By Karen D. Lorentz
Fifty years ago, on October 15, 1972, Judy Storch founded Killington Valley Real Estate (KVRE) with Pat Denis. Sally Bridges became his partner after Denis left, and when Bridges left to become an appraiser, Storch became the sole owner of KVRE. She sold the business to Bret Williamson and his wife Kim in 2017, but continues to list, sell and rent properties.
Storch notes that she didn’t retire because “I meet too many great people and besides my social security checks wouldn’t cover my credit card bills,” a reference to her many trips and cruises in interesting places of the world – China (three times), Mexico, Croatia, Europe, Africa, Azores, Alaska among others. A major cruise in the Baltic Sea and a trip to Scotland are on his agenda.
Selling the business has allowed him to take more time for his travels, his photographic hobby (a recent photo safari in Africa), snowshoeing and enjoying life. But she notes, “I only retired from ownership, not sales and marketing.”
Williamson started working at Killington Valley Real Estate in 2004. He had already worked at the Basin Ski Shop since he was a sophomore at Castleton College where he raced on the Nordic team. An avid downhill skier, after graduation he stayed in Vermont and rode his bike while continuing to work at the ski shop.
But having grown up with a family in real estate, he also joined Killington Valley Real Estate in 2004. With his “strong retail background and knowledge of all aspects of the area”, he said he found real estate sales “a natural choice”. His pleasure in showing properties and his enthusiasm for Killington and its future led to the decision to buy the business.
Since then, the real estate sector has been exceptional, notes Williamson.
He attributes this to the growing popularity of the area, driven in large part by the growth of summer activities due to Killington Resort’s investments in mountain biking and the Adventure Center. The ski area’s hosting of a Women’s World Cup race also brought Killington a lot of attention, as did the reputation of Killington Mountain School, a ski academy her two children attend in her alpine ski competition.
The recent Covid-19 pandemic has also contributed to greater demand for properties, and Killington Elementary School, which is ranked as one of the best in Vermont, and the Recreation Department’s summer camps for children. city are additional assets that make the city attractive for both. vacation and primary residence owners, Williamson said. “All of these factors have contributed to the growing demand for properties and an increase in prices,” he added, noting that they “reflect the value to be found in the Killington area.”
Williamson also noted that he was extremely lucky that Judy remained with the company. “I rely on her a lot. She’s like the real estate Google of Killington. If I have a question, she can answer it,” he noted of his familiarity with the area and being “an excellent mentor.”
Killington changes
Storch was one of the first “ski bums” who moved to Killington for skiing and worked for the ski area before going freelance.
In February 1964, Storch heard of a job offer and a week later started as general secretary for $1.50 an hour. “When the snow left, I went back to New York to work,” she said.
In October, Storch returned to Killington and, as secretary to general manager, Paul Bousquet, held a variety of positions, from personnel and operations to the ski school and marketing.
With the advent of Killington East she moved into real estate sales, having taken courses and obtained her license in 1968. She sold the Killington East lots in 1969-70 and remembers the round lots as well as of the first chalet.
She left the ski area job in 1970 and was a ski buff for two years, serving as a waitress, bartender and working for Jim Judge’s property management company before opening KVRE at the Red House Farm next to Wobbly Barn.
Asked about the major trends she has seen in her five decades of listing, selling and renting properties to thousands of customers, Storch said “the major change was price. When I started, one of the most expensive houses was $95,000 and A-frames were selling for $20,000. Now the prices of everything – condos, houses, land and rentals – are higher.
Other significant changes include the advent of condominiums; a one-bedroom condo in Edgemont went for $26,000 and now one-bedroom condos globally sell for well over $200,000, she said.
“In 50 years, I’ve never seen such a shortage of enrollment, which we have now due to supply and demand. The time on the market has also changed.
“I’ve sold properties to the children of people I sold to earlier and it’s great to see the generational interest in Killington,” she added.
Having weathered the ups and downs of the economy and housing market, Storch noted that the worst times came “in the early 1980s when interest rates hit the 20% range. The recession of the early 1990s and the more recent national crisis of 2007 to 2009 were among the challenges and saw an abundance of listings with few buyers,” she recalls.
The Killington Rush
Recalling the early days and why she stayed in town, Storch observed, “It was like the California Gold Rush, only you came for the Killington Ski Rush. There was a pioneering spirit and you came for the growth. We were in the right place at the right time, and with a strong work ethic, you could successfully build a business. Today, it takes financial means to do what I did. We started with a $1,500 investment and had both of our names on one business card to save money. But we had high-end stationery,” she noted with a laugh.
“I still love the outdoors and living in Killington,” she added, noting that she prefers “a resort community because there is always something going on and great people to meet. I am single and love my social life here and the energy of the area which keeps me young. The grass doesn’t have time to grow under your feet here,” she added.
“Killington is my comfort zone. That’s why I stay. I travel for new adventures and to meet more people. I certainly meet a lot of new people here in my own backyard,” she added of a life in real estate that has come with warm mountain memories and many friendships.
