New Hampshire

NEW HAMPSHIRE -- New statistics show that New Hampshire's real estate market is in the midst of a slow and steady recovery.

The numbers from the New Hampshire Association of Realtors showed October home sales were up 8 percent compared to a year ago. And home sales through the first 10 months of 2009 show sales are up over the same period last year. But it's not all good news. Numbers show that so far this year, prices are down 11 percent over last year. The New Hampshire numbers contradict national trends. The U.S. Commerce Department said that nationally, housing starts dropped 10.6 percent last month. Slow and steady sales show that those homes under $300,000 are the ones that are selling.

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A Friday Night Rant, as folks know I sure don't usually write rant blog posts. But theres a leads service company calling me that just won't take No for an answer. Service Magic has called me many times now, the last call come today, they e-mail me at least 4 times a week.

But todays phone call I just could no belive what their so called salesmen said to me! they usual sart out by asken if you can use more business. This time I said I'm doing fine with the areas that use on the net, with geting business. So then he said so you have a website, told him yes, and that I belong to some blogging communitys.


And the main blogging community that I use is for Real Estate Professionals, so he goes off and asks, so you selle Real Estate. So I told him, no I do not. Then he comes back with, how can you say your a Real Estate Professional, when your just a Home Inspector. Thats sure was it for them. Do you think I'll ever do business with them? You sure can bet your boots, that I 100% will not.

Did a bit of checken on them, and two complaint sites come up with all kinds of folks talking about the bad service they give. Complaints coming from both the public and business's that have signed up with them. One site had 8 pages and the other one had 12 pages.

Post 624 - 20 Nov. 2009

Some Good Buys In October

If nothing else, the real esatate market in the Lakes Region of NH seems to be consistent in many ways. There were 73 residential home sales posted for October in the communities listed in this Lakes Region report. That total is very close to the 71 sales posted last October. The average sales price was down a little bit coming in at $271,339 last month compared to $290,420 last October and $292,896 in September of this year. Just about half the sales this past month were under $200,000 which also seems to be the new norm.

Top honors this month for the highest sale was a waterfront home at 221 Dockham Shore Road in Gilford. It was on the market for $1.875 million and sold very close to that at $1.865 million. This custom built lake home has almost 5,000 square feet of living space, ten rooms, six baths, a gourmet kitchen (of course), full finished basement, covered boat slip, and a detached two car garage with a guest apartment above all sitting on a 1.2 acre lot with 175 feet of frontage. A very tasteful home.

My pick for one of the best deals in October goes to the property at 21 Grouse Hollow in the gated Grouse Point Club in Meredith. This 3,680 square foot, contemporary style home has twelve rooms, four bedrooms, three baths, three car garage, great views of the lake, and was sold with a boat slip. This property was listed in March of 2008 at $1.095 million but finally sold for $675,000. Not only did the buyer get a great deal on the home but he now has access to all the fantastic amenities that the Grouse Point Club has to offer including the indoor swimming pool, exercise room, tennis courts, and beach.

There were some other great values picked up last month in all prices ranges. For example, a ranch with 200' of frontage on Berry Pond located at 18 Holland Street in Moultonborough was listed at $219,000 and changed hands for $165,000. The property was assessed by the town at $257,500. A Winnisquam waterfront home at 82 Sunset Drive in Belmont was originally listed at $449,000 (assessed for $478,800) was sold for $375,000. This completely renovated, year-round home has three bedrooms, two baths, a huge dock and 55 feet of waterfront. I bet the new owner is happily looking forward to the next boating season. Another nice deal was a 4,800 square foot Adirondack home at 15 Bay Ridge Dive in Meredith that was originally offered at $1.195 million in 2008. It sold last month for $799,000 which is 86% of the town's assessed value. This home has four bedrooms, five baths, a gourmet kitchen, the requisite cathedral ceiling great room with huge fireplace, and nice views of Meredith Bay on Lake Winnikesaukee.

Of the 73 transactions in October where the assessed value was reported in the MLS, nineteen sales were at 80% or less of the town's tax assessment. Were they all good deals? I guess only the buyer knows for sure. But then again, he bought it, didn't he?

Compiled from the NNEREN MLS System.

Out with the old and in with the new...

Lincoln New Hampshire: for the past 23 seasons the North Country center for the arts was housed in a machine room once used to makes paper.

The Old Paper mill...was turned into a theater for the last 23 summer seasons.

The Paper Mill Theater was born from the ashes of the Franconia Paper Mill the areas largest employer from the mid-1800’s through the mid 1970’s.

When Former New Hampshire Governor Sherman Adams came back to Lincoln New Hampshire to build a ski resort, many in the timber and paper industry didn’t have his vision. Fast Forward over 40 years, Loon Mountain Ski Resort is the largest ski ticket seller in the state and attracts visitors year-round. The North Country Center for the Arts new play house will be named after Sherman Adams Daughter Jean Hallager. Jean’s playhouse will boast 15,000 square feet – 250 seats and will cost over 2.5 million to complete. The New Entertainment venue will be on land donated from the town of Lincoln and will sit adjacent to the old Machine room #1, which is being torn down to make way for future expansion plans near the entrance to Loon’s new South Mountain ski area (base lodge, lift & ski slopes done).

We have waited a long time to see these old building come down and make way for the exciting Arts center and the towns new River walk park along the Pemigewasset River. By 2012 much of the anticipated ski area expansion, 20 acre park and new commercial building plans will be completed and this will forever change the face of this sleepy ski resort town that was once a paper mill town. I have high hopes for the town of Lincoln NH, Loon Mountain Ski Resort and the NCCA performing art center as a year round destination for future generations to enjoy the beautiful White mountains of New Hampshire

The first Part of the Foundation walls were poured on Monday November 16th, 2009 in a dedication ceremony attended by nearly 100 patrons of the arts...we are all very excited to have Jean's Playhouse in full operation over the next few seasons.

Bring New Life to the Windows of Your Home, Here a little trick, that professional use. Install a curtain rod above your windows to help make them look taller, or use a extra long curtain rod if you'er wanting a window to look wider.

Folks find swag curtains are among the easiest for them to installed. Tie a large knot at the tip of the rod. Use a sheer fabric to filter the light and let the swag hang all the way down to the fioor for an elegant look for the room.

Bring New Life to the Windows of Your Home, A tab top panel over a fancy roll type shade works well together. You can use any kind of curtain rod for tab top curtains.

A tailored Roman shade is functional as well as smart styling. As with curtains, to help make a window look larger than it really is, install the Roman shade on the outside of the window, overlapping the window on both ends. Its not good to use a Roman shade for windows larger than six feet as the weight of the shade makes it difficult to raise and lower it. Its best to use more than one shade instead.

Bring New Life to the Windows of Your Home, A Roman shade with a coordinating valance for a layered effect. A good rule of thumb for a valance size is one-fourth to one-third the height of the window. You can even trim your valance with fringe or tassels for some added detail.

Post 623 - 20 Nov. 2009