Are you paying a fair price?!

Whether you are a homebuyer in Nebraska looking for a modest 3 bedroom Colonial or a buyer in Manhattan seeking a luxury one bedroom condo, all homebuyers are looking for ONE thing in common: to pay a fair price for their real estate investment. NO buyer wants to overpay for a home (funny, I just never seem to hear that one on the wishlist). But how do you know if you are paying too much for a house, albeit one you absolutely love?? To avoid overpaying for a home, you first need to arm yourself with a trusted Realtor who knows the ins and outs of the marketplace in which you are looking. Then, take a look at these tips that I found on Yahoo Finance today: 10 Tips to for Getting a Fair Price on a Home.

If you are in the market for a new home and would like representation, please feel free to contact me.

-Jamie Wright, Realtor
(802)846-9530
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com

Is there such a thing as a "Painless Move"?

I am not entirely convinced that a "Painless Move" exists, BUT here are some tips (courtesy of Casasugar) to help you get as close as humanly possible to a "Painless Move".

Hickok & Boardman's website is also loaded with tips and information for a smooth move as well- make sure to check it out if you have an upcoming move planned.

Of course, before you can move...you need to find the home! Feel free to contact me to get your (new) home search started!

-Jamie Wright, Realtor
(802)846-9530
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com

photo credit: Casasugar.com

Open House this Sunday!

This Sunday, August 7th, I will be hosting an Open House at this FABULOUS Creek Farm townhouse in Colchester, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Please stop by and see this absolutely MOVE-IN ready 2 bedroom and 1.5 bathroom home for yourself! Recent improvements include: new carpeting, fresh paint throughout, new flooring in the bathrooms, some new windows, & more! While you're there, take a walk around the beautiful common grounds- you must see to appreciate! Offered at $169,900. For more information on this too-good-to-be-true home, please click here.

To search all of this weekend's Open Houses, check out Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman's website by clicking here.

Hope to see you Sunday!
-Jamie Wright, Realtor
(802)846-9530
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com

Be "Cool"....Save Money!

July is almost here- time to break out the air conditioners!! Yesterday I actually broke down and turned on the A/C for the second time this year. As much as love I good, cool night's sleep, those little buggers can certainly jack up the energy costs! Here are some quick tips I found on Yahoo! Finance on How to Reduce Your Cooling Costs, that I thought I would pass along! Aside from programming your air conditioners, there are lots of other (EASY) ways you can slash your cooling costs! You can click here to view the video version of this article.

Stay Cool!
-Jamie Wright, Realtor
(802)846-9530
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com

Just Listed! Turn-Key Townhome in Colchester!

New to the market: This 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath Creek Farm condo is absolutely move-in ready...all you have to do is unpack! Recent updates include: new carpeting, fresh paint throughout, new flooring in both the full and half baths, new windows in the bedrooms, new electric range/oven, new Corian countertop in the full bath, & more! This condo complex is nestled in a peaceful, residential setting- surrounded by both woods and gorgeous, open green space. The association pool and tennis court provide the perfect retreat for these fabulous summer days (that are gracing Vermont at long last)! Enjoy the bike path just steps from your door- this location has it all: the perfect balance of privacy and convenience! Offered at $169,900. If you are interested in more information on this wonderful property, click here- or feel free to contact me! I would be happy to show you this property in person!

If you want to view all of Hickok & Boardman Realty's listings, make sure to visit our website.

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR
(802)846-9530
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com

Get out of town!! Buyers think the mortgage process is confusing?!

Please DO note the sarcasm in that title! The Wall Street Journal published an article today with results from a recent survey that was conducted by Mortgagematch.com. Amongst the findings: almost one third of American homebuyers reported that understanding the mortgage process was the most difficult part of the homebuying process. I find that even buyers who have bought property before are overwhelmed by the mortgage process, as requirements have changed drastically in the last few years. In fact, the WSJ's article states, "While anyone who applied for a loan during the middle of the last decade probably found that the process was a breeze, lenders have ratcheted down not only their lending requirements since the collapse of the housing market four years ago, but they’ve also become far pickier about documentation requirements." Not that this is a bad thing- additional documentation requirements (though sometimes a pain to track down) means that buyers are not purchasing homes that they can not realistically afford.

Who can blame these overwhelmed buyers (first time or repeat); mortgage applications are 40+ pages...that's A LOT of information to digest! HOWEVER, an experienced and knowledgeable lender can alleviate A LOT of the confusion! It is absolutely critical that you feel comfortable with your lender and he/she are there to answer your questions in a timely manner.

What did some of the other two-thirds of buyers surveyed say they thought the most difficult part was? Well, OVER HALF (54%) stated that finding the right home was the hardest part of the process. Solution: find yourself a Realtor who is familiar with the area(s) in which you are interested and that listens to both your wishes and needs! Another 25% of those surveyed expressed that negotiating the right price for the home was the most difficult aspect of the process. Enter, once again, your experienced Realtor. Of course every seller wants top dollar for their home and every buyer wants to pay the lowest possible amount for a home. Working with an experienced agent can bring both of these parties to a mutual understanding and facilitate a conflict-free transaction.

Bottom line: If you are thinking of purchasing a home, it is absolutely crucial that you pair yourself with both a savvy Realtor (ahem!) AND a trusted lender. Now that the spring months are somewhat within our sights, a lot of homebuyers are starting to crawl out of the caves that they have been hibernating in these last couple of months. If you are one of these buyers and you haven't spoken to a lender about getting pre-approved and what the mortgage process will entail on your end, please call me today and I can suggest some WONDERFUL local lenders that will break down the process for you and put your apprehensions at ease!

Make sure to check out the entire article from the Wall Street Journal!

Feel free to contact me today if you are considering purchasing a home and would like to disuss the homebuying process! Remember, you can always search all of our newest listings by visiting Hickok & Boardman's website!

-Jamie Wright, Realtor
(802)846-9530
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com

Do you think -20 degrees constitutes "extreme cold"?

Given the absurdly cold weather in our area these last couple of days (don't panic- we are forecasted a "heatwave" in the double digits tomorrow), I thought I would pass along this article: How to Protect Your Home During Extreme Cold Weather. As you already know- or may be finding out- extreme cold weather can take a toll on YOU, but it can also have serious consequences on your home as well. To make sure your home (read: investment) is protected, make sure to check out home improvement expert Danny Lipford's tips and suggestions!

In the off chance I am enticing anyone to relocate to our beautiful area, feel free to contact me if you are interested in starting your home search! All kidding aside, Vermont is a fabulous place to live...363 days of the year!

Stay warm!

-Jamie Wright, Realtor
(802)846-9530
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com

photocredit: www.DannyLipford.com

No plans for this weekend?...GO GREEN!!

If this weekend's freezing weather forecast has you ditching your ski plans and scrambling to find an indoor activity to keep you busy- you're in luck! January 21st through January 23rd is the 4th annual VT Green Home & Living Show at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction! You can take this opportunity to meet with energy efficiency experts, building experts, and even take a look at the latest trends in green products for both home and life! The pellet stoves will be roaring....so make sure to check it out! Stop by anytime Friday from 12:00-7:00, Saturday from 10:00-7:00 or Sunday from 10:00-4:00. For more directions and more information, please click here.

Looking for ways to be greener in 2011? Check out this post for some inspiration!

Regardless of what your weekend plans entail, have fun and stay warm!

-Jamie Wright, Realtor
(802)846-9530
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com

Photo credit: LoveEarthAlways.com

Looking for some help....

Last year, I became a mentor through Everybody Wins! Vermont- a mentoring program in area elementary schools with a focus on fostering the love of reading. Each Tuesday, I go to John J. Flynn Elementary School in Burlington, and share my lunch hour and some reading time with my mentee- a fifth grader with a proclivity for neon nail polish and Junie B. Jones. This experience has been entirely rewarding; for such a minimal time commitment, the benefits are astounding!

As the arrival of my own little (hopefully one day) bookworm draws nearer, I am looking for someone who might be interested in "subsitute mentoring" for me while I am on my maternity absence. If you have been considering joining EW! or any mentoring/volunteering program- this could be a wonderful opportunity to participate in the program on a "trial basis". I had considered a number of different mentoring/volunteering programs and found this one to be a great fit, as it takes little more than an hour a week! Please call or e-mail me if you have any interest or questions on my experience with the program.

As of today, EW! has over 650 reading pairs in 23 different schools- making it the state's largerst mentoring program...that's pretty amazing! Last week, the Burlington Free Press ran an article on EW!, to check that out, click here.

Oh, and if you are looking to purchase a home in the Burlington area, I would be happy to assist you with that as well! Feel free to contact me for all of your Real Estate needs.

-Jamie Wright, Realtor
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com
(802)846-9530

photo credit: Burlington Free Press

Diggin' it!

I have been listening to the scraping of snow shovels and the humming of snowblowers outside my window all day. Ahhh!! The sweet sounds of winter! The Burlington area got about 10 inches of fresh powder yesterday, which is relatively minor in comparison to much of the rest of the northeast. I found this article on CasaSugar: "Mike Holmes's Top Tips for Dealing with Snow", and thought I would pass it along to all my east coast friends that are digging themselves out today!

If you are need of a snow removal service, check out HickokandBoardman.com and click on the Home Maintenance tab. You'll find recommendations for snow removal companies, as well as other local service providers.

Happy Shoveling!
-Jamie Wright, Realtor
(802)846-9530

photo credit: Yahoo.com

Have you made your New Year's Resolution yet?

Attention homeowners: are you looking to sell you home in 2011? If so, take a moment and read this article from Yahoo! Finance, "Resolutions for Home Sellers in 2011"- it might save you time on the market AND money in your pocket.

I really like this article because it gives sellers ideas on actions they can take, aside from merely staging their homes (click here for ideas on that), that can really impact the sale process. For instance, MAKE YOUR HOME EASY TO SHOW! This doesn't cost you a dime, doesn't require re-painting, replacing, or fixing, and is relatively painless! So, the next time an agent wants to show your home, don't make them reschedule because your favorite tv show is on...let them in! (Okay, maybe that is a slight exaggeration, but we have all encountered the "less than flexible" seller. Newsflash: the more people that walk through your door, the greater your odds of receiving an offer!)

If you are thinking of listing your home this year, don't miss out on the early birds out house shopping before the rush of buyers for the spring market! A few weeks on the market with less competition could make all the difference!

Whether you are looking to buy or sell your home this year, feel free to contact me for all of your Real Estate needs!

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com
(802)846-9530

photo credit: BHG.com

One can Dream....

Every year, HGTV (I'm shamelessy addicted) gives away a beautifully built and fully furnished and decorated home in one of the country's most scenic locations (past locations have included Sonoma, CA and the Florida Keys). This year, HGTV's Dream Home is located right in our very own backyard...in stunning Stowe, Vermont! Just 40 minutes from Burlington, Stowe is the quintessential Vermont ski town. The network will be debuting the home on January 1st (when you can officially enter to win the Dream Home), so make sure you check it out, as it will be packed with lots of information on not only the house, but the surrounding area and the local materials that we used in its construction. This year's slopeside home will even feature a "ski dorm" to accomodate all of the winner's newfound friends clamoring to check out everything Stowe has to offer- both on and off the trails!

If you are impatient (like me) and can't wait until New Year's Day to see the rest of the new Dream Home, you can check out pictures here. Otherwise, make sure to check out HGTV on January 1st at 1:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

If you are looking for a more modest "dream home", feel free to call or e-mail today to get your home search started! Remember, you can always search all of the area's newest listings 24/7 by visiting HickokandBoardman.com.

Have a safe and Happy New Year!

-Jamie Wright, Realtor
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com
(802)846-9530

Just a couple changes could get your home sold FAST!

As we enter the winter months, home sellers tend to get a tad anxious that their homes may take a little longer to sell. The truth is, there are less buyers out househunting in the middle of winter than there are in the summer months. HOWEVER, THERE ARE STILL BUYERS OUT THERE...and it only takes one to get your home sold! What sellers need to bear in mind is that they need to keep their homes looking better than competition! (Well, okay, they need to take into account other factors too...such as pricing, marketing, etc....but that can be for another post!)

Real Estate expert and author Barbara Corcoran (you might recognize her from TODAY on NBC) offers a few tidbits of advice in this article that I found on Hooked on Houses: 5 Things That Sell Houses Faster Now. While I am not suggesting that you re-paint the exterior of your home in the middle of the winter, a couple of these suggestions are low to no-cost solutions that could make a big difference. (Ahem: CLEAN AND DE-CLUTTER!!)

You can also check out her appearance on TODAY, in which she explains in a bit more detail her reasoning behind these suggestions (and adds a slight variation to them). To view the segment "5 Smartest Home Fixes" from TODAY, click here.

So, don't just wait for the spring to roll around in hopes that a new pool of buyers will generate the perfect buyer for your home...get it sold now!!

If you are looking to buy or sell a home this winter, feel free to contact me to discuss your options!

-Jamie Wright, Realtor
Jamie@BurligtonVermontHomes.com
(802)846-9530

photo credit: HookedonHouses.com

It's not all doom and gloom in the Real Estate market! Burlington noted in the WSJ!

Despite what you may be hearing on the national news, the Real Estate market is not all doom and gloom...ESPECIALLY if you are a homeowner in the greater-Burlington area! When listening to (or reading) news on the national Real Estate market, it is important to keep in mind that Real Estate is entirely local. Case in point: this article featured in last week's Wall Street Journal, "Home Prices Decline in Nearly Half of Metropolitan Areas". While at first, one might jump to the conclusion that this article is relaying unfavorable news, if you are a homeowner in the Burlington area, it is quite the opposite!

Basically, the article is stating that in the third quarter of this year, the median home price fell for nearly half of all the metropolitan areas that were observed -in 76 of the 155 areas, to be exact (I think the headline did a good job summing this point up). However, do you see the glass as half empty of half full?! The article goes on to point out that the median home price rose in 77 of the 155 areas observed, AND home prices remained the same in the remaining 2 metropolitan areas. SO, really, home prices have increased, or remained steady, in OVER half of the metropolitan areas that were observed. Why doesn't the article's headline relay this (much more optimistic) finding?!

EVEN MORE ENCOURAGING: Burlington was named as the top metropolitan area for increases in the median home price- up 18% in comparison to last year! WHERE IS THE DOOM AND GLOOM IN THAT?!?! Homeowners in Elmira, NY and Dallas, TX are probably grinning as well, as they both had experienced considerable increases!

Bottom Line(s): When it comes to news about the national housing market- take everything into consideration from a LOCAL standpoint!...AND if you are looking to purchase a home in the Burlington area, give me a call today!

Make sure to read the article from the Wall Street Journal! If you are wondering what makes Burlington such a desirable place to live, check out this video that my company, Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman Realty, had made for potential homebuyers considering relocating to the area! Enjoy!

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com
(802)846-9530

Homeowners: Time to prepare your yard for winter!

I was running on schedule to work today, until I went to hop in my car and saw the THICK layer of frost coating it. (I guess it's time to clean out the garage so I can actually park my car in it.) Ready or not, it looks like winter will be here VERY soon (there is possible snow forecasted for the Burlington area this Saturday)!

A couple of weeks ago I shared some tips how you can lower your heating costs this winter (to read that post click here), but I thought it would also be helpful to share some tips on how to prepare the exterior of your home and yard for the fast-approaching cold weather months. (You know...all of those enthralling chores like cleaning your gutters and turing off the water supply to your outdoor spigots.) Here are 10 Essential Tasks for Preparing Your Yard for Winter, from the blog CasaSugar.

I hope you find this helpful! Get out and enjoy the outdoors these last couple of weeks before the cold REALLY sets in!

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com
(802)846-9530

photo credit: casasugar.com

Get into the "Spirit" of things with me....

With Halloween less than a week away, I thought I would get into the "spirit" of things and challenge you to a little haunted house quiz. I found this quiz, "Name these 10 Halloween Movie Houses" over on Hooked on Houses- one of my favorite blogs. See if you can beat my highly impressive score of 20%. (I know I have set the bar really high!) By the way, just a quick note of local interest: one of these haunted homes was in Addison, Vermont!

Click here to take the quiz!

Enjoy!
-Jamie Wright, Realtor
(802)846-9530
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com

Photo credit: Hooked on Houses

Don't Make the Mistake....

Yahoo! Real Estate just posted an article: 10 Worst First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes 2010 (which I would be willing to bet looks quite similar to the same list for 2009). At any rate, while the article does bring up some very good points, it doesn't by any means pertain solely to first-time homebuyers! Purchasing a home (whether your first or your tenth) can be overwhelming, and being informed going into the process can definitely ease some of the stress.

A couple of my favorite points brought up in the article are:

Mistake #2- Skipping Mortgage Qualification. It is SO devastating to buyers when they walk into a property that they love, only to find out that they can not afford it. Trust me, skip the heartbreak, and get pre-approved before you get emotionally vested in any property!

Also, Mistake #9- Not Choosing to Hire an Agent! The fact that some buyers try to take on such a huge endeavor AND investment without representation baffles me! That would be like me to trying to replace the engine in my car...by myself! The results could be disastrous- and potentially costly! (Besides, any Realtor will help you through the process so that you avoid the other nine mistakes mentioned in this article- it's a no-brainer!)

Enough of my rambling, take a look at the article yourself! If you are a first-time homebuyer and looking to start the homebuying process, feel free to contact me today, and we can get you started off on the right foot!

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com
(802)846-9530

Couldn't we all be a little Greener?

I recently found this new (well, new to me) blog that has some really great ideas for decorating your home in an eco-friendly AND stylish manner. From ideas on where to find "green" paint, rugs, and furniture, to tutorials on how to re-purpose old household items, this blog is with jam-packed recommendations and solutions for sustainable living. So, visit Green Your Decor sometime! If you're feeling extra crafty, make sure you check out the post 5 Awesome, Eco-Friendly DIY Projects for your Home. Enjoy!

-Jamie Wright, Realtor
(802)846-9530
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com

Open House TOMORROW (Yes...Wednesday)! Move-In Ready in Essex!

Come join me tomorrow evening (that's right: Wednesday, July 21st) to celebrate the end of another work day, and check out this amazing Saxon Hollow end unit! This three bedroom and three FULL bathroom home boasts and open floor plan with three sets of french doors leading out to beautiful private decks- ideal for entertaining and outdoor enjoyment! This unit also features abundant storage, a spacious master suite with walk-in closet and full bath, slate-tiled entry, hardwood floors, gas fireplace, and attached one-car garage. Please feel free to stop by and see this fabulous home for yourself, tomorrow evening anytime bewteen 4:30-6:00 p.m. Offered at just $249,900!

For additional information on this property, please click here, or stop by the Open House tomorrow evening at 7 Saxon Hollow Drive, unit A-1 in Essex!

Directions: Sandhill Road to Allen Martin Parkway, left on Saxon Hollow, first unit on the right.

If you can't make it to the Open House but would still like to see the home, please feel free to call or e-mail me at 802-846-9530 or Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com. Remember, you can always browse Chittenden County's entire inventory of townhomes by visiting BurlingtonVermontHomes.com!

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR

Check out what Smart Money is saying!

A couple of months ago, our very own Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman Realty was selected by Smart Money Magazine (a publication of The Wall Street Journal) to participate in a story that they were writing about getting started in the Real Estate business. Enter Alyssa Abkowitz, a journalist from Smart Money who flew to Burlington from Manhattan and trailed myself, and several other fellow H&B agents, as we went about "business as usual" over the course of several days. On one such day, Alyssa came with me to host an Open House where we met (who would soon become) some of my recent buyers: soon-to-be newlyweds and recent transplants from Hawaii, Scott and Jessica! Alyssa and myself were both excited about Scott and Jessica's enthusiasm for finding their first home together, and Alyssa (a newly licensed agent herself) decided Scott and Jess were the perfect first-time homebuyers to work with for the (ever-evolving) story she was looking to write.

Scott and Jess were extremely gracious in allowing their house hunt to be followed, documented, and scrutinized. In the end, after several showings, a couple offers, and lots of time spent together in the car- Scott and Jess ended up finding what would be their new home together! Alyssa was able to aid in the offer-writing process, and as we submitted the offer all four of us kept our fingers crossed! Fortunately, the offer was (eventually) accepted, and so began the remainder of the homebuying process (all the fun stuff that buyers tend to forget about when they are caught up in house hunting: loan applications, financing contingencies, inspections, etc.).

At any rate, after several weeks of being under contract, Scott and Jess officially became homeowners a coupe of weeks ago! I LOVE working with first-time homebuyers, and Scott and Jess were no exception. It is so gratifying sitting at a closing table with buyers that are SO excited and eager to take on the joys of homeownership!

So, without further ado, I thought I would pass along the article from Smart Money: "Diary of an Undercover Broker: How We Sold A House". Thanks SO much to Scott and Jess for all of their cooperation...and I am so glad they wandered into my (and Alyssa's) Open House that afternoon!

If you are thinking of purchasing a home, feel free to call or e-mail me today and we can get your home search started (though, I can't promise you a mention in Smart Money)!

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com
(802)846-9530