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View Full Version : Small House Swoon in VT


catherine
2-3-17, 11:03am
Oh, geez. I just saw this seasonal house for sale: 62K with lake rights to Lake Champlain!!!

https://www.hickokandboardman.com/real-estate/st-albans-town/126-hickory-house-road/4603387.html

Not that I can buy at the moment but shoot, it fits so nicely into my "grand plan" We could live there for the summer and downsize my year-round house in NJ or even rent in Ocean Grove where the winter rentals are dirt cheap.

I wonder what St. Albans is like? Anyone know?
Tybee
2-3-17, 11:11am
Was there about 30 years ago for a summer vacation--absolutely wonderful. Would move there in a heartbeat.
catherine
2-3-17, 11:42am
Was there about 30 years ago for a summer vacation--absolutely wonderful. Would move there in a heartbeat.

I'm going to call my VT real estate agent and get her thoughts. What the heck.
herbgeek
2-3-17, 11:55am
Why not? I had no idea taxes would be that high for such a small place not on the water. My brother has a cabin in neighboring Milton, and that's where we did our summer vacation every year as kids.
CathyA
2-3-17, 12:26pm
Really nice!
JaneV2.0
2-3-17, 12:32pm
Don't you have a house for sale? Great place to sink the proceeds.
(On the other hand, one house is more than I can handle...:D)
catherine
2-3-17, 12:52pm
I had no idea taxes would be that high for such a small place not on the water. My brother has a cabin in neighboring Milton, and that's where we did our summer vacation every year as kids.

Gee, I thought the taxes were really low.. but then again, I live in NJ, where "low" taxes are under $10k.

I'm also looking at Milton. Also the islands, although I'd really like to stay within 45 minutes of Burlington.
catherine
2-3-17, 12:56pm
Don't you have a house for sale? Great place to sink the proceeds.
(On the other hand, one house is more than I can handle...:D)

I know.. that's what I'm thinking, although 1st priority is getting out of this danged debt. If there's enough left over for a cash buy that would be totally awesome.

If I did that, I would definitely plan on selling my home within in a couple of years. Your point about more than 1 house being more than you could handle--I feel the same way. I'm not good at multi-tasking or multi-domiciling. That's why even renting a beach house during the winter is a good alternative to owning two homes.
Teacher Terry
2-3-17, 2:23pm
Really cute! It looks bigger then 525 sq ft.
oldhat
2-3-17, 5:24pm
Was there about 30 years ago for a summer vacation--absolutely wonderful.

Vermont is indeed beautiful and Burlington is a great town. Before you consider moving there permanently, though, you might want to spend a few weeks there in February.
razz
2-3-17, 7:15pm
Catherine, I really thought about what I am about to say but think that it needs to be said. It is time for a reality check.

You mentioned that you were 65 now and hoping to retire in a few years so close to 70 and moving to Vt or NH area. Instead of dreaming what you would use now, please consider what you would need in 10 years time. You will not be moving between a summer and winter place but needing a stable location that gives you access to services year-round - libraries, food supply, healthcare, support services, etc.
Too many people buy real estate for the present level of activity and then fail to plan for the future requiring huge changes down the line when they are in an emergency situation. Houses around me with large yards come on the market because the owners can no longer maintain them. A man moved to the neighbourhood 10 years ago but after heart issues developed, he is regretting his past move as it is very stressful trying to make difficult decisions when he is not well. He wished that he had looked ahead.
I bought my house new based on what I would need at age 90. One floor, easy to access, handy to services and easy to maintain. In 10 years, I will need to replace the roof and probably the furnace and AC; the rest is done.
Really think about it and make your move before you have to.
catherine
2-3-17, 9:28pm
Hey, razz, thank you for thinking carefully about your good advice to me. I understand what you're saying--I do. Both places I would consider living in (New Jersey & VT) would hopefully be close enough to those amenities you mention--in fact, that's pretty important to me. This particular house (which really is a pipe dream at the moment, but is similar to what I'd want) is 45 minutes to Burlington, a town that has everything I would want in terms of libraries, healthcare services, community, etc. Whether 45 minutes is too far away I'd have to decide--it probably is, but it's not out of the question at the moment.

I think about my own family, and I feel comfortable modeling their elder years. As I've said many times, I spent my summers with my aunt at a summer cottage that she built with her husband. She was 70 when I started visiting her and 92 when we spent our last summer together. If something had happened to her health-wise, she would also have been about 40 minutes to Yale-New Haven Hospital. Thankfully, nothing ever happened to her when I stayed with her, nothing even as minor as a cold.

And she did shuttle between the beach and her home--a garden apartment--up near Hartford. As I said, my winter home would possibly be a rental at a beach community, where those little houses are all on one level, and this particular community I'm thinking of is VERY strong.

I will keep what you say in mind as DH and I make these decisions, but rest assured that community amenities are at the top of my list.