Increase in applications for new Mortgages

A National Survey by the Mortgage Bankers Association showed a 37 percent increase in applications for new conventional loans to buy houses.

Read more details on this by clicking the link below:

http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20081209_realestateoutlook.htm

Holiday Events around Connecticut

See the Lantern Light Tours at Mystic Seaport, ride the Essex Steam Train's North Pole Express, and the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor for Winterfest.

For more info on tickets and schedules, click the link below:

http://gonewengland.about.com/cs/eventscalendars/a/aaholidayevents.htm

Connecticut Town Info

Need information on a town for relocation or travel? Click the link below to find info on recreation, lodging, local attractions, transportation and more.

http://www.discoverourtown.com/CT.html

Connecticut plans for $25 million to help foreclosure crisis

Governor Rell said that the state has the beginnings of a plan to appropriate at least $25 million to help Connecticut with the foreclosure crisis.

Read more details by clicking the link below:

http://www.norwalkplus.com/nwk/information/nwsnwk/publish/News_1/Governor-Rell-outlines-plan-for-25-million-in-aid-to-alleviate-foreclosure-crisis2723.shtml

Halloween events for this weekend

It's nearly the end of October, and there are many Halloween events around Connecticut.
Ansonia, Stratford, Norwalk and many others will have events such as a mall-wide trick or treat, a "Halloween High School" musical, bonfire and costume contest, and much more.

Click the links below for more information:

http://www.connpost.com/ci_10837968?source=most_emailed

http://www.visitconnecticut.com/events_halloween.html

New Housing Benefits for Veterans

President Bush recently signed in the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008. It benefits veterans who are homeowners, or are thinking of buying a home.

Read more about the benefits by clicking the link below:


http://www.examiner.com/x-612-Real-Estate-Examiner~y2008m10d17-Housing-assistance-for-veterans

State is offering financial forums

The forums will answer concerns about investment security, bank accounts, mortgages, bank accounts, and others.

Read more by clicking the link below:

http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=9173910

Exhibits, Halloween events, Music, and more

There is a Halloween Hayride Spooktacular at Stew Leonard's,
3-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 3-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 31. $1 per person.

The Philip Johnson Glass House, (part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation), now has tickets on sale for the upcoming season, it's open May 1- Oct. 31, 2009.

See more details of other events by clicking the link below:

http://www.thehour.com/story/425731

Connecticut Info and Travel

Looking for what to do this weekend, some great getaway spots, or need some travel info for Connecticut? Here is great site with a lot of useful information.

Click the link below for more info:

http://www.ctvisit.com/

Listingbook a Big Success in CT

Listingbook is a big success with Connecticut agents of the GFC CMLS, and their buyers and sellers. This is Listingbook's first MLS launch in Connecticut, and in the New England region.

Read the press release by clicking the link below:

http://rismedia.com/wp/2008-09-08/online-tool-a-%E2%80%98huge-success-with-connecticut-agents-buyers-and-sellers/

Walking distance from a property

If you'd like to find out what services are within walking distance of a property address, try out this site from the link below. Being able to walk to nearby shops/services is a plus when looking for a new home.

http://www.walkscore.com/

Events around Connecticut

Here are some events happening in different Towns around Connecticut.
Read the details by clicking the link below:

http://www.visitconnecticut.com/events.html

Increase in New Home Sales for July

Sales of new single family homes increased by 2.4 percent last month (according to The Commerce Department), the most since April.

Read more in the article below:

http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/realtors-say-existing-home-sales-rose-in/146632

Housing Development Fund receives grant

The Housing Development Fund will receive $100,000 from the Fairfield County Community Foundation to help with their Homebuyer Education and Counseling areas of its First-Time Homebuyer Program.

Read the story in the link below:

http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6865:chairman-announces-housing-help-through-grant&catid=10:greenwich-local&Itemid=68

AT&T to offer Internet and Cell phone tutoring for Seniors in CT

AT&T will be offering free tutoring for Senior Citizens on using cell phones and use of the internet. Some of the towns where they will be holding the classes are: Hartford, Norwalk, Meriden and Mansfield.

See the link below for more information:

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/att-north-haven-senior-center/story.aspx?guid=%7B5F8DCCBC-CC85-48AE-9ECD-CECE3DEFB0C1%7D&dist=hppr

Relocating info for Connecticut

If you or someone you know is relocating to a town in Connecticut, or you just need some useful information, click the webpage link below to find information on schools, shopping, lodging, transportation and more:

http://www.connecticutvisitorsnetwork.com/

Connecticut homeowner rebate/loan program

Governor Rell announced a rebate and loan program for homeowners to help conserve energy, and save some money.

A new $5 million program will include rebates for homeowners who upgrade their old furnaces with newer, more efficient ones, and $2 million for loans to help pay for other energy-saving improvements.

For more info, see the story in the link below:

http://www.bristolpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19870697&BRD=1643&PAG=461&dept_id=665528&rfi=6

Fairfield is among the best Towns

According to CNN Money magazine, Fairfield is one of the top 100 places to live.
Fairfield and Hamden were the only 2 selected from the state of Connecticut.

See the story in the link below:


http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19857182&BRD=1653&PAG=461&dept_id=12717&rfi=6

Norwalk Computer Coach

If you need some computer/internet training, the Norwalk Public Library now has a Computer Coach Service 5 days a week. See the link below for more info:


http://www.americantowns.com/ct/norwalk/events/norwalk-public-library-the-computer-coach-by-appointment-1-2008-07-30

Do Not Be Caught without the Answers!

In July, GFC CMLS we will begin promoting Listingbook to the general public.

The general message will be to contact a local Realtor to obtain a Listingbook account.
Be in a position to answer their questions and create a Listingbook account for them.
The process is quick, easy and FREE.
If you have not already done so, Click here to register online.

Wednesday June 25th Ramada Inn Stratford
9:30 am – 11:30 am or 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Thursday June 26th Ethan Allen Inn Danbury
9:30 am – 11:30 am or 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Friday June 27th Norwalk Inn
9:30 am – 11:30 am or 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Listingbook Information and Training Sessions

All one has to do is turn on the TV or listen to the radio to hear it’s a tough time to be in the real estate business.
Consumers are demanding a higher level of service.
Listings on the Internet have changed the agent’s value proposition.
Today’s consumers want to be empowered and are looking for immediate responses from their agent.
The question is…
How do you empower your client without losing control?
The answer is Listingbook.
A FREE service offered to all Greater Fairfield County CMLS subscribers.
In addition to the free basic service all GFC CMLS members will receive a FREE upgrade to the premium service.
What is Listingbook?
Listingbook is your 24/7 personal assistant – an assistant that saves you time, makes your communications easier, your clients happier, your business more efficient, and your relationships stronger.
Listingbook empowers your prospects, customers and clients, yet enhances your control. Listingbook offers you the unique opportunity of creating collaborative personalized web pages for your buyers and sellers. You have control over the types of services your clients can access. And if you have ever wondered exactly what your clients are thinking (or at least what they are considering), Listingbook gives you the ability to see the properties your buyers view and the listings in which each buyer is most interested.
With Listingbook – your sellers will always know the status of competing properties.
Be one of the first to experience Listingbook.
Six training sessions are available the week of June 16th.
Monday June 16th Norwalk Inn 9:30 am – 11:30 am or 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Wednesday June 18th Ramada Inn Stratford 9:30 am – 11:30 am or 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Thursday June 19th Ethan Allen Inn Danbury 9:30 am – 11:30 am or 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm