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FRANKLIN COUNTY — As a native Vermonter, Realtor Cindy Adair has recently found herself asking: “Why does everyone want to move to Vermont all of the sudden?”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Vermont has seen an influx of people moving to the state, and in 2023, it topped the list of Top Moving Destinations, according to the 2023 National Movers Study by United Van Lines, a national household goods mover.
Cindy Adair has been a Realtor in Chittenden and Franklin counties since 2009.
Courtesy Photo
In 2023, more residents moved into Vermont than out of the state, with 65% of moves being inbound. The United Van Lines study showed that of moves to Vermont, moving to be closer to family (29%) led the reason for relocating to the state, followed by a lifestyle change (20%).
“I personally can’t imagine leaving here,” Adair said. “We live in a place that prioritizes beauty…We have a lot to be thankful for with being Vermonters.”
As a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Hickok and Boardman, Adair knows people are frustrated by the limited and competitive housing market and wants them to know it is in part caused by new residents wanting to experience what Vermont has to offer.
“We have a special place where everybody wants to be,” she said.
Q: What are the reasons you hear from people from out-of-state for moving to Vermont?
A: I’ve noticed over the past few years that more buyers coming here from out-of-state are citing some kind of weather thing. An example is one couple that was coming from the Colorado area. They couldn’t take smoke anymore from wildfires.
I had other people from Texas who wanted to come here just because they couldn’t take the heat anymore. I had another set of people who were coming from Cape Cod and saying they’re so worried about the erosion that is happening there.
Q: How do you help people narrow down a region of Vermont to move to?
A: I think for many of these people, they are only able to consider Vermont as an option because they can work remotely. But that does limit where they live in Vermont, because they need to be in a place that has high-speed internet access and connection. That is a limiting factor, and keeps people to the more developed areas of the state.
Q: How can you help people who are looking for a home from long-distance?
A: I certainly have had a lot of experience over these past few years helping people from long distance find a place. We can do FaceTime showings so that they don’t have to be present to see the home, and I can give them virtual tours. I take a lot of photos and email those over.
I do whatever I can to help them have the option to be able to move quickly and feel informed with the choice, even though they might be far away and can’t necessarily hop in a car and go look at the house.
Q: What does a first meeting with you look like?
A: The buyers and I will have a pretty long first chat where I answer all their questions about the area and about myself. I find out what their situation is and what they’re trying to do, what kind of goal they’re trying to achieve. And then we make a plan and set up the search.
I have them show me properties they are interested in, because it helps me learn what their taste is and what they’re excited about. It can make their search easier if I can spot something that I know might be a good fit.
Q: How do you recommend potential buyers go about learning more about Vermont?
A: Hickok and Boardman has an amazing website. There are actually videos that highlight many individual towns, their attractions, major employers, etc.
We also have an amazing relocation department that puts together guidebooks for people thinking about relocating to Vermont. The guidebooks list all the websites to go to for school information, crime rates, employment numbers and all of the nitty-gritty information that somebody might want to know about an area.
Coldwell Banker Hickok and Boardman is part of the Messenger’s Preferred Business Program. Learn more by emailing marketing consultant Heather Young at hyoung@orourkemediagroup.com.
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