Interest Rates May Hit 4.5% Very Soon

Current Stiumlus: What does it really mean for the housing market?

Home Sales In Hartford Improve
Single-family house sales and prices were flat in October from a year ago, but units with a contract to purchase rose sharply in the period, the Greater Hartford Association of Realtors reports.Sales rose 1 percent to 799 in October from 701 last year, the association said.But pending home sales rose 35 percent to 889 from 657."The large jump in pending sales is most likely attributed to first-time home buyers who recognize that now is a great time to buy," said CEO Jeff Arakelian. "Hopefully Congress will extend and expand the tax credit in order to keep our housing market moving."The length of time a

Monthly Utility Bills: Where Are You Dollars Going??
Cara Davis, who is a freelance writer and editor, writes what it takes to run an energy efficient home.Have you ever wondered about the cost of running your home? From your appliances to your heat pump and your air conditioning, the energy spent adds up to dollars on your monthly electric bill. For example, running a hair dryer costs approximately .09 an hour. A clock costs .14 a month to run. A pool or lawn pump costs a little more than .06 an hour. Here’s a breakdown of some costs in your home from Progress Energy and ways to trim your daily usage.REFRIGERATORSWhen you shop f

Mortgage Applications Surge To 4 Month High
In New York, Reuters, along with the Mortgage Banks Association, reported U.S. mortgage applications surged last week to their highest since mid-May as consumers sought to take advantage of the lowest interest rates in months, data from an industry group showed on Wednesday.The Mortgage Bankers Association said rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, the most widely used loan, were below 5 percent for a third straight week, reaching a four-month low. Demand for home refinancing loans was the highest since mid-May.Appetite for applications to buy a home, a tentative early indicator of sales, climb

West Hartford Complex Sells for $19M
The Harford Business Journal has reported that one of the Hartford area's leading landlords has sold a luxury apartment complex in West Hartford and is on deck with a second sale -- the mammoth Century Hills luxury complex in Rocky Hill, authorities say.New York-based

September Hartford Area Home Sales Rise
The Great Hartford Association of Realtors reported that sales of single-family houses in greater Hartford rose 2.9 percent in September, but the time it takes to sell a dwelling also grew.The number of sale closings rose to 742 in September from 721 to 742 the same month a year ago, according to the Greater Hartford Association of Realtors.Association CEO Jeff Arakelian attributed most of the rise to the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers.Pending sales also increased 16.5 percent to 976 from 838, while the median sale price dropped 4.4 percent to $230,000 from $220,000. New listings and inventory decrease