The luxury real estate market in Litchfield County, Connecticut, is running short on inventory and long on motivated buyers, pushing high-end transactions toward private, off-market deals. A recent sale in Sharon illustrates this trend: the property at 338 Calkinstown Road, a custom-built Federal Georgian estate on 35 acres, sold for $5,750,000 without ever being publicly listed. Bill Melnick and Elyse Harney Morris of Elyse Harney Real Estate represented the transaction, approaching the seller on behalf of a buyer whose needs could not be met by current listings.
“We knew what the buyer needed, and it simply was not available,” Melnick said. “So we approached the seller directly and asked if they were open to a private sale. They were, and from there it came together.”
For buyers and sellers operating above $3 million in markets like Litchfield County, a private sale often provides a cleaner process. Sellers avoid showings, open houses, and public price history, while buyers avoid competing offers. The Calkinstown Road property had originally sold in March 2020, before pandemic-driven price increases. The sellers capitalized on appreciation, achieving a fair price through a smooth transaction.
The house, built in 2019 by renowned local builder Robert Fish, features hand-carved fireplace mantles, antique wood library paneling, a slate roof, copper gutters, five wood-burning fireplaces, 6,280 square feet, five en-suite bedrooms, and a chef’s kitchen. The 35-acre setting includes a heated gunite pool, bluestone patio, stone walls, and professional landscaping. The property borders a $10 million sale on an adjacent parcel, also built by Fish.
Litchfield County is in an unusual moment: transaction volume has moderated from its pandemic peak, but dollar volume is increasing due to activity at the top of the market. Cash buyers from finance and technology sectors in New York City are active in the $3 million and above tier, making mortgage rates largely irrelevant. Off-market activity increases when inventory is thin and buyers are serious, conditions present in Sharon and surrounding towns. Agents with deep community relationships facilitate these deals, which rely on trust and local knowledge rather than MLS access.
For sellers considering a move but reluctant to go through a public listing, the current environment may offer a simpler, faster, and more private transaction. The right buyer may already exist in someone’s network.
