Barre, VT

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.

$5000 for Buying a House in Barre?

Oh, the rumor mill is spinning today. The latest real estate gossip is that Mayor Lauzon of Barre is proposing offering a $5000 incentive for people buying houses in Barre. It's a rumor, so there aren't a lot of details. It sounds as if it may be slightly different than the first time buyers tax credit that the federal government had in place earlier this year.

Instead of a tax credit, this would be a $5000 when the property is purchased.

As a former financial planner, my advice is always to not let the tail (taxes) wag the dog (smart financial decisions). But, if anyone's on the fence, five grand might make a difference. Or, if someone wants to buy a home in Barre, but are struggling to come up with a down payment and closing costs, $5000 might make home ownership a reality.

Where's the money going to come from? Ah, there's the rub. Bike path funding? Some secret stash of cash over in City Hall? I'm not being cynical, just asking questions. But, if homes are bought, improved, and occupied, that will add to the Grand List as well. It might not be a bad investment.

It's just a rumor, and there are a lot of questions, but I'll go on record as saying that I think it's a great idea. Get people into houses, keep local contractors busy, and prevent homes from going into foreclosure. And yes, I'm a taxpayer in Barre too, so I'm probably spending my own money on this.

For more about the Barre real estate market, be sure to visit www.MontpelierBarreRealEstate.com.

Be smart. Remember Ray.

A title like that ought to get people's attention...

I suppose there are places in the country where all the houses are the same, and where all the houses kind of make sense. What fun is that?

I had the pleasure of touring a few homes for sale in Barre today. My favorite adventure was for the one on Beckley Street. Spacious house, spacious yard, just need to get rid of the carpet and some of the religious schwag (I don't mean to offend, but I felt like I should genuflect and drop an envelope in a basket). Ok, all the saints aside, the best part was how I had to get into the basement.

The bulkhead door was locked. But, of course, there was an 18" by 18" hole cut out of a closet floor, a hinged trapdoor, a step notched into the foundation wall, and a rickety table strategically set on the basement floor. What house doesn't have that?

Ninja Realtor Ray squeezed into that hole in the floor in the closet (dear Liza, dear Liza) and found a perfectly pleasant basement.

Post script: Turns out that had I looked underneath one of the Marys in the kitchen (because one Mary in the kitchen just wouldn't cut it), I would've found a key to the lock on the bulkhead door. I wish I could make this stuff up...

The Barre Recreation, Sport, and Home Show is just about to get under way. This year, there's a different set of vendors and displays, which could really be interesting. Onion River Sports is going to be there, evidently with a climbing wall for kids (and maybe Realtors??). There will also be various boat dealers, camper/RV dealers, and other sporting goods stores as well.

The Barre Recreation, Sport, and Home Show is at the Barre Auditorium (The Aud) Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 5:00-9:00.

All of a sudden, a couple of very nice homes for sale in Barre have gone under contract. I'm talking in the $400s. And this is on the heels of a March in which there were ZERO sales in Barre Town.

Could this mean that buyers are finally taking advantage of the repressed prices, and buying value? I've said it before, and I mean it: there are some gorgeous homes for sale in Barre. It's about time someone pulled the trigger and put a couple under deposit.

Hey buyers, let's keep it going. These prices aren't going to last forever. Sellers--good for you! Being realistic about prices in today's market means that you're not going to be sitting here three years from now wondering what happened. You're going to be wherever it is that you wanted to be when you first decided to sell your house.

For more about homes for sale in Barre, Montpelier, Northfield, and U-32, visit www.MontpelierBarreRealEstate.com It's a long URL, but it's easy to remember.