“Change is painful, but nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong.” Mandy Hale

“Change is the only constant”….  So why do we fight it so much? We can not resist, rather we must adapt if we want to stay relevant, survive, and prosper. As Realtors, we have to continue to educate ourselves and others so we are able to consistently change and grow with our clients needs. Think about how many changes in real estate that have come with the advancements of technology. Technology innovation is only going to continue to grow and change the fabric of how we buy and sell real estate. Agents that are not getting on board with current marketing, creating systems to make the transaction as easy as possible for the client, and

17 HANCOX ST – STONINGTON, CT

Located within the Stonington Borough, this 15-unit apartment building boasts of long-term full occupancy attributed to its shoreline village atmosphere with direct proximity to local shops, restaurants, and recreational attractions within walking distance. 

The property was placed under contract after being on the market for less than a week. With multiple offers submitted, a full price bid was secured and fortified with backup offers as well as further inquiries accrued over the span of the contract period until the date of closing.

Demand for multi-family properties (4 units or more), appears to have spiked over time, fueling speculation that this very demand could be linked to the affordability of home prices

A Boater’s Sanctuary

As a lifelong resident of the Connecticut Shoreline, it comes with great pleasure to shine light on a hidden gem within our local community.  Growing up in and around the boating & fishing world, I have always been drawn to marinas and all that comes with that space.   The distinct sights, sounds and smells are truly part of the lifestyle that is enjoyed by many, including myself. As a commercial real estate professional, it comes as no surprise that a large area of focus and specialization in my business is the acquisition and disposition of marina properties.  With that in mind, I’d like to share with you Riverside Basin Marina located at 41-49 Riverside Drive in Clinton, Connecticut.

Riverside Basin Marina (RBM) is a 9.7

Salespeople are typically focused on being transactional and closing more deals. Fiduciaries use a consultative approach, putting a client’s best interest in mind even if it means disclosing info that will kill a deal. Fiduciaries won’t place their commissions before your best interest. Unfortunately, many agents in our market are experienced at selling themselves. The real estate industry over the years has become less about the customer and more about the number of transactions an agent closes.  Some of the blame can be directly correlated to real estate coaching which has become big business and focuses on “Closing the Deal” as opposed to solving a client’s problem.  Big Real Estate coaching companies train agents to become adept at answering common

Happy Earth Day!! We must preserve our beautiful planet! Here are a few eco-friendly tips that you can follow to make a contribution to our planet!

1. ALWAYS RECYCLE!
2. Shop with reusable bags
3. Walk or Bike to where you need to go
4. Do errands together/car pool
5. Get a filter to drink tap water
6. Buy only what you need for less waste
7. Use vegetable scraps to make vegetable stock or use to compost
8. Use energy-efficient lightbulbs and turn off lights when not in use
9. Donate your old clothes and home goods instead of throwing them out. When you need something, consider buying used items
10. Use environmentally-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products

These are only a FEW ideas out of so many! What are some ways that you help our

Written by Zat Rana, author at Design Luck

In 1993, Joan Ginther won a $5.4 million Texas Lotto jackpot.

More than a decade later, Ginther walked home with another multi-million dollar payday in 2006. She did it again in 2008, and once more in 2010.

Her combined winnings? More than $20 million. Odds of her winning the fourth multi-million dollar jackpot? One in 18 septillion.

A septillion is a one followed by 24 zeroes. The universe contains up to one septillion stars, and if you add up each grain of sand on Earth, you still get a smaller number. It’s fair to say that, statistically, it shouldn’t have happened.

How did Ginther do it?

She refuses to talk about it. For all we know, she may have cheated or it could have been pure luck.

What’s the Difference Between a Seller’s Market and a Buyer’s Market? As we begin 2019, if you are about to start looking for a home, you may come upon these terms. Beyond a simple definition for each of these, it is very important to know the different factors that define each, and how the different markets can impact a buyer.  This article will examine these areas.

Seller’s Market Defined

A seller’s market exists when there are many more buyers seeking to purchase than there are homes available on the market. Stated differently, there are less houses available to satisfy a larger pool of buyers in the marketplace. This lack of listing inventory leads to rapid (at times excessive) price appreciation, very quick closings, many cash buyers,

 Chances are good your buyers are not approved at all…they’ve only been pre-qualified

Shocking headline, isn’t it?  Hard to hear the truth sometimes, but I am going to tell you that in my experience, the bulk of Pre-Approval letters being given to Real Estate agents by Loan Originators are just plain worthless.  They are being written to get the buyers a house, but the protection/reassurance the seller is looking for that tells them the buyers really are qualified does not exist.  Welcome to Fantasy Island.

My intention in writing this is two-fold: first, to let you know about this situation, and second, to give you some suggestions for getting a comfort letter that is worth the paper it is printed on.

Frequently a Realtor will refer me one of

Written by Robert H. Ruth

Thanksgiving is like a fixed rate mortgage

I have to admit that my favorite Holiday is Thanksgiving.

I love the food: turkey and dressing …mashed potatoes slathered with gravy …mmm!

I love going for a run or a long walk in the late morning, and the smells that greet me when I come home are intoxicatingly good. Maybe the crisp, late fall air that I come in from enhances the aromas from the kitchen.  

I also love the traditions of Thanksgiving, knowing that the roasting pan we use belonged to my mother in law. I can’t help but think that it holds not only the flavors of the turkey, but the memories of all those Thanksgivings past, and I feel like she is still at the table with us, sharing her love and stories of

How much does it take to be kind to someone? How much does it cost to be compassionate?

With everything going on in the world today, it can be incredibly difficult to see the good in a lot of things. Too often we are quick to express our anger and our disdain for others. We get into fights with each other over politics, we think the worst of people when they don’t say “thank you” after holding the door open for them. Just the other day, I was discussing with a co-worker about an incident I encountered with someone. All I could think to say was, “what is wrong with people?” Then it hit me…I was asking the wrong question.

Kindness isn’t something new. In fact, Aristotle said, “It is the characteristic of the magnanimous man to ask no favor but to