I keep seeing inexpensive bank owned homes for sale, and...

[nhrocky]

I want semi-rural, with a nice town feeling, but also close to skiing, food, Target/Wal-Mart, shopping, etc.

Well no Wal-mart in Bratt, but one right across the river, lots of restaurants, some large businesses such as C&S Wholesale Grocers, nice Main Street, lots of small businesses, 2 grocery stores, 1 food co-op, video stores, car dealers, fast food restaurants, Dunkin' Donuts, etc., plus more including high taxes, zoning regs. Right on the CT River, short drive to Jamaica VT for the white water release for kayaking which definitely happens in the Fall, but also springtime I think, hiking on Mt.Wantastiquet in NH. Family apple orchards in the area.....the Apple Pie Festival in coming up soon in Dummerston VT!

5 minute drive from town and you're in the country, lol. 1/2 drive to Mt.Snow...the back way that is, not going Route 9.

Winchester is a very small town, it hasn't changed much since I was a kid and my parents drove through there every week-end to visit relatives. If you have (or plan to have) children, they've gone through a lot of troubled times with their school system, but other than that I don't know anything about the town.

[canyontothesky]

I mistakenly thought that one of the houses was near Brattleboro, but it's in Danbury, which is closer to Concord. What's the Danbury area like, anyone? Still sort of in the middle of nowhere to me, I will most likely need to be closer to some sort of city, but who knows right?

[leggo]

Danbury is really in the middle of nowhere. There is really no town to speak of - two general stores and a post office and a fire station. Ragged Mtn ski area is in town, and they are going thru some transition, time will tell if they make it or not.
Danbury to Concord would be about 45-min to 1 hr on some secondary roads. Tilton is the closest town with any kind of amenities. It is about .5 hours away.

[canyontothesky]

Prolly why houses are so cheap there!