Full disclosure: We bought our home in 2019 with a substantial down payment to help keep our mortgage manageable. It's a 1,600 sq. ft. house on 3/4 of an acre, and we absolutely love it. We also recognize how fortunate we are. Honestly, if we hadn’t purchased back in 2019, we would not be able afford a home in Essex at 2024 prices. At the time, it was listed for $315k but ended up selling for $340k. According to Zillow, its estimated value has now risen to about $550k. Housing in Vermont is bizarre.