Playing Hooky At The Beach .... In March…..In CT!
In CT we are blessed with being on Long Island Sound, which is a haven for beaches, swimming, boating, water sports, and fishing. Usually, we can’t enjoy all of the above until the weather is a lot warmer and the water temperature is NOT in the 40s, like it is now.
However, today, and the next few days, we are enjoying some unusually warm weather in the 60s. I had some business down by the water today and decided to play a little hooky and steal away to the beach... specifically Jennings Beach and Penfield Beach in Fairfield CT. I was not surprised to see quite a few others enjoying the weather, walking, sunbathing, and having picnic lunches.
Oh, I wish it could just get progressively warmer from this point on so we can actually have a spring and then a nice long summer. I am a definite, absolute warm weather gal.
So I snapped a few photos here and there from Black Rock in Bridgeport to the Fairfield Beach Road area, and this is what I captured.
View from Black Rock, Bridgeport to Seaside Park, Bridgeport
South Benson Marina, Fairfield fishing pier
View of Black Rock, Bridgeport from the South Benson Marina fishing pier
View of Jennings Beach, Fairfield
Penfield Beach pavilion, Fairfield
Penfield Beach view
View of Long Island Sound from Lantern Point, Fairfield Beach Road
Lantern Point view of Fairfield Beach Road waterfront homes
I wanted to just linger around the Fairfield beach area, but I had to move on. I will return …. You can bet your sand dollars on that!
Hope you had a great day and an even better one tomorrow!
Playing Hooky At The Beach .... In March…..In CT!
Rental Security Deposits in CT ~ What Are the Limits?
The rental market has been very hot in CT and likely elsewhere around the country no doubt due to the amount of homeowners who have been displaced due to a short sale or foreclosure. There have been a few times where I have seen a rental listing require a three-month security deposit or even extra money for a pet allowance.
There is actually a CT state statute CGS 47a-21 that directly addresses rental security deposits.
What exactly IS a security deposit? According to the statute, a security deposit is defined as “any advance rental payment other than the first month’s rent and a deposit for a key or special equipment”.
The landlord usually tells the listing agent what s/he wants to collect from the tenant in addition to the monthly rental amount. It might be all or some of the following:
Can all of the above be required from a tenant? According to CT state statute CGS 47a-21, the answer is NO.
Is first month’s rent allowed? YES
Is last month’s rent allowed? NO
Is a pet deposit allowed? NO
What about the TWO month’s security deposit? YES and NO..... Read on..
The statute states the following:
If a tenant is under 62 years of age, the landlord may take an amount equal to two months’ rent.
If a tenant is 62 years of age or older, the landlord may take ONLY one month’s rent.
So, at lease signing, the landlord is limited to taking only the following:
**No extra monies can be requested for a pet deposit or the last month’s rent.**
The statute also defines how the landlord must handle the security deposit. The landlord must deposit the money into an interest bearing escrow account in a Connecticut bank. No co-mingling is allowed. The interest is defined by the state banking commissioner.
This Interest Calculation Table in .xls format, designed by the CT Department of Banking, provides assistance to landlords and tenants in determining the interest that is owed on rental security deposits.
How do tenants get their security deposit returned? When tenants decide to move, they must provide their landlords with written notice of a forwarding address where the security deposit with interest can be sent. The tenant should send the notice via certified mail with a return receipt.
Landlords must return security deposits with interest or give tenants written notice of damages being claimed within 30 days of when tenants move.
Prior to moving, tenants should repair any damage they caused and walk through the rental with the landlord, if possible. Keys should be returned when the lease or tenancy ends.
For more detailed information, visit the CT Department of Banking website to ensure both tenants and landlords understand and are in compliance with the CT statute on security deposits.
Related post:
Rental Security Deposits in CT ~ What Are the Limits?
The information provided here is for informational purposes and not intended to be legal advice.
Stratford CT Single Family Market Report and Real Estate - February 2012
Stratford CT February 2012 single family home sales were UP 40% as compared to February 2011 sales.
List and selling price averages remained flat at under 1% each following the trend from the previous month. The median was down 12% and days on the market went up 16%.
To sweeten things up a little further, there are 27 houses under deposit and a whopping 69 houses pending (under contract). That should ensure another great month of sales moving forward into March. Stratford is definitely on the move -- in the right direction.
Which houses sold in Stratford CT in February 2012 and where was the highest concentration?
Stratford CT February 2012 Property Transfers
(as recorded in the Greater Fairfield County MLS as of 3/09/12)
Over 80% of sales in Stratford for February 2012 were below $300K. Stratford CT remains a very desirable town for first time buyers and downsizers.
The absorption trend, which shows the number of months it would take to sell the entire inventory at the same pace, came in at 9.51 for the last three months.
Keep in mind that this rate is for ALL houses. If you are selling your home, your agent should calculate the absorption rate trend for your price point to get a more accurate analysis. Some price points favor sellers; others favor buyers.
SEARCH for Your New Home in Stratford, CT
The success in selling your house in Stratford CT or any other community is dependent upon accurate pricing, effective preparation, calculating the absorption rate for your particular price point, and having a strong online marketing presence. A house will sell if there is a synergy among all four.
CONTACT ME for advice on how to LIST, MARKET, and SELL your home effectively in today's market. All agents do not provide the same marketing services.
If you would like a FREE professional market analysis done for your property in Stratford CT, please contact me.
Date Source: Greater Fairfield County Multiple Listing Service -- March 10, 2012. No representation or warranty is made to the accuracy of this information.
Stratford CT Single Family Market Report - February 2012 - Stratford CT Real Estate
Daylight Saving Time ~ Set Your Clocks Ahead and Change Some Batteries
I almost forgot!! Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 11, at 2 a.m. Clocks should be set AHEAD one hour (remember...spring FORWARD) except where DST is not observed like Hawaii and most of Arizona.
Along with setting the clocks ahead, please change out batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. So many lives have been lost in the past few months here in the CT area due to smoke detectors that either were inoperational or had dead or missing batteries. Take a few minutes to be sure your detectors are operating as intended.
Too bad we lose an hour of sleep, but for me an extra hour of light is an easy tradeoff…. Plus daylight saving time is the signal that spring and warmer weather (in CT anyway) is almost here…..finally……
Daylight Saving Time ~ Set Your Clocks Ahead and Change Some Batteries
St. Patricks Day Irish Night at the Perry House ~ Stratford CT
The historic Perry House in Stratford CT will be the venue for St. Patrick’s Day Irish Night on Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Perry House is located at 1128 West Broad Street, Stratford, CT.
Sponsored by the Stratford Executive Park, enjoy specialty Irish drinks, freshly carved corned beef sandwiches prepared by The Executive Chef, and live music provided by Shannon McMahon.
Built circa 1690, the Perry House, called the “Doorway to Stratford”, is a portal to welcoming residents and visitors, teaching history, and being an active participant in the life of the Stratford community. 
The house survived many changes through its 300+ years and was saved from demolition in 1997.
The Perry House Foundation was established thereafter and sponsors programs that increase public awareness of Stratford’s assets, history, and resources.
The building houses the Tourism Information Center and Chamber of Commerce office and provides a unique setting for weddings, parties, fundraising events, corporate meetings, and various cultural events.
Tickets for the St. Patrick’s Day Irish Night at the Perry House are $35.
Contact perryhouse1128@sbcglobal.net, call 203-37PERRY or visit the Perry House Stratford website for additional information.
♣♣♣
Beannachtai Na Feile Padraig Oraibh
St. Patrick's Day Blessing Upon You!
♣♣♣
St. Patricks Day Irish Night at the Perry House ~ Stratford CT
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