Dover, NH

Part 3 in a weekly blog series of Why I love Dover New Hampshire, this week I'm highlighting Dover New Hampshire's Ice arena. The arena is a big part of my families life, and a big part of many of the hockey families in the area also.

Public skating sessions are one of our main attractions at Dover Arena. Skating provides great exercise and an opportunity to get out of the house - plus, it's not like exercising at the gym... skating is fun! Lace-em up and come join the others. Get on the ice and get ready for a great experience.

The rink offers both Adult and Youth Ice Hockey programs and leagues. Whether you are a beginning skater looking to play on a team in an instructional league or an experienced ice hockey player looking to get out and play with others of a similar caliber, Dover Arena is the place to play. Give us a call at (603) 516-6060 to inquire about our leagues now. A experienced group will help get you ready for your next game.

The Dover Arena is the home facility for Dover Youth Hockey, Seacoast Spartans, the Great Bay Skating Club and four local high schools including:

Berwick Academy Varsity Boys and Girls, JV Boys and Girls teams

STA Boys Varsity, JV and Freshmen teams

STA Girls Varsity

Dover High Boys Varsity and JV

Marshwood High

Why not have your party or event at Dover Arena? They can make the rink and other facilities available to you for birthday parties, holiday parties or corporate events. Prices are great!

My family spends a ton of time at the rink. We're one of those crazy hockey families! Hope to see you out at the rink sometime!

Bill Somerset, Realtor®, Dover New Hampshire. Century 21 Central Falls Realty, 242 Central Ave., Dover NH 03820. 603-742-2121 x1014 or bill@century21central.com Looking to buy a home in Dover New Hampshire?. Search for homes in Dover New Hampshire at www.billsomerset.com

Part 2, Reason #7 in a new series I decided to launch last week. This week I am highlighting two of the towns great assets. The Dover indoor pool and the Jenny Thompson outdoor pool.

The Dover Indoor Pool is a 25-yard 6-lane pool located in downtown Dover off of Henry Law Avenue. With an average water temperature of 81 degrees, the Indoor Pool is used for a wide range of activities including lap swim, therapy swim, lessons, competitive swimming, scuba classes, birthday parties and aqua-aerobics. The dive well, which features a 1-meter diving board, is used primarily for diving instruction and recreational swimming, including treading water, water jogging and deep water swim instruction.

The Jenny Thompson Outdoor Pool is a 50-meter competition pool located on Portland Avenue next to the Dover Ice Arena. This pool is mainly used for competitive and recreational swimming as well as occasional lessons during the summer. The Jenny Thompson pool is a favorite destination of many summer camps during the hot summer months as the pool also has a large grassy area for kids to play on. Opening near the end of June, the Jenny Thompson Pool hosts many regional swim meets during the summer including USA Swimming sanctioned meets. The Jenny Thompson pool is a wonderful place to spend those hot summer days.

Both pool are a great asset to the City, and offer opportunities for families to cool off on warm summer days. I invite you to come visit one, or both of the pools sometime. I'm sure you will enjoy!

Bill Somerset is a Realtor licensed in both New Hampshire and Maine. My office is located at 242 Central Ave. Dover New Hampshire. 603-742-2121 x1014 or email is bill@century21central.com You can search for homes for sale in Dover New Hampshire on my website www.billsomerset.com

The city of Dover has a long and colorful history spanning nearly four centuries. Its earliest days as a colonial seaport led to a successful shipbuilding industry in the 1700s, and it flourished in the 19th century as the nation's leading manufacturer of cotton goods. The development of a brick industry spanned decades of successful mill operations through the middle of the 20th century. Dover's renaissance as a thriving, competitive community continues today.

Reason #12; Dover New Hampshire's childrens museum

The Children's Museum operates exclusively for charitable purposes and serves as an educational resource for schools, families and communities. The museum strives to support the diverse population of the region, to provide learning opportunities for all children, and to enrich the services of regional schools. The vision of the museum is to to inspire children to experience all that is in the world as an opportunity to learn.

Location: 6 Washington St., Dover, NH map
Phone: (603) 742-2002
Hours: Tue-Sat. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Sun. 12-5 p.m.; Mon. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. during school vacations
Admission: Adults/children $7, seniors $6, members free; children under 1 free
Web site: http://www.childrens-museum.org

This information provided by Bill Someret, Century 21 Central Falls Realty, Dover New Hampshire, 03820. You can contact me at 603-742-2121 x1014, or by email at bill@century21central.com Please feel free to stop by my website, www.billsomerset.com and search for homes in Dover New Hampshire free, no registration required.

Although the real estate market was tough in 2008 as you will see below, 288 homes sold in Dover. People still have to move and homes still do sell regardless of the market. With that said, here is A Little Perspective on the Real Estate Market:

• More than 1000 banks closed in 1930 (three years before the FDIC was created) BUT Only 14 banks have been taken over in 2008,

• There are 76 million households in the US that own their home--24 million of these homes are owned free and clear,

• There are 52 million homes with mortgages in the US; 97.2% of these are not in foreclosure AND 93.8% of these homes are current on their payments.

Unfortunately...

• Over 20% of people with a mortgage owe more than their home is worth

• 40% of all homes in foreclosure are non-owner occupied (investments)

• There is $975 billion in consumer debt in America

Historic Facts...

• The average real estate boom lasts 3 to 4 years, and the bottom lasts for 15 months

• This real estate boom lasted 9 years, so the bottom will likely last 2-3 years (start Jan. 2008)

• The normal recession lasts 7 to 8 months in total

• There have been 8 recessions and 1 depression in the past 100 years

• 8 times more millionaires are created in a recession

Here is the history on what happened in Dover at year end...

34 homes sold in Dover in November and December:

- 26 single family homes,

- 7 condos, and

- 1 mobile homes.

In 2008, 288 homes sold in Dover, NH:

-191 single family homes

- 86 condos, and

- 11 mobile homes

In addition, 11 Dover homes went pending with active contracts in November and December.

For more real estate information, check out my website www.SeacoastHomesForYou.com , or to receive a FREE on-line market analysis on your home check, out www.GetFreePropertyValues.com.

Dover NH Real Estate Foreclosures, Bank Owned and Short Sale Opportunities

Would you like to receive Dover, NH real estate foreclosure (bank-owned) listings and short sale opportunities? If you are serious about buying a home at a great value, our local RE/MAX real estate professionals at RE/MAX Country Properties will contact you and provide:

* A list of existing real estate foreclosure (bank-owned) and short sale listings in Dover, NH and other communities you select.

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DOVER NEW HAMPSHIRE FORECLOSURE ALERTS!

Visit Dover, New Hampshire Real Estate to receive school reports, search the MLS, request a CMA, obtain relocation, home buying and selling guides.

Visit www.nh-virtualhomes.com for community information about other towns in New Hampshire. Go to NH Foreclosures to obtain listings on other New Hampshire bank owned homes.

Information is provided by Virtual Homes and real estate services provide by RE/MAX Country Properties, Amherst, NH. Go to Virtual Homes MLS for a map based search of all MLS listings of Massachusetts real estate.

Visit www.ma-virtualhomes.com to obtain relocation and school information in MA towns. Preview communities in Maine at www.me-virtualhomes.com.