Chittenden County Market Trends Dec. 2007

Based upon information provided by the Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors (NVBR) as of today for the month of December 2007, there were 109 total units sold within all towns in Chittenden County with a total listed volume of $35,610,105. Divide this number by the units sold (109) and you get an average listed price of $326,698. Juxtapose this figure to the actual total sold volume of $34,461,310 then divide this number by the units sold (109) and you come up with an average sold price of $316,159. 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 $10,539 or (drum roll please) a 96.8% list to sell percentage. Average days on the market for these 109 properties was 74.

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 here at Hurd's The Word.

Towns included in these single family residential, townhouse/condo and land figures for all of Chittenden County: Bolton, Buels Gore, Burlington, Charlotte, Colchester, Essex Junction, Essex, Hinesburg, Huntington, Jericho Village, Jericho, Milton, Richmond, Shelburne, South Burlington, St George, Underhill, Westoford, Williston and Winooski Vermont.

Stowe Vermont Market Trends Dec. 2007

Based upon information provided by the Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors (NVBR) as of today for the month of December 2007, there were 5 residential units sold within the town of Stowe Vermont with a total listed volume of $4,888,000. Divide this number by the units sold (5) and you get an average listed sold price of $977,600. Juxtapose this figure to the actual total sold volume of $4,444,000 then divide this number by the units sold (5) and you come up with an average sold price of $888,800. 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 $444,000 or (drum roll please) a 90.91% list to sell percentage. Average days on the market for these 5 properties was 238.

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 here at Hurd's The Word.

Towns included in these single family residential figures are for Stowe Vermont only as of the date of this entry.

The Driveway From Hell

Let's face it. My driveway in Charlotte Vermont was not designed by the Army Corps of Engineers (hmmmm or maybe it WAS...). Winter poses its challenges turning fancy schmancy SUV's into helpless sleds. In my third winter, I've learned a few tricks. But last night, our driveway claimed her first casualty of the ‘07-'08 campaign.

I've known since winter one I must clear the driveway of snow early each morning in the hopes of catching the late day sun's warmth from our western exposure. Works like a charm really. When mother nature cooperates, that is.

Goes like this. Snowblow driveway. Sun melts snow. Spotless driveway! Simple. That's nice! Seems easy. Right?

It's not @#%$!!*&*^%#@!!!.

We lost our first head to head battle last night.

What seemed an innocuous snowfall of 2 wet inches the night before, I mistakenly cleared the driveway by 14:00. Gambled the sun would do my work for me. But by 13:00 (using military nomenclature seems called for here), I could see progress was not being made. Cloud cover and temps just below the freezing mark were foiling The Master Plan. I realized I had to get out there and in a hurry as my son was breaking in our new rec room with hordes of friends later that evening. That meant cars coming over. Big heavy cars that slide fast. Arrrggggggggggh.

Clouds in the western sky cast an ominous pall preventing the necessary drying. My laissez-faire ‘tude was lookin' mighty lame.

As night fell, all was quiet outside. Inside, amidst the din of my son's friends urging on the Patriots, My friend, Jeff, visiting from Fairfax - that's Fairfax Vermont - decided to head home. There was still 5 mins. on the clock so we said hurried goodbyes.

Suddenly, he reappeared looking grim. As he told it, he descended the blocktop. Realized he was in helpless, unstoppable decline down our slippery slope. You know that feeling. You do. Touch the brakes and they're worthless. Antilock, anti skid, four wheel this, Haakapelita's that.

Fagedaboudit!!!

As he slid off the right shoulder accelerating headed toward the perilous dog leg to the left (a notorious graveyard site for many a snazzy car last winter), Jeff realized he was hopelessly aimed dead on the Bullseye of my sleeping Bug convertible quietly parked for the winter at her resting spot at mid driveway at the landing. Pulsing his brakes. Nothing. We all know the sweaty palms feeling and panic that grips us in such moments...

In what must've seemed like an eternity to Jeff , his gas guzzling behemoth SUV stopped in its jack-knifed position within a few feet of the still sleeping and as yet unscathed Bug.

We dug him out as we've done for so many others. (Please let's not recount last year's calamitous Valentine's Day Blizzard driveway carnage AGAIN. Three cars including one state trooper who wishes she had gotten her address right and one tractor plus one of our cars jammed in at the bottom of the driveway.) Last year's names read like a veritable who's who. Jeff, Allie, Celia, Chris, Sam, the Statey (never got her name or her dogs'), and another Chris. And there were others for sure the names escaping me. You know who you are.

I need to adjust strategy now. Another fine tuning is in order. Jeff suggested laughing as he whisked away..."how 'bout a 50 gallon drum filled with sand."

Hey good news. The sun's out at 9:51. We'll be able to get out of here shortly.

In the meantime, I think I'll go out the door and have a slide down the driveway on my boots, Just For Kicks!, before this latest installment melts into memory. I love that magnet on my fridge door which says, "Barn burnt down. Now, I can see the moon."

Stay tuned. Winter's just getting started...

Update...Bulletin...Breaking News!!!

It didn't take long...

01/01.08 4:30 pm - Sixteen and a half hours into the ‘08, Tracy T pulled a spectacular Starsky & Hutch move just above the dog leg left. 4 people shovelling like mad and some crafty driving and his SUV was free at last from The Driveway of No Mercy!

My Front Porch in Charlotte Vermont

It’s winter (though my calendar technically reminds me we have 8 days yet until her official start on the winter solstice).

I miss the summer days on my front porch in Charlotte Vermont.

Now, I’m forced to walk past my porch determined to get out of the biting winds. I barely allow myself to linger though in my mind I’m still there. In my mind, I remember watching the storms advancing from the west, high in the Adirondack Mts which I see clearly and up close. I see Lake Champlain. Thompson’s Point. I hear the distant train whistle. Miss working on the front porch. making my phone calls, working on my laptop. My front porch became my office, my living room, my dining room, my place for a nap, my library, my place to write, to listen to music, lots of laughter, my place to chat with a friend or my kids on any subjects at all. It was a place to banter about the latest Red Sox game, whether to go out on the lake or to take a hike. It became a place to watch the shapes of clouds or nightime shooting stars and meteor showers or the tremendous display of fireflies in June. Ahhhh, life on my front porch…

It’s winter now. The outdoor furniture’s put away. All that’s out there is my lit Christmas wreath which gives me joy when I return at night. My oversized thermometer with those larger numbers than ever before (eyes goin’ bad) reminding me how cold this December has been. The barometer signaling more low pressure approaching with yet another snowfall. Seems like we’re off to a real live Vermont winter this year. That’s a good thing. I’m thankful for that. I love our seasons so.

But I can’t wait ’til those Spring days that hit the 50’s come back. The 50’s always seems so amazingly warm after a long Vermont winter. And with that life will return to my front porch again.

May I remind you - Eight days to go and the days start getting longer again!!

Honk or wave when you go by.

I just can’t wait!

Please share your front porch stories if you have one by posting a comment here at Hurd’s The Word.

Stowe Vermont Market Trends Nov. 2007

Based upon information provided by the Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors (NVBR) as of today for the month of November 2007, there were 5 residential units sold within the town of Stowe Vermont with a total listed volume of $2,637,000. Divide this number by the units sold (5) and you get an average listed sold price of $527,400. Juxtapose this figure to the actual total sold volume of $2,324,000 then divide this number by the units sold (5) and you come up with an average sold price of $464,800. 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 $62,600 or (drum roll please) a 88.13% list to sell percentage. Average days on the market for these 5 properties was 83.2.

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 here at Hurd's The Word.

Towns included in these single family residential figures are for Stowe Vermont only as of the date of this entry.

Burlington Vermont Market Trends for Nov. 2007

Based upon information provided by the Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors (NVBR) as of today for the month of November 2007, there were 16 residential units sold within Burlington Vermont with a total listed volume of $3,709,600. Divide this number by the units sold (16) and you get an average listed price of $231,850. Juxtapose this figure to the actual total sold volume of $3,372,500 then divide this number by the units sold (16) and you come up with an average sold price of $210,781.25. 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 $21,068.75 or (drum roll please) a 90.9% list to sell percentage. Average days on the market for these 16 properties was 102.75.

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 here at Hurd's The Word.

These figures include sold numbers for single family residential in Burlington Vermont only.

Chittenden County Market Trends for Nov. 2007

Based upon information provided by the Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors (NVBR) as of today for the month of November 2007, there were 101 residential units sold within all towns in Chittenden County with a total listed volume of $30,005,101. Divide this number by the units sold (101) and you get an average listed price of $306,980. Juxtapose this figure to the actual total sold volume of $29,716,365 then divide this number by the units sold (101) and you come up with an average sold price of $298,893. 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 $12,759 or (drum roll please) a 95.8% list to sell percentage. Average days on the market for these 138 properties was 92.

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 here at Hurd's The Word.

Towns included in these single family residential figures for all of Chittenden County: Bolton, Buels Gore, Burlington, Charlotte, Colchester, Essex Junction, Essex, Hinesburg, Huntington, Jericho Village, Jericho, Milton, Richmond, Shelburne, South Burlington, St George, Underhill, Westoford, Williston and Winooski Vermont.