Great article in The Wall St Journal recently and I quote ” you must be willing to go beyond the usual feints and gimmicks if you want to get potential buyers in the front door and ultimately to the closing table. “Don’t wait around - don’t try to wait out the market. Fix it up and clean it up - make a good impression. Price it cheaply - dont’ fight the market. Hire a top real estate agent - get the best you can find. Promote - go with an agent who is on all the major websites. Take the offer - don’t dig in your heels for a few dollars.”

At St. Marys September 6 from 10 - 5. Last weekend my office among many hosted the art show/sale of local artists. It was very very well received. Lots of people out last Sat. night to enjoy the town.

On August 16th from 5:30 - 8 p.m. there will be an “artist show” and the businesses in town will each be hosting an artist’s work. Put in on your calendar. This will be a nice casual function with wine and cheese served in my office at 426 Main St. Come by if you can.

Great turnout today for the sidewalks sales. My office handed out home made goodies and water and there was square dancing on the street with a band and great bargains. Only 90 today!!

To keep you well informed of the 300th Anniversary celebration and specifically the upcoming events and plans that have been made for this week, here is the schedule.

July 3 – Army band concert in Ballard Park

July 4 – Fireworks at Tiger Hollow. Gates open at 6 p.m.

July 5 – 10 a.m. Parade start. Main St. will be closed at 9:30 and the parade should be approximately 90 minutes.

12 – 6 Country fair located on the fields behind the old high school

2 p.m. Vintage baseball game at Veteran’s park field

6 p.m. Military band concert with the American Belles at Veteran’s park field.

To celebrate Ridgefield’s 300th birthday, there will be a parde on July 4th at 10 a.m. in addition to the beautiful fireworks display at 8 p.m. at the Ridgefield High School. Summer is super here. The concerts in the park on Main St. on Tuesday evenings have been a huge success. Where else can you feel such a wonderful sense of community? By the way, don’t forget we now have a farmer’s market by Animal Fair on Rt. 35 in the parking lot every Friday from 3 - 6.

Average house price is $966,600 and days on the market is 125. However, sales are down 28% in town which is along with the other towns downcounty so far this year. So unusual we have a market with rates down and house prices at the same time.

A reminder the referendum vote is Tuesday, May 13th. Also the Ridgefield book sale at the library will be going on Ma 16-19. There are 25,000 volumes.

Your home – where you celebrate the holidays, where you welcome family and friends, and where you make cherished memories.

BUYERS, BUY NOW!

Regardless of the “doom and gloom” stories your nightly news likes to report, now is a great time to buy real estate. While the 2007 collapse of the sub-prime mortgage industry triggered disaster headlines all across the country, the truth is that numbers are trending upwards and consumers are ready for action.

Now is a great time to buy because all the “fence-sitters” who thought it might be too risky to put their homes on the market are now itching to get moving. They are encouraged by two recent news events:

First, the U.S. Government has created the FHA Modernization Act of 2007, which makes it easier for people who can’t afford traditional loans to find reputable loan programs. This will end many of the “predatory” practices of certain sub-prime lenders, while maintaining the ability for lower-income individuals to buy a home.

Second, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that as 2007 ends, nationwide home sales are once again trending upward. This is amazing news for an industry that has received a series of severe blows by the news media in the last year.

Both of these recent developments are “booster shots” to the real estate market. With such good news, people who had been fearful to list their homes are reassured by a more positive outlook.

And there are a lot of them! After sitting on the fence for months, the good news will motivate them into action in 2008 —which will make this year a great time to buy a home. When listing your home you just want to be the best in your price point as inventory is building up this spring. Consumer confidence has been so low but we’re optimistic that with the rate change it will spur people to make a move. If you need any update information feel free to call or email me and many thanks to the people who called to say they enjoyed the calendar. Roger did the photos as I’m sure you guessed. Think Spring.

Every time you come home you should feel like you’ve arrived. As of December 1 we have 246 homes for sale priced from $279,900 to $8,000,000 and 29 condos freom $189,000 to $999,000. Average time on the market is almost 200 days.

An interesting quote

“I’ve lived a life that’s full. I’ve traveled each and every highway; and more, much more than this, I did it my way.” This was originally written and performed by Paul Anka, and covered by Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. But it’s the hope, wish and thought of every person on the planet, including you. Happy holidays from my home to yours.