National headlines predict doom and gloom for this summer’s
real estate market. But here in Vermont,
we’ve been insulated from much of the mortgage crisis. We look at how area home buyers and sellers are faring, and what they should know about the market this summer. Our guests include Bob Hill, of
the Vermont Realtors Association, and Phil Dodd, publisher of Vermont Property Owners Report. Then, we also check in with
William Supple, who publishes Picket Fence Preview, about how do-it-yourself
sellers are faring. (Listen)
Also, we look back at seven centuries of women writers. UVM English Professor Robyn-Warhol-Down and
five other professors, including UVM faculty members Lisa Schnell, and Mary Lou Kete, have compiled a comprehensive anthology of women’s
writings. We talk with Warhol-Down about how
they began their research and about some of the interesting women they found.(Listen)
And, after a long winter, VPR’s Tim Johnson is ready to
embrace our recent heat wave. (Listen)
Email from listeners-
Sheila in Montpelier–
I sold my house by myself for cash last week in Montpelier and instead of going through a realtor, I went online, got a real estate lawyer and got two appraisals from two realtors (one local, the other national) and there was a $25,000 difference. I started first with word-of-mouth and my neighbor’s friend’s sister was looking to relocate from Arizona – She saw it, loved it, had an inspector come in who actually found a $7,000 problem with foundation, but I argued that my price was still reasonable, and seller finally agreed. I bought my home for $83,000 seven years ago and put in about $30,000 of upgrade, incl. kitchen and bathroom, and now I just made over $100,000 in the sale! Looking back it was much easier than I thought. It took just a few weeks and there’s great info. on the web. So far, so good, esp. since my seller didn’t need a mortgage (makes me want to advise everyone to publicize nationally as well as locally).