Reopening The Champlain Islands

We are thrilled to announce that our office doors at 38 Community Lane are open again to the public! Our Realtors are now on duty, in-person, five days a week to provide our community with immediate walk-in service. In addition, we are thrilled to share that we have welcomed Paul Habersang to Coldwell Banker Islands Realty as a licensed sales associate! The timing couldn’t be better as we are busier than ever! As many of you know, the real estate market is booming with no sign of slowing down this summer. Our knowledgable agents are readily available to help guide you whether you are buying a new home or preparing to sell. The Champlain Islands is the place to be in Summer of 2021 and we can't wait to start gathering with our community again!

New to the Island Neighborhood

As we welcome the warm weather, we also welcome new small businesses into the Champlain Islands community! Check out the latest additions to the town of South Hero below! 

Arbor Farm Market

South Hero Village recently welcomed Arbor Farm Market full of local goodies; the market resides at 324 US Route 2 in South Hero,VT. Make sure to stop by Wednesdays- Sundays to check out the wide variety of local farm products and grocery items.

Two Heroes Brewery 

Another new addition in the town of South Hero is Two Heroes Brewery! They opened their doors in February and have just recently added a biergarten! Be sure to visit them this summer at 1 Ferry Rd in South Hero!

The Hive Cafe 

Located at Allenholm Farm on South Street, the Hive Cafe is serving burgers, mac and cheese, salads, and even fish tacos! Enjoy some good eats and don't forget to save room for one of Allenholm's famous maple creemees!
Photo credit: Allenholm Farm

Lola's Latin Kitchen

Champlain Island's Candy Lab has added a new food truck outside of their storefront! Lola's Latin Kitchen is offering authentic latin cuisine featuring dishes such as enchiladas, Mexican Chili and much more!
Photo credit: Lola's Latin Kitchen

See the latest real estate market report for Northwestern Vermont presented by NVBR below.

April was another strong month for home sales. The busy spring market continues to see many multiple offer situations driving sales prices above asking price. With such strong activity, by the time a property sale closes, the market may have already moved higher than that sold price suggests. Such markets can create stress and frustration for prospective homebuyers, who are frequently having to submit offers on multiple properties before they are able to secure a purchase.

New Listings increased 102.3 percent for single-family homes and 77.6 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Pending Sales increased 128.7 percent for single-family homes and 81.1 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Inventory decreased 54.9 percent for single-family homes and 49.6 percent for townhouse-condo properties.

The Median Sales Price was up 10.8 percent to $355,000 for single-family homes and 18.4 percent to $279,500 for townhouse-condo properties. Days on Market decreased 19.7 percent for single-family homes and 16.1 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Months Supply of Inventory decreased 62.1 percent for single-family homes and 57.1 percent for townhouse-condo properties.

In the spirit of the great Wayne Gretzky, buyers, sellers, and their agents are all trying their best to skate to where the puck, or rather, the housing market, is going, not where it has been. While housing affordability remains an area to watch as prices continue to rise, strong buyer demand and limited housing supply show no signs of easing soon, pointing to a continuation of this market trend through spring and into summer.

Wondering what the current market is like in your area? Call (802) 372-5777 and get a complimentary market analysis from a local expert. 

Source: Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors

First impressions are everything and the exterior of a home can set the tone for a potential buyer. Whether you're thinking of putting your home on the market or trying to spruce up the exterior of your home for the summer, these small changes can have a big impact.

1. Maintain Your Landscaping

Make sure to regularly prune any shrubs against and around your home. As they become overgrown they can block your windows. This trick will also help to showcase your windows and allow more natural light to shine through. Another tip is to keep an eye on the landscaping leading up to the house. Dig out or cut back any species that might be overflowing onto your walkway.

2. Freshen Up Your Front Door

Throw a fresh coat of paint on your front door to drastically improve the appeal of your home from a distance. Maintenance is often required with painted doors, so whether you're touching up an existing color or introducing a vibrant new hue both will achieve a sought after exterior appearance. Also, consider hanging a seasonal wreath or adding a couple of planters onto the front porch or the steps.

3. Hide Unnecessary Clutter

An easy way to spruce up your front yard is to remove items that are not necessarily meant to be on display. Relocate your gadgets and equipment such as any tools, lawnmowers, or toys that may be laying around in plain sight. While tidying up outside, take the time to clean out your gutters. This chore is not only important to clean them for the exterior, but also for your home’s general maintenance.

These 3 tips will help spruce up the exterior of your home for summer or to get it ready to sell! If you would like a professional opinion of ways to improve your home please contact us for a personal home consultation with no cost or obligation.

The Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors has released the latest real estate market report for March 2021.

Normal spring increases in sales activity, coupled with relaxing COVID-19 policies, created a very busy March real estate market as buyer demand continued largely unabated in the face of rising home prices and mortgage rates. Existing home seller and new construction activity continue to remain below levels necessary to bring the market back into balance, pointing to a busy and competitive buyer market in the coming months.

New Listings increased 11.0 percent for single-family homes but remained flat for townhouse-condo properties. Pending Sales increased 38.8 percent for single-family homes and 4.6 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Inventory decreased 59.1 percent for single-family homes and 64.2 percent for townhouse-condo properties.

The Median Sales Price was up 14.4 percent to $350,000 for single-family homes and 3.5 percent to $279,000 for townhouse-condo properties. Days on Market decreased 30.1 percent for single-family homes and 60.3 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Months Supply of Inventory decreased 60.7 percent for single-family homes and 68.4 percent for townhouse-condo properties.

While many homebuilders are working to increase their activity, the cost of lumber and other materials and a backlogged supply chain continue to limit new home construction and have increased costs substantially. New methods of construction, including 3d printed homes, could speed construction and reduce costs in the future, but realistically are several years away from making a measurable impact in the market.