Connecticut Real Estate & Running Ramblings

Happy Birthday Sandra

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:39:53 -0600

MADD Dash - One for the Record Book!

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:46:53 -0600

Seems we all slow down with age and as my training has escalated over the past few years it has been frustrating to see my best running time was before I joined Team in Training and really learned about the importance of variation on runs.

Last week at this time I was in the early miles of my slowest marathon in NYC. Pat Murray and I planned to do the Miami Marathon but we never talked about how to approach the race so on marathon morning we went our separate ways, in NY we decided to set an nice pace and enjoy the sights of the city which was great!

Yesterday I noticed there was a 5 mile race in New Haven so this morning I was off to the MADD Dash. I felt pretty good considering I'd just finished a 26.2 mile marathon but at mile 4 with a time of 36:20 I figured chance are I would not make up a minute in the final mile for a new personal record in a 5 miles race so I settled in to a comfortable pace behind a follower.

The last mile was not a steep downhill but a nice gradual decline where I was able to pick up a little speed. About 200 yards from the finish I could see the clock turn to mark 44 minutes and had to make a split second decision. I opted to forget the fine follower and go for a PR, my first in almost two years!

By running standards I'm still not very fast but I was able to trim over 15 seconds off my quickest previous time to finish at 44:48.

If you are thinking of selling and curious about the value of your home click the house on the right to request a Free No Obligation Market Analysis of the property. With today's on-line databases I can give you a fairly good idea of the market price without even touring the house.

Anyone ready to undertake the adventures of searching for property in New Haven County can contact Dan Cummings - The Running Realtor via email or call my 24 hour access line : 203-672-2455

Follow Friday with a Twist

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:11:53 -0500

Today as I saw all the Follow Friday tags on Twitter I was reflecting back on a busy week of Face-to-Face socializing and recalling a question I was asked the other night that left me wondering how I could keep better track of all the people I run into via Social Networking.

Instead of tagging a few select individuals for extra exposure I decided to rummage through the people I follow and follow me on Twitter to pick out the ones I have met in person. Many of them originated here on ActiveRain where I used to spend a considerable amount of time. These days I find Facebook, Blip.FM & Twitter are my most frequent sites.

Most of these people are active on Twitter but a few can rarely be found there preferring to hang out on AR or Facebook. The list is sorted by first names, if I missed you or we're not connected add the RunningRealtor

andrewlenza	Andrew Lenza
acummings	Ann Cummings
AnnMarieRealtor	Ann Marie Clements
Audreyforshey	Audrey Forshey
24_7loanofficer	Beth Forbes
activebob	Bob Stewart
rewebcoach	Bobby Carroll Dakno
blockrealestate	Brian Block
MortgageReport	Brian Brady
CTannStarr	C Tann-Starr
cjcubs	Carla
cjbowker	CJ Bowker
craig42k	Craig Barrett
danamoos	Dana Moos
DebOnTheWeb	Deb Agliano
JerseyDebMadey	Deborah Madey
DezDaniels	Desiree Daniels
HeyAmaretto	Diane Guercio
dianetuman	Diane Tuman
ElaineHanson	Elaine Hanson
fsechzer	Faina Sechzer
GeorgeSouto	George Souto
RealtyMan	Gerry Bourgeois
hthrflynn	Heather Elias
Ines	Ines Hegedus-Garcia
perfectquarters	Jacqueline Edwards
JamesShiner	James Shiner
JanieC	Janie Coffey
sardi76	Jason Sardi
JasonTurcotte	Jason Turcotte
acemaker	Jay McGillicuddy
JeffBelongerFHA	Jeff Belonger
respres	Jeff Turner
PdxJenniferGirl	Jennifer Monroe
myrtlebeachblog	Jeremy Blanton
jeraa2t	Jerry Rogich
JohnScottSmith	John Scott Smith
JonWashburn	Jonathan Washburn
realestatechick	Judy M
kvbuckley	Kathleen Buckley
RedHeadedDivaK	Kelly Galanis
LesleyLambert	Lesley Lambert
marathongirl	Leslie Ryan
LindaDavis	Linda Davis
Lisaryan	Lisa Ryan
mgrossfl	Marc Grossman
mmlinke1	Marlene M Linke
timu_matt	Matt Heaton
mayaREguru	Maya P
PAR_Meg	Meghan Tinkham
monikamcg	Monika McGillicuddy
mmpartee	Morriss Partee
NealBloom	Neal Bloom
gweney	Robin
bloochies	Sara Washburn
SGeary	Scott Geary
susanman	Susan Mangigian
TomPlant	Tom Plant
VictoriaBaker	Victoria Baker

The Health Insurance Dictatorship

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:58:41 -0500

During the past few days I have made a couple of trips to Yale-New Haven Hospital due to the birth of my first Grandchild. Whenever I stroll through a hospital I can't help but glance around as my mind ponders all the life and death decisions made on a daily basis.

It has been awhile since I posted a Tee'd Off Tuesday so this morning as I was reading the newspaper a bug crawled up my ass that got me thinking how fed up I am with the Health Insurance Dictatorship that exists in our country.

The gist of the study found that Uninsured Babies with congenital defects are more likely to received specialized care than children covered by health insurance. No one should have to go without top medical treatment but as a responsible adult that struggles to pay well over $10,000 a year for health coverage I am disgusted with the bureaucratic bullshit that runs this country.

Of course there are no easy solutions to the snowball effect that has created so much chaos in our economy. From what I have read about the Obama Illusion it is just one more crock of you know what to fleece taxpayers of their money. 700 billion here, 700 billion there, does anyone really care...

Top Ten Motivational Songs for Runners

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Sat, 30 May 2009 19:38:18 -0500

During the wee hours I ran into the survey results for the Top 10 Motivational Songs for Runners. These days instead of spending hours blogging about Real Estate I have been devoting much of my time to the enjoyment of music on Blip.FM which is like Twitter with music.

Have a listen if you like....

#1 - Eye of the Tiger

#2 - Keep on Running

#3 - Sex on Fire

#4 - Don't Stop Me Now

#5 - Mr. Brightside

#6 - Chariots of Fire

#7 - Prowd

#8 - Insomnia

#9 - Born to Run

#10 - Poker Face

Anyone ready to undertake the adventures of buyer or selling property in New Haven County can contact Dan Cummings - The Running Realtor via email or call my 24 hour access line : 203-672-2455

The Running Realtor's Home Sales Report - March 2009

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:11:47 -0500

The activity in the market seems to be picking up this year but it has not been reflected in closed sales yet. Buyers are cautiously looking and taking their time before signing on the dotted line. With the stimulus incentive of up to $8000 for first time home buyers they seem to be the majority of the "lookers" and will need to purchase before December 1st to qualify for the $8000 credit.

Asking Price	Sale Price	Address	Beds	Baths	Town / State / Zip
.
299,000	273,500	48 Aceto Street	3	2.0	Branford, CT 06405
169,000	130,000	71 Elm Street	1	1.0	Branford, CT 06405
469,500	465,000	72 Laurel Hill Road	3	2.1	Branford, CT 06405
450,000	400,000	190 S Montowese St.	5	3.1	Branford, CT 06405
269,900	235,000	4 Woodvale Road	3	1.0	Branford, CT 06405
322,500	295,000	21 Woodvale Road	3	2.0	Branford, CT 06405
.
400,000	385,000	52 Briarwood Drive	3	2.1	Guilford, CT 06437
474,900	460,000	142 Denison Drive	4	2.1	Guilford, CT 06437
975,000	805,000	6 Fair Street	4	2.1	Guilford, CT 06437
525,000	510,000	437 Goose Lane	4	2.1	Guilford, CT 06437
699,980	690,000	10 Lantern Hill	5	5.0	Guilford, CT 06437
184,500	150,000	279 S Union Street	2	1.0	Guilford, CT 06437
700,000	640,000	262 Stone House Lane	4	4.0	Guilford, CT 06437
545,000	515,000	387 West Street	4	2.1	Guilford, CT 06437
298,500	285,000	60 Whispering Woods	2	1.1	Guilford, CT 06437
547,500	530,000	253 Willow Road	4	2.1	Guilford, CT 06437
289,900	275,000	251 Woodland Road	3	1.1	Guilford, CT 06437
.
929,000	900,000	58 Cherry Lane	4	2.1	Madison, CT 06443
499,000	442,000	50 Copse Road	3	1.1	Madison, CT 06443
1,325,000	880,000	32 Island Avenue	6	4.2	Madison, CT 06443
599,000	575,000	101 Kelsey Springs Dr.	4	2.1	Madison, CT 06443
749,000	625,000	24 Linden Lane	4	2.0	Madison, CT 06443
875,000	875,000	Lot 5 - Matteo Court	4	2.2	Madison, CT 06443
1,850,000	1,450,000	19 Middle Beach Road	5	3.1	Madison, CT 06443
2,750,000	2,600,000	98 Middle Beach Road	4	4.1	Madison, CT 06443
399,000	360,000	93 Ridge Road	5	3.1	Madison, CT 06443
325,000	325,000	106 Sportsman Hill Rd.	4	3.0	Madison, CT 06443
439,000	430,000	33 Summit Lane	3	2.0	Madison, CT 06443
398,000	342,000	89 Winter Hill Road	4	2.1	Madison, CT 06443
299,900	280,000	19 Woodsvale Road	3	1.1	Madison, CT 06443
.
234,000	205,000	31 Arthur Road	3	1.0	N Branford, CT 06471
121,900	117,000	245 Branford Road	2	1.0	N Branford, CT 06471
499,900	465,000	84 Gail Court	5	3.1	Northford, CT 06472
245,000	223,000	29 Glen Road	3	2.0	N Branford, CT 06471
419,900	448,892	Lot 3 - Parsonage Hill	4	2.1	Northford, CT 06472
349,900	330,000	40 Woodvale Drive	3	2.0	Northford, CT 06472
.
265,000	271,000	1 Horseshoe Hill Road	3	1.1	North Haven, CT 06473
754,900	772,291	3 Kipp Farm Estates	4	2.1	North Haven, CT 06473
279,900	273,640	81 Patten Road	3	2.0	North Haven, CT 06473
207,000	192,500	29 Pine River Road	3	1.0	North Haven, CT 06473
279,900	275,000	5 Red Brick Lane	3	1.1	North Haven, CT 06473
329,900	325,000	6 Sugar Hill Road	3	1.1	North Haven, CT 06473
774,900	720,000	120 Summer Lane	4	3.0	North Haven, CT 06473

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Saint Patrick's Day Parade - New Haven

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:22:06 -0500

The weather turned out to be great for the Parade this year. Sights and sounds were similar to past years but I thought I caught a glimpse of AR's own Beth Forbes but she turned away before I could snap a confirmation photo. My wife came along this year so we just found a little piece of ground and watched for awhile. Usually I prefer to move around and take in the less noticed sights so instead of dwelling on the marchers I'll revisit the more interesting adventure from a previous year.

Upon my arrival the smell of beer and cigarettes was thick as was the crowd, maybe 10 feet wide with a few watching the parade and others attempting to travel in both directions. The push was slow. My next half hour was spent flowing north squeezed into a sea of college girls & Gen-X'ers. Guess with people my age the logical side of the brain usually wins so they avoid the crowd.

About mid-block fists started flying and an opening suddenly emerged, lucky me...eye to eye with the big guy! His wife or girlfriend had hold of his shirt as he thrashed around trying to break loose, I started pounding his upper arm with an open hand yelling mellow out dude...he turned, grabbed his woman and started screaming in her face. For a few seconds I was paralyzed in thought, grabbing this guy now would surely escalate the situation. Fortunately he settled down as the push and screams from behind me started moving the crowd forward again. Reflecting back it dawned on my how ill prepared I was for action, I was wearing glasses! They could have broke...

Funny how times have changed, when I reached the mellow area I notice I was surrounded by what once may have been considered "Outlaw Bikers". All hanging in harmony - Hells Angels, James Gang, Hole in the Wall, Brothers of The Rock, the general population and Dan The Running Man

After the isolated outburst I witnessed upon arriving the afternoon was quite civilized. Never did meet up with my son though, his cell went right into voice mail and I was stepping into the parking garage after the parade when he returned my call. Just as well, gave me a chance to watch as a silent observer and enabled me to get several photos I may have missed.

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Attention K-Mart Shoppers – Save money at THE GAP

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:54:43 -0500

Yes… After all these years I still recall the advertising done by K-Mart for their Blue Light Specials. It was a great marketing gimmick for a store that did not survive in Connecticut.

THE GAP on the other hand including their affiliate stores BANANA REPUBLIC and OLD NAVY have done well offering value to consumers. In an effort the help stimulate your purchasing power the Give & Get event will be offered for the next 4 days giving you 30% off purchases and they will donate 5% of the amount you spend to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Just print the coupon and shop at one of the participating stores between March 12-15, 2009.

The Running Realtor's Home Sales Report - February 2009

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:04:56 -0600

Home sales in my primary market along the Connecticut Shoreline have continued to slide. Winter has been harsh giving us double the average annual snowfall and the media is filling the airwaves with negative reports of gloomy conditions.

People constantly hear of the skyrocketing foreclosures rate and buyers seem reluctant to purchase homes. A report today by TransUnion puts the Mortgage Loan Delinquency Rates in perspective. Nationally the mortgages that are 60 days or more past due stands at 4.58%, a higher number then past years but not huge since over 95% of the people are keeping up with their payments.

If you are considering purchasing a home and plan to be there for a number of years this may be the best opportunity in ages. Prices have come down and rates are still low, first time home buyers have the added incentive of the Stimulus Plan.

Asking Price	Sale Price	Address	Beds	Baths	Town / State / Zip
.
375,000	336,000	108 Burban Drive	3	1.0	Branford, CT 06405
319,000	290,000	350 Clark Avenue	3	2.0	Branford, CT 06405
699,900	650,000	10 Gaylea Drive	3	2.0	Branford, CT 06405
442,000	410,000	9 Hunting Ridge Farms	3	2.1	Branford, CT 06405
774,000	717,000	67 Linden Avenue	4	3.1	Branford, CT 06405
239,900	225,000	1 Marion Road	3	2.0	Branford, CT 06405
.
739,000	739,000	#2 - Bill Rodgers Drive	5	3.0	Guilford, CT 06437
549,000	519,000	95 Dromara Road	4	3.0	Guilford, CT 06437
154,900	154,900	62 Half Mile Road	2	1.0	Guilford, CT 06437
399,000	390,000	30 Hart Road	3	2.1	Guilford, CT 06437
749,900	500,000	982 Leetes Island Road	1	1.1	Guilford, CT 06437
589,900	570,000	67 Mustang Drive	4	3.0	Guilford, CT 06437
399,900	395,000	70 Old Pent Road	3	2.1	Guilford, CT 06437
365,000	350,000	54 Shaker Court	4	3.0	Guilford, CT 06437
164,900	150,000	214 Shore Drive	2	1.0	Guilford, CT 06437
369,000	355,500	81 Sylvan Hills Road	3	1.1	Guilford, CT 06437
675,000	575,000	480 Three Corners Road	3	3.0	Guilford, CT 06437
409,900	382,500	57 White Birch Drive	2	2.1	Guilford, CT 06437
499,900	440,000	564 White Birch Drive	4	3.0	Guilford, CT 06437
.
349,900	322,500	453 Durham Road	4	2.1	Madison, CT 06443
299,900	250,000	69 Garnet Park Road	2	1.0	Madison, CT 06443
224,000	211,000	18 Madrina Lane	2	1.0	Madison, CT 06443
699,000	600,000	9 Neptune Avenue	2	1.1	Madison, CT 06443
520,000	476,500	11 Nursery Lane	3	2.1	Madison, CT 06443
890,000	890,000	17 Rockledge Drive	5	4.1	Madison, CT 06443
340,000	310,000	44 Winding Road	4	2.0	Madison, CT 06443
.
336,000	321,000	24 Meadow Road	3	2.0	N Branford, CT 06471
.
286,000	263,000	75 Bayard Avenue	3	1.1	North Haven, CT 06473
259,000	255,000	1040 Hartford Turnpike	2	1.1	North Haven, CT 06473
349,900	310,000	15 Kent Drive	4	3.0	North Haven, CT 06473

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WPLR - ShamRock & Roll 5k - 2009

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:25:54 -0600

In the Real Estate Business here in New England March 1st is kind of the unofficial start of our Spring Market but as I backed out of my driveway this morning signs of spring were pretty well hidden. Winter has been hanging on this year and has dumped double the average annual snowfall on us.

Another sign of spring from a runner's viewpoint is the WPLR ShamRock & Roll 5k. Since 99.1 has been my station of choice dating back to the mid 70's it makes sense to participate in the event each year. Back in the day I'd typically hit Toad's Place in New Haven after eight on a Saturday night, now the only time I make an appearance is a little after eight on a Sunday morning in March.

Just over two years ago when I started blogging my results at the WPLR ShamRock & Roll 5k offered a perfect opportunity to share my running buddy's secret to speed improvement.

If you are looking for a fun run mark your calender for March 8th this year. The race starts and 9:00am and Toad's should have the beer flowing shortly thereafter.

Foreclosure Spotlight on Miami

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:38:10 -0600

Recently I took a trip to run the Miami Marathon and the first person I met upon arriving in Miami Beach was Janie Coffey of Papillon Real Estate. Janie came out for a few hours and introduced us to the unique atmosphere of the Lincoln Road area where we spent quite a bit of time during our stay on South Beach.

During our dinner discussion we learned that the Miami area although currently depressed offers a great opportunity for anyone with vision that is considering relocating into the area. This year the New England Winter seems exceptionally long and the thought of a warmer climate crosses many minds. If you are thinking of retirement or relocating to Southern Florida in the next few years it might be wise to contact Janie Coffey and accelerate your plan to pick up a home at today's discount prices. Well established homeowners with a few more years of work might discover it makes sense to buy now with the depressed real estate prices and historically low rates instead of waiting until after they retire.

In addition to residential home sales in the Miami area Janie Coffey is well known in the Equestrian Community so if you require a unique parcel for your horses Janie is the one to call.

Help Stimulate My Dynamite Ladies

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:04:58 -0600

Whenever I’m running a race and happen by an area playing T.N.T. it brings a smile to my face and sends a shiver down my spine. Last year at this time I joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training ( TNT ) to run my first marathon. I crossed the finish line on June 1st, 2008 at the Rock-n-Roll Marathon in San Diego and a year later I’m still running with TNT.

The names and faces change each season but the work remains the same. Our primary goal is to raise money for Blood Cancer Research and during these tough economic times all the TNT participants have to work a little harder to meet the fund raising requirements to remain on the team.

This season I am taking a break from fund raising and instead working as a Mentor. I feel fortunate because as in the lyrics of the AC/DC song I have “Women to the left of me and Woman to my right“ Five young ladies to be exact and I’d like the see each one of them reach the fund raising minimum with the least amount of stress so they can concentrate on training.

If you know any of these running woman or are just in the mood to spread a little goodness feel free to give generously.

Jill Alward will be Running the Rock-n-Roll Marathon in San Diego on May 31, 2009. Click Here to read more on her fund raising page.

Jennifer Charbonneau is training to run the Fairfield Half Marathon which is a tough course. Click Here to support her.

Meredith Corvo will also be tackling the tough course in Fairfield on June 28th. To help her raise money Click Here

Linda Stuckman is heading out to San Diego to run her first Half Marathon. Click Here to learn more about her fund raising.

Jennifer Trasko will be part of TNT at the Fairfield Half Marathon. To help her finish off the fund raising visit her site by Clicking Here.

For more information on TNT visit the TEAM IN TRAINING site.

Open House - 20 Tanglewood Drive - Branford, CT 06405

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:12:13 -0600

OPEN HOUSE - Sunday March 1, 2009 between 12:00 - 3:00 pm.

All are Welcome... Buyers, Sellers & Just Curious Lookers...

The Location : 20 Tanglewood Drive - Branford, Connecticut 06405

The Description: Sitting at the end of a cul-de-sac abutting the woods is this charming cape awaiting it's new owners. Living Room & Dining Room with newly refinished hardwood floors and crown molding. Family Room with Fireplace and sliders to the screen porch and an office finish off the first floor.

The Financials: Asking price of $419,900

The Directions: Exit 56 off of I-95, south on Leetes Island Road to a left of Eastwood Drive and a right on Fern leads straight to 20 Tanglewood Drive. The easy option is just follow the William Raveis Real Estate signs leading to the Open House hosted by Dan & Sandra!

If for any reason you are unable to attend on Sunday and you would like to arrange a private showing You can contact Dan Cummings , The Running Realtor at 203-672-2455 or email Sandra@CummingsTeam.com

If you would like to search for other homes for sale on the Connecticut Multiple Listing Service sign up for FREE INSTANT ACCESS at MLS.CUMMINGSTEAM.COM

The FaceBook Frenzy Found my Office

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:31:59 -0600

Typically I do not consider myself cutting edge but tend to be ahead of the curve with technology. In the case of Social Networking I have been at it for a few years during which time agents around the office brushed it off as something silly. One agent that noticed me online as she walked by my desk stopped to comment that she thought it was cute that I had all these fictional friends. Others shrugged off the theory of blogging as a time consuming task that didn't warrant the time.

Well.... I Heard it through the Grapevine that the latest memo going around the office declared FACEBOOK is the place to be. Now I'm being hit with "friend" suggestions and requests that I'm a bit leery about accepting. There are certainly some agents within the office that I will think nothing of ignoring but I do have friends that I socialize with but don't know if adding them to my "social network" makes good business sense.

Our office manager recently put together a weekly meeting series to enlighten all the agents that want to keep up with technology. I gave up these nonsense sessions a few years ago because most of the agents just don't get it and I found I was constantly bombarded with requests for help. Each week a "self-proclaimed" expert in some form of technology offers a presentation to the group so they can all share ideas. I was told the first guru came in with an attitude that she is God's Gift to the World and started using buzz words like "internet" "smart phones" and "blogging". Here is an excerpt that I found on Facebook from her before the presentation to the group.

The jist of her idea was that everyone NEEDS a website. Yes, I agree.... The suggested method of developing a presence was to search Real Estate Agent Sites from other parts of the country and when you find something you like COPY IT! Of course, anyone with half a brain knows that techique is called COPYRIGHT INFRINGMENT but I have seen agents from my office employ that very logic here on ActiveRain . One agent has four blog posts and two of them appear to be Cut & Paste.

Not every agent is dumb as stone so it was brought to the Keynote Speakers attention that her instructions to the less experienced agents was illegal and opened them up to a lawsuit. After some back peddling and muttering this was the speakers Facebook comment.

Figured this dilemma must be quite common and was wondering what other commission based salespeople think of allowing office competitors to ride their coat tails. In time they can develop their own network of online friends but should I make the introductions easy for them?

I'm always running around the Connecticut Shoreline so if you need assistance Buying or Selling a home in my territory just remember to google Dan Cummings, The Running Realtor.

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Flowers & Candy & Dinner with Dan...

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:38:35 -0600

OK Guy's... We have arrived!!! Down to the wire... 24 hours...

Another "Hallmark Holiday" is here!

Is there anything new after all these years..?

First we have the ABC's... Anniversary, Birthday & Christmas, those are the big three. Going into March it would be nice to call Valentine's Day the final of four, but many of us know Mother's Day is around the corner at the beginning of May. Arrggg!!!!.. we need some ideas...

It seems the early years and the later years are the tough ones... In the middle we learn from our past mistakes and find the time & energy to be creative and undertake the Shopping Mission...

Call the florist for a delivery, stop in the local jewelry store and drop a few bucks, maybe a bottle of her favorite fragrance or a daring nighttime outfit she'll never wear.... It all sounds familiar year after year...

So Ladies here is a chance...Any Ideas...??? Thanks in Advance

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The Running Realtor's Home Sales Report - January 2009

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:55:08 -0600

Home sales in my primary market along the Connecticut Shoreline have continued to drop to the lowest point in years. Earlier this decade 70 single family homes would typically close during the month of January but sales volume peaked in 2005 with 85 January closings. Since then volume has slowed dropping to 39 home in 2008 and starting the new year with only 36 closed sales last month.

From a selling standpoint competition is fierce! As of today there are over 500 homes listed for sale so a great buying opportunity exists. Mortgage rates continue to be very attractive and stimulus incentives may offer a substantial tax savings for anyone purchasing this year.

Asking Price	Sale Price	Address	Beds	Baths	Town / State / Zip
.
399,000	381,500	20 Hill Street	3	2.0	Branford, CT 06405
299,000	280,000	166 Limewood Avenue	3	1.1	Branford, CT 06405
469,900	502,540	Lot 9 - Louis Street	3	2.1	Branford, CT 06405
275,000	266,000	14 S Montowese Ave	3	2.0	Branford, CT 06405
592,900	525,000	4 Sybil Creek Place	3	2.1	Branford, CT 06405
600,000	500,000	1 Whiting Farm Road	3	3.0	Branford, CT 06405
525,000	520,000	9 Wilbraham Court	4	3.1	Branford, CT 06405
.
839,000	750,000	1290 Durham Road	4	3.1	Guilford, CT 06437
259,000	250,000	104 Farmview Dreive	3	1.1	Guilford, CT 06437
415,000	415,000	3 Finch Lane	4	2.1	Guilford, CT 06437
629,900	585,250	4 Garrison Drive	4	2.1	Guilford, CT 06437
623,000	600,000	28 Graves Avenue	4	2.0	Guilford, CT 06437
127,000	110,500	59 Lone Pine Trail	2	1.0	Guilford, CT 06437
289,900	270,000	129 Williams Drive	3	2.0	Guilford, CT 06437
.
868,960	926,220	Lot 5 - Century Oak	4	3.1	Madison, CT 06443
374,900	386,000	22 Dream Lake Drive	4	2.1	Madison, CT 06443
659,000	665,000	Lot 11 - Governors Way	4	2.1	Madison, CT 06443
1,399,000	1,225,000	16 Govenors Way	4	4.1	Madison, CT 06443
339,000	325,000	573 Green Hill Road	4	2.0	Madison, CT 06443
999,900	880,000	15 Grove Avenue	4	2.3	Madison, CT 06443
1,175,000	985,000	4 Matthew Court	4	3.1	Madison, CT 06443
1,495,000	1,310,000	19 Neptune Avenue	3	2.1	Madison, CT 06443
925,000	899,900	26 Webster Point Road	3	3.1	Madison, CT 06443
179,000	185,000	66 Wildcat Road	2	1.0	Madison, CT 06443
159,000	159,000	70 Wildcat Road	1	1.0	Madison, CT 06443
.
249,900	246,500	63 Forest View Road	3	1.0	N Branford, CT 06471
249,900	240,000	20 Hunter Hill Road	5	3.0	N Branford, CT 06471
419,900	419,900	Lot 2 - Parsonage Hill	3	2.1	Northford, CT 06472
211,900	208,000	103 Village Street	3	1.0	Northford, CT 06472
209,900	206,000	2 Williams Road	3	1.0	N Branford, CT 06471
.
446,000	425,000	39 Hanson Farm Road	4	2.1	North Haven, CT 06473
279,900	269,500	1674 Hartford Turnpike	3	1.0	North Haven, CT 06473
657,400	728,228	5 Kipp Farm Estates	5	3.0	North Haven, CT 06473
314,900	280,000	185 Mill Road	4	2.1	North Haven, CT 06473
279,900	260,000	14 Shaw Drive	3	1.1	North Haven, CT 06473
289,900	277,000	6 Valley Brook Lane	3	2.0	North Haven, CT 06473

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Running Realtor's Miami Marathon Wrap-up

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:32:50 -0600

My Miami Marathon adventure started off on the wrong foot and never really eased into the right pace. While in Florida they experienced the coldest weather they'd had in years and freeze warning were posted most nights. At the end of the week when I was hoping for cool weather the heat came in so the warmest temperatures we encountered was on marathon day.

Since we had so much snow in Connecticut I didn’t put as many miles as planned on my new marathon shoes. I purchased two identical pairs of Kayano 14’s and used one during training but only had about 25 miles on my racing pair. Marathon morning I was a bit concerned because my left foot had been sore since my last run in my race day shoes and there was a bruise on the topside of my foot.

The official start time for the Miami Marathon was 6:15am but with a crowd of 15,000 or so it took me about 10 minutes to get to the starting line. Typically the first few miles are slow due to the dense pack of runners so I was surprised when motorcycle cops started pushing us to the right as we crossed the bridge into Miami Beach so they could open a lane to traffic. My second bout of slight disappointment came at the first few water stops. Early in a long run I'm not a big Gatorade fan so I opt for water which is towards the end of the hydration stations. The first stop was so chaotic with the masses of runners and understaffed attendants that I decided to wait for the next stop where it was still short staffed so I had to stop and pour my own water.

My foot didn’t feel too bad once I got going but the later miles were tough. As we ran through a residential area with fairly loose roadways I could feel a pebble in each of my shoes so just after mile 16 I stopped to get them out. By mile 20 the heat on my feet was a pretty clear indicator that I was blistering and my pace dropped off the last six miles. Of the three marathons I finished Miami was the slowest, 5 minutes slower than San Diego and a full half hour slower than Hartford, heat does a number on my feet.

My feet have started to heal so I'm ready to chase the next real estate deal. If you are thinking of buying or selling give me a call or google Dan Cummings, The Running Realtor.

My marathon running also allows me to mingle with agents throughout the country so if you are leaving Connecticut contact me and I'll put you in touch with a great agent that I know will serve you well.

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The Miami Marathon Adventure - 2009

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:13:40 -0600

With all the runners here on ActiveRain no one decided to take a winter escape for a Mingle in Miami so we opted for a week of quaint visits with selected agents. My wife wrote about our entry into the Frozen Tundra of Florida and the folks we met in the Orlando area so I'll finish off with the last half of our getaway.

On route to Miami we took a detour into Boca Raton to grab lunch with Real Deal Neal at J. Alexander's on Glades Road where I had an adventurous meal of Rattlesnake Pasta. Being a life long New Englander I rarely see a menu filled with southern delicacies. After a few hours I had to cut out meeting short to continue our journey.

Traffic was heavy but we made our way to Miami Beach, checked into our hotel and hustled out to meet Janie Coffey. She introduced us to the Lincoln Road area of Miami Beach. We had an advantage since the hotel was only a few blocks away we walked over to Lincoln Road and watched as Janie circled the block a few times looking for a parking space. We settled down at Van Dyke's Cafe for a light dinner and drinks. Through ActiveRain, Facebook & Twitter I have heard quite a bit about Mojito's so I decide to skip my usual Heinekin and have a local drink. Only had one Mojito since the Marathon was a little over a day away and they say drinking contributes to dehydration on the long run.

Saturday morning we were up early on South Beach for the sunrise then sat down to a $50 feast at the breakfast buffet. One thing I did learn for the future is to schedule my extra time after the Run! Initially my thought was to arrive in Florida a week early so I'd be accustom to the heat but a three day freeze ruined that plan and a week of over eating fattened me up for the 26.2 Mile Marathon Run.

We were lounging at the pool when Pat Murray called to say she was on her way. Pat and I were the only two Rainer's Running Miami and we were meeting Wendy from Mystic on Marathon morning.

Sunday was Marathon Morning! I was slighly behind schedule arriving at the Convention Center around 4:10 am to catch the shuttle to the starting line but fortunately Pat was on time and saved me a spot near the front of the line.

Things can get a bit hectic at large events but with 15,500 runners expected in Miami it was easy to spot Wendy when she arrived. We snapped a few 5:00am photos and chit-chatted before making our way to the starting corrals. Since everyone's pace is a little different we each ran our own race and planned to meet for food & drinks on Lincoln Road once we were refreshed after the long run.

I'm always running around the Connecticut Shoreline so if you need assistance Buying or Selling a home in my territory just remember to google Dan Cummings, The Running Realtor. My marathon running also allows me to mingle with agents throughout the country so if you are leaving Connecticut contact me and I'll put you in touch with a great agent that I know will serve you well.

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Sunrise

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:17:45 -0600

Chilly Chili 5k - 2009

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:17:41 -0600

Well.... The snow flakes have been falling all day and the wind is beginning to howl so my first running event of the New Year is going to be a cold one!

In the past on New Year's Day I had the advantage of sitting in my office on the Guilford Green while waiting for the Frosty 5k to begin. Thought I'd be running the Frosty 5k again tomorrow but another event of more historical significance will be taking place so I opted for that race.

Event: Chilly Chili 5k

When: January 1, 2009 at 10:30 am

Where: High Plains Community Center - 525 Orange Center Road, 06477

This race will double as a birthday celebration and includes a new category for runners. Most of us know there will only be one entry in the new division. Doc Whitney, who started running when he was 80 years old and has been a fixture at most of the 5k's since will be running as a 90 year old. This may also be one of the last times Connecticut Runners will see Doc at our events, he is moving to Vermont where I'm sure he'll find some challenging hills to keep himself fit.

In honor of Doc's Brithday runners are encouraged to wear mis-matched socks... slip a dress sock over you normal running sock for Doc!

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So This Is Christmas

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 09:43:44 -0600

Father Christmas

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:55:39 -0600

From our ActiveRain family to theirs - Let's help a family in need

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:42:26 -0600

My first Re-Blog.... Never thought much of this feature but I was just pointed to this post from Heather's re-blog so it does make a difference!

Everyone that has a Localism Sponsorship should make their $50 donation!

Via Bob Stewart - ActiveRain (ActiveRain):

ActiveRain adopted a family for Christmas this year. We want to see if you will help us give them the best Christmas ever.

We actually adopted a little girl and her family through the Seattle Children's Hospital. Zorra is the little girl and she lives with her five siblings and their mom. The family is facing significant financial stressors, like many families across our country, that will prevent them from obtaining needed items during the holidays. Beyond the items they need, we also want to raise the spirits of five children in our community who will not have a Christmas if not for the helping hands of our great network.

Zorra's mother described how the family has lived in battered women's shelters and has faced homelessness on several occasions after she and Zorra's father separated. The mom and her six kids, ages 7-17, have been exposed to domestic violence in their home. While the family now has a stable home, the financial stressors are such that having enough food in the house is a challenge. Mom isn't able to work because several of her children are high needs, medically complex kids requiring a high level of supervision and frequent medical appointments. Mom does everything she can to make ends meet for this family. She feeds her kids each month with donations from the food bank and she was hoping that the family would be eligible for a holiday program otherwise her kids won't be able to open presents on Christmas.

The thought that there are kids, not just these six but many, who won't have presents on Christmas is heartbreaking. Here's why this hits so close to home for me.......

I grew up in a single parent home. My parents got divorced when I was 8. My dad used to beat up my mom. One day my mom decided enough was enough and loaded all of us up and never looked back. I have three younger brothers. My mom worked her butt off to provide for us when we were growing up. I can't remember one time looking back where I felt like I didn't have everything I needed. There may have been times I wanted something and didn't get it, but my mom made sure we got everything we needed.

So Zorra and I have something in common. I was raised by a single mom and I was exposed to domestic violence. But by the grace of God our family had our health. Let's give this family something to look forward to on Christmas.

They need everyday things that many of us take for granted. Paper Towels, laundry soap (can you image how much laundry 6 kids produce?), shampoo, bars of soap, pillows. I'd venture that very few people reading think twice about any of these things. The kids need things like underwear, socks, shoes, pajamas, rain coats. We would really like to get them a few things beyond this as well so that when they wake up Christmas morning they can experience some of the same joy that my son and your son's and daughter's get to experience on Christmas Morning.

If everyone just gave $5 or $10 we can really make a difference in this family's life. So if ActiveRain has helped your business this year, I'm just asking that you take a minute to donate what you can.

I need you guys to come through for me so I am going to offer a free year long Localism sponsorship to anyone that makes a donation of $50 or more. We really want to make this a special holiday for this family.

New Haven Toy Drives

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:39:39 -0600

The sixth annual Chaz & AJ Holiday Party will kick off the weekend starting at 5:30am Friday December 12, 2008. Admission to the event held at Sports Haven will be a new unwrapped toy valued at twenty dollars or more. Food, Fun & Entertainment is always in abundance when Connecticut's #1 Morning Show puts on a function. This year's musical guest will be John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band.

Live entertainment will also include the Hardcore Legend himself - Mick Foley. Hopefully we'll get to see the Morning Show's Amazing Story Teller AJ in action taking on the big guy. If you cannot make the outing there are other ways to contribute. For just $10 each you can purchase a 2009 Calender featuring some of Connecticut's Hottest Ladies or a Limited Edition CD featuring some of the shows funny bits.

Finishing off the weekend is another toy drive that I attend each year. The Christopher Martins Christmas Run for Children. The 5k race starts at 10:00 am and the bar should be lined with beer by 10:30. This is a nice flat course and the last race of the year in the New Haven area.

I'm always running around New Haven County so if you need assistance Buying or Selling a home in my territory just remember to google CT's Running Realtor.

Email: Dan@CummingsTeam.com 24 Hr. Access Line: 203-672-2455

Can You Survive On $60 Per .....?

Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Realtor (Raveis Real Estate) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:16:14 -0500

Can You Survive On $60 Per Month? That title caught my eye a few weeks ago and has remained on my mind for a few reasons. First because it was a featured ReBlog that reinforces the fact that features are not about the written word but more about who posts those words. Secondly because I agree people should live within their means and had been planning to look at my numbers but kept putting it off, a blogging idea is often a motivator to get something done.

Sure, you can convince yourself you are living on only $2 a day if you excluded food, housing, transportation and all the rest of life’s necessities. But isn’t that the logic that created the Mortgage Meltdown Mentality? With today’s economic environment we are all looking for ways to stretch a buck but first we need to take a hard look at expenses.

Can You Survive on $60 Per Day? That was my initial thought while rehashing the idea of budgeting but I knew in most cases that figure would not be enough. I decided to break my expenses down into four budget categories.

$60 a Day for Housing
$60 a Day for All Necessities
$60 a Day for Little Extras
$60 a Day for Taxes

Being in a commissioned based business I don’t get paid by the day but still think in terms of hourly wages, weekly pay checks and monthly gross income. Calculating my expenses in each of the categories gave a clear message HALT. The numbers didn’t work. Maybe if I devote $60 a day, 365 days a year to each group it will balance.

What does it really cost you to live? Everyday, 365 days a year expenses continue. Don’t trick yourself into a false sense of security. The method used to dispense your money whether it is cash, check or charge doesn’t make any difference. Knowing what you have verses what you need will dictate daily spending habits so you will survive.

If reviewing your budget leads to the decision to make a change in housing contact me, Dan Cummings - Connecticut's Running Real Estate Agent for help buying or selling property in New Haven County.