Representatives of nine major real estate firms in Chittenden County are doubling down on a local development group’s earlier claim that basing F-35 fighter jets at the Burlington airport will have no adverse effect on the value of nearby homes.
In a full-page advertisement (right) running this week in Seven Days and today in the Burlington Free Press, the realtors say their conclusion is based in part on “careful analysis of real world Vermont market transactions.” The ad’s signers — who include Ernie Pomerleau of Pomerleau Real Estate, Doug Nedde of Redstone, and Brian Boardman of Hicock & Boardman Realty — add that their position also rests on a controversial study issued in July by the Greater Burlington Industrial Corp.
GBIC, a nonprofit economic development organization that supports bringing the F-35 to the area, found that sales prices of homes “have not been adversely impacted” due to their location in government-designated high-noise zones near the airport. Mike Simoneau, a co-owner of Geri Reilly Real Estate, acknowledged in an interview today that the claims in the ad he signed are based largely on GBIC’s July study.
Opponents of the F-35’s local deployment reject GBIC’s findings, with South Burlington City Council President Rosanne Greco calling the new pro-F-35 ad “bizarre.”
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If you say something long enough (and take out full page newspaper ads in the process) then eventually most everyone starts to believe it, even if it’s based on total and utter misrepresentation and/or devoid of fact. These real estate agents have shown their true colors. Let’s all remember this next time we think about securing a broker.
Enough of this nonsense. Bring in the F35s.
It would help and lesson the confusion, which I feel is intentional and sad, and not meant for the good of all of Vermont. If you and others, who are so shortsighted, understand that these are some of the highest profile Broker/owners of businesses that have been here for a lot of years, many generations in some cases, and are very successful.
And not only are they very proud of their success but anyone with even a little common sense understands that property value in a huge situation like this means everything to the future of their companies and survival. And for those who may try to claim this is a short quick money making deal, you are deluding yourselves and too many others. It doesn’t matter what side they are on when it comes to politics, the bottom long term dollar is what drives them, or they would not have made it this far with the many years of poor economy, which sadly looks like we are being pushed to even further.
This is coming from someone who never previously appreciated or respected this profession, real estate, but then was thrown into it via working with them for regulatory reasons for many years. Over the years I did this there are some professionals I trust and some maybe not so much, just like many other professions.
For these brokers to sign a document like this speaks volumes, that they’ve done probably more research then all put together so far.
This is their life and lively hood, and nothing to do with politics in this case. I have to admit I had little respect for those in this profession before working with them in the job I had, but over the years I was involved I have to admit that all those who signed this letter are proud Vermonters, and they KNOW Vermont.
They and so many of us Proud Vermonters only want the best for all of us who plan to appreciate Vermont and live here the rest of our lives, and only hope Vermont becomes a more successful state for our children to want to stay and if not, eventually come back home to live and love. I seriously hope for this.
It looks like a campaign against the F-35s or a plan to increase the housing prices of this county, i just don’t understand these business gimmicks.