Connecticut Weekend Homes

10/21/2026

10/19/2026

🗳️ CONNECTICUT: EARLY VOTING STARTS TODAY!

Your calendar is busy. Democracy has thoughtfully offered you options.

📅 EARLY VOTING: OCTOBER 19–NOVEMBER 1
Vote in person any day during this period—including Saturdays and Sundays.
• Regular hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Extended hours: 8 a.m.–8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, and Thursday, October 29.

✅ ALREADY REGISTERED?
Check your registration status and find your town’s designated early voting location at MyVote.CT.gov. Look for “Find Your Early Voting Location.”

Your early voting site may differ from your usual Election Day polling place. Check before heading out. This is democracy, not a scavenger hunt.

📝 NOT REGISTERED YET? YOU CAN STILL VOTE.

Eligible voters can register AND vote in person through Same-Day Registration during all early voting hours, October 19–November 1, or on Election Day, November 3.

Bring proof of identity and residency, and confirm your town’s designated Same-Day Registration location with your Registrars of Voters. On Election Day, registration takes place at a designated registration site—not your regular polling place.

📍 START HERE: MyVote.CT.gov
Check your registration, find early voting locations, review ID requirements, and get local election officials’ contact information.

🗓️ PREFER ELECTION DAY?
Tuesday, November 3: polls are open 6 a.m.–8 p.m.
There is no early voting on Monday, November 2.

Save this. Share it. Make your plan.

—David Mayhew, Realtor®

10/16/2026

🚦 NEW HAVEN DRIVERS: SMILE! YOU'RE ON CANDID CAMERA! 📸

And starting today, the photograph could cost you $50.

Yesterday marked the official end of the warning period for New Haven's new red-light and speed safety cameras.

Here's what residents, commuters, and visitors need to know:

🚗 First offense: $50 citation

🚗 Subsequent offenses: $75 each

📬 Delivery: Straight to your mailbox. No autograph required.

📍 Locations: Designated school zones, pedestrian safety zones, and other areas with histories of dangerous driving and traffic accidents.

The cameras are part of New Haven's initiative to reduce speeding, red-light violations, and crashes, making city streets safer for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.

And while I generally favor photographs of beautiful Connecticut homes, I'd suggest avoiding this particular photo opportunity.

Want to know where the cameras are located? Visit 👉 https://saferoutesforall.org/

Drive safely. Stop at red lights. Watch your speed.

And remember, the most expensive photograph is sometimes the one you didn't know was being taken.

David Mayhew | Realtor®
🌐 ConnecticutWeekendHomes.com

10/14/2026

Choosing how to use your second home can shape everything from tax planning to family getaways. 🏠✨

For those with a second home in the Greater New Haven area, the right classification, personal-use, rental, or mixed-use, makes a real difference. When a property serves mainly as a personal retreat, you’ll manage upkeep, utilities, and seasonal visits, while keeping an eye on mortgage and local taxes. If you’re thinking about renting, be ready to separate personal stays from guest bookings, document records, and stay on top of ongoing maintenance. A mixed-use property requires balancing both approaches: dividing time between personal escapes and welcoming renters, then carefully tracking which expenses and days count toward each purpose.

Every choice brings unique layers, especially for urban owners from New York or Boston, where local rules, state taxes, and reporting can quickly get complex. Consistent records and thoughtful planning help you make the most of your retreat while meeting all requirements. 🌳🗝️

How do you see yourself using a second home, pure getaway, part-time rental, or a little of both? Let me know which option fits your lifestyle!



🎈Pearce Real Estate
📞David Mayhew - 203.533.5621
💻[email protected]
📬4 Water Street – Suite 101, Guilford 06437

10/12/2026

Today, on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor Indigenous peoples—their histories, cultures, resilience, and continuing contributions to our communities.
Here in Connecticut, our sense of place includes Indigenous stories that began long before the familiar town greens, historic houses, and stone walls. Those stories continue today through living communities and traditions.
A day to celebrate, to listen, and to learn. Because loving a place means taking the time to understand its history—and the people who continue to shape it.




🎈Pearce Real Estate
📞David Mayhew - 203.533.5621
💻[email protected]
📬4 Water Street - Suite 101, Guilford CT 06437

10/10/2026

Fall retreat searches in Greater New Haven give buyers more breathing room to explore options 🌳

After the busy summer rush, fall ushers in a shift that changes the pace for weekend retreat hunters. The market doesn’t turn quiet, but there’s often a little less urgency, giving motivated buyers a chance to look more closely, take their time inspecting homes, and consider possibilities without the immediate pressure of summer’s fast-moving competition.

The beauty of the Greater New Haven area is that it remains attractive for those seeking both lake escapes and coastal getaways, and this season brings out the practical side of retreat shopping. You’re able to evaluate property details that may not have been as noticeable during peak listing months, and conversations with sellers can feel more flexible, though strong properties still capture attention quickly.

For those coming from New York and eyeing a space to recharge along the Sound or by the river, fall offers the best window to balance careful comparison with decisive action.

How does your retreat wishlist change when you have more time to evaluate? Share what matters most to you in a fall search below! 🍂🗝️

10/08/2026

Connecticut’s passing lane rules just got a major update, knowing how they work will keep your drive smoother 🚗

Drivers heading to or from the Greater New Haven area, especially those coming in for a weekend retreat, need to know: the far-left lane is now truly for passing only. Everyday driving belongs in the right or middle lanes, so if you use the left lane just to cruise, you could be pulled over. The change aims to keep traffic flowing and reduce those frustrating backups we’ve all experienced on I-95 or the Connecticut Turnpike.

Heading out for lake time in Madison or a beach day in Old Saybrook? Stick to the right unless you’re overtaking, preparing for a left exit, or following directions in special situations. New signage is rolling out, but the rules are already in force, keep an eye out and adjust your habits so your next trip is hassle-free. 🌅

Would these new driving patterns change how you plan your trip to the shoreline or river towns? Let me know your thoughts!

09/09/2026

A TALE OF TWO CAPITALS

Montpelier, Vermont, has
0 Starbucks
0 McDonald’s

Hartford, Connecticut, has
4 Starbucks
6 McDonald’s
and a staggering
15 Dunkin’ locations

Apparently, Vermont runs on maple syrup and self-reliance.

Connecticut runs on iced coffee, breakfast sandwiches and the quiet conviction that the next Dunkin’ should be slightly closer.

This information is completely useless.

You’re welcome.

09/07/2026

Heads up…a good heads up!

According to an article in the Hartford Courant, leaf-peeping season is expected to arrive later than usual this year. You have time to prepare.

Thomas Worthley, an extension professor in the Forest Sustainability Department of Natural Resources at UConn, we may see peak fall foliage later into the season and with more vivid orange colors due to temperature, moisture and sunlight.

“We have received a lot of rain this August and because most tree roots have the active part of their root system near the soil, those root systems have been getting a lot of moisture,” Worthley said. “The birch and spring trees, which usually show the first yellow leaves of the season, will be keeping their leaves green for longer.”

When will we see peak foll foliage? Possibly late into October and early November. Expect not much red because of conditions, but vibrant yellows and oranges.