Dover, NH

Slated for it's 24th consecutive year, the city of DOVER NEW HAMPSHIRE will play host to a fun fuilled day consisting of food, entertainment, vendors, crafts, and games.

Anyone looking for a slice of traditional Yankee life should reserve the first Saturday of October for Dover's annual Apple Harvest Day. This all-day family event draws approximately 25,000 visitors to the city's downtown each year.

The public is invited to enter the Apple Pie contest, so break out the family recipe. Pies will be judged on overall appearance and taste, and prizes in two divisions (adults, age 15 years and older; youth, age 5 to 14 years) will be awarded for first through fifth place. Pies should be dropped off at the Cocheco Falls Courtyard between 9 and 11 a.m. on Apple Harvest Day. Judging will take place promptly at 11 a.m. Registration forms can picked up at the chamber or at Harvey's Bakery and Coffee Shop or on the WOKQ Morning Crew Web page at http://www.wokq.com .

The day will begin at 8 a.m. with the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast in the Cocheco Courtyard, and Dover Mayor Scott Myers will officially open the event at 8:45 a.m. The Dover High School Band under the direction of Michele Boulanger will kick off the day's entertainment at 9:15 a.m. on the Rotary Arts Pavilion Stage in Henry Law Park.

Apple Harvest Day is organized by the Greater Chamber of Commerce, which is a not-for-profit association of businesses, professionals, individuals, and organizations working together to advance the economic well-being of its members and the community.

An important thing to keep in mind when it comes to real estate is that each and every town is different. Depending on where you are in the country, one town can be thriving and the next can be in a slump. This can also be true for large cities-certain sections of a city can be desirable...others not so much. Please keep this in mind when you listen to the news. The media is often giving you statewide or national market data and your home town is not the "national market". With that said, let's see what's been going on in the Dover real estate market.

23 homes sold in Dover in May:

-15 single family homes, and

-8 condos.

Year-to-date, 100 homes have sold in Dover, NH:

-65 single family homes

-33 condos, and

-2 mobile homes

In addition, 13 Dover homes went pending with active contracts in May.

If you or someone you know is looking to buy or sell, give me a call. I'd be happy to help them out.

For more real estate information, check out www.SeacoastHomesForYou.com.

To receive a FREE on-line home market analysis check, out www.GetFreePropertyValues.com.

The latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) claims that existing-home sales are projected to trend up in 2008. I definitely see that happening here in the Seacoast. In fact, Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for NAR was quoted recently saying, "The improvement in the Northeast reaffirms a trend apparent for some months now that shows signs of recovery, noteworthy because that was the first region to slump." Yes, he said did say improvement in the Northeast!

Let's check out what's been going on in Dover, NH.

22 homes sold in Dover in April

- 16 single family homes, and

- 6 condos.

Year-to-date, 75 homes have sold in Dover, NH:

-48 single family homes

-25 condos, and

-2 mobile homes

In addition, 21 Dover homes went pending with active contracts in April and there are currently 322 active listings on the market in Dover.

So what does this all mean? It means, don't wait.

If you are thinking of selling, now is a great time with home sales trending upward. Price your house right and it will sell.

If you are thinking of buying, now is definitely the time. If you are waiting for home prices to go lower I believe you may have missed the bottom so now is the time to get off the fence.

If you or someone you know is looking to buy or sell, please feel free to call or email me--I'm never to busy for your referrals!

For more real estate information, check out www.SeacoastHomesForYou.com.

To receive a FREE on-line home market analysis check, out www.GetFreePropertyValues.com .

Final photos are in...this is the end of the road... the fat lady is singing!

For those of you who have been wondering "when will it end" "how much longer can this series be?" Your prayers have been answered, this is the big finale!

The Master Bedroom....

Even though this is my daughter's new home and not a staging job, this project is still a testimonial to the power of staging. This condo was listed on MLS without photos because it's condition was so bad. So many sellers today are making the same mistake. This is one time I approve of a listing not being staged...the result was a great price for my daughter!

Thanks to all of you who were so supportive and enthusiastic in your comments on this project!

Original Before Photos

Part 2 Dog Hair in the Microwave

Part 3 A New Door and More Paint

Part 4 Kitchen Tile, Nasty Carpet, Nana's Dresser

Part 5 Nana's Dresser Goes Heavy Metal

Part 6 What a Difference a Light Makes

Part 7 You Don't Always Get it Right The First Time

Part 8 From Charming to Functional Using Shelves

Part 9 Custom Wood Radiator Covers by Rick

Part 10 Final photos are in

We aren't totally finished our "not-so-extreme" make-over yet, but we are close enough for some "After" photos. I first posted on this project back on March 3 and considering we only had weekends and some evenings to work on it, we made pretty good time. Since my daughter has actually moved in and we only have some minor finish work to do, I decided not to keep you waiting any longer for the "after" photos.

Here goes:

The only room left to photograph is the master bedroom, which I will do at another time.

To check out past posts on this transformation:

Part 2 Dog Hair in the Microwave

Part 3 A New Door and More Paint

Part 4 Kitchen Tile, Nasty Carpet, Nana's Dresser

Part 5 Nana's Dresser Goes Heavy Metal

Part 6 What a Difference a Light Makes

Part 7 You Don't Always Get it Right The First Time

Part 8 From Charming to Functional Using Shelves

Part 9 Custom Wood Radiator Covers by Rick