Can I Decorate for the Holidays?

We tend to get an early start on the winter holidays at the Bergquist household. The three of us were out on Saturday evening purchasing our Christmas tree, sending money back to the motherland, Vermont. Yesterday we decorated the house and it appropriately looks like the North Pole barfed merriment on our walls, flat surfaces and just about any place where you could put red, green and sparkly things. Of course this really only happens

Courant Companion: That Empty Feeling

The cover story of today’s real estate section features an article titled That Empty Feeling about the impact of vacant homes on a neighborhood. The wide-ranging piece provides a lot of interesting and important information about homes that are considered eyesores. A critical point in the overall thesis, and therefore a focal point of the article, is the example of a dilapidated property that actually hurts the value of neighboring homes. Unfortunately, a very poor

October 2010 Market Statistics

Here’s a quick look at how the Hartford County real estate markets performed last month. Closings in October reflect deals negotiated during the summer and fall depending on the amount of time between the contract date and the closing date. The data comes from the Connecticut Multiple Listing Service (CTMLS), which is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Some Observations There was a wide range in the percent change in number of transactions for this October

What's Worse: Voting Polls or Open Houses?

I went to the polls today, just like thousands of other Connecticut residents. As I approached my voting location, the Hartford Seminary, there were a couple of people that descended on me. One wanted to hand me a pamphlet and talk to me about voting the Democratic ticket. Another wanted me to change my Democratic votes in some cases to the same candidate, but running on the Working Families party line. I understand the importance