Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and...home ownership?    Why is it recently that home ownership has suddenly become 'uncool'?    I have had a copy of the September 6th issue of Time Magazine sitting on my desk for weeks titled "Rethinking Home ownership".   There it sat.   I read it.  Then I read it over and over again trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel.  There was none.   The magazine, which many deem their Bible cited horror stories of foreclosures, short sales, declining home values and depressed real estates markets.  I don't doubt that the stories told are true.  I know many have suffered tremendously from the sharp downward turn.   I also know that renting truly is right for some.  But let's not buy into the idea that our home is no longer a good investment. Respo... 10/22/2010

We need your help! 194,280 new cases and 40,610 deaths from breast cancer were expected to be reported for 2009. By making a tax-deductible donation or by purchasing Raffle Tickets today, you are providing hopeful futures for our loved ones and friends. You may not know someone who has breast cancer, but let’s give everyone a fighting chance. This year marks the 6th anniversary for the William Raveis Charitable Fund, Inc. and the William Raveis Breast Cancer Research Fund. We’ve Raised $1.3 Million Dollars over the course of the past 5 years in support of those diagnosed with breast cancer and in search of a cure. We could not have accomplished this without your generous donations. Thank you! Click here to pledge a donation or mail your contribution to: William Raveis Charitable Fund, I... 09/20/2010

You want to buy a home and it seems like everyone you know has advice to give you but you still don’t know who to listen too. Check out the video below on items that you should pay attention to when looking for a home. It could save you a lot of headaches in the end. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy To Recap: Water in the basement- look for water marks on the walls and if items are stored off the floor. Water issues in the basement can cost a lot to repair – Have a professional look at it. Termites- If there are signs of termites ask if the home has been treated and if there is still cause for concern have a professional come out and look. Asbestos- Depending on the type can cost a lot to repair/remove. Old Kitchen & Baths-With a little elbow gre... 08/06/2010

You ask your friend who cuts their hair but not who sold their home?   I am always surprised that buyers sellers would just call an office and work with whomever is on floor(meaning whoever answers the phone).  Agents on floor time can be really great, but is the only criteria for picking an agent the one who happened to answer the phone when you called?    With hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line, specific criteria for the job to be done is important.    Does the agent have an aggressive marketing plan? How many homes has the agent sold? Are they a full time agent? Are they knowledgeable about the inventory and the area you are interested in?   I have a list of at least a dozen questions I've been asked while interviewing for the job of selling a home and working as a buyers a... 08/04/2010

The Kasey Group Sells... 08/03/2010

Looking for the perfect home can be a time consuming and challenging process but it can also be a great learning experience.  We all know that kitchen and baths sell homes and of course Location, Location, Location but don't forget the BASEMENT! Ask your agent about the furnace/boiler, the hot water heater, the electric panel, and if applicable any central air or well equipment.  While agents aren't experts in heating, cooling, etc... The good ones have sold enough homes to learn what to look for. Ask them-you can always remodel the kitchen later.   By Stacy Pfannkuch on July 30, 2010   The Kasey Groups Sells... 07/30/2010

Job Offering: House Sitting Services Sunday afternoon 12-3:00   I know no Realtor would offer this because they are probably booked at an open houses on Sunday at that time.  However, if all you are doing is marketing the open house in the local paper, isn't this really what is being offered?  Haven't we all had open houses where only 1 or 2 people showed?  If I am going to take my Sunday afternoon and hold an open house, I want them to be efficient, so I do the following:   Knock on at least 50 of the neighbor's houses to invite them (we know that if one house lists, usually two or more in the area do as well). Contact any agent who has a comparably priced or comparably listed home. Advertise as a featured listing on Listingbook.com (where over 60K buyers search for homes that are suit... 07/29/2010

Timing is everything!  Have you ever heard that one?  Well in real estate no truer words have ever been spoken.   You know this can apply to the up market, the down market, the interest rates.  How about this.. getting through the door to that really great new listing!  Timing is everything.  Are you working with an agent who is actively looking for your next home?   If you are really ready to move you need to see the homes first, as soon as they hit the market.   Great homes come..but they also go...if your agents timing is off, you will miss out.   By Megan O'Connell Albright on July 21, 2010   The Kasey Group Sells... 07/21/2010

New Mill Rates went into effect as of July 1, 2010.    Bridgeport- 39.64 Fairfield- 19.27 Milford- 28.44 Monroe- 28.26 Newtown- 24.00 Shelton- 18.61 Stratford- 33.32 Trumbull- 24.54   Multiple your assessment by the mill rate and you will have you new tax amount.   ex:  250,000(assessment) x 33.32(Stratford mill rate)= 8,330,000 new tax amount- $8,330   Due to the market fluctuation some towns have done a blanket reassessment while others have reassessed properties on a case-to-case basis. Contact your town hall for more information.     By Heather Rebb on July 14, 2010   The Kasey Group Sells...     07/14/2010

This recent story written by the prominent restaurateur Raymond Blanc raises the issue of genetically modified food (GM) and its implications for vegetarians, food allergies & intolerances. Raymond Blanc's restaurant Le Manoir is very famous and highly professional in all aspects of preparing food but they feel that they have been caught by insufficient GM food labelling.Le Manoir now set about sourcing cheese that was suitable for vegetarian use and came across a dilemma. Rennet is now produced by several organisms including Aspergillus niger that have had the gene for rennet introduced into them by genetic manipulation.Quite apart from the debate of whether or not we should be eating GM food and whether or not those foods are appropriate in a high class restaurant that insists on the ... 07/12/2010

Everything Comes Back Into Vogue...Even the good stuff like Interest Rates. 50 Years Ago... Johnny Cash plays 1st of many free concerts behind bars. US Army promotes Elvis Presley to Sergeant and ends his 2 year hitch in the Army a few months later. Jimi Hendrix plays his 1st gig. Wilt Chamberlain sets NBA playoff record of 53 points. Chubby Checker releases The Twist and it becomes #1 on the charts. The Beatles give their 1st Public Performance   You know what else happened 50 years ago?  Interest rates were as low as they are today!   Now you tell me... is now a great time to buy or sell???    By Karin Stocknoff on July 12, 2010     The Kasey Group Sells... 07/12/2010

You've heard the saying ‘what goes up must come down' but what about ‘what goes down must come up'? Over and over again you hear people discuss how the ‘market is bad', ‘homes aren't selling', ‘people can't get mortgages', etc... STOP BUYING INTO THE HYPE! My team and I are living proof that homes are selling, people can get mortgages, and it isn't a bad market, it's just different. Want to get your home sold?  Price it aggressively and work with an agent that knows your market and has a marketing strategy. Want to buy a home?  Get educated on the mortgage process, different market means different mortgage guidelines, speak with a reputable mortgage broker, and find a professional real estate agent (we know some great ones in Fairfield County,CT). Take advantage of the record low intere... 07/09/2010

So often we call short sales "long sales".  The process, which you would think would be very straight forward, often takes at least 3 months for a bank to respond!  And many times, an already patient buyer has decided to pursue a house that does not have a "third party" or "bank" contingency, setting the seller back to marketing their home for sale.  So what can you do?  You've heard that the best defense is a good offense, so coming to the table before an offer is even received with the following can ensure that you have done your best in moving the file through the system.  SHORT SALE REQUIREMENTS  Hardship Letter   Last 2 months' pay stubs or an explanation of why you are not working   Last 2 months' bank statements   2009 Tax Returns   A financial breakdown of your income, assets an... 07/08/2010

You might be one of many people seething seeing money going out the window when they try to heat or cool their homes. But there is a product we've been working with for many years now when we do our energy audits to try and save our customers money and save energy. They're called: Destratification Fans                 Warm air naturally rises in buildings to produce a thermal imbalance floor to ceiling; temperatures in some buildings can exceed floor temperatures by anything up to 25°C or even more. Destratification fans prevent this difference from occurring therefore achieving significant energy savings of between 20% and 50%. They can also help make better use of cooling equipment by re-distributing cool air much more efficiently throughout building interiors. Destratification System... 07/07/2010

So June 30th came and went.  Surprisingly, the earth did not stop spinning with the end of the tax credit.   But what to do now?   It was easy talking to buyers about capturing this once in a lifetime opportunity...it was all the buzz and everyone wanted a part of it.   So where will the excitement come from now?   The excitement needs to come from you!  Call all those lucky ones, your new past clients...remind them how smart they were to get into their new home and ask them for referrals.    They are excited!   They have been telling everyone about their house, now you need them to tell everyone about you.   You did a great job finding them their home and navigating them to a timely, tax credit worthy closing.  Be sure to specifically ask, do you know anyone looking for a home?   This ... 07/07/2010

FSBO... What does it stand for? HAFA... potentially the trickiest acronym of all in the Real Estate field, but not if you know the process. In order to reduce the number of foreclosures in the US, the Treasury Department introduced a new federal program that makes it easier to process a short sale for people unable to keep their homes. Check out www.makinghomeaffordable.com for more information. And by the way, Home Afforable Foreclosure Alternative (HAFA).   By Karin Stocknoff on July 6, 2010   The Kasey Group Sells... 07/06/2010

  Ahhh, soy. It's a love-it-or-hate-it kind of food. But maybe you would grow to adore tofu, tempeh, and edamame if you knew this: It could help you look younger. Yep. Eating lean, nutritious soy foods may help smooth fine wrinkles and buoy your skin's snap-back qualities, according to recent research. Those are two big victories for face freshness. It's All About AglyconeSoy is packed with a special isoflavone called aglycone, and it appears to be the source of the youth-boosting magic. In a study of middle-aged women, those who took a daily 40 milligram supplement of aglycone noticed diminishment in the fine wrinkles (better known as crow's feet) around their eyes. The women also enjoyed a smoother complexion and a big jump in elasticity. (Add these other foods to your list of elastin... 07/05/2010

I really enjoy my dictionary.com word of the day (can you tell I also like the thesaurus option on that site).  I've really become smitten with not only knowing the word, but from whence it came, or its origin. I really do have a point here, and that is, that as a Realtor articles come across my desk everyday.  Yesterday, I found an interesting one on FHA loans... In 1934, the Federal Housing Administration(FHA) was created by the National Housing Act for the primary purpose of insuring residential mortgage loans while promoting home ownership in the US.  Today, FHA is the largest government insurer of mortgages in the world.  FHA loans have surged in popularity, increasing from about 2.8% in 2005 to 30% today largely because credit standards have become so stringent.  The following has... 07/01/2010

Semper Paratus...   The old boy scout saying is true, be prepared.   When the time is right to buy you need to be prepared.  Don't wait until you have found your dream home to speak to a mortgage broker and to get your finances in order.   Remember, getting a pre-qualification can take time, time you may not have when you are anxious to make an offer.   Look for important documents, like bank statements, taxes and  W-2's.   Spend time deciding how much money you have to put down on a home and where will your deposit come from.  Be sure what price range you are comfortable with.     When you have everything set...get out there and start looking, you will be ready to make that offer!   Not sure what to keep?  Make order out of piles of bills and receipts by knowing what to retain and what... 06/30/2010

My heart skips a beat when I see a red CLEARANCE sign.  I don't go into a store without my coupons.  It's not like I believe I should get something for nothing (although I do play the lottery), but why pay more when you don't have to?  I never come home and tell my husband what I spent.  I come home and tell him how much I saved.  Yes, yes, yes...the receipt may say $200 on the credit card, but I saved $75!  I believe that everyone should get a bargain too, so when I hear that you can lower your property taxes...how could I not share? With the real estate market having faced such a decline, how could a large number of homes not be over-assessed?  According to the National Taxpayers Union, 30-60% of the homes are over-assessed, yet only 2-3% of homeowners ever attempt an appeal, and 20-4... 06/29/2010