Unexpected Summer Colors As I was driving along you an appointment this past week, my eyes were distracted briefly by a splash of pink near the roadside.  I kept going to not be late, but did go back later to capture a photo. Giant pink hibiscus flowers that just caught my eye.  They are a perennial so I am amazed that they could survive the winters especially so close to the roadway. The leaves were almost 12" across and all I had was a standard piece of paper, 8 1/2 x 11 and the flower was not over covered.I will have to drive by later this week so see how it survived Henri. Unexpected Summer Colors 08/22/2021

The NorthEast Is Expecting  A Visitor Named Henri The Western Hemisphere is into it's storm season and it will last until late September. Normally they develop in the Lower Atlantic and work their way north as tropical storms that eventually fizzle out. That's not the case with this storm which has been upgraded to a category 1 Hurricane with winds expected to be in excess of 80 mph.As the storm makes it's way up the East coast, the latest track shows it making landfall off of Long Island near Fire Island and then crossing Long Island Sound and coming into Connecticut through New Haven Harbor. We will see rain from early morning Sunday to late morning Monday.  Before it's over the utility companies are expecting more than 50% of the state to be without power with no idea when all will b... 08/21/2021

Prospect CT 36th Car Show and Sock HopNostalgia will reign supreme at the Prospect CT 36th Annual Car Show and Sock Hop, Sunday Aug 22.The music provided by a DJ will have toes tapping for those with enough age to remember their baby sitters singing to them.Free AdmissionDash Plaques for the first 500 cars in attendance.Smiles and a great time for everyoneProspect CT 36th Car Show and Sock Hop 08/15/2021

What Happened in The Prospect CT Real Estate Market Prospect July 2021?    Search for homes in Prospect CTCurrently in Prospect CT there are 18 active residential listings for sale, with 11 new listings added in July. The homes for sale in Prospect CT range from a 939 square ft, 2-bedroom colonial, listed at $219,900 to a 2,476 square ft, 4-bedroom new construction colonial listed at $599,900. The average list price of the homes currently available for sale in Prospect CT is $389,761. The average days on market for these homes are 57 days. In addition, there are currently 7 homes in show status and 9 homes under hard deposit in Prospect CT.  In July, 7 homes closed in Prospect CT. The homes that sold in Prospect CT ranged from a 1,103 square ft, 2-bedroom ranch, which sold for $235,000 ... 08/14/2021

Throw-Back Thursday:  A Beluga Whale At Mystic AquariumThe most visited tourist attractions in Connecticut are in Mystic CT and are quite close to each other.  The most visited is the Mystic Aquarium and the second place goes to the Mystic Seaport.  And for those that favor nostalgia, there is also Mystic Pizza. We have been to the aquarium many times, especially when grandson Raphael was younger and for all of us the most favorite attraction was the  Beluga whale exhibit.I share that whale below.  Throw-Back Thursday:  A Beluga Whale At Mystic Aquarium 08/05/2021

This Yard Is Not an All You Can Eat BuffetWe do not live in a rural area even though the lots on our street are all over an acre in size.  We are close enough to some heavy forest areas where wildlife can abound.We do get visits from raccoons, deer, wild turkeys, and an occasional lost bear. We have been getting too regular visits from rabbits and have a nest some where in our yard.This mom was eating some of the foliage near our front stoop, and was caught full 'mouthed.'They have been busy as they ate a lot of the lettuce in our garden and did a big job with the parsley.  I did get a fence around the garden but when hungry they find something to eat. This Yard Is Not an All You Can Eat Buffet 07/25/2021

What Happened in The Prospect CT Real Estate Market Prospect June 2021?    Search for homes in Prospect CTCurrently in Prospect CT there are 13 active residential listings for sale, with 11 new listings added in June. The homes for sale in Prospect CT range from a 1,327 square ft, 2-bedroom cape, listed at $249,900 to a 2,476 square ft, 4-bedroom new construction colonial listed at $599,900. The average list price of the homes currently available for sale in Prospect CT is $409,785. The average days on market for these homes are 86 days. In addition, there are currently 15 homes in show status and 8 homes under hard deposit in Prospect CT.  In June, 7 homes closed in Prospect CT. The homes that sold in Prospect CT ranged from a 1,120 square ft, 3-bedroom ranch, which sold for $289,900 t... 07/08/2021

Summer Pool Safety Tips in Central CT School is out for the summer and with the weather getting hotter, kids will be looking to get some relief from the heat in the back yard pools.  It's also the time to give them some reminders of pool safety and etiquette. Care must be taken around pools so that no one will get hurt. If there are slides or diving boards, then do not use them while someone is near and could get hurt by someone else diving. Make sure that the pool chemicals are maintained properly to avoid a build-up of algae. A simple titration with a test kit, or use of special papers will give the pool owner an indication of how much chemicals need to be added. Also when adding chlorine, take caution to open the containers in a well ventilated area. Don't open the containers in the ... 06/21/2021

Happy Flag Day  June 14, 2021While it is not known as a national holiday and business will continue as usual today, it deserves a day of recognition as a symbol of our great country.Some noteworthy days as relates to the flag: January 1, 1776: The first United States flag, the “Grand Union,” was displayed by George Washington. Of course all know that it was credited to Betsy Ross as the designed and creator of the first flag. June 14, 1777: The Stars and Stripes were adopted by the Continental Congress as the Flag of the United States. June 14, 1877: Flag Day was observed nationally for the first time on the 100th anniversary of the Stars and Stripes—and continues today.  In 1814, the flag flying after a heavy bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 with the British was the i... 06/14/2021

Roses Are Always Pleasant To The EyeAs I was finishing up some work at my parents house, I looked over to their back fence and realized that I  needed a few extra minutes.  I did a little pruning and clearing and then too the photos.They are brilliant and have no smell, which I understand is a good thing as the non-fragrant flowers last much longer than those that have a bouquet.They are pretty and will be around for maybe another week or so and then it's wait until next summer. Wordless Wednesday (Almost) Roses Are Always Pleasant To The Eye 06/09/2021

What’s Happening in The Prospect CT Real Estate Market Prospect May 2021?    Search for homes in Prospect CTCurrently in Prospect CT there are 14 active residential listings for sale, with 3 new listings added in May. The homes for sale in Prospect CT range from a 1,176 square ft, 3-bedroom cape, listed at $219,900 to a 2,576 square ft, 4-bedroom new construction colonial listed at $599,900. The average list price of the homes currently available for sale in Prospect CT is $353,079. The average days on market for these homes are 96 days. In addition, there are currently 13 homes in show status and 6 homes under hard deposit in Prospect CT.  In May, 9 homes closed in Prospect CT. The homes that sold in Prospect CT ranged from a 1,020 square ft, 2-bedroom ranch, which sold for $112,000 to... 06/08/2021

Continuing Education:  Understanding Racial Bias In Real EstateThis week was a busy week for me, and adding to it was the Continuing Education class that I took to fulfill the requirements for license renewal, something we real estate agents all need to do every 2 years.I was fortunate to be able to take one of the 2 Mandatory courses offered as a Zoom class,. Attendance was monitored and being on screen for the 3 hours was a requirement to completing the class for credit, and any small absence was noted.The course title was Understanding and Preventing Racial Bias in Real Estate, and it was very detailed for content as to how real estate has been attempting to foster equality although not always successfully.  As recently as the late 1960's to 70's, laws had been enforced to prevent pe... 05/27/2021

There Is Always Someone Waiting For Their TurnOur breakfast table has a great view of the yard and also the bird feeder just outside the window. We ca see the birds as they swoop down to grab a bite and also how the smaller birds will jump off as a larger bird approaches. As these 2 yellow finches sat on the support rod, they seemed to be having an exchange and the lower one was chirping hard at the higher finch, who then flew away.  Now I don't claim to understand bird speak, but from the reaction I saw I'd be willing to guess that the higher finch cowered, relied yes dear and flee back to protect the nest.Mom then sat and ate a bit and maybe lingered a little longer than needed to show who's boss.The animal/bird kingdom have a specialized priority system. There Is Always Someone Waiti... 05/23/2021

Prospect CT April 2021 Real Estate Market Trends What’s Happening in The Prospect CT Real Estate Market Prospect April 2021?    Search for homes in Prospect CTCurrently in Prospect CT there are 24 active residential listings for sale, with 9 new listings added in April. The homes for sale in Prospect CT range from a 1,176 square ft, 3-bedroom ranch, listed at $220,000 to a 2,468 square ft, 3-bedroom cape listed at $589,000. The average list price of the homes currently available for sale in Prospect CT is $361,267. The average days on market for these homes are 75 days. In addition, there are currently 7 homes under hard deposit in Prospect CT.  In April, 7 homes closed in Prospect CT. The homes that sold in Prospect CT ranged from a 982 square ft, 2-bedroom mobile home, which sold for ... 05/10/2021

Happy Mother's Day 2021 to All The MomsWe have a partially sunny sky this afternoon and in a short while the family will assemble here in Prospect CT. The guest of honor will be Laura, our 98 year old matriarch.   Mom still has good health and her spirits are strong, even if the body doesn't work as well as it used to it she still has a sharp mind, and still likes to tell her youngest, me, to stay in line.Of course, my reply is always yes Mommy, and then the smile.  Where ever all may be, we hope that they enjoy Mother's Day. Happy Mother's Day 2021 to All The Moms    05/09/2021

Treat Their Home Purchase As If It Were Your OwnOur job as real estate agents is to guide our clients through their transaction, whether selling or buying.  As a seller's agent we give council on home preparation, repairs, pricing and what to expect once a contract has been taken.  It can be less involved than we would with a buyer.As a buyer's agent, we start with making sure they are set with a lender so as to not waste energy and frustration with properties beyond their capabilities.  As we come to appreciate their needs we become a unit with them to find the perfect fit. As we walk through a house with them, we give our full attention and when questioned about something we can offer an opinion within our expertise as agents mindful of not overstepping our limits, which can get us in... 05/05/2021

Prospect  CT First Quarter 2021 Real Estate Market AnalysisThe year 2020 was an unusual year for so many reasons.  With the pronouncement of the pandemic back in mid February of the year, the world watched in disbelief as the virus spread at an incredibly fast pace and affected all ages all over the  world.In the world of real estate, the exuberance of the business that had started in 2019 started to slow as people became wary of venturing into homes not knowing who was there or their state of health. Likewise, sellers were wary of having people come into their homes and possibly bringing in a bacterial issue that would infect their families.For the year 2020, the market sales or absorption rate was almost 10 sales per month, with an average sales value of $272,069 and average days on m... 05/03/2021

The Colors Are Getting Plentiful In Prospect CTWe always have something flowering in our yards from early spring to late fall. It does take work and I don't know all that there is in the yard yet and we have been here over 26 years.  The builders wife loved colors and she made sure her husband gave her colors. The lower rock garden is starting to show the flox colors with a tiara of daffodils.  Soon I will plant either impatiens or begonias to keep color over the summer.  Right that are a row of rhododendrons with the first and last being an early blooming variety. The early blossoms are white and the later ones are pink. Along the driveway retainer wall are tulips and hyacinths. The tulips are coming to their end and along the wall are astilbes and they will bloom in a few more weeks.T... 05/02/2021

A Feeder For Two PleaseThis past week as I was looking out the window I saw a very large female cardinal picking at seeds in the feeder. I saw a bit of movement from the other side and went to a different window to get a peek. Could it just be that papa knows to give space to an irritable mother to be and decided to just stay out of the way?A Feeder For Two Please 04/25/2021

Getting Vaccinated Can Help Control The PandemicWhether spoken or not, it's on everyone's mind: Will I catch the Corona Virus? No one now for sure, but a way to ease the stress is to find a place to sign up for the vaccine and get vaccinated.Yesterday was an excellent day for me:I got a positive response from a bank on one of my short sale listings.Another short sale client is ready to get their situation resolved.Two properties closed, and I GOT MY SECOND PFIZER SHOTMy chance of getting the virus have been greatly reduced. I do need to be just as careful, especially for the next 2 weeks, however, it's a step in the positive for me.Anyone over the age of 16 is eligible to get vaccinated her ein CT. There are many locations in CT, even open drive through vaccination spots.Log on to the S... 04/21/2021