Erin Dupuis VERMONT REAL ESTATE COMPANY
Nina Iarkova and Shane Unger
Dependable, valued experience and integrity. A Realtor you can trust. ®
T POR SUP AL LOC TS! IS ART
past few years analyzing climate migration trends. In the summer 2020 issue of the quarterly Vermont Environmental Report, Mihaly pointed to the influx of new residents during the pandemic as a harbinger of what’s to come. “The rate of homes being bought online by out of staters is a good indication of how eager people are to access land in Vermont and benefit from the state’s natural resources and open space,” she noted.
WE’RE CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT WE’RE GOING TO BE
SEEN AS OUTSIDERS FOR A LITTLE WHILE. S H A N E UNG ER
In a sense, Unger and Iarkova are climate migrants for whom COVID-19 was a catalyst. In March, when their jobs went remote, they started looking for properties in Vermont. They wanted privacy but not total seclusion, proximity to Burlington International Airport, enough land for a garden, and an in-law apartment for Unger’s mother, who decided to move with them from Santa Monica, Calif. A family friend of Unger’s connected the couple with David Parsons, a real estate agent in Chittenden County, who gave them virtual tours of about half a dozen houses in the Burlington area. All of the homes were snapped up by other buyers, sometimes just
hours after Unger and Iarkova had seen them. (At one point, they made an offer on a house in Shelburne above asking price; two days later, the property went to someone whose bid was even higher.) At last, in late June, they found a fourbedroom house on 11 acres in Underhill with a finished in-law suite in the basement. For $639,900, it became theirs; their move-in date, said Iarkova, will be sometime in mid-September. “We’re really excited,” said Unger. “We talk constantly about our plans for the house, what we’d like to do with the land.” The previous owners cut more than a mile of hiking and mountain biking paths through the woods surrounding the property, and Unger and Iarkova joke about painting a map and naming each section of the trail — “you know, ‘Nina’s Gulch,’ or ‘Shane’s Crossing,’” said Unger. But their excitement, he added, is tinged with guilt: “A lot of people are getting evicted, losing their homes, and we’re fortunate enough to buy a home. Our reality isn’t other people’s realities.” They’re also hyper-aware of the stigma that may come with being part of a pandemic-induced urban exodus, and they want their community to know that they plan to stay for the long haul. “We’re conscious of the fact that we’re going to be seen as outsiders for a little while,” said Unger. “That’s a challenge that we’re going to have to overcome.” C.E.
THE NEW VERMONTERS
» P.28
Contact me today to learn about our competitive rates.
802.310.3669 erin@vermontrealestatecompany.com vermontrealestatecompany.com 431 Pine St. Suite 118 Burlington, VT 05401
o w n WHAT?
4T-EDupuis032520.indd 11 AH4T-EDupuis0920.indd
3/24/20 9/1/20 12:57 4:49 PM PM
STAY SAFE, STAY ACTIVE The Seven Days team has reenvisioned our weekly Notes On the Weekend newsletter to include creative, constructive and fun ways to spend your time from a safe social distance. From drive-in movies to delicious recipes to day trips, there is something for everyone asking, “NOW what?”
S U B S C R IB E AT S EV EN DAYS V T.C OM 4t-Now0720.indd 1
SEVEN DAYS SEPTEMBER 9-16, 2020
27
7/14/20 5:36 PM