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Dear Neighbor,

The numbers are in and 2016 was clearly a pivotal year in real estate. Nationally real estate sales transactions were up 12% over 2015 figures. Litchfield County overall saw just over 8% increase. Locally there was a similar bump resulting in the volume of sale increase around 14%! In summation, real estate in Sharon is on a steady upswing as the market recognizes good values.

The positive economic confluence of lower unemployment, strong trends in the financial markets and tightening interest rates have bolstered consumer confidence. This confidence mixed, with the reduction of available homes to buy, has solidified real estate values and will predictably push our value higher. We already see this happening.

Last year's letter noted over 70 houses being available for sale in Sharon. Well, what a difference a year makes, as presently there are 47 residential homes listed for sale. Yes in the last 12 months we have seen 55 sales in Sharon up from 47 in same period in 2015.

We are happy to say that Bain Real Estate participated in over 25% of these transactions and we thank you for your confidence.

Anecdotally, I recently closed on a house here in Sharon where there were two bidders. The first prospect reluctantly cancelled their contract as they could not get their loan so the second buyer ended up winning the sale. And it closed for a bit higher, I might add.

The lesson here is that the market has become one of both buyer and seller on an equal footing, ending the 8 year buyer's market. Should there be a prolonged period of fewer listings than buyers, we could see that balance shifting to a seller's market.

Here are both the Sales in the last 12 months and Listings in the neighborhood.

Sales:

Beginning at the north end of the map on Hooperfields Drive there were 3 sales:

18 Hooperfields Drive is a comfortable and well maintained home on a level and open 2 acre lot. This 1664 sq. ft. home has 4 bedrooms and 2 and a half bathrooms, 2 car attached garage and large family room. It was listed by my agent David Almquist and I assisted the purchasers in finding their home that closed for $287,500.

29 Hooperfields Drive is a well-maintained ranch style home with many upgrades. All on one level the home offers 3 to 4 bedroom with a large family room. The kitchen has been remodeled to include a breakfast bar opening onto dining room. The land is special and from the airy south western facing canopied deck, there are nice views of the gardens, fruit trees and fields. It sold for $305,000.

50 Hooperfields Drive is a spacious colonial home with a traditional layout of 2300 sq. ft. that is need of updating. This home built in 1975 boast wood floors throughout, a formal living room and formal dining, a library with built-ins and a fireplace as well as lovely enclosed sun porch. Upstairs there are 4 bedrooms including a large master bedroom suite with walk-in closet and en-suite bath. There is plenty of storage in the full dry basement, attic and a 2 car attached garage. The property is open with a view of the protected hillside behind and sold for $332,500.

An 1880's antique home at 10 Boland Road sold for $1,300,000 after nearly 4 years on the market. Beautifully restored, this 19th century farmhouse maintains an open Kitchen/Dining and Family Room with large fireplace. There is also a Library and screened porch for summer entertaining in this 3700 sq. ft. home. The Great Room is an antique Vermont barn with a floor to ceiling fireplace, a sleeping loft and kitchen with copper countertops. Additionally there are 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms and 2 Offices. The proeprty has an in-ground heated gunite pool, lighted skating pond, solar power, plus a detached Barn Garage with second floor Studio.

32 Windy Ridge was sold for $850,000. This one level house, built in 1982, has nearly 2000 sq. ft. and offers 2 bedrooms and 1 and a half baths. The level and open 7.77 acres is one of its most attractive features offering views and privacy.

Another lovely parcel is 10 acre plot of land is found on the north end of Westwoods Road #1. The parcel is primarily open, western facing land with considerable water frontage on Mill Brook. The composition of meadow, corn fields and light woods and the meandering brook make an excellent building lot. It sold for $425,000.

Over to the east at 380 Cornwall Bridge Road is a 1971 Dutch Colonial home that sold.

Featuring 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths this 2400 sq. ft. home also offers a large country kitchen. There is a nice wood fireplace, formal dining room as well as a 2-car garage. The house sits well above the road on over 2 acres. There is considerable value in this house that requires some updating and sold for $215,000.

Further south in the neighborhood, 3 West Mountain Road, another Dutch Colonial sold. This home was built in 2008 and renovated nicely with three bedrooms and 2 bathrooms is light-filled and has vaulted ceilings. The modern, tiled kitchen is part of the open floor plan which includes a dining and living rooms. Details such as wood floors and large windows, French doors and wood stove, modern finishes make this a comfortable home. Old stone walls a fenced garden with fruit trees and woods comprise the 4.92 acre parcel. It closed for $375,000.

205 Westwoods Road is a Dutch-Gambrel style farmhouse with an open-living and dining room floor plan. The newly-renovated, eat-in kitchen features radiant heat, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances with direct access to a large wooden deck. A artistically curved staircase leads to a spacious Master Bedroom suite with vaulted ceiling, fire place, full bath, exercise room and walk-in closet. There are two additional bedrooms, both accessing a screened-in porch. Plus a whole-house generator, central air conditioning, a large fenced yard and a barn style two-car garage with finished loft all situated on 4.59 well-maintained acres. This sold for $360,000 with multiple bids.

84 Knibloe Hill was 126.44 acre portion of a Sharon farm family's holdings that had been in the family for generations. The home is a 1500 sq.ft. 3 bedroom, 1 and ahalf bathroom hand crafted home built in 1988. Vistas over the meadows and pond are enjoyed from the house and it large deck. Brooks, views, and upper woodlands are available to explore or build another home. I helped the family sell this property that closed for $1,200,000 last March.

Westwoods Pastures–at 5 Keeler Road , is a 4 bedroom, 5 bath spacious country home with solid craftsmanship. A living room fireplace and kitchen wood-burning stove add warmth to this thoughtful layout. High ceilings and an abundance of windows create a blend modern design with country charm. East-facing screened porch and the southern deck overlooking views of your own pond. 33 acres. It closed at $860,000

Warmth, charm, and western light fill this renovated 1940's cottage at 112 Knibloe Hill Rd. The living room features a wood burning fireplace and large picture window with bucolic views over the Oblong Valley fields. This 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home with a living loft on the second floor and wood burning stove on the lower level, offers three levels of living space in just over a 1000 sq. ft. The kitchen has been renovated and leads onto a stone patio and the lightly cleared 2 acre parcel. The house sold for $351,500.

Another small 2-bedroom dwelling is a private cabin at 12 Caray Hill Road snuggled up against 200 acres of Wildwoods Preserve. The 12.5 acre property is primarily wooded but has a large open lawn that rolls out to the pond. With only 720 sq. ft. this modern Orvis type cottage in woodwork and a native stone fireplace is well crafted. We listed and sold this country camp for $290.000.

Listings:

22 Pinch of Rocks Road is another private home abutting the National Audubon land. Up a private driveway hidden from the road is this lovely country style home on 4.14 acres. 4 large bedrooms and 2 bathrooms compliment the 1785 sq. ft. home offering plenty of room for guests. A large stone patio features a hot tub enveloped in a wooded parcel. The 1983 home has an open floor plan with large windows, new floors and custom trim custom. The kitchen is also newly renovated detailed in granite countertops and newer appliances. It is listed with Joanie Yahn for $350,000.

28 Bog Meadow Road is an amazingly private modern dwelling bordering 1000's of acres of National Audubon's protected land. Custom designed by architect Peter Dalton Morris, the passive solar 3 bedroom home offers south facing window walls that bring the outside in, an open kitchen, guest friendly layout, and energy efficiency at its best - all on one level. 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, barn, garage, tennis court and fenced garden/puppy playground. This incredible setting with its private road, beaver pond, naturalized ferns and sturdy stone walls is available at $599,000.

92 Lambert Road is a custom designed one level modern home. It is comfortable, cozy, elegant and crafted with a passion for quality. Amidst a wooded 5 acre parcel it's designed with careful environmental practices. New bamboo flooring, mini-split heat exchanger that cools, dries or heats the home is state-of-the-art efficient. All exterior walls are insulated six inches thick and a new stainless steel roof will last 50 years plus. South facing windows capture passive solar, maximizing sun in the winter and employ tree shade in the summer. This is listed by Toni Soule for $399,999.

On Keeler Road neighbor and Bain agent David Almquist has listed this wonderful 33 acre parcel that has all the country amenities! A branch of Macedonia Brook wends through old fields, century old stone walls, and beautifully matured trees. A driveway has been roughed in to the potential building site which is for sale at $330,000.

Please note that not all listings in the neighborhood are posted here so if you want to know more, please let us know or head to our website to see all the available listings in Sharon and countywide. Our website at www.bainrealestate.com offers not only the aforementioned listings and sales but also this letter and all other Sharon neighborhood letters archived.

All the best,

Chris Garrity

David Bain & the Sharon office

Jennifer Luning, Michele Pastre, Joanie Yahn & David Almquist

Please note that not all listings and sales transactions are through David Bain Real Estate.