Just off the beaten path....

The playoffs are over and there is no more snow on the ground to play in...so, what else is there to do this Sunday except stop by my Open House at 82 Fieldstone Drive in South Burlington?!

This wonderful South Burlington carriage home is nestled in a country-feeling setting, yet still convenient to schools, shopping, I-89, and much more! Inside this well-cared for home, you'll find 2 spacious bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, an open living/dining room, finished basement space with a family room, and more! The master suite boasts a private bath and walk-in closet. The living room features a gas fireplace, built-in bookcases, and custom drapes which are conveying with the property! This property is offered at $389,900.

I will at this home on Sunday, January 31st, from 1:00-3:00, so feel free to stop by (or send anyone you know who might be interested)! From Route 116, turn on Van Sicklen Road, right on Cobblestone Drive, and then a right onto Fieldstone Drive.

Hope to see you there!

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR

JWright@HickokandBoardman.com

Just spreading a little happiness....

I just found this article on another one of my favorite blogs, Hooked on Houses, (I am totally hooked) "10 Ways to be Happy at Home", and thought it worthy of passing along! Homeowners tend to spend a lot more time INSIDE their homes during the winter months...so they might as well love the place they're cozying up in! Here's the article- happy reading!

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR
JWright@HickokandBoardman.com
photo credit: BHG.com

The time to list your home is NOW!

Have you been considering putting your home on the market for a while now? A lot of home owners are waiting until the weather warms up and school lets out to list their homes BUT they could be missing out on precious buyers who are ready to take advantage of the home buyer tax credit before its expiration! (Such buyers must be under contract on or before April 30th.)

I found this article on Yahoo Real Estate that points out some great ways to potentially increase the sale price of your home- with minimal investment! Remember: if you have lived in your home 5 of the last 8 years, you too could be eligible for the tax credit (of up to $6,500)!

Given the amazing interest rates right now, and the tax credit CURRENTLY in place, NOW is really the time to be putting your home on the market, in order best position your home for a sale by this spring! In fact, the author of this article points out that this spring could be the "most pleasant experience for a home seller in the last four or five years"!

If you would like to discuss putting your home on the market, please call or e-mail me today.
-Jamie Wright, REALTOR
JWright@HickokandBoardman.com

Looking to outfit your new home?

My absolute favorite blog, Young House Love (which is all about a younger home-owning couple that have totally transformed every room in their fixer-upper on an incredibly tight budget), just posted their list of "go-to" stores/internet sites for finding just about any item to furnish/decorate your home. If you have just moved- or are planning a move in the near future- (... ah-hem, first-time homebuyer tax credit?!?!?) and are finding yourself with a couple of barren looking rooms, make sure you check out their suggested resources for a budget friendly makeover! So, without further adieu....here is THE LIST.

If you are a looking for a new home that you can totally transform room-by-room (and start to build some equity!!), make sure you check the entire inventory of homes in Chittenden County at Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman's website, or feel free to call or e-mail me today and we can get started on finding your next home!

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR
JWright@HickokandBoardman.com
Photo Credit: Younghouselove.com

Come visit me this Sunday!

This Sunday, January 17th, I will be hosting an Open House at this fabulous property at 6 Woodland Place in South Burlington. This home is offered at $293,500 and is situated in an established neighborhood and boasts a wonderful floor plan! Inside, you'll find 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a sunken family room, fire-lit living room, formal dining room, and an open kitchen with a sunny breakfast nook! The walk-out basement has loads of potential and is just waiting for its new homeowner to finish it off!

I invite anyone interested in this home to swing by any time between 1:00-3:00 on Sunday and check this property out in person! Remember- if you are looking to take advantage of the homebuyer tax credit, the clock is ticking!

If you can't wait until Sunday to see the inside of this home, you can view the visual tour to this property here: http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?prt=86&t=2061399 . Please feel free to call or e-mail me if you would like additional information on this property. If this home isn't exactly what you are searching for, you can always browse our entire inventory of homes just by visiting: http://www.hickokandboardman.com/

Hope to see you Sunday!

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR

JWright@HickokandBoardman.com

So, maybe the BFP summed it up better than I did....

Despite my valient effort to summarize Lawrence Yun's (the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors) address from yesterday's luncheon that I attended, I thought it might be a good idea to pass along the article that appeared in the Burlington Free Press this morning: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20101130301, (just in case you wanted a second point of view).

If you happened to be watching WPTZ last night, they even aired a spot on Dr. Yun's cameo in Vermont! (In fact, if you looked closely enough, you could even see the back of my head!)

I hope you find this article as enlightening as I found Dr. Yun's speech yesterday!

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR
*109 days left to take advantage of the homebuyer tax credit*

Feeling Optimistic about 2010

I just had the pleasure of listening to Dr. Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors speak at a luncheon right here in Burlington. After listening to Dr. Yun's analysis of the national housing market, I left the luncheon feeling incredibly...optimistic!!! (Mind you, Dr. Yun was recently named one of the top ten economic forecasters in the nation by USA Today!)

Basically, Dr. Yun stressed that 2010 is likely to experience a healthy boost in home sales, which will lead to modest increases in home values (good news for homeowners)! Helping to nudge the number of home sales upward are two crucial factors: historically low interest rates and the homebuyer tax credit that is currently in place. All good things must come to an end though, and this holds true to both the current interest rates and the homebuyer tax credit.

REMEMBER- if you are looking to take advantage of the homebuyer tax credit, you MUST be under contract by no later than April 30, 2010 (READ: you have 110 days left!!!)! Dr. Yun also pointed out that interest rates will likely rise to close to 6% (or higher) by the end of the year, if not sooner....so time is really of the essence!

Finally, I thought that one of the most notable points that Dr. Yun made today had to do with the ability of current renters to purchase a home. I thought this was particularly interesting because I often hear from aspiring homeowners that they do not think they would qualify for a mortgage. However, Dr. Yun said that in 2000 (when the Real Estate market was quite "normal") 11 million renters had the incomes necessary to qualify for a mid-priced home. In 2009, roughly 16 million renters had the necessary income to qualify for a mid-priced home! If you are one of the 16 million renters that think you could not qualify for a mortgage, you could be sorely mistaken! I can put you in touch with a wonderful local lender who can help you determine whether or not homeownership is an option for you!

To read more about Dr. Yun, check out his impressive bio: http://www.realtor.org/research/chief_economist_bio

Of course, feel free to call or e-mail me if you would like to start your home search today! JWright@HickokandBoardman.com or (802)846-9530. As always, you can search our entire inventory of homes 24 hours a day at http://www.hickokandboardman.com/

Happy House Hunting!

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR

Does it get any prettier?

Just when I was starting to complain that the Burlington area had not received enough snow, mother nature fires back with a record breaking snowfall for Burlington! 2010 is off to a VERY white start, as Burlington received a whopping 32.5 inches between 7 a.m. on Saturday morning and 7 p.m. on Sunday! Here is the story on the snow storm, from the Burlington Free Press: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100103021

As if that is not enough...it just keeps coming! Although we aren't expected to get any more serious accumulation in next few days...look at all the snow for the upcoming week: http://www.wptz.com/weather/grid.html#HEARSTWX=http%3A//www.wptz.com/weather/18223152/media.html%3Fqs%3D%3Blongname%3D5%2520Day%2520Forecast%3Bshortname%3D5%2520Day

I hope you find yourself enjoying this abundance of snow! If you aren't skiing, riding, sledding, snowshoeing, making snow angels, etc....at least it is beautiful to look at!

*One final note*- if shoveling and snowblowing isn't your favorite way to "take in" all the snow, be sure to check out our recommneded snow removal companies on: http://www.hickokandboardman.com/maintaining-your-home/

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

Only 118 days left!!

2010 has arrived...and so the countdown to the expiration of the first-time homebuyer tax credit has begun! Many homebuyers tend to put their home searches on hold during the winter months and go into "hibernation mode"...but with the looming deadline for the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit or the $6,500 repeat homebuyer tax credit, homebuyers can not afford to wait until the spring to renew their home searches!! In order to be eligible for the extended and expanded tax credit, a homebuyer must be under contract for their new home NO LATER THAN APRIL 30, 2010! Factor in a couple of months to find the home, and the time for homebuyers to start their search is....now!!!

This article from MSN Real Estate highlights the importance to start your search sooner, rather than later: http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=22815497 (It also provides some great tips for homebuyers looking to take advantage of the tax credit.)

If you would like more information on the homebuyer tax credit, please visit: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=215791,00.html?portlet=7

Of course, if you are thinking of purchasing a home in the upcoming year, I would be more than happy to help you through the process! Please feel to call or e-mail me today with any of your Real Estate questions!


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