VT Vacation Home - The Hull Truth

LI Sound Grunt · 02-28-2005, 11:05 AM

Have been visitung with friends in Cavandish and Proctorville near Okemo these past few weekends and like the area. The Wethersfield area seems a bit cheaper. Other than skiing the area seems just plain beautiful and offer tons of hunting and fishing. Yet its only about 140 miles from here and its an easy 2 and 1/2 hr. drive.

Am planning to buy a second home after I sell one of my boats and that area seems to be growing fairly fast yet is fairly close for New Yorkers and New Jersites.

Any recommendations for a broker, or alternative places to look? Am looking for mainly a home in the woods for my kids and family to share as a year round get-away and ski home and secondarrliy an affordable investment.

I know there are some green mountain boys here and lots or realtors. I sorta did the boating thing in excess over the years and will still keep my old Carver as a cottage here but am hoping to find a new hobby/ investment /family sport with a bit more return. Long term I selling/giving my current residence to one of the kids and after the wife retires living up North then down south for part of the winter.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Mist-Rest · 02-28-2005, 01:08 PM

If you went up to the NE Kingdom I know where you can find 5 acre lots for short $$$ and no broker yet. It's minutes away from Burke Mtn. My sister has a 10 acre and is buying another 5 that abuts her. I only mention this as an idea. I have nothing to gain. FYI (FWIW) I was told that land in VT must have soils tests prior to going on the market.

UNCFISH · 02-28-2005, 01:19 PM

Check out Chimney Hill in Wilmington VT. It is 8 miles from Mount Snow. There is a trout fishing river that runs through it, and there is a large reservior that is right by there as well with excellent bass fishing, i'm sure there are other fish in there as well. Also is in direct connect with all the VT Snowmobile trails. My family used to have a place up there and it is great year round. Haystack Mountain is a really tall peak with a not so bad hike up it. you could take a full family up that peak over and over and never get tired of the views or the hike.

Tuna Man · 02-28-2005, 07:44 PM

Just some thoughts for you to consider.

My parents bought a small A frame house in northern Vermont about twenty years ago. They paid 35K for the furnished house with thirteen acres. We (my family of four) make an annual trip to "God's Country" every year for New Years week. The reason we only make the trek once a year is due to the 6.5 hour ride from NJ (without weekend trraffic).

My parents are very close to retiring and are about to have a new, modest, energy efficient house built. The rules are very different in VT when compared to NJ. Most people do not take permits for work done on their houses. Some may even build a new house without permits. Some of the biggest stumbling blocks my parents have faced is getting a top notch builder to travel to the extremely rural area, soil samples, well testing and location, septic system design and location, road access, etc.

I am fearful that my parents will go stir crazy when they finally move to VT. They have lived in NJ all of their lives and may find the solitude rather depressing. Also they will be leaving most of their family, friends co-workers, neibhors, etc. They are rather social and I fear they may have a tough time adjusting.

The good news. You are considering southern VT. Much more to do, stores closer, weather not so rough in the winter (I have witnessed negative 21 degrees - with wind chill was near 40 below), only 2.5 hours to CT so you may get company once in a while, good skiing, good fishing, etc.

The advantages of Northern Vt (Enosburg Falls / Montgomery Center area) are: property much less expensive that southern VT, you will never have someone "stop in" on you un-anounced (actually had Jehova's Witnesses stop by once years ago?), for fun you can go "cow tippin" or to a "cow patch throwing contest", lots more wildlife I assume (is it elks or moose?) as it is more desolate, do whatever you want as there are no neibhors to comlain, visit Canada as it is only seven miles away, Montreal is about two hours, Burlington is about an hour away.

Sorry for the rambling. Stick to your plan, you and your family will appreciate it for years to come.

Kamper · 03-02-2005, 01:34 PM

Just a thought, look over the river in New Hampshire. At the moment there is no personal income tax here.*That will*help if you decide to retire to the area.*Right now Vermont's property taxes are a little higher but that yo-yo's a bit.

Good luck!

ubettcha13 · 03-02-2005, 05:12 PM

My folks live in weathersfield off the the center road Town n country realators I think in ascutney or claremont nh they are very good tell em a friend of dj"s sent you

LI Sound Grunt · 03-03-2005, 09:26 AM

Thanks to all!!!

Very good guidance!! Now, if I can sell one of my boats - which I think I will lower the price on, I can have a little $$ for a deposit...

And I will be contacting the Wethersfield realator...

KeithS · 03-03-2005, 01:04 PM

I was born in St Johnsbury and my parents live in Danville just 12 mi out of town. I know I'm biased but just gotta say there is nothing like Caledonia County. I'm not a big ski area fan or southern Vt. fan because of all the out of towners that flood the area. You need to go a bit farther north. Pretty much anything above White River Junction is fine. Also I would stay away from the western part of the state such as Essex County because that's growing way out of control also. Although the water is my new (4yrs) local adventure I still need to get up into the mountains and re-charge my batteries. The sea is now in my blood but if I had to choose between the two, the mountains of Vt are my whole being and my home.

LI Sound Grunt · 03-03-2005, 04:18 PM

Thanks Keith

Given the prices I am looking at I may be forced further North. Are the bugs there as bad as in backwoods Maine in the spring and early summer?

KeithS · 03-03-2005, 07:53 PM

Their there but I don't think they are as bad as Maine, typical black flies etc and it seems like a shorter season for them. Although I did a little camping at Lake Dunham about 20mi south of Burlington once about 8yrs ago and the mosquitos were outrageous.

gozspeed · 03-03-2005, 10:34 PM

HEY LI SOUND GRUNT,

I just bought a place up in Killington. I was originally looking in the Okemo MT area also.
Strongly considered a place in Ludlow.

But I had a broker in the okemo area tell me if I wanted good value for my $$$ and the best chance at a strong upside in value that Killimngton was the place.

I didn't believe him at first , figuring Killington has to be pricey. But instead what I found is that because Killington the mountain company was in financial trouble the real estate in the area had gotten depressed temporaraly. Now there are some new investors that are getting involved with what most ski people believe to be the Aspen of the east!

Anyway in short the real estate though still on the lower side , is starting a strong uphill movement!

Real estate values in Killington are almost half of what Okemo values are .

Here is the name and # of the broker I dealt with and was very happy with, who also knows Killington real estate like no other

Peter Metzler # is 802-236-7528

Good luck,

SAL GOZZO

PS There are numerous lakes in the area for some good fihing in the warmer months!!

Grady White · 03-10-2005, 11:21 AM

Ahhhh, The Northeast Kingdom... Man that is great up there.* I earned my BS in Business at Lyndon State and I have to say it was some of the best years in my life!!!

Burke is a great place although I haven't been up there in a couple years the place was always changing hands.

Got to love the wooden horse in St. Johnsbury and the packing house in Lyndonville.

Only problem with up north it sure as heck isn't a 2 hour trip from CT.

Mist-Rest · 03-10-2005, 11:37 AM

GW, My sister went to Green Mtn. was out back in 84 I think. Her and Bill always loved the North as such they built for snowmobiling and downhill ski. Great views, I love to rolling hills. Problem up there is jobs. Not much to do. Problem for me is bars, There is only 2 and the food ain't that great in the one that serves it. The place I was told was up for sale. Gen store, gas station, and the bar/rest. The place I know is a diamond in the rough. With the right people, you would go to the bank in a dump truck.

KeithS · 03-10-2005, 12:17 PM

GW, not sure but I think the Wooden Horse went the same route as Granpa's Cigar. A lot of stores went belly up when a quarter of rail road st burnt to the ground a 3-4 winters ago. They are rebuilding and trying to get more business in the downtown area. And your right about the time for travel it takes a good 4hrs before you pull into St. J, my best time was just about 3hrs and that was leaving at 12midnight and flying.

Grady White · 03-10-2005, 01:36 PM

I know what you mean Keith... I made it to school one time in 3 hours but that was doing 90 MPH all of VT.* I was lucky not to get pulled over.* I will say one thing though I used to know where to get beer at every exit

* I don't know if that is a good thing or bad thing!

KeithS · 03-10-2005, 03:36 PM

I hear ya. That was a long time ago now. I don't think I could survive it again.