Summer of 2008 Storm Photographs of Lake Champlain in Charlotte Vermont

What an amazing summer for storms! Sometimes 4 and 5 in a day. Some would come from across Lake Champlain from the west. Some from the south. Some from the northwest. The drama was spectacular as it unfolded from my porch beside Mount Philo State Park with its pastoral westerly views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. Let's not forget the spectacular lightning display of a week ago. It even brought my teenage son with his three friends out from behind their video game, "Call of Duty", to witness the awesome power. How's that for jaded 16 year old boys?Record rainfall. Record lake levels. Thunderstorm watches and warnings it seemed everyday for a month. Our states' moniker, The Green Mountain State, earned its deserved reputation this summer. All the different greens reminded me of that great Johnny Cash tune, "40 Shades of Green." If you haven't heard it here you go. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0oTDS9ur_U

We are in the tail end of summer now. My daughter started high school today. Heavens. Onward we go.I'm hoping September and October are the longest stretch of Indian Summer weather in Vermont's history! And I'm betting there's another 650,000 people who would agree with me.If you have your own summer storm stories, please share them and post them here.

Call me at 802.238.5256, email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com or post your comments at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Burlington Vermont Real Estate.

UVM Parents Interested in Buying Investment Property in Burlington VT

It's that time of year for mad purchasing for dorm rooms. The have to have's in what's hip in the latest clothing. Haircuts. The University Bookstore. Meeting so many new faces, getting settled and all the rest...

Burlington is a great location for purchasing an investment property for your son or daughter and recouping your investment when they graduate. I have worked with parents/families over the years to find just the right property.

Read this recent testimonial:

"My husband and I live out of state in Connecticut and our son attends the University of Vermont. During our first visit to Burlington Vermont, we fell in love with the area and decided it would be a good place to purchase an investment property. At that time, we knew basically nothing about the area and by sheer luck became connected to Chris Hurd when we Google searched for a realtor who could represent us. Chris was sensitive to our many concerns about purchasing and renting a property from out of state. He realized we needed to proceed cautiously. He quickly understood our wants and needs and found properties that we liked and would require very little maintenance. We did not have time to waste and Chris was very efficient and thorough. Chris is an extremely ethical and responsible person and my husband and I would highly recommend him as your realtor. We found Chris to be a genuine person who filled all our needs and requirements."

Stan & Nancy Mikrut - Southbury,

Read the following recent remark from the National Association of Realtors:

"VERMONT AT THE TOP OF SALES RECOVERY. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun reported last week at the Annual Leadership Summit in Chicago that Vermont is in the top ten states for sales recovery. "

I have lived in the Burlington area for over 29 years. Burlington Vermont is a great community. Full of cultural activities, shopping, great restaurants, nationally recognized educational institutions with all the qualities that only Vermont can offer set on the shores of lovely Lake Champlain.

Call me at 802.238.5256, email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com with your inquiries about purchasing an investment property in this great city.

Post your comments at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Burlington Vermont Real Estate.

Open House This Sat (8/23) and Sun (8/24) in Williston Vermont 1-3 PM

Please click on the following link for information and directions to this great Williston 4 bedroom property listed at $479,000. http://chrishurd.topproducerwebsite.com/531MetcalfDrive.asp#

Call me at 802.238.5256, email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com or post your comments at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Burlington Vermont Real Estate.

Burlington VT Market Trends July 2008 Sold Data

Based upon information provided by the Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors (NVBR) as of today for the month of July 2008, there were 16 single family residential units sold within Burlington Vermont with a total listed volume of $5,471,200. Divide this number by the units sold (16) and you get an average listed price of $341,950. Juxtapose this figure to the actual total sold volume of $5,122,960 then divide this number by the units sold (16) and you come up with an average sold price of $330,185. Are ya' having an ADD moment yet?

So, "what's up Chris?" you're asking. Well, here you are. These numbers produced a list-to-sell variance of $21,765.00 or (drum roll please) a 93.63% list to sell percentage. Average days on the market for these 16 properties was 94.25.

Armed with solid numbers, buyers and sellers alike can manage their expectations and the current realities of our local market.

Call me at 802.238.5256, email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com or post your comments at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Burlington Vermont Real Estate.

National Median Sales Price Information Highlights Local Strength

Yesterday, I reported in this blog what price appreciation has been in the Burlington and South Burlington VT real estate markets.

Today, I am posting national median sales price information updated on 8/1/08 from the National Association of Realtors as reported by RealEstateABC.com

The National Median sales price for an existing single family home are down 6.07% from a year ago from across the USA.

This statistic when juxtaposed against yesterday's local real estate numbers reported in my blog highlight the staying power and strength of our local real estate market.

If you would like to add a comment, please do so by posting a comment here at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Burlington Vermont Real Estate.

Burlington and South Burlington VT Real Estate Appreciation

As reported on MSN Money, information from sold and refinanced properties compiled from Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac as of May 22nd, 2008, report real estate appreciation in Burlington and South Burlington Vermont are as follows:

• 1st Qtr = .97%
• 1 Year = .56%
• 5 Years = 51.11%

If you would like to add a comment, please do so by posting a comment here at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Burlington Vermont Real Estate.

L is G in VT

It’s as green as green gets now. The countryside, the bluish purplish mountains and lakes pull on our Irish heart strings. The fireflies have all but come and gone for another year. Oh, but what a year it was. Katrina-like rains of a week ago have wrung themselves out to beautious warm summer days we long for - that we looooooong for. Bright planets go unnamed in the night’s sky. Some red. Mars maybe? Big Dipper tipping to the north. Cassiopeia. They’re all there for another summer. Comforting like old friends on the front porch at night.

How can we turn our sights away from a national election? Our environmental mess? Gas prices? George Bush? His insane war? Our hearts weighted as our personal lists lengthen.

Hope and beauty, kindness and love are found in the most unusual places.

The berries at the Charlotte Berry Farm have been exquisite. Burlington’s July 4th waterfront fireworks were knockout - again. The Charlotte beach. Lazy middle aged hilarious tennis games. Laughter from our bellies. We’re walking more these days. Maybe polluting less. Three times up and around Mount Philo in two hours is a new record.

My girlfriend just extended her stay today instead of flying back to Minneapolis (she’s hopes to reclaim being down two sets in our week long tennis tourney). Now, we can share more of the beauty of our unfolding hearts. We can settle into our skins. We’re living in “bonus time land.” How nice is that? I’m trying to figure out if it’s my front porch that keeps her here with its sweeping views overlooking Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains to the west. Or is it the morning ritual for triple shot medium latees with 2% milk with a wave of vanilla? Dumpster diving at Tueday Morning? Project runs to Home Depot and Lowe’s. Fiddling with final touches from Spring’s kitchen renovation? Or maybe, it’s just me? Nah, it’s ALL of the above and below.

Summer in Vermont.

It’s amazing.

My dog is learning to BE A DOG. Less afraid of the cat. Less cowering. Chasing her squeaky toy until exhaustion and her tongue drag along the ground past her tail. Gaining new found confidence and self esteem. Jumping with her hind legs in mad chaotic atheltic scamper.

Went to Elton John. His first ever visit to Vermont. How can we ever forget his performance at the Fair Grounds? This wasn’t Ravinia. It was a fairground in Vermont.

Danced with my daughter to Michael Franti at the Shelburne Museum.

Attended a photography class with acclaimed regional photographer, Peter Miller, in the mountains of Stowe.

Hopes remain alive. Beauty and love are everywhere. This state is magical.

L is G (life is good).