Lakes in Connecticut are classified two ways – powerboat & non-powerboat. People looking for a waterfront home tend to have a definite preference for which lake lifestyle they are looking for.

Connecticut’s powerboat lakes are typically deeper and larger in size than non-powerboat lakes.  Powerboat lakes appeal to those who love boating, water skiing, jet skiing, tubing and of course, swimming. People who love these powerboat lakes seek these properties out and Connecticut home prices reflect this - prices are higher on these powered Connecticut lakes than non-powerboat lakes. Homes like our newest listing on Crystal Lake in Ellington are strongly sought after as only a very few may come on the market each year.

Non-powerboat lakes in Connecticut are also strongly sought after and lend themselves to lower key recreational activities like canoeing and kayaking.  Swimmers like the fact that they can swim across the lakes and not worry about boats and skiers.  Fishing on some of these Connecticut lakes is superb, and many are stocked on a yearly basis. Most of the lakes in Connecticut, whether powerboat or non-powerboat have very few seasonal homes left as people have bought up the properties and improved them significantly.

For people who want to get away but do not want to spend 3 or 4 hours on the road, buying a Connecticut waterfront property within an hour or two of your primary home is a wonderful option. You can even live there during summer months and still go to work! More and more Connecticut residents have chosen to do this as they find a long commute to a vacation home means they don’t get there as often as they would like.  Once you are at your Connecticut waterfront home, relaxing and watching a beautiful sunset on the water, it doesn’t matter if you are in New Hampshire, Maine or Connecticut….

As experienced Connecticut Realtors, waterfront property specialists and the owners of a waterfront home, The Burns Real Estate Group has the expertise to help navigate the waters of Connecticut’s lake property real estate market. Stop by our Connecticut lake property website, www.CTLakeLiving.com, or contact us for additional information about buying or selling Connecticut lake property.

Looking back at the year behind us, many feel that 2008 has been a historic year – real estate values continued to plummet, wall street practically dissapeared and many stock market investors saw a significant loss of value in their portfolios.  Even with all these difficulties, the imminent change in presidency has many feeling hopeful that 2009 will bring about positive changes for the economy and the country. With 2008 winding down, everyone is curious when the Connecticut real estate market will start to regain its former vibrancy. Most experts are expressing cautious optimism – the housing market should look rosier as 2009 progresses.

What can you do as a Connecticut home seller to kick-start that sunnier forecast? Get your home in top-showing condition and have a realistic set of expectations for market value. Many home sellers opt to list their homes in January after the hectic December holidays. With a growing inventory of homes on the market, correctly pricing your home is paramount.  Many sellers have let their listings expire with the hopeful expectation that things will be better in a few months – we hope for that too and counsel our clients on how to best take advantage of any and all market changes.   

As top Storrs Mansfield real estate experts, The Burns Real Estate Group has the experience and tools to help Connecticut home sellers maximize their home’s selling potential. From curb appeal and staging to wisely pricing your property, our wealth of real estate expertise is key to your home selling plan.

From our family to yours, may you enjoy all the joy & peace of the season!
~ Tom & Elaine Burns, The Burns Real Estate Group

We at The Burns Real Estate Group want to extend our sincerest wishes for a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years to everyone we have had the pleasure of working with this year. From our home buyers & sellers to fellow real estate professionals, closing officers to mortgage specialists, inspectors to vendors, our 2008 was brighter because of you.

We hope that you & yours enjoy the warmth & spirit of this holiday season!
~ The Burns Real Estate Group

In an unprecedented effort to breathe life into the mortgage & housing markets, the Federal Reserve on Tuesday chopped down the range for the Fed Funds to 0% to 0.25% – the lowest rate in the Federal Reserve’s nearly 100 year history. This should trigger a drop in consumer interest rates for home equity lines of credit, credit cards, and car loans. While mortgage rates won’t directly benefit from this rate change, the historic low rates help provide more money for banks…which will eventually translate to more money for home loans for home buyers in Connecticut and across the country.

There is still money out there for home loans! Let The Burns Real Estate Group help you discover available programs for your next home in Connecticut - give us a call at 860.429.2853.

Whether you’re a seasoned clipper or someone exploring new ways of saving money, clipping coupons just got a little less painful thanks to three cool sites.

Stop by www.CoolSavings.com to browse their offering of manufactuers coupons that you can click & print at home. Grocery savings aren’t the only cool thing on the site…it’s chock full of coupons for all kinds of merchandise and services, consumer tips and more!

If clicking & printing is too much effort, check out www.ShortCuts.com to preload your grocery store loyalty card with grocery coupons! How? After signing up for a free account, simply select the manufacturers coupons you want to use. Then the next time you shop that store with your rewards card and purchase an item with a preloaded coupon, you automatically get that discount! Currently partnered stores can be found here.

Don’t forget to check your favorite newspapers and magazine for regular coupons and grocery store circular for store coupons, too. If you don’t want to wade through the coupon offerings without a game plan, consider using www.TheGroceryGame.com for maximizing savings on your next grocery run. The site matches newspaper coupon inserts to local grocery store sales, eliminating a lot of the guess work of “is this really a good deal” when you’re shopping.

If you’re looking to buy a home, remember that everywhere you can trim expenses will help you as you shop for a new mortgage. For more money saving ideas, check back every Thursday or contact The Burns Real Estate Group today!

The holiday season can be stressful. Current economic conditions don’t help. If you’re stressing over gift giving this year, here are some creative – and heartfelt – alternatives to buying gifts for a too-long list! Remember it’s the season of giving!

Food Pantries, Soup Kitchens & Shelters
Your local food pantry, soup kitchen & shelters are always in need of donations…food, money and volunteers! The Burns Real Estate Group supports FoodShare & the Windham Food Bank locally. You can check out their websites for further ways to help or stop by www.CTFoodBank.org. Get your family & friends together and have an outing that is rewarding to everyone involved!

Click to Support Causes…for FREE
Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus…even online! Through sponsorhips with advertisers, several charities offer a “support us with a (free) click” donation system where just by going to their website and clicking on a link or button, you can make a contribution to that charity. Want to support literacy? Cancer research? Feed an abandoned animal? There are sites for virtually every cause you can think of. Here are a couple to check out: www.GiveClicks.com and www.TheAnimalRescueSite.org.

Support with a Search…for FREE
Wouldn’t it be great to help raise money for your favorite charity just by using a search engine? Guess what – you can! Stop by www.GoodSearch.com and pick your favorite charity…then start searching! Every time you search, 50% of the revenue generated from advertising goes to the charity of your choice. You can even download their toolbar so searching is as easy as opening your browser and using the search box!

Got Points? Spend ‘Em!
You’ve used your credit card all year. Or travelled enough where you have miles to spare on your airline rewards program. Some will probably be expiring soon. So why not donate them if you’re not going to use them? Check your credit card company’s website or your frequent flier account to see what programs may be available to receive your unused points or miles. Organizations like Make a Wish accept airline miles & hotel loyalty points.

Simiarly, there are brands that offer points you earn by purchasing their products that can be redeemed for community or charitable causes. The Coca Cola Company, for example, lets collectors of their My Coke Rewards points donate their points to Toys for Tots and Toys for Teens, turning money already spent on soda pop into toys in the hands of children who would otherwise go without this holiday season.

Need a Cause to Support? Or Not Sure How “Legit” a Charity Is?
Get more information on a specific charitable cause – or discover one – by checking out www.CharityNavigator.org.

Don’t Forget Your Regular Charities…or Your Family & Friend’s
Non-profit groups are always in need of your support. You donate or volunteer throughout the year, so why not give to them this holiday season? A small monetary donation to your aunt’s favorite cause in her name, an afternoon at your co-worker’s food drive, or using a web search tool that sends money to your favorite cause while you look up fruit cake recipes all are gifts for more than just the recipient.

Join us in supporting Holiday Mail for Heroes through the American Red Cross. Through a partership with Pitney Bowes, the Red Cross will sending holiday cards to service members & veterans around the world. Complete program details (where to send the cards, how to address them) can be found on the official Holiday Mail for Heroes site, www.redcross.org/email/saf/. Hurry…deadline for postmarks is December 10th!

If you’re interested in sending care packages, check out www.americasupportsyou.com for details. The site includes links to several organizations offering different methods of showing support for our troops.

You can also support our troops during the holidays (and year round!) through the USO. For ways to show your support from sending phone cards to welcoming soldiers arriving back home, visit http://www.uso.org/.

Happy Holidays!

Cutting Edge Secrets to Stay Healthy & Avoid Weight Gain During the Holidays

Certified Holistic Health Counselor, Anti-Diet Expert to Give Tips for a Healthier Holiday

STORRS MANSFIELD, CT (November, 2008) – The Burns Real Estate Group will be hosting a Free Wellness Seminar at their office on Tuesday, December 9th from 7 to 9 PM. Cathy Barber, Certified Holistic Health Counselor and Anti-Diet Expert, will discuss a unique & personal eating insurance plan for the holiday season that is a completely different and dynamic approach to gaining health.

“The holidays can be stressful enough without worrying about what you’re eating this time of year,” said Elaine Burns. “This fun and informative seminar – packed full of useful information – is the strategy party for the holiday parties! The seminar will help you find key nutrition in the foods you love and help you find foods that satisfy your body and soul. We’re always exploring new ways of helping our community, and this Free Wellness Seminar will be the first of several over the coming months.”

Seating for this free event is limited, so please call 860.429.2853 to reserve your seat or request more information.

The Burns Real Estate Group wishes everyone a great holiday season! Successful marketing in the real estate market has changed as the Internet has become the leading resource for both buyers and sellers. The Burns Real Estate Group has custom designed, cutting-edge websites that give both buyers and sellers the information they need to help them succeed. To work with the area’s leading professionals in real estate, call The Burns Real Estate Group at 860.429.2853 or visit www.ConnAreaHomes.com.

Local Real Estate Agents Hosted Food Drive November 20th & 21st

STORRS MANSFIELD, CT (November, 2008) – The Burns Real Estate Group | Keller Williams hosted a Food Drive Open House at their office on Thursday, November 20th and Friday, November 21st. The event increased donations to the Foodshare & Windham Food Bank’s pantries.

“More people are in need this holiday season due to the economy,” said Tom Burns. “We had a great turn-out to help us support Foodshare and the Windham Food Bank’s efforts to help those in need this Thanksgiving. We sincerely extend our thanks to everyone who stopped by with turkeys and canned goods and wish everyone a great holiday season!”

In addition to the recent food drive, The Burns Real Estate Group supports several local & national charities and will be hosting a free wellness seminar December 9th. Complete event recaps can be found on The Burns Real Estate Groups’ blog (www.ConnAreaHomes.com/blog).

Successful marketing in the real estate market has changed as the Internet has become the leading resource for both buyers and sellers. The Burns Real Estate Group has custom designed, cutting-edge websites that give both buyers and sellers the information they need to help them succeed. To work with the area’s leading professionals in real estate, call The Burns Real Estate Group at 860.429.2853 or visit www.ConnAreaHomes.com.