Chris Hurd

Used to be if you were Green in anything, it meant you were completely lacking in experience. In 2009, that can mean very, very different things.

Last week, I took a major step forward towards “greening” my professional practice as a Realtor. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) very recently began offering a new designation. This designation, entitled “Green”, will aid Realtors who seek to understand what sustainable homes and communities look like. Terms like “Smart Growth” and features such as “walkability” become important when discussing options around sustainability. PV’s (photovoltaics) for net metering depending upon your utility and for hot water use, use of CFL’s or LED’s become integral parts of the new ”smart, green homes.” Understanding steps that can be taken to retrofit existing properties via home energy audits, thermal imaging, blower door tests and understanding Energy Star ratings go a long way towards making me a truly valuable resource for my clients.

The course began with these three words, “The New Paradigm.” Indeed, long overdue forces are conspiring to bring all of us to our collective knees.

Our historic economic collapse, rising fuel and heating costs because of dwindling supplies (peak oil), and unsustainable global issues surrounding warming & climate change & food distribution are opening up amazing opportunities. Opportunities whose time is now.

I believe Green Homes are the next major trend in home purchases and retrofits. Consumers are going to want and, in fact, demand these new features as a part of their home investment. And if a home doesn’t have energy saving features, it will lower the value and marketability of that home.

A new lexicon is unfolding. I am taking aim at understanding it, being a pivotal resource and bringing it to you.
Much, of course, is underway and there’s a whole lot more in the works. I am delighted to know that Vermont has some of the most stringent building standards when it comes to “Green Homes.”

Last Saturday, I was in a Green Home development of six homes in Hinesburg. Chuck Reiss, the builder, informed me that LEED certification came to Vermont to incorporate what Vermont had already been doing. In fact, Vermont’s standards now exceed LEEDs’. What is important to know is Vermont is in the forefront in this thinking and practice. Our walk exceeds the talk but we are not resting on our laurels. Reiss indicated that Vermont is “looking to further those standards as part of an on going process.” Yea for Vermont! The Green Mountain state. Who would have known how prophetic our state slogan would become…

I was one of 12 Realtors who attended the two day, first ever ”Green” core currliculum class last week in Montpelier being offered by NAR. One of the reasons I was so eager to take the course was it was being taught by one of the founding curriculum designers!

To my surprise, there were only 12 Realtors taking the class and seeking this new professional designation. That attendance figure represents 1% of Realtors statewide. This number will surely grow in the future. However, I am thrilled to be on the cutting edge 1% moving in this important direction now.

Call me at 802.238.5256, email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com or post your comments at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Burlington Vermont Real Estate.

This week an historic economic package proposed by President Obama and negotiated by Congress was signed into law. Piled high with provisions, there were several which impacted real estate and for this specific blog posting the target focus is the provision for first time home buyers.

Here it is:

***Housing help for for First Time Homebuyers such that they can get up to a tax credit of 10% of the value of their new home up to a maximum credit of $8,000 if they close by November 30, 2009. This credit does NOT have to be paid back if you own the home three years. It phases out for single taxpayers making over $75,000 and for married couples filing jointly making over $150,000 (adjusted gross income). First time homebuyers are defined as those who haven't owned a house for at least three years.***

This should be a great boost.

If you are looking to purchase a home, please contact me on my direct line 7 days a week at 802.238.5256. With inventories up, this is a great time to be looking for a home. I would be delighted to help you find just the right first home.

Post your comments at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Burlington Vermont Real Estate.

My 17 year old son wrote this essay about his dear friend, David. He read it aloud to my daughter and I after dinner a few nights ago and we were floored (okay I admit to bias here). We both loved it so much I decided to share it as a reminder as to the incredible, wonderful importance of friendship. Enjoy!

The Person I Know

I have never seen somebody so unhappy after waking up in the morning. Whether its two in the afternoon or at the crack of dawn, the expression is still the same, grief. He keeps his words to a minimum but his anger to a maximum. After hearing this description one would think this person is in depression, but in fact, he's one of my best friends. David Titus is one of the funniest kids I've ever met and continues to bring tears to my eyes with every joke that he tells. David is one of my best friends because of his sense of humor, his endless hours of video game playing, and his house.

One of the key components to a friendship is the ability to laugh with one another for hours on end. David has the knack of having perfect timing when it comes to jokes. On our way back from the Great Escape this summer we decided to put on Tupac in the car. After hearing a couple of his songs David announced a confession he had to make. "When I was a little kid, I used to think I was a part of Tupac's army, I thought I made a difference." Knowing David, this contributed to the absurdity of this comment because he is a white, hippy Vermonter who listens to nothing but Phish. His statement resulted in non-stop laughter and slight embarrassment on his part. Our unique ability to laugh at things that most people wouldn't find funny makes our friendship that much better.

This summer was full of fun, relaxation, and most of all endless nights of video games with David. Call of Duty 4 occupied our lives each and every night. With a headset microphone at our convenience, not only could we play video games online together, but also we could talk about the game at the same time. David is a kid who would be satisfied by playing video games for an entire day, without ever second-guessing his decision. He enjoys relaxing on his nice, black futon placed in his isolated attic, and plays for hours on end. There was a night when we began playing video games at 10 o'clock at night, and finished at 4 o'clock in the morning. This fact alone sums up David's love for video games.

David's residence is essentially a house version of him. It's a place often isolated, but at any moment, can be the center of all activity and entertainment. It's not a very complex house, but has all of the things that make you happy enough to stay around for a while. David resembles his house because often times he is satisfied with being secluded. He finds satisfaction out of spending time alone. However, at any moment he can burst out and do something so funny, multiple people can laugh at him, and all of a sudden he is the center of attention. David, like his house is a simple person as well. Some food, TV, and a guitar are really all he needs in order to live a blissful day. David's simplicity and mysteriousness are key components to how he lives his life, and why so many people find him fascinating.

David Titus is a kid who has the best sense of humor around, enjoys playing video games for hours on end, and has a brilliant house that resembles him. A quote by Frank Crane really sums up the friendship between David and I. "What is a friend? I will tell you...it is someone with whom you dare to be yourself." Because of all the attributes that make David who he is, it allows me to pass the time with someone who will improve my mood by the flick of the switch.

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Call me at 802.238.5256, email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com or post your comments at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Charlotte Vermont Real Estate.

Based upon information provided by the Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors (NVBR) as of today for all of 2008, there were 73 single family residential and condominium units sold within Shelburne Vermont with a total sold volume of $29,251,083. These numbers represent a 7.35% INCREASE in the number of units sold from the same time period one year earlier (1/1/07-12/31/07). Divide this number by the units sold (73) and you get an average sale price of $400,700. These numbers represent a 25.15% reduction in the average sales price from the same time period one year earlier (1/1/07-12/31/07).

Average days on the market for all these 73 properties was 97 compared to 86 one year earlier or 12.79% longer on the market.

Armed with solid numbers, buyers and sellers alike can manage their expectations and the current realities of our local market.

Call me at 802.238.5256, email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com or post your comments at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Shelburne Vermont Real Estate.

(These figures include sold numbers for single family residential and condominium only in all the towns which comprise Chittenden County, Vermont only. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed by Vermont Real Estate Information Network which supplies these figures.)

Based upon information provided by the Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors (NVBR) as of today for all of 2008, there were 219 single family residential and condominium units sold within Burlington Vermont with a total sold volume of $63,344,919. These numbers represent a 29.58% reduction in the number of units sold from the same time period one year earlier (1/1/07-12/31/07). Divide this number by the units sold (1332) and you get an average sale price of $289,246. These numbers represent a 5.49% INCREASE in the average sales price from the same time period one year earlier (1/1/07-12/31/07).

Average days on the market for all these 219 properties was 78 compared to 67 one year earlier or 16.42% longer on the market.

Armed with solid numbers, buyers and sellers alike can manage their expectations and the current realities of our local market.

Call me at 802.238.5256, email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com or post your comments at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Burlington Vermont Real Estate.

(These figures include sold numbers for single family residential and condominium only in all the towns which comprise Chittenden County, Vermont only. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed by Vermont Real Estate Information Network which supplies these figures.)