Sales volume is down, median price appears to be leveling off, and inventory level has fluctuated.  Current Market...Number of single family homes on market: 272Average Asking Price: $222,694Median Asking Price: $199,900*Source of information is the Co-op MLS of Connecticut as of February 4, 2009.  January 2009 Summary -Sales: 20 homes, down 31% from a year ago.Median Sales Price: $183,750, down 3% from a year ago.Months Supply of Inventory: 9.5 months, down 37% from a year ago.  December 2008 Summary -Sales: 25 homes, down 26% from a year ago.Median Sales Price: $155,000, down 19% from a year ago.Months Supply of Inventory: 17.7 months, up 62% from a year ago.  With the slow-down in the market, and continued historically low interest rates, now can be a great time to buy! Buyers can do... 02/05/2009

NAR Reiterates Plan to Jumpstart Housing Market To move the country out of this economic crisis, Congress and the next administration must place significant emphasis on restoring confidence in the housing market, Charles McMillan, the National Association of Realtors® president, testified to the House Financial Services Committee Tuesday. "The housing sector is at the core of the current economic crisis," McMillan says. "A renewed, revitalized and robust housing market is essential to generating commerce and helping families build wealth."McMillan said he was glad to see that Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., introduced last week H.R. 384, the TARP Reform and Accountability Act. Many points in this bill reinforce NAR's proposed recovery plan to stimulate housing investment, mitigate forec... 01/15/2009

Whether you are buying your first home or your fifth, the process of buying a home can be an emotional, time-consuming venture.  Feeling that, in the end, you made the right decision and got a good deal can make all the difference. As with most major decisions, the amount of work and research you undertake before you start shopping can have a dramatic effect on how well you do in the end. #1  Do you really need that backyard tennis court?Everyone can picture their ideal home.  If you haven't thoroughly prepared yourself prior to viewing houses, chances are that you will find what you think is your ideal home, and will wind up paying too much for it. It is essential to treat the buying process in a slightly detached manner.  Those who fall in love with houses usually pay too much. That's... 10/06/2008

Shopping for a new home is an emotional experience.  It is, however, also a business transaction, and must be treated as such.  Three of the most devastating things that can go wrong are: Paying too much Losing a dream home to another buyer Buying the wrong home When you have a systematic plan before you shop, you'll be sure to avoid these costly errors. Here are some tips on making the most of your home purchase: Get the information you needWhat price do you offer a seller? Is the seller's asking price too high? Is it a deal? Your own research is important, as is the assistance of a Realtor®.  A professional Realtor® can offer an unbiased opinion on the value of a home, based on many factors and a great deal of information. Without knowledge of the market, your offer could be too much.... 10/06/2008

With interest rates low, many renters are starting to think about purchasing a home of their own. While simple rental cost vs. mortgage cost comparisons can be very attractive, buying a home is a serious commitment, and there are many factors to consider: How long you plan to live in the home.Selling a home costs money.  If you potentially may have to move in the short term, the value of your home may not have appreciated enough to cover the costs of buying and selling.The length of time that it will take to cover those costs depends on various economic factors. Average appreciation tends to sit at around 5% per year. In this case, you should plan to stay in your home at least 3-4 years to cover buying and selling costs.  The real estate market can be particularly volatile, however, and... 10/06/2008

   Mistake #1 - Incorrect PricingEvery seller naturally wants to get the most money for his or her product. The most common mistake that causes sellers to get less than they hope for, however, is listing too high.  Listings reach the greatest proportion of potential buyers shortly after they reach the market.  If a property is dismissed as being overpriced early on, it can result in later price reductions.  Overpriced properties tend to take an unusually long time to sell, and they end up being sold at a lower price than they likely would have had they been priced properly in the first place. Mistake #2 -- Mistaking Re-finance Appraisals for Market ValueRe-finance appraisals can be very encouraging for homeowners, leading them to assume that the appraisal is the amount that they should... 10/06/2008

When you're selling your home, the price you set is a critical factor in the return you'll receive. That's why you need a professional evaluation from an experienced Realtor®. This person can provide you with an honest assessment of your home, based on several factors, including: Market conditions Condition of your home Repairs or improvements Selling timeframe In real estate terms, market value is the price at which a particular house, in its current condition, should sell within 30 to 90 days. If the price of your home is too high, this could cause several things: Limits buyers. Potential buyers may not view your home because it appears to be out of their buying range. Limits showings. Other salespeople may be more reluctant to view your home. Used as leverage. Other Realtors® may use... 10/06/2008

Selling a home can sometimes be a long, stressful, and costly process.  Like anything, though, equipping yourself with the right tools and the right knowledge can eliminate a great number of the potential negative aspects of the process - and get you the maximum return on your investment. Your Team The importance of having the right allies in the selling process cannot be overstated.  Having an expert on your side, not only to assist you in making decisions and getting your home marketed, but also simply in terms of having an advocate in the process, is the single most important step you can take to reduce your stress. The first step in selling any home should be to arrange to get Comparative Market Analyses for your home from three different Realtors®.  Many sellers take this step, but... 10/06/2008

Whether your goal is to buy 4 properties a year or 100, you will need a team to help you with creating and implementing your marketing campaigns. What this means is that a lot of your time and attention should be spent in building your team to run this area of your business. You will need a team to help you lick envelopes and make cold calls, because it will be impossible to do it all yourself. Your attention should be on building an organization that runs on auto-pilot and the quality of people you hire and sub-contract will ultimately determine how quickly this happens. In the beginning, this team will most likely be you and possibly your partner if you have one. However, as you grow your investment business, leveraging people and time will be a crucial and a necessary component of yo... 09/28/2008

Signage: Banners for Buildings Being Worked On Bus Signage Bus Bench / Stop Signage Car Magnets Bumper Stickers Vehicle Lettering Billboards / at Local Sporting Events Internet: MLS Lead Generator Websites FSBO Websites Print Media Flyers Distributed in Newspapers Door Hangers Flyers Around Town w/ Pull Tabs Business Cards Value Pack Coupons Coupon Saver Pizza Box Ads AD Placement in the: Local Newspaper Regional Newspaper Yellow Pages Church Bulletins Local Real Estate Publications Local Business Journals TV/Radio Commercials on Local TV Stations Commercials on Local Radio Stations 30 Minute Radio Shows Direct Mail Campaigns / Cold Calling to Property Owners: In Pre-Foreclosure Getting a Divorce Who Live Out of State With Low End Rental Properties With Vacant or Rundown Properties With... 09/17/2008

In today's real estate market, selling your home can seem quite daunting. Keep in mind that like any other competition, your home must stand out from all the other homes that potential buyers have looked at. This is a competition, and something you need to prepare for. Here are a few tips to getting your home ready to sell: 1. CURB APPEAL- Cut back bushes, keep the lawn mowed in summer, sidewalks clear in winter, plant fresh flowers or add a few large pots of flowers to add a splash of color to the front steps. Remove any clutter- kid's toys, extra vehicles, boats, or gardening equipment. This will be the buyer's first look at your home, if they don't like what they see they'll just keep driving. 2. VISUAL CLUTTER- When a buyer walks into your home, that's the first thing they should se... 09/17/2008

Did you ever hear the saying "don't judge a book by its cover?"  Well don't get wooed by a house just because it shows well!  Underneath that lovely exterior you may have problems; potentially serious problems.  Buying your first home is one of the most important purchases you will make in your lifetime. A qualified home inspector will take an in-depth and impartial look at the property inside and out!  You should be sure that the home you want to buy is in good condition.    The first really cold winter day you wake up in your new house and your furnace isn't working, you'll be kicking yourself for not having your home inspected.  An inspection limits the number of negative surprises you may discover when you move into your new home.  The cost of a home inspection is dependent on the s... 09/13/2008

Once you've made the decision to start the home buying process and begin the search for your dream home, you need to evaluate what your needs and wants are in a home.   Keep a notepad where you will write all of the information regarding your search.  As a first-time buyer it's important that you keep in mind what characteristics of a house are permanent and which ones can be modified.  For example location is permanent! Do you want to live in the city or a suburban area? Do you want to live in a rural area away from the hustle and bustle, or do you want to be close town? How far away is the neighborhood from your workplace or schools? What is the transportation system like? What will your commute be? The location you prefer depends on your specific lifestyle, so establish what you NEED... 09/13/2008

You've been out house hunting for weeks, you feel as though you've done all your research and now you want to put in an offer to purchase the home of your dreams. So how much do you offer the seller?!! Well, it's not really how much you offer but how you offer it? Everything in real estate is negotiable, EVERYTHING. There is the obvious, such as purchase price and who pays closing costs. But, how about the less obvious, do I get to keep that pool table, how about the living room furniture, do I get to keep that. Let's take it a little further. You know what, I'd like to include that riding lawn mower in the purchase price. While you're at it, I'll take that nice new car in the driveway as well (OK, maybe that's taking it a little far....or is it). The bottom line is that you shouldn't f... 09/04/2008

     WHAT MAKES UP A CREDIT SCORE?    •·      Payment History                   35% •·      Balances Carried                   20% •·      Credit History                     15% •·      Mix Of Accounts                   10% •·      Inquiries                            10%          PAYMENT HISTORY - 35% Having a long history making of payments on time and no missed payments on all credit accounts is one of the most important items lenders look for.    •·      Bills Paid As Agreed •·      Most Recent 6 Months •·      Most Weight On Highest Dollar Amount ie: Mortgages & Other Large Loans       BALANCES CARRIED -30% This measures the amount you owe relative to the total amount of credit available. Someone closer to maxing out all their credit limits is deemed to be a higher risk of late pa... 09/03/2008

I was sharing with one of my friends the other day why now is a great time to buy in Meriden. Let me share some statistics with you: The median sale price of a residential home in Meriden is $181,300 as of Sept 3, 2008! The average seller is still getting within 4% of asking price with 90 days of placing it on the market! Let's talk about what that means: Principal and Interest with a 1st time home buyer program is only $1,226 per month! Average mortgage (including principal, interest, taxes and insurance) on a home within that price range is $1,600 In order to qualify for this mortgage the average buyer needs to make approx. $70,000 per year! The interesting thing is that the median family income in Meriden is $57,122 making Meriden a very affordable place to live! Currently there are ... 09/03/2008

  CELEBRATE EARTH DAY APRIL 22, 2009 What You Can Do at Home to Make a Difference!   If it only takes one person doing a little bit imagine if many people were doing a little bit! To learn more about Meriden's Recycling Program and where to bring your items click here .   You can also Contact the City of Meriden Public Works Department Curb Side Recylcing at 630-4259 or visit http://www.brrfoc.org/ for additional information.           Recycle/Reuse:              Electronics     Cell phone/Telephone and  Equipment     Computers        Office Machines     Game Consoles     Televisions     Toner Cartridge     Plastics, glass, paper     Plant a Tree or a Garden this spring because trees and plants help to suck up carbon dioxide             Buy Energy efficient appliances     Weatherize and... 04/04/2008

          Come out of Winter Hibernation and Join Us at the Largest Tag Sale in Connecticut! When: Saturday, April 18, 2009 Where: Hubbard Park West Main Street Meriden, CT Time: 9:00 A.M.- 2:00 P.M. To be held rain or shine under the Festival Tent Click Here If you would like more information or would like to set up a booth. Hope to see you there! It's a fun time for all. 03/14/2008

   The 31st Annual Daffodil Festival will be held on April 25, 26, 2009 at Hubbard Park, West Main Street, Meriden, CT. Great fun for the entire family! 600,001 Daffodils will be on Display. There will be crafts, music, food, amusement rides and a fireworks display. If you would like more information you can go to www.daffodilfest.com 03/14/2008

  Meriden, CT is nestled between two of Connecticut's major cities, New Haven and Hartford-  interstate 91 and 691 run directly through Meriden allowing convenient access to commuters and travelers. Anyone who has ever traveled these interstates through Meriden can see that Meriden is surrounded by some of New Englands finest Traprock Ridges. These ridges also known as the Hanging Hills, offer year round beauty.  Residence and vistors can enjoy the views from many areas around the Silver City. East Peak/West Peak and Lamentation Mountain surround the city acting as a protective shield and offer many recreational activities. Castle Craig Tower located in Hubbard Park, home of the Daffodil Festival, stands on top of East Peak. The tower stands 1002 ft above sea level and offers impressive... 03/13/2008