Single-family house prices in the state dropped about 17.1 percent in February compared to the same month in 2008, making it the fifth consecutive month that median prices have dropped by double-digit margins, according to the Warren Group, publisher of the Commercial Record.
“We didn’t see such a period of price slumps during Connecticut’s last housing downturn in the early 1990s,” said Timothy M. Warren Jr. in a statement. Warren is the chief executive of the Warren Group. “Prices won’t level off until sales activity picks up substantially for several months straight.”
The local results are mixed and the most promising news could be in Meriden.

http://www.myrecordjournal.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=20289419&BRD=2755&PAG=461&dept_id=592709&rfi=6

Catherine Zawadski, 89, upped sticks because 52-room Balfour Castle on tiny isle Shapinsay, near Orkney, was “a bit too much to manage”.

The Polish Army captain’s widow was last night settling in to a drab, grey £280,000 four-bedroom house in Kirkwall, Orkney, after almost 50 years in her grand home.
Last night one stunned local said: “She can still see the castle from her new garden — but I am not sure if that is more of a curse than a blessing.”

Mrs Zawadski was unavailable for comment. But her son Richard has admitted: “We are selling because it’s a bit too much to manage.”

When you are considering how to ‘Dress your House to sell’ the key to remember is that you want to sell fast and for top money.

One of the most important aspects to consider is that purchasers are buying a home not just a house.

The purchasers of your property are ultimately trying to improve their lifestyle.
They are looking to buy a new home and will be spending a relatively large amount of money on this purchase.
If you present the property attractively it is more likely that your property will stick in their minds. If they find it more striking than other properties in the same price range, then even if they don’t offer straight away they will definitely be back for a second viewing.

When you apply either of these outcomes to selling your property, your potential buyer will either buy another house, or make you an offer lower than you want to accept.

There is a saying ‘Good First Impression’. This is vital to remember when selling a property during a recession. You want to ensure that the buyer falls in love with the property the very first time they see it.

NOTE: The first time your buyer will see your home is from the outside. This might be in a newspaper advertisement, online or from just driving past the property and seeing the for sale board.

The Front Of The Property
The exterior of the property is very important and surprisingly, commonly forgotten about.

Paint the front of the property, a fresh coat of paint will really brighten up the outside of any property.

If the budget and need is there then a new front door is a good idea, however if the old door will suffice, then a fresh coat of paint would be a good idea.

Make sure the front garden is immaculate with a nice path to the front door. Replace any cracked or broken paving slabs and ensure there are no unsightly weeds.

Windows
The first thing that your buyer will see as they walk up to your front door is the windows. Ensure that if they are wooden, the timber is sound and freshly painted. If the property is suited to uPVC double glazing and the budget allows I would highly recommend you install them.However if you do nothing else to the windows accept for ensuring the glass is clean and free of smears you will certainly be heading in the right direction.

Clean windows make the rooms look lighter and brighter.

http://www.propertysecrets.net/topic/post36036.html

The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to intervene to stop mortgage lenders acting too quickly to repossess homes. As the British Chamber of Commerce warn that the UK could soon be in recession, the latest figures from the Ministry of Justice disclosed that the number of court orders granted to mortgage lenders rose by more than 12 per cent between the first and second quarter of 2008. Liberal Democrat shadow chancellor, Vince Cable, believes that these figures show that the “government must intervene to stop lenders moving quickly through the courts” in an effort to repossess homes. He said: “Since the mid 1990s, claimants have been unable to get help with mortgage payments until they have been unable to work for nine months. “This means many of those out of work will face the threat of repossession.” Earlier this month, the Council of Mortgage Lenders revealed that the number of repossessions in the first half of this year was 18,900, which is a 48 per cent increase on the same period in 2007.