MysuccessastheownerofBrattleboroAreaRealtyhasbeenearnedthroughdecadesofhardwork.Iknowandlove realestatesalesanditwouldbemypleasuretopartnerwithyoutodiscusssellingyourhome,businessorland.
Letmeputmyexpertisetoworkforyou!
•Voted2018RemarkableWomensEntrepreneurLeader
•BrattleboroAreaRealtyhasbeenvotedGreaterBrattleboro’sBestRealEstateo ice22yearsrunning.
•VotedBrattleboroReformersBestofBrattleboroRealEstateo icefor6yearsrunning
Owner/Broker,ServingVT&NH
BY BOB AUDETTE Brattleboro Reformer
After more than 30 years of helping families realize their dreams of homeownership, Lisa DiBernardo is realizing a dream all her own.
“I now run my own business, Vermont Mortgage Group, and I’m still helping families buy and refinance homes,” she said from her office at 70 Landmark Hill Drive.
With her extensive experience in the industry, Lisa designs mortgage packages that are unique for every family looking to purchase a new home or make some real estate investments.
“There are many ways to find financing for your home,” she said. “Over the years, I have learned many creative ways to manage different situations.”
As a mortgage broker, Vermont Mortgage Group LLC has access to wholesale mortgage lenders.
“Our proven track record of quality loan production has helped build excep-
tional relationships with lending partners. These relationships have been built on the foundation of trust, integrity and excellent business practices.”
As a mortgage broker, Lisa has more flexibility to tailor a loan solution with just the right terms to help each client achieve their goals, and she has the time to thoroughly explain each step of the process.
“We are most proud of our locally engineered mortgage solutions and providing exceptional local service to all our local and out of town clients,” said Lisa, who said her business is referral-based.
We rely on word of mouth,” said Lisa, who has a Five Star Professional rating, which is awarded to mortgage professionals who consistently demonstrate exceptional client service and satisfaction based on evaluations from recent clients and business partners.
“And I am available seven days a week, including evenings and weekends, making me available when clients are available.”
Lisa is licensed, NMLS
“I work hard to provide clients with exceptional service and the best mortgage terms at the lowest possible cost,” she said.
103744, to offer mortgage solutions in both Vermont and New Hampshire, as is Vermont Mortgage Group, NMLS 2551442.
To learn more about Vermont Mortgage Group,
visit www.vtmortgage.com, email Lisa at lisa@vtmortgage.com, or call her at 802-689-0904. You can also find Lisa on Instagram at https://facebook.com/lisadibernardo.vtmortgage.
Downsizing is an approach many individuals consider after turning 50. Parents who are empty nesters and others nearing retirement may wonder if the time is right to downsize from their current homes. Though that’s a strategy millions of people have adopted over time, the decision is not always so simple. Individuals over 50 who are trying to determine if downsizing is right for them can consider a host of factors before making a decision.
• Monthly housing expenses: Before downsizing their homes, individuals should determine just how much they’re currently spending on housing. Individuals who have fixed rate mortgages likely know the amount of their monthly mortgage payment, but what about maintenance? Home maintenance expenses fluctuate, but a careful examination of the previous 12 months’ expenditures can give homeowners an idea of just how much they’re spending to maintain their properties. The number may be eye-opening, as Thumbtack’s “Home Care Price Index” released in the third quarter of 2024 revealed that the average annual
cost to maintain a single family home reached an alltime high of $10,433. If such expenses are preventing homeowners from building their retirement nest eggs, then it might be time to seek alternative housing.
• Real estate prices: Real estate prices have skyrocketed in recent years, which can be both good and bad for current homeowners considering downsizing. Many people who downsize look to move from a single-family home into a condominium, where maintenance tasks are typically handled by a homeowners’ association (HOA). Such communities typically charge HOA fees, which can be minimal or considerable. In addition, the price of condominiums has risen in recent years, with the lender New American Funding reporting in early 2024 that the median sale price of a condo reached $341,000. So homeowners who want to downsize their homes may end up taking most of the profit from selling their current properties and reinvesting it in a costly condo. Some may deem that worthwhile, while others may find the cost savings of downsizing in the current market are negligible.
• Emotional attachment: Downsizing may be considered with cost savings in mind, but it’s important to consider your emotional attachment to your current home. Many homeowners over 50 raised their families in their current homes, and letting go of a property where so many memories were made can be difficult. Homeowners who are not prepared to move on from properties that are meaningful to them and their families can consider additional ways to downsize their financial obligations. Downsizing is something many homeowners over 50 consider.
• Lifestyle and space Needs: Consider your current lifestyle and whether your home’s space still aligns with your needs. As people age or transition into retirement, their daily routines and physical needs can change. You may no longer need as much space or might require features like accessibility improvements (e.g., single-level living, wheelchair access). If your current home no longer serves your needs or is becoming difficult to manage, it may be a good time to downsize to a more practical living space.
• Location considerations:
The location of your home can also play a significant role in the downsizing decision. If you’re nearing retirement, you might consider moving to a more retirement-friendly area, closer to family, or to a place with a lower cost of living. Proximity to healthcare facilities, recreational activities, and social networks can be just as important as the size of the home itself.
• Retirement savings and long-term financial goals:
Downsizing can be a good way to unlock equity from your current home, potentially adding to your retirement savings. Before making a decision, it’s important to evaluate how the proceeds from selling your home might impact your long-term financial goals. Will downsizing allow you to pay off debt, build your savings, or invest in other aspects of your retirement?
802-689-0904|lisa@vtmortage.com NMLS#103744|NMLS#2551442 www.vtmortgage.com
SUBMITTEDBY
CHRIS LEWIS, Realtor at Brattleboro Area Realty
Real estate today is much more complicated and sophisticated than 35 years ago when I began my adventures in this wonderful, exciting career. For more than 6 months, now, we have been learning the new rules of the game and continuing to serve our clients with the same ethics and care as
always. Besides location, location, location, the other three words that have not changed are disclose, disclose, disclose. Some of our rules for doing business have changed, but not the responsibility of care, education of our clients nor the sheer joy of service. We make people happy. We make them smile. We give them a lifetime of home.
Homeownership is a dream for millions of people across the globe. The National Association of Realtors indicates real estate has historically exhibited long-term, stable growth in value. Money spent on rent is money that a person will never see again. However, paying a traditional mortgage every month enables homeowners to build equity and can be a means to securing one’s financial future. Homeowners typically can lean on the value of their homes should they need money for improvement projects or other plans. Reverse mortgages are one way to do just that.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A REVERSE MORTGAGE?
People near retirement
age are eligible for a specific type of loan they can borrow against. Known as a “reverse mortgage,” this type of loan can be great for people 62 or older who perhaps can no longer make payments on their home, or require a sum of money to use right now, without wanting to sell their home. In addition to meeting the age requirement, a borrower must live at the property as a primary residence and certify occupancy annually to be eligible for a reverse mortgage. Also, the property must be maintained in the same condition as when the reverse mortgage was obtained, says Fannie Mae.
The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau says a reverse mortgage, commonly a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, which is the most popular type of reverse mortgage loan, is different from a traditional mortgage. Instead of making monthly payments to bring down the amount owed on the loan, a reverse mortgage features no monthly payments. Rather, interest and fees are added to the loan balance each month and the balance grows. The loan is repaid when the borrower no longer lives in the home.
With a reverse mortgage, even though borrowers are not making monthly mortgage payments, they are still responsible for paying property-related expenses on time, including real estate and property taxes, insurance premiums, HOA fees, and utilities. Reverse mortgages also come with additional costs, including origination fees and mortgage insurance up to 2.5 percent of the home’s appraised value, says Forbes.
It’s important to note that most interest rates on these loans are variable, meaning they can rise over time and thus increase the cost of borrowing. In addition, unlike traditional mortgage payments, interest payments on reverse mortgages aren’t tax-deductible.
A reverse mortgage is not free money. The homeowners or their heirs will eventually have to pay back the loan when the borrowers no
A.J.isthe firste-PROREALTOR® in thearea andprides himself inthe useoftechnology tonotonly improve the marketing of properties,butalsoin assisting buyersto find their next home assoonasithits the market.
Healso prides himselfonfurthering his education byearning theCRS(Certified ResidentialSpecialist),ABR®(Accredited Buyer Representative),e-PRO®, EcoBroker®, RSPS(Resortand Second Home)andSFR (ShortSaleandForeclosure)designations.
A.J.earnednationalsalesawardswith inclusionintheInternational Diamond Society,as well as the International Sterling Society.
Born and raisedinVermont,A.J.tookasevenyear sabbaticalfrom theareatoattendcollege and workintheWashington,D.C.area.While there,heearneda doubledegree in Finance andEconomicsfromtheUniversityofMaryland(“Fearthe Turtle”),whilealsomanaging toreturnto hisroots.
longer live at the property. This is usually achieved by selling the home. The CFPB notes if a reverse mortgage loan balance is less than the amount the home is sold for, then the borrower keeps the difference. If the loan balance is more than the amount the home sells for at the appraised value, one can pay off the loan by selling the home for at least 95 percent of the home’s appraised value, known as the 95 percent rule. The money from the sale will go toward the outstanding loan bal-
ance and any remaining balance on the loan is paid for by mortgage insurance, which the borrower has been paying for the duration of the loan.
Reverse mortgages can offer flexibility and financial relief for homeowners, but it’s important to fully understand the terms and potential costs before proceeding. Consulting with a financial advisor or reverse mortgage specialist is often a wise step to ensure the best decision for your situation.
BellvilleRealty
Jimprides himself on beingthe real estate agent that really cares andputs theneeds of hisclients first. Healso understandsthe power of online marketing, by usingdozens ofreal estateportals and launch sitestomarket hislistings.
Anativeof the Brattleboro area,Jimgrew up in Guilford,Vermont wanderingthewoodsand exploringthehills surroundinghishome.As hegot older, his natural wander-lust kept himtravelling the roads ofWindhamand CheshireCounties, exploringplaces he hadn’tbeenand makingnew friendsalongthe way.
JimattendedLehigh Universitybefore transferring to the UniversityofVermont to double majorin Englishand Technical Theatre. WhileatUVM, Jim was proud to servewithseveral volunteer organizations including The Vermont Children’s Magazineand Volunteers in Action as well as servinginseveralleadership positionsintheUVM chapter ofAlphaPhi Omega,acoedcommunity servicefraternity. After college, JimservedasSalesManagerand SalesTrainer forseveral national companies, including supervisingelevensatellitestores throughoutVermont New Yorkand Massachusetts duringtheholiday season.
Jim’s wholeapproach toreal estate is to providethe best andmostcompletepossibleinformation to hisclients and to allowthem tomakethedecision bestforthem.
Heisnotafraid to workonhisclient ’stimeline,sometimes working withthem foryearsbefore the perfect home wasfound.
A home is the most expensive purchase many people ever make. Buyers understand that certain costs come with home ownership. However, some of the costs associated with home ownership can catch even the most savvy savers off-guard. And in recent years, those extra costs have been surging.
The following are some of the unexpected expenses that come with living the homeowner dream.
• Property taxes: Depending on where you live, property taxes can comprise a large portion of monthly expenses. Some people pay their property taxes separate from their mortgage payments. Others wrap the tax burden into their mortgage bill. Either way, Business Insider reports that New Jersey currently has the highest effective property tax rate in the United States, with a median Garden State property tax bill at $9,000 annually. The lowest property tax rate is found in Hawaii, and the average homeowner there pays only $2,000 in property taxes annually. Zoocasa reports that annual property taxes in Canada can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000 depending on the province’s property tax rate and average cost of homes.
•Home insurance: CNN Business reports that home insurance premiums have surged in recent years, in large part due to extreme weather. In the U.S., insurance rates jumped 11.3 percent nationally last year, according to S&P Global. Severe storms, including hurricanes and wildfires, cost homeowners insurance agencies nearly $101.3 billion last year, and those losses have been passed on to policy holders through higher prices.
•Mortgage insurance: Many people do not have the standard 20 percent
down payment necessary to buy a home. To circumvent this, lenders will require borrowers to take out mortgage insurance, also called PMI, to offset their risk.
Credit Karma says PMI depends on factors such as down payment and borrowers’ credit scores, but typically it’s around 0.2 to 2 percent of the loan amount per year. You can remove PMI from your monthly payment once you have 20 percent equity in your home.
•Maintenance: Even a brand new home will require some measure of maintenance and routine upkeep. Bankrate indicates one of the biggest costs of owning a home is maintenance, coming in at roughly $3,018 a year and an additional $3,300 for improvements. Lawn care, home cleaning, pest prevention, replacing smoke alarms and batteries, roof repair, and clearing rain gutters are some of those costs.
• HOA and CDD fees: Some communities impose homeowners association fees on those who live within the neighborhood. Such fees cover items like
maintenance in and around the community and snow removal. A Community Development District Fee is imposed by the developer of a neighborhood or subdivision to finance the cost of amenities in a neighborhood. Homeowners should be aware of these fees before buying in an HOA community.
• Utility bills: Beyond the standard utilities (water, electricity, gas), homeowners often face unexpected utility-related costs. This includes high heating or cooling bills due to inefficient insulation or aging systems. The upfront cost of installing energy-efficient appliances or replacing old systems can add a significant amount to your financial load. Homeowners may also encounter additional fees for waste disposal, recycling, or even emergency plumbing or electrical service.
• Renovation costs: Even if you plan on maintaining the house as-is for a few years, many homeowners find themselves budgeting for renovation costs. Whether it’s upgrad-
ing a kitchen, finishing a basement, or remodeling a bathroom, these projects can quickly escalate in cost. Homeowners should always consider both the direct costs of renovations and any hidden expenses like permits or labor.
• Home repairs: Even in newer homes, things like plumbing leaks, electrical malfunctions, or appliance failures can arise. While these repairs are often unexpected, they tend to be unavoidable as systems age or are subjected to normal
wear and tear. These costs can range from a small repair bill to significant emergency expenses.
• Security system: As safety is a priority for many homeowners, investing in a home security system may be necessary. These systems often come with an installation fee, monthly monitoring costs, and possible additional costs for added features (such as cameras, sensors, or alarms). Additionally, security upgrades like smart home systems can drive up the costs.
It’s no secret that home prices have been on the rise in recent years. Though there’s no foolproof way to navigate the current real estate market to a satisfying end, the following are some strategies buyers can consider as they begin searching for a home.
Patience is a virtue prospective home buyers will need to embrace. The NAR reported a 3.7-month supply of housing inventory in May, which is low and suggestive of a seller’s market. Buyers confronting a low inventory market must remain patient if they hope to find a house that checks all their boxes. Such a house may not be on the current market, and might not be for some time. But forecasters predict the interest rate reduction announced by the Federal Reserve in September will lead to a higher inventory, even if real estate sales tend to be lower in winter than spring and summer. As indicators like lower interest rates gradually point to a higher inventory, buyers may benefit by remaining patient.
BE
Of course, a market characterized by limited inventory is typically com-
petitive, and the real estate market in recent years has certainly played out that way. Real estate markets can vary considerably, even within the same country, but an analysis from the New Jersey Real Estate Network indicated the average time homes in the Garden State were on the market decreased from 39 days in 2023 to 35 days in 2024. Patience is important when buying a home, as buyers
don’t want to act too fast and then end up living in a home they don’t like. But it’s equally important that buyers be ready to pounce if they see a property they like. Limited inventory means sellers are likely to receive multiple offers, and hesitancy on the part of buyers could prevent them from finding a new home.
Mortgage preapproval
Berkley&VellerGreenwood CountryRealtors
IamthrilledtobepartoftheBV team!RealEstateisanewcareer pathforme.Ilove challenging, demandingworkand Ialsolove workingwithpeople.Ibringavaried skillsettothetable honedover the yearsinmyworkasaneducator, projectmanager and facilitator. Iamgratefultobeamember of such agreatteamofseasoned professionals.
Recently,Imarkedmy20thyearinVermont.Thisismy home,my heartis here.Ihavethreedynamicdogsthatgetmeoutwalking and hikingand oneflu ycat.Ilovecooking,especiallyforfriends and family,bakingbread,quilting,dancingand cross-country skiing.
ContactLauraatBerkley&VellerGreenwoodCountryRealtors
O ice:802-254-6400ext163•Cell:802-451-6485
O iceFax:802-254-6403•Email:laura.dangelo@berkley veller.com
and a solid nest egg have long been vital when buying a home, and that remains true in the current market. The competitive nature of the current market might make mortgage preapproval more important than ever. A preapproval indicates to sellers that a buyer has already arranged financing and been approved to purchase a home for the amount of their offer. Buyers without a preapproval
might be seen as more risky to sellers, some of whom may want to sell their homes as quickly as possible. Sellers in a competitive market may feel they need not wait around for a buyer to be approved, so it’s best to line up finances before beginning a home search. Lining up finances includes building a substantial nest egg that demonstrates an ability to make a sizable down payment as part of your offer.
Helpingfolksnavigateoneofthemostcomplexandexciting processesoftheirlifeissorewarding.Buyingorsellingahome canbechallenging,Iamaproblemsolverbynatureandfindways tomakethosechallengesalittlelessoverwhelming,maybeeven havingalittlefunalongtheway. IamlicensedinVTandNH,andamcertifiedasaRealEstate NegotiationExpert.Calltodaytostartyour search,orgetyourhomereadyforsale!
Almostthere! is ownerhastaken a traditionalfarmhouseandtransformeditintoanamazinghomefull ofstyleandgrace ere are many ways toconsiderthis home...over3500squarefeetofsinglefamily livingwith 4 bedrooms(or even5) and 3 baths...liveonone oor, AIR B&Ball orpart oftheother oor....rentboth levelsanduseas a vacation home on o seasons. ekitchenislarge enough for a bevyofcookswithanisland forbread or candymaking. eheart ofthehouse, you canbe a part oftheparty while youwhipupsomefabeats. Tileandglassand reactive bidetsmakethebathssparkleandinviting e2nd oormainbedroom sports a minikitchen,balcony withhottub, soakingtubandisbigenough for a CaliforniaKing eliving roomon the rst oorwasdesignedtobecome anotherprimary suite ona moment’s notice....closethefrench doors! Yes, we are almostthere! Lasttobecompletedistheyard with a circulardrive. Bring your imagination andcreate a huge deck, a secretgardenwithgazeboorcozy seating, stonewalls,oranything you canimaginein a home you can claimas your own,in Vermont,underthemoonlitskies,where the riversings a lullaby.
