Burlington has the biggest fireworks display in Vermont, hands down. On July 3rd, Burlington Harbor is the place to be. This year is the Quadricentenial celebration of Lake Champlain, so the bang will be big in Burlington. If you’re visiting Burlington by boat, Burlington Harbor is the epicenter of festivities.

Landlubbers should head for Waterfront Park. But of course if you live on the Lakefront or in the Hill Section, you can stay home and see the show from your living room, but you won’t smell the smoke. There are also several Lake Champlain cruises available, many departing from Burlington Harbor.

And then there’s Shelburne and the 4th of July proper. The Fourth of July celebration in Shelburne is classical – literally. The Vermont Symphony Orchestra plays at Shelburne Farms. The show usually ends with fireworks synchronized to Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” (sometimes they do it with real cannons). Exhilarating.

While, not on Lake Champlain, Williston has a sweet 4th. A different kind of classic Fourth of July, the Williston celebration features: a parade, a chicken supper, the town band, balloons, kids, and of course, fireworks.

And finally, any discussion of the Fourth of July in Vermont is incomplete without mentioning Warren. The parade here is legendary and quintessential Vermont.

If you’re considering the purchase of a second home in Vermont, be sure to explore this extraordinary Charlotte Vermont property. It’s a seasonal cottage — but certainly not a typical Vermont “camp”.  Built in 2003, this classic cottage features custom details throughout. And the location on Thompson’s Point offers you the best of Lake Champlain Real Estate:

• Water frontage on Lake Champlain
• Seclusion and privacy on a 1 acre lot
• 5 Miles to the Essex Ferry to NY
• Located in one of Vermont’s classic towns

Burlington, Vermont – June 9, 2009

Rachel Bulla is still unpacking boxes, having just moved into her new condo this weekend.

She liked the slate floor, the location and the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit that helped make the place affordable.

“The first-time home buyers’ tax credit definitely pushed me over the edge to buy,” she said. “I had been renting forever, and having the credit made the decision that much easier for me.”

“We’re seeing that this is legislation passed that is truly doing what it was intended to do,” said Leslee MacKenzie, the president of Coldwell Banker Hickok and Boardman Realty and the president-elect of the Vermont Association of Realtors. She said the summer season of June through August tends to be the busiest season for home sales, and several factors mean this year is looking especially promising.

“Interest rates are historically low; and between the $8,000 credit and rates in the 5 percent range; and in most pockets, a lot of inventory choose from; this is really an opportune time we may not see again for years,” MacKenzie said.

MacKenzie says local banks are lending, but they’re generally looking for a stronger credit score than they might have in the past. And in this time of high unemployment, job security is important — both to the lenders and potential borrowers.

“There’s a little bit of caution still,” MacKenzie said. “No one’s immune from the rest of the economy. That certainly affects people. They want to make wise choices and so I think they’re looking really closely at conditions of the property, they’re looking at location carefully.”

Rachel Bulla says she put a lot of thought into making her decision and saving for a down payment. But now she’s happy to be home.

Kate Duffy – WCAX News
Click below to watch the television interview
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=10505708

Shelburne Town Beach is by far the best swimming beach on Lake Champlain. It is one of the few actual sand beaches on the lake. The water is fairly shallow for a great distance and warms up sooner than much of the rest of the lake, so it is a great place for kids and other warm-blooded beings.

Shelburne Town Beach has a wonderful park with picnic tables, outdoor grills, a bath house, swings, small boat and fishing access, and a small basketball court.

Shelburne Town beach has the most panoramic western view I’ve ever seen on Lake Champlain. Sunsets here cannot be beat. But here’s the clincher: you must be a town resident to use the beach! The rest of the lake is pretty cold right now; maybe it’s time to buy Shelburne real estate and get this Vermont summer started properly.

You’ll find many Shelburne listings in the Vermont MLS, but very few are close to this great Lake Champlain beach. Here they are:

386 Forty Road, Shelburne
293 Ordway, Shelburne
230 Hawley Rd, Shelburne
22 Silver Fox Cove, Shelburne (sold)