Vermont’s economy is stable throughout these challenging times. Tom Kavel, economist for the Vermont State Legislature, indicates that the state has put away $60 million in stabilization reserve funds and $30 million in the human services caseload reserve. The state is working on a level funding budget for next year. What does this mean for [...]

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Driving through Stowe on my way home, I cannot help but notice the difference in traffic from when I first discovered this gorgeous community 44 years ago. We got around in a 1965 Ford Mustang then. My parents had heard an announcement on the radio about the “quaint little town south of the border”. One [...]

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You have the most impeccable credit history. Your finances are in good order. You were pre-approved even before you finished filling out the pre-approval paperwork. You’ve enlisted the assistance of the best Realtor. You have approached your home search with diligence and intelligence; there is no doubt about that. So don’t play head games with [...]

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In a July 28 National Association of Realtors press release, NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun spoke true words of wisdom when he said, “The best way to ensure a more solid recovery in housing is to simply return to normal, sound credit standards so more creditworthy home buyers can get a mortgage.” Yun’s comment follows [...]

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“I want my paintings to represent the atmosphere around me at the very moment I’m using my brush against canvas. This translates into painting climate, touch, and all the sensory aspects along with the actual scene.” Mehdi Fallahian, author of these words of wisdom, silently set up his easel in the exact spot he knew [...]

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“Owning a house remains central to Americans’ sense of well-being,” begins a June 29, New York Times article. The American Dream is an important part of what we value and we put a lot of efforts into preserving our values. Actually, we put a lot of effort into living our values. According to the same [...]

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The Lamoille River attracts fishermen, artists and photographers, as well as canoe and kayak enthusiasts. In Wolcott, Vermont, Fisher Bridge, an authentic railroad covered bridge, stands as a reminder of history, on the tracks that serviced the local industry when Wolcott was home to several mills and about 1,500 sheep roamed its pastures. Wolcott was [...]

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Ben Hewitt,  author of “The Town That Food Saved: How One Community Found Vitality in Local Food” and back-to-the-land activist,  brought great attention to the town of Hardwick, VT with his book. Some senior-level English, Hazen Union High School, students have been discussing Hewitt’s book. They believe there is more to the story. Nancy Demers, [...]

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A recent conversation with a colleague led to further investigation and brainstorming. We were discussing how finding the right words for our audience can be a bit tricky. If that were the only concern, it would not be much of a challenge, but social media bring a new perspective to the picture: positioning. In short, [...]

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“Loose lending practices seen during the housing bubble allowed 5 million renters to become homeowners …the market is in the protracted process of evicting this group.”- Bloomberg Businessweek This statement offers much to think about. While it is true that all of us, at some point in our lives, make decisions that are not necessarily [...]

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