Why Use A Buyers Agent When Buying Real Esate in and around Burlington VT

Burlington VT - March 1st, 2011

To answer this question, let me begin by asking a question. When you are in a legal proceeding, would you have the lawyer representing the person sitting across the table from you represent you as well? The answer is so simple. Of course not.

Why then when buying a house or property which for many people represents one of the largest financial decisions of their lives would you utilize the Realtor who represents the Seller(s) to safeguard your best interests as the Buyer(s)?

In Vermont, we do not have “dual agency.” Some states do allow this (where one Realtor represents both sides of the transaction while maintaining “neutrality”) but for the life of me I do not understand why. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. There are simply too many places for conflicts of interest to rear their head.

In Vermont, Realtors must represent only one side of the transaction - either the Buyer(s) or the Seller(s). Often, Buyers aren’t clear on this point. They see a sign in front of a house for sale or a listing online. Call that Realtor and utilize that Realtor to facilitate the negotiations of price, terms and conditions when that Realtor represents the Seller(s). Do you see where this is completely problematic? Be sure to ask if the Realtor you are speaking to is the Listing Agent. If so, thank the Agent and tell them you want representaion, hang up and find another Realtor who can represent you and your interests. Keep in mind, good listing agents are experts in finding out information from prospective buyers without you even being aware of it. They can ask questions that ultimately compromise your negotiating position. Thank them politely. Hang up and find a Realtor to be your Buyer’s Agent.

When Sellers agree to list their property they agree to a commission which is paid to both the Realtor who lists the Seller’s property and the Realtor who brings the Buyers to the table. A typical Realtor commission these days is either 5 or 6%. Thus, this commission is split in half (i.e. with either 3 or 2.5% going to the buy side Realtor). Buyers should not think because I am represented by a Buyer’s Agent I am incurring an additional expense to pay their commisssion. The commission is already taken into account by the Seller(s) in their Listing Agreement with their Listing Agent. All Sellers are willing to split the commission between the Realtor representing them and the Buyers Agent representing the Buyer(s). Sellers do this to facilitate the transaction and in this market they are happy as can be to have buyers brought to them.

Let me further clarify. If there is no Buyer’s Realtor involved, the Listing Agent consumes the entire commission of 6 or 5% with no split whatsoever. Now do you see why listing agents so love it when buyers call them directly? On a house that costs say $300,000 with a 6% commission, the Listing Agent would receive an $18,000 commission. If there is a Realtor representing the buyer(s), the listing agent would have to split their commissions.

There are many other reasons why you would want to utilize a Buyer’s Agent when buying real estate in Vermont. Here they are:

• Full Access To Our Regional MLS - Until you have made it clear to your Realtor you want to be represented by a Buyer’s Agent and entered into that Agreement in writing the realtor you are communicating with is ALWAYS representing the Seller(s). They cannot give you information that otherwise comprimises the Sellers ability to get the most money for the sale of their home or property. This could include the number of days on the market as a great example. These days this is a critical number to know. Further, listing agents have this game they play when the “re-list” thier listings it sets the odometer back to zero for “days on the market” accuracy. Only a Buyer’s Agent representing your interest will research the history of the property you are interested in buying to let you know exactly how many days that property has been on the market and with whom.


• Negotiating Power - As your Buyer’s Agent, I will run a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to determine a prospective home’s Fair Market Value (FMV). In simpler terms, as your Realtor I will look at similar homes in the same neighborhood that have sold recently. This way, you will know whether or not the seller has their home priced fairly. If the home is priced over Fair Market Value, your Buyer’s Agent can present your “under asking price” offer with plenty of firepower – and a greater chance that the offer will be accepted. In addition, the terms and conditions of your offer are important as well.


• Representation - As your Buyer’s Agent, I am there to make sure YOUR best interests are accounted for. With your Buyer’s Agent in your corner, you can rest assured that you’re on, at least, even ground with the home seller. Similarly, Listing Agents enter into a legally binding agreement that require them to ALWAYS act in the best interest of their seller(s). They are the seller’s “coach” and will make sure that their clients’ best interests are looked after.


• Industry Contacts - It takes a lot of people to close a real estate transaction – Buyer’s Agent, Listing Agent, Loan Officer, Home Inspector, Property Appraiser, Insurance Agent, General and Sub-Contractors, and sometimes more! A good agent will come with a strong, professional closing team that has performed in the past, and will continue to perform. A transaction is only as strong as its weakest link – with your Buyer’s Agent & their closing team, you can rest assured that you will have plenty of support to make the buying process as smooth as possible.


• Maximize Your Time - While driving neighborhoods is an excellent idea to help you decide which locations you prefer, it’s not a very efficient way to find your new home. Gas is expensive, and your time is valuable. Your Buyer’s Agent will listen to your needs, make fantastic suggestions based on your likes & dislikes, and provide you with a list of homes and communities that ALL match your wants & needs. Your Buyer’s Agent has helped MANY new homebuyers through MANY purchases, and will help you better organize your search & decision making process – saving you valuable time.

If you are considering buying a home or condominium in or near Burlington Vermont, please visit my website: Burlington Vermont Real Estate, give me a call on my direct line at 802.238.5256 or email me to discuss representing you, our current market conditions and your needs/wants in a new home and community. I would be delighted to assist you.

As always, please feel free to post any thoughts and comments about downsizing right here below.

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

Record Monthly Snowfall Set at Burlington Vermont

Burlington VT - February 28th, 2011

It’s official!

A new record snowfall of 42.8 inches for the month of February has
been set at Burlington VT. This breaks the old record of 42.3
inches set in 2008.

Time to either go sledding or head south for Spring break depending on your perspective.

If you are considering listing your home for sale or buying a home or condominium in or near Burlington Vermont Real Estate or Chittenden County, please give me a call or email me to discuss the market and your options. I would be delighted to assist you. Feel free to visit my website at ChrisHurdVT. I can also be reached on my direct line at 802.238.5256 or email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com

As always, please feel free to post any thoughts and comments here below.

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

My Top Ten Fun List of Things To Do in and around Burlington VT Late Winter 2011

Burlington VT

February 25th, 2011

Here is my highly subjective Top Ten List of Fun Ideas if you’re in serious need of a lift as this snowy winter shows no signs of losing her grip on our weary, hunched-over, snow shoveled backs.

10. Vermont Maple Open House Weekend at Shelburne Farms March 19th and 20th,

9. Vermont Flower Show at the Champlain Valley Exposition March 4,5,6,

8. Dinner at the ‘Trat and don’t forget to try the profiterole for dessert,

7. Visit the Fleming Museum at the University of Vermont,

6. 25th Anniversary of Arts Alive March 21st downtown Burlington,

5. Sweeten your day at Lake Champlain Chocolate Factory,

4. Go Sledding at one of Hammerhead Sleds recommended hills across the entire Northeast,

3. 16th Annual Mardi Gras Parade in downtown Burlington VT Saturday March 5th at 3pm,

2. Take Someone You Love to The Flynn Theater

1. Splurge For A Day of Downhill Skiing at Jay Peak Resort for $49!

If you are considering listing your home for sale or buying a home or condominium in or near Burlington Vermont Real Estate or Chittenden County, please give me a call or email me to discuss the market and your options. I would be delighted to assist you. I can be reached on my direct line at 802.238.5256 or email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com

As always, please feel free to post any thoughts and comments here below. Share your ideas of what would be on your fun list!

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

There’s Life On The Corner

South Burlington VT
February 23rd, 2011

Remember the old song “Down On The Corner” by Creedence Clearwater Revival? Well, it just might be we’re heading Back to the Future.

There is a shift in Vermont real estate trends that is now underway.

An article this week in the Burlington Free Press by Matt Sutkoski entitled, “Data Shows Vermonters Moving Back Towards The City”, in which the author made several interesting conclusions. Mr. Sutkoski writes there is “evidence that policy, planning tools, economic realities and people’s housing choices are beginning to shift the focus of growth toward Vermont’s village centers and downtowns”.

Sally Dames, a resident of South Burlington VT and co-founder ofWhat’s Alive Inside Productions, an organization focused on what makes life more wonderful and rich via community productions at The Flynn Theater in downtown Burlington VT, refers affectionately to “life on the corner” often in her reflections about her ‘hood. Ms. Dames calls them them “her C’s. Community, Collaboration, Convenience and Connection”. She indicated she moved with her two daughters in recent years from living in the “boonies of Charlotte and Monkton” as she puts it into a neighborhood where she can walk, ride her bike, have access to employment, mass transit, goods and services.

I, too, admit that in the past 8 months I made a decision to move from Charlotte to South Burlington for many of the same reasons cited by Ms. Dames. Yet, to carry it one step further, I felt a driving inner force to reduce my carbon footprint. Instead of climbing in my car to drive everywhere now I can bike or walk to the grocery store, the pharmacy, the bank, the post office, doctors, bookstore, restaurants, coffee shop, restaurants, music, a short hop to the airport and the list goes on and on… In addition, with my children moving on in their lives, I wanted to be closer to the “action”.

Organizations like SmartGrowthVermont believe that for “Vermont to grow and thrive we need to carefully integrate growth, environmental protection and economic opportunities into our local planning framework. This will require the participation of citizens, local and state officials, developers, business leaders and non-profit organizations. Our future depends on careful analysis, dialogue, cooperation, and leadership”. In the Free Press article, John Ewing, a founder and board member of Smart Growth Vermont says “there has been a very definite trend in people’s attitudes favoring compact development and a willingness to live there”.

Websites like WalkScore allow you to type in an address to get its walkability score rated from 1-100 with 100 being the best score for walking to amenities. Here’s what they say makes a neighborhood walkable:

“A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a center, whether it’s a main street or a public space.

People: Enough people for businesses to flourish and for public transit to run frequently.

Mixed income, mixed use: Affordable housing located near businesses.

Parks and public space: Plenty of public places to gather and play.

Pedestrian design: Buildings are close to the street, parking lots are relegated to the back.

Schools and workplaces: Close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.

Complete streets: Streets designed for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit.”

Walkscore cites these four areas that offer surprising benefits to the environment, our health, our finances, and our communities:

“Environment: Cars are a leading cause of climate change. Your feet are zero-pollution transportation machines.

Health: The average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs 7 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood.

Finances: One point of Walk Score is worth up to $3,000 of value for your property.

Communities: Studies show that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%.”

You can, of course, come up with many more reasons why this trend makes sense and why these trends are pointing in a refreshing new direction.

If you are considering listing your home for sale or buying a home or condominium in or near Burlington Vermont Vermont Estate or Chittenden County Real Estate, please give me a call or email me to discuss the market and your options. I would be delighted to assist you. I can be reached on my direct line at 802.238.5256 or email me atChris@ChrisHurdVT.com

As always, please feel free to post any thoughts and comments here below.

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

Vermont Foreclosures Lowest in USA - January 2011

Burlington VT
February 22nd, 2011

RealtyTrac, the leading online marketplace for foreclosed properties, is a major source of information about foreclosed properties in the United States. In their January 2011 report, they declare that the state of Vermont had 21 foreclosures (yes, that’s for the entire state) or 1 in every 14,487 homes. This analysis shows Vermont foreclosure numbers are way below other states by a wide margin. Compare this number to the other states chosen randomly for the month of January 2011:

Florida had 21,671 foreclosures or 1 in every 406 housing units,
New York had 2,885 foreclosures or 1 in every 2,765 housing units,
Connecticut had 837 foreclosures or 1 in every 1,724 housing units,
California had 67,072 foreclosures or 1 in every 200 housing units,
Arizona had 15,757 foreclosures or 1 in every 173 housing units,
North Carolina had 3,040 foreclosures or 1 in every 1,382 housing units,
North Dakota (2nd lowest of all states in USA) had 25 foreclosures or 1 in every 12,533 housing units.

These statistics continue to tell an important story about Vermont Real Estate.

If you are considering listing your home for sale or buying a home or condominium in or near Burlington Vermont or Chittenden County, please give me a call or email me to discuss the market and your options. I would be delighted to assist you. I can be reached on my direct line at 802.238.5256 or email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com

As always, please feel free to post any thoughts and comments here below.

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

Burlington Vermont Events for January 21 – January 23

Below are a few upcoming events coming up in the Burlington Vermont area…

Balé Folclórico da Bahia -- Burlington, VT

January 21, 2011
With explosive energy and rich pageantry, Balé Folclórico da Bahia returns to the Flynn and brings to life the rich culture of Bahia, a region of northern Brazil influenced by African, European, and Native Indian cultures. This troupe of over 30 dancers, musicians, and singers perform Carnival and slave dances, samba, and Capoeira—a thrilling Afro-Brazilian art form that combines martial arts, music, and dance. Location: Flynn Main Stage, 153 Main Street. Time: 8 p.m. Cost: $23 - $37. Information: 802-863-5966 or visit www.flynncenter.org

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Vermont Log Home Show
Vermont Green Builders & Energy Conservation Show

Jan. 21-23
Friday 12-7, Saturday 10-7, Sunday 10-5
Adults $8, Seniors $7, Kids 7-14 $4, Under 7 Free

Get the information and find the help you need to build a beautiful log or timber home. Plus, make your new home more energy efficient and reduce environmental impact.

More info: http://www.americasbestshows.com/vermont_log_home_timber_frame_show.shtml

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VSO Presents: Winter Warmth -- Burlington, VT

January 22, 2011
The Vermont Symphony Orchestra's Masterworks Series continues in the new year as VSO Music Director Jaime Laredo conducts “Winter Warmth,” a program of three colorful works to banish the mid-winter blues, with selections by Rossini, Beethoven, and more. Flynn Main Stage, 153 Main Street. Time: 8 p.m. Cost: $16 and up. Information: 802-863-5966 or visit www.flynncenter.org.

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Burlington Winter Farmers Market

Date: Jan 22
Time: 10am to 2pm
Location: Memorial Auditorium
Price: FREE

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Vermont Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament

Date: Jan 22 Time:
Location: Memorial Auditorium
Price: $11.99-$18

Description: Tickets NOT available through the Flynn box office. Reserved tix in advance..Sold at Mills & Greer starting on Jan 15th are $14 & can also get tix in advance by calling 802-527-2936. Reserved tix at the door are $18 (night of the show) General admission tix sold only at the door are $11.99

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Charles Lloyd Quartet -- Burlington, VT

January 23, 2011
With a long and distinguished playing career, both with his own groups and alongside Don Cherry, Eric Dolphy, and Ornette Coleman, Lloyd’s music takes audiences on journeys that traverse enormous distances. Over nearly four decades, his compositions have punctuated the post-bop period, embraced the traditional music of a host of world cultures, and ciphered the psychedelic ‘60s with avant-garde improvisation. Location: Flynn Main Stage, 153 Main Street. Time: 7 p.m. Cost: $22 - $40. Information: 802-863-5966 or visit www.flynncenter.org.

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If you are considering buying Burlington Vermont real estate (or surrounding areas), please give me a call on my cell at 802.238.5256 or email me to discuss our real estate market and your options. Also, please visit my blog for more posts/articles like this one here: Burlington VT Real Estate Blog.

First Night in Burlington Vermont

This New Year's Eve, celebrate First Night in Burlington Vermont! If you haven't been to a First Night in Burlington yet, keep it in mind this year. Where else can you pay $18 to get into so many, many venues? Okay, a few of the choice concerts at the Flynn Theater added $3 more to the night per person per event but it's laughable how much fun can be had for such a modest outlay.

For a brief history, First Night originated in Boston Massachusetts in 1976 by a small group of artists who sought an alternative way of celebrating New Year's Eve, creating an event where the consumption of alcohol is banned. First Night is an indoor/outdoor artistic and cultural celebration which occurs from afternoon until midnight. The intention of First Night is to celebrate that community's local cultures often showcasing music, dance, art, comedy, parades
and fireworks.

For more information including schedule, list of events, and to buy your buttons go to: First Night Burlington Vermont

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If you are considering buying Burlington Vermont real estate (or surrounding areas), please give me a call on my cell at 802.238.5256 or email me to discuss our real estate market and your options.

National Real Estate Market Slow; Vermont MLS Volume Up

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I was interviewed last week for my views by the reporter from the VPOR. Below is the article in full...

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NATIONAL REAL ESTATE MARKET SLOW; VERMONT MLS VOLUME UP

National reports on property sales and prices tell a familiar story for the last months of the summer: a market varying from month to month and location to location, but in no hurry to recover from the market plunge of recent years. By comparison, Vermont’s market still looks better than most.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) offered the most optimistic report, announcing on October 25 that sales of existing homes nationally rose in September by 10% over August (by 10.1% in the Northeast), “affirming that a sales recovery has begun.” However, the national median existing-home price for all housing types was 2.4% below a year ago, the NAR said (the median fell 1.4% in the Northeast).

As the previous article discusses, foreclosures – and homebuyers’ wariness of them – threaten to further suppress the market, according to the Associated Press. It reported that 23% of the Realtors it surveyed had clients who were declining to consider foreclosed properties, out of a concern that such purchases might be challenged on the basis of flawed foreclosure practices.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported on October 26 that U.S. housing prices rose 0.4% from July to August. But on the same day, Standard & Poor’s announced that home values overall had decreased from July to August, according to its Case-Shiller index of 20 major markets. An S&P spokesman called the report “disappointing,” noting that “home prices broadly declined in August.”

If these inconsistent, sometimes contradictory, reports prove anything, it is to substantiate Burlington-area Realtor Chris Hurd’s maxim that, like politics, “All real estate is local.”

Hurd, proprietor of Akin Associates, deals in residential properties in Chittenden, Addison, and Grand Isle counties, with a focus on Burlington, Shelburne and Charlotte. To his surprise, he said, 2009 turned out for him to be “a very strong year,” one of his best as a Realtor. 2010 has been a different story; he expects that when all is said and done it will turn out to be an average year, but deals are taking an unusually long time to gel.

Normally he’s wrapping things up in the fall after a busy summer – and the summer of 2010 was, indeed busy. “But this year,” he says, “everything is late. It’s primarily because people have spent months and months testing the market, testing the sellers, waiting for the fall and getting close to winter to see if they can eke out every last dollar from the seller.”

The sellers are in no hurry, either. “Vermonters are a funny group,” Hurd said. “They tend to hunker down and wait. They’re not going to give away the store.” The result is a kind of stasis.

Statewide, the real estate market has shown some signs of improvement this year. The number of single-family homes, both primary and vacation, sold by Realtors from January through September this year is up 7.7% from the same time period in 2009, according to the statewide MLS system. The single-family median price has edged up from $199,000 last year to $200,000 in 2010, according to the same report.

But, in his work, Hurd has seen a big change in the focus of market activity. He said that not long ago he was selling homes for $600,000, routinely. Now “the bulk” of his market comes in at $300,000. “If you get a buyer over that, it’s an anomaly,” he said.

Because of Vermont’s relatively better economy and relatively smaller foreclosure problem, Hurd sees prices remaining stable. But he does not think a robust recovery in Vermont’s real estate market is imminent. Historically, Vermont has had a tendency to lag behind the economic trends of the rest of the country, Hurd said, so he expects it to be some time before the market emerges from this depressed cycle and regains its former vitality.

Reprinted with permission from
Vermont Property Owners Report

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If you are considering buying Burlington Vermont real estate (or surrounding areas), please give me a call on my cell at 802.238.5256 or email me to discuss our real estate market and your options.

Burlington Vermont Events for October 28 - October 30

Below are a few upcoming events coming up in the Burlington Vermont area...

Nightmare Vermont - South Burlington, VT

October 28, 29, and 30, 2010. 7 p.m. (and every half-hour through 10 p.m.) — The young whippersnapper in the walk-and-be-scared sweepstakes is Nightmare Vermont, which creates its nightmare not on Elm Street but on Picard Circle in South Burlington. Shows continue at the same times Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. $10. 1-888-830-0888, www.nightmarevermont.org.

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The Wiyos and Red Molly -- Burlington, VT

October 29, 2010

Red Molly has consistently brought concert-goers to their feet with stunning three-part harmonies, crisp musicianship and warm, American roots music. They'll be joined by the Wiyos,a NYC band who really know how to spread the musical happiness quotient. Location: UVM Recital Hall, 384 South Prospect Street. Time: 7:30 p.m. Cost: $25. Information: 802-656-4455 or visit www.uvm.edu/laneseries.

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Lar Lubovitch Dance Company -- Burlington, VT

October 30, 2010

One of America’s most highly acclaimed choreographers and a part of the Flynn’s 1982 inaugural season, Lar Lubovitch famously broke new artistic ground with his pioneering use of the minimalist scores of Philip Glass and Steve Reich in the 1970s in works that influenced a whole generation of choreography and led to an appreciation of this new music. Lubovitch’s 1978 masterpiece North Star is possibly the most notable of these works. Glass’ swirling score of the same name provides an aural palate for Lubovitch’s abstract fantasia in a constellation of joined yet independent human bodies. Location: Flynn Center, 153 Main Street. Time: 8 p.m. Cost: $27 - $45. Information: 802-863-5966 or visit www.flynntix.org.

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If you are considering buying Burlington Vermont real estate (or surrounding areas), please give me a call on my cell at 802.238.5256 or email me to discuss our real estate market and your options.

Burlington Vermont Events for September 30 - October 3

Below are a few upcoming events coming up in the Burlington Vermont area...

State of Craft Showcase -- Burlington, VT - Now through September 30, 2010. Frog Hollow State Craft Center was the first designated state craft center and has served as a leader in the field. This exhibit chronicles trends in Vermont’s contemporary studio craft movement and the evolution of a state craft center through representative artists’ work. Location: 85 Church Street. Time: Monday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sunday, noon - 2 p.m. Cost: free. Information: visit www.froghollow.org.

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The Khmer Arts Ensemble -- Burlington, VT - October 1, 2010. The Khmer Arts Ensemble—a 30-member company with 18 dancers, four singers, and eight musicians—upholds Cambodia’s profoundly moving and aesthetically complex dance tradition, an art form that was almost eliminated by the brutal purge of artists by the Khmer Rouge. The Lives of Giants is a testament to the human spirit and the universal urgency of art that tells the story of Reap, a 10-headed giant king of the Reamker Epic (the Cambodian version of the Ramayana). Location: Flynn Center, 153 Main Street. Time: 8 p.m. Cost: $23 - $38. Information: 802-863-5966 or visit www.flynntix.org.

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Built to Spill -- South Burlington, VT - October 3, 2010. Built to Spill were one of the most popular indie rock acts of the '90s, finding the middle ground between postmodern, Pavement-style pop and the loose, spacious jamming of Neil Young. Location: Higher Ground Ballroom, 1214 Williston Road. Time: 7 p.m. Cost: $17 - $20. Information: 802-652-0777 or visit www.highergroundmusic.com.

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If you are considering buying Burlington Vermont real estate (or surrounding areas), please give me a call on my cell at 802.238.5256 or email me to discuss our real estate market and your options.

Burlington Vermont Events for September

Below are a few upcoming events for September happening in the Burlington Vermont area...

National Street Rod Association Northeast Nationals

Date: Sept. 17-19, Friday 8:30 am - 5 pm, Saturday 8:00 am - 5 pm, Sunday 8:30 am - 2 pm

Admission: $14 Adults, $5 Children 6-12, Under 6 Free ($12 for NSRA members, Military Personnel w/ID and Seniors 60+)

More than 1600 rods, customs and collector cars will be on hand for the 17th Annual Northeast Street Rod Nationals Plus Sept. 17-19. In addition to the collection of vehicles, several commercial vendors and automotive experts will be on hand. Also, enjoy a trade show, arts & crafts fair, vintage auto parts swap, and daily entertainment. For more information about the NSRA, visit www.nsra-usa.com.

More Information: http://cvexpo.org/

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Mayhem 4 MMA & Thai Boxing

Date: Sep 18 Time: 7pm to

Location: Memorial Auditorium Price: $25-$50

United Fighting Arts Institute, LLC Presents Mayhem 4 MMA & Thai Boxing Premium Ringside $50.00 Back Ringside $35.00 Front Balcony $35.00 General Admission Bleachers $25.00 General Admission Balcony $25.00 (General Admission Balcony seats are the last 3 rows only). Prices Include 9% Tax, $1.00 Facility Fee, and $2.00-3.25 BO Surcharge Note: There will be no East Ringside Section at this event. Instead – there will be a beer garden right there by the ring! Vermont's premiere MMA & Thai Kickboxing event is back! Live, Sept. 18th, 2010 @ the Burlington Memorial Auditorium. Doors open at 6pm, fights start at 7pm. This event will feature an action packed split MMA & Thai Boxing Fight Card with the VMTA 155lb Title on the line! Fight fans, for the 1st time; this event will also feature the "Ringside Beer Garden"! Just what is the Mayhem all about? Answer: Fast paced, exciting, non-stop, full contact Mixed Martial Arts & Muay Thai action! The best MMA & Muay Thai fighters from across the U.S. will compete in this exciting event!– Doors open at 6:00pm, event starts at 7:00. Mixed martial arts: (MMA) is a full contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques and skills, from a mixture of martial arts traditions and non-traditions, to be used in competitions. The rules allow the use of both striking as well as grappling techniques, both while standing and on the ground. Such competitions allow martial artists of different backgrounds to compete. With the recent notoriety of MMA in the U.S. and it’s growing fan base around the globe it has earned the title of the fastest growing sport in the world today! Thai Boxing: (Muay Thai) is has long been the premiere form of stand up martial art. From its fierce roots as a battlefield martial art in Thailand, today it has bloomed into the country’s National Sport. Today Thai Boxing is practiced around the globe and attracts a huge fan base, it enjoys the title of the most exciting “stand up” ring sport in the world. It’s hard hitting, fast paced, action that no one should miss out on…come witness the Mayhem! Mayhem 4 is presented by United Fighting Arts Institute, LLC and all bouts fall under the direction of the Vermont Muay Thai Association. This event is Sanctioned by the USMTA. For More Information: http://www.mayhemvt.com

Contact: http://www.flynntix.org

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Latino Festival Boat Cruise

Date: Sep 18 Time: 9:30pm to 12am

Location: Spirit of Ethan Allen III at the Boathouse Price: $15.50/adult, $11.25/children 10 & under Burlington Parks & Recs/Hermanos Productions Presents the Latino Festival Boat Cruise. Boarding Begins at 9:30 PM, Boat Departs at 10 PM and returns at Midnight. Every individual regardless of age requires a ticket - Open Seating Caribbean Cruise with 3 Decks - 3 djs dj Craig Mitchell/dj Papo Lopez/dj Hector Salsa* Merengue*Bachata*Reggaeton*Caribbean Mix*Latin Mix

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If you are considering buying Burlington Vermont real estate (or surrounding areas), please give me a call on my cell at 802.238.5256 or email me to discuss our real estate market and your options.

Top Ten List for Burlington Vermont

A purely personal list subject to change (guaranteed!) of my favorite things to do in Burlington Vermont throughout the year:

10. Summer picnic pilgrammage to enjoy a sunset at Waterfront Park on Lake Champlain,

9. A show at the Flynn Theater followed by profiteroles for dessert at the "Trat",

8. An evening stroll down Church Street,

7. Finding a parking spot,

6. JazzFest in June,

5. First Night,

4. Burlington Bike Path,

3. Coming in by boat to the Community Boat House to hang out on the docks for a sunset, dinner, drinks or all 3,

2. Christmas Lighting Ceremony on Church Street,

1. 4th of July fireworks on the waterfront.

If you would like to add a comment or add your favorite Top Ten list, please do so by posting a comment here

If you are considering buying Burlington Vermont real estate (or surrounding areas), please give me a call on my cell at 802.238.5256 or email me to discuss our real estate market and your options.

Update: Home and Condo Values in Chittenden County, Vermont

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Burlington Vermont

Tha age old factors of condition, price and location are influencing our market more so now than in recent memory.

Just a few years ago, Sellers were enjoying multiple offers in all price ranges. Today, the part of the market that is humming along is everything essentially under $300,000. That is the sweet spot in the market for sure.

In Burlington, Charlotte, Colchester, Essex Junction, Essex Town, Milton, Shelburne, South Burlington, and Williston sales for all of 2009 show the average sale to list price ratio being at or above 95%. Of course, much depends on the three factors listed at the outset of this article but on average 95%.

Recent data compiled by Vermont Real Estate Information Network (VREIN), shows the condo market on average across all the towns comprising Chittenden County (i.e. Burlington, Bolton, Charlotte, Colchester, Essex Town, Essex Junction, Hinesburg, Huntington, Jericho, Milton, Richmond, St. George, Shelburne, Underhill, Westford, Williston) have shown prices increasing by 10.8% between the period from February 2009 until last month.

Conversely, single family homes on average across all the towns comprising Chittenden County have fallen 6.6%. The data shows that in February of 2009, the average sale price was $319,024. In February 2010, the average sales price had fallen to $297,874 with sales picking up.

Conventional wisdom suggests that the recent surge in activity has come as a result of pent up demand, low interest rates, and the tax credits made available to first time homebuyers ($8,000) and for repeat homebuyers who have not bought or sold their primary residence in the past 5 years ($6,500).

Against the national and regional averages Vermont continues to hold its own.The Mortgage Bankers Association's National Delinquent Survey found 4.8% of mortgages in Vermont were seriously delinquent or in foreclosure during the last quarter of 2009. Compare that to the national average at 9.7% or the New England region at 8%.

Vermont ranked 46th out of 50 states with fewest delinquencies and foreclosures initiated during the last quarter of 2009.

Of course, location weighs heavily on the average sale price figures. It is important to compare prices in the town and immediate neighborhood you are considering purchasing to best understand what a given house should sell for. The age old adage "all real estate is local" remains the watch word.

If you are considering listing your home for sale or buying a home, condominium or other real estate in Burlington, Vermont or in Chittenden County, please give me a call or email me to discuss representing you, our current market conditions and your needs/wants in a new home and community. I would be delighted to assist you. I can be reached on my direct line at 802.238.5256 or email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com

As always, please feel free to post any thoughts and comments right here on Hurd's The Word

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

2009 Year End Foreclosure Report for Burlington Vermont Real Estate

February 4th, 2010

Burlington Vermont

Vermont continues to have the lowest foreclosures of any state in the entire United States. Recent information reported by Bloomberg BusinessWeek indicate that Vermont has suffered the least with ONLY 143 foreclosures in the entire state for all of 2009!

RealtyTrac, in its monthly report from December 2009, reported that only 6 homes in all of Chittenden County (includes 17 towns around and including Burlington VT) went into foreclosure or 1 in every 10,479 housing units.

Put another way, The Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA.org) reported from the Bloomberg.com website that as of January 29th, 2010, Vermont had the lowest foreclosure rate in the country at 0.04% of all homes in the state. The Bloomberg article went on to report that Vermonters are avoiding the foreclosure mess in part owing to traditions of "thrift, modesty and self-reliance - bolstered by laws that protect buyers and land".

In addition, the article went on to say "state and local laws discourage the kind of speculation that spurred development in some states, said Robert Hill, executive vice president of the Vermont Association of Realtors in Montpelier. "If a site for home construction is found to be on prime agricultural soil, the project is halted. The house must be built elsewhere, other land must be purchased and put in a trust as an offset, or the builder must go to court to seek clearance," he said.

Hill continued saying, “The permitting process is extremely difficult to maneuver in Vermont.” “Any developer or builder has to make a significant investment of time and effort. You just can’t come in here and throw stuff up overnight.”

Whatever the reasons, tiny Vermont (pop. 621,270) leads the nation in a category we can be extremely grateful for. With stringent environmental and zoning laws on the books for decades supply has been kept low. This enraged developers looking to make a fast buck during the go-go years. Hill added, as a result, "demand has outstripped the supply of housing. With no surplus of homes, prices didn’t collapse (like in many other states) when buyers decreased," Hill said.

If you are considering listing your home for sale or buying a home, condominium or other real estate in Burlington, Vermont, please give me a call or email me to discuss the market and your options. I would be delighted to assist you. I can be reached on my direct line at 802.238.5256 or email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com

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

As always, please feel free to post any thoughts and comments right here on Hurd's The Word

Burlington VT Real Estate Annual Market Data & Trends for all of 2009

January 27th, 2010

Burlington VT

Based upon information provided by the Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors (NVBR) as of today for all of 2009, there were 276 single family residential and condominium units sold within Burlington Vermont with a total sold volume of $70,919,923.

These numbers represent a 26.03% increase in the number of units sold from the same time period one year earlier (1/1/09-12/31/09). Divide this number by the units sold (276) and you get an average sale price of $256,956. These numbers represent a 11.16% decrease in the average sales price from the same time period one year earlier (1/1/09-12/31/09).

Average days on the market for all these 219 properties was 74 compared to 75 one year earlier or 1.33% longer on the market.

If you are considering listing your home for sale or buying a home, condominium or other real estate in Burlington, Vermont, please give me a call or email me to discuss the market and your options. I would be delighted to assist you. I can be reached on my direct line at 802.238.5256 or email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com

As always, please feel free to post any thoughts and comments right here on Hurd's The Word

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

(These figures include sold numbers for single family residential and condominium only in all the towns which comprise Chittenden County, Vermont only. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed by Vermont Real Estate Information Network which supplies these figures.)

The State of Burlington VT's Business Sector

January 13th, 2010

Burlington VT

What is the future for Burlington Vermont and business development? This and many other questions were raised and addressed recently.

Last week, I attended the 8th annual Business Summit sponsored by the Burlington Business Association (BBA) hosted at Champlain College. The summit brought business people from across the area together to hear three lecturers discuss the past, present and future for our city and to brainstorm in breakout sessions what needs to be done to keep Burlington vibrant, creative and growing.

Several statistics presented at the outset bear repeating and amplification. The unemployment rate in Burlington VT stands at 5.4% compared to the national average which stands at 10%. I found that to be a startlingly positive number. In addition, the vacancy rate for homes and residential rentals stands at 3.08% (amongst the lowest in the USA - AOL Real Estate). These figures are simply outstanding at a time of great difficulty faced by scores of other communities across the United States.

As the keynote speakers concluded, one in particular stood out above the rest for her outspoken and positive take on what is going on at the "street level" in Burlington and in the State of Vermont.

Liz Robert is the CEO of Terry Precision Cycles, a company which has pioneered several innovations aimed at improving the quality of cycling for women. Robert's list of business accomplishments is deep and she spoke with great confidence and reverence for what attracted her to very recently relocate her company from Rochester NY to Burlington VT.

Robert recited in short order a list of reasons why such a relocation at first blush made no sense financially. The costs of doing business in Burlington were significantly higher. She cited higher home prices, medical insurance premiums and tax rates as obstacles yet she continued to ask herself "should I relocate my company to Burlington?".

In the end, Robert concluded that Burlington VT offered a climate of "creative energy" that simply did not exist in Rochester NY. She added "people are passionate in Burlington about what they do both from a work, play and socially concious center. People here like to engage in debate as a community and ask the tough questions to help derive better answers and results. She continued underscoring that there is a "powerful visual aesthetic" that adds to the exceptional quality of life. People here have a greater sense of "purpose, mission, tolerance and an independent mindset" that is lacking in other places.

Lastly, Robert concluded her remarks by saying "moving to Burlington makes you work hard. You end up working more than just for the almighty buck. It makes you willing to defy the odds of taking a startup to success."

When asked about Burlington and the state of Vermont's reputation for lack of incentives for business owners she emphatically decried, "It's simply not true. The business community here has a really well-oiled machine at its disposal. The state of Vermont really steppped up to the plate to help get us here."

All of these factors, she reasoned, would help her attract and retain quality employees much more so than the vibe which existed in Rochester.

"Rebuilding economies is about entrepreneurship," said Robert. "It's about entrepreneurs taking the initiative and working with regulators. It's up to us. It's up to businesspeople like ourselves to step up to the plate to do the hard work."

Stay tuned here at Hurd's The Word for more information from the breakout sessions from the Burlington VT Business Summit as additional details are forthcoming.

As always, please feel free to post your thoughts and any comments about The State of Burlington VT's Business Sector right here on Hurd's The Word

If you are interested in purchasing a home in and around Burlington Vermont, please call me on my direct line at 802.238.5256 or email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com

Burlington Vermont Celebrates First Night

January 6th, 2010

Burlington, Vermont

New Year's Eve celebration (called First Night ) in Burlington Vermont rocks! If you haven't been to a First Night in Burlington yet, keep it in mind to check it out next year. This year was the 27th year Burlington's First Night has been celebrated and it was better than ever. Where else can you pay $15 to get into so many, many venues? Okay, a few of the choice concerts at the Flynn Theater added $3 more to the night per person per event but it's laughable how much fun can be had for such a modest outlay.

For a brief history, First Night originated in Boston Massachusetts in 1976 by a small group of artists who sought an alternative way of celebrating New Year's Eve, creating an event where the consumption of alcohol is banned. First Night is an indoor/outdoor artistic and cultural celebration which occurs from afternoon until midnight. The intention of First Night is to celebrate that community's local cultures often showcasing music, dance, art, comedy, parades and fireworks.

This year's relatively mild weather brought out lots of revelers. Snow covered streets, sparkling Christmas lights twinkling on Church Street, smiles on passersby scurrying to their next event while chatting up what they had just witnessed created an energy of joy and community. You just couldn't help but feel it. All events are suited to young ones and the young at heart too. There truly is something for everyone.

This year my gang and I saw an amazing comedy act from a guy from Hardwick. Hardwick? Hello! This fellow was a former Cirkus Smirkus clown. He was wonderful. His act was really funny as he involved members of the audience from little kids to a coupla dads in his acts. Charming and hilarious with a bit of daring, he received a standing ovation.

From there we went down to the Flynn Space to hear Gregory Douglass. Unfortunately, the sound wasn't great and it was hard to hear him so that felt a little disappointing.

Next, we popped into Ali Baba's Kabob Shop for some felafel to take the edge off our hunger. The place was jam packed and the food was absolutely yummy.

Onward, we went to the Main Stage at the Flynn Theater to watch Kilamanjaro and the Unknown Blues Band with Sondra Wright kick it into high gear. Once that swing beat locked in, my sweetheart and I could contain ourselves any more and we danced five smokin' songs in the aisles. How much fun is that?

Hot and sweaty, we left the Flynn to take a Brazilian dance lesson with Sambudacada drummers who wrought their wild South American beat upon us. I was dripping. It was so much fun to see so many smiling faces, young and old side by side, all having such a great time.

Last, we wandered back into the refreshing cold air to ready ourselves to hear the Bluegrass Gospel Project. This group is amazing. Guitar, mandolin, bass, banjo, harmonizing vocals and a female lead singer with an alto voice as sweet as honey. She and they were so phenomenal it was hard to believe and they received two standing ovations. There were some folks behind me from Los Angeles California who were in utter disbelief at how great this band sounded.

All in all, we had tuckered ourselves out, felt satiated and ready to head home. But what a great way to have rung in 2010! Great memories. Ran into lots of familiar faces throughout the afternoon and evening. And best of all, no hangover to start the New Year.

Take my advice. Give First Night in Burlington Vermont a try next year (First Night buttons make great stocking stuffers). Dress warmly and in layers. You won't regret it one bit.

As always, please feel free to post your thoughts and comments about First Night here on here at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Burlington Vermont Real Estate.

If you are interested in purchasing a home in and around Burlington Vermont, please call me on my direct line at 802.238.5256 or email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com

Burlington Vermont is Healthiest City, says U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Burlington, VT is healthiest city.

By MIKE STOBBE - 2 days ago

What's the healthiest city in America? It appears to be Burlington, VT.

Vermont's largest city is tops among U.S. metropolitan areas by having the largest proportion of people - 92 percent - who say they are in good or great health.

It's also among the best in exercise and among the lowest in obesity, diabetes and other measures of ill health, according to a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This New England city of 40,000, on the shores of Lake Champlain, is in some ways similar to the unhealthiest city - Huntington, W.Va. Both are out-of-the-way college towns with populations that are overwhelmingly white people of English, German or Irish ancestry.

But there the similarities end:

_Burlington is younger, with an average age of 37, compared to 40 in Huntington, according to the Census Bureau.

_Burlington is better off financially, with 8 percent living at the federal poverty level, compared to 19 percent in Huntington.

_It's much more educated, with nearly 40 percent of area residents having at least a college bachelor's degree. Only 15 percent in the Huntington area do.

The cultures are significantly different, too. Bicycling, hiking, skiing and other exercises are common in Burlington. Neighborhood groups commonly focus on improving parks, working in community gardens and repairing and improving sidewalks.

"There's this norm of a lot of activity," said Chris Finley, Vermont's deputy health commissioner, who works in Burlington.

And though college staples like pizza are common, healthier foods are also popular. Grass-fed beef is offered in finer restaurants, vegan options are plentiful, and the lone downtown supermarket is run by a co-op successful in selling bulk rice and other healthy choices to low-income residents.

Burlington is helped by the presence of IBM and other employers offering more generous health benefits and corporate wellness programs than companies in Huntington, some experts suggested.Copyright ©

Source: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1859507,00.html

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 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).