Historic Homes Hold Their Value

New Canaan, Darien, Rowayton Magazine called it right as one of this year’s 10 hot real estate trends (March/April 2012 issue). Number three on its hot trends list: Historic homes hold their value.

So far this year, antiques have accounted for 30 percent of New Canaan sales, 27 percent of Darien sales, 36 percent of Rowayton sales and 22 percent of Stamford sales (Single-family year-to-date).

Author C. J. Hughes was certainly accurate in stating: “In tradition-minded Fairfield County, a Revolutionary War Colonial should have just as strong appeal in another few decades as it does today.”

“Architecture, unlike any other art form, is unique because it embodies memory,” noted Mark A. Demmerle, architectural historian and writer. "Our homes provide the space where the events of our lives have taken place.

"Those of us who are sensitive to this ‘spirit of place’ often find the historic home significant because of the appreciation to the cultural lineage of where we have been to where we are now," he wrote. "As one lives in the history of a home like this, one might ponder the evolution and growth of American heritage."

Architect Mark A. Demmerle’s masterful approach to maintaining the heritage of a home is to incorporate contemporary technologies without compromising the historical integrity of the house. Today’s clients program requires fiber optics, energy compliant standards and hypo-allergenic materials.

Each client and each home presents a unique set of circumstances with regard to rehabilitation and renovation.  Finding the critical balance between the two is what makes for a uniquely interesting architectural solution.

Sara Littlefield of William Raveis Real Estate just listed a noteworthy Victorian in Darien. This iconic Victorian caught the eye of location scouts for the Revolutionary Road movie as one of their possible location shoots.

The current owners decided against the option with their busy commuting schedule to Manhattan, but also in their desire to maintain the original Heart Pine hardwood floors, rather than have them replaced after the shoot, as part of the incentive package offered by the movie company.

Victorian architecture refers to several architectural styles during the middle and late 19th century. The name Victorian refers to the reign of Queen Victoria, during which period the styles known as Victorian were used in construction.

This Darien home was originally commissioned for Charles B. Fitch and family (c. 1890), one of the Darien’s original first selectman. Mr. Fitch’s influence in town was noted this past month in Darien Patch with a plaque honoring him on the White bridge linking Darien to Rowayton.

This Darien Victorian is a real standout for its extensive architectural details of its era. The exterior of the house features cedar siding, a beautiful wrap-around porch and turret.

The porch leads to a custom stone path and on to the Pennsylvania bluestone patio added by the current owners when they relocated from San Francisco, home of the iconic Victorian “Painted Ladies.”

The details throughout this house typify Victorian architecture built in this country during the 1890s.

For a virtual tour of this home, go to www.saralittlefield.net or call listing agent Sara Littlefield of William Raveis Real Estate at 203-253-3350 today for a private showing of this unique home.

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SEE ALSO:

Property transfers columns in area Patch communities:

Darien | Fairfield | Greenwich | (Greenwich open houses) | New Canaan | Norwalk | Stamford | Westport | Weston-Redding-Easton | Wilton

The Darien Real Estate topics page, which includes:

• Youtube Open House (videos for homes on the market)

• Open house listings and more on Elaine Falkenberg's real estate blog

• Karen Brewer's real estate blog

• Betsy Nolan's real estate blog

• Ken Allen's real estate blog

• Sara Littlefield's real estate blog