October Contracts: Steady Market

The Hartford County single-family market continued its strong 2012 performance with an October that was more than 26% ahead of October of 2011. Year-to-date, the County is about 24% ahead of last year in terms of the total number of deals. The Contracts Written by Month chart shows a gradual decline in market activity since the spring. Every year is different, with its own unique pattern, but this one seems pretty easy to interpret. Activity

Historic Homes Rehab Tax Credit in Action

Last fall we wrote about the Historic Homes Rehabilitation Tax Credit, hoping to introduce it to our friends and neighbors. A year later we’re revisiting the subject for a variety of reasons. One is because it has come up in the WECA Architectural History and Resources Committee, and that group is looking to spread the word in any way they can. Also because people are beginning to take advantage of the program, so there’s a

The Pencil Sharpener

I find wall-mounted pencil sharpeners, like the kind I remember seeing in elementary school, in many houses. They are often in the basement stairs, but sometimes they show up in bedroom closets too. It’s a fun game that I like to play when showing homes – find the pencil sharpener! Why did so many people have a commercial grade pencil sharpener? I don’t understand. Do you have one in your house right now? Did you

How I Hate You, Ceiling Fan

We have been on a bit of a remodeling tear at our house lately. Updating a half bathroom (which we’ll blog about shortly), re-painting our foyer and accompanying woodwork, along with removing some wallpaper border. And getting rid of this guy. Well, two of these guys, actually. I hate these ceiling fans with a passion. They reside in our living room. Someone installed them who knows when. We’ve been living with them for 8 years