Portsmouth, NH

Here is a brief synopsis from Barnes and Noble of The Book Thief:

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

Last week we finished and discussed Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut. Our group ranged in opinions from a bit of distaste to overflowing appreciation and joy. Although I was leaning more towards distaste, I did appreciate the satyr and the way Vonnegut just puts it all out there in almost a reckless manner.

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BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2010 all home inspectors in the state of New Hampshire will have to hold a license in order to inspect homes.

Makes sense to me how about you? For a long time now this hasn't been the case here in the "Live Free or Die State of NH." Anyone could go through a home and inspect it without holding a license. As a Realtor I would always recommend those home inspectors who were licensed to my buyers. I would give them three names and let them decide who they wanted.

When I'm looking for a doctor, lawyer, or Realtor I always look for those who are licensed. It says to me that they are educated first off and they have to live by the rules. It also tells me that they care enough to go to school/classes to become licensed. They have put in the time and the effort. Wouldn't you want a "licensed home inspector checking out your house?"

Is this the case where you live and work? Curious......

Let me be the first to admit it: I've been known to whine and complain. I'm not perfect and I haven't yet mastered a positive attitude. I'm not alone...there is no shortage of people willing to piss and moan right along with me. Misery loves company and, more times than not, people will dwell on what's wrong, not on what's right. Negative energy is quite powerful.

It is much easier to complain and whine about problems than it is to come up with solutions. Today's buyers are looking for a home they can move right into, not a house they have to improve or customize to meet their needs. They are more likely to notice negative features before positive ones, and the negative features will make a stronger impression on them.

Don't underestimate the power of negative impression. Think about it....if you got ten compliments on a new haircut and then one person made fun of your haircut, the negative comment would be the most memorable of all the comments you received. One negative erases the ten positive...it's that powerful.

Positive marketing begins with preparation and positive impression begins with quality MLS photos. When listing your house, the pictures you choose for the MLS are crucial to the impression that is made. Show eight fabulous pictures and then one bad one and it's the bad one that will get the most attention. The bad picture is the one that will make the strongest impression on potential buyers.

There is a lot of attention given to the power of positive thinking, but when it comes to selling your house, it is very important that you take into consideration the power of negative impression.

Something you should keep in mind when preparing your house for sale. is that it is very difficult to see your own house through buyer's eyes. Your emotional attachment hinders your ability to be impartial. If you want buyers to notice the positive features in your house, those features need to be highlighted and the negative features need to be minimized.

Consult with a professional home stager to learn more about creating the right impression through preparation and presentation.

My tip for dealing with difficult customers: Practice the Golden Rule and put yourself in the other person’s position. Always treat the customer right ..as you want to be treated.

Keep meetings productive... Keep to the list of homes you've set up showings for. Don't deviate, stick to the list.

Be sure to show Byers your listings... If you have a listing that falls into the price range that your prospective buyers are looking for make sure you include it on the list of homes to view.

My best marketing techniques... Everything I do drives traffic to my website. Whether I use print advertising, billboards or TV, we direct everyone to our website because that is where the action is.

How to keep consumers educated about today’s buying opportunities? I spend time talking/educating buyers/sellers I am working with and try to give them articles, statistics and data they need to navigate through the buying or selling process in today's market.

Stay upbeat and optimistic... I treat each new appointment with an optimistic point of view. This may be the "one" that will buy a home today so always be smiling and helpful...no matter what the story is.

Hope this post helps you confront the general public in today's real estate market!

Portsmouth, New Hampshire Market Update - Single Family Homes Activity

Visit Portsmouth NH Condo Market Update (YTD-October 31,2009) to view a report for condominium activity for 2009.

Market Snapshot

Single Family Homes - There are 68 homes on the market with an average listing price of $612,362 These homes have been on the market for 110 days. For sales pending, there are 9 homes under contract with an average listing price of $351,711. The lower end of the market is the most active as first-time home buyers are taking advantage of the $8000 tax credit. To view current listings on the market with a mapped based result,visit Portsmouth NH Homes for Sale.

The October statistics report 105 homes sold with an average sale price of $346,533 which is a little over a 2% decrease in values in 2008. The New Hampshire foreclosure market has had a minor impact in the Portsmouth market however statewide almost one third of property sold are foreclosures.

Virtual Homes Real Estate provides search tools to assist you in learning about the community, listing and market conditions. Click on the following links for your choice of services:

Portsmouth NH Real Estate - Community, relocation and school information with town demographics.

Portsmouth NH Foreclosures - Obtain a list of foreclosed and bank owned real estate and short sales

Portsmouth NH MLS Search - View all listings in the statewide MLS.

Portsmouth NH Homes for Sale - Map Search - Search by location, neighborhood and commuting.

Vist NH Homes for Sale and MA Homes for Sale for direct MLS access to all listings. To obtain school, demographic, commuting, relocation, home buying and selling information go to New Hampshire real estate, Massachusetts real estate, Connecticut real estate, Maine real estate andRhode Island real estate.

This report is based on activity reported from the NNEREN mls system and is not guaranteed to be accurate. It does not represent all of the listings that have sold during the specified time frame.