Hartford, CT

Obtained a speedy contract on this latest short sale success story, then the usual bumps in the process, and eventual closing.

Appraisal came in 25k over our sale price. I was able to get American Home Mortgage Servicing Inc. ( AHMSI ) to come down 15k on their demands, and the buyer was willing to meet them in the middle.

All set with an approval letter in hand, it is revealed in an inspection that there is severe structural damage to one of the porches. We now have to go back to AHMSI in order to get a new approval letter allowing for $2000 in repair credits...which takes over a month.... I was actually VERY surprised that AHMSI and the investor allowed this, especially since the deal was a cash deal.

New approval all set, we closed this short sale in a few days following the new approval with a full waiver of the deficiency!

The details:

Sold price: $105,000

Allowed closing costs: $10,000

Net to lender: $95,000

Total owed: $280,000

Debt forgiven: $185,000

Need to sell your home? Why settle for less than 5 stars? 2011 and 2012 Five Star Connecticut Magazine real estate agent.

The Home Show Is This Weekend at the XL Center, Hartford CT ~ FREE Admission

This weekend, January 13, 14, and 15, is the Home Show at the XL Center, One Civic Center Plaza, Hartford CT.

What a perfect weekend to break up the dreariness of winter and start planning some great home improvement projects for the spring! Admission is FREE!

The Home Show has exhibitors in every home improvement category including:

• Doors and Windows
• Kitchens and Baths
• Lighting
• Gardens and Landscaping
• Roofing and Siding
• Flooring
• Hot Tubs and Pools
• Decks and Fences
• Sunrooms
• And much more!

Here is a chance to see demonstrations, ask questions about your home improvement projects, and collect the information for making decisions about your projects. There are also food and drink vendors so you can stay all day if you want to.

The hours of the Home Show are:

• Friday - 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Saturday - 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday - 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Ready to Shred on New Year's Eve?

There a lot of ways to celebrate the arrival of the new year this year: a few million will be freezing their buns off in Times Square watching that giant crystal ball drop; many others will be out shakin' their booty at their favorite hotspot; still more will be spending a quiet evening either at home or at a friend's home sharing the moment and some bubbly in relative privacy, and watching the ballyhoo at Times Square on TV. And then, there will be those intrepid souls at First Night in Hartford, CT who choose to spend some time...shredding. No, I don't mean shredding as in wicked fast guitar playing, or even shooting down a snow-covered hill on a snowboard. I mean shredding.

As in PAPER.

Wallingford, CT's ProShred, a document security company, will be providing a 26-foot industrial shredding truck for people to use while at First Night in Hartford's Bushnell Park. Co-owner David Symonds says it's a good way to start out 2012 on a good note by shredding any bad memories of 2011. He came up with the idea after seeing similar shredders in use in Times Square during a past New Year's Eve celebration. If you have something on paper you want to get rid of, whether it's a report card, a mortgage, Dear John letters, pink slips, or some other paper connected with bad memories, you're invited to bring them to First Night and watch the shredded makes history out of them. If you don't have anything available, there will be blank sheets of paper on hand so you can write something down and excise whatever demons that happened to plague you in the past year. Sort of a paper exorcism, if you will.

Hey, whatever works...

ProShred is located at 801 No. Main Street Extension in Wallingford, and specializes in destroying secure documents for companies and individuals who don't want their security compromised and don't want to do the time-consuming work themselves. They can be reached at (203) 303-8500, or 1-87-PROSHRED (1-877-767-4733).

First Night Hartford will feature music, fireworks, and comedy and magic shows. Tickets are $10.00 for adults, $2.00 for kids 3-15, and free for kids 2 and under.

New Year's Eve ~ First Night Hartford 2012

First Night Hartford 2012 is Hartford CT's affordable, family-oriented, alcohol-free, multicultural, and artistically-inspired celebration of the new year. Now in its 23rd year, each year gets better and better.

This year's festivities include activities at Bushnell Park, the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford Public Library, State House Square, City Hall, the Old State House, Center Church and many other locations.

First Night activities begin at 2:00 p.m. on New Year's Eve and culminates in the last fireworks display at midnight; however, the free ice skating in Bushnell Park will begin at 11:00 a.m. and continue until 1:00 a.m. The types of performances include:

• Fireworks
• Carousel rides
• Horse-drawn wagon rides
• Magic shows
• Live music and dancing
• Art installations
• Ice carving
• Dance performances
• Fortune telling
• Tours and so much more

December's Season of Celebrations and Sharing ~ Free Admission to the Connecticut Science Center

The Connecticut Science Center will be offering FREE general admission this Saturday, December 3, 2011 in exchange for the donation of one new unwrapped toy per person for Toys for Tots. The event is being sponsored by United Technologies and Toys for Tots.

If you have never been to the Connecticut Science Center, you are in for an amazing time. And if you are a frequent visitor, you know this is a deal that you just can't pass up. Tickets are normally $17.00 for adults, $15.50 for seniors, $14.00 for ages 3-17 (younger children are free).

Located at 250 Columbus Boulevard in Hartford CT, the Connecticut Science Center is an exciting hands-on gallery of experiences, including KidSpace, Animation, Sight and Sound Experience, Invention Dimension, and so much more. Visit the exhibits section of the website to see all that you won't want to miss.

Bring your unwrapped toy this Saturday, December 3, 2011 and gain FREE admission to the Connecticut Science Center. You will help others who are less fortunate by donating to Toys for Tots and you will enjoy a great learning experience for yourself.

Please forward this to anyone you know who might want to attend the Connecticut Science Center this Saturday for FREE!