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Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Bain Real Estate has been selected five years in a row for the 2015 Best of Kent Awards for Real Estate Brokers & Agents and now qualifies for the Kent Business Hall of Fame



KENT March 4, 2015 -- Bain Real Estate has been selected for the 2015 Best of Kent Award in the Real Estate Brokers & Agents category by the Kent Award Program.
Each year, the Kent Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Kent area a great place to live, work and play.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2015 Kent Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Kent Award Program and data provided by third parties.
About Kent Award Program
The Kent Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Kent area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.
The Kent Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Pristine Lake & Unfettered Views-For Sale or Lease

Set atop one of the highest points in Kent this spacious and sun-filled house has privacy, lake access and 50 mile views. Four private suites provide wonderful comfort while the open floor plan allows for family fun.

 Views to the southeast, south and southwest are seen from the house and the pool.  All of southern Litchfield County is in this view shed. The farm fields of Kent Hollow Valley and the shimmering of Lake Waramaug are spied from this vantage point.

This 5000 square foot home is spacious and comfortable.  The master suite is located on the main level to the far left in this photo with views, access to the deck and hot tub.

South Spectacle Lake is one of the cleanest lakes in Connecticut.  Sensitive setback regulations and conservation minded development have preserved the integrity of this lake. No motor boats are aloud on the lake. With depths over 35 feet the lake support considerable fish life.  Canoe into the coves, swim off the floating dock, lounge on the sandy beach,  play a match of tennis or use the recreational cottage for parties.  Built on a former children's camp the lake and it's facilities harken back to the days of sleep away camps! 
 

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

 Bain Real Estate Agent & Kent Chamber of Commerce V.P. Dave Fairty in the news!
The Kent Chamber of Commerce donated $1770.00 from proceeds of the Kent Pumpkin Run & 
The Kent Holiday Champagne Stroll to the Kent Food Bank. 
The Chamber matched the donations from participants of each event.
Pictured, L-R are:
Bruce Adams- Kent First Selectman, Ellen Corsell- Pumpkin Run Committee member, Leah Pullaro- Kent Social Services Director, Dave Fairty- Champagne Stroll Committee member & Kent Chamber Vice President.

Home Sweet Home in the Countryside

Motivated sellers!
1,000 sq.ft. 2 bedroom home in the Hollow. Open country kitchen, stonework and plantings throughout the property. Beautiful corner lot in Kent Hollow. All mechanicals are brand new, as is the roof. Great starter home. Expansion is possible with approved septic plan.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Bain continues the tradition of supporting Kiva, micro loans around the world

Over the last 10 years, Bain Real Estate has continually supported small businesses around the world by supporting Kiva, an organization that manages micro loans literally all over the world. We have given loans to entrepreneurs in 45 countries. As our loans are paid back, we simply reinvest the money in new businesses.www.kiva.org.

Friday, January 9, 2015

Recovering Slowly.....

Got this from Keepingcurrentmatters.com blog- very instructive for 2015-

There is no doubt that the housing market has recovered from the meltdown that occurred just a few short years ago. However, in some states home values still have not returned to the prices we saw in 2006 and 2007. Here is a breakdown showing where current prices are in each state as compared to peak prices.

Knowing that Connecticut housing values saw a 30% reduction from the peak in 2006, Connecticut is clearly on the mend but well behind many States in the recovery process.  Ideally we believe the most optimal is a slow but steady growth of value to avoid huge value spikes in the market.



 

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

It was a great year for us at Bain!

 

 This graph shows the number of successful transactions 

in our key towns of Cornwall, Kent and Sharon in 2014



Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Peace & Tranquility on Geer Mountain

 


The location is perfect, set way back from Geer Mt. Rd in South Kent.The 340' drive gently curves up through pastures to this 3 bedroom 3 bath home. Built in the 1980's with a perfect southern orientation, the house is flooded with light with enormous solar gain and great views. The central stone fireplace & massive chimney are also a source of winter warmth & summer beauty. Kitchen & master bath were recently redone and the attached greenhouse-solarium a great addition.


 
$595,000

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Monday, November 17, 2014

Kent Market Update-South Kent


Here is the annual neighborhood real estate report detailing the real estate activity in the last 12 months in South Kent.

The 27 sales transactions in Kent in the last 12 months is slightly fewer than previous year’s volume of 30.  However we are seeing the path back to a more balanced market where there is a small pool of buyers and a limited amount of homes available for sale.  Presently there is still more seller supply than buyer demand but that volume is slowly being chipped away.

Moreover, the national economy is systemically healthier providing a more confident buyer pool.  We are seeing a very strong upper end of the market fueled by capital that is seeking hard assets, like real estate, in which to invest.  It is the main component as to why we are seeing cash deals for multi-million dollar estates during a time of historically low interest rates. Typically the upper end of the market is the trend setter in value recovery as that level of the market has more capital flexibility and critical evaluation processes.

In sum, incrementally the market values are getting healthier. Data shows that in Kent 2014 average sales price was even stronger than in 2013.  The Days it took to sell a house in the last 12 months was 134. That average was dramatically different by more than a month and a half (183 Days) in 2012-2013. We have only slightly more listings on the market (58) than last year at this time (55). And there are 5 sales pending.

Date                 Sales                Market Time             Av. Sales Price
2012-13               30                 183 Days on              $601,098
2013-14               27                 134 Days on             $706,120 

Earlier in the year the market was vibrant with a number of homes selling. Spring through mid summertime was also quite strong.  The market is traditionally slow as summer ebbs, but the 4th quarter is shaping up nicely as the buyers are more plentiful and a bit more eager to buy. Additionally, the last 12 months has seen 6 land sales according to the CTMLS and the town records. It is especially nice to see the uptick in interest in land. 

 
311 South Kent Road was a bank owned property that was listed and sold for $149,000. With one acre of land, cleared and surrounded by large trees, this house has approximately 1,960 sq ft of living space. There are 2 large bedrooms and 2 full baths. The house was built in 1948 and despite some nice upgrades the house requires some additional renovations. Toni Soule of my firm assisted the buyer.

 

Private and charming, 40 Camps Flat Road is a 14-acre 3 BR/3 BA country retreat with gunite pool, guest cottage, views and meticulously landscaped grounds and perennial gardens. Built in 1945 with 2,348 sq. ft. and tastefully remodeled in 1999/2000, it is tucked away on this beautiful country road. List Price: $895,000/Sale Price: $837,500.

 

Nestled on a wooded hillside at 64 Geer Mountain Road, this charming 3 bedroom, 2 and a half bathroom cape is on 5.84 acres. Behind the house stretches a 1500 square foot bluestone terrace and perennial gardens. The 2300 sq. ft. house is immaculate, with beautiful hardwood floors, tastefully painted interiors, granite kitchen counters, two fireplaces, an expansive living room with custom cabinetry, and a large den/family room/library with built-in bookcases. I have this listed for $476,000.

 

63 Howland Drive is a 4,400 sq. ft. reproduction colonial built in 1987.  Privately sited on 13.74 acres with amazing long views over the hills the 4 bedroom, 4 full & 1 half-bathroom home has a wonderful floor plan.  The home maintains lovely details such as a kitchen with stainless appliances, central air, wood floors, 3 fireplaces, 900 sq. ft. deck, stone fences and specimen plantings. List Price: $1,485,000/ Sale Price: $1,175,000.

 

141 Geer Mountain Road sold this past year.  Listed for $2,875,000 this 4700 sq. ft. contemporary home with 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and stunning views sold for $2,425,000.  The house was sited on a lovely 24 acre property with a large field, surrounding woods, and stream and rock outcroppings.  Built in 1994 the chic crisp interior maintains 3 fireplaces and a luxurious master suite. The property also features a 30x50 pool and separate guest quarters.  The same buyer purchased an abutting 119.5 acres of land (a mix of farm fields and woodland) for $2,000,000 or $16,700 per acre.

 

An antique home at 52 Treasure Hill “Firefly Hill” as it was known, is a unique blend of contemporary living with antique elements, there are 2 fireplaces, interior walls of both rock & brick, wood beams and old floorboards.  The main house has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.  There is a separate guest wing with built-in bookcases, a fireplace and vaulted ceiling. There is a garden pool and accompanying pool house. The property is surrounded by Nature Conservancy. Originally listed at $995,000, it closed for $630,000 after being on the market for 389 days.

 

Toni Soule sold a 5 acre parcel of land up on Iron Mountain Road earlier this year.  The wooded parcel with views to the east was ready to build on.  It was listed for over 685 days asking $125,000.  It closed for $100,000.
Just to the east, another parcel sold.   A 5 acre interior parcel located off of Oak Ridge Rd. It is primarily wooded and very private. This lot sold for $130,000.  

 
There are a number of properties on the market in Kent so if you wish to see any of them, or have someone who might be looking, give us a call.

Kent Champagne Stroll Info

Have a great Thanksgiving and for those hosting dinner, make sure you come celebrate the Champagne Stroll we are sponsoring on the Friday and Saturday evenings after Thanksgiving.  Come stroll the village, stop in to stores and enjoy champagne on the walk!