West Hartford, CT

If you are thinking of buying your first home in West Hartford, why not choose a neighborhood that remains popular in these uncertain times. During 2008, there were 56 purchases of single-family homes in Webster Hill (MLS statistics). This is essentially unchanged from the 57 sales in 2007. These properties sold quickly, with 32 of the 56 sales going to contract in 30 days or less. The median time on market was only 23 days in this neighborhood.

Almost everyone can find a home in this elementary school district, with prices paid last year ranging from $120,000 (30 Elmhurst Circle) to $782,000 (215 South Main Street). In terms of sales price, the median price paid was $253,000 for 30 Boswell. This home offered an updated kitchen and family room. A 1,766 sf cape with 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths plus a 1-car garage, this home is within easy walking distance of both Webster Hill Elementary School and Conard High School.

The Webster Hill neighborhood is near Blue Back Square and West Hartford Center, yet separate enough to escape traffic congestion from all our out-of-town visitors. Rockledge Golf Course (public, 18-holes), the Noah Webster House, and Angelo's on Main (restaurant, tavern) are all part of the neighborhood along South Main Street. Most of the homes are located on quiet streets with sidewalks.

For a virtual tour of a great home in this neighborhood, visit www.45BrightwoodLane.com.

For more information about the neighborhoods of West Hartford, try www.West-Hartford-CT.com.

For more information about the Noah Webster house, including photos and information on classes, workshops, special events, museum collections, visiting hours, rentals and special programs visit
www.noahwebsterhouse.org/

The spring market in West Hartford is moving briskly, fueled by a need for housing and the $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers. During the month of March, 61 homeowners accepted contracts to sell their single-family residences (up from 57 for the same period in 2008). To put these numbers in perspective, there are currently 245 single-family homes for sale in this town of 65,000 people.

The price ranges and activity level:

Under $200,000 12 sales

$200,000 to $250,000 9 sales

$250,000 to $300,000 9 sales

$300,000 to $350,000 11 sales

$350,000 to $450,000 9 sales

$450,000 to $550,000 3 sales

$550,000 to $650,000 1 sale

$650,000 to $750,000 6 sales

Over $750,000 1 sale

For up-to-date sales statistics and expert real estate advice, contact Brent at Brent@BrentBellCRS.com.

Although you might not guess from the title, Douglas Andrew's latest bestseller, Millionaire By Thirty: The Quickest Path to Early Financial Independence, stresses the importance of real estate compared to the risks of the stock market for people dedicated to improving their financial situation. This book, which Mr. Andrew co-authored with his two newly-millionaire sons, Emron & Aaron, aims its stong financial advice at recent college graduates.

Several important ideas are discussed. First, not all debt is bad. Mortgage debt and student loans are desireable within reason. Credit card debt, on the other hand, is to be avoided. Second, once you build equity in your first home, that equity earns a zero rate-of-return. As a result, paying off your mortgage early is seldom the best way to increase your net worth. If you find a better opportunity for this equity (i.e. to finance a vacation home or investment property), you owe it to yourself to put this financial asset to work. This strategy of investing in real estate could work very well given our current real estate market!

You can listen to audio excerpts of this book by visiting www.MissedFortune.com/Millionaire-By-Thirty. Even for those of us over 30, there are compelling action plans.

Good morning and welcome to spring! Our clocks springing forward (and temperatures in the 50s) are welcome changes in Connecticut, where we have experienced an unusually cold and snow-covered winter.

The West Hartford market continues to be strong despite the news reports which can be both depressing and addictive. These times are a real test of your outlook on life - is your glass half-full or half-empty?

For students of history, times of turmoil are also times of tremendous opportunity. Many first-time buyers are taking advantage of low interest rates, more reasonable housing prices, fewer multiple-offer situations and the new $8,000 gift program from the federal government to invest in their first property. Many investors are returning to the market, realizing that prices and interest rates are excellent (while stock market returns are elusive).

Five years from now, the people taking action will look back on 2009 and say- I'm glad I had the courage to move forward. The people who waited will look back with regret on opportunities missed. Which group will you be a member of in 2014?

New property: For those of you looking to move up in West Hartford, check out this non-MLS offering at www.45BrightwoodLane.com. Truly a home for casual living and gracious entertaining!

For Hartford County real estate information, contact Brent to benefit from his 20 years of experience by visiting www.BrentSellsCThouses.com.

As I wait for this last batch of snow to melt and listen to my gas boiler fire up, I am reminded that it is never too late to request a home energy audit. This is a positive audit which requires a small investment on the homeowner's part ($75 if you heat with gas or electricity, $300 if you heat with oil) and pays you back in several ways. First, you receive a report on making your home more energy efficient. Second, a contractor makes minor improvements on site as part of the inspection which will help you save $$$ immediately (new light bulbs, weatherstripping, etc.). Third, you will receive over $3,000 in valuable coupons to defray the cost of more major energy-saving upgrades to your home. Most important, everything you save will help our children and the environment.

So call the Connecticut Energy Information Center today at 1-877-947-3873 (toll-free). That's 1-877-WISE-USE. On the web, you can complete a request at www.ctenergyinfo.com.

For Hartford County real estate information, contact Brent to benefit from his 20 years of experience by visiting www.BrentSellsCThouses.com.