I love the home!  If that's how you feel, tell your agent.  Too often buyers will take the stance that 'if it's meant to be, it will be' or 'it's ok if we don't get it'.  Every agent has had this happen.  A client loses a home, either in a bidding war or by not moving on it fast enough or waiting for 'something' to happen that never does.  Then they compare every home from that point forward to the home they 'lost'.   Buyers need to tell their agent, 'I really want this home' the agent will take the lead from there, preparing and presenting the offer.   Agents, for their part, need to be sure to ask 'how will you feel if you lose this home'.   Working together there hopefully won't be 'the one that got away'.   By Megan O'Connell Albright on June 28, 2010   The Kasey Group sells... 06/28/2010

If you watch the news, read the paper, or talk to just about anyone you have probably heard that now is the time to buy, but is it really? With June being the National Homeownership month it is important to remember that the process of buying and selling a home is different for everyone.  If now is the time to buy for you the following five steps will be helpful in your quest to be a homeowner. 1.  Get Educated. A little mortgage know-how goes a long way toward ensuring you get an affordable mortgage. Before you hire an agent or find a lender, get educated on the loan process and key factors that make a loan affordable.  You'll  want to know about loan types - fixed-rate mortgages, adjustable-rate mortgages, FHA and VA loans - and the full range of line items that contribute to the tota... 06/25/2010

  Just when you thought you had an understainding of the current mortgage regulations FNMA has come out with new guidelines regarding the level of documentation required to close a loan. These changes are effective June 1, 2010 and have been adopted by Secondary Market Investors. Here are the key ones that buyers and agents should be aware of : Credit reports will be run again right before the closing to assure that new debt was not added since the original credit report was completed. Mortgage brokers will also be required to check on any recent credit inquiries on the credit report that might indicate that new credit had been applied for but not yet put in place. Social Security numbers will be required of all borrowers including non-resident aliens. These numbers will now be double c... 06/18/2010

 Pristine 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath Colonial $399,900.00  121 Captains Walk, Stratford, CT 06614 13 Photos 4 Bed, 2.5 Bath2338 SF Tour # 2217625 Open House: Sun Jun 1312:00pm to 2:00pm   Fabulous views abound in this 8 room, 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath Colonial. Open floor plan offering family room with fireplace, entertainment ready formal dining room, and hardwood floors throughout. Located in a sought after family friendly neighborhood! For more information, please contact: Stacy Pfannkuch William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance Stratford, CT203-378-8200203-386-0937 Fax Information supplied by sellers. Deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. 06/11/2010

Stratford CT Open House Sunday April 11 1-3 p.m. Stop by my open house on National Open House Day on Sunday, April 11, at 1355 Nichols Avenue in Stratford, CT.  For complete listing information, please visit the property website at www.1355NicholsAve.com Photo GallerySide ViewRear ViewFront EntrySpacious Eat in KitchenRange/Cooking AreaLiving RoomSunny Family Room1st Floor Full BathDescriptionReduced-- $224,900.Rooms Galore! 2,291 square feet of living space on two levels with a huge walk up attic that can be finished as an extra bedroom, playroom, or media room for even more living space. A bright and sunny house flanked by many windows, this house has room after room of space. The centerpiece of the main level is the updated 12’6 x 15’6 eat-in-kitchen with tile floor. All appliances a... 04/09/2010

There is still time to take advantage of the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit!Time is ticking away for potential homebuyers hoping to take advantage of an $8,000 federal tax credit. This weekend the first-ever REALTOR® Nationwide Open House Weekend will be held giving sellers an opportunity to showcase their home while the federal buyer tax credit is still available. Can't make it to an open house this weekend?  Then check out these properties online:32 Kent Avenue in Bridgeport, Connecticut697 Cove Road Unit 2g in Stamford, Connecticut99 Allyndale Drive in Stratford, Connecticut24 Roslie Drive in Bridgeport, ConnecticutFor a complete list of our inventory go to www.TheKaseyGroup.com 04/07/2010

  The Kasey Group will be participating in the first-ever REALTOR® Nationwide Open House Weekend April 10-11!  On April 11th, 18th and 25th William Raveis Real Estate and The Kasey Group will welcome spring with open houses in Trumbull, Stratford, Milford, and Monroe. Be on the lookout for William Raveis Blue and come see what properties are available in your neighborhood. Bring your family and friends and be amongst the over 10,000 people expected to enjoy this unique showcasing of homes!     April 11, 2010 The Kasey Group will be hosting open houses at: 99 Beardsley Parkway, Trumbull from 1-4 20 Hillside Avenue, Milford from 1-4 378 North Rutland, Milford from 12-3 85 Topaz Place, Stratford from 12-3                                                     Go to www.TheKaseyGroup.com and v... 04/06/2010

Staging.. is it something you discuss with your sellers? Stacy Pfannkuch of The Kasey Group talks about staging a home and how it can help showcase the home in its best light. 03/29/2010

03/10/2010

I wanted to share with everyone an example of ‘HOUSE COOKING"...  ...as it pertains to mold testing companies and what they are sometimes asked to do by their clients. This is a big ugly blemish in the Indoor Air Quality industry    I can't remember how many times we've had a client who wants us to re-write our microbial reports to suit their needs when it comes to potential insurance claims or real estate negotiations.  Using one word can change the outcome dramatically, that's why the language we use is so critical and litigious  There are in fact numerous companies that will go in on it with their clients to ‘cook' the lab numbers and make them worse than what they are. They can manipulate the test by opening windows, stomping around floor to kick up particulates, leave air machine o... 02/08/2010

                       As a transplant from West Los Angeles into the New England woods of Connecticut, I couldn't wait to frolic like a nymph in the fall foliage of my 210 year old farm by a stream.   My dear friend would grab me by the collar and warn me of ticks and Lyme disease.  Like a kitten being carried off in her mothers' mouth, he would guide me away from tall grass and woodland shade as I teased him for being a puss. .    My personal nightmare with Lyme disease began with strange flu like symptoms and headaches.    I had always been a really healthy fit active woman who never ate white,  ate lots of fruits and veggies and wasn't on any medication what so ever.    So when I had to take some Motrin for a headache I was having it was a big deal.  But then I started eating Motrin... 01/31/2010

Stratford CT OPEN HOUSE Sunday January 31 1-3 p.m. Stop by this bright and spacious 2,291sf Vintage colonial on 1355 Nichols Avenue, Stratford, CT PRICED AT $224,900 House built in 1910 — Set on conveniently located .13 acre property Walkup Attic could add additional 200+ square feet of living space if finished Huge 12’6 x15’6 Eat-In Kitchen has tile floor and lots of space — Above average condition Hardwood flooring on main level— needs refinishing 3-4 Bedrooms—2 with walk-in-closets—one bedroom presently used as playroom City Sewers and City Water 2 FULL baths—one on each floor Gas furnace with baseboard heat; gas cooking 2,291 Sq. Ft. of usable living space Exterior — Vinyl Siding Interior -- needs paint throughout Backyard Shed included; trampoline and jungle gym negotiable Washer/d... 01/29/2010

Is 2010 the year to buy a house? Prices bottom, mortgage rates increase, and foreclosures move upstream It certainly looks that way: After a steep run-up in prices during the first half of the decade, home values have plummeted back to 2003 levels. Fixed mortgage rates are sitting near record lows. And the foreclosure epidemic—while painful for many home owners—has created some wonderful opportunities for bargain hunters. If that's not enough, Uncle Sam is handing out thousands of dollars in tax credits to nearly all first-time buyers and the bulk of existing home owners who close a purchase by June. But while the 2010 outlook appears inviting, there's one key catch. "You need to have a stable job," says Mark Zandi, the chief economist of Moody's Economy.com. The economy is showing sign... 01/08/2010

Another Big Gain in Existing-Home Sales Existing-home sales rose again in November as first-time buyers rushed to close sales before the original Nov. 30 deadline for the recently extended and expanded tax credit, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.Existing-home sales - including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops - rose 7.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.54 million units in November from 6.09 million in October, and are 44.1 percent higher than the 4.54 million-unit pace in November 2008. Current sales remain at the highest level since February 2007 when they hit 6.55 million.Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the rise was expected. "This clearly is a rush of first-time buyers not wanting to miss out on the tax credit, but there ar... 12/24/2009

10 Big-Impact, Low-Cost Remodeling Projects Working with sellers who have some-but not unlimited-cash for upgrades? Here are budget-minded enhancements you can suggest to make their home stand out.  1. Tidy up kitchen cabinets. "Potential buyers do open kitchen cabinets and look inside," says Morrissey. "Home owners can add rollout organizing trays so when buyers peek in, they feel like there's lots of room for their stuff." 2. Add or replace tile. "By retiling very inexpensively, you make a room look way cleaner that it was," says Javier Zuluaga, owner of Home Repairs and Remodeling LLC in Tempe, Ariz. "Every city has stores that offer $1 to $2 tile, so home owners have to pay only for the low-cost tile and labor to replace a dated backsplash or add a new one. We also use inexpensive t... 12/23/2009

The First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Expires December 1, 2009 With the tax credit on its way to expiring it is time to take advantage of the low rates available. As of today FHA 40 year fixed is 4.875 with 0 points; Conventional 30 year fixed(high fico) is 4.875 with 0 points. Don't miss the low interest rates and $8,000 tax credit! 10/02/2009

Credit Repair in Stratford CT  National Credit Fixers: 330 Roberts Street 4th Floor East Hartford CT 06108 phone: 860-282-6181. National Credit Fixers boasts of 13 years experience repairing low FICO scores. Whether your credit has been damaged by a foreclosure, bankruptcy, slow credit, collections, judgments, repossessions, etc. we can help. We are the experts in credit restoration and credit repair. We have helped numerous residents of Stratford CT. We are experts in Stratford CT Credit Repair. Credit is a way of life in America. Without good credit, you have to take your seat in the second-class section of our economy. But, if your credit is in shambles, you may not be willing to wait for seven years while your credit report repairs itself. Is there anything you can do to speed your ... 09/18/2009

Only 14 weeks left to take advantage of the $8000 First-time home buyer tax credit! If you are looking to make a purchase you must do so by December 1st in order to get the tax credit.   For more information check out:  www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com Bridgeport, CT - $140,00 - MLS# 98410770 1 bedroom unit at the Lofts on Lafayette  Derby, CT - $189,900 - MLS# 98425782 Handicap Accessible 2 bedroom, 1 bath first floor unit Shelton, CT - $289,900 - MLS# 98421482  3 bedroom, 2.5 bath Colonial at the end of a cul-de-sac in family friendly neighborhood Stratford, CT - $339,900 - MLS# 98429453  Waterfront townhouse with 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and finished lower level Stratford, CT - $499,999 - MLS# 98419792  Direct waterfront 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath home Stratford, CT - $528,900 - MLS# 98431096 ... 08/24/2009

The following is a list of towns and the homes that have taken a deposit,  by month since the beginning of this year:   Stratford Milford Shelton Trumbull Bridgeport January 28 16 11 10 30 February 24 22 12 17 32 March 32 20 13 17 46 April 39 25 15 30 38 May 34 28 20 27 55 June 53 35 24 36 58 July 39 13 16 18 58   Call us anytime for a Complimentary Market Analysis (CMA)! 07/27/2009

Existing-home sales hit 8-month high Inventories fall, adding hopes that the housing market is starting to recover. Posted by Elizabeth Strott on Thursday, July 23, 2009 10:33 AM Existing-home sales rose 3.6% in June to an annualized pace of 4.86 million, to the highest level since October, the National Association of Realtors reported this morning. It was the third monthly increase in a row. "This represents yet another encouraging sign that the housing market is beginning to stabilize," Nomura Securities chief economist David Resler wrote in a note to clients. Economists had expected an annualized pace of 4.85 million last month. Sales are down 0.2% from June of 2008. Inventories fell 0.7% to 3.82 million in June. At the current sales pace, it would take 9.4 months to sell homes on th... 07/23/2009