Archive for the 'Vermont Area' Category

This year has started out with a much different level of confidence than we had last year at this time.  According to the National Association of Realtors, less mortgages are becoming delinquent and going into foreclosure.  This bears well for our local real estate market and economy.  In Burlington, Vermont  and our surrounding area, we are experiencing a much better mortgage delinquency rate than in most other areas of the country.  Our deposits are ahead of last year and we are working with a number of people that are looking to purchase homes.  Business has definately picked up and we feel that the economy has taken a turn for the better.  Run a VT MLS Search or view new listings this week!

In today’s world, there are a number of things that can go wrong in order for your real estate transaction not to close. The process has gotten more difficult and the rules for getting financing approval are constantly changing. Therefore, your real estate agent can be critical in making sure that everything is in order for you to close. One area where you hope you don’t have difficulty is with your seller.

Recently, a seller in the South Burlington, Vermont area decided that the appraisal process was taking too long and that he was not going to extend the financing deadline for the buyer. All the paperwork had been taken care of and the only outstanding item was that the bank needed a hard copy of the appraisal. Needless to say, the seller finally conceded to give a few more days for the approval and it all worked out. He closed on his home in South Burlington and the new buyer got to move into their dream home. Sometimes waiting can be difficult, but the ultimate goal is to close and you never want to be the one getting in the way of your own deal closing. If you would like some help in selling your home. contact Brian at brian@c21-advantage.com your real estate advantage.

I just got back from a trip to the commercial department at the Chittenden Bank.  It is located on the 5th floor of the building.  As I got off the elevator and turned west I noticed the glass doors to their department.   As I approached the doorway, I was able to see beyond the receptionist desk and the view that they enjoyed everyday.  It was Lake Champlain against a clear bright blue sky with the Adirondacks in the background. A truly breathtaking view that I did not turn from until my appointment came to meet me. We are so lucky to live here and I hope I never take that for granted. Brian

Children’s Health Magazine has rated Burlington as the best city in the country to raise a family.  It is no surprise to us who live here. In fact, that is one of the reason so many of us do.  Recently, I was talking to an old high school classmate of mine who told me that he moved back to Vermont from Colorado because it was a great place to raise his kids.

The magazine ranked 100 U.S. cities based on six categories: employment, health, housing, safety, education and family life. The data came from government and non-profit agencies.

So what made Burlington stand out? The magazine said the city’s education system, which has a graduation rate much higher than the national average, and the lack of fast food chains played a big role. Burlington had the fewest fast food chains of any city in the rankings. Detroit came in last.

Burlington was also selected by Business Week Magazine this year as the best city in Vermont to raise children.

Source: WCAX News

If you get Sunday’s newspaper check out the real estate section and notice all the price reduction banners. Prices of homes are still being reduced and now is a great time to negotiate a good value for yourself. Things seem to be moving in a positive direction which means that the buyer’s market may be a short-lived event, but for now it is still alive and well. Take the time to check things out with your favorite Realtor and see what kind of a buy you can get in this market. If you don’t have a Realtor, drop me a line. I can help you out. Brian

Have you ever wondered  what it would be like to have a huge variety of homes to choose from when it is time to go house shopping? And historically low interest rates? Well welcome to reality. If you are contemplating looking for a home, now is the time to do it. It still is a buyer’s market and if you are in control. You might be thinking that you won’t get as much for the sale of your home, and you are right. But, you are not going to have to pay as much for your new one. So it all even’s out and with the interest rates this low, you win. Let me help you through the process, and have some fun doing it. Brian

Now that summer is officially over with yesterday being Labor Day, I hope everyone got to enjoy it to its fullest. It definately was a shorter summer with all the rain we had in June and July. Mother Nature was kind to us these past 4 days though with no rain even predicted. With that said, the real estate market is still chugging along and the interest rates are still great. Now is the time to make that move before winter takes its toll. We bought our annual ski passes this weekend thus confirming that it is inevitable and not that far away. But for now, we will enjoy the rest of the warmer weather and look forward to the changing colors that are in our near future. If you have a real estate need, drop me a line. Brian

It has been awhile since we talked about the real estate market in Burlington Vermont, only because there wasn’t much to talk about until now. June was a fantastic month for people putting homes under deposit. Interest rates bumped up this past month, but have slowly worked themselves back down under 5.5% in most cases. We have closed the gap for closings -time homebuyer tax rebate has helped our economy and more and more people are taking the plunge into home ownership by purchasing their first home. There are lots of deals out there if you know where to look and I can help you out with it. Just drop me a line. Brian French

We knew it would be only a matter of time before we saw things starting to take a turn for the better, and I think that is what we are seeing right now. Listings are getting more showings and the phones are ringing more and we are taking more contracts then we had in the last 4 months. It is a slow movement. One almost like a glacier that begins to thaw and move its way towards the ocean. Yes it is slow, but we will take slow verses no movement at all. People are finally realizing that this is the time to make the move. Interestingly enough, I noticed the interest rates bump up 1/2 % higher from yesterdays rates. I hope that is not a trend that is going to take place in our near future. The real estate market couldn’t handle that situation during this volatile time. If you would like some help in taking advantage of the first-time home buyer tax credit or have any other real estate needs in the Burlington area, give me a call or drop me a line.  I can help. Brian

Spring is in the air with the time being adjusted this past weekend and warmer weather teasing us as well. I am looking forward to the snow being gone and the kids getting out onto the baseball diamond for this year’s competitions. We just got back from a short visit with our relatives in Sunny Hollywood Florida last week and I must admit it was really nice to experience temperatures in the upper 70’s. When you live in Vermont, you become accustomed to overcast skys and gray days during the winter months. And when you go away and get some sunshine it makes you feel incredibly happy and appreciative. Vermonters, on a whole, are very hardy and independent people who are somewhat toughend by what mother nature throws at us I believe. Yes we may be tough, but I think we all have a soft spot for warm weather. Let me know your thoughts on how you feel about the winters in Vermont or if you would like a change in your housing accomodations, I can help there too. Brian