Jessica Beganski, Connecticut Realtor, REMAX Precision, Newington, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, West Hartford, Glastonbury, East Hartford, Manchester

New Listing - 250 Richard Street, Unit 1, Newington, CT $116,000

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:39:31 -0500

Jessica Beganski | RE/MAX Precision Realty | (860) 665-0850

250 Richard Street Unit 1, Newington, CT

2 Bed Ranch Condo in Deerfield Complex. Many Updates!

2BR/1BA Condo

offered at $116,000

Year Built	1971
Sq Footage	847
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Uncovered spaces
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$198 per month

DESCRIPTION

Great location on first floor. View of grassy playground area from kitchen.

Open layout.

Storage unit in basement.

Common laundry area in basement.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Tile floor
Living room	Dishwasher	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Laundry area - inside

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Guest parking

Laundry on-site

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Eat-in kitchen

Newer Carpet

Newer Windows & Slider

Upgraded bathroom with new tile and fixtures

Newer Appliances

One pet allowed - up to 20 lbs

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Kitchen	Bathroom
Living Room	Living/Kitchen
Bedroom 1	Bedroom 2

Contact info:

Jessica Beganski

RE/MAX Precision Realty

(860) 665-0850

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jun 4, 2009, 4:52pm PDT

10 Knoll Ridge, Middletown, CT - Large 4 Bed, 2.1 Bath Colonial with Custom Features

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:01:18 -0600

Jessica Beganski, The Bajorski Team | RE/MAX Precision Realty | jessicabeganski@remax.net | (860) 665-0850

10 Knoll Ridge Ct, Middletown, CT

Large Contemporary Colonial with Many Custom Features

4BR/2.5BA Single Family House

offered at $449,900

Year Built	2005
Sq Footage	2,742
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	16,988 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Large 4 Bed, 2.1 Bath Colonial with plenty of space and custom details. Built in 2005.

Hardwood floors and tile, stainless steel appliances, chair rail and crown moulding, custom built-in entertainment center, fireplace, breakfast nook, first floor laundry and finished bonus room above garage.

Vinyl siding, deck, patio and 2 car garage.

Great hillside neighborhood setting with views.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Hardwood floor	Tile floor	Family room
Living room	Bonus/Rec room	Dining room
Breakfast nook	Dishwasher	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Stainless steel appliances	Attic
Basement	Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio
Yard

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Hardwood Floors

Custom Built-in Entertainment Center in Family Room

Stainless Steel Appliances

Master Bed/Bath Suite

Chair Rail/Crown Moulding

Finished Bonus Room Over Garage

Fireplace

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Jessica Beganski, The Bajorski Team

RE/MAX Precision Realty

jessicabeganski@remax.net

(860) 665-0850

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jan 6, 2009, 7:46am PST

Condominium for Lease Plainville Connecticut - $950/month

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:23:30 -0600

Jessica Beganski | RE/MAX Precision Realty | jessicabeganski@remax.net | (860) 665-0850

10 Maple Street, Unit A-3, Plainville, CT

Large, updated 1 BR townhouse style condo in small complex.

1BR/1.5BA Condo

$950/month

Bedrooms	1
Bathrooms	1 full, 1 partial
Sq Footage	900
Parking	2 dedicated
Pet Policy	Cats
Deposit	$950

DESCRIPTION

Spacious one bedroom - 900 square feet - in small condo complex close to highway and town center.

Large master bedroom with walk-in closet and private bathroom. 1/2 bath on main level.

Kitchen with breakfast bar and area for dining table.

Dishwasher, stove, refrigerator, microwave, and washer/dryer in unit, parking in garage plus one addition space.

Deck for grilling.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

Air conditioning	Fireplace	Walk-in closet
Living room	Dining room	Dishwasher
Refrigerator	Stove/Oven	Microwave
Washer	Dryer	Laundry area - garage
Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Cable-ready

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking

LEASE TERMS

One year lease. $950/month - includes water. Tenant to pay electricity, heat, hot water, cable, phone. Landlord pays taxes and condo fees. First month's rent and security deposit of $950 due at lease signing. Tenant to pay credit check. Landlord will consider one cat - subject to $350 pet fee.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Renter contact info:

Jessica Beganski

RE/MAX Precision Realty

jessicabeganski@remax.net

(860) 665-0850

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Nov 25, 2008, 4:54pm PST

Holiday 2008 Feral Cat Food Drive December 13 and 14 in Newington Connecticut

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:57:08 -0600

Running some errands on the Berlin Turnpike this weekend?

Please consider a quick stop to my office at 2600 Berlin Turnpike to drop off unopened cans or bags of cat/kitten food. Your food will help Our Companions' volunteers who manage and feed feral cat colonies throughout Connecticut.

For details and directions, please visit my blog at CTRealEstateUnleashed.com.

Please Be Gentle...My First MeMe

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:23:05 -0600

Ruthmarie Hicks tagged me for this MeMe earlier this week...I'm a little late to respond since I've been on the sofa recovering from a yucky encounter with a stomach bug.

Anyway, this is my first MeMe. In fact, I had to look up how people respond to these things. My first question was, What the Heck is a MeMe?

So, I patrolled Active Rain and it occurred to me that these MeMes remind me of something...

Are they the new chain e-mail (Pass this on to ten people and you'll win $1,000,000 kinda thing) without the e-mail or the money.

Or, are they the blogging version of the invitation to a Pampered Chef party (oh, God was I glad when all my newly married friends stopped having these things - I can fit only so many dip mixes in my pantry)

Or, maybe they stopped inviting me? Could it be my poor attitude? Hardly...I'm the perfect Pampered Chef/Tupperware/Partylite guest. Just look in my cupboards.

So, here is the answer to my first MeMe...

The instructions were:

1. Pick up the nearest book.

2. Turn to page 56.

3. Find the fifth sentence and post the text of the next two to five sentences.

4. Don't dig for the favorite or coolest or most intellectual book.

5. Pass it on to five more people.

Ruthmarie was right...I am reading a dog book. Really it's about a boy and his dog. I just started it, a gift from my mother in-law for my birthday.

From The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski,

When he finished he found his mother in the whelping room. She was holding a pup in the air in front of her, examining it and singing under her breath how she was crazy for tryin', crazy for cryin', crazy for loving it.

The truck was still gone when he got off the school bus that afternoon. His mother enlisted his help retrieving sheets from the clothesline.

"Don't they smell great?" she said.

I'm tagging some pet-friendly Realtors for this one, just because.

2 Bedroom Apartment Rental in West Hartford CT Available 12/1/2008

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:14:59 -0600

Jessica Beganski | (860) 965-5010

50 Gillette Street, West Hartford, CT

Large, Remodeled 2 Bed. Apt. in Great Area w/in Walking Distance to
Restaurants, Shops

2BR/1BA Apartment

$1,100/month

Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1 full, 0 partial
Sq Footage	1,100
Parking	2 dedicated
Pet Policy	Cats, Dogs (any)
Deposit	$1,100

DESCRIPTION

2nd Floor unit in 1920s two-family on quiet street close to AC Petersen's and other amenities near Park Road.

Five rooms, including two bedrooms large dining room, at nearly 1,100 square feet plus extra space in three-season porch and deck.

Hardwood floors.

Updated eat-in kitchen with newer appliances and butler's pantry.

Brand new bathroom - new tile and fixtures. Fresh paint.

Storage in huge basement. Parking for up to two cars. Laundry hookups in basement.

Gas heat - newer, more efficient unit.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

Central heat	Hardwood floor	Tile floor
Living room	Dining room	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Basement	Laundry area - inside
Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Cable-ready

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Small building

Vintage building

LEASE TERMS

$1100/month plus utlilies (water included) 1 month security deposit Credit check required ($40.00 fee) Pets allowed with landlord approval - $350 pet fee. No smoking please.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Renter contact info:

Jessica Beganski

(860) 965-5010

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Nov 17, 2008, 11:47am PST

Another Baghdad Pup Makes it Home to Connecticut

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:10:24 -0600

I posted this last week on my other blog at CTRealEstateUnleashed.com but thought it was worth it to share with everyone on Active Rain.

Last year, I read From Baghdad With Love: A Marine, The War and a Dog Named Lava. It is a war memoir centered around a Marine's struggle to adopt a stray puppy he found in Iraq and bring it home to the US.

Since then, I've been following the stories of other soldiers who've rescued stray dogs in Iraq and then try to bring them home. Unfortunately, the military has a policy in place forbidding soldiers from keeping animals. Despite this, many soldiers have grown attached to pets they've found or saved from starvation and neglect. Their bond with these animals not only helps the pet but provides immeasurable comfort to soldiers who are far from home. Furthermore, the miltary makes it impossible for soldiers who rescue pets to transport them back home, which is where the SPCA has stepped in.

The SPCA has been working to help soldiers bring home pets from Iraq. Their Operation Baghdad Pups (the slogan is No Buddy Gets Left Behind) has successfuly helped rescue dozens of soldiers' pets and there is one more to report.

From the SPCA via the Furry Paws Chronicle,

"Yesterday, a U.S. soldier’s dog arrived in Connecticut after a long journey from Iraq. Wayne and Susan Szmyt welcomed their son’s dog, Kindi, to their Trumbull home this weekend. Kindi arrived in the U.S. at Dulles International Airport Saturday afternoon along with 3 other soldiers’ dogs thanks to SPCA International’s Operation Baghdad Pups program. The Szmyt’s son, Derek, will be returning home from Iraq soon to be reunited with Kindi."

To read more of Kindi's story, click here.

The YouTube slideshow shows pictures of some of the pets rescued by soliders.

Real Estate Business (and Life) Behavior Doggie Style

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:34:21 -0500

When you have three rescued male dogs over 70 lbs each, you pick up a few things about dog behavior, not the least of which is getting along in a competitive (dare I say, dog-eat-dog) environment.

Allow me to introduce my teachers, Obie, Morgan and Willy. Maybe you'll pick up a few useful kibbles of wisdom.

Sniff First, Then Growl

I live on a country road with a lot of "nature" around, like bunnies, fox, deer, skunk, frogs, cats and woodchuck. I can tell when one these critters is outside because Willy, who has deemed himself my personal bodyguard, will get up with his ears perked and run to a door or window to check it out.

Most of the time, he decides the threat is low and he goes back to laying on his bed. Bunnies are a low threat. Once in a while though, a backyard intruder warrants a low growl. When I hear that growl, I know something is up. It's usually deer or skunk. Once, it was someone on the property.

The point is that Willy doesn't just growl for anyone or anything. He checks it out first - who is it, what are they doing and are they any danger?

You all know those agents (or people in general) - they're the little yappy dogs of the human world always looking for a fight. You don't call an agent within 5 minutes of your showing for feedback (the horror!) or you bring them an offer based on comparables (but they're still insulted!).

When Someone Bites You, Don't Hold a Grudge

Morgan is the best at this. Despite being bitten by Willy (for entering Willy's crate when he was guarding a bone) and other such abuses, Morgan always shakes it off. Literally - he just does a quick shake and he forgives Willy for any growl, bark or bite as evidenced by taking every opportunity to sit next to or play with Willy.

And he must have forgiven people, too, for leaving him locked up in a tiny crate for the first 10 months of his life because he is a very sweet dog to people.

I need to follow this advice more often. It's so easy to hold a grudge against someone for some slight (for example a family member who used another agent or another agent who insulted you). Morgan says, "Move on, people."

Praise and Treat Often

Every time my dogs go to do their business, I give them a biscuit. I'm so consistent that just opening the cabinet brings my dogs to the back door. They love treats - who doesn't.

For people (and pets) that help us or just make life a little easier, we need to remember to say "thanks."

I've written thank you letters to:

-A police officer who was investigating a crime near my home.

-An installer from the water company who took the time to explain my new water meter to me and who found a problem that I didn't even know I had.

-A woman who consistently greeted me at dog day care every day, ensuring that I was in and out very quickly.

-My hairdresser for changing my hair color to a color I didn't know I would like but she knew I would.

Heck, I feel great writing those letters and typing about them now so I can just imagine that the people who received them felt pretty good, too.

91 Old Farm Drive, Newington $279,600

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:09:32 -0500

Jessica Beganski | RE/MAX Precision Realty | (860) 665-0850

91 Old Farm Drive, Newington, CT

Leave The Tools Behind - Move in Condition Home on Quiet Cul-de-Sac
Near Newington High

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $279,600

Year Built	1963
Sq Footage	1,624
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	3
Parking	1 Car garage
Lot Size	.26 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Leave the tools behind! Beautiful home in great neighborhood is move-in ready. Newer windows & HW Heater, vinyl siding, new driveway, lawn irrigation system. Hardwood floors, FP, updated kitchen and bathrooms w/tile. Gas Heat/Stove. Flexible floor plan.

Shows very well. Flexible floor plan features 1st floor family room, lower level den/office/playroom, finished basement used as 2nd kitchen - could be in-law or cabinets easily removed for additional living space.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Hardwood floor	Tile floor	Family room
Living room	Office/Den	Breakfast nook
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Basement	Washer	Dryer
Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Irrigation System

C/AIR

Wood floors & solid wood doors

Updated Bathrooms

Large 1st floor family room

Bonus office space/den/playroom on lower level

Full 2nd kitchen

Possible In-law

Private 2nd entrance

Deck

Replacement Windows

Fence

Gas heat

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Jessica Beganski

RE/MAX Precision Realty

(860) 665-0850

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Sep 15, 2008, 6:05am PDT

100% Financing Through USDA Rural Development Available in Many Connecticut Towns

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:29:07 -0500

Mark Harrington, a mortgage lender with Horizon Home Mortgage in Windsor, shared this information with me recently:

The USDA provides 100% financing for mortgages on homes in "rural" areas, including many in Connecticut. Towns like Burlington, Avon, Granby, Canton, East Windsor and Suffield in Hartford County and towns such as Marlborough, Hebron, East Hampton, Colchester and Ellington in surrounding counties.

There are income limits - for Hartford County the current limit for a 2 person household is $73,150 and the program is only available for owner occupied, single family homes.

But there are also some significant benefits for qualifying properties and buyers:

-Seller may contribute closing costs.

-No down payment required.

-Competitive rates.

-No minimum credit score.

-No monthly mortgage insurance premium.

Looking for the perfect home for a USDA Rural Development Loan? This home at 124 Gates Road in Lebanon is located on 4 acres and qualifies for this program.

To check availability in your area, click on this link: USDA.

Pending Home Sales in Newington, Connecticut - August 28, 2008

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:23:36 -0500

Status	Address	List Price	Style	#Bd	#Bth	SqFt	#Gr	Days on Market	MLS#
DEPOS	32 CHAPMAN ST	129,900	CAPE	3	1	1204	2	17	G500810
DEPOS	5 MARVIS ST	135,000	BUNG	2	1	864	1	15	G486479
DEPOS	168 NICHOLSON ST	139,900	CAPE	3	1.1	1857	0	7	G506316
DEPOS	51 COMMONWEALTH AVE	149,900	COL	2	1.1	825	2	82	G498824
DEPOS	482 NEW BRITAIN AVE	159,900	CAPE	2	1	1222	1	56	G498343
DEPOS	54 HIGHLAND STREET	163,999	CAPE	3	1	1187	0	11	G498683
DEPOS	17 FRANCIS AVE	164,900	CAPE	3	1	1428	0	3	G506183
DEPOS	51 SADDLE HILL RD	169,900	RANCH	3	1	1008	1	5	G502254
SHOW	461 MOUNTAIN	169,900	OTHER	4	2	1896	3	84	G498436
DEPOS	100 MAIN ST	175,000	CAPE	2	1	825	2	93	G495144
DEPOS	169 CEDAR RIDGE RD	185,000	RANCH	2	2	1056	2	23	G500660
SHOW	189 BACK LN	189,900	RANCH	2	2	1006	0	168	G487792
SHOW	103 BROOKDALE AVE	193,900	RANCH	3	1	1434	0	28	G503130
DEPOS	38 GROVELAND TER	199,900	COL	4	2	1904	1	19	G502327
SHOW	31 DARTMOUTH PL	199,900	CAPE	3	1	1587	1	91	G495659
DEPOS	42 WOODMERE RD	204,900	RANCH	2	1	1000	1	56	G496203
DEPOS	301 CEDAR ST	209,900	RANCH	3	2	1448	1	55	G494894
DEPOS	168 CONNECTICUT AVE	210,000	RANCH	3	1.5	1161	1	66	G495391
DEPOS	291 WALSH AVE	219,900	RANCH	3	2	1462	1	63	G496473
SHOW	62 CEDAR RIDGE RD	219,900	COL	3	1	2200	1	85	G496180
DEPOS	343 LLOYD ST	224,900	CAPE	3	2	1428	1	12	G501059
SHOW	15 BARNARD DRIVE	224,900	RANCH	4	1.1	1302	1	10	G505337
SHOW	111 DOWD ST	242,900	CAPE	4	2	1526	1	25	G503687
DEPOS	100 NORTHWOOD RD	249,900	RANCH	3	2	1233	1	18	G502672
SHOW	19 KELSEY STREET	249,900	RAISE	3	1.1	1158	2	63	G495497
DEPOS	101 MICHAEL LN	269,900	RANCH	3	2	1400	1	8	G504497
DEPOS	81 GRANDVIEW DRIVE	279,900	CAPE	3	2	1827	2	6	G504469
DEPOS	19 GREAT OAK LN	285,000	COL	4	2	1757	1	105	G493421
SHOW	52 FRANCIS DR	289,900	COL	4	2.1	1968	2	18	G503918
SHOW	24 LAURENCE LN	289,900	COL	3	1.1	1750	1	9	G504730
SHOW	66 WELLES DR. N.	299,000	COL	3	2	2000	1	39	G502326
SHOW	165 EAGLE DR	299,900	RAISE	3	2.1	1964	2	28	G502032
DEPOS	34 PEPPER BUSH LN	307,000	COL	3	2.1	1644	2	65	G496865
DEPOS	189 HARTFORD AVE	309,900	COL	4	3	2500	0	142	G480198
SHOW	47 HEMLOCK ST	329,900	COL	3	2.1	2680	2	110	G495165
SHOW	108 KIMBERLEY RD	379,900	COL	3	2.1	2264	2	2	G498712
SHOW	220 KIMBERLEY RD.	379,900	COL	4	2.1	2810	2	42	G500383
DEPOS	35 RED ROCK CIRCLE	389,900	COL	4	2.1	2146	2	12	G490204

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Real Estate in the Slow Lane

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:49:19 -0500

Earlier this year, I changed the way I drive. I wrote about this on my other blog, CTRealEstateUnleashed.com.

I don't need to tell you how expensive it is to be in a business that requires you be in the car all the time. Where I once spent $30/week on gas, I was looking at $60/week. Anyway you look at it, that just stinks. What's a girl to do?

Without changing my car, inflating my tires (nudge,nudge) or biking to showings like this Realtor in California (helmet hair is not for me), I've managed to save about one gallon of gas per week, or about $4.00.

Over a year, the savings would be around $200-$250. When you annual gas costs are up in the thousands of dollars, that's not a lot of money but it's better than nothing.

I did it very simply - I've been driving the speed limit, accelerating slower and braking less often. In addition to improving my gas mileage, I've learned a few things along the way:

I am a better, safer driver.

Almost every other driver on the road is a homicidal maniac (like I once was). I can't tell you how many hand gestures I've had thrown my way lately. Right back at ya'.

I don't lose that much time - maybe 2-3 minutes. However, sometimes I speed up when my daughter is having a fit in the backseat just to spend 2-3 minutes less with her in the car.

Be prepared to be rear-ended at some point. It's just a risk you take.

I'm going to save a few hundred dollars in speeding tickets.

I actually get to see where I'm going - the scenery is no longer a blur.

Several of my clients have told me that they appreciate my slower driving style, especially when they are following me to a showing.

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Hartford County Real Estate Market Statistics for July 2008

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:09:35 -0500

Hartford County Real Estate Market Statistics for July 2008

The median sales price is down from where it was in July 2007 at $272,500 to $261,250, but is slightly higher than the month before. We're still hangin' tough in Hartford County.

July 2008 vs July 2007

Median Sales Price in July 2008 - $261,250

618 Sales

36 Average Days on Market

Median Sales Price in July 2007 - $272,500

800 Sales

30 Average Days on Market

June 2008 vs June 2007

Median Sales Price in June 2008 - $260,000

710 Sales

31 Average Days on Market

Median Sales Price in June 2007 - $269,900

891 Sales

27 Average Days on Market

Absorption Rate

Since May, the number of homes on the market has been slowly shrinking, putting most of Hartford County in a balanced or normal market. May - 7 Months of Inventory June - 6 Months of Inventory - an average of 585 homes selling in previous three months July - 5 Months of Inventory - an average of 577 homes selling in previous three months Clearly, we experienced a jump in home sales during the spring which has absorbed some of the housing inventory. Is this a sign of better things to come? I don’t think so.

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Texting Has Come to Listing Descriptions

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:49:58 -0500

I saw this listing in our MLS and I actually thought it was a joke.

"LG deduction SO Send in yer pals, ample space for in-law or office etc,nr everything,warm,inviting,solid, quality, character Shiny pine fld thru-out spacious yard, Walk to swimming, park, schools & churches"

Alas, someone has been texting their tween a little too much.

MLS grammar is bad to begin with (really what is an EIK and who else but agents knows this??) but this one must have been punched in on a Crackberry.

Blogging About My Listings Without Blogging About My Listings

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:42:13 -0500

I'll admit that I blog about my listings - shamelessly racking up points while advertising my listing to other agents and buyers who are about as likely to see my property based on the post as Ed McMahon is to show up on my doorstep with a gigantic check and balloons.

However, I want people to know about my listings but not only do listing posts. Those are easy to look past as overt marketing.

So, I'm trying this technique - blog about my listings without blogging about my listings.

In this example, I showcased a listing while really posting about Google Street View.

Surprise! Your Home is On Candid Camera

I included a photo, price and street location, plus a link to the listing as well as good information about Google Street View.

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To Pin or Not to Pin - That is the Question

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:30:01 -0500

One of the questions that has plagued me since I became a Realtor is not, "How can I serve my clients best?" nor is it, "How can I increase my business?"

It is, "Should I wear a name badge?" Since I got my name badge, I've rarely worn it.

It's a nice badge but I fear that I might look like a fast food worker. Not that there is anything wrong with working at Captain Hook's Fish and Chips but the profession of real estate agent should be elevated above, "Do you want tartar sauce with your beer battered cod sticks?"

Flixster - Share Movies

And then there's the dilemma of how many pins should I wear?

I have a REALTOR pin, my ABR pin, a GRI pin and another one for At Home with Diversity. And I'm sure there are more.

I fear my pin wearing might go a little crazy.

Don't get me wrong - I am proud to be a REALTOR but not sure wearing a name badge all the time is for me.

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Home for Sale at 91 Old Farm Drive in Newington, CT - $289,500

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:28:58 -0500

Jessica Beganski | RE/MAX Precision Realty | (860) 665-0850

91 Old Farm Drive, Newington, CT

Beautiful Split Level in Great Neighborhood

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $289,500

Year Built	1963
Sq Footage	1,624
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	3
Parking	1 Car garage
Lot Size	.26 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Beautiful home in excellent condition on cul-de-sac near RT 9, CCSU, center of Newington and walking distance to Newington High School.

Many updates including CAIR, wood floors, fireplace, tile bathrooms and newer carpeting. Also features vinyl siding, roof and windows done about ten years ago, newer driveway, and new hot water heater. Gas heat.

Possible in-law on lower level with access to bathroom, private entrance, and 2nd kitchen.

Flexible floor plan features lower level area that could serve as a playroom, office, 2nd family room or in-law space.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Hardwood floor	Tile floor	Family room
Living room	Office/Den	Breakfast nook
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Basement	Washer	Dryer
Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Irrigation System

C/AIR

Wood floors & solid wood doors

Updated Bathrooms

Large 1st floor family room

Bonus office space/den/playroom on lower level

Full 2nd kitchen

Possible In-law

Private 2nd entrance

Deck

Replacement Windows

Fence

Gas heat

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Jessica Beganski

RE/MAX Precision Realty

(860) 665-0850

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 2, 2008, 9:24am PDT

Adopt a Pet in Connecticut at One of These Events

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:47:26 -0500

Our Companions Ambassadors will be at the following events in June and July. Stop by and meet the pets we have up for adoption.

PETCO Newington
Dates: 6/22/08, 6/26/08, 7/10/08, 8/14/08
188 Kitts Lane
Newington, CT
860-667-9621

PETCO Avon
Dates: 6/28/08, 07/26/08, 09/27/08, 10/25/08, 11/22/08
9 West Avon Road
Avon, CT
860-404-8880

PETCO Windsor
Dates: 7/5/08, 8/2/08, 9/6/08, 10/4/08
1065 Kennedy Road
Windsor, CT
860-687-1134

PETCO Farmington
Dates: 6/21/08, 7/19/08, 8/9/08 (12pm-3pm)
1600S East Road
Farmington, CT
860-674-9599

Friends of Mansfield Animal Shelter
Shady Glen, Manchster, CT
June 21, 2008
10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Biker's Against Animal Cruelty Rally
Glastonbury, CT
July 12, 2008
1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

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It's So Easy, Even CT Realtors Can Do it.

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:43:45 -0500

With just a click of your mouse, you can help legislators make the right decision this time during their special session on June 11th. Visit http://www.myhouse-mymoney.com/ and enter your town. Presto! The website will generate an email to your elected officials - all you need to do is add your name and press send.

Sibling Rivalry in My Blog Family - Dual (Dueling) Blogs

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:19:02 -0500

I have three blogs. Call them my children...

My First - A free blog on Wordpress.com called Real Real Estate in CT. I started it just to get my feet wet because I wasn't sure I would be able to commit to blogging. A year and a half later, I have a page rank on 5 on Google which isn't bad since when I started, I didn't even know what page rank was and how badly I needed to have it. Being the first - I made a lot of mistakes and wasn't very good at blogging, or at least the business of blogging.

The Middle Child - the Active Rain Blog. Up until recently, I haven't made a commitment to Active Rain. Frankly, learning about blogging, writing, selling real estate and the whole personal life made it difficult to spend a lot of time on Active Rain. Plus, I still can't figure out how to get the most out of Localism...

The Baby - My new blog at CTRealEstateUnleashed.com is the combination of two loves - real estate and helping find homes for homeless pets. To me, my last attempt at blog parenting is near perfect. I thought about this blog for months and have spent just as much time tweaking it. I just went live about a week or so ago and have been slowly incorporating it into my marketing.

At this time, my first blog is stagnant. It is only up until the folks at the Real Estate Tomato can help me figure out how to do a redirect to the new site, which Wordpress has made difficult.

So for now, the first blog continues to get all the traffic (as far as my non-AR blogs go) while my new blog struggles to find its footing. Typical over-achieving firstborn.

Meanwhile, my neglected middle blog gets top billing. When you search my name on Google, my little blog on ActiveRain comes up #1 even though I am not a regular. I guess that's the power of ActiveRain -something that would be hard to replicate on my own.

I originally intended the Active Rain blog to be more of an agent-to-agent blog, while writing mostly for the consumer on my other blog. But this doesn't seem to make sense since Active Rain has so much clout.

All my blogs link to each other - I have my AR button displayed and I link from AR to my new blog in every post. And I modified my AR blog to have a theme similar to that of my non-AR blog. But I'm not sure my blogs are there for each other - if you know what I mean.

How do I get my blogs to get along and act like a family? After all...

"A house divided against itself cannot stand" - Abraham Lincoln

Do I develop totally unique content for each blog? Do I kind of cheat and use some of my old posts on either site (which I kind of do already but something about feels disengenuous)?

I'm working on an answer and I'll let you know.

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Lebanon - Country Living on 4 Acres - Close to Everything in this Beautiful Updated Ranch for Just $251,800

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:34:22 -0500

Jessica Beganski | RE/MAX Precision Realty | (860) 665-0850

124 Gates Road, Lebanon, CT

Beautiful Ranch in Move-in Condition on 4+ Acres on Peaceful Country Road

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $251,800

Year Built	1985
Sq Footage	1,196
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	3 Uncovered spaces
Lot Size	182,952 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Beautiful Ranch in Great Shape on quiet country road on 4+Acres w/stone walls, Horses OK, Stream. Wide plank pine floors/Wood doors/FP/Stain Steel Apps/2 Full BAs/Ample Closets/Open Layout/CAIR. Instantly Add Value By Finishing Walkout Basement. 2 Wood Decks. 200 Amps electrical service. Roof in 2003.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Hardwood floor	Tile floor	Living room
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Stainless steel appliances	Basement	Laundry area - inside
Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Wide plank pine floors

Wood doors

Walkout lower level

200 Amps electrical service

Newer roof

Master bath/bedroom suite

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Jessica Beganski

RE/MAX Precision Realty

(860) 665-0850

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: May 13, 2008, 3:32pm PDT

You Can't Hear This Enough - Safety Tips for Realtors at Work and At Home

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:10:30 -0500

From Self Defense With An Attitude:

If you're a real estate professional, your primary job is meeting with complete strangers - showing homes, holding open houses, and even being out walking to your car late at night...all in the hopes that you secure a new client that you sell a home or property to. You're faced with potentially risky situations almost every day. Because of the very nature of your job.....your safety should be a main priority for you.

There are crazy predators who seek out female realtors - not really caring who you are so long as you are a female. Then there are those crazies who seek out realtors who are high visibility agents. These are the million dollar agents who are on the cover of magazines, on the billboards, in the newspapers - their name is highly recognizable.

These predators see million dollar agents and assume you must be earning that full amount for yourself. There have been many realtors who have been followed to their homes by such predators and attacked in their own home. Some agents have been stalked and had their homes burglarized. Consider your safety and the safety of your home and family Priority Number 1.

While I've considered my safety on the job, while doing showings, I hadn't considered just how highly visible we are within our own homes. We want people to recognize us but this comes at the cost of safety.

This is a great article - read it and keep it!

For a related article, read Staying Safe in Your Home - Tips on Preventing a Home Invasion.

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Just When Are You "In Contract" - The Executed Purchase & Sales Agreement

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:46:18 -0500

In real estate, we often use the term "executed" to refer to a purchase and sales agreement that has been signed and received by both real estate buyers and sellers.

What this means is that the buyer has submitted an offer, has included an offer of consideration (a deposit amount), and the seller has accepted the offer without any changes. Once the seller has signed the offer and it's sent back to the buyer, then we say we have an executed contract.

We consider an offer to be executed even if the seller has not actually received the deposit check - in practice, many agents fax a copy of the check to the seller's agent and then deliver the real check after buyers and sellers have agreed. Even if that check takes a few days to get to the sellers, the buyers still have what we call an executed contract. Waiting for the check becomes dicey in a seller's market because other, higher, offers may come in while the seller is waiting for their deposit check.

Technically...

I took a look at my Modern Real Estate textbook and according to it, a contract is not fully "executed" until all parties have fulfilled their promises - so a purchase and sales agreement is only technically executed at the closing. What we call an executed contract is really an executory contract (where parties still have to do something). But, in practice, we call a purchase and sales agreement that has been signed by both sides an executed contract.

To read other great posts, visit my other blog, CTRealEstateUnleashed.com

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Unlocking the Mysteries of the Listing Sheet

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:58:24 -0500

When is Actve not really actively on the market? This and your other burning questions about the data contained in listing sheets in Connecticut are answered.

Here is a sample listing sheet:

Status

ACT or Active - the house is for sale and is available to view. It is not yet under deposit but that doesn’t mean that offers have not been presented.

SHOW or Under Deposit/Continue to Show - The house is under deposit but the contract has contingencies that haven’t been met yet.

DEPOS or Under Deposit - The house is under deposit and is no longer available to be seen by other buyers.

HUBRD - The house in question has a hubbard clause on it, meaning that a buyer has a contract on the property but it is subject to the sale of their own home. If the seller receives another offer on the house, the original buyer may either release the hubbard clause and buy the house or the seller may cancel the contract and accept the offer of the second buyer.

EXP or Expired - The listing agreement with the brokerage has expired and has not yet been renewed.

WITH or Withdrawn - The house has been withdrawn from the market and is probably not available for showing. The seller may let the listing expire or may put the house back on the market.

CANCL or Cancelled - The listing agreement was cancelled and the house is no longer “officially” on the market.

TEMP or Temporarily off the Market - This one is funny. An agent has taken a listing and for some reason, the agent or seller doesn’t want the house shown for a period of time - a few days, a week, etc. Now, in a heavy sellers market, I used to see homes come on the market TEMP status and then two or three days later, go under deposit. The house “went on the market” but not really - it was probably sold to a client the agent had already lined up or was sold “in house.”

Square Feet

2000/Town - This means the town has the square footage of the property at 2000 sf.

2000/Agent - The agent took the measurements, possibly because the town is inaccurate or because the seller feels that the square footage in the basement should also be included.

2000/Owner - The seller says its 2000 square feet and there will be no arguments.

Agent Comments

Cozy - small rooms.

EIK - Eat-in-kitchen.

As-is - the owner is making no representations about the home so “buyer beware.” Before putting in an offer, be sure to carefully examine the home and get an inspection, although the seller may very likely not make any repairs you ask for.

Bank owned - Known as an REO or real estate owned property, bank owned properties have been taken over by a lender for some reason such as foreclosure. Special addenda are required with bank owned properties.

Short sale - The seller owes more on the property than they can expect to sell it for. The bank and the buyer both have to agree to any offer you submit which will probably take longer.

Clean - if that’s best that can be said, then the house probably needs some other things like updates to kitchen and baths.

Must see inside - the outside is a mess, so don’t judge a book by its cover.

Priced to sell/motivated sellers - the seller or agent is desperate to move the house but that doesn’t always mean they’ll sell it for a bargain.

Just reduced - this doesn’t necessarily mean the house is priced accurately. Nor is it always 100% truthful. I just saw a listing where the price started at $269,900 in the summer, went up to $274,900 and then was reduced again to $269,900 - Just reduced!

Dates

Listing Date - This is the date the listing went on the market - with this MLS number. It’s not always the date the house originally went on the market. Your agent should do a check in property history in the MLS as well as do an address search for all occasions the listing may have been on the market under another MLS number.

Days on Market - Same thing here. The Days on Market is the number of days the listing has been on the market with a particular MLS number.

Tax Information

Assessment - This is the value on which the town bases property taxes. It is supposed to be 70% of the town's appraisal. Towns are mandated to do revaluations every 5 years so the assessed value and the appraisal may not be anywhere near the market value.

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Fighting the Real Estate Conveyance Tax in Connecticut

Thu, 29 May 2008 12:43:36 -0500

Home sellers in Connecticut pay a conveyance tax when they sell. The median home in CT sells for about $250,000 and the real estate conveyance tax on the median home would be about $2000, more if you live in one of the 18 towns that can charge you an extra .25% or an extra $500.

The tax was raised a few years ago, temporarily, to help solve a budget shortfall but keeps getting renewed. The tax the municipalities are desperate not to lose because it's easy money and most home sellers forget about it until the closing table.

The increase in the tax is supposed to sunset, rolling back to its original amount - saving future home sellers around $400 based on the median sales price of $250,000. It's not a lot of money but the principle is simple:

If the tax was supposed to be temporary, legislators have an obligation to roll it back.

And with all the talk about rescuing homeowners these days from subprime mortgages, what about rescuing homeowners who are responsible enough to sell their homes before the bank forecloses on them but have to walk away owing the bank and the government money?

From whom do they need rescuing?

In Tuesday's Hartford Courant, a letter to the editor appeared from the Exective Directors of the CT Conference of Municipalities and the Capitol Region Council of Governments - two groups that lobby for town and municipal governments. Here's what they had to say:

"...the special-interest real estate lobby which seeks to portray itself as the homeowner's friend by lobbying to deprive municipalities of up to $40 million in needed revenue next year.

That's right - the same for-profit Realtors who take up to a whopping 7 percent cut of any home sale want to slice $40 million in non-property-tax revenue by reducing the municipal share of the conveyance tax. That means a direct shift of that amount onto the back of the property tax - Connecticut's most overused and income-insensitive tax."

Well, I was pretty mad so I wrote a letter to the editor and it appears in the Hartford Courant today, May 29.

Here is most of my letter:

"Although Mr. Finley and Mr. Wray tried to dismiss Realtors like me who disagree with them as part of the "special-interest real estate lobby" and "the same for-profit Realtors who take up to a whopping 7 percent cut of a home sale," Realtors are leading the fight to protect our clients' home equity.

Note: Realtors are often the only professionals involved in a real estate transaction willing to negotiate their fees, which, for the sake of accuracy, are not typically 7 percent of the sales price.

However, I would like to present the only opinion that really matters - that of the homeowner and, in particular, the homeowner selling today.

In today's market, more and more homeowners owe more on their homes than the homes are worth. More often than not, these are homeowners in areas with a high rate of foreclosure, a declining median sales price and a shortage of qualified buyers. These homeowners face some tough options: come to the closing table with money, negotiate a short sale, which affects their credit, or allow the bank to foreclose, which affects their credit even more.

What do I say to homeowners who want to do the right thing and pay what they owe on their mortgage? Should I tell them that the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, a powerful special-interest lobby representing the expanding budgets of towns and cities in Connecticut, has been fighting tooth and nail to keep the increased real estate conveyance tax, which robs them, homeowners in trouble, of their equity, possibly forcing them to pay a tax when they walk away with no money?

The real estate conveyance tax should be rolled back to its original amount - not because it will help Realtors but because it will help homeowners."

For posts on the conveyance tax,

Help Homeowners Not Towns - Allow Conveyance Tax Increase to Sunset

Will Connecticut Legislators Help Homeowners In Trouble

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