Ray Mikus

I’ve seen an interesting trend recently: Buyers looking for smaller houses for sale in the Barre and Montpelier area.

First time buyers and people looking to downsize into smaller homes (two bedrooms, or two bedrooms with an office) have always been part of the natural real estate market in Central Vermont, and the demand for these properties tends to be fairly steady.

A great way to get into home ownership is to buy something that’s just the right size. Coming from an apartment, two bedrooms and 1400 square feet might seem palatial. And it can be. As time goes on and life changes, perhaps more space is needed (bedrooms, home office, yard, etc.). And guess what? There’s someone else looking for a great way to get into home ownership. See how that works?

But recently I’ve met buyers who are thinking ahead to their retirements. They’re looking for homes that have the option of first floor living, but that don’t necessarily require it. For example, there’s a full bathroom and a bedroom on the first floor, but also another of each on the second floor.

“Compact homes”, as someone has called them, are not for everyone. But the right ones might give pleasant surprises in terms of energy efficiency, maintenance, and cost.

Last night, after a well-attended Norwich University summer barbecue, several folks headed over to Northfield’s newest establishment—The Knotty Shamrock. It's on East Street, across from Common off Main Street in Northfield.

Hits the Mark

After weeks of speculation as to what the newly renovated downtown storefront would look like, it had its grand opening last week. Modeled after a traditional Irish pub, complete with ornate barbacking, and rich interior décor, the Knotty Shamrock also seems to be having a little fun with itself. Amid pub favorites such as Irish stew and pot pie was the Greek Salad…with Irish cucumbers. I love it!

Good Service, Too

The service was spectacular. Our waitress took several orders at once, remembered them, and was quick and professional. All of the tables were full, as were most of the seats at the long bar. Business was definitely booming in Northfield last night.

Small Houses in Central Vermont--Special Market Report

Did you know that in the last 12 months in Washington County, there have been 101 sales of homes that have 1500 square feet or less of living space?

101 sales. That’s more than the total number of sales in Montpelier, Barre City, Barre Town, or the U32 District.

Here’s a breakdown of the past month’s activity for smaller homes in the main area’s major markets (Barre City/Barre Town, Montpelier, Waterbury/Mad River Valley, and the U32 District Towns—Berlin, Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex, and Worcester)

Numbers like this suggest that the market for smaller homes in Central Vermont is strong and active. People look to these homes to provide efficiency and ease of maintenance. Buyers also make lifestyle adjustments that lead them to be interested in a smaller home.

There were some great properties on the Barre real estate caravan this morning. In all, we saw eleven homes for sale in Barre City and in Barre Town. As you might expect, there were some fixer uppers, some that could use a little cosmetic help, and some in mint condition. There were properties within walking distance to Barre, and properties that have a few acres.

As a purely subjective exercise, here are my three favorite homes for sale in Barre that were on the caravan today.

44 Berkeley Street makes the list because it’s a classic house. Lots of space, and a great level yard go nicely with the elegant neighborhood. It’s got a pink and black bathroom. Ok, fine, I admit it, it’s not perfect. But if someone wanted a very solid home with room to run around, and could update the bathroom (and possibly the kitchen), this is a great house.

102 Prospect Street hides much of its simple “European” elegance behind the lovely front landscaping. The downstairs has been opened up, and renovated to reveal hardwood floors and a great kitchen. There’s a nice private sitting area in the backyard, a detached garage, and even additional parking. Plus, it’s got .87 acres, for just that much more seclusion.

33 Country Way is what happens when someone takes meticulous care of a house. From the Corian countertops (and windowsills!) to the hardwood cherry flooring and the flawless landscaping, this house is in mint condition. The basement works great for storage and a workshop, or could be finished for additional space.

In the 1960s, Vermont’s saw an influx of people moving from other states to “get back to the land”. Some of it was counter-culture, but a lot of it was really just people moving to small farmsteads and satisfying very precise goals.

That’s happening again, but for different reasons. Today, we’re seeing more and more buyers who are looking for enough land to have a decent-sized garden, maybe some livestock, and certainly chickens. I’m not sure whether to call these Vermont hobby farms, or small-scale agriculture, or, maybe it’s still called getting back to the land.

Whatever it’s called, it works for a lot of people. They grow their own food, they reconnect with the land, with the seasons, and with the weather. People have realized that even just a few acres of usable land can allow that connection. More ambitious small farmers could do very well with 80 or even 100 acres with good pasture, perhaps a woodlot, and maybe a sugaring operation.

When I talk with people in Central Vermont who are going back to the land, I find out it’s usually done for personal satisfaction. They like knowing exactly where their food comes from, and they like that they’re doing timeless work that also preserves Vermont’s working landscape. They go into these small-scale farms with their eyes open about the work that’s involved. And they love it. It’s satisfying.