautiously realistic. We’re still protected in Litchfield county but we did see less sales last year, which will continue into 2009.

• We’re still performing better than much of the the country and in most weekend markets. 
  

• Inventories are relatively flat. For sellers it is more important than ever to be represented by a firm with reach and to work with a realtor who can advise you not only on pricing but on home preparation and staging for the market. 
  

• For buyers they are in the best position in years in terms of mortgage rates being at an all time low, and the fact that, with many less buyers, sellers will have to be more negotiable if they want to sell. This truly is the time to buy as I think by 2010, prices will start to come back up. You should read this: NY Times: For the Brave, the Time is NOW
  



Morris Lake View

Read the article then look at some of the latest listings we’re offering from the the 28 acre Laurel Hill Farm in South Kent to Sharons’ world-class riverfront property to the newly reduced Macedonia Brook Dram Cottage. Remember…whether your budget is $200,000 or 2 million dollars, I can always help you find the right property. I also have a strong stable of Rental Inventory both on a seasonal and an annual basis.

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THE INN AT KENT FALLS | For those of you who have stayed at the Inn at Kent Falls, we’d love to read about your experience on this Blog. Visiting The KENT SCHOOL? Ask about Special Rates. Throughout the winter season we will be offering packages and special upgrade rates on suites for repeat guests so please ask about these when you call or e-mail.

• Speak up……READ REVIEWS OF THE INN AT KENT FALLS (and Review it yourself!)

• If you don’t know about TRIP ADVISOR.COM, then go read unbiased reviews and access great tools to plan any trip. You can add your two cents about your stay at our Inn too!

Until the next Time—–Ira

The Magic of Kent, Connecticut

The First Snowfall of the Season & the Magic of Kent, Connecticut

Winter Wonderland in Kent, CT

I always encourage our Guests and Clients to take advantage of what’s here; exploring the natural wonders of our area and, most importantly in this economy, doing so with minimal cost.

For example….we rented Cross Country Ski’s at Back Country Outfitters in Kent and headed for the local park. We sliced through the wide-open white fields and trails surrounded by over two thousand acres. Close, inexpensive & full of Kodak moments.

Winter 2008

 

Enjoy the delights of the Season!

—Ira

About this Blog & The Inn at Kent Falls in Connecticut

THE INN AT KENT FALLS

as Featured in Country Home, Traveler & The Best of Connecticut Magazines | The Northwest Hills of Connecticut are brimming with opportunities to enjoy both natural and cultural events. This Kent Falls Blog will not only function as your Area Guide, it will also feature up-to-date articles on Litchfield Real Estate, providing information that will help you make more informed decisions, particularly now, in these challenging times.

Classic New England bathroom at The Inn at Kent Falls

ABOUT US | As a merchandising guru in New York City’s fast-paced fashion industry, Ira Goldspiel - owner of The Inn at Kent Falls – looked forward to weekend escapes in the tranquil Connecticut countryside. A few years ago he escaped for good by trading in his city flat for a colonial-style Bed & Breakfast in Kent, located within the Litchfield Hills region in the northwest corner of the state.

Ira restored and updated the 1741 structure. Six spacious guest rooms, decorated in a simple yet elegant country modern style, feature spa-like baths. Guests start their day with fresh fruit and Ira’s homemade granola on the screened porch. They go antiquing or explore nature trails by foot, bike, or horseback and are always welcome to read by the pool or mingle with other guests in the den. Rates start at $195. There are many marvelous Winter Specials that include Ski Packages, Romantic Getaway’s, Christmas & New Years Stays.

Oh, yes. If you’re looking for Litchfield County properties,  Ira Goldspiel is an Associate of Sotheby’s International Realty and is known for his dedicated & courteous professionalism.

Don’t Angst…take a short drive…

Click here: An Hour From New York – Dia – Beacon – Art and Calm an Hour From New York – NYTimes.com

For stress, take a drive. This article in the New York Times is right on and the town of Beacon is only about a 40 minute drive from the Inn at Kent Falls. The museum there (DIA) is wonderful and makes for a delightful lunch spot. Beacon is a charming town with some nice but affordable antiquing.

 

Enjoy!

 –Ira

Exploring | Great Williamstown Inn

 

Williamstown, Mass

JOURNEYS; 36 Hours | Williamstown, Mass. 

Published: May 24, 2002 – New York Times 

After working this past July 4th weekend, I really needed a break and found this lovely Inn on over 300 acres. Many of our guests ask for places to go to extend their trip. This is definitely one of them. 

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A02E3DB1F38F937A15756C0A9649C8B63

Antique Machinery Festival in Kent, CT | Sept 26- 29

I’ve always had a special affection for both country fairs (especially in autumn in New England) and antique engines, so a festival of antique machines is something I’d find hard to resist. That’s why I’m psyched that the 24th annual Fall Festival sponsored by the Connecticut Antique Machinery Association (CAMA) www.ctamachinery.com is coming to Kent, Connecticut –  September 26 to 29th.

Antique machines (Iike the old red steam engine I shot at the Goshen Fair last year–above) are usually fascinating to watch and photograph. At this festival you’ll get a chance to get up close to a variety of antique machines, including rock crushers, well drillers, steam saws, narrow gauge train engines, vintage motorcycles and lots of other early mechanical wonders of the past.  The fair will be held on the grounds of the Sloane Stanley Museum on Route 7 in Kent, in Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills. And if you’ve never been to this area before, trust me, you won’t see a prettier area in all of New England.

According to the organziers, new for 2008 will be an expanded Blacksmith Shop with smithy demonstrations, added exhibits in Connecticut’s only Mining Museum, and installation of a newly acquired Nagle-Corliss steam engine.  The Mining Museum also has an impressive display of minerals.

Also, for antique railroad fans, an antique engine known as “old Hawaii #5″ will go into motion on the museum’s old narrow gauge railroad tracts, belching smoke and steam and the trusty Plymouth Diesel locomotive will power an open car for a nostalgic ride into the past.  Tractor rides are another popular feature.

CAMA’s goal is to educate today’s public about our early industrial and agricultural machinery that once powered America and set the stage for today’s innovations.  Their non-profit museum next to the Sloane Stanley Museum has a host of exhibits year round that are put into operation for this special weekend. Along with exhibits and demonstrations, visitors will find vendors and plenty of good food, including the legendary “engineers steam cooked soup.”

For more information about this festival and other nearby fall events, and a free copy of UNWIND, a 112-page color guide to lodging, dining and all the attractions in the Litchfield Hills of Northwest Connecticut, write to the Northwest Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-4506 or visit the web site at www.litchfieldhills.com.

—Jeff Wignall

All About Covered Bridges

 

Bulls Bridge in Kent, Connecticut

Engineering marvels of their time, the historic covered bridges of Litchfield Hills provide a scenic backdrop for picture perfect photos anytime of year. Best of all, two of three covered bridges in Northwest Connecticut can still be crossed by auto traffic.

After exploring New Milford, take Rte. 7 north for 10 scenic miles following the serpentine course of the Housatonic River to South Kent. Here you will find Bull’s Bridge whose roots date to the Revolution. The bridge you see today was rebuilt in 1842 using the town and queen truss design. Over the years, one bridge replaced another as each was washed away by high water and ice. During the Revolutionary War, Kent supplied the Continental Army with iron ore, goods and soldiers.

Local history has documented that George Washington had an accident at Bull’s Bridge in 1781. What happened has never been told in detail, but one thing is clear; one of his horses, perhaps his own mount, fell in the raging Housatonic River. One exciting bit of confirmation appears in George Washington’s own expense account for March 3, 1781. The first travel expense of the day noted: getting a horse out of Bull’s Bridge Falls, $215. The amount spent indicates that it involved quite a rescue operation. It must have taken time and the General was on his way to make plans with the French for naval support of New York. Any ordinary horse might have been allowed to stay in the river. It might be assumed that this was no ordinary horse, and that perhaps it was Washington’s own mount. Today, we can only wonder.

Continuing on Rte. 7 north, take time to explore the center of Kent before visiting Kent Falls State Park. Here you will find an excellent reproduction of a Town lattice-type covered bridge common in the area. Itiel Town, an architect from New Haven CT patented a lattice truss design in 1820 that was used in all three-area bridges, as well as in covered bridges nationwide. This design allowed builders to make longer, stronger covered bridges. Continue on Rte. 7 north past bucolic scenes reminiscent of classic postcards and calendars depicting rural New England to the jct. of Rte. 7 and 128. Spanning the Housatonic River, the iconic barn red West Cornwall covered bridge is a symbol of the early history of the area.

Known locally as a “Kissing Bridge” because of its long dark span that encouraged carriages to slow just long enough for courtship, the bridge was built in 1841. Using an Ithiel Town design, the bridge has an intricate Town and Queen truss lattice pattern made from red spruce. The bridge marks the boundary between the towns of Sharon and Cornwall. If time allows, be sure to explore the quaint village of West Cornwall. Today, we can admire this photogenic gem thanks to the citizens of Cornwall, who worked to save the bridge from being phased out. In 1973, their efforts were rewarded nationally by winning first prize as an “Outstanding Example of Preservation of a Historic Site” from the Federal Highway Administration.

EVENT SPECIALS at THE INN

Trade Secrets, held annually in Sharon, Connecticut, has become one of the country’s most talked about gardening events. This year’s show and sale of plants and garden ornaments is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2009 at LionRock Farm from 10 am to 3 pm. The rare plant and garden antiques show on Saturday is complemented by tours of nearby gardens on Sunday. Trade Secrets is a benefit for Women’s Support Services: tradesecretsct.com

INN SPECIAL | Rare Plant and Garden Antiques Sale Inn at Kent Falls Special Stay 

Trade Secrets Special Stay includes:
~ Two night’s accommodations in a beautifully appointed guest room or suite including full breakfast
~ Complimentary wine & hors d’oeuvres
~ Inn Room flowers
~ from $390 for a Standard Room (excluding tax)
~ Additional fee • Spa treatments
~ GIFT Certificates available

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ANNUAL LITCHFIELD JAZZ FESTIVAL | July 31 – August 2, 2009 in Kent this year! 860.567.4162. The Litchfield Jazz Festival, one of the top 100 events in the US and Canada. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EVENT | www.litchfieldjazzfest.com

Litchfield Jazz Festival Special Stay includes:
~ Two night’s accommodations in a beautifully appointed guest room or suite including full breakfast
~ Complimentary wine & hors d’oeuvres
~ Inn Room flowers
~ from $390 for a Standard Room (excluding tax)
~ Additional fee • Spa treatments
~ GIFT Certificates available

Bull’s Bridge & George Washington

 

Ira at Bull's Bridge | Winter '08

An inn was built at the crossing over the Housatonic River by Jacob and Mary Bull, who were married in 1762. They ran the inn successfully (the Bull’s Bridge Inn is still a restaurant!) , although Mary was somewhat pressed for time having been “blessed with twenty children.” 

GEORGE & THE BRIDGE | in 1781 George Washington moved through the region on his way to Newport, R.I. to confer with the French. Late Friday, March 2, he was in Dover, stopping for the night at the Morehouse Tavern, but Saturday saw the warrior up early and making his way along what is today known as Route 55, toward the bridge that Jacob Bull kept across the Housatonic River in Kent. There was a good ford at that point during much of the year, but in March the river must have been running full with spring runoff, and in 1781 the Bull family was rebuilding the span. Mr. Fales, writer for the “Arsenal of the Revolution”, tells the following story:

” By one account, the timbers were in but the flooring not ready yet. And so a plank or two were thrown down and Mr. Bull is said to have asked George Washington to dismount and – for safety reasons – walk across while someone led his horse. No one knows what happened, but there was a scramble, shouts and a splash, and suddenly there was a horse in the water. Another account has the general’s horse twisting an ankle between the planks and falling into the river.”

BULL'S BRIDGE 2008

A mystery about what actually happened but how marvelous that a General & President of the United States walked across a bridge that is still open to traffic!

In fact, Bull’s Bridge is one of only two covered bridges in Connecticut that are open to automobile traffic. There is an overlook with benches on the west side of the bridge. There are also trails along the river, some of which lead safely down the rocks to the water. Take the safest one and be sure to wear sensible shoes. One can hike farther to the south along a nice, level portion of the Appalachian Trail to a modern bridge at the confluence of the Housatonic and Ten Mile Rivers. You’ll find plenty of spots with flat, rock outcroppings where you can dip your feet.

View from Bull's Bridge

Winter is especially captivating and a visit here should not be missed.

 

–IRA

Fall in Kent: simple pleasures

 

The cows check out Ira

Simple Pleasures Abound

Keep it Simple…the motto of our economic times. Kent, Connecticut is often described as being, “pastoral.” It’s true. We have working farms and excellent produce from them. Every Season offers opportunities to experience classic New England pleasures, many of which, are well represented in our area.

Apple-picking…an uncomplicated activity that yields more than apples, it creates peaceful memories redolent with the sights and smells of a New England Fall…pies, cider, muffins and yes, even the cows smell great.

Picking Apples...delish!

Not all the apples make it into the muffins James makes…the cows like them too…perhaps this is why they smell “cidery.”

This farm is just minutes from the Inn & it’s a delicious place to visit.

—IRA

2008 Seller & Buyer Survey Results

The article below is of great use to both Buyers and Sellers. For sellers it is time to realize that print is not the main media nor is it crucial to a successful sale. A STRONG ONLINE PRESENCE –  both in your local market as well as outer markets – now has a demonstrable effect on Sales.  As an Associate Realtor at Sotheby’s International, I can attest to the fact that one of the great strengths of Sotheby’s is how well we link between all of our corporate sites including our auction house while always establishing a Preferred Presence with our Partner sites such as: nytimes.com, realtor.com, wsj.com, trulia.com, etc. 

The other key point for both Buyers and Sellers is the importance of a good agent who knows the inventory on the market and expertly matches it to a Buyers wants and needs. This is especially important in a weekend market where homes can be some distance apart and confusing to find. More importantly, you have no way of knowing how accurate online pictures are because often they disguise the actual quality of the property.   

Ira D. Goldspiel | Sotheby’s International Realty
27 N Main St | Kent, CT 06757  | Tel: (860) 927-7724 | Cell: (917) 626-3481  | Fax: (860) 927-1755 

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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS | 2008 Survey Results

 

· Buyers use multiple sources of information when looking for a home. The most utilized sources: 1) the internet (87%), 2) real estate agents (85%) and 3) yard signs (62%).

· 69% of buyers said they used the internet frequently during the search process, up from 60% last year. In 2003 that number was 42%.

· 33% of buyers went to the internet as the first step in the home search process. 17% contacted a real estate agent first, and 9% began by driving through neighborhoods looking for homes for sale.

· For buyers that use the internet for searching: 60% went to MLS sites (such as CT Real.com), 48% used Realtor®.com, 46% went to real estate company websites and 43% went to sites hosted by individual agents.

· More than any other source, a real estate agent is responsible for informing the buyer about the home that is ultimately purchased. That is how 34 percent of buyers found their home. The internet is a very close second (32%). In 2001, 48 percent of buyers learned about their home through a real estate agent, and only 8 percent found their home on the internet. In 2001, a yard sign was the third most likely source of information leading to the home that was purchased (15%): That rate is the same in 2008.

The other key for both buyers and sellers is the importance of a good agent who knows the inventory on the market and matching it to buyers wants and needs. This is especially important in a weekend market where homes are spread apart and from the internet you do not know where they are and if the pictures and copy are telling you the truths about the quality of the property.

Connecticut Home Prices Plunge

Conn. Home Sales Plunge 17 Percent In October

Single-Family Home, Condo Median Prices Down By More Than 10 Percent

BOSTON, Dec. 4, 2008 Single-Family Home, Condo Median Prices Down By More Than 10 Percent

Sales of single-family homes and condominiums in Connecticut continued slumping in October, sinking by double-digit percentages from a year earlier, according to The Warren Group, publisher of The Commercial Record.

Prices also slid, with median single-family home and condo prices tumbling by more than 10 percent in October compared to a year ago.

“Connecticut’s October housing report is markedly different from what happened in other parts of New England. Both Massachusetts and Rhode Island posted considerable gains in single-family home sales during the month of October,” said Timothy Warren Jr., CEO of The Warren Group. “October was the ninth month in 2008 that home sales in Connecticut were off by more than 15 percent, and this is the third month that prices dropped by about 11 percent. Without a significant uptick in home sales for several months, price declines aren’t likely to level off.”

Home sales plunged 17 percent to 2,121 from 2,554 in October 2007. The steep drop follows a moderate dip in sales in September. In September, sales were down 5.3 percent from a year ago bucking a 12-month trend of double-digit percentage declines. A total of 21,507 single-family home sales were sold from January through October, a 23.8 percent decrease from the 28,234 home sales during the same period last year.

The median home price retreated 10.8 percent to $250,000 from $280,280 last year. Year-to-date median prices are down 9 percent to $273,000 from $299,900.

Windham and Fairfield counties have had the steepest drops in median home prices so far this year. In Fairfield County, the median price for homes sold through October was $535,000, nearly 11 percent lower than the $600,000 median price recorded last year. Windham County’s median price for the first 10 months of 2008 sank 12.8 percent to $191,000 from $219,000.

Statewide condominium prices dove 10.4 percent in October to $190,000 from $212,000 a year ago, marking the biggest decline in monthly condo prices so far this year. The median price for condos sold during the first 10 months of 2008 slipped 2.4 percent to $200,000 from $205,000 during the same period last year.

Condo sales plummeted 34 percent to 726 from 1,103 in October 2007. A total of 7,570 condos were sold through October, 33 percent fewer than the 11,304 condo sales in the same months last year.

TRUE GOTHAM

Dispatches from the Front Lines of New York City Real Estate

A site that features great Real Estate articles about a great city…New York.

http://www.truegotham.com/

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–Ira Goldspiel, Owner | THE INN AT KENT FALLS

 

Newspaper Articles about Goldspiel/Real Estate

Litchfield County Publications

Ira Goldspiel, owner of the Inn at Kent Falls and the guiding light behind the Kent Chamber of Commerce’s Shorter Days Brighter Lights Christmas Tree Lighting & Community Pot Luck Dinner, has another full time job as a realtor. Mr. Goldspiel has been working for David Bain Realty for the past five years and this week announced that he is joining the sales team at Sotheby’s International Realty.

Sotheby’s recently purchased Todd Cole Realty and took over its office in the Kent Town Center.

We caught up with Mr. Goldspiel on Wednesday, his first day at his new job. Mr. Goldspiel said he is “very excited to be part of Sotheby’s,” adding, “I wasn’t unhappy working for David. There are a lot of wonderful people working there. I will miss them, especially all the girls. It is hard to leave after five years. I expect to remain good friends with everyone there and hope that we will be doing deals together.”

Mr. Goldspiel said he made the move to Sotheby’s because, “This is a chance to grow my business. Real estate is my full-time job. Sotheby’s has three offices in the area and has an amazing marketing presence on the East Coast as well as an international reach. The business has the small-town feel with an international presence. I feel I can use that to better serve both the seller and the buyer.”

Sotheby’s is known for marketing to the luxury home and resort market but Mr. Goldspiel said, “I haven’t abandoned the middle-income properties, those in the $200,000 to $300,000 range.” A quick check of the Sotheby’s Web site confirmed this. There were several properties listed at the Kent office that fit in this category along with those in the $1 million to $4 million range. There was even a one-bedroom cottage in Kent that is for rent for under $900 a month.

Sotheby’s Kent office has 12 agents. In addition to Mr. Goldspiel, Mr. Cole and Dottie MacRitchie stayed on when Mr. Cole sold his business to the international realty giant. They have been joined by agents Elizabeth DeVos, Judy Perkins, Michael Deveau, Sean Aikman, Mary Ann Miller, Fred Perotti, Gabriel Pinter, Karen Quinn, and Mary Anne Tappan. For more information call 860-927-1141. Sotheby’s office is located at 27 North Main Street, Suite 3 in the Kent Town Center. — Karen A. Chase

The New York Times
The gateway from New York into the town of Kent, on the western edge of Litchfield County, is Bulls Bridge, a one-lane covered bridge that insists those who cross it slow down. It’s an appropriate welcome to a town incorporated in 1739 and known for its state parks, outdoor activities and blend of culture and country life.

All of which appealed to Toby and Lisa King, who live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, when they bought a weekend home. They paid less than $500,000 in January for a former deer-hunting cabin.

“Toby is a fly fisher, and I love to hike, swim and snowshoe,” said Ms. King, 33, a television producer at Grey Advertising. “We were looking for a place that had all this and that we could travel to comfortably most weekends.” And, said Mr. King, 34, an investment banker, “there are lots of interesting people around.”

Those people include a mix of artists, writers, and actors — plus Henry Kissinger — along with local families. First Selectwoman Dolores Schiesel estimated that nearly half of Kent’s residents are part-timers. “It’s hard to call them weekenders,” she said. “They might start off with weekends, but before you know it, they’re here three or four days a week.” Before the railroad tracks cut through in the early 19th century, the land that is now downtown Kent was a farm area called the Plains. Businesses flourished with the arrival of the railroad, giving Kent a Main Street commercial district several blocks long. Among the low-rise wooden buildings is the Kent Town Center, a cluster of shops and offices completed in the late 1980’s. There are numerous antiques dealers, as well as a supermarket, a hardware store, a liquor store and an ice cream parlor.

The Scene
Kent’s bustling downtown sets it apart from many Litchfield County towns, which often lack any commercial development. The downtown impressed Simi Fazeli, 53, of Hartsdale, N.Y., who is a skin-care specialist in Manhattan. She recently bought a weekend home in Kent with her husband, Moe Alafchi, 43, an electrical engineer. “We walked around town, then stopped at Stroble Bakery for coffee and a bagel and watched the people who came in,” she said. “We really liked the feel of the place.”

For a town of just 2,800 people, Kent has a surprising concentration of galleries — ten in all, including one of the largest in the County: The Morrison Gallery

In addition to the Stroble Baking Company, the downtown includes Kent Coffee & Chocolate, an espresso bar known for hand-dipped truffles, and the House of Books. The town also has its share of restaurants, patronized by full-timers and weekenders alike. One of the oldest is the Fife ‘n Drum, which has French, Italian and American cuisine and where the owner, Dolph Traymon, plays piano nightly.

Celebrity weekenders, in addition to Mr. Kissinger, include Oscar de la Renta and Patti LuPone. Ira Goldspiel, owner of the Inn at Kent Falls and now an Associate at Sotheby’s International Realty, described the town as being more low-key than the Hamptons and more upscale than the Catskills. “It’s sophisticated,” he said, “without being pretentious.”

Kent is less than two hours by car from New York City.
For those who love the outdoors, Kent has plenty to offer. Part of the Appalachian Trail runs along the banks of the Housatonic River in town. At Kent Falls State Park, a 200-foot waterfall rushes over white marble ledges; 2,300-acre Macedonia Brook State Park has hiking, camping and fishing. Ms. Bevans said that the Spectacle Ponds are among the cleanest in Connecticut; North Spectacle is only accessible to lakeside property owners, but South Spectacle has public access for fishing, kayaking and canoeing (motorboats are prohibited). The town has swimming in Emery Park and at Lake Waramaug in nearby Warren. Fly-fishing enthusiasts can take their pick of the Housatonic (catch and release), Hatch Pond or Waramaug. And there are 23 ski trails on Mohawk Mountain, 15 minutes north in Cornwall.

Ira’s Picks for Antiquing

Clients and guests are always asking me for key places to antique in the area. My must go to shops are:

Volume One Antiques, and the newly opened Privet House. r.t. facts right here in Kent and Michael Trapp in West Cornwall. Weekends are best to hit these shops but private viewing appointments can be arranged by calling in advance.

–Ira

http://www.ruralintelligence.com/index.php/handg_section/handg_articles_shopping/privet_house_a_shopping_revolution_in_warren_ct/

Ira’s Real Estate Market Perspective

The times are definitely changing and no matter which way you lean politically it seems we all want and need strong change.  It is also during these times we need to allow ourselves space to break from the implosion of negative news so we can better decide how to move forward and in fact create change. 

  

A weekend home tends to be the perfect haven for getting away from it all.  For those who do not own, I also find renting a home or staying at a small Inn /hotel offer a similar respite. The key is to get out of one’s daily surroundings/habits and truly to give oneself permission to rest. 

  

I am continually asked the question “How is the Litchfield County real estate market?”  Whether I am at the Inn or the office, this is the question.  The numbers constantly contradict themselves but below is my perspective on the market: 

  

- Year to date through the end of September, unit sales in the key weekender towns are down over 20%, however some towns such as Cornwall, Kent, Lakeville/Salisbury are up. 

  

- State of Connecticut sales as reported by The Warren Group show home sales fell 32.4 percent to 2,489 from 3,683 in August 2007, representing the slowest sales pace for the month of August since 1992. Year-to-date sales are off 26.4 percent, dropping to a total of 17,211 from 23,397 recorded during the first eight months of 2007. 

  

- Median prices are down but only by single digits 

  

- Inventories are relatively flat and as I have always said, it comes down to quality versus quantity. When you connect with a property you like do not think that another one will be around the corner, as most likely it will not. 

  

- Should you or shouldn’t you buy?  This is a personal question.  If your financial world is stable, now is a good time to buy. Serious sellers know they should entertain offers. Interest rates are still low and yes, mortgages are available. If you are uncertain it is probably better to rent, as this is not a good time for quick turnarounds. 

  

The only thing I can say we must all do is to take a break from the media, enjoy the bounty and beauty of autumn and when the time comes vote for what you believe in.  As always, I hope this newsletter finds you well.  If I can be of any assistance in helping you find a home or listing and selling your home please let me know. Sotheby’s International Realty has over 200 listings in the county as well as a stronghold in Fairfield County, Westchester County and Manhattan with an international network of buyers and sellers. 

 

Best Ira,

Sotheby’s International Realty 

www.sothebyshomes.com/litchfield

 

Phone 860 927-7724

Cell 917 626-3481 

Ira.Goldspiel@sothebysrealty.com

igoldspiel@aol.com

Meet four gay couples from Connecticut to California who are living the dream.

 

Classic New England bathroom at The Inn at Kent Falls

At Ira Goldspiel’s archetypal New England countryside property — The Inn at Kent Falls – everything is just so. Frette sheets cover the overstuffed mattresses on the wrought iron beds, and Aveda products fill the en suite bathrooms. On cold nights a fire roars in the sitting room, and on summer days the outdoor pool is perfectly heated. Like other gays and lesbians who’ve escaped the fluorescent office life by buying an inn, Ira has found that his handsome colonial property is more than a job…it’s his 300-year-old baby. And like any toddler, this one needs unconditional love and around-the-clock attention.

“For this job,” says Ira, “it’s good to be more than a little anal-retentive.”

http://www.advocate.com/print_article_ektid61186.asp