Sharktopus - 09/25/10 11:26 PM
I heard somewhere that humility is a virtue.  Maybe self-flagellation is too.  I'm not proud of it, but I just watched 10 minutes of a movie called "Sharktopus".  The title pretty much sums up the plot.  There are a lot of questions that come up, but probably the biggest one is why would one chum sharktopus infested waters?
 
There's a reason I'm killing time in this manner:  My in-laws are flying in from California, and then driving up from Boston.  Their ETA is around 1:00 in the morning.  It's too late for me to drink coffee, so I opted for … (2 comments)

How to Lose a Sale - 09/22/10 08:30 PM
I had been in negotiation for several days on a home for sale in Montpelier.  In this case, I was representing the buyer.  We were close, only a few thousand dollars apart.  The seller was doing an interesting negotiating dance:  Sometimes not moving in price, but suggesting he would if we came up.  Huh? 
We presented our best and final offer, and the seller's response was not to accept, and not to counter, but, again to suggest there could be a counter.  We're talking about another thousand dollars or so in purchase price.
My buyer made another offer on another home … (6 comments)

Looky, Looky, Easy Search for Homes for sale in Montpelier - 09/22/10 08:18 PM
Fast Search:  Montpelier Homes for Sale
Montpelier Homes for sale from $100,000-$200,000
Montpelier Homes for sale from $200,000-$300,000
Montpelier Homes for sale from $300,000-$400,000
Why make it hard to find the homes you're looking for?  I figure that I may as well make your job as easy as possible.  Plus, my wife's working on a grant and I'm avoiding going home to hear about bio-infomatics.
Be Smart.  Remember Ray.
… (1 comments)

Showcase Montpelier Colonial - 09/22/10 03:49 PM
Showcase Montpelier Colonial  $334,000
Just Listed--Home for sale in Montpelier!
Perfectly maintained 4 bedroom 2.5 bath Colonial on Murray Hill in Montpelier. 

Gleaming hardwood floors and a comfortable fireplace in an open and inviting floorplan.  Enjoy Camels Hump view from the covered front porch, and a nicely landscaped .44 acre lot from the back deck. 

This home features a true master suite, an updated kitchen, an oversized 2 car garage, and a new System 2000 boiler, plus access to the pool and tennis court. 

Simply put, this is a showcase home-perfect for entertaining and for worry-free living.
… (0 comments)

Perfect High End Renovated Cape on 66 Acres in Vermont - 09/21/10 06:29 AM
It's fall, the leaves are turning, and it's time to seriously think about that dream Vermont property.  I'm talking about a perfectly renovated cape on 66 acres in Calais, Vermont.
Drive up the hill between a phalanx of towering white pines to this beautifully restored 1837 Cape glistening among perennial beds, maple trees and the magnificent stone walls that surround nearly all 66 acres of this haven of peace and privacy.
 
A vintage sugar house and a machinery barn house the Ford 1900 tractor with its snowplow, mower, grader, chipper and front end loader line the way to the 1200 … (1 comments)

Sold! My (in)Famous 100 Camp in Worcester, VT - 09/17/10 05:36 AM
Sold!  My Famous 100 acre Camp in Worcester, VT
Well now wasn't this just a roller coaster.  In February, we had agreement between buyer and seller, and were in contract.  Then one thing after the other got in the way. 
•·         Septic questions (resolved). 
•·         Land use taxes and penalties (resolved). 
•·         Road repair questions (resolved).
The one thing that couldn't be resolved was the acrimony that developed between the buyer and the seller over the months.  So, the deal eventually fell apart, and the 100 camp at the top of the mountain fell apart.
 
Enter the second buyer.  He … (2 comments)

August Market Stats for Montpelier, Barre, Northfield, U32 - 09/17/10 05:08 AM
August Market Stats
Montpelier, Barre, U-32, Northfield, and Plainfield/Marshfield  

 
The national press is at it again, doing its best to make people jittery about real estate.  July's housing report did show a drop in national residential sales compared to last July.  Duh.  Lots of buyers pushed up their purchases into June to qualify for the tax credit.
The local report is a little different.  We're still seeing very similar numbers of sales and activity between this year and last year.  The uptick in the numbers of properties with price changes, and Active to Closed ratios at or above 1.0 … (0 comments)

Today Show with Barbara Corcoran - 09/14/10 09:41 PM
I received a call and an email from someone at Barbara Corcoran's office at The Today Show wanting to include one of my listings in a "What you can get for..." type of spot. I might be a sucker, but I ran it past the BS filters in the office (those would be my colleagues) and cleared it with the seller.
So...either 220 Route 14 South in East Montpelier is going to enjoy 10 seconds of fame, or I'm a dufus.  Either way, it's kind of fun, and it got me thinking about new copy to write in the next round of … (6 comments)

Hey, Isn't That Guy Running for Governor? - 09/12/10 03:01 PM
To some, it was just a normal Saturday in Montpelier.  My wife was in Montreal for the weekend with some friends, and I cleared the weekend of appointments to have what I refer to as "Daddy-Daughter-Daughter Days".  You know, go to the lumber yard, drop some old chairs off at the Salvation Army, see the gubernatorial candidate at the farmers' market.
Huh?
Yep, there I was, waiting in line to buy the two cherished carrots that my 3 year-old picked out, and I happen to see Peter Shumlin, Democratic candidate for governor in the middle of the farmer's market.  I'm not … (0 comments)

Home for Sale in Northfield, VT - 09/07/10 08:52 PM
New Home for Sale in Northfield, VT

This 3  bedroom, 2.5 bath Northfield home has been completely redone.  Sure, the electric, plumbing, and foundation have all been upgraded, but that's not really the fun stuff.  The fun stuff is that the hardwood and softwood floors throughout are just gorgeous.  There's a legitimate master suite, complete with a large bathroom and a walk-in closet.  New appliances, countertops, cabinets, windows, and doors.  The owners converted an attached barn into a garage, and, while I can't quite call it a two car garage, it's probably the biggest one car garage you'll find.

… (0 comments)

Northfield Labor Day Parade - 09/07/10 01:41 PM
These girls get major credit for being in the ENTIRE Northfield Labor Day Parade.  Snacks helped, but the older cutie (Josephine) had a blast waving at all the people along the parade route.  The younger cutie (Willoughby) is just learning to walk, and I was surprised that she was content riding at all.

Fred, Ann, Jane, and Alice joined me in what is probably Vermont's biggest Labor Day celebration. We even followed all of the rules, and we didn't throw candy.  We did, however, hand out hundreds of pieces of candy--mostly to children, but not always.
It was great fun, … (0 comments)

 
Business_picture_september_09 Rainmaker_large

Ray Mikus

Montpelier, VT

More about me…

Heney Realtors

Address: 81 Main St, Montpelier, VT, 05602

Office Phone: (800) 696-1456 x 113

Cell Phone: (802) 279-2403

Email Me

Vermont's a small state. Central Vermont (Montpelier, Barre, Northfield, U-32) really is a lively and transparent community. We all know someone in common, and I wanted to expand this transparency to a professional real estate oriented community website.


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