Wow, what a winter.  We have awakened to fresh snow almost every day this winter.  It is getting old but it does not stop us Realtors in the Bennington VT real estate area.  We are like the Energizer bunny….we keep going and going!

It is actually a great time to buy.  Interest rates have crept up a little but still are very good.  There is still  100% financing options available for those qualified.  Don’t be afraid to jump in and get the ball rolling.  You could be moving to your new home in early spring just as the spring flowers are popping through the ground.

Be sure to give me a call and I will do all I can to find you that perfect piece of Real Estate in the Bennington VT real estate area.

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!

U.S. government scientists say they’ve found a home’s proximity to wind energy facilities has no pervasive or widespread adverse effect on property values.

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory said their study was based on site visits, data collection and an analysis of nearly 7,500 single-family home sales. They said their research is the most comprehensive and data-rich analysis to date on the potential impact of U.S. wind projects on residential property values.

The scientists said more than 30,000 megawatts of wind energy capacity are installed across the United States and an increasing number of communities are considering new wind power facilities. That, they said, means there is an urgent need to empirically investigate typical community concerns about wind energy and thereby provide stakeholders involved in the wind project siting process a common base of knowledge.

“Neither the view of wind energy facilities nor the distance of the home to those facilities was found to have any consistent, measurable and significant effect on the selling prices of nearby homes,” said report author Ben Hoen, a consultant to Berkeley Lab. “No matter how we looked at the data, the same result kept coming back—no evidence of widespread impacts.”

The report is available at eetd.lbl.gov/ea/ems/reports/lbnl-2829e.pdf.

Source: United Press International

On Friday, October 16, Ed Toth joins Kathy and Troy on Real Estate Today to discuss land and wildlife management.

Ed Toth is a retired U.S. Forest Service wildlife biologist and currently has his own business as a national and international environmental consultant.  Ed is also the treasurer for the Vermont, New Hampshire Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation.  Ed says that as landowners, new and old, we are often unsure as to the best way to manage our lands to benefit the rich variety of wildlife we have in Vermont.  We’ve asked Ed to be on our show to answer questions about backyard wildlife habitats to hundred acre parcels that need more professional management.

You can listen to this show by from our website. This is a large file, and may take 1-2 minutes to download.

Real Estate Today is a weekly radio show produced by RE/MAX Maple Leaf Realty, hosted by Kathy Sollien and Troy Richardson.  The show airs each Friday on WBTN AM 1370 in the Bennington VT area.  You may listen live each week on the web through their streaming website at www.wbtnam.org or you may listen to past shows on iTunes.

I recently saw a news article about this program, and thought it important enough to share.

Efficiency Vermont has launched a refrigerator recycling program that offers free pick up of old, energy-wasting refrigerators and freezers, a $30 rebate check, utility bill savings and state-of-the-art disposal and recycling of the appliances.

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 It’s that time of year when we all try to cut expenses where we are able. The U.S. Department of Energy offers these tips to keep Bennington, Vermont real estate owners warm and keep the cold cash in their pocket:  
1. Plug air leaks with caulking, sealing, or weather stripping. Even insulating the electrical outlets can save money.
2. Make sure the furnace is serviced each year. The small cost of servicing will result in greater savings.
 
3. Install a programmable thermostat. Lowering the thermostat when no one is home can save up to 10% of your heating bill.
  
5. Insulate the attic.  Heat rises – most real estate should have between R-30 and R-49 insulation in the attic. Go to www.eere.energy.gov/consumer for more information.
 
7. Welcome the sun. Open curtains to allow sunlight to naturally heat the home.
8. Find the star. Cut energy bills by up to 30 percent with Energy Star labeled products. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in place of comparable incandescent bulbs. Find stores at www.energystar.gov.
 Making a home energy efficient can not only save you money but make your real estate more appealing to potential buyers. Call Troy Richardson for more ideas on how to get your home ready to sell!

Bennington VT, First Time Buyers, Environmental

The next big thing among eco-minded consumers is the personal wind turbine.

An increasing number of home owners, especially in northern California and the Northeast, are attracted to wind turbines, which generate electricity —sometimes nearly enough to power an entire house. The technologically-sophisticated systems are expensive, but state tax incentives and laws that require utilities to buy excess power from residential turbines at retail rather than wholesale prices are making them more cost-effective.

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Act 200 is a growth management act which went into effect in 1989 to make sure that regional and local plans are consistent with Vermont’s planning goals.  This law addresses agricultural land, forest preservation and affordable housing.

In order to receive state planning funds, a municipality in Vermont must have approved town plans .  Towns can collect impact fees from developers to help fund municipal projects made necessary by development.  Towns must have an adopted capital budget and program in order to collect these fees. Planning officials say the town plans are an aid to development because they remove ambiguity, and can speed the process and clarify expectations.

Categories: Bennington VT, Environmental

portions from Business People – Vermont, February 2007

Vermont has passed a comprehensive land-use law called Act 250. This occurred in 1970 to protect against substandard or shortsighted development and the burdens it places on water, sewer, utility, police and fire services as well as the impacts to schools and roads. Act 250 was designed to protect air and water quality, to promote soil conservation and to preserve wildlife habitats as well as scenic, historic and archaeological sites.

The following proposals fall within Act 250 guidelines, and are reviewed by one of nin District Environmental Commissions, each with jurisdiction in a particular region:

• commercial projects of 10 or more acres
• developments in elevations above 2,500 feet
• developments with 10 or more units
• roads longer than 800 feet serving subdivisions
• projects of less than 10 acres in towns without zoning and subdivision bylaws

Each development proposal is reviewed against ten criteria specified in the Act. The procedure provides for a public hearing where abutters and interested parties may voice their concerns about the proposal.

Categories: Bennington VT, Environmental

portions from Business People – Vermont, February 2007

Have you heard about the new septic regulations in Vermont.

If you have, you’ve probably heard more rumor than fact.  While I cannot be an expert on these matters, I can send you to the one place to get the answers.  The Agency of Natural Resources website has some good summaries of the new regulations.

A quick abstract is: (more…)