Pay it Forward . . . I Closed a Transaction, now I Make my Donations Closed, 53 Old Fairwood Road, Bethany, CT  Throughout my RE/MAX career, I have always been a Miracle Agent. That doesn't mean that it was a miracle if I sold a home. Being a Miracle Agent in the RE/MAX System, means that I choose to make a donation to the Miracle Home System from the proceeds of my commission. These donations are used to fund special programs at the nearest Children's hospital, which in this case is the Children's wing at Hartford Hospital. All donations are used locally, and are used wisely. All donations above $25. will have a card sent out to the person we designate. I take an equal amount and donate to the Susan G Komen Foundation. This is to fund a cure for breast cancer, which hits very close to ... 01/19/2011

How to Rake a Roof and Why This winter has been very tough on Connecticut!  We have already far surpassed the normal amount of snow that we receive in any given season, and it is only the middle of January.  Last week I wrote a post titled Where is the Snow that Should Be on that Roof?, and felt quite proud of the fact that my roof was still covered in snow. Today's forecast was for more snow and ice.  Not what I wanted to hear, because my roof is so well insulated and the temperatures have been so low, I still had all that snow on my roof.  Think of putting another three inches of snow on that plus a half inch of ice!  Time to borrow my neighbor's Roof Rake! While it was impossible for me to reach all the areas of my roof, I was able to get quite a bit cleared so I should not have trou... 01/18/2011

Cheshire CT Snowstorm Made it to CNN . . . You never know what you will find on YouTube!  This morning my Google Alerts let me know that the following video was available for Cheshire CT.  I imagine the rest of the country is either thinking "Glad I'm not there" or "Get Over it Already--30 inches is nothing!" I like the one guy who comments "Just jump in anytime you want!" as he shovels for the camera!   01/17/2011

Connecticut's Storms of the Century The New Haven Register was mentioned on the Weather Channel this morning!  As the Weather Channel reported, this morning's New Haven Register's headline read:  "Storm of the Century:  Which was the Nastiest Snowstorm:  1888, 1978, or 2011?" I have no memory of the storm of 1888 (no matter how old my kids think I am), and in 1978 I was away at college.  I will have memories for a long time of the storm of 2011, even though my wife reports that "There may have been more snow in this one, but it was not nearly as bad as 1978 (when the state was basically shut down for days)!" In 1978 she lived in Hamden on Mix Avenue in the apartments behind the Hamden Mart.  When work closed early and she headed for home, she could not get her Volkswagon Bug up Skiff St... 01/16/2011

Do You Want to Get Your Mail Today? I talked to my mailman yesterday as I was shoveling the end of my driveway after the plow went by.  He was stopping at every mailbox that he could see, getting out of his truck, and climbing to the mailbox.  Today I noticed a difference--I guess yesterday's delivery took too long.  The mailman was only stopping at mailboxes that he could reach from his truck.  Fortunately I had done a little extra digging, but others on my street had not . . . Here are some examples of the challenges awaiting the mailman today. 01/13/2011

This Snow is For the Birds - Please Feed Them! Here we go again--yet another winter storm plowing through Connecticut! Schools are already being called off (for more on this, check my recent post Is it Yet Another Snow Holiday?)   All of this snow and wind is making it difficult for birds to get their food and for the humans who feed them to refill the feeders.  So if you are able to get out your door, please try to remember that our backyard beauties need some energy right about now.  My five feeders are being emptied almost as fast as I fill them!     Updated photo from 11 A.M. . . .   01/11/2011

December 2010 Real Estate Sales Report for Cheshire CT Currently in Cheshire CT there are 143 active residential listings for sale. They range from a 1,752 square ft, 3 bedroom ranch, listed at $174,900 to a 5600 square ft, 4 bedroom colonial estate listed at $1,990,000 The average list price of the homes currently available for sale in Cheshire CT is $447,446. The average days on market for these homes is 149 days.  In addition, there are currently 14 homes under contract in Cheshire CT , with none having gone under contract in the month of December. The average list price for the homes under contract is $579,557 with an average days on market of 108 days.  For the month of December, there were 13 new homes listed for sale in Cheshire CT.  The average list price of the new listings ava... 01/11/2011

Is it Yet Another Snow Holiday?  With another snowstorm looming, I know that many children are anxiously awaiting the "no school" call.  I think even the teens who sleep until the last possible second on a normal school day wake up early to check for cancellations!  After all, school has been back in session for almost a whole week after the holidays, so isn't it time for a break? My kids always rejoiced when they received the gift of a snow day, even when they knew they would have to make it up at the end of the year.  Their favorite way to check for school delays or cancellations was Connecticut Weather Inc. because they could refresh the page and watch the list grow until Cheshire High School finally showed up on the list.  Then they could go back to sleep.  Other places to check for... 01/06/2011

This Winter has been Murder on Real Estate Signs! Don't you just hate it when you are driving down the street and see a real estate sign that is hanging on by just one hook?  Well, maybe it doesn't affect everyone that way, but it certainly gets on my nerves--especially when they are my signs!  This winter, with all the snow and wind, has done a number on my signs! Yesterday I went to check one of my listings only to find that the post was there, but no signs at all (they are all set up like the one to the right).  I dug in the snow and found all the signs with the hooks pulled out of their "S" shape (do you know how hard that is?!).  Hopefully all my signs are back in shape and ready for the next storm that is threatening to hit tomorrow.  Can you do me a favor, though?  If you see a C... 01/06/2011

I am often asked about the classes that are required when one of my clients is using CHFA (Connecticut Housing Finance Authority) financing.  It is important that you get these classes done as soon as possible during the mortgage commitment period as they are a condition of your being able to qualify for the loan.  Here is a quick summary of the require education, depending on the loan type for which you are applying: 3 Hour - Homebuyer Education Class CHFA's three-hour class provides an overview of the financial and practical steps involved in buying and maintaining a home for CHFA loan applicants under the Downpayment Assistance Program, the Homeownership Program and the Home of Your Own Loan Program.  CHFA requires that applicants of the Downpayment Assistance, Home of Your Own Progr... 01/01/2011

Blizzard of 2010 - When You Get Back on the Road, Try to be Patient The arrival of the Blizzard of 2010 the day after Christmas has caused a unique situation that needs to be considered.  Many folks who traveled to the Northeast for the holidays now find themselves needing to get about in snow which they may not have encountered for many years.  Those of us who are used to the white stuff must bear this in mind when we hit the roads and highways over the next few days.  Remember that folks driving that car with "Enterprise" on the bumper may not know that it takes extra space to slow down in these conditions and that slamming on the brakes could send them into a tail spin. The roads near the airports (like Bradley International) will present even more of a challenge as many people get f... 12/27/2010

Do You know If Your Condominium Complex is FHA Approved? With so much financing being done today with FHA or CHFA (in Connecticut), it is imperative than your condominium complex has the necessary approvals to allow for this type of financing.  Once upon a time (prior to January, 2010), if a condo complex was not on the approved list, a spot check could be done; and as long as certain criteria was met, FHA financing could usually be completed.  However, this is no longer the case.  If condo complexes are not approved, sales of units can take a dramatically longer time.  Rather than the need for just 3.5% down and the closing costs for an FHA or CHFA loan, a buyer securing conventional financing would need to come up with 20% down plus closing costs.  This puts non FHA complexes out of t... 12/17/2010

Time to Trim the Trees with Care!! Okay, not the Christmas Tree (see below for more on that)--but just when you thought that it was safe to drive down the streets and not be delayed by construction, along come the Tree Trimming Crews in Cheshire to clear branches from around the power lines (don't they usually do this during the summer--maybe too much road construction this year). This morning while having breakfast, I heard large trucks pulling up in front of my house.  Of course it wasn't a total surprise as this year (for the first time) Cheshire residents had to sign a permission slip for them to be allowed to trim trees in front of our homes.  I went out to have a chat with the tree trimmers on this cold icy morning (I was glad I wasn't the one working out there) to let them know t... 12/14/2010

Santa Claus is Coming This Weekend to a Train Station Near You! Want to do something a little different this holiday season?  Take a ride on the Santa Express!  This weekend (December 18 and 19) is your final chance to join the fun from the Thomaston Train Station.  The train departs at 2 P.M. on Saturday and Sunday and runs along the Naugatuck River for one hour 20 minutes while your group visits with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their trusty elves!  The warm and comfortable coaches in which you will travel are part of a 1920s vintage train.  Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit each child. Tickets are free for age 2 and under (but the child must be seated on an adult lap).  Children 3-12 are $12; Adults are $14, and Seniors are $12.  You can purchase tickets online or at the Thomaston Station on... 12/13/2010

Time is Running out to Donate to Toys for Tots! We all get caught up in the holiday season, and sometimes the best of plans fall by the wayside.  Don't let that be the case with your Toys for Tots donation! Some of the locations I reported on in my last Toys for Tots post have already stopped accepting toys, but below is the information on businesses that are reported as still accepting as of today.  You can drop off any new unwrapped toy during business hours. CPM Insurance Service - 90 Hinman Street, Cheshire - Drop Dates November 1 - December 15, 2010. In Touch Massage & Spa - 350 South Main Street, Cheshire - Drop Dates November 1 - December 19, 2010. ACS - A XEROX Company - 7 McKee Place, Cheshire - Drop Dates November 15 - December 13, 2010. Central Connecticut Chiropractic - 391 ... 12/10/2010

Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard Park - Have you experienced the amazing display of Holiday Lights at Hubbard Park in Meriden yet?  This is a central Connecticut exhibit not to be missed!  The lights to over 300 displays were turned on November 23, and they will be lit every evening through the first week of January.    If you have ever been driving along I-691 after dark during the holiday season, you have undoubtedly noticed the snowflakes on the south side of the highway--these a just a tiny piece of the fantastic display of lights throughout the park.  Also along the north side of I-691, you really can't miss the lights outlining Castle Craig.  This is not part of the light display that you can drive to (the road to the castle closed at night), but it is a wonderful view for the... 12/07/2010

Back by Popular Demand - Cheshire's Technology Petting Zoo!  Did you miss your chance last month to get your hands on the latest and greatest technology at the Cheshire Public Library?  Well, all is not lost.  By popular demand, the Cheshire Library is once again offering to tell you all you want to know but were afraid to ask (a salesperson) about e-Readers not once, but twice, this month!  Cheshire Library Director Ramona Harten reports that last month's Technology Petting Zoo was quite successful, so she decided to offer it again this month; but demand was so great that she has to do it twice (lots of people want to get their hands on the e-readers before making holiday gift-giving decisions). This month's Petting Zoos are being held on Thursday, December 9, from 2:00 to 3:00 P.M., a... 12/06/2010

The Cheshire Community Chorus will be presenting their "Sights and Sounds of the Season" concert on Sunday December 13 at 3 pm.  This will take place at Dodd Middle School at 100 Park Place, Cheshire Ct.  It is always very entertaining, and great family fun.  They will be performing a large selection of songs that will entertain all age groups!  Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students.  If you would like additional info you can call 203-272-0669 You can also check out their Blog at http://cheshirecommunitychorus.blogspot.com/ 12/05/2010

Calcagni Associates was featured on RISMedia today – Every weekday RISMedia sends out about 1 million e-mails around the country with interesting articles about home buying and home selling, and all the associated parts of both. Today’s e-mail came through with the Broker Spotlight on Calcagni Associates Real Estate. For all of you who would like to know more about Calcagni Associates Real Estate and its philosophy, be sure to check it out. And for more information on Calcagni Associates, here is the website (no I am not always on that front page of this website--just my own)! 11/22/2010

Text for Instant Listing Information and Pictures - Today I went out to the first of my properties to install a new hang sign for instant text information on the listing.  As you can see, I haven't abandoned my Flyer Box, because not everyone has a text plan or internet connection (for the fullest experience), so you still have your choice.  But just remember, the next time it is snowing hard, you don't have to get out of the car to find out more about my listings!                 Above you will see the two texts that will be received.  The first is the basic information on the property with a link to photos if you have internet capability on your phone, and the second is my contact information if you want to call me for even more information or a showning.  (Please note:  There is a gl... 11/18/2010