Get the Most Bang for your Buck!

 When shopping for the right home you take into consideration many factors - your commute to work, home prices, taxes, crime rate. Here's an interesting article from NerdWallet showing what CT school districts give you the most "Bang for your Buck" based on home prices and school data. Just think - the bang for your buck is even greater if you've been able to buy a house FSBO!

Best School Districts for Your Buck in Connecticut

by Kamran Rosen on October 26, 2014 | posted in Cities, Economics

It’s the question on the mind of every parent: Will my kids get a good education in this city?
Yet for many families this concern quickly turns into a question of whether they can afford to live in an area with good schools. In a state like Connecticut, with the eighth-highest median home value in nation, the best schools are often found in the most expensive communities, such as Darien, Greenwich or Weston.
However, this isn’t always the case. There are in fact many affordable cities with good schools, and many towns where school quality offsets the premium of living there.
We set out to help families find these hidden gems. Using school quality and cost-of-living measures, NerdWallet has discovered the Connecticut school districts that best represent the most bang for your buck.
Interested in future NerdWallet studies? Click here to have updates sent directly to your inbox. 
Here’s how we found the most affordable school districts in Connecticut:

• Standardized test scores. We combined 10^th grade CAPT scores and SAT scores in 2012.
• College readiness. We factored in equally weighted scores for the graduation rate and the percent of high school graduates seeking higher education in 2012.
• Class size. We also considered the student-to-teacher ratio in select school districts.

We evaluated 121 unified and secondary school districts in Connecticut. All data are from the U.S. Census Bureau or the Connecticut State Department of Education. To see the full data set, click here.

1. East Granby School District

East Granby School District made our list as the shining example of most bang for your buck, with a median home value of $274,000 and a high graduation rate of 94%. Students in this small community north of Hartford scored an average of 1641 on their SATs, well above the state average, and CAPT scores are in the top third for the state.

2. Litchfield School District

Litchfield is home to a number of good schools, from Litchfield Intermediate and Litchfield High to Wamogo Regional High School. The district’s four-year graduation rate of 97% is one of the highest in the state, and its 10^th grade CAPT scores are top-notch, too. The school district’s across-the-board quality gave it the No. 2 spot on our list, despite a relatively high median home value of $337,000.

3. Stafford School District

Stafford School District prides itself on a diversity of options, including world language programs for students as early as third grade and its award-winning high school music program. The district also prioritizes technology integration and parent outreach at all levels. Stafford School District is an ideal setting for parents who want more individualized attention for their kids, with one of the lowest student-teacher ratios in the state at 14.2:1.

4. Canton School District

In Canton, success is found across the board. Schools here can boast of having the state’s seventh-highest SAT average of 1734, and the district’s students are in the top 20 for both graduation rate and CAPT scores. The Canton School District was also one of a few select districts to see its high school and an elementary school place on Connecticut’s list of “Highest Overall Performance.”

5. Farmington School District

Farmington residents are accustomed to receiving accolades for their great schools. In addition to academic accomplishments at the high school, both the boys’ and girls’ teams also have won several state championships in soccer. While students in the district excel in traditional academic metrics, such as the SAT and CAPT, they also have a chance to explore their creativity in courses such as animation, photo design, advanced studio and 3-D design.

6. Bolton School District

The mission of the Bolton School District is to offer an academically rigorous atmosphere while also fostering critical thinking through real world experience. The district realizes this goal through strategic initiatives such as the Bolton 2020 Vision — which helped to extend the inclusion of special education students — as well as other activities including a student trip to South Africa last year. A testament to the district’s success is that just over 95% of Bolton High School graduates, the third-highest percentage in the state, went on to pursue higher education.

7. Regional School District 19

Regional School District 19, which includes Edwin O. Smith High School in Storrs, is an affordable school district to live in, and one that doesn’t also have to sacrifice quality. Housing in the district is the most affordable in our top 20, with a median value of $250,000, and students in the district also maintain one of the highest SAT averages in the state. The district counts a diverse range of achievements, including an east division championship for the boys’ cross country team, a gold medalist in the International Chemistry Olympiad and several eastern regional FFA winners.

8. East Lyme School District

Students in the East Lyme School District are accomplished on many levels. Not only do students here score high when it comes to their 10^th grade CAPT scores and the four-year graduation rate, but they also were recently recognized for having the “largest clean energy-powered building in Connecticut.” The installation of over 2,800 solar cells helps students think globally and it also saves $33,000 annually.

9. Regional School District 08

Regional School District 08, which serves Hebron, Andover and Marlborough, is packed with activity. High school students can participate in activities from DECA — an international organization focusing on marketing and entrepreneurship — to the equestrian club, Model UN and the video production club. There’s also a large applied technology department and a variety of school courses including aerospace engineering, architectural design, and jewelry and enameling. When it comes to academic quality, there’s no slacking in this district, which has consistently made the College Board’s AP honor roll, and where 95% of graduates go on to higher education.

10. Regional School District 04­

Regional School District 04, which serves Chester, Deep River, Essex and Region 4 made our top 10, though the district’s rank was hurt by its relatively high median home value of $344,000. But the school system makes up for the higher housing costs with its academic metrics, including some of the highest 10^th grade CAPT scores in the state, and a graduation rate of 90%. Many parents will also be pleased to learn that the school district has one of the lowest student-teacher ratios, at 15:1.

	School district	Median home value in 2012	4-year cohort graduation rate	Percent of graduates in higher education	SAT average in 2012	10th- grader CAPT scale score	Average high school class size	Bang for Your Buck weighted score
1	East Granby	274000	95.08	88.00	1641	1104	17	83.32
2	Litchfield	337700	97.09	85.29	1635	1119	16	83.28
3	Stafford	206600	88.03	80.88	1578	1036	14	82.20
4	Canton	322300	97.48	93.10	1734	1130	20	82.12
5	Farmington	338400	94.08	95.61	1648	1141	20	81.83
6	Bolton	287300	90.41	95.65	1608	1116	18	81.01
7	Regional 19	250100	87.25	78.10	1659	1072	16	80.76
8	East Lyme	325500	94.39	85.71	1629	1113	18	80.68
9	Regional 08	316000	90.54	95.00	1654	1112	19	80.40
10	Regional 04	344200	91.88	74.83	1635	1128	15	80.32
11	Simsbury	342400	95.58	89.95	1723	1155	20	80.20
12	Glastonbury	347200	95.90	93.32	1701	1116	19	79.73
13	Avon	390900	96.14	91.76	1729	1147	19	79.64
14	South Windsor	276300	93.78	89.30	1611	1124	20	79.45
15	Westbrook	345200	91.46	84.00	1539	1079	15	79.16
16	Granby	295300	97.35	89.95	1654	1114	21	79.12
17	Somers	325000	95.77	83.82	1584	1074	17	78.87
18	Waterford	280100	91.70	80.91	1540	1098	17	78.85
19	Regional 18	443000	97.12	86.14	1647	1142	19	78.57
20	Regional 15	345900	93.62	88.99	1637	1110	18	78.15
21	Regional 07	278500	93.17	72.19	1580	1123	19	78.03
22	Cromwell	248100	91.45	83.33	1547	1054	17	78.00
23	Cheshire	349800	95.86	91.40	1652	1111	20	77.94
24	Guilford	399100	97.56	85.56	1616	1159	19	77.52
25	West Hartford	305600	92.70	90.34	1609	1098	20	77.45
26	North Stonington	300900	87.04	72.55	1548	1048	14	77.38
27	East Hampton	273900	94.55	73.89	1559	1102	18	77.30
28	Plainville	209500	92.75	80.71	1467	1043	18	77.24
29	Wolcott	251200	93.61	85.78	1501	1070	19	77.22
30	Old Saybrook	401800	95.83	91.30	1595	1086	18	77.20
31	Tolland	285300	96.52	84.96	1608	1078	20	77.20
32	Berlin	297100	94.68	83.27	1525	1096	19	77.01
33	North Branford	310300	91.36	82.67	1512	1055	16	76.90
34	Thomaston	230300	91.30	73.81	1432	1049	16	76.85
35	Southington	270400	91.57	83.97	1548	1084	20	76.73
36	Ellington	274000	90.15	85.33	1559	1056	18	76.63
37	Portland	298900	91.30	82.14	1634	1071	20	76.54
38	Newington	235300	89.05	83.39	1540	1079	21	76.50
39	Ledyard	260500	91.51	84.34	1531	1069	19	76.29
40	Coventry	262400	86.27	74.63	1544	1078	18	76.29
41	Lebanon	265900	87.88	83.62	1506	1051	18	76.05
42	Thompson	217700	85.15	70.79	1487	988	16	75.75
43	Regional 13	332800	97.18	84.78	1567	1064	18	75.44
44	Regional 05	425700	96.31	91.49	1638	1162	20	75.29
45	Rocky Hill	273600	91.83	86.53	1479	1054	19	75.13
46	Oxford	377500	91.78	87.59	1544	1094	18	74.95
47	Suffield	326300	90.82	82.38	1578	1102	20	74.86
48	Wethersfield	266200	90.41	90.18	1551	1053	22	74.75
49	Madison	474300	96.72	92.66	1661	1161	21	74.74
50	Regional 01	364600	94.29	68.38	1484	1071	15	74.72
51	Colchester	277900	94.72	84.58	1516	1068	21	74.40
52	Plymouth	216700	84.17	72.57	1487	1026	18	73.39
53	North Haven	311600	92.47	88.89	1534	1092	22	73.29
54	Wallingford	274100	92.36	77.08	1520	1057	21	73.22
55	Groton	255200	81.74	72.50	1506	999	16	73.22
56	Clinton	291000	92.68	68.91	1552	1071	20	73.21
57	Bethel	353600	92.80	87.88	1531	1080	19	73.20
58	New Milford	324800	90.26	86.78	1560	1069	20	73.19
59	Regional 10	318000	96.09	80.26	1547	1097	21	73.12
60	Regional 17	355500	93.68	86.96	1546	1088	20	73.04
61	Regional 16	291400	91.88	81.28	1474	1043	19	72.99
62	Brookfield	403400	97.24	88.98	1605	1140	23	72.98
63	Monroe	412700	98.53	89.64	1582	1093	20	72.71
64	New Fairfield	367600	97.84	90.64	1620	1088	24	72.60
65	Branford	307500	93.02	79.27	1523	1054	21	72.48
66	East Haddam	303000	92.16	77.80	1518	1018	19	72.47
67	Regional 11	247400	95.24	76.19	1421	996	18	72.38
68	Torrington	183200	79.73	71.54	1489	979	18	72.33
69	Newtown	446700	94.83	86.47	1628	1140	20	72.16
70	Watertown	268500	90.95	84.40	1450	1023	20	72.11
71	Regional 14	369600	96.92	78.24	1543	1079	20	72.06
72	Montville	231000	86.55	73.00	1453	1023	19	71.44
73	Windsor	240800	85.05	82.35	1394	962	16	71.39
74	Seymour	277900	87.01	83.22	1425	990	17	71.35
75	Bristol	211700	85.10	68.01	1495	1024	20	71.23
76	Griswold	223900	87.50	70.48	1445	988	18	71.13
77	Putnam	206500	81.54	64.52	1410	927	14	71.11
78	Windsor Locks	209800	91.22	72.79	1437	970	20	70.60
79	Enfield	199900	85.16	74.89	1478	1003	21	70.46
80	Vernon	215400	81.95	78.17	1448	989	20	70.26
81	Trumbull	429100	97.24	92.83	1605	1117	23	70.24
82	Plainfield	195300	85.22	58.24	1434	964	17	69.92
83	Shelton	360700	91.36	74.56	1480	1075	19	69.56
84	Naugatuck	211100	84.24	78.93	1418	1012	21	69.39
85	East Windsor	232000	86.52	78.75	1399	983	19	69.33
86	Manchester	206700	73.17	86.26	1398	980	20	68.24
87	Killingly	203900	76.96	73.03	1405	966	19	68.21
88	Regional 06	372000	96.55	73.81	1519	1040	22	68.08
89	Middletown	237600	76.08	85.06	1418	1002	21	67.97
90	Stonington	352800	92.31	76.02	1528	1067	24	67.92
91	Hamden	248400	84.32	73.84	1398	972	18	67.75
92	Milford	321500	86.02	79.48	1475	1049	21	67.66
93	Windham	173500	70.17	79.08	1353	869	16	67.14
94	Regional 09	656500	97.06	91.85	1695	1174	20	66.64
95	Wilton	824600	98.08	95.53	1801	1173	20	66.53
96	Ridgefield	699900	98.19	95.43	1721	1178	22	66.44
97	Bloomfield	222700	78.06	87.35	1238	939	17	66.27
98	Fairfield	599300	94.20	88.89	1644	1123	22	65.77
99	East Haven	233100	72.17	80.77	1381	968	20	65.65
100	Stratford	276200	86.50	84.59	1399	1008	23	65.54
101	Weston	906900	99.48	93.65	1794	1172	20	64.95
102	East Hartford	184200	76.65	75.37	1321	899	18	64.47
103	Darien	1000000	96.46	97.36	1776	1149	18	63.59
104	Derby	232200	75.47	71.11	1387	930	20	62.56
105	New Canaan	1000000	96.96	94.72	1795	1184	21	62.18
106	West Haven	222400	72.12	87.12	1338	938	22	61.73
107	Westport	1000000	97.90	97.14	1785	1179	22	61.66
108	Meriden	198200	69.54	65.55	1362	921	21	60.90
109	Ansonia	253200	76.10	66.86	1327	931	19	60.35
110	Greenwich	1000000	92.26	92.22	1717	1135	18	60.25
111	Regional 12	589600	85.14	79.69	1544	1044	23	59.93
112	New Haven	219000	70.87	83.63	1209	901	19	59.72
113	Waterbury	158300	62.62	76.74	1246	875	20	59.34
114	Norwalk	440700	84.88	82.66	1416	975	21	59.33
115	Stamford	537300	85.24	86.02	1468	974	21	58.56
116	New Britain	169900	60.54	76.99	1349	847	22	57.78
117	Danbury	317200	76.75	75.49	1434	941	25	57.57
118	Hartford	178300	64.75	76.23	1130	891	21	55.84
119	New London	196400	61.92	53.25	1296	922	22	55.26
120	Bridgeport	206300	66.30	58.45	1166	831	19	50.81
121	Norwich	198000	22.39	7.14		779	14	37.83

Methodology

The score for each district was derived from these measures:
1. Housing cost for each school district was 30% of the total score. Housing cost was calculated by averaging the district index score for median home value and selected monthly homeowner costs for the school district. The more affordable the area, the better the score. Data are from the 2012 DP04 from the U.S. Census FactFinder.
2. Standardized testing score was 30% of the total score. District scores from 2011-12 were calculated by equally weighting state indexes of the 10th grader scale score for the CAPT and the districts’ SAT scores. Data were provided by the Connecticut State Department of Education.
3. College readiness for the class of 2012 was 30% of the total score. College readiness was a combination of a school district’s four-year cohort graduation rate, and the percent of students going on to colleges and universities, both two- and four-year institutions. The Connecticut State Department of Education supplied the data.
4. Student-to-teacher ratio data was 10% of the score. Data were provided by Connecticut State Department of Education.
We evaluated 121 unified and secondary school districts in Connecticut for this study. Charter schools, private schools and school districts with only primary schools were excluded. This study didn’t include Winchester, and Norwich data doesn’t include SAT scores. Data for 2012 on the percentage of students enrolled in higher education wasn’t available for East Granby, Groton and East Haddam. Instead, 2011 percentages were used in this study.

Don't over decorate for the holidays!

Don't over decorate for the holidays!

Tis the season to decorate and make our houses really feel like a home.
But over-decorating while your home is on the market can keep it from selling.Buyers looking at houses during the holiday season are serious, and are ready to buy. You want to showcase your house as best you can to appeal to these prime buyers!
Here’s some suggestions for those of you trying to sell your home during the holidays. An nice balance between living your life as you want, and presenting your home to entice buyers is what you're looking for.
Don't forgo the decorations. The buyer wants to think they'll have happy holidays in their new home, and if you haven't decorated they may project that they'll have a sad holiday while in this house! Just remember... everything in moderation...

1. Don’t over decorate...
Your house is for sale, not the decorations. Remember that the buyers want to picture themselves in your house, not you. The fewer "personal" decorations, the better.
Go simple with some holiday basics...  a nice centerpiece on your dining table, an festive wreath on the front door, or a pot of cider simmering on the stove can create a warm and festive feeling in your home.


A bit much when trying to sell your home?!


2. Don’t hide your home’s assets...

Even during non-holiday time we stress that you should de-clutter and de-personalize your house. That holds true even more during the holidays. Too much holiday clutter can hide your home’s best qualities.
Too much clutter outside can ruin your home's curb appeal, and inside it can make your home seem smaller than it is. The buyer may actually miss some of your home's best details..
Festive but simple is the key. Don't hide your fireplace and mantle with lots of stuff. A few well-placed decorations will enhance the look of your home during the holidays instead of over powering it!

3. Don’t create a tripping hazard...
Remember that when your home is being shown there will be a small band of people walking through the house in a way that they never would while living there. Keep all the pathways open. Make sure all extension cords are safely tucked away, and Santa & Mrs. Claus are safely tucked in a corner. The last thing you need is a trip and fall during the holidays!

Call us if you need more advice while selling your home!

Don't assume you can't qualify for a mortgage!

All you hear about mortgages in the news is how hard it has become to qualify for one. How do you know if you haven't tried?? Give our new advertising partner, Norcom Mortgage, a call. They're great to work with and can let you know how much of a home you should be shopping for. 860-606-0525. Once you know your price range come back to our site to shop for a FSBO home. The sellers won't pay commission if they sell directly to you, so you maximize your shopping dollars!

Click here for a good article about mortgages.

Pricing Your Home In Today's Market

If you have been receiving many calls and showings, but no offers, it may be a sign that your house is priced too high. Of course your home is priceless to you, but try to be objective when pricing it for sale. Pay close attention to what houses like yours have sold for in the past six months, and use this as a guideline.
We recommend you price your home only $2,000 higher than what you are willing to accept as a final offer and it really works! If your home is listed at a fair price, you will generate excitement among several buyers, and create the possibility of multiple offers. If your home is overpriced even by as little as $5,000 - you may be reaching the wrong buyers. A buyer qualified to spend $280,000 for example, will most likely buy up to his/her full spending capacity. If your house is really worth $270,000, the buyers looking at your home will not “talk you down” as you may have hoped. They are looking for more of a house, and are willing to pay for it. They’ll walk away. You’ll have been wasting your time with the wrong market!
Be aware of $25,000 break points on website searches. Tuck your price just under a break point rather than just over. e.g.: $125,000 - $149,999 $150,000 - $174,999 You’ll be seen by more buyers.
Today's buyers have done their homework and know the prices the market will bear. They have seen your competition. When buyers know a house is overpriced, they’ll walk away and continue their search. They know this home is not going to sell quickly, so why not go and view a few others?! If your house is priced right you will have your competition beat and the right buyer will not be so quick to continue shopping around for fear of losing your home to the next buyer.
For Better Home Pricing...
1) We strongly recommend having an independent appraiser give you an up to date price value. This is NOT a market analysis from a real estate agent who may inflate your homes’ value to solicit your listing. It is an unbiased, accurate report on the price of your home done by a professional appraiser. The cost is generally around $300-$400.
2) Check the Town Assessors’ office for homes like yours which have sold recently. This info is available to the general public, and can also be found on realtor.com, zillow.com and other sites. If you don’t have time to do the search yourself, our office can produce a report of comparable homes currently on the market as well as those sold in the past year. Call us today if you’d like this report. We can help you compare sale prices versus town assessments to help determine your appropriate price.
3) Shop the competition. Know what other homes are selling for and how they show on the inside. Go to open houses in your neighborhood. Search Realtor.com for homes currently on the market.
Finally,remember that every house will sell if priced fairly & competitively.

6 Rules of Curb Appeal

Hi,

I received the following article from Inman News sponsored by Lowes. I couldn't do a better job of recreating Paul's suggestions, so am reprinting his entire article for your review.

Curb appeal is Sooooo important. When you sell with us you have another really good rundown on what to do to spruce up your house in the Sell-It-Yourself Kit we've provided. Take a look at that, blend it with Paul's suggestions, and you should be good to go!  Thanks for reading....  Carol

How to beat out competition when selling your home

By Paul Bianchina
Inman News®
It's that time of year again, when I take a moment to talk to all of you who are thinking of putting your home on the market this spring. If real estate's favorite old adage is "location, location, location," then it's got to be followed closely by, "You get only one chance to make a first impression."
You can't change your home's location, but you can certainly do everything within your power to make that first impression a strong one, so let's go over the basics of that all-important must-have for a successful sale: curb appeal.
Start with a step back
You've seen the outside of your house so many times that you don't really see it anymore. So now's the time to look at it with new eyes, from the perspective of a prospective buyer. And if you can't do it objectively, get a friend, a neighbor or your real estate agent to do it for you.
Put yourself in the buyer's shoes, and make a written list of those things that might raise some concerns for you if you were thinking of buying it. And while the front of the house is the primary focal point, don't overlook the sides and rear of the house as well. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Exterior paint: The color and condition of your home's exterior paint job is one of the single most important things to a prospective buyer. The color makes a visceral impact the moment a buyer walks up, and while you might have thought that the hot pink siding with neon purple trim was a great showcase of your individuality when you painted the house, it's going to severely limit the home's appeal.
And no matter what color the house is, if the paint job is faded and peeling, it's an immediate warning sign to buyers that the house hasn't been maintained, so they'll have their magnifying glass out to look for other defects.
If you're handy with a brush and an airless sprayer, you might just want to undertake a repainting project yourself. A long weekend and a few hundred dollars in paint can make a world of difference in how well the home shows and how quickly it sells.
If you don't want to paint the entire house -- or if it doesn't really need it -- just painting the trim, exterior doors, garage door or window shutters can make a big difference as well.
Roofing: A bad roof is another indicator of a general lack of maintenance, and may point a finger at potential structural and even mold problems resulting from leaks. Roofs are expensive to replace, but depending on your market and your desire to reap top dollar from the sale, you may want to take a hard look at the economics of re-roofing.
Talk with your agent about the pros and cons of re-roofing now versus crediting the cost of a new roof to the buyer in escrow.
Driveway and walkways: Driveways are a pretty dominant feature in most homes. Clean any oil-stained concrete, and repair small cracks before they get larger. For asphalt driveways, a seal-coat can often make a big difference in appearance and help prolong the asphalt as well.
For concrete or asphalt that's badly damaged, it's time to be thinking about replacement. You can replace the driveway with the same material as before, or consider an updated look by using paving stones instead -- they hold up well in all types of weather, and can even be a very satisfying do-it-yourself project.
How about walkways? When someone arrives, is there a clear and safe path to your front door? You may not mind walking across your front lawn, but guests and prospective buyers would definitely prefer a walkway. There are lots of options for creating a new front walkway or replacing an existing one, so check out your home center or some landscaping magazines for ideas.
Landscaping: Are things overgrown? Dead or dying? Obviously neglected? Landscaping is a huge part of that first impression, so remember to take a critical look at it.

• Fertilize and water the lawn regularly to green it up, and run an edger along sidewalks and driveway edges.
• Rake up leaves and pine needles.
• Repair sprinkler systems.
• Prune back or even remove those wild shrubs, and trim overhanging tree branches.
• Use bright flowers to create borders and accent areas that add both color and hominess to the yard.
• Consider adding new shade trees in front, which help a home look more established and appealing. Trees look best planted in odd numbers -- a grouping of three or five for example -- and the folks at your local nursery can help you with proper spacing.

Clean and organize: Finally -- clean! If you're not going to paint, wash down the siding to remove dirt and stains and get it looking fresh and clean. Wash driveways, walkways and patios. If you have a wood deck, consider a complete cleaning to restore the wood to a fresher look.
Wash all the windows, inside and out, and wash the screens as well. Polish doorknobs and light fixtures. Stow all of your garden tools and kids' toys away to remove clutter and potential tripping hazards. Take a trip to the local landfill and dump all the stuff that's accumulated in and around the yard.
Check the night view
One last thing: Check the night view as well. A home that shows well at night really creates an impression. Replace any burned-out lightbulbs, and consider adding a timer or two to keep the lights on a little longer into the evening.
Consider some low-voltage or solar lights to accent front walkways, and maybe provide up-lighting to accent trees and larger shrubbery. Keep a light or two on in the front windows as well, to add to the feeling of coziness and comfort.
Remodeling and repair questions? Email Paul at paulbianchina@inman.com. All product reviews are based on the author's actual testing of free review samples provided by the manufacturers.

Pending Home Sales up 8% from last year!

Good news from the National Board of Realtors this morning. Pending home sales are up 8% from last January. It's nice to see things moving in the right direction! We've seen a lot more traffic for our listings, and it's good to hear that this is a national trend.
Let's get more dominos lined up.... when someone buys a "starter" home it allows that owner to move to the next price point, which allows the seller of that property to do the same. One sale can be the trigger for several more.
Good news!

Home Prices Post Fourth Month of Gains

Have we turned the corner on house prices?? Read the following article reprinted from Inman News for some insight.

Home prices post fourth month of gains

By Inman News
Inman News™

U.S. home prices inched up for the fourth month in a row, rising 0.9 percent from June to July, according to the latest Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices.
Only two of the 20 metro areas tracked by the Case-Shiller 20-City Composite saw month-to-month price declines: Las Vegas (-0.2 percent) and Phoenix (-0.1 percent). The index showed prices in Las Vegas down 59.3 percent from their August 2006 peak, hitting a new low.
Looking back a year, 18 out of 20 metro areas saw annual price declines, with the price index for Minneapolis falling 9.1 percent, Phoenix down 8.8 percent, and Portland, Ore., dropping 8.4 percent.
Detroit (up 1.2 percent) and Washington D.C. (up 0.3 percent) were the only cities to post annual gains in July, leaving the 20-City Composite down 4.1 percent.
But a dozen other cities -- Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Miami, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland, and Tampa -- posted improvements in annual price declines compared to June.

Metros tracked in Case-Shiller 20-City Composite

Metro	Change June-July	Change from year ago
Atlanta	0.2%	-5.0%
Boston	0.8%	-1.9%
Charlotte	0.1%	-3.9%
Chicago	1.9%	-6.6%
Cleveland	0.8%	-5.4%
Dallas	0.9%	-3.2%
Denver	0.0%	-2.1%
Detroit	3.8%	1.2%
Las Vegas	-0.2%	-5.4%
Los Angeles	0.2%	-5.4%
Miami	1.2%	-4.6%
Minneapolis	2.6%	-9.1%
New York	1.1%	-3.7%
Phoenix	-0.1%	-8.8%
Portland	1.0%	-8.4%
San Diego	0.1%	-5.9%
San Francisco	0.3%	-5.6%
Seattle	0.1%	-6.4%
Tampa	0.8%	-6.2%
Washington, D.C.	2.4%	0.3%
10-City Composite	0.9%	-3.7%
20-City Composite	0.9%	-4.1%

Source: S&P Indices and Fiserv
 
Standard & Poor's said the report included some "unusually large revisions" across some metro areas. Detroit was the most affected, with additional sales in May and June showing "a much healthier market than previously thought."