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

Have You Surrendered Yet?!?!

I tried to hold out as long as I could...but I finally broke down last weekend and officially turned the heat on in the Wright household. It's been a rather cold October in Vermont, and many homeowners have been turning on the heat earlier than usual. I thought it might be helpful to post some energy-saving (read: money saving) tips, as I haven't met anyone who doesn't like to save a little green!

The following tips were provided by Vermont Gas:
1. Set thermostats between 65 and 70 degrees during the winter, and to 58 degrees when away from the house for more than a few hours. *Keep in mind that warmer temperatures are recommended for homes with ill or elderly people, and infants.*
2. Install a programmable setback thermostat that will automatically turn down the heat when you're sleeping or at work. Turning down your thermostat 7 to 12 degrees for eight hours a day, can save you up to 10 percent on your annual heating bills.
3. Change or clean your furnace filters once a month during the heating season.
4. Warm air rises, so use registers to direct airflow across the floor.
5. Close vents and doors in unused rooms and close dampers on unused fireplaces.
6. Be sure your hot water heater is set at a temperature recommended by the manufacturer.
7. On sunny days, open draperies and blinds to let the sun's warmth in. Close them at night to insulate against the cold air outside.
8. Place a sheet of aluminum foil between the radiator and the wall to reflect heat back into the room.

Of course, thinking longer term (and larger investment), there are other steps you can take to ensure your home is running at its optimal efficiency. To learn more about those, click here.

I hope you find this helpful and stay warm!
-Jamie Wright, Realtor
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com
(802)846-9530

Open House Sunday, October 3rd

October is the perfect time of year for Open Houses....just an extra excuse to drive around and take in all of the beautiful foliage that Vermont is so well-known for! This Sunday, October 3rd, I will be hosting an Open House at this 3 bedroom ranch home at 335 Plains Road in Westford. This house is situated on an acre lot complete with fire pit and a veggie garden. The meticulously maintained home boasts a remodeled kitchen, finished basement with 3/4 bath, open floor plan, oversized 2-car garage & more! Stop by this Sunday anytime from 1:00- 3:00 and see this terrific property for yourself!

If you can't make it to the Open House, but would still like to see the home, feel free to contact me to schedule a showing. You can always take the visual tour for this home just by clicking here....but trust me, you WANT to see this one in person!

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

How to obtain the best mortgage rate

I am sure you have heard over and over how incredibly low mortgage interest rates are right now. (In fact, you have probably heard this more than once from yours truly. Remember a couple of months ago when I highlighted how much a change of one point in your interest rate can save/cost you [in this blog post]?)

At any rate (no pun intended), some buyers are surprised to find that when they speak with their lender about getting pre-approved to purchase a home, they are quoted a higher interest rate than they expected (or that they have been hearing in the news). The reason for this? The interest rate that a buyer qualifies for is dependent on a number of factors. Therefore, interest rates aren't a "one size fits all" type of thing. However, there are actions that you can take to ensure that you get the lowest interest rate possible.

I found this great article from Inman News, "Meet 4 criteria for best interest rates" that outlines the most crucial factors that lenders are looking for in order to quote you the best possible interest rate! Even if you aren't in the market for a home at the moment, this article is still worth taking a look at, as the financial actions you take now can impact your purchasing power for quite a while!

If you are thinking of purchasing a home, and haven't yet spoken with a lender about getting pre-approved, feel free to contact me and I would be more than happy to put you in touch with a fabuous local lender!

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

WEDNESDAY Open House....Stop by on your way home!

This WEDNESDAY, August 11th, I will be hosting an Open House at this 2 bedroom and 2.5 bathroom carriage-style condex at 914B North Avenue in Burlington from 4:30- 6:00 p.m. Please feel free to stop by and see this truly unique property for yourself! You'll love the open floor plan with exposed beams and cathedral ceilings. The spacious back deck just off the kitchen is perfect for bbq'ing. Convenient location- close to the beltline, North Beach, the bike path, and downtown! Offered at $230,000!

Directions: Drive north on North Avenue, property on the right hand side (tucked back) just after access to the beltline and immediately before Saratoga Avenue. PLEASE PARK AROUND THE CORNER ON SARATOGA AVENUE.

If you can't make it to the open house, please feel free to call or e-mail me and I will gladly arrange a showing! You can check out the rest of Hickok & Boardman's Wednesday evening Open Houses just by clicking here.

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

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