Happy Spring! In our April edition, we uncover the best eclipse viewing spots in the Champlain Islands, share eco-friendly home tips to celebrate Earth Day, and delve into the latest market trends.

Best Solar Eclipse Viewing Spots

Northern Vermont is in the path of totality for the 2024 solar eclipse on April 8th. The Lake Champlain Islands will be a prime viewing spot. Explore our guide to the best eclipse watch parties.

Tips For An Eco-Friendly Home

Earth Day is April 22nd so here are some tips to make your home more eco-friendly. These small changes can make a big difference! Apart from reducing your energy costs, these changes may also add value to your property. Consider these 7 sustainable living tips. 

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Market Report

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Featured Listings 

12 Phelps Lane, South Hero, VT
Price: $949,000

486 US Route 2, South Hero, VT

Price: $399,500 

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Join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of three outstanding individuals at Coldwell Banker Islands Realty: Franz Rosenberger, Evan Potvin, and Nancy Willette. These agents are ranked among the top sales professionals in the Coldwell Banker global network. Their unwavering dedication, innovative approaches, and exceptional client service have not only set them apart but also served as a beacon of inspiration for us all at Coldwell Banker Islands Realty. We wish you all continued success in 2024!

Franz Rosenberger received the International President's Elite award. This award is given to agents who rank among the top 2% of sales associates in the Coldwell Banker network worldwide. 

Evan Potvin received the International President’s Circle Award. This award is given to agents who rank among the top 4% of sales associates in the Coldwell Banker network worldwide.

Nancy Willette received the International Sterling Society Award. This award is given to agents who rank among the top 11% of sales associates in the Coldwell Banker network worldwide. 

Their accomplishments stand are a testament to their hard work, leadership, and the values we hold dear at CBIR. Please join us in congratulating Franz, Evan, and Nancy on their well-deserved success!

Please join us in congratulating 2022 Coldwell Banker Award Winners, Franz Rosenberger, and Evan Potvin! These agents are ranked among the top sales professionals in the Coldwell Banker global network. Franz and Evan are true trailblazers who go above and beyond for their clients. We’re honored to have them as leaders of our team. Congratulations on these outstanding achievements; we wish you continued success in 2023.

Franz Rosenberger received the 2022 International President’s Elite Award, representing the top 2% of Coldwell Banker agents globally.

Evan Potvin received the 2022 International President’s Circle Award, representing the top 5% of Coldwell Banker agents globally.

The 2021 housing market was one for the history books. After three consecutive months of increases recently, existing home sales are on pace to hit their highest level in 15 years, with an estimated 6 million homes sold in 2021 according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Sales prices reached new heights, inventory hit rock bottom, and homes sold in record time, often for well above asking price. Mortgage rates, which began the year at historic lows, remain attractive, and homeowners who choose to sell in the coming months can expect to see plenty of buyer activity due to pent-up demand during the pandemic.

New Listings decreased 2.2 percent for single-family homes and 10.5 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Pending Sales remained flat for single-family properties but increased 9.8 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Inventory decreased 46.2 percent for single-family homes and 54.2 percent for townhouse-condo properties. The Median Sales Price was up 14.3 percent to $400,000 for single-family homes and 29.9 percent to $315,000 for townhouse-condo properties. Days on Market remained flat for single-family homes but increased 2.8 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Months Supply of Inventory decreased 47.1 percent for single-family homes and 55.6 percent for townhouse-condo properties.

Looking ahead, experts anticipate many of the housing market trends of 2021 will continue in 2022, albeit at a more moderate level. Strong buyer demand and inventory shortages are likely to persist over the next year. Home sales are projected to remain strong but will be tempered by the limited supply of homes, higher sales prices, and rising interest rates, with the Federal Reserve planning multiple rate hikes in the new year. Price growth is expected to slow somewhat as a result, but affordability will likely remain a top constraint for some homebuyers.

Wondering what your home is worth in your current market? Get a free market analysis today! 

Left to right: Sue Arguin, Deborah Unica, Susan Kaminski, Paul Habersang, Sam Rossetti-Theils

In 2021 Coldwell Banker Islands Realty welcomed several new faces to the company. Sue Arguin has joined our staff as the Agent Development Coordinator. Licensed Realtors Paul Habersang, Susan Kaminski, Deborah Unica, and Sam Rossetti-Thiels have also joined the team.

As the company expands, it was necessary to bring on someone dedicated to providing training, one-on-one support, learning sessions and more for our Realtors. We were fortunate to find Sue Arguin to fit that role as Agent Development Coordinator. Providing agents full time support will help them grow their business and provide their clients with the best experience possible. Sue's real estate experience and personable approach will be sure to strengthen the culture at Coldwell Banker Islands Realty.

Susan Arguin has been a licensed Realtor with CBIR for the past year and a half and has recently changed roles to Agent Development Coordinator. Sue is looking forward to putting her 30 years of experience in real estate to use in the Islands. She moved to South Hero in 2016 and worked at Community Bank NA for 4 years but is ready to jump back into the real estate world. 

Paul Habersang became a licensed Realtor and joined CBIR in early 2021. He has lived in Vermont since 2011 and is a seasoned professional with many years’ experience in sales, customer service, and relationship development. Paul has always believed that timely responsiveness and consistent follow through on commitments are two key elements that drive customer satisfaction and he will continue to practice this while transacting real estate.

Susan Kaminski has been a licensed Realtor in Vermont since 2012 and recently joined CBIR. Having moved eight times with her family, she understands the emotions and stresses of buying and selling a home. She strives to provide clients with exceptional customer service and skillful guidance through the entire real estate transaction.

Deborah Unica recently became a licensed Realtor with CBIR. Deborah has been a resident of the Islands for 22 years. Her daughter grew up attending the Champlain Islands Parent Child Center and Folsom school. Deborah spent many years helping Vermont families plan for college and more recently served as director in a medical setting. She is looking forward to using her experience in planning, marketing, relationship building, and negotiation to assist buyers and sellers through the real estate transaction process.

Sam Rossetti-Thiels is a newly licensed Realtor. Sam has worked in a large retail box store for the past 10 years and worked her way up to management, giving her many useful skills she will carry with her in her real estate career. Sam recently purchased a home herself and was fascinated by the process. She understands what it’s like to be a homebuyer and will give her clients the guidance and confidence needed to navigate this large investment purchase.

Each person we bring on at CBIR has unique qualities that add to our culture and we look forward to helping our team grow with us professionally and personally. If you're thinking about a career in real estate or making a change please call the office (802) 372-5777 or email your resume.