Ed Silva CDPE, GRI, ABR, Real Estate Agent

Good evening and welcome to the 2008

Contractor Awards. Nominees are:

And the winner is....

This was sent to me by a friend, unfortunately there was no way that I could open it up for balloting by the AR members. Perhaps someone a little more clever than I can offer a suggestion?

Saturday's Belmont stakes in New York brought out thousands to see some of the finest race horses in the world try to claim the last leg of horse racing's Triple Crown. Sunday on the banks of the Naugatuck River in Naugatuck, a much smaller, yet equally as interested and festive a crowd were there to watch the fourth annual swim for charity by 17,055 enthusiastic little yellow ducks.

The entry fee for a contestant was $5.00, half of which was donated to charities that contributed in the event by selling tickets for the race. At the end of the day, everyone had a good time, and the entrants were collected, counted, they'll be bathed and stored away anxiously waiting for next year's race.

And they're Off!!!!

The infield was crowded as were the grandstands with anxious racing enthusiasts.

The judges were at the finish line waiting for official photos to declare the winner.

The changes in the appraisal process that started on May 1, 2009 were projected to make the appraisal portion of the deal the black box nightmare. I have already had a couple of negative experiences so pessimismwas to be expected, but my latest episode leaves me optimistic.

Having just accepted an offer on a listing, and with the inspection process almost completed, I got a call from the appraiser within 10 days of the contract being signed. The appraiser requested a copy of the contract and asked me if I had appropriate comps that I could share. He was from a town reasonably close and was some what familiar with the area. He also had access to the MLS, but I guess he wanted to see the basis for the listing.

He was prompt, walked around the outside came back inside, took his photos, asked a few questions of the homeowner, then asked me for paperwork. I gave him the comps I had used when I did the CMA back in Feb. for the client, and I also gave him comps for closings that had taken place within the past 2 weeks. He reviewed them briefly, asked a couple of additional questions and left. Before he took off he did offer that it appeared to be in line and that he would be done within a couple of days. This felt too much like the old days when the appraisers actually listened to the Realtor, and appreciated their help.

I just hope I'm not singing the praises too soon.

There's a Dr. Seuss children's book titled ‘Oh the Places You'll Go!" It has humorous and motivational stories encouraging kids to do something positive with their life. One of the places that Dr. Seuss describes as ‘useless' is ‘the waiting place..."

Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting."

Dr. Seuss exhorts his young readers to escape to the ‘bright places where Boom Bands are playing."

There are many people in the real estate market stuck in the waiting place. People are waiting for the prices to go even lower and the market to finally bottom out, etc. This is a useless place indeed. After months of watching prices drop, and more and more bank owned, or ‘underwater' homes enter the market, it's time for the sideline audience to finally get in the game and leave "Useless Place".

Prices here in the Upper Naugatuck Valley are as low as they have ever been. Buyers are starting to leave their ‘useless place' to take advantage of the bargains, coupled with some of the lowest interest rates in years and a IRS credit of $8,000. Sellers in the area are still trying to get a fair price for their homes, and even though they may stay on the market a little longer than usual, quality home priced fairly will sell.

In our area there is a wonderful range of competitively priced homes for sale right now, and the smart buyers are taking advantage of this and are no longer waiting.

Are you stuck in a useless waiting place? I can help any buyer find a home in the Central Naugatuck Valley.

We've had about 3 inches of rain within the past week and we have a promise of more. Not the best of times for outdoor activities, but I like showing houses in the rain. This, for me, is when all the little secrets get discovered. you can't hide the bad window seals, because the windows fog; the water around the chimney and skylights can't be disguised; the stains in the basements are easier to trace and discover just what "only a little seepage with heavy rains" actually means. Of course seeing the wet vacs out in the open is usually a good clue.

I find that with the rains come the results, and the buyers get a chance to make a better evaluation of the home. They can always come back when it's sunny for the second showing so that they feel good about writing the offer. Of course sending along a few photos of the wet stuff, when we send over the offer doesn't hurt either.

Does anybody else like showings in the rain?