A couple of months ago, I was approached by the Editors at SmartMoney Magazine to have staff reporter, Alyssa Abkowitz, shadow myself and several other staff in my company for an article on real estate agents working in today’s market. Alyssa  earned her real estate license in Vermont, and was then allowed to accompany me on several showings of property, to meetings with clients upon listing their properties, and even to a closing or two!  Click here to read the article in full.

I recently had the opportunity to share my opinion on the quality of life in the Lake Champlain region of Vermont.  The natural beauty of the region attracts many visitors, while the carefully monitored growth preserves this beauty for generations to come and for those fotunate enough to live here.

You can view the original article online by clicking here or click below to view and download a pdf version:
 Robb Report’s Exceptional Properties Magazine Article

Many a Vermonter's favorite flower, the crocus is often the first to bravely poke through the snow

At a Burlington grocery store yesterday I noticed green buds springing up in the store’s landscaping. It made me wonder if Shelburne homes on lake Champlain will see buds earlier or later than Burlington Homes.

I wont have time to check before this post, but I’ll bet that these Shelburne properties with good southern exposure will be the first to see the crocuses.

It’s the time of year in Vermont when we avidly seek signs of spring. Vermont Public Radio even has a series called Signs of Spring. These signs include everything from maple sugaring to the return of the red-winged black birds to the sight of a guy standing in a snow bank practicing his fly fishing casts.

Shelburne home on Simmons Drive - MLS 2913062	Shelburne home on Harbor Road - MLS 21001399
The MLS property description gives these highlights: Custom built Shelburne home, Country setting with privacy, great eastern and southern exposure for great natural light. Perfect family home with large mudroom (ah, yes mud season!), first floor laundry, room over garage and walk-out lower level ready to be finished.	Property highlights: Complete southern exposure, 4 levels of living space on Shelburne Bay, first level open floor plan, slate patio with large hot tub. Green Mountain views, Shelburne Bay views, private dock, private beach, and  575 ft. of waterfront.

Can you imagine a better venue for Mozart than Shelburne Farms on the shores of Lake Champlain?

While the Vermont Mozart Festival does travel throughout the Lake Champlain Region and northern Vermont, Shelburne is its principal home. And from Grand Opening to Finale, the most extraordinary Mozart Festival concerts take place at Shelburne Farms. 

This year, the Grand Opening on the lawn at the Inn at Shelburne Farms featured Mozart’s Overture from Don Giovanni, the Prague Symphony, and a Haydn trumpet concerto (E-Flat Major).

The Finale will be held August 8 in the courtyard at the Farm Barn at Shelburne Farms and feature the Overture to The Magic Flute and Haydn Cello Concerto No. 2. Tickets are still available.

Listen closely from either of these Shelburne homes; you might hear music in the air:

MLS # 2904823, Forty Road, Shelburne VT
MLS# 2904469, Ordway Shore Road, Shelburne VT

This beautiful home is situated on 1.44 acres with gorgeous seasonal views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. Featuring four bedrooms and four full baths, new master bedroom and master bath on second floor with large walk-in closet with lake & mountain views all season long! Original master bedroom with full bath is a great place for guest, teens, in-law or the aupair. Hardwood floors on first and second floor, Formal Living room with gas fireplace & french doors, large family room and dining room off of kitchen. Recently renovated Kitchen with Granite counters, stainless steel appliances plus large eat-in area. Very spacious Sunroom with vaulted ceilings is open to kitchen. In the backyard you will find a screened porch and also a large deck with westerly views. On the Lower Level there is new Carpet, bonus room and a play/media room. The heart of Shelburne is two miles away.
Above ground square footage aprox. 3,362
Offered for $759,000.00

Please click the link below to preview a visual tour

http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?T=1922827&prt=10003

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.

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)

It’s apple blossom time in Shelburne, Vermont!

Shelburne is full of gorgeous apple blossoms right now. The birds and the bees are going crazy, the breeze carries beautiful white petals across lawns and meadows. Their white drifts are almost reminiscent of Vermont winter scenes.

Shelburne Orchard is an incredible place for a stroll right now, right along Lake Champlain.

Here are a couple of my favorite Shelburne properties:

Mariner’s Cove, Shelburne Bay

Morgan Drive, Shelburne

Take a look and you’ll agree with residents that Shelburne in late spring is a little slice of heaven. Time to own your slice?

This beautiful Shelburne Vermont home has been updated throughout over the last few years. The exterior was completely updated a few years ago with all new siding/trim and all new windows and doors. Some of my favorite features of this Shelburne home:

• Fabulous Kitchen with  all new high end cabinets, counter tops and appliances.
• 3.5 updated Baths.
• Professionally landscaped private backyard.
• Lower level with Library, Family room and 3/4 Bath.
• Over 3400 SF of living space.

Open House this Sunday March 29th 1-3 PM.  See the listing for more information and photos. For directions, visit this address on Google Maps and then select “get directions”.

Call with any questions or to view this property at another time!   802-343-0971

Best, Brian