The O’Brien O’Connell Group Blog
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I'm Kathy. I appreciate discovering customers that care for the land and respect the Vermont lifestyle as much as I do. With enthusiasm, energy, and great care for my clients, I locate dream homes and perfect investment properties along the shores of Lake Champlain and its surrounds.
The O’Brien O’Connell Group Blog
1y ago
When I start daydreaming about building a fantasy life in the country, the image in my head usually contains some kind of cozy cottage. This sherbet-colored abode for sale in Burlington, Vermont, has somehow filled in the blanks of my imagination: a thriving wildflower garden instead of a manicured front lawn, charming architectural details, and a covered entryway practically make it the home of my dreams ..read more
The O’Brien O’Connell Group Blog
3y ago
Thanks for visiting us at kathyobrien.com, we hope you are enjoying this early autumn weather as much as we are! Below you will find some fun ideas to make the most of our most famous season. Anyway, enjoy the crisp air and some vicarious peaks into gorgeous Vermont homes as you poke around our site.
Fall Foliage Tour: Check out this leaf-peeping guides and discover the best foliage in the state. Go on a Hike: Check out these awesome day hikes featuring some of the best fall foliage in Vermont.
  ..read more
The O’Brien O’Connell Group Blog
3y ago
Nationwide, existing home sales were down slightly in August, falling 2% after
two consecutive months of increases, according to the National Association of
REALTORS®. The decline in existing home sales coincides with rising sales
prices, which have continued to soar into fall, with the median sales price of
existing homes up 14.9% compared to last year. Declining affordability has had
a significant impact on homebuyers, many of whom have been priced out of the
market and are choosing to wait for sales prices to ease before resuming their
home search.
New Listings decreased 10.4 percent for ..read more
The O’Brien O’Connell Group Blog
3y ago
With Four Seasons Sotheby's International Realty, you have the capacity to reach audiences across the country and even the globe to market your unique property. Below you will see an ad we posted recently for our listing in Burlington that featured in a New York Times flipbook. We have all sorts of creative and fun ways of advertising your real estate ..read more
The O’Brien O’Connell Group Blog
3y ago
From Madeline Bilis for ApartmentTherapy.com Why we have a crush on this property
When I start daydreaming about building a fantasy life in the country, the image in my head usually contains some kind of cozy cottage. This sherbet-colored abode for sale in Burlington, Vermont, has somehow filled in the blanks of my imagination: a thriving wildflower garden instead of a manicured front lawn, charming architectural details, and a covered entryway practically make it the home of my dreams.
The charm continues inside the circa 1928 home, where a wood stove wa ..read more
The O’Brien O’Connell Group Blog
3y ago
Per Northern Vermont Board of Realtors:
The booming U.S. housing market has spilled over to the rental market, which
has seen demand for apartment and single-family rentals skyrocket this year, as
high sales prices and an inadequate supply of available housing have forced
many prospective buyers to rent for the foreseeable future. Increased demand
for housing, along with an improving economy, has competition for rental units
soaring, and landlords are taking note, with the national median rent increasing
11.4% in 2021 so far, according to Apartment List.
New Listings decreased 21.7 percent fo ..read more
The O’Brien O’Connell Group Blog
3y ago
The White House recently announced additional measures to help struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure as they exit forbearance, including loan modifications and payment reductions. Borrowers with federally backed mortgages can lock in lower interest rates and extend the length of their mortgages. For borrowers who can’t resume their monthly mortgage, HUD will offer lenders the ability to provide all eligible borrowers with a 25% principal and interest reduction.
New Listings decreased 23.3 percent for single-family homes and 26.7 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Pending Sales decreased ..read more
The O’Brien O’Connell Group Blog
3y ago
Per Daniel E. Slotnik of the New York Times
Vermont has at least partially vaccinated 80 percent of residents 12 or older, allowing it to lift all remaining state pandemic restrictions, Gov. Phil Scott announced on Monday.
Federal data confirmed that the state passed the 80 percent milestone first, while lagging vaccination rates elsewhere have imperiled President Biden’s national goal of getting shots into the arms of at least 70 percent of adults over 18 by July 4.
“I’m very proud to announce that Vermont has now become the first state in the nation to vaccinate ..read more
The O’Brien O’Connell Group Blog
3y ago
School’s out, and as vaccination rates rise and America enters a new normal, the U.S. housing market continues along at a frenzied pace, with low-interest rates and limited inventory fueling record-high sales prices. May saw the median existing-home sales price exceed $350,000, a 24% increase and the largest year-over-year increase since 1999, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Eager buyers are making multiple offers, some for well over the asking price, while others are making offers on homes sight unseen.
New Listings decreased 3.3 percent for single-family homes but increa ..read more
The O’Brien O’Connell Group Blog
3y ago
Ultra-low mortgage rates returned this week, with lenders offering home buyers and refinancers a chance once again to lock in a rate below 3%. But the National Association of REALTORS® warns that these low rates in the 2% range won’t last much longer, and mortgage rates likely will edge up soon. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.95% this week, Freddie Mac reports.
“Mortgage rates are continuing to offer many homeowners the potential to refinance and increase their monthly cash flow,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. Homeowners who refinanced their 30-year fixed-rate mor ..read more