Life in the Mad River Valley

Life in the Mad River Valley Follow along as Samantha Ciccone shares all things Mad River Valley and surrounding areas as your local guide and Realtor with Hickey & Foster KW.

09/14/2026

Ah, buying a home in Vermont sure is…..

When I asked a group of people who moved to Vermont what they wish they knew before moving here, “understanding that most homes aren’t on city water and what that entails” came up.

As I bring this series back to life, the one thing remains, Vermont homes can be very different from each other, and it’s important to understand that as you tour homes.

Not being on city water or sewer really changes your responsibilities for maintenance and if something goes wrong.

When you tour a home, it’s important to walk the property to find out where things are. When was the last time they were maintained? Is the water treated? When was the last time it was tested?

If you moved to Vermont, what is one thing you wish you knew? Good or bad.

09/12/2026

If you have been into the Mad River Valley you have driven past this gem.

All Things Bright and Beautiful, a Teddy Bear Christmas Shop has been located right on Bridge Street since 1972. Owned by twin sisters, Gaelic & Bonnie. When you walk in you are surrounded by every stuffed animal you can think of, all crafted ethically. There are over 400 wooden ornament designs in stock, made by Gaelic and then all glass ornaments have one rule, must be European made.

When I met Gaelic I asked her what inspired them to open the store, and somehow I have taken her answer and trimmed it to down to one part.

Should I post the extended version?

09/09/2026

What happens when women come together and decide to give back to their community?

This was the first meeting for the Washington County Chapter, and the goal is to have 100 women donate $100 each quarter to donate to one local nonprofit that is either in Washington County or serves Washington County.

How do they pick just one nonprofit? Members get to submit a nomination, and 3 will get randomly picked. Then they will meet at different places in Washington County to come together and vote for the winner.

At this meeting, 17 local nonprofits were nominated, and the 3 finalists came to share more information about what they do with us:

The Mistva Fund is based out of Central Vermont, a mobile veterinary truck that supplies care and support for pets belonging to seniors, low-income, disabled first responders, and low-income Vermont veterans.

For the Love of Dogs, a Valley organization that has been rescuing dogs for 20 years. Since 2025, they’ve helped hundreds of dogs to find new homes. Since they don’t have a shelter they run entirely on the community and their 40 foster homes.

Everyone Wins Vermont, a literacy based mentoring program connecting students with mentors who meet with them once a week. It’s a win for the students, the mentors, and the schools, and they currently have programs in 19 schools across Vermont, including five in Washington County.

The Washington County Chapter is the 5th chapter in Vermont and one of more than 450 chapters across the country.

At their very first meeting, 68 women came together and raised $6,800, which went to Everyone Wins Vermont.

Want to learn more?

Visit 100wwc-wc.org

09/09/2026

Did you know the Valley Players, our local nonprofit community theater group, purchased the Mad River Valley Craft Fair in 1989 and have been running it for more than 30 years.

And it’s more than just a craft fair. The fair helps support the Valley Players, providing funding to maintain their theater on Main Street in Waitsfield and keep arts and entertainment going in our community.

So when you shop the fair, you’re not only supporting talented artists and makers, you’re also helping support a little piece of Mad River Valley.

And if you weren’t able to make it to this one take a look around and see what the craft fairs may be in your area! Of course, there’s always farmers markets on the weekends where you can find a few locally made goodies.

09/06/2026

Our September 2026 Newsletter features a rural retreat on 16.2 acres at 991 Old Post Road in Bradford, real estate statistics showing a steady housing market, and two timely posts for homeowners this month: “Home Sellers: Check This Easy Guide to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal” and “September Home Maintenance Guide.”

⏰ SAVE THE DATE for our FREE online home-selling workshop this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. The session will cover home preparation and pricing to attract the right buyers while avoiding common mistakes in the current market. Sign up: https://www.hickeyfosterrealestate.com/home-seller-workshops

👉 Read more: https://conta.cc/4ypL7Lc

09/05/2026

Come spend the afternoon relaxing with me at Mad River Massage's new location in Warren, Vermont. (Also a Seven Daysie finalist for best place to get a massage)

A space they designed on their own, with every detail carefully planned, from the lighting, the rooms and artwork to each product they have available for sale.

They have a few locally made items, along with things for relaxation that you can take home to continue the experience, or maybe gift to a friend.

Step outside so you can continue the relaxation with a few spots to sit, slow down, and just enjoy the view.

And the best part? If you really want to escape for the weekend you can stay right across the street at West Hill House Bed & Breakfast and really make a peaceful weekend of it.

09/02/2026

Let’s dive into the August housing market in the Mad River Valley!

I did say average days on market was 71, however, this is considering the one home that took only 2 days to go under contract versus the one that took 280 days. A more reasonable comparison would be the median days on market, which was 26 days.

One of the statistics I am most interested in watching is the percentage of sales that sold over, at, and below asking price.

I know it can be tricky getting the big picture when the market we are looking at is smaller, and it only takes one or two houses to really change the numbers. But all of this information is going to be important to know if you plan on selling your home or if you are going to purchase one.

When we look at August 2025, the median sales price was $535,000, with 17 sales and median days on market at 21 days. If we could compare it apples to apples, then the median sales price is down, the number of sales is up, and houses are staying on the market longer.

What was your main take away?

My August photo dump is a gentle reminder to myself to take more photos, and not just of the sky. ☀️Summer went by so fa...
09/01/2026

My August photo dump is a gentle reminder to myself to take more photos, and not just of the sky.

☀️Summer went by so fast, but I’m thankful I took the birthday trip to Maine, and that we had sunshine most days.

See you next year August.

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