Chris Hurd

Based upon information provided by the Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors (NVBR) as of today for all of 2008, there were 1332 single family residential and condominium units sold within all the towns which comprise Chittenden County in Vermont with a total listed volume of $373,414,987. These numbers represent a 23.39% 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 $280,342. These numbers represent a 3.32% 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 1332 properties was 91 compared to 74 one year earlier or 22.97% 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.)

This Friday and Saturday night, February 6th and 7th, The Banff Mountain Film Festival's World Tour returns to Burlington, VT. Showtimes each night begin at 7pm and tickets are $12 and $10 with student ID. The event takes place at the University of Vermont's Ira Allen Chapel. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the SkiRack in Burlington at 802.658.3313 or at the door, if tickets are still available.

The Banff Film Festival World Tour
http://www.banffmountainfestivals.ca...ns/newyork.asp

The World Tour brings a selection of the best films from the Banff Film Festival located in Banff, Canada, a stunningly beautiful mountain town in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The Banff World Tour generally offers about 30 films, including many of the Film Festivals Award Winners in a variety of subjects, styles, lengths and activities.

Having attended this event in previous years, I can promise this is a great night of fun, thrills, beauty and reverence of outdoor life.

Whether you're an experienced mountaineer, weekend warrior or couch potato adventurer, this event is for everyone. (I have brought my children when they were 7&8 years old and they loved it) Don't miss out on all the fun and excitement this weekend!

See you there!

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.

The Old Brick Store is being resurrected!

Charlotters can now rejoice at the current transformation of our cherished, historic store. New owners, Carrie MacKillop and Shannon Straight, encourage anyone to stop in to see all the goings on currently underway. The space is being opened up to maximize its natural beauty - the wood floors, the brick, the big windows.

The "new" Old Brick Store will be providing all the basic staples but they'll be offering products that are both conventional or organic and sustainable. The owners hope customers will want to be informed about their food sources and the degree to which their purchases can affect global and local economies. In essence, a store with a conscience.

In addition, the intent is not to be a gourmet grocery store, though there will be some more pricey items than at say our area grocery stores. Yet, the focus will be on simplicity. Fresh vegetables for a dinner salad, local beef, chicken or pork for dinner, fresh breads, a good wine selection, baking items. The intent is to have everything one needs to make dinner, bake cookies, make lunches, bring a meal over to share with friends well, you get the idea.

We can expect to find a full espresso bar, with latees, hot chocolate, chai and teas. Local Artisan coffees, an expanded and upgraded deli, a selection of prepared soups and meals, a penny candy counter and newspapers to include the New York Times once again when the store opens! How's all that sound? If that's not enough, pizza will be available beginning this Spring. Yea!

The owners want to encourage and provide a resource for local shoppers to remain close to Charlotte to find the goods they want and need.

The Old Brick Store is seeking community support as it approaches its mid-February Grand Opening. The new owners are building a "community supported enterprise" model to garner local affinity. Supporters can provide an investment of $500 to $1,000. Debit cards in the amount of the investment plus 10% are given back to each supporter. They can use their card for up to 10% each month of their original investment.The cards never expire and members never lose any of their balance, regardless of how long it takes to use up the card. The obvious intent here is to have local supporters actually use the store.

If you would like to become a supporter/member of the Old Brick Store or just to "pitch in", call 802.425.2421 or just stop in.

Good luck!

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.

Remember the feeling when you rediscover something or see it in a new way? Remember those feelings? Something is triggered deep within. I had such an experience last Sunday afternoon. I decided I needed fresh air and it had been some time since I had hiked the property at Shelburne Farms. Most the time, I journey to Lone Tree Hill for its unbelievable views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains to the west and Vermont's Green Mountains to the east. (Truth be known it's one of the very best places to see sunsets and moon rises. A full moon rise over the Farm Barn is a sight to behold.

Last Sunday was cold. A fair amount of biting wind to boot as I crossed the open meadows from the Visitor's Center en route to the Farm Barn and Loan Tree Hill. There were a few other like minded souls out and about exchanging warm, friendly smiles. Economy be damned I thought.

As I reached the granite bench atop Lone Tree Hill, the views simply compel one to sit and take stock. In what can be described as a pre-meditative euphoria, I absorbed the churning clouds weaving their way through the Adirondacks's lofty summits. The clouds were moving at such high speed from the north. A squall line was clearly visible with its accompanying wall of snow advancing across the lake.

I sat and marvelled at the beauty sprawling before me. (Now, this is my idea of sprawl I thought.)

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Sheer, simple beauty.

I must have been there fifteen minutes or more. Reminiscing other visits here, to this very spot, within all seasons and weather...

I felt deeply moved in those moments.

I felt a rediscovery of Shelburne Farms for sure but I also felt a rediscovery of something far greater. A re-connecting with something within which periodically flickers or reverts to hibernation.

I could feel my body responding to the vigorous walk - a bit winded as I took my seat on the stone cold bench. My senses opened by the beauty of the landscapes on display in so many forms. The weather creating its own dynamic energy. All of this I could see, feel, hear, touch and taste.

As the cold from the bench permeated one end of me and the ever increasing winds buffeted another, I felt inspired to continue the journey down unexplored trails and warm up my chilled body. Descending the southwest corner of Lone Tree Hill into the woods, the wind ceased to gnaw. It grew rather quiet. My senses were realingning - once again. Ahhhh. This is good too I thought.

The trail opened up into a meadow with views of the west, the south and the north. Undulating landscapes bordered by trees and forest. What sorts of critters hid from my view I pondered...

Further west, I travelled into deeper snow the result of unused, unworn trails. Ohhhhh, I like this even more. I felt somewhat pioneering.

To my astonishment, the snow squall line seen from above had reached my body. A fiercesome wind and heavy snow stung my face. I shielded my cheeks and eyes from the pounding I was taking. But strangely, it felt good. The snow melting and drooling across my face.

Wow.

I came upon a building which turned out to be the backside of The Coach Barn, an angle I had never seen before. And there I could see Lake Champlain up close. I continued another one hundred and fifty yards to the lake's edge where high up on a cliff I could feel the frigid dampness enhanced by the combination of Mother Nature's forces. I wove my way between various trees, whose names I wish I'd known, for a closer look.

Ice flows hugging the shores, the howling wind, the grayness of it all, horizontal snow, waves crashing against rocks.

I stood there quietly. I was in love.

After five minutes or so, I continued on past the Inn, long closed up for the season. I remembered summer concerts on the lawns there, thunderstorm watching under the south facing portico, my dad's visits when he would splurge and stay as a guest...

Facing directly north now my cheeks tightened as I tacked into the wind.

Why on earth did this feel so good?

Walking along the access road, past the milking barn, up the hill into the woods, I felt I was living a Robert Frost poem.

Further up the hill and around a bend the Farm Barn came back into view. Frederick Law Olmstead got this place just right.

Still snowing furiously, I reached my blanketed car. While brushing her off, I contemplated. I contemplated it all.

And I thanked God for places like this.

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.

Deep into November, the only color found exists in the sky at dusk. Sunsets, this time of year, and sunrises for that matter too can be just sensational. But do we notice in our hurried, frenetic holiday modes???

This year we all have a lot on our minds...

An historic election now yields to an upcoming historic inauguration for all of us to rejoice and celebrate. Hopes our nation will discover her unfolding new identity, resolve to tackle our personal and at-large challenges with unrelenting determination. We share all this as we collectively focus inward.

For those of us in Vermont, we turn inward from the cold weather and further inward still toward the warmth of hearth and home and end of year holidays. Inward toward those we love and those for whom we are grateful. Inward toward those that touch our lives in meaningful, special ways. Inward toward grateful appreciation for what we have, for our lot in life.

I want to thank my children and my family for their love, laughter and support and for the continual spirit of renewal within those relationships. I want to thank my loyal friends for our shared laughter and good memories. For your devotion when my chips were down when I was ill last March. I want to thank my clients for their business, loyalty, and for referring me to those they love and trust me to take care of. I want to thank my body for incredibly mending itself when it was put to the test.

Thanks to the stars and the fireflies, the summer outdoor concerts, dancing with my daughter, goofing with my son, thunder and lightning storms from my front porch, the power of healing, the power of love, the power of touch and the beauty of mother nature all around us when we slow down just enough to connect to her.

The stock market is what it is and all the rest. But for now, it is good to try and keep it simple. It is good, no it is great, to be grateful for all I have, for I have much.

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving holiday! Travel safely. Love preparing meals with those that make you laugh and you care about. Be grateful. Lend your hands.

Peace!

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.