New "pick of the month" home in Five Sister Neighborhood

This 3 bedroom home is located in the highly sought after Five Sister Neighborhood. Original woodwork and charm awaits you with additional space in the finished attic. This home is currently listed with my colleague, Nina Lynn. For more info click here. For a showing, please contact me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com

USA Today reports steady job market supports Burlington Vermont. Read here for full article.

Feel free to contact me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com if you are interested in looking at a property or selling your current home. I look forward to hearing from you!!

In response to the Doom and Gloom TIME magazine article on housing

Still deciding if home ownership is right for you?

This is a great response to the TIME magazine article on September 11th titled, "A case against home ownership" that reported a doom and gloom outlook on buying/owning a home. (Click on the title to read full article).

The response to this report, titled, "10 Reasons to Buy a Home" provides a different opinion. I am providing links to both so you can decide yourself.

Contact me with comments at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com

Does your living room have good Feng Shui?

Yes, this is me enjoying company in

my living room. A couple of Feng Shui items I would like to point out. Notice how the furniture is round? Feng shui is very careful to avoid sharp edges of furniture. The coffee table and end table (as well as the couch) is round so that energy can flow smoothly throughout the room.

Do you have sharp edges on furniture pointing at you while you are seated? These are considered "poison arrows" and can affect your body as well as your general luck and well being.

Second, notice the birds? These are two love birds which are in the southwest direction of my home to enhance my family's "love life".

Finally, you may be curious about the giant Rhinoceros? This is a very crucial piece in our living room. While calculating my flying star chart of my new home, this particular room has the mountain star "7" in this section of the home which can open this area of the home up to burglary. The Rhinoceros is used to tame this affliction in this section of the home.

Are you fascinated by this ancient Chinese custom yet? Are you curious about the feng shui in your home or are you looking to buy or sell a home and want to know which home is best for you?

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

mbedard@hickokandboardman.com

Open House this Sunday September 12th 1-3

Join me and a lender from Spruce Mortgage at 277 Sunderland Woods in Colchester for an open house this Sunday. This home features a large fenced in back yard which backs up to woods. You won't believe how large this yard is! You can also enjoy the fireplace, finished basement, two car garage, deck, and more! This home is located in a quiet neighborhood not far from I-89 and Winooski making it the perfect location! I look forward to seeing you there. For more information on this property, click here or you can email me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com

Property of the month. Open house on Wednesday!

LIVE DOWNTOWN IN THE CENTER OF IT ALL!
Downtown Burlington condo (103 Maple Street unit #1) with exclusive front porch and two car driveway only 2 blocks from lake and a short walk to Church Street. This unit features wide plank hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, dishwasher, washer/dryer within unit, jetted tub AND flat screen tv included in sale! As an additional bonus, seller is offering 3% back at closing for closing costs with accepted offer!! Enjoy your downtown living and be in the center of it all. Additional storage in basement and low association dues which include your heat! Join us at an open house Wednesday July 14th 4:30-6:00 on your way home from work! Or email me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com click here for more info and pictures

Won't you be my neighbor???

Wow! This home features 2,917 finished sq feet with new wiring, new kitchen, newer heating, central air, and more! Three stories of finished space with five bedrooms and four baths. Located just a few blocks from Church street you can have all your friends over and stroll downtown. Offered at $449,000 with my colleague Brian Boardman at CBHB Realty you can live next to me!! I LOVE this area of Burlington and you will be amazed at the original woodwork and majestic glory of this home. For more information or to schedule a showing contact me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com

Pick a color...feng shui guide to colors

Did you know that each room and area of your home has a particular color preference based on feng shui? I am going to keep it simple for this short blog (no need to get complicated).

First, remember that each direction of your home is influenced by the five elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood.

Next, remember that each element resides in a specific direction. Below is a guide to help you choose the right color for your space.

Fire: Located in the South area of your home (can also be in the southwest and northeast of your home). Fire colors would include: Red, orange, pink, purple, strong yellow

Earth: Located in the Southwest and Northeast of your home (also located in the center of your home) Earth colors include beige, light yellow (earthy/sand colors)

Metal: Located in the West and Northwest (also located in North of your home). Metal colors include Gray and white

Water: Located in North of your home (also in East and Southeast of your home). Water colors include blue and black

Wood: Located in East and Southeast of your home (also located in the South). Wood colors include Green and Brown

Now does this mean that you paint each wall the following colors listed above based on that area of your home? Nope. Remember that the objects you use in a space also affect the feng shui and it is about balance. For example, if you have a lot of natural woodwook, this will contribute to the wood element (therefore painting the space brown would be too much wood element). The key is to find the balance of all five elements within a space. Remember that shapes of furniture also affect the element. For more on this click here. This is a great site (that I borrowed from) to help you learn more about the balance of the five elements.

Happy Painting and decorating!!

Picture taken from http://tinyurl.com/3ywzzgs

NEW pick of the month home in Burlington, VT

Wow! Three bedroom, 1334 sq feet home located at 38 Gove Court in Burlington for $329,900! This listing features granite countertop, eat-in kitchen, stainless steel appliances, gas stove and more! Listed with my colleague, Chris Von Trapp, please contact me now before this one disappears! mbedard@hickokandboardman.com

What if my front door faces the back door or the stairs in feng shui?

So you found the house you love but the front door directly faces a stairway or the back door?

According to feng shui, this could prohibit positive energy from benefiting the first floor of the home. Energy will quickly rush out the back door (example, money luck, good health, relationships, etc. flows in the front door and quickly out the back), or perhaps up the stairs.


There are cures for this which I became interested in this week as the home I just purchased has this affliction. I knew this prior to purchasing the home and intended on finding the appropriate cure for this as opposed to passing up the home I love. Here is what I found to share with you:



~Place a round table in-between the two doors to re-direct the energy (not possible in my situation as it would look silly)



~Work with color to re-direct the energy (this is a powerful tool and my next feng shui article will be devoted to color and finding the right color for each room (Fascinating stuff! I struggled with colors until I utilized feng shui suggestions)



~Use a tall, healthy, strong plant and position it in-between the two doors (this is the cure I chose to use)



For more on these cures click here



What if my front door directly faces the stairs? First, how close together is the front door and stairway? If there is significant space, energy may have the ability to flow to other areas of the home (especially with the right placement of objects and color). The trick is to re-direct the energy so that it doesn't quickly disperse up the stairway. The use of plants, art, and again color will help with this. Caution: NEVER place a mirror directly facing the front door. This will direct the energy immediately out the door as opposed to allowing it to come in the home and nourish the rooms.





Check in next week when I discuss the use of color to benefit each room and maximize your well-being!


Feel free to contact me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com with any questions you may have or if you are interested in selling or buying your next home

NEW listing today! Beautiful home in Colchester near I-89

Wow! Three bedroom, 2 bath home with additional bonus room downstairs and a fully finished basement! You will love this fully fenced back yard which features a new deck and a deep lot that backs up to woods. Close to I-89 yet located in a quiet neighborhood that enjoys common pool, tennis court, and play ground. Home is offered at $319,000. Don't miss out on this one. Contact me today at mbedard@hickokandboardman for more information.

New Property of the Month

Fantastic home and location listed this past week with my colleague, David Gray (Coldwell Banker Hickok and Boardman Realty) at 25 Adams Court, Burlington VT. Home features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths with stunning kitchen and woodwork. Offered at $392,000. For more information or to schedule a showing, please contact me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com

Top 10 MYTHS of having a real estate agent work for you

Here are the top 10 myths about having an agent working for you (buyer representation):

1. I'll get a better deal if I deal directly with the listing agent
2. I'll get a better deal by buying a for sale by owner
3. I always have to pay for my buyer's agent services
4. I can't get all the info I need from one agent
5. All websites are created equal
6. All real estate markets are created equal
7. I can go on-line to get all the information I need about a house
8. The best information about the market comes from the news
9. All real estate professionals are the same
10. A realtor's only job is to let me in the house

By the way, the house I listed a couple of days ago as my "pick of the month property" went under contract three days after my posting! Above top ten is borrowed from Chandra Hall's ABR class. Feel free to email me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com if you want a skilled agent working for you!

New property of the month! Will sell fast

All of my properties of the month sell within 1-3 weeks of me posting them on my blog as I have my finger on the pulse! Today I introduce to you a new listing in the sought-after South end of Burlington listed by my colleague, Barbara Craig. Located at 36 Spruce street the home features 2 bedrooms, 3 baths with 1400 finished square feet. Beautiful rooms, hardwood floors, deck, and more! To schedule a showing contact me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com

For more pictures click here

What do you mean I have to pay more at closing? Tax adjustment explained to avoid surprise at closing table!

If you are purchasing a home between April 1-July 1, you may have to come to your closing with more funds than you additionally planned. Why? It is known as the tax adjustment (prebate tax). Previously, all Education property tax was voted on through the school budget and the taxes were collected. In the year 2000, a challenge was taken to the Supreme Court where advocates were stating that all children deserve equal education despite the amount of wealth that the school district has within its community. As a result of this case, the money is now collected from all towns and the State redistributes the money to the towns equally.

The prebate program was created as a tax adjustment based on one's income. If you net $97,000 or less (maxi um household income) you may qualify for this tax adjustment. Initially, the tax adjustment money was sent back to the owner of the home. However, about 2 years ago, the State stopped sending the money to the owner of the home and instead sends it to the town. The town then applies it as a credit to the owner's tax bill. When it is time to sell, that money "should" go back to the seller.

Most of the year, we are able to know what this amount is going to be and it should be communicated to you by your realtor or attorney so that you can plan for this before your closing. However, if you are purchasing a home between April 1-July 1, we often are not aware of what this amount is going to be as the state typically sends out the letters on July 1. If there has been a significant change in a seller's income level this amount is difficult to know and some attorneys have seen this tax adjustment as high as $8,000! That can be a lot of money for a purchaser to have to come up with/reimburse a seller when they are purchasing a home. Regardless of the amount, nobody enjoys last minute surprises at the closing table!

As always, you really should have a realtor working with you to help you negotiate and plan for these issues so that you can purchase/sell your home through a smooth and successful transaction. Please contact me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com with any questions you may have.

New Property of the month (Tremendous value)

New property of the month, known for their tremendous value! Here is a rare 3 bedroom condo in south end of Burlington just reduced today to $210,000! Walk through woods to lake, bike path, and oakledge park. Enjoy your pool, tennis court, and quiet neighborhood. Close to I-89. Enjoy new windows throughout, new sliding glass door, new flooring, new vanities, new appliances, new water heater, new roof, and very low heating costs. This end unit is priced well below recent appraisal value. This unit is owned by VT state licensed realtor. Don't wait! Open house Sunday March 21st 1-3. For more information, click here. Feel free to contact me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com

CNN shows how Feng Shui attempts to predict markets in 2010

I had to share these videos with you IF you believe in Feng Shui or are at least CURIOUS? Yes, we are in the year of the tiger (still a difficult year for many). Here is a clip on CNN where they try to predict the economy based on Feng Shui. Click here to view video. Differing opinions on this video so I included another below.

The second video (click here) I found is more detailed and notes improvements and gains in stocks in May and June of 2010 (YIPPEE, so we have that to look forward to...if you believe in it) and they note that 2010 is a great time to invest in property! Well, I could have told you that. Write to me with your comments at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com

New property of the month. NEW listing in Burlington

Brand new listing this week in sought-after Burlington neighborhood. This home HAS IT ALL! Join us this Sunday (2/28/10) at 65 Glen Road in Burlington for an open house (1-3) and you can enjoy my home-made cookies, ask a lender from Spruce Mortgage your questions, and view this fantastic home

Everything is done already for you in this home so you can come home to relax in your surround sound family room with 42-inch flat screen tv. Or invite your friends over to enjoy the extended deck, jacuzzi, and fenced in large back yard. Dine and entertain in front of your wood burning fireplace on those cold Burlington nights. OR, pamper yourself in your beach glass mosaic tile and marble stone luxurious bathroom. Tons of southern light exposure pours through the large open windows of this home. You can live the dream and have it all! Offered at $499,000. For more information click here or contact me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com You can also see a visual tour here

Happy Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year

Happy Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year everyone! Last night a group of friends joined me for dinner to explore the year of the tiger and how their sign will do for the year. If you wish to explore this for yourself, click here. It can be a lot of fun if you do it with a group and read your responses aloud.

Today being the Chinese New Year (Year of the Tiger) is a great day to figure out your intentions for the year (similar to New Years Resolutions) and write them down on paper. The Chinese encourage people to then set these intentions on fire (in a bowel...please don't burn your house down). This releases these intentions into the air. This will be my third year doing this ritual and I believe in it 100%

May this Chinese New Year be a safe, productive, and prosperous year for you! If you find yourself on the brink of making a scary change/decision in your life, you are not alone... be brave and FIERCE like the tiger!! This is a difficult time of change and uncertainty for many people.
As always, feel free to contact me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com with all of your questions.

Picture taken from http://tinyurl.com/y8whtht

Interest rates rise and what your payment would look like

As mentioned previously in my blog; later this spring the top economists are predicting that interest rates will rise. What that means to you when you break it down in terms of your monthly payment is the following, (here is an example):

Purchase of $200,000 with 3.5% down payment at current rate of 5.200% for a 30 year fixed rate loan = $1,078.33

Same scenario as above with an increase to the rate of 1% for a total rate of 6.200% = $1,202.75

Total increase in monthly payment of $124.42.

To purchase at the same monthly payment as what you could with today’s rates in an economy with higher rates you would be buying a home for around $179,000. That is a decrease in purchasing power of $21,000 or over 10% less of a home!

If you are curious about viewing a property on the MLS now, or you have another real estate need, please contact me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com and I will be happy to help you!

RARE 3 bedroom end unit in Burlington

These three bedroom condos have never been listed on the MLS in this development. This unit is priced below appraisal value. Enjoy south-end of Burlington and a quick walk through the woods to lake, bike-path, and park. Updated appliances, floors, new windows, new counter top, updated bathrooms and light fixtures, new roof, new hot-water tank, new smoke detectors, and fresh paint! Pool, tennis court, basket ball court, so much to enjoy! For more info click here
This end-unit is owned by VT state licensed realtor with Coldwell Banker Hickok and Boardman Realty. A 1-year home warranty will be purchased for purchaser. Feel free to email me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com for more information.

How will YOU do in 2010 Year of the TIGER??

On February 14, 2010 the Chinese New Year begins. This will begin the year of the Tiger. Do you know how your Chinese Sign will do this year?

Is this a good time for you to sell or buy a new home? How will your Chinese sign do financially this year? What is the forecast for you romantically? What about your health? Do you know your Chinese animal sign? It actually goes beyond that!

Many sites will calculate your animal sign and briefly tell you how you will do in the year of the tiger. But to be 100% accurate, PLEASE use this site to calculate a detailed actual picture by also factoring in your birth time. YOU NEED to calculate not only your animal sign but ALSO your Ba Zi Element. I have made it easy for you by researching and finding this one site that will serve you best. Click here and scroll down to Ba Zi Element to calculate your forecast for the year of the tiger.


During this time of the Chinese New Year I like to evaluate my feng shui. I like to clean out closets, re-paint rooms, fix broken items in the house, eliminate clutter, and donate things I no longer use. I also like to make a list of goals that I have for the year. The Chinese have red envelopes that they use for this and burn them with their intentions (similar to new years resolutions). It is a nice ritual that I love to do to inspire me for the year.

As you may know, the tax credit eligibility will end at the end of the month April 2010. Interest rates are expected to rise 6%-7% after this time. Although these rates are still historically low, right NOW may be the best time for you and your family to move. If the year of the TIGER is your year, make the most of it now while you can. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want to take a look at a property. You can email me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com

~Picture of tiger taken from Declan McCullah Photography

Lawrence Yun speaks about future of Housing Market; charts included

On Tuesday January 12, 2010 I attended the NVBR meeting at the Shearton in Burlington, Vermont to listen to chief economist, Lawrence Yun speak about the future of the housing market.

I have provided you with three choices. You can either read my TOP FIVE points that I gathered, listen to a video of Lawrence Yun speaking directly where he summarizes these points, or view the Graphs he used that apply directly to his presentation.

Top Five points I gathered from Lawrence Yun presentation on Tuesday January 12, 2010:


1. Price declines are over
2. Inventory is falling meaning we are approaching a more balanced market (balanced market is a six month supply of inventory)
3. We will begin to see an increase in jobs in the next quarter
4. Tax credit is working with 2 million 1st time home buyers potentially claiming credit to date and an expected additional 2.4 million buyers taking advantage of tax credit by the end of June 2010 so that existing home sales will get a 15% boost and home prices will get a 3%-5% boost.
5. Interest rates will rise in the spring perhaps 6%-7% so people should take advantage of the lower rates now allowing them to save more monthly on their mortgage.

Feel free to email me at moniqueb@hickokandboardman.com
with any questions or comments you may have



Picture of Lawrence Yun taken from sarastoarealtors.com

Lawrence Yun speaks about Future of Housing

New pick of the month property since last one sold within week.

So my listing on Weaver Street in Winooski went under contract in less than a week (It was my pick of the month...I called that one!)

I have found another one for you...so you don't get too bummed out.

Imagine yourself roaming through your light filled home in Burlington and walking into your open updated kitchen (with very updated attractive cupboards!). Can you feel the hardwood floors under your feet as you gaze out onto your private yard and deck? This home is priced at $219,900 with 2 bedrooms and additional office space downstairs. This is a fantastic updated home ready for you to move in. I can't believe the value here. My colleague at Coldwell Banker Hickok and Boardman Realty, Geri Reilly, has listed a real gem here! Call me today to schedule a showing. Do yourself a favor and take advantage of the first time home buyer tax credit and low interest rates (wall street journal reported today a significant increase in interest rates over 2010). If you have any comments or would like to schedule a showing, contact me at mbedard@hickokandboardman.com You should really see this home!