MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL ON ACTIVERAIN  There have been a lot of well wishes from everyone here on ActiveRain to others here for a *very* Merry Christmas.

This blog isn't any different, however, I have learned one thing to pass along. My wish for everyone is to enjoy the holiday no matter how your celebrate.  Why?  You never know when life might rear it's head and put your best laid plans into a tail spin.

I was able to go home for a few hours today from a rehab/nursing home.  My sons were there for a few hours too.  Usually we spend the whole day together, this year I am grateful for whatever time I could have gotten.

A week ago Friday I had a total left knee replacement.  It is taking long to heal then originally planned/thought.

So, please don't take for granted any time you have with friends and family.  It CAN change in a moments notice.

FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT 

Info about the author:

Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.Cromwellrealestate.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.  

For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO  

If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's market.  There is no better time than now to take advantage of these homes while interest rates remain at an all time low.  For more information on Cromwell CT real estate's homes and/or condos please visit Johnson Real Estate to access the newest listings.

 Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.883.8889 cell - valerierealtor@sbcglobal.net

 Copyright ©2010 - By Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - All rights reserved...... ***  MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL ON ACTIVERAIN  ***

Steve Shatsky posted this picture... I couldn't think of a better way to start a Monday, and to remember CHANGE is the key word when it comes to real estate.

If you haven't seen Steve's blog, please enjoy.

CROMWELL HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S
2010 Christmas Open House 
"Legends, Mysteries & Magic!"

The Cromwell Historical Society is located in the Stevens-Frisbie House at 395 Main Street in Cromwell, Connecticut.  The house is a museum featuring exhibits about the Frisbie and Ranney families and the town of Cromwell. 

There are 7 rooms in this home that will be decorated for the open house this weekend.  Living historians will be dressed in costumes from the 1860's.  Cromwell High School chapter of the National Art Honor Society has decorated one room dealing with the animals of Christmas and how they helped Jesus.

The friends of the Beldon Library have also decorated one of the rooms, with the theme being Legends and Mysteries of Classic Christmas Books.

This event is something that the historical society looks forward to each year.  So, please come on by this weekend and take in a little of our history.

The Legends, Mysteries and Magic will be open this Saturday, December 11th, 2010 from 1 to 4pm and again from 6 to 8pm.  If you can make it on Saturday due to your own holiday events, you won't miss out.. It will be open again on Sunday, December 12th from 1 to 4pm.  The event is FREE, but donations are welcome.

I plan on stopping by myself... It will be nice to go back to a time of true traditions.

FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT 

Info about the author:

Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.  

For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO  

If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's market.  There is no better time than now to take advantage of these homes while interest rates remain at an all time low.  For more information on Cromwell CT real estate's homes and/or condos please visit Johnson Real Estate to access the newest listings.

 Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.883.8889 cell - ValerieOhomes4u@gmail.com

 Copyright © 2010 - By Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - All rights reserved...... ***CROMWELL CT HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS THE REAL MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS..."Legends, Mysteries and Magic"*** 

2% Cash back at closing for buying a home... buyers beware!

The other day I received a call from a person, that was more mechanical on the phone than personal, requesting that I show *HER* buyer a property I have listed.  I asked her why she isn't showing her client the property, and she informed me that they don't do this.  That she (or should I say her company) will be giving us the listing agency $500.00 if the sale goes through for doing this.

I'm not sure about you, but I don't like wasting my time.. so I asked this woman to send me her clients pre-approval or pre-qualification letter so I know that I am not just jumping through hoops for nothing.  She was taken aback by this, and said she would have to check with her client.  To make a long story short, I received a "Fee Worksheet" and not a pre-approval or pre-qualification letter.  This "Realtor" for lack of a better word should have known this before sending it to me. 

So, today I've spend time checking out this company.  Their motto is they give their clients "PERSONAL" attention and will give them a check at closing for 2% of the sales price. Hmmm.  Makes me wonder how effiecient this company is.  If a commission on a property is 2.5%, this agency is giving away 2% of it's earnings, along with another $500.00 to the listing office for showing the property, why are they in this business... They do NOT have a personal relationship from what I can see.. and to me, it feels like nothing but a scam.

Buyers (especially first-time home buyers) beware... remember the saying "You get what you pay for". Check out and interview your realtor.. make sure they are representing YOU.

Has any other realtor run into this scenerio?  Is this the way real estate is going?  I hope not.

FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT 

Info about the author:

Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.  

For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO  

If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's market.  There is no better time than now to take advantage of these homes while interest rates remain at an all time low.  For more information on Cromwell CT real estate's homes and/or condos please visit Johnson Real Estate to access the newest listings.

 Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.883.8889 cell - ValerieOhomes4u@gmail.com

 Copyright © 2010 - By Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - All rights reserved...... ***2% CASH BACK AT CLOSING FOR BUYING A HOME... BUYERS BEWARE!!!***

I just have to reblogg this.  Rebecca was very nice to have initated this.. and boy is it a good one.  Yes, there is a Santa for dogs too.  This dog reminds me of Snoopy from Charley Brown... do you agree?

INTEREST RATES ARE GOING UP... HOORAY!!!

Interest rates are going up.... and I'm jumping up and down for joy.  For a long time we have been fortunate to have prices of homes low and the interest rates there too.  Now that the interest rates are slowly going up, my phone is ringing off the hook. 

People are looking to buy, most likely realizing that we have reached the bottom of the market here in Connecticut.  One of my buyers who I informed along the way *most recently* in the last 2 months, stating that if they are looking to buy they had better do so real soon... before the end of the year preferably.  Did they listen... NO.

Now the home they wanted, that they were waiting for to come down in price another $25,000 has gone up due to the increase in the interest rate.  I suggested that they put an offer in on this home last month, taking in regard their desire to see the home with the reduction of the $25,000.  They wanted to wait and have the home drop in price and then even offer LESS.  They are now scrambling to find something quick.  This home is no longer in their price range with the interest rate increase.

So for any potential home buyers, even first-time home buyers, now IS the time to buy. 

 It is time to get off the fence and move forward.

FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT 

Info about the author:

Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.  

For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO  

If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's market.  There is no better time than now to take advantage of these homes while interest rates remain at an all time low.  For more information on Cromwell CT real estate's homes and/or condos please visit Johnson Real Estate to access the newest listings.

 Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.883.8889 cell - ValerieOhomes4u@gmail.com

 Copyright © 2010 - By Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - All rights reserved...... *** INTEREST RATES ARE GOING UP.... HOORAY!!!!***

WEEKLY TUESDAY TRIVIA QUESTION

Here we are another Tuesday.  Are you waiting for this week's trivia question?  Wondering what the topic is.. Well for this week, being that it is now close to Christmas, and we hear a lot of music in stores, on radios, in elevators...etc.. I thought this week's question should revolve around musical instruments.

So here is this week's question, and to help out.. it is a multiple choice answer.

The Library of Congress has the world's largest collection of which musical instrument?

A) Guitars B) Drums C) Flutes D)  Pianos E) Violins F) Accordians or G) Trumpets

I hope you have fun with this trivia question.  This blog is here to relieve stress and make your day a little brighter.  Enjoy.

 ***As always, please try to answer(s) this question without using the Internet.  If you should, don't ruin the fun for others.   Just take a guess, and I will follow up with the answer when I post next week's question***

FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT 

Info about the author:

Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.  

For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO  

If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's market.  There is no better time than now to take advantage of these homes while interest rates remain at an all time low.  For more information on Cromwell CT real estate's homes and/or condos please visit Johnson Real Estate to access the newest listings.

 Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.883.8889 cell - ValerieOhomes4u@gmail.com

 Copyright ©2010 - By Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - All rights reserved...... ***WEEKLY TUESDAY TRIVIA QUESTION FOR 12/7/10***

Al and Peggy... Great minds think alike.  I just received this from a friend on Facebook, and changed my picture ther.. I was just doing it here on AR when this caught my eye... thanks for posting this... and I'm reblogging it.

CROMWELL FIRE DEPARTMENT
82 COURT STREET
CROMWELL, CT

ALL TREES ARE $35.00 THIS YEAR

The Cromwell CT Fire Department is selling Christmas Trees on 82 Court Street.  When I stopped by today, I saw where they are getting ready for another busy weekend.  They will be selling these tree tomorrow, Saturday December 4th, and Sunday, December 5th, 2010 from 9:00am to 5:00pm.... and again next weekend both Saturday, December 11th and Sunday December 12th from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

I will highly recommend if you live in the area to check out these trees and wreaths.  The money raised will help support the fire department..  You don't have to cut them, and I'm sure your children (if you have them) would love to pick one out.  They are very full, and most likely smell wonderful.

For any size tree the price this year is $35.00.  The trees start at around 5 feet and go up to 8 feet.. all are ONLY $35.00.  These are fresh cut (within the last week) from Somers CT.  Most places I've checked out for this size tree go for a lot more.

So, if you are around or near Cromwell, CT come on by and get a tree .. and help the fire department at the same time.

FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT 

Info about the author:

Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.  

For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO  

If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's market.  There is no better time than now to take advantage of these homes while interest rates remain at an all time low.  For more information on Cromwell CT real estate's homes and/or condos please visit Johnson Real Estate to access the newest listings.

 Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.883.8889 cell - ValerieOhomes4u@gmail.com

 Copyright © 2010 - By Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - All rights reserved...... *** FIRE DEPT IN CROMWELL CT IS SELLING CHRISTMAS TREES AGAIN***

As we all know this market is not like it was 3 years ago, or for that matter 6 months ago.  It hasn't been a buyers market for years, and at this point the banks are the determining factor in most cases. So the property should be listed ahead of the market.

When a buyer puts in an offer on a property, most sellers are thrilled and try to work with the prospective buyer.  But should they if an offer is WAY low?

In my local area, there are many condos for sale and I have a few listed. One I have in particular is not a short sale or foreclosed property. Last week an offer came in on it, and I presented it to my client.  We went over *everything* and he outright rejected the offer... I don't believe he was wrong in his decision... what do you think?

This home is not a short sale as I mentioned, but we took this in regard when pricing the property. The offer that was presented was $5,000 less than on a foreclosed property that just closed.  Now on top of that the buyer was looking for $5,400 back in closing costs and wanted the seller to purchase a home warranty.  We were looking at $26,000 less than asking on a property that is listed ahead of the market. 

The buyers agent informed me that they don't have much wiggle room with their offer.  Her clients are first time home buyers... I'm thinking to myself that her clients are looking in the wrong area.  They can't afford this complex and need to look in an area where they can stay within their means.  What do you think?

FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT 

Info about the author:

Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.  

For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO  

If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's market.  There is no better time than now to take advantage of these homes while interest rates remain at an all time low.  For more information on Cromwell CT real estate's homes and/or condos please visit Johnson Real Estate to access the newest listings.

 Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.883.8889 cell - ValerieOhomes4u@gmail.com

 Copyright © 2010 - By Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - All rights reserved...... *** Is it wrong for a seller to reject a LOWBALL offer?***