New Emergency Services Center - Open House June 5, 2010 A Public Open House was held today to the Stowe Emergency Services Center.  Stowe town voters approved the new public safety center in March of 2008.  Various proposals had been rejected in 2004, 2005 and 2007.  The building is spacious with about 27,976 square foot.  This includes an 11,00 square foot garage and 13,000 square feet for office and storage space, meeting rooms, bunks, kitchen, and offices for the officers. It houses the Stowe Police Department, Stowe Mountain Rescue, Stowe Fire Department, Emergency Management and the Department of Emergency Medical Services.    The meeting room, conference room and kitchen can be used by the public.  What is really amazing is that it was built on time and within the total budgeted a... 06/05/2010

 Stowe Land Trust - Stowe, Vermont The mission of the Stowe Land Trust is dedicated to the conservation of scenic, recreational, and productive farm and forest lands for the benefit of the greater Stowe community.  The concept of the Stowe Land Trust evolved in 1986 when Johannes van Trapp, George Rau, and John McVickar became conerned about a rumored development  for a 235 acre parcel.  Eventually a local Stowe Group was incorporated as a non-profit organization which became know as "Friends of Stowe Conservation".  In 1988 the organization successfully convinced the Stowe voters at Town Meeting to approve the acquisition and bonding of the Mayo Farm.  Since it's beginning, Stowe Land Trust has been responsible for preserving many parcels including Sunset Rock, the Moscow Recreation Fi... 04/30/2010

JOBS and EMPLOYMENT Opportunities in the Stowe, Vermont Area This is an attempt to locate all possible web sites and sources to help you find employment.  It does seem that word of mouth is still the best method for many of the local jobs.  Hopefully, this will be a good starting point for you.   Stowe Reporter - comes out every Thursday    Monster.com   JobsInVT.com     News & Citizen - out of the Morrisville area.  Comes out every Tuesday      Waterbury Record - Comes out every Thursday     Burlington Free Press - Daily Newspaper     State of Vermont I hope you found this source of sources helpful.  Other useful information about employment:   Vermont Minimum Wage Vermont Unemployment compared to the 50 States:  Click on map for interactive fields  If you are looking for real estate, ... 04/16/2010

Stowe Vermont - Real Estate Attorneys Hiring an Attorney Vermont requires an attorney for real estate transactions. How do you decide who to hire? Listed below are examples of questions to ask:  1. Do you have experience with Real Estate? 2. What is your fee structure? 3. Are you familiar with the geographic area of the property's location? 4. Do you already have a client relationship with the Seller/Purchaser? 5. How long have you been practicing law in Vermont? 6. How quickly do you respond to phone calls, e-mails, etc.? These are the types of questions you can ask. You can also ask friends and family members for referrals. Listed below are names and contact information of real estate lawyers in the Lamoille and Washington County areas. They are listed primarily in alphabetical order ... 04/01/2010

Village Green Condominiums - Stowe, Vermont  Village Green Condominiums are located at 1003 Cape Cod Road, Stowe, Vermont.  This condo development is well located just off the Mountain Road.  It is next to the Stowe Golf Course and Country Club, the Stoweflake Inn, and the Stowe Recreation Path.  Stowe Mountain Ski Resort is just about 10 minutes away.  The quintessential Stowe Village area is approximately 5 minutes away.  Village Green Development:   Village Green was developed on approximately 40 acres.  There are 14 buildings and the Clubhouse.  There are a total of 73 Condominium Units.  They were built between the years 1980 and 1988.  Most of the condos have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms on two levels and 1150 square feet.  The end units have 3 bedrooms (2 bedrooms with loft on uppe... 03/29/2010

Mountain View Condominiums - 82 Towne Farm Lane, Stowe, VT  Mountain View Condos are conveniently located off The Mountain Road close the Rusty Nail restaurant.  The single building sits on 4.1 common acres.  The Stowe Recreation Path is adjacent to the building and the West Branch River is located on the back side.   These condos are popular because of their relatively low monthly association fees and great location next to the Stowe Recreation Path.  Some of the owners live here as their primary residence.  Other owners use their condo occassionaly and may rent them out at various times of the year.  The Building contains 12 condos which range from 900 s.f. to 1100 s.f.  Most units contain 2 bedrooms.  All units are full ownership and are located on a single level.    The monthly asso... 03/27/2010

Stonybrook Condos in Stowe, Vermont Stonybrook Condominiums - Located at 251 Luce Hill Rd., Stowe, VT  Stonybrook Condos are some of the best located properties in Stowe.  The locale is off Luce Hill Road and next to the Stowe Recreation Path.  The properties are set on 160 acres of common land and protected by farmland.  Many of the condos have views of Mt. Mansfield.  There is a balance of recreational facilities, cross-country and snowshoe trails, meadows, trees and ponds.  The central location allows quick access to downhill skiing, golf, boating, x-country at Trapp Family Lodge, shops and restaurants.  Amenities include:  2 Pools, 6 Tennis Courts, Fishing Ponds, Hot Tub and Sauna, Game Room, access to the Stowe Recreation Path, and groomed x-country ski trails, bike and walking tra... 03/24/2010

Basketball, Real Estate and Video - Can't Get Much Better Than This! I wrote my very first Active Rain Blog on January 10, 2009.  The blog was about two subjects I was, and still am, passionate about - basketball and real estate. The link to that blog "How are Basketball and Real Estate Similar - the Lesson my Son Taught me" Now I am another year older and still learning new ways of doing things.  In 2010 I decided to jump into the Video world.  I must admit, it has been difficult, confusing and frustrating.  But it has also been a lot of fun.  The first project I decided on was to create a Video about this year's Stowe High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team.  My son, a junior, is one of the starters - #15.  I attend most of the games and always have my camera and my Christmas present... 02/17/2010

Stowe, Vermont - New England's Ski Capital featured on ABC's Good Morning America The Good Morning America Show of ABC came to Stowe, Vermont in January 2010.  They produced a video about Stowe, Vermont.  As a Virginia/Washington D.C. transplant to Stowe in 1987, I feel it captures the essence of our town quite well.  I decided to share it with you just in case you missed it!     For More Information about: Stowe Mountain Resort - Stowe, Vermont Trapp Family Lodge - Stowe, Vermont Golden Eagle Resort - Stowe, Vermont Local Activities, Hotels, Restaurants - Stowe Area Association If you would like to check out the Stowe Real Estate Market, below are links to specific MLS searches: Stowe Vermont Homes - Luxury Homes Stowe Vermont Homes - Priced Between $500,000 to $1,000,000 Stowe Vermont... 02/03/2010

Stowe Vermont Condo and Townhome Sales - Market Report 2005 through 2009 Stowe, Vermont as a four season resort has many condo/townhome projects.  The majority of these properties are owned by second home and vacation home owners.  As a result of the real estate bubble in 2005, the stock market crash in 2008, and the recession of 2009, it is not surprising to see a reduction in sales.  To further complicate condo sales, the mortgage companies have made the purchase of condos, especially in a resort town, much more difficult.  Below are market statistics by year with accompanying charts.  You can click on the charts to enlarge them.  The statistics are from the Vermont Real Estate Information Network MLS.  The majority of sales are reflected in the market reports. 2005 Stowe Vermont Cond... 01/17/2010

Stowe Vermont Home Sales - Market Report 2005 through 2009 Stowe, Vermont is a beautiful, four season resort town.  Stowe has a full time population of about 4,500 people.  Many of Stowe homes and condos are vacation and second homes.  As anticipated, the number of homes sold in 2009 were down.  Below are market statistics by year and a chart for each year.  The data used is from the Vermont Real Estate Information Network MLS.  Most of Stowe's sales are through the lcoal MLS.  You can click on the charts for enlarged versions.  Towards the end of this article, is a year to year comparison. 2005 Stowe Home Sales# of Homes Sold:  82Average List Price: $735,080  Average Sale Price: $682,000Median List Price:  $495,000  Median Sale Price:   $475,000Average Number of Homes on the Market: 74... 01/16/2010

Stowe Vermont Land Sales - Market Report for Years 2005 through 2009 Now that 2009 is over, I have been compiling my year end data for my sales reports.  I decided to start with Stowe Land Sales because there was not much activity with land sales in 2009.  Land is hard to quantify because prices vary so much based on factors not easily apparent.  Such factors include:1.  Size of Lot - Generally, the larger the lot, the less it will cost based on a per acre formula.2.  Location of Lot - Some neighborhoods are definitely more desirable.3.  Views from Lot - a View of Mt. Mansfield can definitely command a higher price.4.  What's Included in the Price? - Survey, Septic Design, Subdivision, Covenants, View Easements, Power to Site, Fuel availability, Access/Driveway, Required Clearing, Topog... 01/05/2010

Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful - Winter Driving in Vermont Winter may have been delayed in Vermont, but it has come with an attitude!  Today, we had our first Severe Winter Storm of the season.  I know many other areas of the U.S. were hit, too.  Stowe seldom closes the schools because of snow, but they did today.  Good call in my opinion.  Of course, I wish we had known earlier about the closing.  My 16 year old son checked the news and internet early this morning and there was NO notice of the Stowe schools closing - just all the other towns in Vermont.  So, he drove to school and I was a mess wondering if he had made it okay and why they had not cancelled it.  About half an hour later, he was home.  School was cancelled.  Someone screwed up! I took the photo on the left this mor... 12/09/2009

Stowe Mountain Resort - Opening Day Sunday, DECEMBER 6, 2009 Mother Nature IS FINALLY COOPERATING AND IT IS SNOWING!!! For up a quick source of "SNOW CONDITIONS", click here Stowe, Vermont - Stowe Mountain Resort just announced that it will open on Saturday, November 21st, 2009.  The resort has lots of snow making capacity, so hopefully there will be a good selection of trails to ski.  Maybe Mother Nature will cooperate too!   To access the Resort Web Site, click on the logo to the right:   The Stowe Resort Web Site has added an interactive map:           If you aren't into skiing or snowboarding, there are plenty other activities.  Stowe is famous for her restaraunts, shops, inns and New England Charm.  Check out Stowe Area Association's web site below: If you are interested in real es... 11/23/2009

Stowe Vermont Foliage - at PEAK! As a Stowe Resident for 22 years, I can proclaim that the foliage is at peak.  It never seems to fail that Columbus Day weekend coincides with our Colorful Peak.  It's been a rainy week but looks like there is some sun in the forecast for this weekend!  These are some photos I took today - October 9th, 2009.         What a pleasure it is to drive around our back roads to find such eye candy! There are also some great events this weekend besides taking in the foliage: Stowe Foliage Craft Show at Topnotch - October 9-11th, 2009       History of Trapp Family Lodge Tour - October 9-11th, 2009       Stowe Home Tour - October 10th, 2009     If you come up to Vermont, feel free to contact me.  I'd love to show you some of the beautiful homes available for sale ... 10/09/2009

STOWE VERMONT REAL ESTATE MARKET - STATISTICS ON HOME, CONDO AND LAND SALES - October 1, 2009 The Stowe Vermont Real Estatehas completed three quarters of sales history in 2009.  So I thought it would be an appropriate time to take a look at the sales, pendings, and active listings for Stowe Homes, Condos and Land.  The data was compiled from our MLS system and does not include private sales. STOWE VERMONT HOMES MARKET: As of 10/1/2009, there have been 23 homes sold.  The average list price was $533,957 and the average sale price was $481,896.  The Average Days on Market was 164.  The median list price was $435,000 and median sale price was $399,000.  The Median Days of Market was 151.  The Average Price per Finished Square Foot Above Grade Sold was $193.  There are 149 Active Homes on ... 10/04/2009

Stowe, Vermont Real Estate Auctions On Friday, September 11th, 2009, I attended two real estate auctions in Stowe, Vermont.  I have been a Realtor in Stowe since 1998 and have never been to a real estate auction.  As a former Bed and Breakfast owner in Stowe, I used to attend many furniture auctions.  They were always a lot of fun and I certainly was able to purchase some great antiques for the bed and breakfast. In these trying times, I think we will see more properties going into foreclosure.  Some on the auction block.  I decided to witness the auctions for three reasons:  1.  To gain a better understanding of what happens at real estate auctions; 2.  Had a potential buyer interested; and 3.  I absolutely love the two properties on the block. The photos of the auction properties were... 09/14/2009

Stowe Vermont Real Estate Stowe, Vermont is a four-season resort ski town.  Like many resort towns, Stowe has a lot of vacation and second homes.  We have a full time population of about 4,500 people, but at certain times of the year, our population swells with skiiers, leaf peepers, craft and art fans, antique car show buffs, or just folks from the "big" cities such as NYC, Boston, or Montreal who want to slow down and enjoy the beauty of a New England small town. But also like many resort towns, the sale of real estate has been slowed down by the recession.  2009 has seen an increase of real estate inventory and a decrease in sales.  However, August has seen activity from buyers that we have not seen in awhile.  The Realtors® are busy showing homes again!  We are even seeing multiple ... 08/14/2009

May of 2009 was a busy month in Stowe.  Home sales doubled - from a total of 4 for the year to 8!  Also on the rise were the number of Active Home Listings in Stowe.  This is not unusual for more properties to be listed in the Spring. The resort areas in Vermont like many other states have certainly felt the affects of the current unstable economy.  We normally have a strong second home/vacation home market.  But, these days, potential buyers are more cautious and many no longer have the discretionary income they have come to expect.  So we have an unusually high inventory - especially among homes above $1,000,000 and fewer sales.  We have seen many price reductions from the more motivated sellers.  My advice to Sellers - if your property is being marketed appropriately, it may be time ... 06/05/2009

I have been a Realtor® in the Stowe, Vermont area since 1998 and this recession is really starting to get to me.  I have certainly felt the change these past few years.  As most of you know, our living costs and business expenses certainly have not gone down.  And for most of us, our income has not kept up with our family and professional expenses.  Many have faced the question - do I really want to stay in this business?  Yes, but what can I do to help pay the bills?  Then I saw an ad in the paper - CENSUS WORKERS NEEDED - pays relatively well, flexible hours, short term.  Perfect!  I called and was told all those interested need to take a test.  Oh NO - now the pressure is on.  Okay, yes I really do want this job.  What intrigued me about being a Census Lister is that you get to be ou... 05/12/2009