Have you ever noticed clothing sales that advertise “seconds” at greatly reduced prices? The “second” quality merchandise may exhibit flaws like uneven seams and pulled stitches, and capitalizes on the slightly lower quality in exchange for a lower price.

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As a seller in the current real estate climate (or any market, for that matter), you know that your home’s features must stand out against those of the competition. First you need to understand what buyers are looking for, and then you must decide how much money and elbow grease to invest to make those wishes come true.

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BURLINGTON—Vermont Housing Finance Agency is pleased to announce its top mortgage loan originators for fiscal year 2008:

• Julie Heffernan, National Bank of Middlebury, Addison County, Middlebury;
• Debbie Corey, Chittenden Bank, Bennington County, Bennington;
• Susan Laferriere, Union Bank, Caledonia/Essex counties, St. Johnsbury;
• Sarah Britton Cote, New England Federal Credit Union, Chittenden/Grand Isle counties,
  Williston;
• Carol McKinney, New England Federal Credit Union, Franklin County, St. Albans;
• Wanda Allaire, Universal Mortgage Corp., Lamoille County, Morrisville;
• Don Waterman, Wells River Savings Bank/Northeast Home Loan, Orange County, Barton;
• Paul Chandler, Universal Mortgage Corp., Orleans County, Newport;
• Laurie Laliberte, Chittenden Bank, Rutland County, Rutland;
• Joanne Hardy, Community National Bank, Washington County, Montpelier;
• Cathy Eakins, Chittenden Bank, Windham County, Brattleboro; 
• Kathy Sarnes, Connecticut River Bank N.A., Windsor County, Springfield.

“We rely on loan originators at VHFA participating lenders to act as our mortgage sales force,” explained VHFA Executive Director Sarah Carpenter. “We’re pleased to have originators like these on our team.”

The Agency’s top five lending institutions for 2008 are: New England Federal Credit Union, first; Chittenden Bank, second; Universal Mortgage Corp., third; Mortgage Financial Inc., fourth; and Community National Bank, fifth.

VHFA has more than 30 participating lending institutions around the state that help homebuyers qualify for VHFA mortgage loans. VHFA has several home mortgage loan programs, all of which have income and purchase-price limits. A list of participating lenders and information about VHFA’s programs and interest rates can be found on the Agency’s Web site: www.vhfa.org.

VHFA was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1974 to finance and promote affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income Vermonters. Since its inception, the Agency has helped approximately 26,000 Vermont households with affordable mortgages and financed the development of 7,400 affordable rental units.

Bennington VT, Press Release

Buy or build? If you’re considering new construction, the first item on your To Do list is to find a suitable lot. The experience of builders and architects points to a few key features you should investigate in your search for the perfect spot.

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Southwest Vermont Career Development Center Students Build State-of-the-Art Home

I sit on the Board of Directors of the Building Trades Department of the Career Development Center which teaches high school students building trades through the actual building of a house. This press release was produced by Efficiency Vermont in recognition of the most recent homes energy efficiency features.

Local Teachers Occupy Energy Efficient Residence

North Bennington, Vt. – Students from the Southwest Vermont Career Development Center
teamed up with the nonprofit Building Trades Corporation, Blue Heron Construction and
Efficiency Vermont to construct a house that serves as a model of energy efficiency both for the
students who built it and for the residents who are thrilled to occupy it.

Laurie and John Camelio, two local educators with a combined 50 years of experience in the
Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union, wanted a house that that was more energy efficient and
closer to town than the wood-stove-heated house (complemented by a Monitor heating system) in
Sandgate they had occupied for 30 years.

“As teachers and members of the community, we like the idea of supporting the students at the
Southwest Vermont Career Development Center,” said the Camelios.

Approximately two dozen vocational students worked on the Camelio’s new house, garnering
incredible work experience in the process. According to Jim Gilbert of the Southwest Vermont
Career Development Center’s Building Trades group, almost every student who participated in
the construction program went on to a job in the industry.

The construction of the Camelio’s North Bennington home was made possible by the Building
Trades Corporation, a nonprofit corporation affiliated with the Southwest Vermont Career
Development Center that provides the vision and funding for the student-staffed building projects.
Chairman Jim Goodine, who also is an owner of Blue Heron Construction, noted that local
craftsmen – specialists in plumbing, electric, HVAC, etc. – on the Career Development Center
committee led the team effort.

When Jay Walsh of Efficiency Vermont inspected the Camelio’s new home prior to the final
touches completed by the residents, he noted how well it had been constructed.

“You would never know that this house had been built by students,” said Walsh. “The quality is
good, from the tight building envelope to the ventilation to the appliances and lighting. This
residence is very energy efficient.”

The house received a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score of 58. The HERS scale starts
at 100, with each one-point reduction corresponding to a one percent reduction in energy
consumption. Thus, the Camelio’s home is roughly 42 percent more energy efficient than a
standard home. Key energy efficiency features of the ENERGY STAR® -Rated house include:
• Foam insulation that acts as an air and sound barrier.
• High-performance windows and doors that contribute to the efficiency of the building.
• Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) that supplies fresh air while exhausting stale air. The
system also recovers between 60-75 percent of the heat being exhausted and preheats
the fresh air as it is brought into the home.
• ENERGY STAR-Rated products that can reduce energy typically consumed by up to 75
percent for lighting and 10 percent for appliances.

During their first winter in their new home, the Camelios were amazed at its energy performance.
The house was comfortable because the heating level was always the same, which was not

possible in the Camelio’s prior home that was heated by a wood stove. This year, the Camelios
burned only one tank of fuel during the entire winter-heating season and they were more
comfortable.

Building Trades Corporation chairman Jim Goodine is excited to have had the opportunity to work
with the next generation of home builders in Vermont, noting that Efficiency Vermont was a great
partner throughout the entire process.

“We’ve got students building state-of-the-art energy efficient homes,” said Goodine. “To me,
that’s pretty incredible, and a great sign of things to come.”

Efficiency Vermont was created by the Vermont Legislature and the Vermont Public Service
Board to help all Vermonters reduce energy costs, strengthen the economy, and protect
Vermont’s environment. Efficiency Vermont is currently operated by Vermont Energy Investment
Corporation (VEIC), an independent organization under contract to the Vermont Public Service
Board. VEIC is a Vermont-based nonprofit organization founded in 1986. For more information,
contact Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990 or visit www.efficiencyvermont.com.

Bennington VT, North Bennington VT, Press Release

Survey reveals downsizing trend for homes, Census data, though, shows home sizes growing
By Inman News, Wednesday, June 11, 2008.
 
Let the home-size debate begin.

According to a survey of home-design trends, the era of super-sized homes is giving way to downsizing — the American Institute of Architects suggests this is a possible byproduct of the housing-market downturn, weakened economy and changing demographics.

But the latest government data on housing characteristics does not support the survey findings, as the average square footage of homes remains historically high. The Census Bureau reported in its Characteristics of New Housing report for 2007, released this month, that the average new single-family home completed had 2,521 square feet, up 2.1 percent from 2,469 square feet in 2006.

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What pops in your mind when you think of a real estate contract? The price, right? It’s the critical term, but far from the only important factor to be considered by buyers or sellers. There are costs, finances, conveyances, and consequences to consider.

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Investing to Stay Ahead of Growing Demand for Wireless Voice, Multimedia and Internet Access

    POWNAL, Vt., June 3 /PRNewswire/ — In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents in Bennington County, Verizon Wireless has activated a new cell site. The new site increases wireless voice and data coverage and capacity along Route 7 and Barber Pond Road in Pownal Center, as well as the surrounding area.

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Whether the market is up or down (and particularly if it’s down), buying a “fixer-upper” and updating it can prove to be a profitable venture. As with any real estate investment, however, it’s wise to enter with eyes wide open. Knowledge and caution will help you avoid common pitfalls.

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