Things To Consider When Investing In Okemo Mountain or Killington Real Estate To Rent

If you are thinking of buying Okemo Mountain or Killington real estate and making it a rental property, there are a number of things to consider when choosing the property: 

1. Location

If you will be renting to a year ‘round tenant, look for a property convenient to major employers, schools, shopping facilities, transportation. If the property will be a vacation property, you will want to be near major tourist attractions such as the Okemo Mountain Ski Resort or Killington. 

2. Price

If you hope the rental income will be more than the cost of the monthly mortgage, insurance and taxes on the home, you should be careful to invest no more per month than the local rental market can bear. If your goal for rental income is to “break even” or even to have a negative cash flow, price becomes somewhat less important. 

3. Resale

Consider the long-term resale value of the property. If you buy in a fast growing area, the resale value will be greater further down the road. If you buy is a slow growth area, your resale value will be less, but there may be a better rental market. When buying Okemo Mountain or Killington real estate, you want to consider how long the tourist season is. Okemo and Killington both Have year round activities to attract vacation renters. Skiing and other snow activities in the winter; golf, swimming and other outdoor sports in the spring and summer; and fall foliage  for ‘leaf-peepers.’ 

4. Neighboring homes

Are the neighboring homes well-maintained? If not, they will drive down your property values. 

5. Solid construction

Look for solid construction. Tenants tend to put more wear and tear on a home than owners. Find a low-maintenance property suitable for renters. For example, white carpeting will have a much shorter life than something more neutral. 

6. Do it yourself

If you live nearby, it can be relatively simple to stay in touch with tenants, and to keep an eye on your investment. If you lack the time, or your property is some distance away, you may wish to work with a property management firm.

Learn more about Okemo Mountain or Killington real estate by visiting ISellVermontRealEstate.com.

How To Make the Move To Your Ludlow & Rutland VT Home Hassle Free

It doesn’t matter if you are moving across town or across the country, moving is stressful! But a little planning can go a long way to making the move to your new Ludlow VT home less stressful. Below are 10 time-saving tips for a hassle-free move. 

1. Make a list. 

Create a week-by-week checklist of everything that needs doing. Start 60 days prior to your move and include the most trivial items. Staying on schedule will eliminate a lot of headaches, especially the closer you get to moving day. 

2. Hire a quality moving company. 

If the quote you get from a moving company seems too good to be true…it probably is! An unreliable company will cost you more in the long run, so be sure to check out the companies you interview with the Better Business Bureau. 

3. Have a yard sale. 

Now is the perfect time to get rid of items you haven’t used in the last few years. Why pack, move and unpack something you most likely won’t use in your new Ludlow VT home? Discard it now rather than later. 

4. Create a system. 

Create a color coded boxing system with a different color for each room in the house. Only pack items for a specific room in specific boxes. Let your movers know which colors correspond to which room so they will put the boxes in the correct room. 

5. Unplug. 

Most movers won’t unplug appliances, computers, etc. Before the movers arrive, disconnect all appliances, electrical equipment and lighting fixtures that go to your new Ludlow Vt home.

6. Stock up on packing supplies. 

Don’t run out of packing tape the morning of the move; have plenty of supplies on hand. Early on in the moving process, start gathering boxes, tape, bubble wrap, newsprint, box cutters and markers. Try to save time and the environment by packing with materials you already have. Load up suitcases and plastic containers and use pillows, scarves and towels to “wrap” fragile items.

7. Pack a moving survival kit. 

Pack a “last-to-go” box with all of the necessities-toiletries, snacks, important documents-and keep it with you instead of packing it in moving truck.

8. Clean it up. 

An empty house is much easier to clean than one with boxed stacked everywhere. Clean your new home before you move in so you can concentrate on unpacking after the movers leave. 

9. Create a floor plan. 

Prior to the move, create a floor plan with graph paper and cutouts for the furniture. Plan where the furniture will go so the movers can put it in the right place the first time and you don’t have to move it around later.

10. Change service prior to the move. 

Arrange for your mail, utilities, phone, cable, Internet and any other services to be transferred prior to the move so you don’t have a lapse in service. There is nothing worse than not having water, heat or air conditioning on moving day! 

Learn more about Ludlow and Rutland VT homes by visiting ISellVermontRealEstate.com.

Just Listed! 4 Bedroom, 3 Bath – 21.46 acres, plus a Covered Bridge!

This 4 bedroom, 3 bath, mint condition house comes on 21.46 acres with it’s own Covered Bridge, Pond and approx 1500′ of frontage along Mill River.  There is a barn, sugar house, shed. The barn is 40×90 with electric throughout. Aside from a fireplace and woodstove, you will also find a Great Room and Family Room – Plenty of room for the family and all the friends. Close to Jackson Gore and Okemo, across from the Green Mountain National Forrest and minutes from the VAST Trail.  For Pictures please go to http://isellvermontrealestate.com, if you want a tour of the land, e-mail:  irene@isellvermontrealestate.com

Offered for $650,000 – including the bridge and pond.

Energy Saving Tips For Rutland and South Central VT Home Owners

I found a great website, Energy Savers, with energy saving tips for Rutland and South Central VT  home owners. This site provides homeowners with tips for saving energy and money at home and on the road. 

By following just a few of the simple tips found on this Energy Savers Web site, you can make your home more comfortable and easier to heat and cool—while you save money. The site also helps you beat the high cost of fuel, with driving and car maintenance tips to save you money on the road.

Some easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy include: 

• Install a programmable thermostat to keep your house comfortably warm in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer.
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the ENERGY STAR® label.
• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.

Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. 

The information on this Web site is also available in PDF format (PDF 2.7 MB). 

If you are a Rutland VT  home owner, I encourage you to check out Energy Savers. Following a few of their suggestions will not only put more money in your pocket, but make our planet healthier and greener. 

If you are thinking about buying a  Rutland or South Central VT  home, visit ISellVermontRealEstate.com. It’s a great place to learn about Rutland and South Central VT  real estate and view Rutland and South Central VT homes for sale.

Rutland VT Real Estate Sales Statistics – March 2009

Pending home sales rose with many first-time buyers taking advantage of historically good housing affordability conditions, according to the National Association of Realtors^®.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in March, increased 3.2 percent to 84.6 from a level of 82.0 in February, and is 1.1 percent higher than March 2008 when it was 83.7.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said it should take a few months for the market to gain momentum. “This increase could be the leading edge of first-time buyers responding to very favorable affordability conditions and an $8,000 tax credit, which increases buying power even more in areas where special programs allow buyers to use it as a down payment,” he said. “We need several months of sustained growth to demonstrate a recovery in housing, which is necessary for the overall economy to turn around.”

Rutland VT real estate sales statistics for March indicate the local real estate market may have bottomed out and is once again on the upswing.

Rutland VT Real Estate Residential Sales Statistics

New Listings – March 2009:  45
New Listings – March 2008:  41
9.76% change

Sold Listings – March 2009: 12
Sold Listings – March 2009: 9
33.33% change

Median Sale Price – March 2009: $172,500
Median Sale Price – March 2008: $140,000
23.21% change

Average Days on Market – March 2009: 119
Average Days on Market – March 2008:  91
30.77% change

Learn more about Rutland VT real estate by visiting ISellVermontRealEstate.com.

Just Listed in Chester, Vermont

Fabulous Open Floor Plan

Space and Sunshine

 Chester -  Fabulous  3 bedroom, 2 bath, open floor plan contemporary in one of Vermont’s favorite towns.  Many upgrades within past year including: kitchen, baths, flooring and all new windows and doors.  Close to skiing – beat the Sunday traffic home from Okemo!  $385,000.00

5 Things To Do Before Selling Your South Central VT Home

If you are thinking of selling your Rutland  or Okemo VT home this spring or summer, now is the time to start getting ready to sell. Below are 5 things to do before putting the ‘For Sale’ sign in the yard: 

1. Have a pre-sale home inspection. Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you’ll be able to make repairs before open houses begin. 

2. Organize and clean. Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and exercise equipment. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine. 

3. Get replacement estimates. Do you have big-ticket items that are worn our or will need to be replaced soon, such your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace them, even if you don’t plan to do it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be handy when negotiations begin.  

4. Find your warranties. Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house. 

5. Spruce up the curb appeal. Pretend you’re a buyer and stand outside of your home. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address clearly visible? Are pretty flowers or plants framing the entrance? Is the walkway free from cracks and impediments? 

Learn more about selling your Rutland and Okemo VT home at ISellVermontRealEstate.com. 

What is your Vermont home worth?

 

www.REALTOR.org/realtormag Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® . Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.