THE WEST HARTFORD CT HOUSING MARKET is a very active one.  I recently listed this fabulous split level home and in less than week we had a contract. We are sheduled to close on July 23, 2010.  With three spacious bedrooms, two and a half remodeled bathrooms, eat-in kitchen, open floor plan, and hardwood floors throughout, this home is perfect for living and entertaining.  Set in a desireable neighborhood within walking distance to West Hartford Center and Bishop's Corner, the location is ideal. My sellers and the new buyers couldn't be happier, but what about all the people who missed out on an opportunity to live here? I recently wrote about West Hartford being named one the the top ten cities of the new decade by Kiplinger. Did this have an impact on the West Hartford housing market? ... 07/05/2010

West Hartford refinance mortgage, what does it mean to refinance? How could refinancing my home in West Hartford help me? What will it cost me? Under what circumstances would I want to consider refinancing? All of these are questions you may have when you hear the term "refinance. What does it mean to refinance? Quite simply, a refinance is when you replace the existing mortgage on your home with a new one.  When it comes to mortgages there are two main categories of refinances, a "rate & term" or "cash-out".  A "rate & term" refinance is a new mortgage which was obtained to lower the rate, or change the term of the original loan.  You may include the costs of the new loan into your new loan, but a borrower getting a "rate & term" refinance does not receive any additional cash at the ti... 06/03/2010

WEST HARTFORD CT NAMED ONE OF TOP TEN CITIES OF THE DECADE!  Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine has named West Hartford, CT one of the top ten cities of the decade.  The top ten in order are: 1.  Austin, Texas 2.  Seattle, Washington, 3.  Washington, DC 4.  Boulder, CO 5.  Salt Lake City, UT 6.  Rochester, MN 7.  Des Moines, IA 8.  Burlington, VT 9.  West Hartford, CT 10.Topeka, KS Of course, those of us who live in the Hartford area have long known that West Hartford has always been a great place to live, and this newest designation will only add to its popularity. You can read the full article on the Top Ten Cities for the Next Decade or the full article on Best Cities for 2010: West Hartford CT.   06/01/2010

February is a short month which buyers used to purchase just over 2 homes per day in West Hartford! We had 58 homeowners accept contracts (not including sales with hubbard clauses) during this month of snow, winter vacation and two tax credits (up to $8,000 for new buyers and up to $6,500 for existing homeowners purchasing a new primary residence). First, sales in February are up for single-family homes compared either to February, 2009 (58 compared to 37 one year ago) or to January, 2010 ( 34 in January versus 58 in February). The median days-on-market for the sales was 29 days and the median list price was $279,900. Note that the market continues to be soft for homes priced over $600,000. Check my earlier blog entry for 2009 sales details. February 2010 deposits taken for West Hartfor... 03/03/2010

Prices have been relatively steady over the last few years in the West Hartford condominium market, with the number of days-on-market jumping up! Inventory currently for sale is approaching the total number of units sold across town last year. Unless demand picks up considerably in 2010, this could be a real buyers' market for condominiums in West Hartford! The West Hartford condominium market had 94 closed sales in 2009 (Just a few less than the 103 units which closed in 2008). The median sales price also declined slightly-- to $217,500 in 2009 from $224,000 in 2008. For the successful sales in 2009, median days-on-market was 76---well above the 43 days-on-market in 2008. The highest price paid in 2009 was $640,000 for unit 502 on Memorial Road (a 1,597 sf, 2 bedroom, 2 bath home in Bl... 02/25/2010

West Hartford Mortgage. When it comes time to take out a mortgage on your new home in West Hartford you will have to choose between getting a fixed-rate mortgage or an adjustable rate mortgage. If you are unfamiliar with these terms here's a simple explanation of them both. What is a fixed-rate mortgage? A fixed-rate mortgage is a loan where the interest rate is fixed for the life of the loan. This mortgage offers the most peace of mind for most people purchasing a home in West Hartford because you can count on the monthly payments to remain the same for many years. It is the most popular West Hartford mortgage choice chosen for the dependability. The interest rate on a fixed rate loan will often be slightly higher than the start rate of an adjustable rate mortgage, but it never changes... 02/17/2010

Homes for Sale in West HartfordReal Estate Market Action Report for January, 2010 The data for the month of January 2010 as it relates to homes for sale in West Hartford is:  Property Sales Inventory Market Time Selling Price vs. Original Listing Price    Property SalesThe number of homes that sold in West Hartford CT in January 2010 was 25.  This was a decrease of 57.6% compared to 59 homes that sold the prior month.  However, this was an increase of 8.7% from 23 in January 2009.    InventoryThe number of homes available for sale in West Hartford has remained pretty consistent over the last several years.  The total inventory of properties available as of January 2010 was 309 which is an increase of 14.4% from 270 in December, although down 8.3% from 337 homes for sale in West Hartford... 02/12/2010

The West Hartford market had a sluggish start and a very strong finish in 2009. There were 624 closed sales of houses recorded in the Multiple Listing Service for the year (down from 646 in 2008). One of the most encouraging numbers was the median Days on Market for these sales at 37 days. People in many other parts of the country would be amazed that half of the houses took contracts just over one month (or less) after their debut on the market! For 2009, the median list price was $292,000 & the median sale price was $285,000. The range in sale prices for the year started at $72,500 and continued to $2,600,000; quite diverse housing stock in West Hartford! With the usual caveats that averages result from the actual homes sold in a given year, the number of closed sales in 2009 is down ... 01/14/2010

{An email to a prospective listing client.} "This is my fifth home and I've worked with a different realtor each time. Quite simply, Rob is a superstar, far and away the best I've retained. He knows his craft and he's absolutely dogged -- one example of many, he actually brought potential buyers into the home of folks who had wanted to make an offer on my house but were having trouble getting theirs sold through their own realtor. Rob has also been extremely diligent and helpful with all the details, like getting repair folks in and out of the house, etc., that other realtors wouldn't do or would do badly. I credit entirely his tenacity with getting my house under contract in this very difficult market. I generally do not give endorsements, but I have no hesitation in recommending Rob t... 12/14/2009

August 22 Dear Rob: Hope all is well with you. I wanted to take a few minutes to send a quick note of appreciation to you and summarize why I was so pleased with your representation of Stacy I in the sale of our house. As you know, we had listed our house with a major regional firm here in West Hartford for over 5 months. Despite numerous showings and supposedly terrific feedback on what a great home we had, we were unable to get the house sold. When I came to you to discuss our situation, we were worn down by the countless showings (we have a two and four year old) and the disruption to our lives. With your guidance on selling process and how to position the house for sale (including the terrific staging report you had prepared for us), we had a bid in the first week of your listing ag... 12/14/2009

Getting a Fixer Upper in West Hartford - What to Look for in a West Hartford Fixer-Upper Have you been thinking about getting a fixer upper in West Hartford as an investment that you can repair and sell later? Maybe you want to buy it to live in it. Either way, finding a good one can be a real money-maker. Here are a few ideas of what to look for when you are searching for a Fixer Upper in West Hartford as your next home. 1. Simple Problems -You need to find a West Hartford house that looks incredibly ugly, yet has very simple problems. Painting, flooring and other superficial problems can be a gold mine in an old house. They can prevent a sale even when the West Hartford home is full of potential. Many buyers are scared by even simple repairs, or they can't see through the "ugly" and s... 10/20/2009

The West Hartford market remained solid for the first nine months of 2009 (with less sales at the higher end of the spectrum). There were 456 closed sales of houses recorded in the Multiple Listing Service for the year through the end of September (down from 517 during the same timeframe in 2008). One of the most encouraging numbers was the median Days on Market for these sales at 35 days. This shows that well-priced properties are still selling quickly (and in multiple offers). The Days on Market is a week longer than in 2008 (27 days). Given that there were only 130 closed sales in the final quarter of 2008 and we have already had 19 closed sales and have 117 homes under contract at this point, we should see a recovery in terms of the number of sales during this final quarter!!! For 2... 10/17/2009

West Hartford Green Home - So you want to buy a green home in West Hartford, but don’t know where to start? There are many points to consider when evaluating if a home is environmentally friendly. Being green is more than just using eco-friendly products. Other items to look at include sustainability and efficiency. Of course using products that were produced with the environment in mind is important. However, sometime it can be green to use an older product. Recycling vintage products such as antique flooring or decorative hardware is eco-friendly because new materials and energy are not being consumed to create the product and the previously used items are not going to the landfill. New homes and newly remodeled homes are using this practice more and more. A great source in the West H... 09/23/2009

When it first came out: First-time homebuyers may be able to take advantage of a tax credit for homes purchased in 2008 or 2009. The credit: Applies to purchases that close after April 8, 2008, and before Dec. 1, 2009. Applies only to homes used as a taxpayer's principal residence. Reduces a taxpayer's tax bill or increases his or her refund, dollar for dollar. Is fully refundable, meaning the credit will be paid out to eligible taxpayers, even if they owe no tax or the credit is more than the tax owed. The credit is claimed using Form 5405. For 2008 Home Purchases The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 established a tax credit for first-time homebuyers that can be worth up to $7,500. For homes purchased in 2008, the credit is similar to a no-interest loan and must be repaid in 1... 09/21/2009

The West Hartford market was steady for the first half of 2009 (with less sales at the higher end of the spectrum). There were 254 closed sales of houses recorded in the Multiple Listing Service for the year through the end of June (down from 283 during the same timeframe in 2008). One of the most encouraging numbers was the median Days on Market for these sales at 34 days. This shows that well-priced properties are still selling quickly (and in multiple offers). The Days on Market is a week longer than in 2008 (27 days). For 2009 sales, the median list price was $289,900 & the median sale price was $280,000. The range in sale prices for the year started at $111,000 and continued to $899,900; this range shows both great choice and affordability in town (it also shows that no one paid ov... 08/04/2009

You are invited to our Home Buyer's Seminar    Learn 9 Secrets to make your Home Purchase easier (including the $8,000 Tax Credit)    Where: Elmwood Community Center, 1106 New Britain Avenue, WH   When: August 5th, Wednesday, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm   Cost: FREE   For more information, contact your home ownership professionals below. Limited seating, courtesy RSVP requested (882-0414). Attendees who pre-register will receive coupons to save $500 towards the purchase of their next property!   What You Will Learn: · What is the home buying process? Will I qualify for the first time home buyer $8,000 tax credit? How much should I budget for closing costs? How do I apply for a loan? How can I buy a home with little to no money down? Do I need a Home Inspector? How does a Home Warranty prote... 08/01/2009

      Cosi's is a cute full style cafe complete with mini Italian specialties and some tasty sandwiches in West Hartford Center.  It is fancy for a sandwich place but nice to enjoy lunch with a friend or hang out.  It does by all mean cozy.   The sandwiches are modern and delicious! Cosi's is also a great little night spot for a big warm cup of coffee and delicious desserts!  One that they had on display looked like a sandwich but was in fact a large oreo stuffed with chocolate, graham cracker crumbs / pieces and melted marshmellow. You can enjoy smores you make yourself with an open fire they bring over to your table! The smores are my particular favorite! There is nothing like being involved with make your own dessert!    It makes you feel like you feel relaxed and serene with the won... 07/31/2009

Proofreading is a dying art, wouldn't  you say?    Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter  This one was in the SGV Tribune the other day.  It took two or three readings before the editor realized that what he was reading was impossible!!!  They put in a correction the next day.     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says       No crap, really? Ya think? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers         Now that's taking things a bit far!   ----------------------------------------------------------- Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over         What a guy!   -------------------------------------------------------... 07/23/2009

I would like to recommend the services of Sarah Poriss if you are in Hartford County and Need a West Hartford Small Claims Lawyer.  Sarah is a specialist in consumer law.  Don't go and get your brothers friend or your co-workers cousin, they might not know this type of law.  Consumer law is a very specialized field.  In fact if you go to the NACA website(non profit) they only recommend 8 consumer law lawyers in the entire state (Yes Sarah is on that list!). Here is Sarah's information: Sarah Poriss website: http://www.sarahporiss.com Sarah PorissAttorney at Law, LLCPO Box 370131West Hartford, CT  06137Phone:  860-593-1758Toll Free Fax:  1-866-424-4880email:  sarah@sarahporiss.com :)Matt Toll Free: 888-NCFIXER (623-4937) Toll Free Fax: 888-FAX-4020 (329-4020) Local: 860-282-6181 330 Robe... 07/08/2009

Overall, West Hartford homes sales (measured by deposits taken) are on pace with one year ago (83 in May 2009 compared to 80 in May 2008)... If we look back to last month, we had 70 deposits taken in April 2009 (so activity is up, as expected, from April to May of this year). Looking within price categories, sales were up versus last year with homes priced below $450,000 (75 last month compared to 62 one year ago. For properties priced above $450,000 the decrease was dramatic (8 last month compared to 18 one year ago). Check my earlier blog for April sales details. Note that homes on the market are up to 299 as of June 9 (up from 274 one month ago). Your home needs to stand out in the market! May 2009 deposits taken for West Hartford Single-Family Homes:   Under $200,000                ... 06/09/2009