Bennington VT Real Estate Archive for the 'Arlington VT' Category
Thursday, January 20th, 2011
2010 weakest year for home sales since 1997
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER, AP Economics Writer Martin Crutsinger, Ap Economics Writer – 1 hr 35 mins ago
WASHINGTON – The number of people who bought previously owned homes last year fell to the lowest level in 13 years. But home sales in December jumped to fastest pace in seven months.
The National Association of Realtors says sales dropped 4.8 percent to 4.91 million units in 2010. That was slightly lower than 2008, which had been the weakest level since 1997.
Home prices have been depressed by a record number of foreclosures and high unemployment. Many potential buyers held off on purchases last year, fearful that prices hadn’t bottomed out yet.
The poor year for sales ended strong in December. Buyers snapped up homes at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.28 million units, an increase of 12.8 percent from November and the strongest sales pace since last May.
Still, many economists believe it will take years for sales to rise to a normal level of around 6 million units a year. And some say 2011 will be even weaker than last year because more foreclosures are expected and home prices are likely to keep falling through the first six months of the year.
The foreclosure crisis has left a glut of unsold houses on the market. That has played a major role in lowering home prices.
For December, the inventory of unsold homes stood at an 8.1 months supply, down from 9.5 months supply in November. That represents the amount of time it would take to sell the remaining supply of homes on the market at the December sales pace. A normal inventory supply is six months.
Even historically low mortgage rates have done little to boost the sales.
The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 4.74 percent this week from 4.71 percent the previous week, Freddie Mac said Thursday. The average rate on the 15-year loan, a popular refinance option, slipped to 4.05 percent from 4.08 percent.
The 30-year loan rate reached a 40-year low of 4.17 percent in November, and the 15-year mortgage rate fell to 3.57 percent, the lowest level on records dating back to 1991.
For December, sales were up in all parts of the country with the strongest gain a 16.7 percent increase in the West. Sales rose 13 percent in the Northeast, 10.1 percent in the South and 11 percent in the Midwest.
The median price for a home sold in December was $168,800, down 1 percent from a year ago.
This Real Estate update brought to you by your local Bennington, VT real estate office of RE/MAX. For more information or if you are wanting to buy or sell real estate give us a call..
Posted in Arlington VT, Bennington VT, Bonnie Cutler, Buying, Community Information, First Time Buyers, Investment, Market Outlook, Mortgages, North Bennington VT, Old Bennington Village VT, Pownal VT, Real Estate Today, Relocation, Selling, Shaftsbury VT, Woodford VT | 0 Comments
Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
Home Staging Tips & Trends for 2011
The Colors of 2011
According to REALTOR® Magazine, turquoise brightened up home interiors across the country in 2010, but now a new color has stepped into the spotlight for 2011. Pantone has declared Honeysuckle Pantone 12-2120 their color of the year. If you’re afraid that may be a little too bright, check out the Benjamin Moore 2011 palette, which is a little more subtle, with Vintage Wine at the top of the list of the best interior colors. See full palette here.
What You Won’t See in 2011
Builder Magazine writer Jenny Sullivan asked industry experts to weigh in on design fads that you won’t likely see in the new year. Here are some of the fading home trends experts mentioned to REALTOR® Magazine:
1. Trophy space: Forget those two-story grand entrances. Builders are seeking more affordable, energy efficient design so they are getting rid of large, volume spaces in homes.
2. Just for show: Fancy, overdone rooms won’t cut it in the era of the practical, cash-strapped buyer. Lavish industrial-grade kitchen ranges or fancy master bath spa tubs- that are hardly even used anyway-will fall to the wayside. Read about other fading fads here.
15 Secrets of Home Staging
Highlight the home’s strengths, downplay its weaknesses and appeal to the greatest possible pool of prospective buyers with these home-staging tips from HGTV.com.
Be sure to call your Bennington VT real estate office, RE/MAX Maple Leaf Realty, for all the latest help with getting your house ready to sell.
Posted in Arlington VT, Bennington VT, Bonnie Cutler, Buying, Community Information, First Time Buyers, Market Outlook, North Bennington VT, Old Bennington Village VT, Personal, Pownal VT, Relocation, Selling, Shaftsbury VT, Woodford VT | 0 Comments
Thursday, January 13th, 2011
Hey sellers, just a reminder to keep those driveways and walkways clear of snow and ice. Not only does it help the realtors in the Bennington VT real estate market to show your property but it also shows that you care about the property and want to do all you can to make it accomodating to the buyer.
Also, don’t forget to call Bonnie at RE/MAX Maple Leaf Realty for all your real estate needs in the Bennington VT real estate area.
Be safe out there!
Posted in Arlington VT, Bennington VT, Bonnie Cutler, Buying, Environmental, First Time Buyers, North Bennington VT, Old Bennington Village VT, Personal, Pownal VT, Real Estate Today, Safety, Selling, Shaftsbury VT, Woodford VT | 0 Comments
Thursday, January 6th, 2011
If your New Year’s Resolution includes selling your home, you may have some work to do. There is a lot of inventory in our Bennington, VT Real Estate market which includes the surrounding areas. To get an offer will take some prep work. If you list early in January you might catch an early bird who is browsing to find a home to move in the spring. Many buyers start their searches right after the Holiday season. Consult with your Realtor® to be sure your real estate is show ready for when they bring that buyer through. Your Realtor® will be able to provide you with helpful tips to make that happen. Most of all be sure to PRICE YOUR REAL ESTATE CORRECTLY. An overpriced home will not only leave you behind when all else is sold, but will leave you discouraged and upset. Listen to your Realtor® (listing agent), they are the professional and have the fiduciary responsibility to work for you the seller. Isn’t that why you hired them in the first place?
Give me a call and I will put my knowledge and experience to work for you,
Bonnie Cutler, Broker
Area of coverage Bennington, VT real estate market which includes Pownal, Bennington, North Bennington, Shaftabury, Arlington, Sunderland, Woodford and other surrounding areas.
Posted in Arlington VT, Bennington VT, Bonnie Cutler, Buying, First Time Buyers, Investment, Market Outlook, North Bennington VT, Old Bennington Village VT, Pownal VT, Relocation, Selling, Shaftsbury VT, Woodford VT | 0 Comments
Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
Well, were back doing business as usual here in the beautiful area of Bennington VT after that snow storm that started on Sunday and went through Monday afternoon. It kind of paralized the real estate world as it was very hazardous trying to get around. I do want to thank the town and state workers for all they did to keep the roads open the best as possible. What a great bunch of workers who worked throughout the night and day to make the roads passable.
So it’s business as usual and we hope that we will hear from you to help with selling your home or buying a new home, here in the Bennington VT real estate market. Don’t forget that we cover most of Bennington county as well as a portion of Windham county, and now we go over the line into New York.
Posted in Arlington VT, Bennington VT, Bonnie Cutler, Buying, Commercial Property, Community Information, First Time Buyers, Investment, North Bennington VT, Old Bennington Village VT, Pownal VT, Real Estate Today, Relocation, Selling, Shaftsbury VT, Woodford VT | 0 Comments
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010
If you like to sing Christmas Carols then join us at the Price Chopper parking lot at 7:00 pm this evening for a community Caroling. It’s lots of fun, I have participated for a number of years now. Reverand John Goyette of Green Mtn. Christian Center has taken the time each year to pull this event together and he leads us in our favoirte carols.
As your Bennington VT real estate Broker, I am so happy to be able to bring these community events to you.
Merry Christmas
Posted in Arlington VT, Bennington VT, Bonnie Cutler, Community Information, North Bennington VT, Old Bennington Village VT, Personal, Pownal VT, Real Estate Today, Shaftsbury VT, Woodford VT | 0 Comments
Tuesday, December 21st, 2010
Well Christmas is almost here. How many of you men have still not shopped. You better get busy!
All kidding aside, let’s have a Wonderful, safe Holiday. Spend time with loved ones around you and enjoy what this season is all about.
We here at RE/MAX Maple Leaf Realty wish you all the Merriest of Christmas’s.
Our holiday schedule will be business as usual from now through Thursday, 9 to 5 or by appointment. Friday, Saturday and Sunday closed. We will return to the office on Monday at 9 am. Please be sure to call our office at 802-447-3210 and leave a message for your Realtor ® if you are in need of assistance. We will all be checking our voice mail and will do our best to get back to you in a timely manner.
Kathy Sollien x-110, Troy Richardson x-120, Joe Cardamone x-130, Bonnie Cutler x-140,Lilli West x-150
Be sure to call us for all your real estate needs in the Bennington VT real estate market and surrounding areas.
Merry Christmas
Posted in Arlington VT, Bennington VT, Bonnie Cutler, Buying, Commercial Property, Community Information, First Time Buyers, Investment, North Bennington VT, Old Bennington Village VT, Personal, Pownal VT, Real Estate Today, Safety, Selling, Shaftsbury VT, Woodford VT | 0 Comments
Friday, July 30th, 2010
ARLINGTON — While the town’s portion of the new tax rate is down half a cent, taxpayers will see their rates go up by about 4 cents in total.
The Select Board voted Monday to set the municipal tax rate at 28 cents per $100 of property valuation. The homestead education tax rate was set at $1.4872, while the nonresidential tax rate was set at $1.4580.
While the town’s tax rate is based on what it needs to raise to meet the budget, the other two numbers are largely set by the state and are created by using a formula that involves the cost per pupil in the school and the town’s common level of appraisal.
The town’s common level of appraisal stands at 92.59 percent. The figure is applied to the grand list to cover discrepancies between the list and what homes are selling for. Board member Lawrence Molloy said the town should examine its options for reappraisal or partial reappraisal, as it is one of the few factors in the education tax rate the board can control.
To calculate what a person’s property tax bill will be, the municipal rate is added to the state rate and charged per $100 of the property’s assessed value. On a $100,000 home, a person paying the homestead rate would be billed $1,768, a $36 increase over last year.
In 2009, the homestead education tax rate was set at $1.4465, while the nonresidential tax rate was set at $1.4428.
Despite the Arlington School District’s budget being down 3.8 percent from last year, the tax rate has gone up largely because of the cost per pupil. Select Board member Cynthia Browning said the state factors such things into its calculations.
Reprinted with permission from The Bennington Banner, KEITH WHITCOMB JR.
Posted in Arlington VT, Bennington VT, Troy Richardson | 0 Comments
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AP – In this photo taken Jan. 10, 2011, a sold sign is seen in front of a home, in Millis, Mass. Sales of … 
