Tax time is here!  Most people aren’t a fan of organizing their finances to file their taxes.  Whether you file them yourself, or go to your CPA, it is a good idea to know which deductions work in your favor.

Here is an article from inman.com, with the top tax breaks for homeowners:

http://www.inman.com/buyers-sellers/columnists/taranichollenelsoninmancom/top-5-tax-breaks-homeowners

Feel free to ‘contact me’ via www.ToddTurcotte.com with any questions.

New Listing!  1 Thames St. was just listed for $259,900.

This 3 BR colonial house in Norwalk offers a large living room, charming 3 season porch, large deck, and newer stainless steel appliances.  For more info about this specific Norwalk house for sale, CLICK HERE

For more information about every propertie

New Listing!  14 Woodbury # 2 was just listed for $1,550 / month.

This huge 2 BR apartment in Norwalk boasts 1,400 SF of living space, an updated kitchen and bath, washer / dryer, dishwasher, H/W floors throughout, OFF/ST parking, and an available garage space for just $25 more per month.

This apartment is convenient to I-95, the Merritt, and Route 7.  It is also just a mile away from all the attractions in SoNo, and the train.

For more information about this specific apartment, CLICK HERE

For more info on Norwalk real estate, visit www.ToddTurcotte.com

New Listing!  9 Glenwood # 1 was just listed for $1,875.

This is in the same complex as the last listing at 9 Glenwood.  This new 2 BR townhouse has never been lived in!  Come peel the plastic off the new stainless steel appliances!

To read more about this particular property, visit:  http://cmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=cf31f3b0-7e44-4684-9f42-ea292a52925a&Report=Yes

For info on every property in Norwalk, visit www.ToddTurcotte.com

New Listing!  36 Wolfpit # A 2 was just listed for $850 / month.

This Norwalk studio apartment is bright, clean, and ready to go!  The apartment features new Pergo floor in the kitchen, and newer appliances and carpet in the living area.

For more info about this particular Norwalk apartment, visit:  http://cmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=519e9839-8142-46c6-80cb-57f49b56c3e5&Report=Yes

For more info on Norwalk real estate, or any questions, visit:  www.ToddTurcotte.com

InMan.com is a good website for real estate information.  They published an article on 12/27 with 4 predicitons for the 2012 real estate market.

We have heard most of these predictions already, from one source or another, but it is always beneficial to read these predictions from sources that have different points of view.

One particularly amazing number they mentioned is “62 years” as in the length of time needed to clear the back log of foreclosures at the current rate the banks are going through them:

Earlier this  year, the New York Times reported that the additional hurdles New York  state courts are requiring banks to leap in the wake of the robo-signing  revelations, like additional settlement meetings with the homeowner to  see if a modification can be brokered, have created a backlog of  foreclosures that it would take 62 years to clear, at the current rate  of foreclosure.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE

New Listing!  4 Van Zant # B9 was just listed for $1,295 / month.

This 1 BR condo for rent in Norwalk is completely updated.  It features a brand new kitchen with new appliances.  It also has heat and hot water included in the rent!  Just pay electric!

For more info about this specific Norwalk condo rental, CLICK HERE.

For info about every property for rent and for sale in Norwalk, visit www.ToddTurcotte.com

With 2011 wrapping up in another week and a half, more and more housing predictions are surfacing for 2012.

By most accounts the housing market will continue on its slow and steady path towards improvement.  For the Fairfield County real estate market, prices are expected to stabilize, or grow very modestly by the end of 2012.  Inventories of bank owned properties are expected to grow as there is still a large number of foreclosures that must be sifted through for the market to make any significant strides.

The rental market in lower Fairfield County improved in 2011, and should continue to improve in 2012.  This growth is fueled by renters that either lost their home due to foreclosure, or renters who can’t buy a home due to tighter loan qualification requirements.

For more info on large scale trends for 2012, read this article from Trulia.com’s blog.

For more info on local real estate, or to contact me with any questions, visit www.ToddTurcotte.com

Just Reduced!  5 Elmcrest Terrace # 7 was just reduced $20,000 to $289,000.

This Norwalk condo offers 1 BR, 1 Bath, and was built in 2005.  It features a granite kitchen and large basement with interior access.  This is a potential short-sale.

For more info on this particular Norwalk condo for sale, visit:  http://cmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=84929581-10e0-4931-9819-0feae264d5b5&Report=Yes

For more info on every Norwalk condo, including short sales in Norwalk, visit www.ToddTurcotte.com and send me an email.

Credit Suisse predicts that homes prices will stabilize in 2012.

This comes as good news for owners who have heard conflicting predictions seemingly every month.  There are still many eyes watching how the Euro banking situation will play out, but if all turns out fairly well, the US should be on the slow road to housing recovery.

To read the entire Housingwire.com article, visit:  http://www.housingwire.com/2011/12/14/credit-suisse-expects-home-prices-to-stabilize-in-2012?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+housingwire%2FuOVI+%28HousingWire%29

For info on Norwalk real estate and real estate in lower Fairfield County, visit: www.ToddTurcotte.com