These are the words that I continuously hear from consumers in the open market in regard to the real estate profession. Instead of pushing back and getting defensive I have chosen to look at the commonality of this mindset and find shared ground and ask “Why?”

Could it be that 80% of the agents in the marketplace turn over every 4 years?

Or that 94% of the work is done by 6% of the agents?

The 94% will handle only a handful or transactions and make many mistakes due to a lack of experience at the expense of the consumer. Everyone knows someone with a real estate license and feels that the license makes them all equal. Not True. Buying and Selling Real Estate is a huge investment and should not be entrusted to a novice. Long gone are the days of…

2107 Views, 2 Comments

Read Full Post

pierre_de_fermat-2011-hp_421

Public Act 11-6

I am writing in an attempt to clear up any confusion about the current conveyance taxes in the state of CT.  There has been some confusion since the laws changed.

When you sell property in the state of CT you are taxed on both the Municipal and the State Level.

On the Municipal level you will be taxed at a base rate of .25% of the sales price plus up to an additional .25% in 18 “Targeted Investment” municipalities.  Towns that are eligible for the additional .25% are Bloomfield, Bridgeport, Bristol, East Hartford, Groton, Hamden, Hartford, Meriden, Middletown, New Britain, New Haven, New London, Norwalk, Norwich, Southington, Stamford, Waterbury, and Windham.  Unfortunately all of these towns have elected to embrace the .25%…

57857 Views, 1 Comments

Read Full Post

Noank Village is not just a wonderful place to own a home, it is a special place to live. There is a quality of life and a quality to life here that is unmatched. Situated on a peninsula at the mouth of the Mystic River, the sun reflects off the water on three sides giving the village a special glow. Noank is also imbued with a unique community spirit that shines forth in the longest running continues annual Memorial Day Parade (since 1875) and the annual Holiday Carol Sing and Tree Lighting at the park.

collage_600

Noank’s history is reflected in the beauty of its homes. Because surrounding deeper waters were advantageous for shipbuilding, Noank developed several thriving wooden shipbuilding yards during the 19th century, including one of the largest in the…

10386 Views, 1 Comments

Read Full Post

Over the last 6 years we saw rates on mortgages fall to a level not seen before. In 2007 the average rate for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage was 6.25%. In the Spring of 2013 that rate had fallen to an average of around 3.5%.  Let’s take a look at what that payment difference was in dollars on a $160,000 mortgage (all examples below are calculated based upon principal and interest payments only; tax and insurance escrows are not included):

38_windward_way-126_685               

Rate                 Monthly Payment                             Payment Difference                          % Change in Dollars

                                                                                                                               

6.25%                    $ 985.15

…

3860 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

aerial_shot_of_entire_property_outlined_800

I am pleased to have the honor of introducing you to, Lincoln Lake Lodge located at 5 Levy Road in Colchester, CT. Located just .4 miles from exit 18 off Route 2. The Lodge is positioned in an R-60 rural residential District zone. In specific, the property is legally acknowledged as a nonconforming commercial multiuse facility that has been in continuous operation since the Davis Family took ownership in 1958.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis renamed the resort Lincoln Lake Lodge. A professional saxophone player in his youth, Mr. Davis developed The Lodge into a successful music venue where many stars performed.  The Lodge has hosted over 100 large events with 1000 or more attendees and more than 3000 smaller gatherings over the last 50 years. Attendance has…

33389 Views, 5 Comments

Read Full Post

109_water_800

BUILDING DESCRIPTION

109 Water St is improved with a three story, wood frame building constructed in 1900. Although the property is not individually listed, the entire Borough is on the National Register of Historic Properties, which can provide protection from demolition and adverse impacts from federally-funded projects. The front of the building has clapboard siding. The sides and rear are covered with asbestos siding.

The gross floor area is approximately 2,706 square feet, with 868+/- square feet on the first and second floors, and 781+/- square feet on the third floor. The first floor is used as a retail store, with a display store window in front and a 1/2 bathroom in the rear. The retail space is essentially one room, with an area…

2453 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Have you ever chosen a piece of fruit that looks amazing only to find that the insides are rotten? You are disappointed to say the least and left with a sour taste in your mouth. There is future hesitation when reaching for another piece that originated from the same place. I have found this to be very true in dealing with people and business. Perception is not necessarily reality. You have to get to know the person before becoming comfortable in referring their services to your sphere of influence. After all, your recommendation is a reflection of how you do business.

I am tremendously proud to say that I have created a network of individuals that are extremely talented, reputable, and place the interests of their clients before their own. Peter A.…

7407 Views, 1 Comments

Read Full Post

boat2_698

(Written by Bob Ruth) The first step in buying a home is deciding how much of a payment you can afford. This is usually done with the help of a loan officer who will try to get you pre-qualified for the necessary financing to buy a house. Getting pre-qualified before you go and look at houses is the best option in my opinion for 3 reasons :


1 -  You'll go out knowing how much you can afford which saves time.

2 – You’ll be less likely to look at houses that are beyond your ability to purchase...nothing is worse than falling in love with a house only to find out that you cannot get the financing because it is beyond your means financially.

3 -  The Realtor will be able to negotiate more effectively for you due to the fact that you can tell…

3399 Views, 2 Comments

Read Full Post

12 Burrows St, Mystic CT 06355

300 yards from Downtown Mystic and over $200,000 in upgrades. This striking home on over half an acre is highlighted by a heated pool, spacious fenced corner lot, irrigation system, garage, new siding,exterior lighting, and central air conditioning.

 dsc08329_600

Letter from the Seller ~

Thank you for your interest in our home. We have spent five very happy years living here. Our home is set in the Mystic Historic District and was built in 1879. Our fondest memories of living at 12 Burrows Street will always be of our children playing outside, running in and out of the pool, and rolling down the hill in our front yard chasing our black lab ‘Bella’. This has been a great home for entertaining, for our children to play and…

7859 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Have you ever worked with someone so GOOD that you wanted to tell everyone about your experience?

boats2_698

How often have you agreed to a monthly service agreement, insurance policy, or TV package only to find rates rapidly creeping up and the value of service declining?    Many of us utilize automatic payment programs that make it nearly impossible to spot these changes for years while the built-in escalation clauses leave us feeling violated and taken advantage of.

Wouldn’t life be a little sweeter if your service provider had YOUR best interest in mind and notified you of rate hikes while offering money saving alternatives?

A few weeks ago, I received a call from Debbie Kane of Sava insurance Group in Waterford CT. Debbie, had performed a yearly…

2950 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post