Eastern Connecticut Association of REALTORS®

The voice for real estate in Eastern Connecticut, and the Association of choice for real estate professionals committed to excellence. Interested in becoming a REALTOR? Call us at 860-892-2595

ECAR Insights

ECAR Voice

The Importance of Getting Hybrid Appraisals Right

Posted on April 6, 2023 by SusyH

Article written by: Rebecca Jones A more streamlined appraisal process won’t materialize until lenders and appraisal management companies understand the critical need for credible, independent data collection. © SDI Productions - E+/Getty Images Key takeaways: In theory, hybrid appraisals promise to… Read More

Why pay dues?

Posted on December 30, 2022 by SusyH

A great explanation of what your Association does for you. written by fellow Association Executive, Jim Haisler December 05, 2022 REALTOR Associations: Some get it, and some don’t. Most REALTORS pay their fees mostly “because they have to” but don’t realize… Read More

Many homebuyers will be priced out of the market in 2022

Posted on January 24, 2022 by SusyH

BY MATT CARTERJanuary 19, 2022 Fannie Mae forecasts rising mortgage rates and home prices will dent existing home sales by 3.2%. Rising mortgage rates and last-year’s record-breaking runup in home prices are expected to price many would-be homebuyers out of the… Read More

Looking back: A brief history of real estate team crackdowns

Posted on August 6, 2021 by SusyH

By Jim Dalrymple, Inman staffer Last month, lawmakers in Connecticut passed a new law that will significantly regulate how teams can operate. The biggest news is that the law will limit what teams can call themselves, potentially forcing teams up and down the… Read More

Hispanic homebuyers poised to become dominant force in U.S. housing market

Posted on August 3, 2021 by SusyH

Written by Jeff Ostrowsky, Senior Reporter for Bankrate. Hispanics, already a prominent force in the U.S. housing market, are about to take over as the nation’s dominant group of homebuyers. A study by the Urban Institute forecasts that Latinos will become a… Read More

Quick, the Appraiser Is at the Door!

Posted on July 23, 2021 by SusyH

Written by Eric A. Trotz Key takeaways It’s appropriate to discuss your market knowledge with appraisers, but you cannot demand a particular value for your listing.Learn the guidelines that an appraiser is required to follow so you can recommend reasonable comps.Educate… Read More

10 scenarios that can get new agents ethics violations, lawsuits or worse

Posted on July 6, 2021 by SusyH

Here are 10 hypothetical situations to help illustrate how you can avoid some very real legal and ethical problems WRITTEN BY LILLIAN DICKERSON July 05, 2021 Even the most earnest real estate agents can accidentally make a false step that could… Read More

5 Tips to Help Clients Prepare for Estate Sales

Posted on June 25, 2021 by SusyH

Real estate pros can share this information with their sellers to ensure their estate sale runs smoothly. Written by David Blue The pandemic ignited a surge in home buying that we haven’t seen since 2006. A rise in remote work opportunities,… Read More

3 ways to boost buyers’ confidence in a hot seller’s market

Posted on May 12, 2021 by SusyH

By SANTIAGO ARANA Although guiding homebuyers through a competitive market is a challenge, it's important to encourage them to be patient and trust the process. Here are a few ways to prepare your clients and help them stay ahead of… Read More

Why Do Agents Require Buyers to Sign Buyers Representation Agreement Before Showing Other Agent’s Listings?

Posted on May 10, 2021 by Greg Hanner REALTOR Broker e-PRO ehannerg

We thought this blog article by Greg Hanner was worth reposting. I often get told by prospective Buyers that they don't understand why they have to sign a Buyer's Representation Agreement (aka Buyer's Broker Agreement) before I can show them… Read More

Spring Buyers Must Be Ready to Act Quickly

Posted on February 5, 2021 by SusyH

This spring will likely be another fiercely competitive one for home buyers. Real estate professionals should prepare their house hunters for record low inventories and rapidly rising home prices. “Demand for housing was already strong coming into the year and… Read More

No matter what, Realtors are the ones who make home happen

Posted on February 1, 2021 by SusyH

Written by Carl Medford: Despite the daily onslaught of market disruptors seeking to remove Realtors from the equation, there will always be a need for the personal touch in walking clients through the sale or purchase of their most important… Read More

Will Mortgage Rates Continue to Fall This Month?

Posted on December 3, 2020 by SusyH

Mortgage rates have hit new record lows 13 times this year, the latest in November. But will the downward trend continue this month? Nadia Evangelou, senior economist and director of forecasting for the National Association of REALTORS®, believes rates will… Read More

Steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick – CDC

Posted on November 17, 2020 by SusyH

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19, follow the steps below to care for yourself and to help protect other people in your home and community. Stay home except to get medical care Stay… Read More

Should I Sell My Home Now or Wait Until the Spring?

Posted on November 16, 2020 by SusyH

by Kyle Hiscock.  There are many questions homeowners ask themselves during the selling process. "How much will my home sell for?"  "How much should I list my home for?"  "Who should I select as a real estate agent to sell my home?"  "What… Read More