Peggy Chirico ~ Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate Blog

Baby Boomers Series ~ Cleaning Out the Attic

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:04:16 -0500

In the Baby Boomer Series, I am going to address topics that pertain to people of my generation--baby boomers who are planning for the next steps in their lives.

Baby Boomer Series ~ Cleaning Out the Attic

Contrary to conventional wisdom, at least in my opinion, the most important step is not deciding where or how one wants to spend his or her retirement years; the most important step is CLEANING OUT THE ATTIC!

Regardless of whether you plan to stay in your home, move across town, or relocate to the sunny south, you must clean out the attic. If you are like me, you have lived a considerable number of years in the same house and have amassed a lot of ~~crap~~ memories in the attic.

Why do I think cleaning out the attic is the most important step? Because it will allow you make a quicker decision if you have to. If you clean out the attic now, well in advance of any decisions you need to make, you will be able act upon your decision quicker. And if you choose to spend your retirement years in the same house, you won't be leaving the dreaded task of cleaning out your attic to your family.

This post was prompted by two events:

The first was a showing I recently had where the buyers wanted to close in six weeks. The seller, however, had so much stuff everywhere (and the attic was jam-packed) that it would have taken her a month of Sundays to clear it all out. Her stuff included tons of memorabilia, restaurant menus, knickknacks, books, clothes, and some stunning antiques and artwork. There was a lot that would simply have to be thrown out, and some of it shouldn't be thrown out. But in the heat of the moment, when someone is under pressure to clear out the house, mistakes will be made. Valuable things may be thrown out and worthless things will remain.
The second event was my own trip into my attic. I call my attic Limbo because that's where I throw everything that I don't know what to do with. It's also a one-way street. It goes up, but it never comes down. So after 35 years of living in the same house, I know there is a vast amount of ~~crap~~ memories up there.

Cleaning the attic is an onerous chore; no one really wants to get caught in the trip down memory lane that will take years to complete. Trust me, I know. I had boxes of cards, gifts, memorabilia, and stuffed animals for each of my children. It took me an entire afternoon because, of course, I had to read every card! And that was just one box.

So here are some of the suggestions that worked for me; maybe they will work for you.

Get some help. Enlist the aid of your children, spouse, or a professional service. They will keep you on track.
Tackle it one box at a time. Bring the box down from the attic and decide on the contents' final destination: garbage, recycling, donating, giving to a family member, selling it, or having it appraised.
Set up a minimum goal of how many boxes you will deal with each week and hold yourself to it.

Toss It

I am all for recycling and reusing wherever possible, but there is probably a good amount of junk that simply must be tossed, such as old Halloween costumes, decomposing papers sprinkled with glitter, melted plastic items, etc.

Give It Back

If you have been saving someone else's memories, put the stuff in a pile and give it to the person. Chances are they will have a much easier time of throwing it out than you would. When I presented each of my children with boxes of their kindergarten homework, they thought I was nuts. They looked through it for old time's sake and just as quickly tossed it.

Give It Away

You may have useful items in the attic that someone else would love to have. I had 16 place settings of Christmas dishes that I hadn't used in twenty years and knew I would never use them again, so I gave eight place settings to each of my daughters. My son decided he would rather have an old turntable that was up there. If there are things that your family or friends can use, offer it to them. Wouldn't you rather see them enjoy it than have it rot in the attic? There are also plenty of charitable organizations that would be glad to accept donations. A rule of thumb: If you haven't seen it, used it, or thought about it in five years, you probably don't need it now.

Appraise It

For the valuable things in your attic, like silver candlesticks, old collectibles, or antiques, consider having them appraised to see if they really are worth anything. You may just have cash in the attic that will help pay for your next vacation!

Sell It

If you have valuable items that you want to sell, consider selling it to an appraiser, on eBay or Craigslist, or at a tag sale. If you have things that are not really valuable but that someone might want to buy anyway, a tag sale may be the quickest way to get rid of a lot of stuff.

Save It

You don't have to get rid of everything! There may be some items that you want to hang on to, and that's fine. Just make sure to keep them in the open so you can truly enjoy them and not just have them collecting dust in a storage area.

Cleaning out the attic will be the hardest task, but it is the most important task. By paring down your stuff, separating trash from treasure, and keeping only what is essential, you will be ready when you want to make a decision about where and how you want to spend your retirement years.

Baby Boomer Series ~ Cleaning Out the Attic

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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

If you are buying or selling a home in Hartford County or Tolland County, please call me, email me, or visit my website. I would be happy to help you with your home search or provide a market analysis for your home.

Find your dream home now!

East Hartford CT Market Report for December 2011

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:58:10 -0500

East Hartford CT Market Report for December 2011

East Hartford CT finished out the year strong, with 26 closed sales and a median price of $143,500. Many people mistakenly think that real estate comes to a halt in December because of the holidays, but that was not the case in East Hartford.

Compared with December 2010, this December had a higher number of closed sales (26 this December vs. 22 last December), but the median price was down ($143,500 this December vs. $150,000 last December).

Here is the breakdown by price range:

Price Range December2011 December 2010 Under $100,000 4 4 $100,000-$149,999 11 7 $149,999-$199,999 8 9 $200,000-$249,999 2 2 $250,000-$299,999 - - $300,000-$349,999 3 2 $350,000-$399,999 1 - Over $400,000 - - Total 26 22

The median price was up and down throughout the year, but December's median price came very close to the median price for the entire year, which was $144,000.

Here is a recap by month for 2011:

Month # of Closed Sales Median Price December 26 $143,500 November 33 $148,000 October 23 $134,900 September 35 $137,500 August 33 $125,900 July 25 $160,000 June 24 $142,500 May 25 $152,000 April 24 $163,700 March 27 $149,000 February 14 $134,000 January 18 $127,500

There are also 20 homes under contract and 37 under deposit. Given that there are 205 active listings in East Hartford, CT, the absorption rate is currently 10 months, which is lower than it has been in recent months.

If you are looking for a home in East Hartford, there is plenty to choose from. From a low of $9999 for a two-bedroom, one-bath, 719 sq. ft. mobile home to a high of $299,900 for a new construction colonial with three bedrooms, 2.1 baths and 1800 sq. ft., the median price is $149,900. There are many fine neighborhoods in East Hartford, with plenty of opportunities to find a great home at a great price.

To see all the homes for sale in your price range, contact me and I will be glad to help you find your next home.

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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

Find your dream home now!

South Windsor CT Market Report for December 2011

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 10:54:17 -0500

South Windsor CT Market Report for December 2011

The number of closed sales in South Windsor CT was up in December over the previous month (17 closed sales in December compared to 13 closed sales in November). The median price was also up from $240,000 in November to $249,900 in December.

However, compared to last December, both number of closed sales and median price were down. Last December showed 26 closed sales and a median price of $256,000. The only bright spot there was that the number of homes sold over $400,000 remained the same. Here is the breakdown by price range:

Price Range December2011 December 2010 Under $100,000 - - $100,000-$149,999 1 1 $149,999-$199,999 3 7 $200,000-$249,999 5 4 $250,000-$299,999 1 4 $300,000-$349,999 3 2 $350,000-$399,999 1 5 Over $400,000 3 3 Total 22 29

Like many other towns, South Windsor's median price and number of closed sales have had their ups and downs this year as shown in the table below:

Month # of Closed Sales Median Price December 17 $249,900 November 13 $240,000 October 14 $275,000 September 16 $313,385 August 25 $240,000 July 20 $285,900 June 21 $259,900 May 20 $218,500 April 17 $220,000 March 8 $237,250 February 7 $305,000 January 14 $251,500

But the really interesting aspect of the South Windsor real estate market is that there are currently just 75 homes on the market. Given that there are 17 homes under contract and 13 houses under deposit, the absorption rate in South Windsor CT is just 6.2 months, which is one of the lowest absorption rates around.

If you are interested in finding a home in South Windsor CT, the homes range from $16,500 for a two-bedroom, 1.1-bath, 520 sq. ft. mobile home to a $1.3 million for a six-bedroom, two-bath, 3054 sq. ft. colonial on 75 acres. The median price is $269,900, with 30 homes for sale between $200,000 and $300,000, so if that's your price range, you have some options. However, with the limited inventory, buyers will need to be competitive in their offers, especially if the property is in a good location and in good condition.

If you are thinking about putting your home on the market, there will be less competition so you can expect that your home won't be on the market long, especially if you price it well.

Whether you are thinking about buying or selling in South Windsor CT, please give me a call. I would be glad to help you achieve your goals.

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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

Find your dream home now!

The Home Show Is This Weekend at the XL Center, Hartford CT ~ FREE Admission

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:50:59 -0500

The Home Show Is This Weekend at the XL Center, Hartford CT ~ FREE Admission

This weekend, January 13, 14, and 15, is the Home Show at the XL Center, One Civic Center Plaza, Hartford CT.

What a perfect weekend to break up the dreariness of winter and start planning some great home improvement projects for the spring! Admission is FREE!

The Home Show has exhibitors in every home improvement category including:

Doors and Windows
Kitchens and Baths
Lighting
Gardens and Landscaping
Roofing and Siding
Flooring
Hot Tubs and Pools
Decks and Fences
Sunrooms
And much more!

Here is a chance to see demonstrations, ask questions about your home improvement projects, and collect the information for making decisions about your projects. There are also food and drink vendors so you can stay all day if you want to.

The hours of the Home Show are:

Friday - 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday - 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday - 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Check out acshomeshow.com for more information!

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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

Find your dream home now!

Manchester CT Market Report for December 2011

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:50:26 -0500

Manchester CT Market Report for December 2011

During December 2011, there were 22 closed sales with a median price of $155,450 in Manchester CT. Although the median price was up somewhat from the previous two months ($152,500 in November and $147,750 in October), the number of closed sales was the lowest since February 2011.

In comparing the numbers with last December, we can see that the number of closed sales was down (29 last December), but the median price was virtually unchanged ($155,450 in December 2011 vs. $156,000 in December 2010).

Here is the breakdown by price range:

Price Range December 2011 December 2010 Under $100,000 3 4 $100,000-$149,999 7 8 $149,999-$199,999 9 9 $200,000-$249,999 1 5 $250,000-$299,999 - 2 $300,000-$349,999 1 - $350,000-$399,999 1 1 Over $400,000 - - Total 22 29

In looking at the recap of the year, there were a total of 320 closed sales and a median price of $169,500. Here are the numbers by month:

Month # of Closed Sales Median Price December 22 $155,450 November 30 $152,500 October 26 $147,750 September 25 $179,000 August 24 $174,450 July 32 $167,500 June 43 $177,500 May 33 $155,000 April 23 $155,000 March 25 $175,000 February 10 $189,000 January 17 $170,000

As of today, there are also 19 homes under contract and 30 homes under deposit, so January should show fairly good numbers as we gear up for the spring season.

If you are looking for a home in Manchester CT, there are 214 properties on the market with a median price of $179,900. Active listings range from a 3-bedroom/1-bath ranch with 1135 sq. ft. for $75,000 to a new construction contemporary home with 4 bedrooms, 3.1 baths, and 4000 sq. ft. for $759,000. Manchester Ct has many great neighborhoods and there are some beautiful homes on the market right now. With an absorption rate of almost 12 months, buyers will have plenty of opportunity to find a great home at a great price. If you would like information about schools, neighborhoods, amenities, or homes on the market, just give me a call. I would be glad to help you get the information.

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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

Find your dream home now!

Wine Tasting at Adams Mill Restaurant, Manchester CT

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:58:06 -0500

Wine Tasting at Adams Mill Restaurant, Manchester CT

Manchester Wine and Liquors' January wine tasting will be held on Monday, January 23, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at Adams Mill Restaurant in Manchester CT.

Each month, a wine region is showcased and this month's wine region is Spain. The wine tasting includes a presentation about the region, the wines, and the winemakers.

The wines to be tasted are:

Gran Gesta Brut Reserva ........................................... $11.99

Legado Munoz Tempranillo ..........................................$10.99

Vina Alarba Old Vine Grenache .................................. $ 9.99

Cueto Seleccion ........................................................$16.99

Orballo Albarino ....................................................... $17.99

Merum Monastrell .................................................... $ 9.99

Lealtanza Dominio de Heredia ................................... $11.99

Felix Callejo Cuatro Meses ........................................ $19.99

Finca Munoz Old Vines Tempranillo ..............................$34.99

The wine tastings are fun, informative, and open to anyone in the Wine Club. If you are not a member, you can become a member by calling Manchester Wine and Liquors at 860-649-4750. Each member can bring one guest.

Seating is limited, so you must register by phone (860-649-4750) or by email at mwl@snet.net. Only those registered will be allowed in. The wine tasting costs $6 per person, but if you buy at least six bottles from the tasting, you will be refunded the $6. In addition, the wines are usually discounted by the case (and you can mix cases). Information will be on the tasting sheets.

In addition, Manchester Wine and Liquors has a raffle at the end of the wine tasting which adds to the fun. So if you are looking to learn about new wines, try a few (along with some cheese and bread), and spice up the wintry month of January, call to register.

All profits of the evening are donated to a charity and this month's charity is Bandit's Place Animal Shelter of New Hartford CT (501c-3). A fun evening, a good cause--what more could you want?

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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

Find your dream home now!

Advice for Sellers: The One Question You Must Ask Your REALTOR®

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:14:47 -0400

Advice for Sellers: The One Question You Must Ask Your REALTOR®

If you are thinking about putting your home on the market (or maybe you already have your home on the market), there is one question you must ask your REALTOR® or any agents that you are interviewing for the job:

What do you think my home will sell for?

Notice I didn't say,"What should I list my house for?" but "How much will it sell for?" You will get (hopefully) an honest opinion of the most likely price for your house. It may not be what you want to hear, but you will be saving yourself a lot of grief and aggravation in the process if you approach it from a realistic viewpoint. A REALTOR® who knows your market will have a good idea of what you will get for your house, and that's where you should list your house.

Why? The greatest disservice an agent can do is to lead you with false hope in order to get the listing. When you price your home over market value, you will not sell it, you run the risk of having no one look at it, and the listing will expire unsold unless you price it correctly.

"Well," you say, "let's start high and leave room for negotiation." You won't get to negotiation because you won't have a contract, and you won't have a contract because people won't even look at your house. It's better to start with a realistic price to get buyers in the door.

"But," you say, "someone can always make an offer and we will consider where to go from there." WRONG! By overpricing your house, buyers are already thinking you are inflexible. Some may take the bait, but most will move on to something they can afford from the get-go. In addition, when your home is overpriced, it will stay on the MLS a long time; the longer the time, the more stigma it will amass. The first thing people will say after seeing that it has been languishing on the market for six months is "What's wrong with the house?"

"We can't afford to sell it for less than this amount," you say, "so we will have to hope that there is someone out there who will pay what we want for this house." This is so unlikely, but even if one person HAD to have your house and was willing to overpay for it, the house won't appraise and then you will have the appraisal nail in the coffin. The buyers (who HAD to have it) are now going to renegotiate the contract.

"Well," you say, "if it doesn't sell, we will just take it off the market and try again next year." If you aren't serious about selling your house this year at the right price, then wait until you are serious about selling your house. Many of our market areas have high inventories now, and the situation will improve if the non-serious sellers take their homes off the market.

Only you can decide if you are ready to sell, but if you are, price your house to sell. Find a REALTOR® who knows your area, will give you an honest answer about the market value of your home, and will do everything possible to help you get to the next step in your life. You will be on your way, sooner rather than later or never.

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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

Find your dream home now!

FAQs About Buyer Representation

Fri, 06 May 2011 08:47:50 -0400

When I am speaking for the first time with potential buyers, one of the most misunderstood aspects of buying a home concerns buyer representation. Although we have had buyer representation in Connecticut since 1996, many people still do not understand that, as buyers, they have the right to have an agent who solely represents their interests. Here are some of the most common questions about buyer representation. I hope this will clear up WHY you need buyer representation!

What is buyer representation?

When you agree to work with a buyer's agent, you have the benefit of someone representing your best interests and negotiating on your behalf. The agent has a fiduciary responsibility and pledges to you loyalty, confidentiality, obedience, accountability, reasonable care, and diligence. These are not just words; you have an agent that helps you through every step of the transaction and puts your interests above everyone else's, including her own.

Can't I just call the agent whose name is on the sign in front of the house?

You can call that agent, but you must remember that he/she is representing the seller and will work in the seller's best interests. The agent can show you the house, and you must either consent to unrepresentation (you are on your own) or dual representation. If you choose to be unrepresented party, you must sign a paper that says that you understand that. If you want the agent to represent you, both you and the seller must sign papers that you agree to dual representation, and the agent will do his/her best to represent both parties fairly. A third option is that the agent can assign another agent from her broker's office to represent you, in which case you will have designated agency. But my question to you is: Why would you not want to select your own agent who works just for you?

Won't I get a better deal if I go to the listing agent?

This is a misconception that persists among novice buyers. Some people think that an agent will talk the seller into accepting a lower offer if that agent has both the buyer and seller because the agent will be getting all the commission. The reality is that the agent may be representing both parties, but the people in control of the final outcome are the seller and the buyer. If the seller doesn't want to accept your offer, it isn't going to happen. If you, the buyer, don't want to agree to the terms, it isn't going to happen either. Wouldn't you rather have an agent who will negotiate fully on your behalf so that you don't have to worry about where someone's allegiance lies?

Can you show me properties that aren't your listings?

Yes! Not only can I show you any property that is listed on MLS but I can also show you For Sale By Owners (FSBOs). When the sellers list their homes for sale, they agree to pay the buyer's agent if they sell the home. The same is true for most FSBOs as well. The owners of FSBOs save money by not using a seller's agent, but most agree to pay a buyer's agent a commission. So if you see a property that interests, just let me know and I will arrange for us to see it.

How much does buyer representation cost?

In 99.9% of the cases, the commission is paid by the seller, so buyer representation costs you nothing. I have never had an instance where a buyer has paid my commission, even with FSBOs. The buyer representation agreement, however, will spell out that you will be responsible for my commission if the seller does not pay. But two things are important here: First, it is extremely rare; and second, we generally know ahead of time if there are any issues with the commission.

Do I have to sign anything?

Yes, our agreement is called Exclusive Right to Represent Buyer/Tenant and it outlines what each of our responsibilities are. State law requires that I can only show you other brokers' listings if we either have an Exclusive Right to Represent agreement or if I have permission from each seller to show you the property. Rather than getting permission for each property, the Exclusive Right to Represent allows me to show you all properties that are listed by any broker. When we meet, I will go over each section of the agreement so that you understand it, but essentially is says that for a period of time we will work together in an agency relationship and that I will represent you in the purchase of your new home or land. You agree that you will use me exclusively as your agent and will let others know that you have signed a buyer representation agreement. This protects you, me, and other agents by letting them know that we have an exclusive relationship.

How long do I have to sign the agreement for?

The period of time that we are under agreement is negotiable. I want our relationship to be a mutually satisfying one, and I believe that we should both want to work together. For that reason, I encourage you to select a period of time that you feel comfortable with. If you don't want to sign a long agreement at first, that's fine with me; we can always extend it later if we both agree.

What else do I need to know about buyer representation?

The other thing that many homebuyers don't understand is that buyer representation not just about finding the property and writing up the contract. A buyer's agent is critical in the steps leading up to the closing. The inspections need to be done, and inspection issues need to be negotiated. After inspections are completed, a buyer's agent will monitor the mortgage process, make sure that the commitment date is met, and make sure that the final walkthough meets the buyer's approval. Any extra services, such as coordinating attorney services, utility switchovers, and verifying that inspection issues have been completed may be part of the agent's responsibilities. This conversation does not happen over the phone. I always meet with a potential buyer first so we can discuss each step in the homebuying process. I want to provide as much information as possible and answer any questions they have so they will feel comfortable about the process. After I have explained what buyer representation is, I will ask them to sign an Exclusive Right to Represent agreement. I want them to feel comfortable that I am going to work for them, but I also want to know that they are committed to me. We go over everything they will need to do for homeownership:

Do they understand each step of the homebuying process?
Do they understand that the monthly payment includes mortgage principle and interest, taxes and insurance?
What do they need to provide to a mortgage lender to see what they qualify for in a mortgage?
What is the timing? When do they need to move in? Do they have flexibility?
What are their criteria for their first home? Are they flexible in what they must have and what they would like to have?
Are there any other decision makers?

I hope this answers some of your questions about buyer representation. If you have any other questions, please ask. Or give me a call and we'll get started!

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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

Find your dream home now!

Four New Year's Resolutions You Must Keep...from the Manchester Fire Department!

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:46:32 -0500

Four New Year's Resolutions You Must Keep...from the Manchester Fire Department!

What are your New Year's resolutions?

To lose weight?
To get organized?
To pay off credit cards?
To appreciate others?
To get a new job?

While we are all making lofty (or not so lofty) New Year's resolutions, the Manchester Fire Department is asking people to make just four resolutions that will ensure the safety of everyone. These are simple, but if everyone did them, the results could really make a difference.

1. Have a working smoke detector in all sleeping areas in the home.

2. Have a working carbon monoxide detecter in the home.

3. Have an emergency plan, designate a meeting place, and put together an emergency kit.

4. Don't drive while distracted, especially by cell phones and texting.

These are all really easy and may just help you be around long enough to keep your other New Year's resolutions!

If you need help with smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, or an emergency plan, the Manchester Fire Department will help you. They encourage you to call them at 860-647-3267. They will be more than happy to assist you.

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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

Find your dream home now!

January is National Radon Action Month!

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:49:59 -0500

January Is National Radon Action Month!

The EPA has designated January as National Radon Action Month in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of radon. According to the EPA, radon is the leading cause of lung-cancer deaths among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung-cancer deaths among smokers. Lung cancer from radon is a preventable condition, and if radon levels are high, the gases can be mitigated.

Radon is a colorless, tasteless, and invisible gas that can cause lung cancer, and the EPA urges that homes, schools, and other buildings be tested for the gas. The test is a simple, inexpensive procedure, but many people are not aware of the necessity of testing for radon.

During January, the EPA is urging everyone to do four things:

Test for radon
Attend an educational program if possible
Spread the word
Check into radon-resistent construction if you are thinking about buying a new home

I recently was working with buyers who were about to set up a home inspection and told me that they weren't going to do a radon test. I always recommend that the test be done, so I asked them why they were not going to do it. They said they didn't think it was necessary and it would add to the cost of their home inspection. Of course the choice is theirs, but I wanted to be sure that they had enough information to make an informed decision so I sent them the links in this post.

Before we ended our discussion, I also pointed out that the price of the test was a small one to pay for piece of mind and health. In addition, if high radon levels are found, the seller has the responsibility of mitigating it. In the unlikely event that the seller refuses to do that, high radon levels would then be a material fact that must be disclosed to all future buyers. That's not going to help sell a home, and sellers know that.

My clients called me back a few hours later to say they were going to do the test.

Radon testing isn't just for those buying a home today; it's important for everyone. Radon testing wasn't always the standard, so homeowners who have never had a radon test should consider testing as well. If you bought your house ten or more years ago, chances are that you didn't have a radon test. Don't take a chance, test now.

Learn about radon, how it gets into your home, and how to test for radon.

If you are still not convinced that you should test for radon, watch this short video.

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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

Find your dream home now!

Happy New Year 2012

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:24:30 -0500

Happy New Year 2012!

Before I begin my quiet New Year's Eve celebration, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

New Year's Eve has never been a fascination for me; I prefer to spend it quietly in anticipation of the next day. But to those who are celebrating, I hope you have a wonderful and safe evening. Whether you are celebrating the end of a great or not so great year, I hope that you can look forward to a better, vibrant, and successful 2012.

There is an optimism to every new year. We feel as though we can wipe the slate clean, start over, and hope for a better year. We will all make resolutions and try to keep them; most of us will fall short of our own expectations for ourselves. But that is further down the road. For now, let's just bask in the optimism and hope of a better life for all, doing what we can do to make that happen.

Don't linger over what went right or what went wrong last year; take what lessons were gained and move on. We can't change the past; we can only learn from it. It's the relationships we have that are important; nothing else matters. Resolve to make each day count. Period.

Happy New Year!

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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

Find your dream home now!

New Year's Eve ~ First Night Hartford 2012

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:47:08 -0500

New Year's Eve ~ First Night Hartford 2012

First Night Hartford 2012 is Hartford CT's affordable, family-oriented, alcohol-free, multicultural, and artistically-inspired celebration of the new year. Now in its 23rd year, each year gets better and better.

This year's festivities include activities at Bushnell Park, the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford Public Library, State House Square, City Hall, the Old State House, Center Church and many other locations.

First Night activities begin at 2:00 p.m. on New Year's Eve and culminates in the last fireworks display at midnight; however, the free ice skating in Bushnell Park will begin at 11:00 a.m. and continue until 1:00 a.m. The types of performances include:

Fireworks
Carousel rides
Horse-drawn wagon rides
Magic shows
Live music and dancing
Art installations
Ice carving
Dance performances
Fortune telling
Tours and so much more

First Night Hartford wristbands may be purchased at these locations: AAA offices, Hartford Welcome Center, Highland Park Markets, CBT branches, etc. Wristbands are $10 for adults, $2 for children 3-15, and free for children 2 and under.

Ring in the new year with a great family experience, inspiring performances, and a vibrant downtown celebration! Come to First Night Hartford! Happy New Year!

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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

Find your dream home now!

A Few Days Left for Charitable Contributions

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:25:38 -0500

A Few Days Left for Charitable Contributions

I was cleaning out my mail drawer in an effort to get a jump on my new year's resolutions and came across a few mailings from my favorite charitable organizations. In the hurry of the holiday season, I threw them in the drawer with all good intentions of sending in my donations. Good thing I decided to clean out the drawer.

Several of them had matching donations. In other words, the organization will double the size of your donation if a contribution is made by the deadline, which in these instances was 12/31/11. That's hard to ignore!

There is always time to donate to a worthy cause, but if you get it in before 12/31/11, you can take it as a tax deduction. And if the organization is offering a matching donation, your favorite charity will get twice the amount you contribute. Very good reasons for cleaning out your mail drawer and writing a few checks now!

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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

Find your dream home now!

My Wish for You!

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 15:39:59 -0500

No matter what holiday you celebrate, I hope that your holiday season is a peaceful and happy one for you and your families. The years go by too fast for us not to take time to reflect on what is really important in life, and the holidays are the perfect time to take stock. We spend most of the year hurrying from one task to the next, but the holidays are the best time to sit back, listen to some music, sip a little wine, and enjoy the moment with family and friends. Happy holidays! I hope all your wishes come true.

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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

Find your dream home now!

Vernon CT Market Report for November 2011

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:02:47 -0500

Vernon CT Market Report for November 2011

Real estate sales in Vernon CT during November were typical of most of the year, holding steady at 14 homes sold. However, this is just 2/3 of what was sold in November 2010 (22).

The median price also took a big hit this November over last November ($146,250 was the median price for November 2011 compared to a median price of $226,000 for November 2010).

Here is the breakdown by price range:

Price Range November 2011 November 2010 Under $100,000 4 4 $100,000-$149,999 4 3 $149,999-$199,999 3 2 $200,000-$249,999 3 7 $250,000-$299,999 - 4 $300,000-$349,999 - 1 $350,000-$399,999 - 1 Over $400,000 - - Total 14 22

It's interesting that all the sales this November were under $250,000, whereas last November there were six in the upper price ranges. When we look at how November compared to the rest of 2011, we can see that the number of houses sold are within a fairly tight range, but the median prices are all over the place. One of the problems with looking at median prices is that it is a reflection of who is buying houses in any given month, and during November, buyers were buying lower-priced homes.

There are also 22 homes under contract (with a median list price of $169,555) and 15 homes under deposit(with a median list price of $149,900), so we should expect similar numbers over the next couple of months. Here is a recap of the year so far in Vernon CT:

Month # of Closed Sales Median Price November 14 $146,250 October 16 $171,750 September 12 $161,500 August 14 $205,250 July 12 $210,000 June 18 $138,750 May 14 $177,000 April 5 $155,000 March 7 $206,000 February 13 $140,000 January 11 $195,500

I think it is interesting to see which houses actually sold during November 2011 in Vernon CT, along with list price, sold price, and days on market (DOM):

Address

List Price

Sold Price

DOM

27 Rhode Island Avenue

$12,000

$8,000

160

44 Middle Terrace

$54,900

$54,000

22 Bancroft Road

$83,900

$75,000

42 Campbell Avenue

$99,999

$93,000

6 Fox Hill Drive

$144,900

$110,000

291 Phoenix Street

$140,000

20 King Street

$155,900

$143,000

20 Bellevue Avenue

$149,900

$149,500

107

12 Scott Drive

$149,900

$151,000

10 Eva Circle

$179,900

$175,000

46 Pinewood Drive

$199,900

74 Gerald Drive

$199,900

$201,000

111 Scott Drive

$219,900

$213,000

151

50 Duncaster Road

$249,000

$245,000

174

If you are looking at a home in Vernon CT, there are currently 116 homes on the market with a median list price of $205,900. That means that there are 10.9 months of inventory (the absorption rate) in Vernon CT. Generally speaking, sellers are facing a longer time on the market unless their homes are priced right for the condition, and buyers have a greater selection, depending on the price range they are looking in. If you are thinking about buying or selling in Vernon CT, be sure to contact me. I would be happy to help you!

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Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

Find your dream home now!