Residential Real Estate
Toll Bill’s Complexity Could Delay Vote
By The Associated Press | May 21, 2019 | ReprintsConnecticut lawmakers and Gov. Ned Lamont are trying to craft a complicated plan in the waning days of the legislative session that could lead to electronic tolls on a handful of highways, a process that’s been made more challenging by the need to ultimately obtain federal approval.
Study: April Rent Prices in CT All Over the Spectrum
May 21, 2019 | ReprintsApril rent prices in Connecticut were all over the spectrum, depending on the city, with rates below and above national averages.
Democrats Pass $15 an Hour Minimum Wage Bill
May 17, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock Link
Democratic lawmakers passed legislation that incrementally increases Connecticut’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2023.
As End of Session Looms, Lamont Pushes Tolls, Transportation Bill
May 16, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkWith only a few weeks left in the General Assembly’s session, Gov. Ned Lamont is pushing state legislators to pass a transportation bill that includes his signature tolling proposal.
New Lawsuits Raise Question of Who Should Pay Homebuyer’s Agent
By Kenneth R. Harney | Washington Post Columnist | May 16, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkThe long knives are out again for one of American real estate’s oldest and most controversial traditions: requiring home sellers to pay the agents who represent the buyers of their properties.
Not All See A Lagging Real Estate Market in Connecticut
By Bram Berkowitz | May 16, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkThe strength of demand for homes in the Hartford area helped push one local loan originator into the top ranks of his colleagues statewide.
New Report Underscores Need for Improved Transportation, Stabilized Finances
May 14, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkWhile Connecticut ranked highly in some areas, a report released this morning indicates that the top issues the state needs to focus on to improve its overall standings are in the areas of transportation and fiscal stability.
‘Congestion-Buster’ Revamp Planned for Hartford I-91/Route 15 Interchange
May 13, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkOne of the worst points of congestion in Connecticut is headed for a reconstruction under a plan announced by Gov. Ned Lamont last week.
Lamont Makes Pitch for Tolls as Opponents Submit Petitions
By The Associated Press | May 10, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkGov. Ned Lamont is trying to rally Connecticut lawmakers to support electronic tolls, acknowledging it’s a “tough vote” for the General Assembly.
House Passes $15 Minimum Wage Bill After Overnight Vote
By The Associated Press | May 9, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkConnecticut’s Democratic-controlled House of Representatives has voted to incrementally increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2023, following a marathon, overnight debate.
Zillow Faces Legal Action Over its Co-Marketing Program
By Kenneth R. Harney | Washington Post Columnist | May 9, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkZillow is back in hot water: A class-action suit against the online realty giant is moving forward after insider whistleblowers alleged that the company designed its controversial “co-marketing” program to violate federal anti-kickback laws.
US Job Openings Jump to Nearly 7.5M in March
By The Associated Press | May 7, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkU.S. employers advertised almost 7.5 million jobs at the end of March, a solid figure that signals hiring will likely remain strong in the months ahead.
Lenders Open Doors to a Wider Swath of Homebuyers
By Kenneth R. Harney | Washington Post Columnist | May 2, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkDo you want to buy a house but worry that your credit profile will disqualify you for a mortgage? Take another look: A new study suggests that you might find lenders a little friendlier and more flexible than you thought.
Real Estate Industry Helps Lead Growth in CT Economy
May 1, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkThe state economy grew in the last quarter of 2018, but at a much slower pace than in the third quarter, according to the newest data from the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Hartford Homebuyers Need to Make $65K to Afford a House
April 30, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkThe annual salary needed to afford a home in Hartford is more than $65,000, nearly $2,000 above the area’s median income.
Crumbling Foundations Entity Halts Approval of New Work
By The Associated Press | April 30, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkThe entity overseeing distribution of state funds to help Connecticut homeowners with crumbling foundations has ceased authorizing new foundation construction work until it receives a payment from the state Department of Housing.
Study: Most of New Haven’s Newest Homebuyers Between 30 and 40 Years Old
April 29, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkNearly two-thirds of New Haven County’s homebuyers in recent years are Millennials, a new study from the National Association of Realtors has found.
Danbury Officials Pushes MetroNorth Upgrades, New Rail Connection
April 29, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkDanbury officials are getting traction with calls for MetroNorth improve service from New York to the city, and connect it with the New York town of Southeast, where another MetroNorth line runs close to the state border.
Tiny Houses Billed as Solution to Affordable Housing Problem
April 29, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock Link“Tiny Houses” – homes between 400 and 800 square feet – are being pushed by some housing activists as a solution to the state’s shortage of affordable housing units.
Survey Predicts Slower Pace of Economic Growth
By The Associated Press | April 29, 2019 | Reprints | Unlock LinkA survey of corporate economists predicts the economy will expand over the next year, although the pace of growth will decline and employers are facing pressure to raise wages, spend more on worker training and automate tasks because of the low unemployment rate.
