Meet Debbi Burton

Connections to Vermont run strong in my family.  My mother was a Vermonter--one of six kids who grew up on a farm.  Even though we lived elsewhere in the northeast when I was growing up, we spent summers at Shadow Lake in Vermont.  At 18, I returned to Vermont to attend UVM, and never left!  Burlington has been my home ever since.

Married?  Yes, for 3 ½ decades and counting!  It’s actually one of my strongest accomplishments—sustaining a marriage through kids, career changes, building a business, college…  My kids are wonderful: my daughter teaches at an inner city Charter school.  My son Andrew joined the business in 2003 and has been a wonderful asset ever since.  He’s a natural to the Real Estate field.  Speaking of family, I can’t forget Duncan, our Yorkie.  He’s a little dog with a BIG personality!

Favorite pastimes?  I love to cook and entertain.  I’m the hostess for the annual holiday gathering in my family, and there must be 50 of us each time—at least 3 generations of kids, grandkids, great grandkids, uncles & aunts… It’s a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, and of course, eat!  I bake up a storm each time, always making sure to include something chocolate.  I’m a HUGE chocolate fan.

Home is wonderful but I love to travel.  The Ocean is a big theme: Maine, the Jersey Shore, Mackinaw Michigan, the beaches of North Florida… My husband and I also enjoy visiting the historic estates and gardens of the Northeast.  I also love antiquing.  Turn me loose on Antiques Row, and I am the happiest person on earth!

Things I love about Burlington: The eclectic small town-feel, the fabulous scenery, the dramatic seasons… Goats, sheep and cows in the surrounding fields… Sparkling white snowfalls in winter… The eco friendly green feeling…The energy of the students & the ongoing buzz of academia… The lively Church Street scene… I mustn't forget the fantastic winter sports: snowshoeing, snowboarding, skiiing, tobogganing, and of course, hockey.  The college hockey games at UVM are the best—some of the kids even go on to the pros and it’s fun to follow their careers.  I’m a big Tampa Bay Lightning fan.

How did I get into Real Estate?  In a word: my mother.  She encouraged me to dive in—this was 30 years ago.  She was an important mentor for me, as was my high school band master, whose mantra was Be the best you can be.  I try to take those words to heart every day, striving to provide outstanding service to each and every one of my clients.  It's a challenge during high real estate season when the market is busy—allocating time to each buyer or seller and putting together the necessary elements for the transactions to place.

Chad, our office manager has been instrumental as well.  As my brother, he’s part of the family, but most importantly, he has managerial, organizational, and technical skills that go beyond the norm.  With Chad, the bases are covered and then some!  It’s wonderful for me, because it allows me to be with clients on a personal level when I know that contracts and paperwork and office minutiae are covered from his end.  We’re the #1 Remax Realtors at RMNP and we all take credit for making it a reality...

Meet Chad Jacobson

Tell us about your background.  I spent most of my childhood in Ithaca NY, but as Deb mentioned, we’ve always had strong family ties to Vermont.  My college years were spent in Williamsburg, Virginia at William & Mary University, where I obtained a business and finance degree.

Do you like to travel?  I do.  After college I was posted overseas, which allowed me to explore multiple destinations:  Germany, England, Italy… Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore…  A favorite trip was a one-week sail around the Greek Islands.  I’ll never forget sitting in a 2,000 year old amphitheatre, watching the sun set as classical music built to a crescendo around me…  Of course these days I’m a little more staid—give me a beach or a Golf course (preferably both) and my vacation wishes are fulfilled!

Any kids?  Yes indeed: I have three teenage boys, Luke, Ben & Erik, who are only 3 years apart in age.  Add me to the mix and together we are one big guy fest!  Parenting is a challenge, and I do take it seriously.  One of my priorities is making sure the boys get the best education possible.  I figure if we've got that one covered, the rest will take care of itself! 

Any pastimes or hobbies?  Golf is tops on my recreation list.  But winters, like Deb, I’m big into hockey.  UVM hockey is my favorite.  I’m also a Hockey Referee.  I’m a rules guy—if it weren’t for societal rules, we’d have perished as a civilization long ago!

Name one great thing about the Burlington area.  The restaurants!  Compiling the list for this website was an exercise in restraint, there were so many great ones to choose from.  My idea of a dream meal?  Filet mignon.  Twice baked potato.  Creamed spinach.  And to top it off: a wickedly dry Cabernet Sauvignon!

My strengths in Real Estate?  Technology.  Organization.  Analysis.  I pride myself on staying on top of things, no matter how busy we get.  My goal is to make everyone’s transaction as smooth and uneventful as possible.  I get flak sometimes for being so detail-oriented, but I know it’s an important part of any enterprise.  Back in college, one of my professors encouraged me to pursue my organizational skills, and I like to think I’ve honed them to a fine art!

Any goals in Real Estate?  Remaining #1 in our area.  Getting to Number One is one thing, but staying Number One is another...