Lauri Bessey

Positive Thoughts:

The wave is coming to Vermont! Northern Massachusetts and Souther New Hampshire are reporting a lot of real estate activity. Get your car gassed up, sharpen your pencils, get ready to sell some real estate!

I did a little research for my area (Eastern-Central Vermont). I found that real estate sales for 2008-2009 are about equal to sales in 2000-2001, which was a very good year in our area. It may seem slower, but that could be due a higher number of real estate agents here. You need to make yourself stand out.

There are so many good reasons to buy right now. First time home buyer tax credit, lowest interest rates on record, lots of inventory to choose from and most sellers are ready to negotiate.

We have some awesome listings here at Dark Horse Realty...........take a look for yourself..... www.darkhorserealty.com

Calling all buyers, now is the time!

And so it is. Ground Hog Day. The days are getting longer and the air is getting warmer......teasing us about the upcoming spring season. SPRING....it will come!

I am feeling very hopeful about the real estate market in Vermont. Although the National reports can make anyone feel glum, all we can do is focus on our local markets. There are some wonderful properties for sale here. Vermont has a lot to offer.

Our local Realtor Board is reporting that businesses in the area are interested in networking. For a few years everyone was so busy, it wasn't necessary to make connections, stop and talk to each other, promote our fellow businesses. That trend is changing.

Now is a great time for us to patronize local restaurants and event facilities for this purpose. They need us and we need them. These businesses help draw buyers to our area.

Internet, email, texting, blogging.....all great tools. However, mingling with your peers, having a laugh or two, getting to know each others strengths, we still need to do that.

This may sound strange to those of you in large metropolitan areas.....but up here in the Green State of mom and pop businesses............we all need to stick together.

Be well everyone,

A Big Veteran's Day Thank You to those who have served and are serving. We appreciate your service and sacrifice!

Here is a photo of my nephew Darin, who is serving currently in Iraq. We miss you Darin, God Speed

Over the last few months, I have heard that more and more insurance companies are unwilling to issue homeowner's insurance polices for properties that have an underground oil tank.

Several insurance agents have mentioned to me that the day may come when it is impossible to get such coverage.

The tanks, usually made of steel, are prone to rusting. Rusting leads to leakage which can lead to pollution of groundwater and wells. A huge concern for all of us.

Due to the potential problems with the tanks, many home buyers are putting a contingency in their purchase and sales contract requiring the seller to have any underground oil tanks removed before closing (this happened during a sale of mine last June in Weathersfield, Vermont). It was not insurmountable, but did take some extra effort to coordinate.

Any tank that is out of service for more than one year must be permanently closed.

The cost to remove a tank can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500 depending on the location.

The State of Vermont does have a program which provides a grant of $1000 to qualifying homeowners to have these tanks removed. The program has a $100,000.00 limit per year beginning on July 1st. I am told the funds run out quickly.

The State of Vermont maintains a list of contractors who will remove the tanks.

For more information about the grant program or to get a list of contractors, you can contact the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation at (802) 828-3888.