The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Firm joins effort to provide safe housing in Haiti
LITCHFIELD — William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty has partnered with New Story, a 501c3 non-profit, to transform lives in Haiti with affordable, safe housing. For the last two years, New Story has been building communities in Haiti, El Salvador and Bolivia, working with local partners to transform slums into safe, life-changing communities. Each home costs just $6,500 and is given to a family in need to impact their lives for generations to come.
“Our company is dedicated to partnering with philanthropic organizations that make a meaningful difference in the world,” said Paul Breunich, President and CEO of William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty, in a written statement. “We are proud that our latest partnership is with New Story, a non-profit that works toward transforming dangerous living environments in the developing world into communities of safe, sustainable homes.”
After several natural disasters including a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 2010 and a powerful hurricane in 2016, Haiti’s infrastructure has been severally impacted. So far the company’s brokerages in New Canaan, Wilton and Scarsdale, as well as its corporate office in Stamford, have completed a home for a family in need. The company has committed to building 21 homes company-wide.
New Story has created an innovative and more transparent model than the traditional charitable giving experience. Operations costs that the charity might incur are paid for through a separate group of investors, meaning every dollar given to New Story through donations goes directly to building homes.
“Our 100 percent model and move-in videos are how we’re providing a unique experience for donors,” said Brett Hagler, CEO of New Story in the statement. “We don’t want giving to just be a transaction. We strive to create an experience that truly shows donors how much their donation means to these families.”
“New Story does even more than build houses – they provide jobs and economic stability for the communities they service,” Breunich said. “By hiring local labor and purchasing domestic materials, New Story helps to boost the economies of the countries where they work.”
Top agents named for February
WETHERSFIELD — Weichert, Realtors® -The Zubretsky Group in Wethersfield recently announced its top agents for the month of February. Realtor Eli Joseph has been named the Top Retail Listing Agent of the Month while Realtor Paul Cranick was named the Top REO Listing Agent of the Month.
“Eli and Paul are both tremendously talented agents that continue to demonstrate their ability to be top performing real estate professionals with their respective production throughout February,” said John Zubretsky, Jr., owner/ broker at Weichert, Realtors® - The Zubretsky Group, in a statement. “The two of them have earned the right to be recognized for their month’s production. We’re proud to have them on our team to help provide home buyers and sellers the best real estate service in the area.”
Joseph and Cranick are part of a team of talented agents at Weichert, Realtors® - The Zubretsky Group, which brings many years of combined real estate experience to its clients.
Weichert, Realtors® - The Zubretsky Group is an independently owned and operated Weichert affiliate. The office serves the greater Hartford area.
For more information contact John Zubretsky, Jr. at 860-263-2121 or visit www.thezubretskygroup.com.
For more information about Weichert, visit Weichert.com or for information on franchise opportunities visit WeichertFranchise.com.
First quarter 2018 market report
A report detailing market results for the first quarter of 2018 in Fairfield and Litchfield Counties and the Shoreline in Connecticut, the Berkshires in Massachusetts, and Westchester County, New York, was recently released by William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty.
The report found all markets the company serves experiencing somewhat lower sales versus the first quarter last year. While the declines were not enormous, they were consistent. Westchester County was down by 6% in unit sales and 4% in dollar volume, with the southern county seeing a decrease of 7% in units and 3% in volume, and the northern county down 4% in units and 8% in volume. In Connecticut, Fairfield County saw unit sales decreasing by 2% and dollar volume by 3%, Litchfield County had unit sales about even and dollar volume declining 5%, and the Shoreline region of New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties saw unit sales dipping 5% and volume a slight 1%. In the Berkshires, Mass., unit sales slid 14% while dollar volume was flat.
Noting that it has been several years since the last time there was an overall decline in sales year over year, the report concluded that the passage of the new tax bill at the end of 2017 helped to prompt a pause in buyer activity during the fourth quarter, reflected in the lower rate of closings in the first quarter. In its analysis the report suggested that the new bill may have spread a degree of uncertainty among consumers, particularly in states where income and property taxes may be most affected.
Yet at the same time, economic indicators point to an ongoing strong foundation for the real estate market. These include the GDP, which saw the largest growth in consumer spending in three years in the fourth quarter; low unemployment and a growing job market; interest rates remaining low; and the stock market, while fluctuating, still standing high. Consumer confidence, historically the key leverage point in determining the outlook on real estate, remains at elevated levels with a March reading of 127.7 (1985=100) after a historic 18-year high of 130.0 in February, according to the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®.
“With so much positive news on the economic front, we would expect to observe a robust real estate marketplace. We do feel optimistic that high consumer confidence will override concerns associated with the tax bill going forward, though at the same time we cannot predict the future,” said Paul Breunich, President and Chief Executive Officer of William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty. “In recent months we’ve seen many in our industry speculate in the media on how tax reform will impact the real estate market this year, but we feel it is too soon to tell. We stand by the position that it would be irresponsible to draw firm conclusions so soon after the signing of the new law.”
The 2018 First Quarter Market Watch is available for download on the firm’s website, williampitt.com.
Equal Opportunity in Housing Program open to public
TORRINGTON — The Litchfield County Board of Realtors Equal Opportunity in Housing Program is being held on Thursday, April 19, at the Elks Lodge on 70 Litchfield Street in Torrington.
The event begins with coffee, tea and crudités at 6:30 p.m. followed by the presentation at 7 p.m.
Tenants or landlord or real estate agent with clients that are tenants or landlords who have questions pertaining to the rights and responsibilities as a tenant or landlord may find the answers they need.
Those with questions pertaining to filing or responding to a fair housing complaint, the eviction process, fair housing laws, fire safety for multiple family dwellings, home/rental insurance, landlord/tenant court or resources for landlords can learn more at the program, which will feature a panel of experts to speak on fair housing topics and to answer questions from the audience. The event provides an opportunity for tenants, landlords and real estate agents to receive fair housing information.
The lineup of speakers will include representatives from the Torrington Fire Marshal; Farmers Insurance Group; Connecticut Fair Housing Center; the Law Offices of Stephanie Weaver; Connecticut Property Owners Alliance, Inc.; and GA 5 Derby Superior Court.
Seating is limited on a first come first served basis; reservations are not required but are strongly encouraged. To register contact 860-482-9816 or to register online under the Events section of www.litchfieldboard.com.