It’s been a rocky road this year.

Though 12 months of presidential campaigning are finally concluded, it seems the media circus surrounding our president-elect will continue unabated. And of course it remains to be seen what the 45th president will bring in terms of policy and regulatory change.

On the local level Connecticut continues its economic recovery. The housing market bounced around month to month, but overall it seems the number of sales were up and the median home price generally down. That’s good news for first-time buyers, but climbing interest rates will begin to lock more first-time buyers out of the market – and if inventory remains high, those homes will linger and prices will continue to fall.

Despite governmental efforts to attract and retain businesses, the year began with the announcement that GE was leaving Fairfield for Boston’s so-called Innovation District. At the least it was a blow to the state’s self-esteem; at worst the ripple effects on the local markets and economy will be felt for years to come. More companies announced plans to leave the area over the course of the year – although others also announced intentions to expand or even relocate to the area.

It’s not all bad news. The year began with triple-digit percentage increases month over month in lis pendens filed; that spike slowed considerably in the latter half of the year, with a 16.5 percent drop in October 2016 compared to 2015, according to The Warren Group, publisher of The Commercial Record. (October was the most recent month for which data was available as this issue went to press.) Of course, following that spike in lis pendens was a spike in foreclosure deeds filed, which were up 44 percent in October year over year. Overall foreclosures slowed in 2016.

And to close the year on high note, at least here in the pages of The Commercial Record, this issue includes the winners of our annual reader poll, CR’s Best. Results are determined by readers’ votes, so it is a subjective measure of dominance. As this is the ninth annual poll, there are some familiar names in the results, but there are also some newcomers topping the list of the best vendors and providers of services.

Furthermore, while 2016 can probably be consigned to the scrap heap of history, we here at The Warren Group are celebrating several important anniversaries next year. The company, founded in 1872, marks its 145th birthday next year. In that time it has been managed by only four generations of the Warren family, including our current CEO, Timothy Warren Jr. The company’s flagship publication, Banker & Tradesman, is as old as the company – The Commercial Record came along a little later, and next year celebrates 135 years of reporting on the finance, real estate and insurance industries in the Nutmeg State.

So congratulations to all the winners of this year’s CR’s Best – and congratulations to you, readers, for making it through another year. The staff of The Commercial Record and The Warren Group wish you all very happy holidays, and we look forward to 2017.