This is my first post to the Active Rain network. I hope to have many more. If you want to see what blogging usually looks like for me, go to www.ryple33.blogspot.com . That's what I've been up to with my family for the last year.

Updates and discussions for future blogs:

Underground Fuel Storage Tanks--Vermont Law and Insurance

FHA financing and shared wells

VA financing and water potability testing

Education Tax Prebate---what it means for buyers and sellers

What the market is like in Central Vermont--it's not Miami or Las Vegas, thankfully!

Vermont Agency Disclosure Law, what it means for buyers and sellers

If I haven't gotten to the information in these subtitles by the time you're reading this, shoot me an email. I already have a fair amount of data compiled, as these are recent issues in this selling climate.

Let me be your real estate resource for information and marketing.

Renee OBrien 802-232-4054

Knowledge is the Power for Your Freedom to a Worry Free Home!

The discoloration of wood by staining fungi happens just about exclusively in logs and very freshly sawn lumber. As a precaution, rough lumber is often dipped in a fungicidal bath right after sawing.

This is also called sap stains these fungi are most troublesome in softwoods, black color commonly called blue stain. Now in hardwoods, staining fungi just may create a blue or even a brown hues. The stains result from dark hyphae that permeate sapwood in search of stored starches and sugars. You can also spot inactive blue stain in doors alot of times, millwork and other pine products. Active staining fungi will sometimes discolor the bottom rails and the corners of pine windows that are kept wet from condensation. Now you will find these stains are indelible and will not wash off.

Staining fungi in their search for food, will destroy certain wood cells. This will result in the wood becomeing more permeable, and even more susceptible to decay. The strength and toughness are also slightly reduced as well.

To schedule your Home Inspection appointment E-Mail or Call 603-826-4207 Baker Home Inspection and Consulting.

Non-Member's of AR you are invited to make comments, and ask questions just as member's are.

If you have a question about Home Inspections, or about troubleshooting something to do with your home. I'll be more than glad to help you with them.

You can submit your question in the leave a response box below, be sure to add your name also. Or you can send me an E-Mail.

I live for referrals. I love referrals. If you're happy with my service, please share that with someone who is in the market for a home. Be sure to have them tell me who referred them so I can properly thank you!

I hope you and your family always have a fun and safe day!

In case you have not noticed, all of the graphices and images that I used has messages that will appear when you move your cursor over them. Why not have a little fun and read them.

Copyright 1997-2008 All Rights Reserved

This posting and the contents that are written here are the intellectual property of Baker Home Inspection and Consulting. All views and opinions expressed here by Baker Home Inspection and Consulting and those that are kind enough to leave a comment are just that.

Baker Home Inspection Blog is a part of the Active Rain Real Estate Network, which is a social community network made up mostly of Professional's in the Real Estate Industry.

"Steeped in history, forged in nature, wrapped in luxury-a new legend is rising in the heart of Vermont. Inspired by the mountain that gave birth to the American skiing tradition, Spruce Peak at Stowe stands poised to deliver a new era in luxury alpine living." from their website. . .

I was foresighted enough to recognize that this project was going to be very cool, but I really had no idea how spectacular a finished product they were going to produce. For decades, Stowe had rested on some slightly sagging laurels, its early (I mean real early) contributions to the development of the US ski industry, of course its charm and history as a New England resort town, but the ski area seemed to have missed the boat for much of the last quarter of the Twentieth Century. Snow making and uphill capacity were the domains of other Eastern areas, notably Killington and Sunday River, Stratton, Tremblant. Stowe's Mount Mansfield Baselodge was built sometime in the Stone Age, they used to lay their snowmakers off as soon as they got through Christmas, and no matter when Easter fell on the calendar, it marked the end of the ski season.

But all that has changed, and changed in spades! With the advent of the Spruce Peak Realty project, AIG has brought this mountain to the razor thin leading edge of ski developments in North America, and the world. The luxury is unparalleled. Vail, Beaver Creek, Whistler, Aspen, Deer Valley eat your hearts out. There is a new name in luxury slopeside development, and NOTHING that has come before it comes close: a slopeside mountain village that will never contain more than 400 some residences--and a mix of homesites, multi-million dollar mountain cabins, condominiums and a private residence club, along with upscale retail, new lifts, a stunning Bob Cupp golf course, a new base lodge and a mountain club. Some links to what is happening up there:

http://www.livestowe.com/ownership_opportunities/stowe_mountain_lodge_condominiums.php?page_id=condominiums

http://www.livestowe.com/ownership_opportunities/front_four_at_stowe_mountain_lodge.php?page_id=frontfour

there:http://www.livestowe.com/ownership_opportunities/faq.php?page_id=frontfour#a5

I happen to mention all of this because I was one of the early purchasers of a unit in the Front Four, a truly state-of-the-fractional art Private Residence Club. Now, prior to completion, I find I need to sell my interest. There are a couple of differences between my interest, and the one you would buy today, from the developer. The first, and perhaps most important is the language in the contract. Sometime during the marketing of this project, the developers decided they wanted to discourage speculators, and they replaced the contract to purchase that I bought under with a new one. Today, if you buy a unit, you give the developer the right to buy your unit back from you at the price you paid, should you decide to sell within the first two years(not the obligation to buy it back however--all this does is limit your ability to make a profit). Early buyers gave the developer a first right of refusal as well, but at the price you negotiate with a buyer. In other words, if you or a client, friend or customer were to purchase my interest, there is nothing in the contract language to keep you from making a profit at the first available opportunity. You wouldn't be able to do that with your purchase made today direct from the Spruce Peak Realty LLC.

The other difference (and these are the ONLY two differences) is I will sell mine for 20% less than current developer pricing. Same extraordinary luxury unit, same amenities, same privileges, same membership, same everything, except the dent it puts in your check book. Save $71,800!

I have a contract to purchase upon completion, at two bedroom fraction (an 8th share) in the Front Four. Today, were you to walk in to the sales office and buy this, you would pay $359,000, and get that contract that precludes you from selling at a profit! If you have an interest, let's talk about how you can own my fraction--exactly what they are selling for $359,000, for $287,200, a full 20% discount. AND sell it the next day for a profit if you would like! If you have questions check out the FAQs link above. And if you want to take advantage of my need to sell--be in touch. All my contact info should appear to the right--but just in case, here's my cell 910-315-9977 and my email, fordjill@gmail.com By the way, I do hold a North Carolina Broker's license.

One of the best parts of being a property manager in Washington County, Vermont is that I get to interact with some of the best and generous people in the business. I manage properties all around the nation, but the hospitality here in Vermont is one of a kind. I grew up in this state and I will always carry a sentimental bond to the area.

Managing properties sometimes has its up and down sides for me. Though I love my job, I find it somewhat stressful when I cannot in any way please my client, no matter how hard I truly try. Now do not misunderstand me......I do love my job and I really love the satisfaction of pleasing and helping people, but when they do not understand that you can only do so much it is hard to explain why. Many of my clients in Washington, Vermont are some of the best clientele, we all know there are difficult customers. For me, It's just getting past the ones that you cannot help anymore. In the end If you love your job it's how much you truly give it.

My business lately in Washington County, Vermont has grown significantly. I find many of my customers looking to relocate here. This county offers a wide range of areas that attract people looking for a small town feel to people who want farming land to even people looking for a the small town life. Doing business here is truly a pleasure.

As a property manager of real estate, I am well aware that our current economy is not optimal, but we all need to keep in mind that the economy in general fluctuates-- and especially that the American economy has an unprecedented amount of capital behind it. We have invested our lives; I don't have to tell anyone this. Economically, the U.S. continues to be a vital market particularly in terms of consumption. I have yet to come across a client who has been unhappy with his or her purchase. I have found that the media are over-reacting. My clients continue to look for new homes, and continue to be able to afford them. In the end I still love managing properties Vermont, specifically in the Washington, area.

Growing-up I loved living in Washington, Vermont. Now managing properties all over the country I still have many of my properties here because of the beauty that remains in this area. Vermont is a small state but is full of a wide range of living environments. The market has seemed to slow a bit for me in the past few years, but I'm hoping to bring more people back and open up more establishments.

Being a property manager, it's one of the best and most rewarding feelings when you have clients coming back to you and saying how much they appreciated your services for them. I find the people here in Washington, Vermont are especially appreciative to the time you spend on their special needs for their new home. At first I was nervous to get into this line of work, but now I find it especially rewarding.

A purely personal list subject to change (guaranteed!) of my favorite things to do on Lake Champlain throughout the year:

10. Ice skating,

9. North Beach in Burlington for the day and an evening cookout,

8. Taking any of the Lake Champlain Ferries to catch a sunset or watch the full moon rise or both,

7. Wish List item...Owning a home on Lake Champlain,

6. Jumping off the back of my boat yelling with joy on a hot day in the middle of Lake Champlain,

5. Renting a boat or taking sailing lessons at the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center in Burlington,

4. Going to Basin Harbor passing Cathedral Rocks by boat for dinner,

3. Watching summer storms advance out of the Adirondack Mts across the lake from behind the Coast Guard Station in Burlington,

2. July 4th festivities and fireworks over the Lake Champlain from Waterfront Park in Burlington,

1. Hanging out in my boat, reading a book or listening to the Red Sox, drifting along with no particular place to go.

If you would like to add a comment or add your favorite Top Ten list of favorite things to do on Lake Champlain, please do so by posting a comment here at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Burlington VT Real Estate.