For a full report please contact Regan Communications Group

Home sales plunged by 25.3percent from 2007, compared to the New England average of 18.4 percent,according to the 2009 New England Housing Market Outlook, presented by RE/MAX ofNew England. For a full report, please contact Regan Communications Group. Urban centers such as Hartford, East Hartford, New Britain and Bridgeport ledthe decline, due to the higher rate of sub-prime loans and adjustable-ratemortgages in those areas. But more affluent communities have seen a slowdown insales, as well. Jay Hummer, Executive Vice President of RE/MAX of New England, said thealready-high foreclosure activity in the region will be pushed even higher byrising unemployment, salary freezes, stock market losses and other consequencesof the sputtering economy.

Hummer said that any improvement in the market wontoccur until at least the third quarter of 2009, according to the 2009 NewEngland Housing Market Outlook, presented by RE/MAX of New England. Home foreclosures will continue to significantly impact the New England realestate market in 2009, creating opportunities for first-time buyers and realestate investors, but keeping home prices at or near 2008 levels, according toRE/MAX of New England. However,average sales prices were on par for the New England average, down eight percentfrom 2007. Please refer to the 2009 New England Housing Market Outlook for a complete viewof New England and how Connecticut compared in greater detail. About RE/MAX of New England:RE/MAX of New England is affiliated with RE/MAX International. Since itsinception in 1986, RE/MAX of New England has grown to over 275 offices with3,200 sales associates throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, NewHampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, providing residential and commercial realestate, as well as relocation and referral services.

The RE/MAX Internet webaddress is Regan CommunicationsSandrine Sebag, Copyright Business Wire 2009. NEW YORK, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Extreme cold weather forecastfor the U.S. Northeast next week pushed up regional natural gasprices on Friday to their highest levels since the summer. Stocks But high storage, weaker energy futures and recent pipelineimprovements into the New York City area helped limit gains,traders said. Gas on the Transco pipeline at the New York city gateNG-NYCZ6 traded as high as $14 per million British thermalunits for gas delivered through Monday, its highest level sinceJuly, according to Reuters data. But the prices paled in comparison to deals done in January2008 above $38 per mmBtu.