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John Biondolillo Inducted Into Athletic Hall Of Fame
Broker/Owner John Biondolillo was recently inducted into the University of Rochester’s Athletic Hall of Fame. John was the number one player on the golf team for all four years and the first All-American golfer in Rochester history! He was honored alongside eight other athletes who displayed the highest skill in his or her sport.
Congratulations, John… what an animated and touching speech about your passion for golf!
William Raveis Stowe Realty Appoints New Vacation Specialist
STOWE, VT (September 28, 2015) – William Raveis Stowe Realty and Stowe Realty Rentals are proud to welcome a new vacation specialist to the real estate and rentals team.
Curry Galloway
Curry Galloway joins the Stowe office to oversee the rentals division and further develop the company’s growing portfolio of vacation rental properties. She has a background in business and administration working in commercial real estate for Equity Office Properties and in the biotech and healthcare industries of Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
“We are fortunate to have Curry join the rentals division,” said John Biondolillo, principal broker and owner of William Raveis Stowe Realty. “With our Main Street office presence and the forward momentum of our William Raveis affiliation, I’m confident that Curry will play a key role in providing exceptional customer care and continuing our company’s evolution in the industry.”
Galloway commented, “I am excited for this new opportunity with Stowe Realty Rentals and look forward to growing our clientele base and implementing the top-quality service that Stowe renters and owners have come to expect.”
Galloway is also a recreation enthusiast and is actively involved in the outdoor industry in northern Vermont.
William Raveis Stowe Realty is a full-service real estate brokerage company. Its rentals division, Stowe Realty Rentals, markets and rents vacation, seasonal and long-term Stowe-area lodgings.
Raveis Brand Adds Maine Office
From left to right: Glenn Felson (William Raveis Affiliates), Chris Almasi, Nancy Carleton, Poe Cilley, Dick Coombs, and John Biondolillo (regional manager for William Raveis)
We have a new real estate partner in Maine!
William Raveis Real Estate has affiliated with Maine’s Carleton Realty, creating William Raveis Carleton Real Estate, a combination that will provide significant marketing advantages to sellers of Maine homes and more insightful research to buyers.
The affiliation will embolden real estate connections throughout the Northeast. Go team!
Read the full story on the Raveis blog.
Skiing In Vermont
Vermont ski mountains continue to make improvements for the upcoming 2015-16 season, according to “What’s New for the Ski Vermont 2015-16 Season?” by Ski Vermont. Snow-making efficiency upgrades and adding more space and amenities are on the docket to make your ski experience even better this year. These enhancements paired with an Old Farmer’s Almanac predicted colder and snowier winter could mean another stellar season for those flocking to Vermont mountains to ride the “pow!”
Right up the road for our Stowe office, Stowe Mountain Resort will soon unveil a new building that adds more family-fun amenities and services, including an ice rink, Adventure Center and Alpine Clubhouse. Skiers and riders will also have more shopping and dining options during their stays on the mountain. Bolton Valley, only a quick half-hour drive from Stowe, is adding a new restaurant, South of Solitude, that will freshen the resort’s eatery options plus their team has even more ski and snowboard inventory for those needing a rental to hit the trails.
The agents in our St. Johnsbury office are excited for the Q Burke Mountain’s new conference center, adding another meeting space option, or, after work, a place to dine and relax alongside some of the best views in Vermont.
And our newest associates in Stratton will see an expanded base lodge and improved telecommunications infrastructure. The resort is even adding a webcam at the summit to broadcast mountain conditions (and shenanigans!).
If you are looking forward to ski season as much as we are, then contact our agents today. We know Vermont real estate, how to plan a Vermont ski vacation, and of course, we can help you love Vermont as much as we do! Don’t forget… the mountains open soon.
Local Housing Market Looks Stable
How does the second quarter for residential sales compare with last year’s figures? Is it the right time to sell? What should a potential buyer look for and expect in today’s real estate market?
Overall market conditions read: Stable.
Local homes sales have slowed this quarter, compared to 2014 figures, but that isn’t a bad sign for buyers or sellers. On a statewide level, there was a 16 percent increase in homes sales between the first six months of 2015, at 2,600 sales, compared to 2014, at 2,241 sales*.
Agents in our local Vermont offices have seen customers and clients more excited about the market then in other months (and years) and current sales prices are more closely aligned with town-assessed values – a sign of market stability.
Buyers are looking at features that add real value and factors such as proximity to good schools, town amenities and recreation that will impact future worth, which is setting a higher standard for sellers. In the luxury market, especially, homes that are out-of-date or require multiple upgrades – or are over-priced – continue to see unsuccessful sales.
Regardless of market conditions, a strong understanding of pricing and a clear home-selling strategy are important for success in real estate. It seems simple, but not having factors in place to be really ready to sell can make all the difference. With a flood of housing information available on the web, properties need to be positioned (and staged) well from their first day on the market, helping the home or land put its “best foot forward.”
For a perspective on real estate conditions across New England, William Raveis offers the following statistics: “In May 2015, as compared to May 2014, Unit Sales rose 5.8% in Connecticut, 10.8% in New York, 25.1% in Manhattan, 16.3% in Brooklyn, 4.6% in Rhode Island, 14.6% in Vermont and 5.8% in New Hampshire. Meanwhile, Sales Price rose 2.1% in Massachusetts and 4.2% in Maine.” (To download the full report, click here.)
As we move into the third quarter, our agents offer the following take-away messages:
- People are more excited about the market
- Sales prices are aligning with town assessments (in most cases)
- Correct staging and sales pricing are even more paramount
- Market properties with “value forward” for today’s savvy buyer
- Deferring maintenance or upgrades will diminish home appeal
If you have questions about local real estate, please do not hesitate to contact one of our agents, and in the meantime, explore our websites at BCKrealestate.com and StoweRealty.com.
*Statistics are based on current Northern New England Real Estate Network’s MLS data. For additional information, please read the Stowe Reporter’s article “Market regains stability,” with references pertinent to this post.
Adding Interactive Office Technology
STOWE, VT (July 10, 2015) – Buyers in today’s market have a greater number of choices when it comes to purchasing a home. Advances in technology have made the buying experience much more dynamic and immediate.
To take advantage of current trends and the powerful tools that are available, William Raveis Stowe Realty has added three new real estate search devices to its office on Main Street.
In the building’s foyer, there’s what one observer called a “giant smartphone” that, with a click of a navigation button, presents the entire Multiple Listings Service to viewers on a high-definition display, available at any time.
Inside the office, visitors can search listings on large interactive consoles in a café-style environment, with full desk spaces, high-top chairs and tables and comfortable seats around a fireplace.
William Raveis Stowe Realty owner and broker John Biondolillo said that these new computers will “improve the agent-client experience, making the initial property search more interactive and fun. And, a strong visual impact is both desirable and essential in today’s real estate market.”
Stowe’s affiliate office, William Raveis BCK Real Estate, also has a high-tech property display available to customers in the Barre area.
William Raveis Stowe Realty is a full-service real estate brokerage company. Through its affiliation with William Raveis, the company joined 100+ offices and 3,500+ sales associates throughout the Northeast.
Patti Leduc Joins William Raveis BCK Real Estate
Patti Leduc
SAINT JOHNSBURY, VT (July 2, 2015) – William Raveis BCK Real Estate is pleased to announce that Patti Leduc has joined the Saint Johnsbury office’s team of realtors.
Patricia Dobbs Leduc (“Patti”) has been in real estate related fields for more than 30 years, including sales, commercial and residential finance, and insurance.
William Raveis BCK Real Estate president and owner John Biondolillo said, “Patti has extensive experience in assisting clients to purchase, sell, finance, insure, rent, and maintain their homes. She is committed to offering professional guidance and her belief in consistent communication provides the skills needed to assist buyers and sellers in today’s market.”
Regarding the switch to William Raveis, Patti said, “Real estate is about building local relationships and I am proud to join a team that focuses on showing properties as ‘homes’ and neighborhoods as ‘communities,’ where people build their futures.”
In addition to selling real estate, Patti and her husband are renovating their home in Lyndonville.
To connect with Patti in Saint Johnsbury, call (802) 748-9543 or visit 1111 Main Street, Suite 101, and BCKrealestate.com.
William Raveis BCK Real Estate, founded in 1981, is a family-owned, full-service real estate brokerage company with offices throughout northern and central Vermont and New Hampshire. Through its affiliation with William Raveis, the company is part of 100+ offices and 3,500+ sales associates across the Northeast.
Ken Libby Recognized In Stowe Awards
In the Stowe Reporter‘s Readers’ Choice 4939 Awards (2015), Ken Libby received nomination as “Mr. Stowe” and “Best Realtor!” The special section awarded well-deserved “kudos” to the best hangouts, music, food, professionals and more – in well over 50 categories!
Thank you to the Stowe-area readers for our recognition and congratulations to all the winners and fellow nominees. We are so lucky to live in a town with such quality services, professionals and opportunities.
William Raveis BCK Real Estate is the BEST OF THE BEST Real Astate Agency
We have some exciting news! The readers of the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus have selected William Raveis BCK Real Estate as the BEST OF THE BEST real estate agency. Agent Sue Arguin was also named the BEST OF THE BEST Realtor®.
Congratulations to everyone who made this honor possible!
Voting for the 2015 Times Argus Best of the Best Readers’ Choice awards opened on May 19, 2015, and locals made their selections for the best businesses, people, venues and places in Central Vermont; the Times Argus staff’s welcome message said: “Make your vote! … Your voice will be heard!” The ballots for Real Estate Agency and Realtor were cast under the header “Getting it Done” for superior services and business practices, alongside banks, law firms, contractors and other personnel.
“It’s wonderful that our dedication to the real estate profession has been recognized by the community. Our agents work every day to put clients and customers at ease during the stressful process of buying and selling property,” said owner/president John Biondolillo. “We will continue to share our market knowledge, show our commitment to a quality experience and connect our services locally and globally for the best outcomes in our business.”
Please share this news with your clients, friends, associates… EVERYONE (via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)!