New Hampshire

I recently had to deal with a bank on a foreclosure sale and the red tape and duct tape and rules and restrictions imposed by that "seller" made my buyers' first home purchase a roller coaster event.

Everyone knew ahead of time it could be rocky and that the risk is high when purchasing a foreclosure. I know myself from when I purchased my first foreclosure in 2002. However...in all fairness to my buyers, the "seller" took a very long time to respond and created such impossibly tight deadlines that my buyers were unable to meet, that we were unable to close on time. To make matters worse, the "sellers" wanted to impose late fees for not closing on time.

This is what happens when we deal with a third party who is not a living, breathing entity. Someone with a heart would understand that the buyers have shown due diligence and would take into consideration the effects imposed upon the buyers, the lender, the inspector, the appraiser, the title company from requesting such tight deadlines. Meanwhile we try our best and it appears it is still not good enough because unfair fees are threatened upon the buyers.

I showed 9 properties last week to one set of buyers. In the end, only one was not a short sale or foreclosure, though it was still a distressed seller. I look forward to returning to a market where sellers are true owners and where the heart is involved in the transaction.

Today we are faced with challenges not normally faced in traditional real estate transactions. We as agents strive to do our best but so many unexpected turns and twists arise. My hope is that my buyers will not look at this experience as a sole reflection of my service commitment to them, but that they will look at the entire picture and realize that we did the best we could with each given scenario. I wish them well, they WILL get to closing and I know it in my heart.

We're almost there!

View a virtual tour of this magnificent Lake Winnipesaukee contemporary in Meredith NH. This property is offered at $3,450,000 and listed by NicoleWatkins of CENTURY 21 Lakes Region Realty, Meredith, NH. Contact Nicole Watkins at (603) 707-7575 to tour this property.

Lake Winnipesaukee Real Estate Market Conditions.

Lake Winnipesaukee Waterfront real estate trends from 01/01/2009-06/28/2009 versus 01/01/2008-06/28/2008

In the first 6 months of 2009, between 01/01/2009-06/28/2009, there have been 28 Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront residential sales. (Not bad for predominantly second home statistics in a down economy).

The median selling price for these Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront homes, in the above- referenced time period, was $760,500. The average selling price was $856,990. The average number of days on market was 128.

During this same time period in 2008, there were 31 Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront home sales. The median selling price during this time period in 2008 was $1,460,000. The average selling price was $1,447,672. The average number of days on market was 148. *

The number of days on maket are slightly fewer this year. The median and average selling prices are down significantly in the first half of 2009 versus 2008, but, in my opinion, that is partly because the number of Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront properties on the market this year, which have less square footage, and which are on canals or narrow waterfrontage, and which are both listed and assessed at under $1,000,000 is a far greater number than last year.

We obviously don't know the statistcs for the second half of 2009 yet. Let's take a look at the second half of 2008 and see if we can predict anything for the second half of 2009. From 06/29/2008 to 12/31/2008 there were 46 (forty-six) Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront residential home sales. The average number of days on market for the second half of 2008 was 230. The average selling price during this time period was $1,040,457.
The median selling price was $786,000. The median selling price for the second half of 2008, therefore is almost exacly the same as the first half of 2009.

With recent high end activity greatly increased in June 2009, my prediction is that the median selling price for the second half of 2009 will be higher than 2008. I also predict that the number of Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront sales over $3,000,000, will be approximately the same as the number of sales over $3,000,000 in 2007 and 2008. (There were a total 5 (five) Lake Winnipesaukee Waterfront home sales over $3,000,000, in both 2007 and 2008.)

(*Based on information from the Northern New England Real Estate Network, for the all of the Winnipesaukee-shored towns ( Alton, Meredith, Center harbor, Moultonborough, Wolfeboro, Tuftonboro, Laconia, and Gilford ) for the above-referenced time period. This information includes residential homes with owned waterfrontage, NOT condos or land Please note that days on market will not be accurate if a property listing has been listed with more than one real estate agency or if the property was off the market for 30 days or more.)

It's been raining FOREVER! So what did these fine folks do? They turned their balcony into a tropical paradise.

I liked the idea so much that I hit the local dollar store for my own Luau supplies.

How much were the supplies? $2.00 The resulting repite from the rain?

PRICELESS!

Remember that props are important to maintain a good attitude. Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Frances Sanderson, Franklin, NH REALTOR®, Certified EcoBroker^®

What better place to view fireworks that celebrate the birth of our country than in a quaint country village setting? The lovely village of Center Sandwich traditionally holds their fireworks display at dusk on July 3rd on the fairgrounds. This location allows for several points around the village for comfortable sites for full views of the display. Dusk usually means that the fireworks will be set off at about 9:30 PM.

The local church holds an ice cream social in front of the Baptist Meeting House beginning at 8PM. This is by donation only and there is always plenty for all including a choice of toppings, such as homemade chocolate sauce, butterscotch sauce, strawberries, and sometimes blueberries.

Come one and all to this old fashioned celebration of the birth of our nation. Meet local residents and enjoy the beauty of one of New Hampshire's most special towns.