Real Estate Information

My portfolio manager, Andy Kramer, Kramer Capital Management, is a cut above the rest. His insightful and erudite analysis of the stock market, investing, and the like is a refreshing departure from the likes of the other Cramer whose more an entertainer than a big brain on investing. I'll take my Kramer over your Cramer any day of the week. 

I'm delighted to be allowed to post his monthly newsletter on my blog and I will look forward to sharing his insights with you each month. 

If interested in contacting Kramer Capital Management directly, send me and email to: mick@pagetaft.com and will make the introduction. 

Here's Andy's last newsletter: 

Dear clients, friends, family and, I hope, a few prospects:

Will the stock market high registered in the second quarter of 2010 (April 26, with the S&P 500 at 1220) be the high for the year, and possibly years to come?  As longtime readers might guess, we believe that is quite possible and will detail some of our reasons in the forthcoming paragraphs.  Our 4/1/10 letter forecasted increased volatility and more bi-directional markets.  Little did we expect volatility to increase by 40% during the quarter and the S&P 500 to decline, at its nadir, over 12%.  The fact that our accounts were positive for the quarter, and year-to-date, corroborates our 4/1/10 message that only those managers willing to short, hedge, and sell will have the tools necessary to achieve positive performance going forward.  While we, of course, are pleased with our results we remain vigilant and humble as we fully expect markets to become even more volatile and challenging in the months and years to come.

Over the years we have used these letters to detail our concerns as unbridled monetary and fiscal policy begat wanton speculation.  During the crisis and its aftermath we have focused on the potential unintended consequences of the haphazard, ill conceived, and politically motivated responses.  One of our favorite strategists, Kiril Sokoloff of 13D Research, titles his missives, "Thoughts on the end game"; we feel this is an appropriate turn of phrase because what we will witness over coming years will be the destruction of the present system and the eventual emergence of its successor.  There are many potential paths and outcomes and we will not pretend to be able to forecast how this crisis will (continue to) unfold, but we intend to stay focused, alert, with both hands on the wheel. And we plan to have the physical, mental, and capital resources to invest in the next growth cycle when it comes, because another cycle always does.

It is true our outlook has become more apocalyptic, if that is possible, as we survey the present landscape.  Simply put, there is no way to grow our way out of our present condition.  More likely will be wholesale debt repudiation and/or massive monetary inflation or perhaps a combination of both.  We have discussed in detail, over many letters, the myriad economic imbalances that exist in today’s world. Nonetheless, there are so many gargantuan examples of the untenability of the current situation that we will discuss it again.

According to a recent report written by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), "roughly 93 cents of every dollar of federal revenue will be spent on the major entitlement programs and net interest costs by 2020."  What this government issued report tells us is that in only ten years time, .93 cents of every $1.00 of government revenue will be used to fund Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and interest costs, leaving .07 to fund defense, homeland security, welfare, unemployment benefits, education etc. etc.  We know this is not possible but we don’t know how the problem will be resolved.

What about the precarious state of American states?  A recent report from the U.S. Center of Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that in fiscal 2010 the U.S. states collectively posted a near $200 billion budget shortfall, equivalent to 30% of all state budgets, and that is with $135 billion federal emergency bailout assistance.  The situation of the states is even more precarious than that of the federal government because they cannot print their own currency, and because they have a large number of fixed costs which continue to expand.

As dire as the current projections are, the possibility of their being understated is real, as the demographic tide of aging baby boomers compounds the current problems.  As our largest generation moves into its retirement years we should see tax revenues weaken and social safety-net obligations increase.  As Graham Fisher’s Josh Rosner wrote in a recent report,

These boomers are now moving to become the largest tax on the social safety net.  The largest generation in U.S. history will retire with less equity in what has historically been the largest retirement and intergenerational wealth transfer asset for most families—their homes.  In many cases, these people will have no new personal savings when they reach the end of their working lives and will essentially become wards of the state.  This increased burden on the U.S. Treasury, in a decade, is the largest unconsidered impact of the current crisis.

When will our credit markets begin to unravel is just a guess, but one should look to the recent credit market turmoil in Greece as an indication of what we should expect over time.  Much is written to the effect that these problems will stay localized in the PIGS (Portugal, Iceland, Greece and Spain) and potentially Britain as well, but that we in the U.S. are safe because the dollar is the world’s reserve currency, we are the most powerful military force, etc.  To that we simply say "balderdash."  As we have said before and will say again, when a credit bubble blows there is no escaping the eventual pain and suffering that ensues.  It might not be evident in today’s market but it is short-sighted and financially ignorant to be unprepared for the eventual credit debacle that will unfold sometime in the future.

Unfortunately the list of problems does not stop there.  The perilous fiscal situation in Europe, rising social unrest in China, the percolating ethnic and religious tensions in 

Afghanistan, Pakistan and now Kyrgyzstan is now suddenly dwarfed by the potential devastation occurring in the Gulf of Mexico.  We will not delve into the potential nightmare scenarios we believe can unfold as this catastrophe grows.  Suffice it to say that we are already a weakened power and this crisis can only exacerbate our decline.

How to manage a portfolio in this environment?  There are always options and possibilities, which is what makes our job so endlessly fascinating and challenging. Whether it is a special situation, undiscovered by the market, or a tactical move contrary to prevailing trends (our most recent example of this was our quick strike this quarter in the volatility index—VXX), we are always searching, studying, and learning to position our portfolios correctly.  The one area that has been and will be our preferred overweight, perhaps for years to come, continues to be the gold mining sector.  We see gold trading at all-time highs but we believe that is not yet reflected in the gold mining sector.  Appendix A is a chart comparing the gold miners to the price of gold.  The chart shows that for the first 6 years of the current gold bull market the miners fluctuated between overvalued (red line) and undervalued (green line) in a well defined band.  The global credit crisis has disturbed this relationship.  Even a move back towards the lower undervalued band, which we believe is quite probable, will greatly enhance the value of our portfolios.  We continue to believe that when the current financial architecture fails, the rush to own gold will remind us of the internet frenzy at its height.  Anecdotally, we remain quite comfortable with our overweight positions as we have yet to find anyone we talk with who shares our position.  The more we get laughed at or dismissed, the better we like it. 

Please note the change in our logo and stationery, courtesy of my sister Rebecca, web-site designer.  In addition, please update your records to reflect our new contact information.  Rebecca is also working with us to build a web-site which will archive our letters from 2006 to the present.  We plan to be updating the site regularly to include commentary, charts and quotes and to build it out as the year progresses, so please bookmark it on your browser and check in with us periodically throughout the quarter.  Thank you for your continued support.

 Andrew Kramer Shu Wu

Portfolio Manager Associate

Appendix A

Below are some very interesting statistics from the National Association of Realtors®. You will note that the only area of the country to show an increase in residential sales in June was the Northeast. But you will also note that the median price of a home in the Northeast was down 1.2% during June. So the message is clear, homes that are priced right are selling!

"Regionally, existing-home sales in the Northeast rose 7.9 percent to an annual level of 960,000 in June and are 17.1 percent above June 2009. The median price in the Northeast was $244,300, down 1.2 percent from a year ago.

Existing-home sales in the Midwest dropped 7.5 percent in June to a pace of 1.23 million but are 11.8 percent higher than a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $155,900, down 0.1 percent from June 2009. 

In the South, existing-home sales fell 6.5 percent to an annual level of 2.01 million in June but are 11.0 percent above June 2009. The median price in the South was $163,600, unchanged from a year ago. 

Existing-home sales in the West dropped 9.3 percent to an annual pace of 1.17 million in June but are 0.9 percent higher than a year ago. The median price in the West was $221,800, up 1.5 percent from June 2009."

Source: National Association of Realtors®

My youngest son, Nick Athanas, paid us a visit recently.  Nick is one of the owners of TropicalBirding.com which is located in Quito, Ecuador. He only gets home to visit once or twice a year so his visits are always special. Nick and the other guides at Tropical Birding.com lead tours all over the world for people interested in seeing rare and unusual birds. Nick has become something of an expert on South American birds. His photography is excellent  as can be seen by the accompanying photos and he is particularly well known in the birding community for his audio recordings.

Crimson Hooded Manakin                                Nick Athanas ©2010

I visited Nick two years ago and spent ten days with him. We went from the high Andes to the Amazon rain forest. It was a great experience. It is difficult for someone from the U.S. to comprehend the incredible number and variety of bird species in South America. Here in Connecticut, we have one hummingbird, the Ruby Throated. During my ten days in Ecuador, I saw over 50 different hummingbirds - there are over 140 in Ecuador alone and many more throughout South America!

Bronzy Jacamar                                                Nick Athanas ©2010

My favorite part of the trip was my stay at the Tandayapa Bird Lodge which is affiliated with TropicalBirding.com. The lodge was built in 1999 on a steep ridge at an elevation of 6000 feet in the Andes cloud forest. There are twelve fully furnished rooms and a spacious balcony that looks out over the forest. Meals are included in the room rate and the food here is excellent. Whether you have an interest in birds or not, this is a great place to just relax and get away from it all - no internet, no telephone, no interruptions! You can just enjoy the lodge and the balcony or you can walk the many trails and dirt roads - the mountain views and wildlife are spectacular. However, if you are looking for nightlife and/or tourist attractions, this is definitely not the place to go!

Hyacinth Macaws                                             Nick Athanas © 2010

So, if you are looking for an unusual vacation in South America or any of a number of exotic locations world wide, contact Tropical Birding.com. You won’t be disappointed - I know I wasn’t.

Balcony at Tandayapa Bird Lodge  As many as 20 different hummingbirds can be seen at these feeders at the same time!

Foreword by Mick Marsden: I had a wonderful experience meeting and getting to know Pete and Mary Concklin. I gained incredible insight and experience helping them locate and buying their pick your own berry farm in North Windham. Below is the article that was written by Loretta Waldman for the Hartford Courant's Sunday Home magazine. Read it here or at the Courant.com website by clicking here: http://www.courant.com/business/real-estate/hc-conklins-farm-0606-20100606,0,943875.story

When the economy was humming, stories of family farms being sold off and cut up for subdivisions were commonplace. The downturn seems to have slowed that trend and produced at least one story of an entrepreneurial couple buying a family farm, well, to farm it.

Mary Conklin, a former Pennsylvania State University agricultural extension educator, and her husband Peter, a fruit farmer-turned-IT professional, became owners of a 65.7-acre spread in NorthWindham last August. Since then, the couple, 56 and 65 respectively, have been hard at work refurbishing the two barns on the former hay farm and preparing a flat, open field next to their home on Route 203 for 4,800 raspberry plants.

They can't say exactly when their pick-your-own berry operation will open, but expect it to be sometime around July 2011. Blueberry plants will be added next year, said Mary, as well as a farm stand where they plan to sell herbs, flowers and some vegetables.

"Our goal is for it to be sustainable, to do little or no spraying," she said, "minimal spraying to the degree possible."

Mary Conklin, who grew up outside Boston, has an unadorned, no-nonsense style. Peter hails from New York state and is more sparing with words.

Peter Conklin knows a lot about family farms. The farm he grew up on in Rockland County had been in his family since 1712. He worked that land as a young man, but as more and more of the rented acreage was sold off for housing developments, he bought a farm in the Hudson Valley, where he grew vegetables, apples, cherries and pears.

Mary Conklin was working for Cornell University's Agricultural Extension Service at the time, and Peter Conklin was one of her growers. The two married in 1983, a year after she took the job.

Peter Conklin sold the fruit farm in 1995 and, after a short stint in Virginia, moved to Pennsylvania with Mary and their two children. Mary took a job with Pennsylvania State University's Agricultural Extension Service and Peter switched from full-time farming to IT work. He picked up the skills developing software for tracking costs, inventory, payroll and other records on his own farm, which he sold to other growers.

Combing The Internet

It was during that decade in Pennsylvania that their dream of a pick-your-own berry farm took root.

"We knew we wanted to get back into farming," explained Mary Conklin. "We wanted to grow berries. We always live in our garden."

They chose Connecticut because their daughter and Mary Conklin's parents live here. The couple combed the Internet for potential properties for five or six years, sending Mary's parents to check out those that sounded promising.

Mick Marsden, a real estate agent with the River to Shore Group of Page Taft Real Estate, recalled how well-prepared the Conklins were when they arrived to look for themselves. Along with information on the farm, they carried data about the soil, what had been grown there and much more, he said.

"It was a real education for me," said Marsden.

Shift To A Retail Model

Pick-your-own farms in Connecticut are a thriving enterprise. A state Department of Agriculture brochure lists 65 throughout the state, but the actual number may be considerably higher, said department spokeswoman Linda Piotrowicz.

Their popularity correlates to the exploding interest in locally grown produce and the fact that fruit picking is an activity families can enjoy together, she said.

Since the late 1990s, the state's $2.2 billion agriculture industry has been undergoing a shift from a wholesale to retail model, added Ron Olsen, a marketing and inspection representative with the department. Pick-your-own farms and, more recently, the surging number of farmers markets, community-supported agriculture sites and farm stands have all contributed to that change, he said.

Taking Hold

The farm the Conklins bought had been in the same family for generations, and members of the family still live across the street. The couple paid $465,000 for rolling grounds, which also came with a Cape-style farmhouse dating to 1850. Thoughts of renovating it to live in, however, had to be scrapped, the couple said. The structure was so old and needed so much work that they salvaged what they could and had it demolished.

The Conklins instead put up a modular house around Thanksgiving and moved into it in mid December, the day before a major snowstorm. The heart of the house is a large central room with a kitchen, living and dining area and fireplace. Light pours in through its many windows. As the couple sit side-by-side on one of the sofas, Aiden, their 10-year-old yellow lab, nestles sleepily at their feet.

They have renamed the farm Raspberry Knoll Farm. Passers-by asked if they were planning to raise llamas when, in early spring, they began surrounding the raspberry field with deer fencing.

Peter Conklin still does IT work for a bank and shuttles between his new home and offices in Boston and Providence. Finally having their farm and being closer to family is nice, Mary Conklin said. Their daughter and their son, who lives in Vermont, helped them get all the raspberry plants in the ground, she said. The rain and warm, sunny weather in recent weeks have helped them take hold.

"It's like watching babies grow," she said.

BNI Member Pete McLaughlin & Mary Ellen McQuire of McClaughlin Associates, the go-to place for all your insurance, in Madison learned about my photography and creative skills through BNI and tole me that I should meet Richard Parri, the idea man behind the new ImageAmmo software for consumers and pros alike. They were right, Richard and I hit it off from the start. 

Friendly, smart, creative, Richard's background was in finance. He built a sizable company that he was at the helm of until 49 when a heart attack changed his course. After 16 years being in the slow lane, the notes and diagrams he created during this time in a simple spiral bound book need to finally come to life. 

Rich Parri, the creative genius behind ImageAmmo at his bank of HD flatscreens demonstrating the  product to me. 

During his time away from the corporate world, he visualized a product that would make presenting images to the world in a unique, dramatic, and interactive way.  The concept got off the ground when Rich met up with Logan Chittenden, a developer that could share Rich's vision. With past experience in game development as well as data management programming, together they refined and grew Rich's notes into the visual treat it has become. More importantly for the consumer and pro alike, a Rhesus Monkey could interface with it. Hyperbole, I know, but it's really stupid simple. 

I had interest in learning more on many levels. As a professional photographer I am always looking for new and creative ways to showcase the many homes my River to Shore Group team presents on line. For the occasional wedding or event I shoot I found ways to share the images with my clients in ways so creative it's not just leading edge, I'd have to say it's bleeding edge. 

Richard and Logan have been working tirelessly on this project for about a year.  I met Richard in his Madison, CT home office perched on the 3rd floor of that takes advantage of serene views his waterfront home's offers. I can't see how I'd get tired of working there. When I arrived the banks of large, flat HD screens reminded me of those TV shows and movies with the super-geek behind a keyboards chasing down criminals, Wall Street thieves, terrorists, and the like. It was simply the perfect venue for him to show me the many ways this product could be used. I was wildly excited. 

Given that a photo is worth a thousand words, the best way to get your arms around the product is to visit: http://imageammo.com/

For me the future is clear. Photography clients would receive a personalized "thumb" drive with their photos and ImageAmmo runtime program on it instead of the old DVD's which can travel a whole lot easier. Buyer's of Real Estate will have a great time exploring the photos of any home I publish online in the very near future. It'll be a killer app for my new iPad to say the least. 

Kiosks are a great use for this technology as well. If you want to see an example Rich and Logan's good work and have a great meal to boot (the make the best pomme frites)  go to Cafe Routier on RT in Westbrook (www.CafeRoutier.com) where a large touch screen is mounted on the wall in the lounge area for customers to interact with. Very cool. 

I'll be writing more on this great technology as it unfolds. I'll certainly be at the front of the line to incorporate this into my real estate marketing, so hey, Rich and Logan, get the pro-application finished will ya?

Most who know me know my passion for technology in general, but I'm nothing if not THE Apple enthusiast. Yes I have my iPad 3G 64gb coming, own the iPhone, and a fully loaded 17" MacBook Pro. In fact the entire River to Shore Group uses Apple technology to create better marketing materials, maintain better communications, and have more capabilities wherever we are. 

If you're into social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the like, TweetDeck is the best aggregator I've seen. In addition to making it incredibly easy to make posts to whatever accounts you have ownership of or administrator rights. When a post is made in a channel or column you created on the deck, it will feed that post automatically through Adobe Air which places the message into a neat, small, translucent window in any corner you prefer. Goto TweetDeck.com to download the software and try it out. It's fabulous to write and post one message that's appropriate for 5 accounts in one click, photos, and more.

Another natural addition to your communications palette is the Mac Mail plug-in known as "Herald" written by Erik Hinterbichler from Mountain View, CA (Where else?). It's simply an elegant solution, beautifully coded, and a must have for someone who want's to be on top of their email.

Since using it I find I can quickly delete the items I'd be deleting when I poured over a long list of unread mail, immediately respond to those items requiring it, and simply check off that I read those that I want to keep that require no response at all, or lastly simply click it off for me to deal with within Mail at a later time. 

It is highly customizable and there is simply nothing I can find wrong with it from either a design or function perspective. Goto: http://erikhinterbichler.com/software/herald/ for a free download. You might want to donate some $$ to the author letting him know in green what you think of his fine work. 

If you do use it, please post your comments here so others can read the consensus on this plug-in

My entire family and I have been using Fenwick Mortgage in Old Saybrook for our mortgage needs for years. Founded by Carl Bulgini in 2005 right here in Old Saybrook I've recommended his firm to many of my real estate clients who've simply loved the rates, service, and courtesy of Fenwick's staff. Having personal experience with a company you recommend to others goes a lot further than hearsay for sure. 

Todd Hartt, whose just joined the illustrious mortgage team, recently left Edward Jones for an opportunity to work with the best. Todd became acquainted with Fenwick Mortgage through his membership at the Riverside BNI chapter that meets each Tuesday at 7:3o am at Essex Town Hall Auditorium. 

Todd Hart: Mortgage Originator Extaordinaire

I met with Todd a few weeks back to get to know him and his work ethic. Wow. Todd's demeanor and attention to detail makes him well suited as the lead representative for the firm. Todd's got more licenses than a boatload of fishermen, Series 7, 66, life and health insurance licenses, and of course hie holds both a national and state mortgage originator's licenses. His background and experience makes him your best choice for your next mortgage or refi. Todd holds an MBA from SCSU as well. 

Prior to working for Edward Jones in Essex, he has 11 years experience in marketing and sales in the Pharmaceutical industry with Pfizer. 

Todd is a local person who was born and raised in Old Saybrook. He is an avid skier and sailor and has 15 years experience professionally in the marine industry, most of that here in Essex. 

He lives here with his 3 daughters and wife, Nicole. 

One of the things I most like to do at BNI is meeting with each member to get to know their business and a little about them personally. Jim Martin joined our illustrious Riverside BNI chapter a few weeks ago and met him at the Crow's nest for breakfast.

On a personal level, I can't see how anyone could dislike the laid back, smiling demeanor of this creative professional. It turns out that Jim and I had many, many friends and acquaintances in common as well as avocations including sailing and travel. We're kindred spirits on the creative level as well.  

Jim at the helm of the Amistad, a boat and organization he is so passionate about. 

I discussed with him his business principles and his approach to design adn architecture and learned that and much more. Jim felt it was the right time to take a new look at the way owners; designers and builders approach potential new projects. It’s no surprise to anyone that everyone is holding on to his or her budgets more tightly than we’ve seen for decades. And yet, we all want to continue to move forward with the ever-growing deferred maintenance and renovation projects.

One of Jim's sensitive historic restoration projects located in Essex

To accomplish this, JRM Architecture has developed a new way to structure A/E design and construction teams that works better for all of us in this challenged economy.

Essentially, Jim has cut most of overhead costs and is able to pass the cost reductions along to clients. He has created an alliance of professionals, combining some of the most talented and seasoned professionals in Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island. They offer complete Architectural and Engineering services including feasibility studies large and small, schematic budget estimates, construction documents and construction administration, as well as specialty services such as program space planning, laboratory space planning, planning and research for project financial funding, historic planning and preservation, LEED planning and certification fulfillment documentation.

Because of this “no overhead” structure, they are able to take on small renovation projects and additions to the large academic and commercial projects for which the team have become known.

Being idle is not an option to stay competitive.  The JRM Architecture | Interiors | Planning team would be happy to discuss their qualifications and discuss any project you may have to help you find ways to move ahead, despite a tight budget.

Jim at Essex's Town Hall Auditorium at a weekly Riverside BNI Meeting

CALL JIM AT (860) 391-9072 OR EMAIL HIM AT jamesmartinarchitecture@gmail.com

If you don't know Melissa Ziobron here in East Haddam, you might want to get to know her especially if you're a business owner of any kind. She's got a tough job as the lead person on East Haddam's Economic Development Committee. She works tirelessly to help business owners clear hurdles, find space, and the like to make their business happen. Business of all kinds benefit our town on a multitude of levels: they pay taxes, provide jobs, and some bring in customers to town who'd have no reason to visit that may spend their dollars elsewhere. 

The benefits are obvious however town commissions and some of the ordinances they rigidly enforce create obstacles that sometime send businesses to other towns that are more business friendly. Melissa personifies pro-business so seeking her help is wise.

Melissa Ziobron the gal on the go... 

I've gotten to know Melissa over the past few years and she seems to be everywhere. I love her broad smile and upbeat attitude on life and our town. She's a fantastic woman on all levels. She's been instrumental in helping my wife's business, CT Farm Fresh Express relocate from a home based business to temporary quarters in the industrial park in a space owned by Parady and Sons, who treated her very well, to her permanent location on 24 Mt. Parnassus Road owned by none other than Bob Casner. Bob too has been great to work with and has done a very nice job readying the location for her business. The bottom line is that none of this would have been possible without Melissa's tireless efforts.

Deb Marsden in front of her new location for CT Farm Fresh Express on 24 Mt. Parnassus Road. 

Melissa was born in 1971 and lived here with her family until she was 4. Her family relocated to East Hampton for a while but came back to East Haddam a short time later so she's been here from her school years to the present. She's been married to Scott Ziobon, her husband of 16 years, and together raise their 2 children, Brittany (15) and Bryan (11). 

Ernie & Cindy Piatti, owners of the Hilltop BBQ & Steakhouse are grateful for the support and guidance that Melissa gave them in getting their great restaurant open.

She had aspirations to be first selectman in 2005 but sadly lost. That failure taught her a lot about communication and the frustration of party politics. She also learned how to really see an issue from both sides and how to build bridges and foster compromise that works. That knowledge has made her a great asset to the EDC and our community. 

Melissa assisted Marcy Vitigliano's new Morning Glories Foral Design in coming to town from Norwich.

In 2007 she took the position at the EDC instead of putting her family through another race for the 1st selectman's post because she thought she could do more for the town in this capacity. I have to agree. She knows how to surround herself with individuals that possess talents and attributes to complement hers and it shows in how much she gets done on the short 14 hours a week the town pays her to do this most critical function. In my opinion they should pay her for a full week and reduce hours in a less important function in town government. But that makes too much sense. (Sorry for my cynical comments about government and the moronic decisions that are constantly made at all levels of government. I don't think I'll get much blow back on that comment, but then again...)

Long blogs aren't good so I don't want to go into too much detail on the tax incentives that are in place for both new and existing businesses. Melissa tole me that there are breaks for home based to larger businesses, that will make East Haddam look more attractive to new business and existing businesses alike.  Melissa told me that a business that invests $3m will be awarded an 80% tax abatement over 7 years! She tells me a $25K to 150K investment will get that business a 50% tax abatement for 2 years. There's more for home based business and the like so I encourage you to call her for details. She told me that full details would be on her EDC page within the new town website soon. 

One things for sure: To know Melissa is to love her. Her energy and enthusiasm are contagious. You'll leave her feeling better than when you arrived to talk to her. 

As I left her from our meeting I asked her what she saw as the biggest problem we have in our democracy both here and elsewhere and her reply was spot on from my perspective: Getting credit for the idea overrides the true merit and benefit of the law or policy itself. We see it constantly: Not your idea? Then it's bad. With both sides doing it all the time, we the people get sold short each and every time. So laws that would be really beneficial don't get passed and the ones that do get passed help the wrong people or are just plain stupid and ineffective. Let's just leave it there. 

To contact Melissa call (860) 227-3411 or email her mzlighthouse@comcast.net

Here are the current mortgage rates as reported by Todd Hart and the capable staff at Fenwick Mortgage in Old Saybrook, CT: