Archive for June, 2008

Vermont has had the good fortune of being home to many individuals who guided by great foresight have given back tremendously to their homeland. One of these individuals has left a legacy that continues through his son and his grandsons. That man is Vrest Orton. Vrest was a native Vermonter having been born in Hardwick, VT. After traveling extensively and establishing a career in journalism, he returned to his native Vermont in the Town of Weston. There he started the Vermont Country Store which in short order reached out the rest of the country through its folksy catalog, Voice of the Mountains. Through the Vermont Country Store, he strove to preserve and publicise the traditional values of Vermont. Vrest authored several books, was a very strong factor in the restoration and preservation of Weston and  was one of the founders of Vermont Life Magazine, www.vtlife.com. Vermont Country Store, www.vermontcountrystore.com  is a very strong attraction to those coming to Vermont in its two locations, Weston and Rockingham. Vrest’s  son, Lyman, has carried on the family tradition and leadership of the Store along with his three sons. By following the vision and dedication to public service, Lyman and his sons have established the Orton Foundation, www.orton.org. Based in Vermont and Colorado, the foundation is dedicated to helping communities throughout the country plan their future through discovery of what they term the heart and soul of the community. I have been to a couple of seminars that they have conducted and found them to be extremely knowledgable and fiercely dedicated to helping communities understand, develope and nurture their strengths. The Orton family is not only giving back to Vermont but to the entire country through their very generous, unselfish vision of a society built on the strengths of character.

Posted by Wade I. Treadway

As we bask in the delight of summer in Vermont, we are also very much aware of the impending winter heating season. Now is the time that most fuel oil and propane dealers send out letters with details of pre buy programs for the upcoming winter. Just as the price of gasoline at the pump is shocking us, no less shocking is the dramatic increase in  fuel oil and propane prices from last years heating season. As a hedge against substantial increases during the heating season, most companies offer pre buy options that allow customers to lock into prices now for a predetermined amount of oil or propane that you anticipate using. This helps relieve a bit of anxiety during the winter months. But is clearly is only one small option of how to cope with higher energy costs. The real solution for not only heating energy, but also for gasoline consumption and electrical use is conservation and incorporating some type of alternative energy. The inclusion of some form of alternative energy can substantially help your household budget and certainly help to conserve our natural resources. Given the time and conditions we are in, this years Solarfest 2008 should prove to be very well attended. Solarfest 2008 in Tinmouth, Vermont is billed as “The New England Renewable Energy Festival”. This year will be its 14th year and is July 11-12-13. Solarfest is powered by renewable energy and features three days of speakers, workshops, exhibitions and live music. It is rated one of the Top Ten Summer Events by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, www.vtchamber.com. This year should be particularly poignant and timely given the current state of energy needs. Visit their website and get the full schedule at www.solarfest.org.

Posted by Wade I. Treadway

As Vermont is roughly eigthty percent forested, it is a safe bet that if you are purchasing a rural property with any amount of acreage, you will have some forested land. The stewardship of that forest land is a very interesting and very rewarding benefit of ownership. For many buyers of property in Vermont, being an owner of forest land is a new concept. The education of proper stewardship can come in many forms. If a forest component is 25 acres or more, the property can qualify for Vermont’s Current Use Program. This is a program that can dramatically reduce property taxes while at the same time improve the quality of the forest. A forester must be engaged who will evaluate the condition and makeup of the forest and develop a Forestry Plan with the owner. This plan is then authorized by a county forester. More often than not, the plan focuses on timberstand improvement which in turn can make the land more valuable in the future. A great resource for better understanding forest lands is Northern Woodlands magazine, www.northernwoodlands.org. It has a great layout with very relevant articles and resources to better understand our forests.

Of course, another great benefit of proper forest management is wildlife habitat improvement.  Vermont Coverts, www.vtcoverts.org, is a very special group dedicated to helping the landowner recognize the significance of their landholding beyond the property boundaries and how it effects the ecosystem of an entire area. This relates to both the timberland and the widelife habitat. They actually offer a Forest Landowner Training course in September. Better understanding of what you own can bring great enjoyment of our precious natural resources.

Posted by Wade I. Treadway

The keyword here is, at the moment. Certainly as we watch the rest of the world dealing with the ups and downs of an unsettled real estate market, here in Vermont I get a strong sense from fellow brokers throughout the state that all is not lost. Indeed, the last twelve months have shown a steady increase in the amount of inquiries and sales have definitely been on the rise. The segment of the market that appears to be the least affected by the events of the last two years is the high end. Of course that is no surprise to seasoned brokers in Vermont. Prices at the high end have in many cases been on a steady increase. Many of the high end listings that have been on the market have had price adjustments. Which I might add many of them needed a reduction as they were priced wrong in the first place.

I have been watching the southern New England real estate marketplace for the last two years and have seen a very steady increase in pricing at the high end. Although inventories are getting high, there are still significant sales that substantiate these increases. This only helps the Vermont marketplace. Time and time again, buyers of Vermont real estate are amazed at how much value they get for their dollar in Vermont.

All things considered, there has never been a better time than now to buy in Vermont. Acreage prices are on the rise and good quality residences with a  good land component are in demand. This could change at any moment, but right now that looks doubtful. As Barbara Corcoran stated in a recent interview on NBC’s  Today Show, buyers waiting for the bottom of the market are going to miss opportunities now.

posted by Wade I. Treadway