In the study’s geographical breakdown, with New York leading the nation Texas, Utah, San Francisco, and Los Angeles roundg out the top five. Arkansas is the least expensive area with an average fee of $3,007, replacing Nevada, now number 34, at the bottom of the list.

One of the reasons for such a dramatic rise in the average estimated closing costs across the nation has to do with new regulations implemented in January of this year. When providing a potential borrower a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) of costs, regulations now require lenders to provide a Title and Closing Fee estimate within 10 percent of what the final cost will be; in previous years, estimates could fall lower on the spectrum without penalty for the lender.

“The big rise in average closing costs may scare some homebuyers, but it’s important to keep things in perspective,” said Greg McBride, CFA, senior financial analyst for Bankrate.com. “Increased regulation on lenders’ GFEs means more accurate estimates and less expenses popping up for consumers on the back end.”

For this study, Bankrate surveyed one area in 49 states, two areas in California (Los Angeles and San Francisco) and theDistrict of Columbia. Researchers picked a ZIP code in some of the largest cities in each state and requested information on the closing costs for at $200,000 loan. They requested fees on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage for a borrower with a 20 percent down payment and good credit to buy a single-family house. Bankrate’s survey includes lenders’ origination fees and title and settlement fees, and not taxes or prepaid items.

NEW YORK, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The full results of the study can be seen here at www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/2010-closing-costs/.

Source:
http://www.vermontbiz.com/news/august/new-york-most-expensive-state-close-home-vermont-40th

In the Bennington VT real estate market, we encourage Buyers to visit local lenders who often have lower fees than internet or online sources.

The Vermont Association of REALTORS® has a long history of giving back to the community and this annual event garners enthusiastic participation among the REALTOR® community. This year Team REALTOR® is on track to increase the size of the team and is expecting 45 -50 supporters from across the state. They’ve made a $10,000 goal and are currently in second place for pledges made. See www.vtREALTOR.com for more about joining Team REALTOR® or making a pledge.

“Race for the Cure is all about community and hope,” says Team REALTOR® co-chair Mark Linton. “The events are amazing reminders about the power we have to make a big impact when we come together to tackle problems. It’s really moving to see so many neighbors and colleagues working to change the face of breast cancer – a disease that effects too many of our wives, mothers, aunts, sisters, daughters and friends.”

Last year the Vermont-New Hampshire Affiliate of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure awarded $464,690 to 19 community-based programs for breast cancer education, screening and treatment.

Since 1993 the organization has raised more than $6.7 million, of which $5 million (75% of funds raised) was devoted to breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs in Vermont and New Hampshire. The remaining $1.7 million went to support the Susan G. Komen national research program.

Grant recipients in Southern Vermont include the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center for education, screenings and care services; and Forest Moon’s Renewing the Spirit Retreats for breast cancer survivors.

“This is one of the most uplifting events you could participate in and I am really excited for this year’s race,” says Betty McEnaney, Team REALTOR® co-chair. “The whole event highlights the best of Vermont – neighbors helping neighbors and supporting a great cause. My REALTOR® colleagues are so generous with their time and commitment to this event.”

This year’s Race for the Cure has lots of new ways to get involved and even has a new race day. It will be the first time that the race will be held on a Saturday. Other changes include Sleep in for the Cure, for people who can’t race but want to collect pledges and the Power of Ten, a fundraising incentive to have each team member ask ten people for a pledge of $10 each.
More information on the Vermont- New Hampshire Affiliate of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is at www.vtnhcure.org.

The 417 steps of the monument were closed to the public in the 1970s. All climbs will be escorted and narrated. The tours start at 10 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. The cost for the escorted tour of the steps will be $3 for an adult and $2 for children.

The 306-foot monument, a Vermont state owned historic site, opened to the public in 1891, to commemorate the Aug. 16, 1777, Revolutionary War battle fought over the military storehouse located on the site where the monument now stands.

The steps were the only method of reaching the top until 1953 when the Otis elevator was installed. Thousands of visitors ride the elevator each year for the scenic vistas of Vermont, Massachusetts and New York, seen from the observation level high within the monument. The monument and gift shop located in Old Bennington are open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. through Oct. 31.

For more information, visit www.historicvermont.com or call 802-447-0550.

Reprinted with permission from The Bennington Banner, Monday June 28, 2010

While this event does not have any impact on the Bennington VT real estate market, it’s a great way to see behind the scenes of the Bennington Battle Monument.

As part of a March contract awarded to Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Corporation to build an additional 1500 M-ATV armored vehicles, Plasan North America, which manufactures armor kits for the vehicles will be the beneficiary of $170 million of the $640 million deal.

This is just the latest in its venture to secure military contracts. In late February, Plasan delivered its 5,000th armor kit for the M-ATVs – armored fighting vehicles developed by Oshkosh – successfully fulfilling all contracts on-time during the seven-month period.

Plasan specializes in the development and manufacture of add-on armor systems for the military and commercial armored vehicle market using composite material technologies. Plasan North America is a part of Plasan SASA based in Israel.

The focus of its core business is the development, manufacture and assembly of Add-On Armor Kits (APK’s) for lightweight military tactical tracked and wheeled armored vehicles, fixed-and rotary-wing aircraft, naval platforms and civilian armored vehicles.

“Plasan is very excited to be a growing part of the Vermont _economy. We are bringing high-value jobs to the region in developing our survivability solutions,” said Plasan spokesman Don Goldberg of Qorvis Communications in Washington, D.C.

The new contract will be geared to the ongoing Afghanistan military operation. Varying from the conditions in Iraq, the Afghan terrain is steeper and required a lighter, more flexible armored vehicle.

Plasan is an asset to the Bennington business community, said Bennington Town Manager Stuart Hurd. “We have been very pleased with all the Plasan contracts. It confirms that they are turning out a good product,” said Hurd.

“Plasan has been a godsend in putting people to work in Bennington with good jobs, good pay and good benefits,” Hurd said.

Plasan’s additional employment offset earlier layoffs in the automotive sector in Bennington, said Hurd. For the most recent quarter, unemployment dropped by half a point in Bennington.

Bennington is also home to Vermont Composites, which works in the aerospace and medical/industrial markets. “We are hopeful to develop a niche in the composite field for additional business opportunities in town,” said Hurd.

Reprinted from The Battenkill Business Journal, Published May 11, 2010

By TRICIA N. HAYES

Positive economic news like this is always nice to hear in the Bennington VT real estate market.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, introduced the proposal as an amendment to a bill that would extend jobless benefits through November. Reid represents the state with the highest foreclosure rate.

The National Association of REALTORS® has been lobbying for the extension because buyers whose purchases are delayed by slow-moving short sales and financial transactions will lose out.

“Time is of the essence,” said Lucien Salvant, NAR managing director. “It’s important for Congress to get this done, because there’s whole bunch of loans that aren’t going to close on time.”

Source: Associated Press, Alan Zibel (06/10/2010)

This may be great news for many buyers in the Bennington VT real estate market.

Efficiency Vermont is offering residential customers a $200 mail-in rebate for installing a qualifying energy-efficient pool pump. The rebate is available for pool pumps installed between April 1, 2010 and September 30, 2010. So act now for a better swimming experience this summer.

To print the $200 Energy-Efficient Pool Pump Rebate, view a list of qualifying pool pumps, and trained pool-pump installers, go to efficiencyvermont.com/poolpumps or call Efficiency Vermont, toll-free, today at 888-921-5990.

Troy’s Comments
In the Bennington VT real estate market, we don’t see a lot of in-ground pools, but there are plenty of above-ground pools. A pump and filter system is critical to the health of the pool. Have a happy and energy saving Summer!

Tom Byrne, president of Rockville, Md.-based Chadsworth Homes Inc., says they are more popular than such features as studies and media rooms.

“In the past few years, 30 percent of the homes we build … have a laundry room with granite countertops, a single-level kitchen-style faucet, and the laundry tub will be an undercounter sink,” Byrne says.

Stephen Melman, director of economic services for the National Association of Home Builders, concurs.

“These rooms are becoming larger and more multifunctional, with organizers, a table for folding, ironing stations, and windows with a view,” Melman says.

Source: Washington Times, Carisa Chappell (5/14/2010)

In the Bennington VT real estate market, we have mostly older homes and laundry rooms are usually in the basement, but if you have the extra room to create a laundry “room” it will definitely add value to your home.

Reprinted with permission.

• 

  Fast Fixes for Common Gutter Problems

  Maintaining gutters is the most important thing you can do to prevent water from damaging your house, and keeping them in shape is an easy homeowner task. Read

• 

  7 Signs You May Have a Drainage Problem

  Finding and addressing drainage problems when they’re smaller and easier to fix can save you thousands of dollars and plenty of headaches down the line. Read

That’s the estimate of Leslie Noyes, a member of the board of the Friends of the Bennington Free Library, the organization which runs the popular annual benefit event.

“We’re very excited this year, because usually we have 15,000 to 20,000 books, and I believe this year we have 30 or more thousand,” Noyes said. “Usually, a truck and three-quarters of books is moved from the library to the church, but this year, it’s three and three-quarters trucks.”

Books are transported to the First Baptist Church, which hosts the sale each year.

The sale runs Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1. Friday’s hours are 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturday’s are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday night attendees are charged a $10 admission fee, because they’re getting “first dibs on coming through,” and the prices are slightly higher — generally a matter of 25 cents or so. Attendance on Saturday is free.

Friday evening will feature a silent auction of some particularly nice books, and a raffle of items donated by various businesses — chocolates, a Will Moses poster, and $30 in “farm dollars” among them.

On Saturday, at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., there will be children’s programming, with a librarian reading to the children, and activities aimed specifically at them.

Books are organized into more than 70 categories, for easier browsing. “We’re one of the most organized sales,” Noyes said. “And our prices are low. The Williamstown [Mass.] book sale makes almost twice what we do, but they have a wealthier clientele.
“Our book sale has two jobs. One is to raise money for the library, and the other is to put books in the hands of people who might not be able to buy them at the level they’d like to.”

Saturday prices are four for $1 for children’s books and softcover/paperbacks. Hardcovers and trade paperbacks will be two for $1. Audio books are $2 on CD and $1 on cassette, CDs and DVDs are $1; puzzles are 50 cents, and recent fiction, published between 2006 and 2010, will range in price from $1 to $5.

“We do it in volume,” Noyes said. “We have 30,000 books. Last year, we made $9,300. This year, we’re hoping to break $10,000. This is the biggest fund-raiser for the Friends of the Library.”

The Friends also raise funds with an in-library overnight for children, and a family tea hosted by Park-McCullough House. Funds raised support the library’s reading series, children’s outreach and activities in the children’s room. Noyes is also hoping that the sale will result in increased membership for the Friends organization.

In addition, “we pay for things that it’s hard for the library to put into their budget,” Noyes said. “We buy computer terminals, subscriptions to databases. And we recently bought them a podium that’s fully equipped for multimedia.”

The sale is volunteer-powered, Noyes said. Last year, a group of four or five people did the bulk of the work, and they were exhausted by the end of the sale. This year, they created a campaign that put folding signs on the tables of area restaurants, asking people to volunteer and pointing out that without help, there might not be a sale this year.

The campaign worked. “We’ll have 80 volunteers over the course of the next five days, from getting it set up to breaking the sale down. We couldn’t be more pleased,” Noyes said.

Noyes said people with questions about the sale are welcome to contact her at 802-379-7199.

Reprinted with permission from The Bennington Banner, written by STEPHANIE L. RYAN, written Thursday April 29, 2010

ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators use half the electricity of standard models manufactured before 1993 and can save you up to $100 a year on your electric bills. ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers save up to $60 a year in energy and water costs.

Rebate offers include:
• $100 mail-in rebate on the purchase of an eligible ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator.

• $200 mail-in rebate on the purchase of a select ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator.

• $200 mail-in rebate on the purchase of a select ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer.

To take advantage of this limited time offer through Efficiency Vermont, visit your local appliance retailer or call Efficiency Vermont toll-free at 888-921-5990 to reserve a rebate directly. All ARRA-funded rebates must be post-marked no later than May 31, 2010.

For more information and a list of qualified ENERGY STAR appliances, visit www.efficiencyvermont.com or call, toll-free, 888-921-5990.

Note: ARRA funds are limited and rebate forms are available on a first-come first-served basis.