President's Day Vacation Week and Ski Report for Manchester and Southern Vermont

We had a delicious breakfast at Bob's Diner this morning. The parking lot was packed with a mix of Vermont and out of state plates. We had a brief wait before being seated. The crowd was a combination of locals and visitors to the area. Friday is definitely the new Saturday (I had a similar experience skiing at Stratton a few Friday's ago) and the holiday vacation week has begun.

The upcoming week is always one of the busiest of the ski season, along with the week between Christmas and New Years. This has not been one of the greatest winters in terms of snowfall, temperatures have remained stubbornly high all season (with the exception of the brief cold snap two weeks ago). The weather forecast looks like there may be some snow coming our way the second half of next week.

We are fortunate in Manchester to have many ski areas within a short drive. Here they are in order of proximity to Manchester, along with links to their current ski reports.

Bromley Mountain, 8 miles

Magic Mountain, 18 miles

Stratton Mountain, 20 miles

Okemo Mountain, 31 miles

Mount Snow, 31 miles

Pico Mountain, 41 miles

Killington Mountain, 47 miles

If you happen to hit the slopes this week, ski in control, always look uphill when entering a trail, be respectful of others and have a great time.

 

Manchester Condo Market Update

We recently shared the following information regarding the market with Manchester condominium owners.

The last three years in the Vermont real estate market have been a wild ride. The pandemic helped fuel a once in a lifetime sellers’ market as people sought a safe refuge in our state. Several trends including work from home and investment in vacation rentals would indicate that demand for Vermont real estate may remain strong in the coming years.

In the Manchester condo market we saw the number of properties sold and the average price and price per square foot increase significantly compared to pre-pandemic numbers. In 2019, 25 condos sold at an average price of $248,890 and an average price per square foot of $141. In 2020 (the first year of the pandemic), those numbers increased to 35 sold, $289,424 average price and $148 average price per square foot. In 2021 prices continued to increase with 37 units sold, $320,500 average price and $189 per square foot. Last year prices continued to grow while the supply of condos for sale dried up. Only 14 properties sold last year at an average price of $301,989 and an average price per square foot of $238. This represents an increase of 26% year-over-year and an increase of 69% since the start of the pandemic.

Over the past two years, record sale prices were reached at several of the condo complexes including $324,000 at Riverside Townhouses, $280,000 at Manchester East and $160,000 at Bourn Brook. At Murray Hill a unit sold for $390,000 and at Torbank a unit sold for $354,500 (both of which were our listings) – the highest prices since the last boom of 2005-06. Interestingly not a single Equinox on the Battenkill unit sold last year.

If you are thinking about selling your condo you may be wondering if it is too late, did you miss the boat. Certainly, the increase in interest rates may have dampened demand somewhat. However, as of this writing there are zero condos currently available for sale in Manchester (there is one EOB unit under contract). It is also worth noting that 10 out of 14 units that sold last year were cash deals. It is our opinion that there is still strong enough demand to continue supporting prices at the current if not higher levels. We should also mention that the average days on the market for the units that sold last year was 6 days, another indicator of how strong the demand has been. Bidding wars and offers over asking price have been the rule rather than the exception.

When you are ready to discuss your options give us a call at 802-688-6566 – Julie or 802-688-5556 – Dave. We have a combined 36+ years of experience selling Manchester condos. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Dave and Julie Citron

Owners, RE/MAX Four Seasons

Annual Market Performance

Year	Units Sold	Average Price	Avg Price per Sq Ft
2018	26	$238,779	$132
2019	25	$248,890	$141
2020	35	$289,424	$148
2021	37	$320,500	$189
2022	14	$301,989	$238

Sold 2022

Date Sold	Condo Development	Bedrooms	Baths	Square Feet	Selling Price	Price/Sq Ft	Days on Mkt
1/12/2022	Murray Hill	2	2	1,456	$300,000	$206.04	1
3/30/2022	Bourn Brook	1	1	644	$150,000	$232.92	6
4/29/2022	Manchester East	2	1	1,018	$230,000	$225.93	3
7/1/2022	Murray Hill	1	1	864	$248,000	$287.04	7
7/1/2022	Riverside Townhouses	2	2	1,066	$324,000	$303.94	7
8/12/2022	Manchester East	2	1	1,018	$234,000	$229.86	4
8/19/2022	Barnumville Rd	3	4	3,832	$670,000	$174.84	7
8/25/2022	Torbank	3	4	1,797	$354,500	$197.27	7
9/9/2022	Manchester East	2	2	1,018	$260,000	$255.40	12
9/9/2022	Riverside Townhouses	2	2	1,066	$262,350	$246.11	7
9/9/2022	Manchester East	2	1	1,018	$270,000	$265.23	7
9/21/2022	Manchester East	2	1	1,018	$280,000	$275.05	2
10/27/2022	Murray Hill	3	3	2,058	$390,000	$189.50	3
12/2/2022	Riverside Townhouses	2	2	1,066	$255,000	$239.21	6
	Average				$301,989	$237.74	6

Please note: all sales data has been obtained through the NEREN mls system. Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed to be accurate.

  

Happy New Year! Welcome to the RE/MAX Four Seasons real estate blog. In our blog we will be sharing information regarding the real estate market in and around Manchester Vermont including Dorset, Arlington, and the local ski areas (Bromley, Stratton, Magic, etc.). We will also provide useful information for homeowners, buyers and sellers as well as interesting information regarding the local community including fun events, schools, restaurants, shopping, places to stay, etc.

Our goal is to deliver consistent and timely information in a fun and interactive way. We hope our message will find an audience. You never know when you are sharing info online or through social media – it’s a leap of faith. We look forward to hearing from you, let us know what you think.

We find the more information you have a seller or buyer, the better prepared you are.

Below is a chart we compiled of the area's single-family residential sales for the past three years. You will find the total number of single-family homes sold, average list price, the average selling price, the median sold price, average days on market, and the average sold price per square foot.  

The "previous year change" line shows the increase or decreases from the year 2018 to 2019 only. 

Manchester	Units Sold	Average List Price	Average Sold Price	Median Sold Price	Avg Days on Market	Average Price per SF
2017	49	$438,555	$403,224	$380,000	247	$158.53
2018	83	$496,844	$456,129	$358,000	177	$168.55
2019	57	$527,996	$487,505	$360,000	247	$181.63
Previous Year Change	-45.61%	6.27%	6.88%	0.56%	39.55%	7.76%
Dorset	Units Sold	Average List Price	Average Sold Price	Median Sold Price	Avg Days on Market	Average Price per SF
2017	42	$466,273	$431,872	$381,250	278	$166.67
2018	36	$599,688	$552,436	$429,500	298	$195.03
2019	52	$542,811	$498,888	$431,400	194	$209.42
Previous Year Change	30.77%	-9.48%	-9.69%	0.44%	-34.90%	7.38%
Arlington	Units Sold	Average List Price	Average Sold Price	Median Sold Price	Avg Days on Market	Average Price per SF
2017	26	$228,211	$218,677	$212,500	222	$127.04
2018	39	$234,271	$221,176	$215,000	224	$115.82
2019	36	$267,641	$255,689	$240,500	253	$130.62
Previous Year Change	-8.33%	14.24%	15.60%	11.86%	12.95%	12.78%
Sandgate	Units Sold	Average List Price	Average Sold Price	Median Sold Price	Avg Days on Market	Average Price per SF
2017	7	$159,900	$152,571	$112,000	548	$114.22
2018	3	$179,333	$154,333	$130,000	334	$173.74
2019	5	$281,200	$253,600	$216,000	349	$122.10
Previous Year Change	40.00%	56.80%	64.32%	66.15%	4.49%	-29.72%
Sunderland	Units Sold	Average List Price	Average Sold Price	Median Sold Price	Avg Days on Market	Average Price per SF
2017	12	$283,533	$260,241	$268,750	255	$155.71
2018	13	$195,030	$185,440	$186,725	438	$140.23
2019	17	$238,311	$228,167	$237,500	261	$125.05
Previous Year Change	23.53%	22.19%	23.04%	27.19%	-40.41%	-10.83%
Winhall	Units Sold	Average List Price	Average Sold Price	Median Sold Price	Avg Days on Market	Average Price per SF
2017	46	$452,882	$417,880	$372,500	322	$170.90
2018	42	$432,775	$387,333	$310,000	272	$169.15
2019	58	$451,441	$410,225	$325,500	221	$170.88
Previous Year Change	38.10%	4.31%	5.91%	5.00%	-18.75%	1.02%
Peru	Units Sold	Average List Price	Average Sold Price	Median Sold Price	Avg Days on Market	Average Price per SF
2017	9	$316,511	$297,877	$239,000	200	$157.40
2018	15	$334,860	$307,479	$285,000	185	$158.74
2019	12	$422,166	$394,208	$337,750	211	$160.34
Previous Year Change	-20.00%	26.07%	28.21%	18.51%	14.05%	1.01%
Londonderry	Units Sold	Average List Price	Average Sold Price	Median Sold Price	Avg Days on Market	Average Price per SF
2017	38	$336,947	$311,680	$221,000	38	$142.71
2018	40	$413,132	$380,253	$215,000	214	$162.11
2019	36	$351,088	$329,269	$207,000	177	$132.89
Previous Year Change	-10.00%	-15.02%	-13.41%	-3.72%	-17.29%	-18.02%
Rupert	Units Sold	Average List Price	Average Sold Price	Median Sold Price	Avg Days on Market	Average Price per SF
2017	8	$399,437	$373,281	$277,500	363	$196.39
2018	11	$276,727	$261,409	$194,000	307	$94.45
2019	17	$241,941	$230,794	$202,500	244	$118.12
Previous Year Change	54.55%	-12.57%	-11.71%	4.38%	-20.52%	25.06%
Pawlet	Units Sold	Average List Price	Average Sold Price	Median Sold Price	Avg Days on Market	Average Price per SF
2017	15	$238,940	$227,426	$187,000	182	$104.50
2018	14	$220,178	$209,292	$163,500	229	$120.80
2019	13	$184,000	$163,576	$150,000	138	$96.13
Previous Year Change	-7.14%	-16.43%	-21.84%	-8.26%	-39.74%	-20.42%
Danby	Units Sold	Average List Price	Average Sold Price	Median Sold Price	Avg Days on Market	Average Price per SF
2017	13	$289,385	$277,770	$230,000	243	$126.45
2018	14	$304,100	$282,592	$215,000	370	$117.78
2019	11	$178,118	$168,081	$167,500	227	$96.75
Previous Year Change	-21.43%	-41.43%	-40.52%	-22.09%	-38.65%	-17.86%

If you're considering moving to the Manchester/Southern Vermont area and have school-aged children, this list should help you in your search of local schools in the area. Whether you are looking for public or private schools, Manchester Vermont should provide many choices for you. 

RE/MAX Four Seasons does not recommend any schools in particular. We are only providing a source of information for you to view. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

The Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union (BRSU) is a public school system located in southwestern Vermont. The BRSU includes school districts in four Vermont counties and three Vermont technical center regions. The BRSU is the second-largest Vermont supervisory union with a total area of approximately 460 square miles. In 2018, BRSU districts have a total combined enrollment of 2,200 students.

A unique feature of the BRSU is that none of its districts operate a high school. All BRSU districts have high school choice. BRSU districts send students to over 30 public and independent high schools with a large number of BRSU students choosing to attend Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester.

Mettawee School District

Click Here to View Site

Mettawee School District is a unified school district governed by a six-person board for the resident towns of Pawlet and Rupert. Effective July 1, 2018, this district will operate the Mettawee Community School (K-6). Students in grades 7-12 have school choice. The District will pay public schools the announced tuition and approved independent schools the VT Announced State Average Tuition Rate. 

In order for the district to pay tuition for students in grades 7-12, families must submit a tuition request form annually. New families must also submit the Declaration of Residency Form.

Taconic & Green Regional School District

Click Here to View Website

The TGSD represents the Vermont towns of Danby, Dorset, Landgrove, Londonderry, Manchester, Mt. Tabor, Peru, Sunderland, and Weston. It is entrusted with operating the Currier Memorial School, The Dorset School, Flood Brook School, Manchester Elementary Middle School, and Sunderland Elementary School. Our board members are elected with an at-large Australian Ballot and each member is a representative of all nine towns within our district. We believe that within our nine town community that "All our children are all our children".

Winhall School District

Click Here to View Website

The Winhall School District does not operate a school therefore the district will pay tuition to an approved school. Winhall will pay up to the VT Announced State Average. Winhall is a "sending town" for Burr & Burton Academy (BBA) and will pay them their announced tuition rate.

In order for the district to pay tuition, families must submit a tuition request form and Declaration of Residency Form and supporting documents annually.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

We've mapped the schools out below so that it may help you geographically when looking at specific areas or properties. 

Public Schools:

Currier Memorial School - click here to view website

Elementary School (K-6)

234 North Main Street

Danby, VT 05739

(802) 293-5191

The Dorset School - click here to view site

Elementary and Middle School (K-8)

130 School Dr

Dorset, VT 

(802) 362-2606

Flood Brook School - click here to view site

Elementary and Middle School (K-8)

91 VT Route 11

Londonderry, VT 05148

(802) 824-6811

Manchester Elementary/Middle School - click here to view site

Elementary and Middle School (K-8)

80 Memorial Ave

Manchester Center, VT 05255

(802) 362-1597

Mettawee Community School - click here to view site

Elementary School (K-6)

5788 VT-153

West Pawlet, VT 05775

(802) 645-9009

Sunderland Elementary School - click here to view site

Elementary School (K-6)

98 Bear Bridge Rd

Sunderland, VT 05250

(802) 375-6100

Private Schools:

Elementary Schools

Red Fox Community School - click here to view site

Elementary School (K-5)

7205 Main St

Manchester, VT 05255

(802) 768-1288

Maple Street School - click here to view site

Elementary and Middle School (K-8)

322 Maple St

Manchester, VT 05255

(802) 362-7137

Manchester Village School - click here to view site

Grades 1-12

4002 Main St

Manchester, VT 05254

(802) 362-4898

High Schools

Burr & Burton Academy - click here to view site

High School (9-12)

57 Seminary Ave

Manchester, VT 05254

(802) 362-1775

Long Trail School - click here to view site

Middle and High School (6-12)

1045 Kirby Hollow Rd

Dorset, VT 05251

(802) 867-5717

Pre-K Schools:

Northshire Day School - click here to view site

5484 Main St

Manchester Center, VT 05255

(802) 362-1395

Home Away From Home - no website available

108 Equinox Terrace

Manchester Center, VT 05255

(802) 362-5823

Lawrence School for Young Children - no website available

29 Bowen Hill Rd

East Dorset, VT 05253

(802) 362-1992

Stepping Stones Early Learning Center - no website available

3757 Richville Rd

Manchester Center, VT 05255

(802) 226-7760