Beautiful Laconia Cape with Winnisquam Beach Rights

163 Sarah Circle, Laconia, NH

MLS 4083030 Offered at $279,900

Everything about this home is great…

Great neighborhood, great curb appeal, great construction, and beach rights to Winnisquam! That’s really great!

This like-new three bedroom cape was built in 2007 and features a large eat-in kitchen/dining area with tile flooring and lots of cabinetry, a first floor master suite, first floor laundry,a great living room with beautiful hardwood floors, and two bedrooms up. A finished two car garage and a full basement provides plenty of storage. Come check this high quality home out today and make it yours. That would be really great…

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189 Dockham Shore Rd

Gilford, NH

MLS #4076401  Offered at $899,000

This high quality Winnipesaukee waterfront home has an open floor plan designed by the owners for everyday living & entertaining.

Enjoy fabulous views of the lake from practically every room in this great home!

The main floor has a custom kitchen with granite counter tops, tile floors, & fabulous center island with a gas cook top. The kitchen opens into the great room featuring a wall of glass to view the lake, hardwood floors, beautiful trim work, a gas fireplace with flat screen TV above, a bar, & vaulted ceilings. Also adjacent to the kitchen is a dining area & a heated three season porch.

The upstairs is dedicated to the master suite complete with a gas fireplace & private deck & an office that looks down into the great room & out to the lake. The lower level walk out has two bedrooms, a full bath, and a family room. The home features in-floor radiant heat & a Bose sound system.

The .33 acre, beautifully landscaped lot has 50′ of frontage, sandy entry, & a dock. Don’t let this one get away!



Construction Specifications:

9’ Poured Concrete Foundation with 2” Rigid Insulation

2×6 Walls with Marvin Windows

Insulation; Spray Foam in Walls, 6” Fiberglass in Floors, Fiberglass & Blown-in in Attic

Skim Coat Plaster over Blue Board through out

Variable Speed Water pump in “True” artesian well

Radiant Heat with High Efficiency Gas fired Boiler

Oak & Pine Trim, Maple Cabinets, Ash, Ceramic Tile & Carpet Flooring

Special Features:

Miele Stainless Appliances with Disappearing Ventilation System

Baths; Under Vanity Lighting, Master; Tile Shower with three heads

Granite Counter Tops with under countertop stainless sink in kitchen

Central Vacuum System with commercial grade vacuum unit

Whole House, Four Zone Bose Entertainment System plus Two Exterior Zones

Two Gas Fireplaces, Great Room & Master

Great Room Soffit & Tray Ceiling in Master both with up lighting

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As part of the Lake Views series of articles, I thought it would be interesting to talk with someone that is responsible for building some of the nicest homes in the Lakes Region. It just so happens that most of these homes have great views of the lake. Mark Flanders, of Flanders and Company in Meredith, was good enough to spend some time talking about his business and business philosophy.

Flanders and Company has been around since 1980. Mark grew up in the business working for his father, Bob, and took over the company in 2001 with a vision of creating a company that focused on building the finest homes in the area. He wanted to create an exceptional experience for his clients, one that would ensure they would call him back if they ever wanted to build another home. He also wanted to make sure that they told all their friends about his company. Imagine that, a business founded on good old fashioned quality workmanship, satisfied customers, and word of mouth advertising!

The first thing that Mark does with potential clients is talk about the construction process and then determines what they are trying to achieve. He wants to make sure he is a good fit for them, that they are looking for a company with integrity, and that they want a high quality product. Mark is well aware that his clients are going to spend a lot of money and he wants to be able to say up front to that they will be happy with the results. If he can’t say that, he doesn’t want them as a customer. Flanders and Company is also a design/build company. Mark can sit and design a home to meet your exact needs and then build it for you, or he will work hand in hand with the architect of your choice.

Mark is probably one of the most tech-savvy builders in the Lakes Region. One of the things that really sets Flanders and Company apart from many others is the web accessible construction management system he uses to keep his clients informed about the status of their build. Most clients like to be involved in the build, but because most of them don’t live here they can’t be here every day and that could cause delays and frustration. Mark explained, “As a builder, I want to make this experience as fun as I can for them and as trouble free as I can so they do want to do it more… build another house, or renovate, and tell their friends. The web based project management portal allows them to come in and see the schedule, so they can see what is going to happen when and to see progress pictures.”

All of the documents associated with the project such the construction agreement, plans, and schedule of values are posted on the website so the client has everything readily accessible. When choices are made that are different than estimated in the construction agreement, the program automatically updates the expense section so the client knows exactly how much the change costs. Any changes, dialog, or communication are documented on the portal so there is never any disagreement about who said what and which changes were made when.

Mark says that at the end of a project a client doesn’t remember what went well; they just remember what went poorly. Two years down the road they might not even remember what they paid. But they will remember if they liked their builder. So the more disagreements (let’s say misunderstandings) you eliminate, the more satisfied the customer will be.

Mark’s clients are “willing to pay a little extra for quality and for piece of mind” knowing that work will be completed on time and on budget. His clients are more about a mindset rather than a dollar amount. And, while high end clients provide the bulk of the business for the company, they also do everything from homes for first time buyers to small additions, decks, and major renovations. No job is too big, or too small.

Mark says he thinks the next big building trend will be focusing on energy efficiency and green buildings. He says that “people sometimes don’t get the correspondence between the fact that generally if you build a house that is more energy efficient and cheaper to run, it is also more comfortable as long as you do it right. You get a tangible benefit of saving money, the intangible benefit of a better, more comfortable house, and the tangible, but hard to measure benefit of better resale.”

Mark hopes that there is an undercurrent of people that are not so focused on the size of their home, but more on the quality of the home and whether the home meets their needs. Some people really need 6,000 square feet because they entertain or they have a lot of family that visit. But he doesn’t want to build 6,000 square feet when the client doesn’t really have the budget and the quality suffers. He would rather design a smaller, high quality home for those same clients that would meet their needs and that would not only have all the features they were looking for but would also be very comfortable.

People will often live in a house for years before they realize that they have rooms that they never use and wish they didn’t have to heat. But it can be tough to tell new clients that when they walk through the door. Unfortunately, building a home is not like buying a car. He says if you make a mistake when you buy a car it is not a disaster as you can usually trade it or sell it even if it is at a small lose. It is much harder to deal with and lot more costly when you make a mistake on a house.

Mark believes that the next statistic that needs to go on the MLS is the HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score of the house for sale. It just so happens that there is a spot to denote the HERS score on the MLS, but I have yet to see anyone plug a number in there. Just as buyers often compare tax bills on similar homes and often buy the home with the lesser tax, they would likely opt for a home that has half the heating cost of the other if all other factors were the same. There are lots of different green home designations and different levels of achievement within those designations such as Energy Star, LEED Gold, Silver, and Platinum, or National Green Building Standard Gold, Silver or Emerald, but the HERS score is the number that would tell the buyer exactly how efficient the home is.

What does he feel his company does that is better than anyone else? Well, right after building some of the finest homes in the area, it would be providing a great home building experience to his clients through superb communication provided by the on-line project management system. Delivering on time, on budget, and with no surprises ensures that Flanders and Company will have many happy clients (and friends) talking about his company for years to come.

Mark can be reached at 603-279-4254 and the office is located at 169 Daniel Webster Highway, Suite 10, Meredith NH. Drop in and say “Hi”.

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With over 1,300 homes on the market right now in the Lakes Region towns I report on (Belknap County & Moultonborough) there ought to be some pretty good deals out there right now. It really is a great time to be a buyer. Interest rates are still amazingly low, there are plenty of homes in every price category to look at, and prices have fallen considerably. Here are a few properties that may, or may not, be a good deal. You can’t tell what’s a bargain until you go look, but given the fact that the following homes are on the market well under their tax assessment they might be a place to start.

Antique homes don’t seem to be as desirable as they once were, but they do have a certain allure to old home purists if they are in the right location and decent condition. The home at 543 Sanborn Road in Sanbornton is in the historic district. It was once owned and restored by Robert and Richard Wiggins who are well known for their work bringing antique homes back to life. This home was built in 1805 and has 2,426 square feet of living space with three bedrooms, two baths, two fireplaces, wide pine flooring, built-ins, updated kitchen, and an attached barn for the critters. You can get back to basics here although the .86 acre lot isn’t going to allow a huge garden. The property is now bank owned and there will be some repairs necessary. But, the property is offered at only $114,900 which is 44% of the current tax assessed value of $260,700. I would say someone is going to get a great deal on an antique home.

Another possible good deal on a bank owned property is at 14 Highcrest Drive in Belmont. This 3,048 square foot home was built in 1996 and has three bedrooms, one bath, an open concept layout, hardwood floors, front porch, two car garage, and a 1.23 acre lot on a cul-de-sac. It looks like it needs carpets, paint, appliances, and some good old TLC but it is priced at 46% of its assessment at $162,900. It’s certainly worth a look if you are in the market for a home in Belmont.

I like the looks of the home at 246 Durrell Mountain Road in Belmont. The good thing here is that it is not bank owned so you can get some history and disclosures on the property. This 2,036 square foot cape was built in 1988, has three bedrooms, one and three quarter baths, master bedroom suite, a stone fireplace in the living room, attached and detached two car garages, and a 3.74 acre lot. This home is listed at $199,900 which is 67% of the current assessment of $296,400. Good deal? Go see…

There are also some potential waterfront buys out there. On Waukewan there is a very affordable sixties vintage waterfront cottage at 25 Chapman Point in Meredith. Waukewan is a real hidden treasure so don’t tell anyone else about this. Anyway, this seasonal two bedroom, one bath cottage has a little over 1,000 square feet of space, a large eat in kitchen, a fireplace to take the chill off, a deck overlooking a peaceful cove, and a one car garage which has a bunkroom for the in-laws. The cottage sits on a .27 acre lot with 100 feet of owned frontage and you have access to a shared sandy beach next door (not sure what other kind of beach there is if they aren’t sandy?) This property is offered at $349,000 which is 21% below the assessed value of $440,500.

Over on Winnipesaukee at 17 Chipmunk Lane in Moultonborough there is another cottage with three bedrooms, two and a half baths, and 964 square feet of living space being offered at $425,000. It has a master suite (sweet!), a large living room, a gas fireplace, a sunny kitchen, and a detached two car garage with possible living space above for your new found relatives. The cottage sits on a .39 acre level lot with 100 feet of frontage with another one of those sandy beaches and a three fingered dock. This property is priced at 66% of the town’s current assessed value so it just might be worth checking out.

So if you are looking to buy a home, you’ll find plenty of potential bargains. Meet with a REALTOR® and go look. Just remember though, a cheap price alone doesn’t mean that it’s a good deal. You need to consider the repairs or upgrades that need to be done to the property, the all important location, location, location, and whether the home really fits your needs and lifestyle. Don’t just buy the least expensive home, buy the best home for you at the best price possible. That’s a real bargain…

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47 Advent Cove, Meredith, NH

MLS #4061667

First Time Ever Offered

Priced at $3,995,000

It’s very rare that a Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront property offers the privacy, views and overall serenity that this very special property radiates. The “old lake” feel is all around you. So how did this all come about?

In 1988, John and Virginia Stabile purchased 47 Advent Cove Rd as a house lot of 6 plus acres with 300 feet of frontage on Lake Winnipesaukee. This parcel of land is a rectangle of approximately 300’x1250’. The lot was bought from Fred Fuller, a statewide fuel dealer. Stabile and his wife lived on Blackcat Island at the time and spent the next year working with a team of professionals to design and build their home. The architect, Don Lavallee, of Lavallee and Brensinger worked with George Matarazzo, a nationally renowned land planner to situate the house so as to maximize the view of the lake and mountains. The house was designed as an Adirondack retreat, whereas, Mrs. Stabile grew up in the Adirondacks. The house itself was designed for the Stabile’s and their 3 boys and surrounding family, hence the large eat-in kitchen area and living room activity center.

The house was built with the finest materials. One should note that the exterior siding and wood is redwood. High end Marvin windows were utilized. The interior walls are plaster and the floors are a fine grade of white oak. At the time the house was designed to be as energy efficient as possible. There are five separate air handlers that work off a forced hot water boiler system. Kohler plumbing fixtures were used throughout the home .Kitchen cabinets were hand made on site as well as all the trim work and was done by Stabile’s finish carpenters. An 18 KV backup generator will handle the entire house in the case of power outages.

The house was originally designed so that the Stabile’s could live on the first floor and shutdown the upper floors if they were there alone. That never seemed to happen. All five bedrooms are generally filled on weekends. The kids especially enjoy the recreation room up on the second floor which has bunked many a pajama party. The master suite has a large walk in closet and luxurious bath. The living room features a fieldstone fireplace built with stone coming from an area wall and individually laid by a master stone craftsman. The den was originally going to be a dining room and can be reconverted to same, but it has served well as a secondary downstairs TV location with hand crafted built-ins.

While still on the 1st floor, one will notice the gazebo room off the rear kitchen deck. This room works beautifully in summer evenings after dark so the bugs don’t get you. It also has slip in glass windows to extend the spring and fall usage. The roof is copper roof and you’ll see copper trim throughout the house elsewhere. Upstairs you have three large bedrooms with built-ins as well as the infamous bunk room where the kids held all their sleepovers. Many a story could be told about that room. It’s a kid’s delight.

The basement is prepared to be finished and everything is sized accordingly. There is a wood stove in the basement for emergencies. And if you are golf nut, the basement also has a built in indoor driving range and all utility services.

Even the magnificent two bay boathouse, which boasts a registered heliport above it, has been designed to be part of the landscape. This could come in handy in case you need to commute to and from your day job. The boathouse has the capacity to hold 2 boats in the air during the winter months.

This 5,000 plus square foot home is of the true and timeless Adirondack design and the setting is one of a kind. An offering such as this is truly rare and unique, so schedule a private showing today. Memories are waiting to be made…

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Windover Farm

290 Meredith Neck Road, Meredith
MLS # 4061327

Offered at $1,895,000
 

This stunning Adirondack offers so much more than the typical Winnipesaukee waterfront home. Few other homes in the Lakes Region offer the style, quality, privacy, acreage, waterfront, and sense of oneness with the land that Windover Farm does.

Not only was this home finely crafted using the latest green technology and highest quality materials ensuring trouble free and energy efficient living, it is spectacular inside and out as well. The red cedar shingles with green trim, carriage house exterior lighting, cupola, and fieldstone façade next to the covered front entry provide the classic Adirondack style that welcomes you into the home.
 

Once inside the entry, your eyes are drawn automatically past the columns framing the great room to the views through glass doors and windows in the front of the home. The great room is flanked by a stone double sided, see-through, gas fireplace and also features cathedral ceilings. Gleaming red oak flooring is used throughout the great room, dining, and kitchen areas further enhancing the sunny, open floor plan.
 

The custom kitchen features high end stainless steel appliances, beautiful cabinetry, tile back splashes, and granite counter tops. An adjacent dining room has a serving area complete with custom touches including a wine rack, wine cooler, and granite counters. Just beyond the dining room is a wonderful octagonal sunroom perfect for your morning coffee or evening cocktails. A large composite deck connects the sunroom with the great room providing spacious outside entertaining space.

The first floor master suite also has mountain views, tray ceilings, a luxurious bath with heated floors, premium fixtures, and a large walk in closet. Rounding out the first floor is a guest suite, den, a half bath, and laundry area.
Upstairs over the garage, there is a huge bonus room that’s the perfect place for a billiard table or home entertainment center. You may never see the kids again. Just through a set of French doors is another room that could be utilized as an office, den, or just a comfortable spot to read a book. For convenience, this level also has a beautiful three quarter bath so you won’t have to run downstairs.

On the lower walk out level there’s a spacious family room with a gas fireplace, three more ample size bedrooms for family or guests, and a full bath.

While many of the quality and custom features in this home may be readily apparent, there are some special enhancements that may not be noticed and that are worthy of special note. This is an Energy Star, Five Star Plus rated home so you’ll not only save money on your heating bills, but it will also be a much more comfortable home to live in. There are two tankless, gas fired, hot water heaters at opposite ends of the home, a Lennox G71 Energy Star qualified gas fired furnace and air conditioning unit with a 95% efficiency rating and four zones, Tuff and Dri water proofing to ensure a dry basement, a sprinkler system for fire safety and insurance savings, solid four panel fir doors and trim, red oak stair railings and treads, Anderson windows and exterior doors, and Lattitudes composite decking, Correct Deck railing, and Kleer Trim for ease of maintenance. A complete list of building specifications and details is available for review.
 

The home sits on a spectacular 13 acre parcel offering privacy, fields, a pond, panoramic mountain views, and 155 feet of sparkling waterfront. Travel down to the shore by following a winding stone path through the fields and woods on your golf cart (included with the home) and you’ll find a serene cove with a 40’ dock and a perched beach. A rustic cabin will also be built to provide storage for your waterfront toys or provisions.
 

Windover Farm was conceived and constructed by the premiere NH home builder, H.J. Stabile and Sons, to exacting standards and with an eye for style and quality that can only be achieved through the construction of over 3,500 homes and condominiums throughout the region.

This property is what dreams are made of and where many special memories will be made. From the anticipation of a flowering spring, to lazy summer days on the water or at the shore, viewing autumn colored panoramas, to winter cross country skiing and skating parties, every moment here will be unforgettable. This could be the stunning horse farm, secluded retreat, a perfect place to raise your children, or the retirement home you have always wanted.

All your dreams are possible at Windover Farm.

Come visit soon, you’ll want to stay for a lifetime…

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24 Eagle Ledge Road, Meredith, NH

MLS 4058920

Offered at $299,900

A view of Winnisquam, beach access, & privacy are all yours with this like-new three bedroom, two bath Meredith cape. This home features a bright & open floor plan that is great for entertaining. The living room has cathedral ceilings, a gas fireplace, & sliders leading out to a full width deck so that you can enjoy views of the lake from inside or out. The kitchen features stainless styled appliances & a great breakfast island. There are two bedrooms on the first floor & the entire upstairs is dedicated to the master suite which also has views of the lake. There is a family room in the walkout lower level along with the laundry & a nice work shop. Outside on the well landscaped three acre lot there’s a two car garage & storage shed. You’ll also enjoy the wildlife that frequent the grounds including deer, fox, birds, & the occasional moose. This property has beach rights to one of the nicest beaches on Winnisquam & there are moorings and dock space available by lottery.

122 Paugus Park Rd, Laconia, NH

MLS # 4059678 Offered at $599,000

This well maintained, three bedroom Winnipesaukee waterfront home sits on a level lot with 60 feet of frontage and a nice U shaped dock that provides plenty of space for all your summer toys. The home has a tasteful eat in kitchen, office/den, two bedrooms, a full bath, and a living room on the main level. On the entry level is a two car garage, a family room, and the largest of the three bedrooms. Both these rooms have sliders to the yard providing ample light and views of the lake. There is a large deck on the main level providing a great place for grilling and boat watching. The primary heat source is propane fired stoves and a monitor. The yard affords lots of privacy from the mature plantings and the irrigation system keeps things beautiful through the summer. The current owner has resided for 29 years so that should tell you how much she has loved it! Come check it out soon…

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This affordable and cozy waterfront cottage on Silver Lake in Belmont, NH is the perfect place to create some lasting memories of the family having summertime fun in the Lakes Region of NH!

The cottage sits literally only steps from the water on a gently sloping .22 acre lot providing  great views of Silver Lake from the large 24′ x 10′ deck as well as from inside the home.

This cottage features two bedrooms, a nicely remodeled kitchen, a large three quarter bath, and living room. There is also a full attic that the current owners have utilized for additional sleeping space for the kids.  The home sits on concrete posts and piers.

Enjoy barbeques on the deck or play horseshoes on the lawn. With 100 feet of shorefront there is plenty of room for your new dock.

While currently utilized as a seasonal cottage, it is heated and partially insulated and could be easily be made suitable for year round use. The property is serviced by town sewer making the addition of more bedrooms much easier. It is also located close to shopping at Exit 20 providing easy access to Rt 93.

Get on the lake in time for summer!

MLS #4056499 10 Silver Lake Dr, Belmont, NH   Offered at $165,000

A Winnipesaukee Waterfront Retreat… 

29 Salmon Meadow Lane, Moultonborough, NH

MLS #4056892 

 A Great Buy at $493,200

 This Winnipesaukee waterfront home with 150′ of shore front could be the perfect vacation retreat or primary residence that you have been searching for.

It features a bright and open floor plan that is perfect for entertaining and today’s easy living lifestyle. The main level has a well appointed kitchen with breakfast bar, dining area, a cozy living room with a wood burning fireplace, and a master suite with a slider out to the large deck.

Upstairs there is a den/reading area flanked by two generous size bedrooms both of which feature sliders leading out to balconies overlooking the lake. There is also a screened porch for those buggy evenings. The home has forced hot air heat and central air for those humid summer days.

The landscaped .4 acre lot has southwest exposure, an L-shaped dock, and a sandy beach for the kids. The lot is well landscaped and there is ample lawn area for the kids to play games but not so much that you’ll spent  a lot of time mowing. This home was built by Wood and Clay who is one of the area’s top waterfront home builders.  The owner has just had a new roof and exterior painting done so you can enjoy your summers on the lake!

Call soon to set up a showing!

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