Greater Hartford Real Estate Blog

Last week the results for the Connecticut Mastery Test were released to the public.  The Courant has put together a nice page for quickly seeing data, while the official results website allows users to generate detailed reports.

As expected, there has been a flurry of commentary on the results for different towns.  The West Hartford results are being debated on West Hartford Forums, Talk of West Hartford, and The West Hartford Blog.  I’m sure that there are other places also.

Rather that rehashing what has already been said, let’s keep the focus on real estate and take a look at the relationship between test scores and home prices.  Will buying a home in a town with higher median home prices provide access to better performing schools (based on CMT results)?

 

The above graph shows test scores for each town (average performance of eighth graders) as a function of the town’s median home prices (second quarter of 2008).  It is interesting to note that test scores and median home price seems to be correlated.  I’m sure there are other factors that influence the relationship. Anyone up for running a regression analysis…

I’ve always wanted one of those miniature rooms on the top of my house.  You’ve seen them before, usually on larger houses or down by the shore.  It turns out they’re called cupolas and pronounced CUPE-o-la.  Technically the term covers protrusions of all sizes, from the capital dome to little vents on barns.  I would definitely want one with windows that I could go up and sit in. Like this one here in the West End.

It’s tough to tell exactly how big this example is (could both gain access AND fit a chair for reading?), but the windows open, so I would have a nice breeze if I could.  It looks to me like it is a little bigger than the dormers, so it’s close to being usable space.

From what I’ve read, cupolas historically served a few different purposes. 

- In homes by the shore, they generally have windows and were built so that the home’s owners had an unobstructed view of the water.  In those cases they are enclosed examples of the ”Widow’s Walk” since so many men unfortunately never came home from sea.

- In barns, and in some cases in homes, the cupola serves as a vent.  Hot air rises, so by putting a vent at the very top of the structure, the architect can encourage natural air conditioning.  This is a passive version of attic fans, where the hot air is actively blown out from the top.

- Cupolas also serve a design element, giving the outside of a structure a specific look.  If they rise above an open ceiling, they can illuminate a large space with without too much direct sunlight.  The main social area at Darden, the business school Amy and I attended, makes excellent use of the cupola for lighting.

- Finally, Wikipedia notes that they were used as lookouts for Indians.  However, the same entry also notes that they are often seen in Victorian architecture, which was well after the time when Indians were a major concern in the upper Atlantic states.  So we’ll take this one with a grain of salt.

Whatever their use, they are a unique part of a home and a distinctive design element.  Since it’s unlikely that we’ll ever own a home with one, I think my only opportunity to check one out in person will be the next time we rent a house at the beach with our friends.  Guess that means I shouldn’t protest so much the next time Amy talks about heading to the shore.

It’s summer. Looking for something to do tonight? Here are three options…

Hartford’s Young Professionals Taskforce will hold a public hearing to give other young professionals the opportunity to express what they believe Hartford needs to do to attract and retain its young workforce. The hearing will be held at 6:00pm, June 24, 2008, in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 500 Main Street, Hartford. Thanks to Kerri for linking to a new blog, Live in Hartford, which told me more about this event. If you are a young professional that lives or works in Hartford, you might want to attend to share and listen to ideas. And also meet more young professionals.

West Hartford’s Town Council will meet tonight at 7:30pm and begin proposing ways to cut the town budget, as it was recently defeated in a referendum vote. What will stay and what will go? Here are two other blogs with articles and reader suggestions, WH Forums and Talk of West Hartford. You can watch in person at Town Hall or watch West Hartford Cable TV.

REI in West Hartford will be hosting a discussion at 7:00pm on Summer Dog Adventures in Connecticut. Learn about trail etiquette, dog safety and first aid, and equipment that will make your hikes and swims safer and more fun. You need to register for this free event by calling 860-233-2211. No dogs allowed in REI, but a good opportunity to get fun ideas for Fido this summer.