Manchester CT Electronics Recycling Program   What are you going to do with your old computer, printer, and monitor? The average life of a computer is less than five years, which results in a lot of discarded electronics.  The State of Connecticut has mandated that electronics items must be recycled rather than dumped in the garbage which ultimately ends up in the landfill.  The Town of Manchester now has a permanent electronics recycling program for all town residents.  Located at the town dump at 1 Landfill Way, the electronics recycling center will be open from 7:15 to 2:30, Monday through Saturday.  You will need to provide proof of residence.   Electronics are divided into two categories: Covered Electronic Devices and Non-Covered Devices. Covered Electronic Devices (CED) include c... 05/13/2011

Manchester Market Report ~ April 2011   During April 2011, there were 23 closed sales in Manchester CT, compared to 34 closed sales in April 2010.  The median price was also off, with a median price of $158,000 for April 2011 and $179,900 for April 2010.  Looking at the list price to sale price ratio, April 2011 showed a median of 96.8% of list price, compared to 98.15% in April 2010.  Administrative days on market (ADM) were 52 in April 2011 compared to 26 in April 2010.  It's important to remember, however, that the homebuyer tax credits were creating quite a bit of urgency in both sales price and ADM. Compared to the previous month, April's closed sales were only one less than March's closed sales (see Manchester Market Report ~ March 2011 to see the details).  Here are the closed sa... 05/11/2011

Ruby Chinese Restaurant, the best Chinese restaurant in Manchester.   I would like to share with you a local restaurant, Ruby Chinese Restaurant, the best Chinese restaurant, located on 485 Hartford Rd, Manchester, CT 06040. (near RT 384). This great little restaurant was opened in 1993, by the Zheng family.    The restaurant can seat 25 people. It is not big, but very comfortable and bright. The food is prepared here to order. You may choose a home delivery or just enjoy eating your meal in the restaurant. Preparation takes no more than 15 minutes. Meanwhile, while you’re waiting for your order, you can study unique Chinese pictures on the wall.    Chinese cuisine is well known around the world due to its abundance and it exquisite, delicious taste and charming appearance. It represent... 05/10/2011

Shred Fest in Manchester CT   Tired of shredding all your confidential documents three pages at a time?  Then head over to the 8th Utilities District office at 18 Main Street in Manchester for a Shred Fest. On Saturday, May 14, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the 8th Utilities District will be holding its annual Shred Fest in the parking lot.  Any resident or property owner of Manchester may participate.  Each car is allowed two large boxes or garbage bags of paper, and assistance in getting it out of your car will be available. The shredding is done by a shedding truck, so it's a quick process.  Owners of the documents can stay to watch it being shredded or they can just load it into the truck and leave. With all the concerns about identify theft, it's wise to shred all paperwork th... 05/05/2011

March Market Report for Manchester CT   Home sales are picking up in Manchester, CT! There were 24 closed sales in March, compared to 10 in February and 14 in January of this year.  The median price was $175,000 in January, compared with $189,000 in February, and $166,750 in January. Compared to last year, however, both number of sales and median price were down; March of 2010 showed 33 closed sales and a median price of $210,000. Still, it's great to see the housing market in Manchester rally as we head into spring. Here is the breakdown by price range: Price Range March 2011 March 2010 Under $100,000 2 - $100,000-$149,999 3 4 $149,999-$199,999 11 10 $200,000-$249,999 5 9 $250,000-$299,999 1 3 $300,000-$349,999 - 2 $350,000-$399,999 1 4 Over $400,000 1 1 Total 24 33   There are current... 04/05/2011

Another Successful Closing - 46 Bretton Road, Manchester CT   On St. Patrick's Day, we closed on 46 Bretton Road in Manchester CT. The house is an oversized cape with four bedrooms, one and a half bedrooms, a detached garage, hardwoods under the carpets, newer windows, and 1536 square feet. The house has great potential; it's in a very nice neighborhood but it needs updating. Someone with some vision and a willingness to make a few changes could make this a really special home. The house had been listed at the end of summer, was priced competitively, and had many showings. But the market was challenging, buyers in general were hesitant, housing inventory was high, and the winter weather was less than welcoming. But two buyers came along who absolutely loved the house and could see its p... 03/20/2011

February Market Report for Manchester CT   The number of closed sales in Manchester CT was down from the previous month and from February of 2010.  This February there were 10 closed sales, compared to 13 closed sales last February and 14 closed sales in January 2011.   The median price was $189,000 in February 2011 compared to a median price of $170,000 in February 2010, so it seems that housing prices are holding up well.  This also compares well to a median price of $166,700 in January 2011. Here is the breakdown by price range: Price Range February 2011 February 2010 Under $100,000 1 - $100,000-$149,999 - 3 $149,999-$199,999 5 4 $200,000-$249,999 2 4 $250,000-$299,999 - 1 $300,000-$349,999 - 1 $350,000-$399,999 1 - Over $400,000 1 - Total 10 13   Inventory is down in Manchester, com... 03/13/2011

In a new statement released by FastWeb.com, a website dedicated to helping eligible students find financial aid and scholarships, American student debt totaled 830 billion as of June 2010.  For the first time in history, this is a number that actually surpasses the total American's owe in credit card debt.  These findings are causing some serious concerns when it comes to the financial future of current students, their credit, and for the economy in general. In response to these concerns, The Department of Education has released new regulation in an attempt to help protect students in the future.  These regulations will apply to for-profit, nonprofit, as well as public institutions.  The regulations seek to make improvements in three main areas including improving the quality of degrees... 02/08/2011

Manchester is number 5 in Connecticut, over the last 90 days in the number of single family home sales. Real estate activity is important because it provides an indication of how well this community is perceived by the market. The home buying public likes Manchester, it has plenty of shopping which is easily accessed from the most densely developed areas as well as easy highway access. It is also close to East Hartford, Glastonbury and Hartford which are employments centers in central Connecticut. All the stats cited in this blog are from the local board of Realtors, the Realtor stats are more current than other data sources that are available and are updated daily. I would like to try to put the information which is out into perspective and provide usable info which buyers and sellers ... 02/08/2011

January Market Report for Manchester CT   Buyers and sellers are all hoping for some good news in the real estate department and are anxiously waiting to see how January turned out.    In Manchester, there were 14 closed sales in January 2011, compared with 22 closed sales in January of 2010.  The median price was $166,750 in January 2011 compared to a median price of $171,500 in January 2010.  So closed sales dropped by about one-third, but the median price was only down slightly.   Here are the closed sales by price range:   Price Range January 2011 January 2010 Under $100,000 3 1 $100,000-$149,999 3 6 $149,999-$199,999 3 9 $200,000-$249,999 1 5 $250,000-$299,999 2 - $300,000-$349,999 - 1 $350,000-$399,999 1 - Over $400,000 1 -       Total 14 22   There are also 28 houses under contra... 02/02/2011

Shop-Rite of Manchester CT I haven't shopped at Shop-Rite of Manchester, CT in years.  I tend to go to the stores closest to me and the ones I am most familiar with.  But on Saturday, I was at Ocean State Job Lot because it has a fantastic selection of Bob's Red Mill products for much less than my usual grocery stores.  I wanted to make Vegetarian Sausage and needed Vital Wheat Gluten and Chickpea Flour (not your standard pantry staples, I know!) and Ocean State Job Lot didn't have them.   As I sat in my car, I googled "where to buy vital wheat gluten" and the first response was Shop-Rite of Manchester, which happens to be right across the street.  I called the store (lazy, I know) to see if they had it in stock, and sure enough they did.  I thought it would be a really long shot to see... 01/31/2011

Mountains of Snow We have been hit hard with snow this winter.  At first, it was an interesting diversion, but this last 14 inches of snow (on top of who knows how many feet) is getting tiring.  The snowblower is great for the driveway, but we can't get it onto the deck so we have to shovel that by hand.    It's great snowman-building snow, but it's not fun when it sticks to the shovel and weighs a ton.  I finished the deck so my dog Java would be able to get outside.  Here are a few pictures of the mountain of snow around my deck and how deep it is compared to the trees and gazebo.   Here is another picture of my backyard.             It is pretty to look at, but I am wondering what is going to happen when it all melts, as it must do at some point.  Not to mention the icicles hanging f... 01/27/2011

Home Sales in the Bowers School District in Manchester CT The Bowers School District in Manchester CT is one of the sought after areas of affordable homes in Manchester. With its tree-lined and sidewalked streets, the Bowers School District has a quiet neighborhood feel while being close enough to schools, playgrounds, restaurants, and shops. There is a variety of architectural styles in the area, but many are capes and colonials built in the 1940s and 1950s.  Many of the homes in the Bowers School District have been upgraded and showcase the solid construction and beautiful woodwork reminiscent of the era.  Anyone who is lucky enough to find a house in need of updating may find a true bargain and a diamond in the rough. Ask anyone in Manchester what they think of Princeton Street and t... 01/20/2011

I recently had the opportunity to meet Deb Prior. Deb Prior owns Liberty Tax Service in Manchester CT. I got to interview Deb and she shared some interesting things about Refund Anticipation Loans. Q: Is there a group of people more likely to apply for a Refund Anticipation Loan? A: Early filers are the most likely to take a Refund Anticipation Loan, I estimate 90% of early filers will request a loan. Q: Is it easy to get a Refund Anticipation Loan? A: Banks offering the refund anticipation loans are stricter this year than past years. I feel that Liberty Tax Service has a competitive advantage this year with a good lending partner for our Refund Anticipation Loans. After our conversation I found an article that one of her major competitors has lost the ability to offer Refund Anticipat... 01/13/2011

I recently had the opportunity to meet Deb Prior who owns the Liberty Tax Service office in Manchester CT.  I asked her a few questions that someone looking for a tax preparation service in Manchester CT like Liberty Tax Service may want to know. Q: What tax changes should a tax filer want to know for 2010? A: There is a good change for self employed filers paying their own benefits like health insurance.  These costs can now be deducted in a more advantageous manner than in previous years potentially reducing some tax liability.  The Earned Income Credit and Standard Deductions have been increased.  The Making Work Pay Credit has recently been extended.  There are many more changes but these are a few popular ones this year. Q: What exciting new services does Liberty Tax offer this yea... 01/13/2011

  We had two feet of snow between last night and this morning here in Manchester Connecticut.  The view from my front window is just white and shades of grey.             My poor dog Java is 13 years old and wanted no part of it.  She usually loves the snow but she couldn't even get out the door this morning.         We had to shovel a path on the deck from the sliding patio door so she could get out.  Once she was out in the snow, she went to her usual spot even though it was up to her shoulders.            It makes me really glad that we have indoor plumbing. We are definitely snowed in here and I am enjoying it.  I have already had three cups of coffee; I plan to stay in my PJs most of the day; and I won't feel at all guilty for browsing the blogs and posting a few of my own. Tomorr... 01/12/2011

  During December 2010, there were 26 closed sales in Manchester, CT with a median price of $154,000.   During December 2009, there were 36 closed sales with a median price of $176,450.   Here is the breakdown by price range:         Price Range December 2010 December 2009 Under $100,000 4 2 $100,000-$149,999 8 7 $149,999-$199,999 9 11 $200,000-$249,999 4 10 $250,000-$299,999 - 2 $300,000-$349,999 - 4 $350,000-$399,999 1 - Over $400,000 - -       Total 26 36 December's closed sales showed an increase over both November (16) and October (19), but the median price was lower in December.  If you are looking for a home in Manchester CT, there are currently 205 homes on the market, ranging in price from $89,900 for a 1428 sq.ft. colonial to $759,000 for a 4000 sq. ft. contemporary.  The med... 01/04/2011

The Year in Review - Median Home Prices in Manchester CT 2010 was a tough year for analyzing statistics about median home prices in Manchester, CT.  Other towns were difficult as well.  But with year-end, we can finally see if we can determine any trends for the housing market in Manchester. One of the issues was the first-time homebuyer tax credit, which was an incentive for people to get into the housing market.  The credit expired on 6/30/10 and we did see a frenzy of activity during May and June as the deadline loomed.  First let's look at the number of single-family homes that closed by month: Now let's take a look at median price: If we look at the entire year, the median price for 2010 is $185,000 (355 closed sales), compared with a median price in 2009 of $188,375 (with 460 clos... 01/03/2011

Natori Sushi in Manchester CT All that last-minute shopping worked up quite an appetite in me, so I decided to break for lunch.  Not one to frequent fast food places, I decided that sushi would be a healthier choice so we stopped in at Natori Sushi.  Located in the plaza at Buckland Hills (almost in the center of the row of stores), I have eaten at Natori Sushi many times and have never been disappointed.  I don't usually order anything for anything fancy--just the rolls and I have tried almost all of the meatless ones.  Today I ordered Peanut Avocado, Spicy Tuna, and Vegetable Tempura.  It was just delicious! Once inside, you will forget that you are in the middle of a busy strip mall.  Comfortable booths, quiet atmosphere, courteous waitstaff, and delicious fresh sushi will make you g... 12/22/2010

This is a Guerrilla Marketing Tactic being employed by the credit card companies! Life just got a little harder for people struggling to lower their debt. The credit card industry is about to increase the temptation to rack up more credit card debt. This month, the much-maligned credit card industry will begin field testing a new gimmick designed to entice consumers into renewing their old spend-thrift ways. Just in time for holiday shopping, Citibank is preparing to unveil a new credit card that combines the convenience of a traditional credit card with the fun of an electronic game. The new card will feature two buttons and tiny lights that will allow consumers to choose how they want to pay for their purchases when they reach the register. Press button #1 to charge your purchase to y... 12/16/2010