This truly amazing property could just be the one that you have been looking for!  Please click the high def video tour button and you’ll see why… (more…)

The number of residential sales last month in the towns covered by this Lakes Region market report were up 16% over last October. There were 79 transactions in October 2011 at an average sales price of $300,711 compared to 68 sales October last at an average price of $395,012. For the first 10 months of the year we have had 624 sales at an average $310,684 compared to 651 sales at an average $312,000 for the same period last year. It would be nice if we could have an exceptionally strong holiday season and finish ahead of last year. Maybe Santa will be nice and bring lots of buyers this Christmas season.

Speaking of Santa, Black Friday is here and the holiday shopping frenzy has officially begun. Yeehaaa! Every year I put together a list of home improvement related gifts ensuring that the Mrs. can’t go wrong when she is shopping for her hubby. I consider it one of my many public service announcements. So what would be welcomed under the tree this year? (more…)

They just don’t get any better than this!

262 NH Route 140, Gilmanton, NH

MLS #41102160

Reasonably offered at $299,000

This home really is one of those rare properties that make you say “WOW” when you come in the door! Pride in ownership and high quality materials are evident throughout this well laid out home. (more…)

Halloween has come and gone and it didn’t scare off buyers looking to purchase waterfront homes on Lake Winnipesaukee. There were eleven sales at an average price of $1.17 million and a median price point of $950,000. That matches the eleven sales last October although the average sales price came in higher at $1.46 million. If there is a any bright spot or consistency in our current real estate market it would have to be waterfront sales on the big lake.

As usual, the least expensive sale (that’s the nice way to say cheapest) in October on Winnipesaukee is an island property. In fact, the three least expensive properties were on islands, but the property at 305 Bear Island in Meredith took the lowest priced honors selling for (more…)

As of November 1, 2011 there were 1277 residential homes on the market in the communities in this Lakes Region real estate market report. The average asking price came in at $516,128 with a median price point of $269,900. Last November there were 100 fewer homes on the market at an average asking price of $559,403 and a median of $284,450. Seems like all the trends are heading in the wrong direction including the weather. The current home inventory represents a 20.5 month supply of property to sell. That’s a lot of work, but maybe it will help keep us warm this winter…

Being a real estate agent means that buyers rely on you for all sorts of important information about (more…)

Quite Possibly the Best Deal on a Waterfront in NH!

8 Jenness Pond Road, Pittsfield, NH

MLS #4099025

Offered Very Reasonably  at only $375,000

This beautiful custom built,four bedroom ranch with over 3 acres of land, 190 feet of frontage, & a dock on beautiful Jenness Pond could just be what you are looking for!

Built in 1998, this bright, open concept home features a living room with custom built ins, cathedral ceilings, hardwood floors, a gas fire place & slider leading out to a huge deck overlooking the lake.

The well appointed kitchen has a center island, oak cabinetry & built ins & corian (more…)

When I answered the phone, I could barely make out the faint voice on the other end of the line. The woman, almost whispering, said her name was Liz and that she’d like to see my new listing on Elm Street. It’s a charming, older Victorian that has been drawing lots of attention because of the low price. I asked her if she could come into the office to talk about exactly what she was looking for as this home really needs work. She whispered again that she would meet me at the home at 6:00 that night. I started to ask if she had a pre-approval letter, but she was gone. I didn’t even get her cell phone number. That’s the way it goes with buyers today. They’re always in a rush and never want to give anyone any information! It’s the new way of home buying in this internet age. Real estate agents are used to this, but it doesn’t make our job any easier.

I pulled into the driveway of the home slightly before six. I like to get to showings early to turn on all the lights, open the curtains, and make sure everything is OK before the buyer arrives. But it’s getting dark earlier now and the windows were pretty dirty so I left the curtains shut. I entered the front door and went into the living room and started clicking light switches. This home has been vacant for a while but is still full of old dusty, ragged furniture. The place doesn’t really show that well, but it is an estate sale so people understand. In fact, some people get excited about buying the furniture, more so than the home. It’s amazing how the mixture of clutter and nice old antiques can distract buyers from what they are really there to look at. That musty, moldy smell doesn’t help much either.

As I flicked on the kitchen light there was a loud pop and all the lights went out. The electrical system in this place must need some work. Even though the house has been upgraded with circuit breakers it still has old knob and tube wiring so this is definitely not a home for FHA financing. I went out to the shed that connects to the large barn at the rear of the home. Luckily, the breaker box is in there instead of down in the dark and dungy wet basement. I didn’t think to bring a flashlight. It was still pretty dark though and I stepped through the door and got a face full of cob webs. Something scurried off across the ceiling. Probably squirrels? They probably have been eating the wiring. Just something else for the home inspector to pick up on. I reached out to where I remembered the breaker box to be, fumbled with the door, and started flicking breakers in hopes of finding the right one. I got lucky about the ninth try as I could see the kitchen light up beyond the shed door.

I pulled the door open to go back into the kitchen and immediately jumped backward. The hair stood up on the back of my neck, startled by the sight of the old woman standing there not two feet from the door. “You surprised me,” I said, “I didn’t hear you come in.” She didn’t respond and just looked at me blankly. Kind of sadly. She was dressed in a flowing nightgown. She took several steps backward, slowly into the light, and I could see her clearer now. Actually, I could see right through her. Real estate agents, over time, learn to see which buyers are real and which ones are not. This buyer was clearly not a real buyer, not real at all. She was clearly an apparition. A ghost of buyers past? “Are you Liz?” I asked, “Are you looking to buy this house?” She raised her right hand and in it was a piece of paper which she tossed at me. Picking it up, I could see it was an old deed from 1927. “Look at the name,” she whispered in the voice I recognized from the phone call. The name of the deed was Elizabeth Borden which I quickly recognized at the name of our dearly departed former owner. “Get out now!” she whispered, “Get out now!” I did, quickly. Could she be THAT Lizzy Borden? She can turn the lights off herself.

That’s it, I’m done with this one. Not only do I have to disclose that this place has bad wiring, a wet basement, peeling paint, and that it is infested with rodents, I also find it my duty to tell the buyers that I have seen my deceased client! This home is one of those dreaded “Dead Listings!” That’s a real Nightmare on Elm Street. Boo-tiful, just plain boo-tiful! Happy Halloween…

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Affordable and Nice!!

71 Annis Drive, Unit 13

MLS #4103108

Reasonably offered at only $139,000

This tastefully decorated 1212 square foot, two bedoom, one and a half,  townhome offers affordable living in one of the Lakes Region most desirable communities.

The stylish eat in kitchen is well appointed and flows nicely into the spacious living room. There is a private back deck andback yard that’s perfect for barbequing.  A large master bedroom, full bath, and a second bedroom/den are located upstairs. There is a full basement plus an over size one car garage. This townhome is the last one on the cul-de-sac making it one of the more desirable (and private) units! No surprises here! Schedule a showing soon…

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A Secluded Country Contemporary

MLS #4098824 

Offered at $649,000

315 Southwest Road, Canterbury, NH

If you are looking for a retreat from the daily grind, then you should really take a look at this amazing property that is just a short drive from Concord in the quaint town of Canterbury, NH.  This home is nestled on a secluded 6.5 acre lot offering woderful privacy. The home is perfect for relaxed daily living and is perfect for entertaining inside and out. The interior has an open, bright, and flowing floor plan complementing the expansive resort like back yard with expansive decking, pool, and screened porch. This is the perfect get-a-way from your work day routine. Check out the video tour and see why…

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Fall may be here, but there were still seven waterfronts sold on Winnipesaukee last month at an average price of just $714,357. That compares to eight sales last September at an average of $941,938. There were two sales over the $1 million mark compared to three last September. For the first three quarters of this year there have been 76 transactions on the big lake at an average sales price of $1.041 million and a median sales price of $840,000. For the same period last year there were 67 transactions with a slightly higher average sales and median price of $1.16 million and $858,000 respectively. So total sales are up 13% over last year which is great, but there has been a slight but definite trend toward lower priced waterfront sales. There have been 45 transaction under $1 million this year compared to 37 for the first three quarters of last year. On the high end there were three sales breaking the $3 million mark so far this year compared to five sales for the same period last year.

The least expensive sale on Winnipesaukee was at 157 Mount Major Highway in Alton. This home is actually across the street from the lake but has 60 feet of frontage and a dock on the water. This seasonal , two bedroom (plus a loft) cottage has a knotty pine interior, brick fireplace, and a screened porch overlooking Alton Bay. There’s also a waterfront deck to hang out on with a pitcher of icy Margaritas. This little place was first listed way back near the peak of the market in July of 2006 at $389,900, was on the market for a couple of years, and then re-listed in December of 2010 for $250,000. It came back on the market again this past March for $199,000, was reduced to $189,000, and went under contract for $155,000. So all it took was five years and a $234,000 price drop to find a buyer. The current tax assessment stands at $216,300. I’m not sure if the seller is ecstatic or crying?

An older 1964 vintage lake home at 420 Edgwater Drive on Governor’s Island in Gilford also sold after 675 days on the market. This 2,626 square foot four bedroom classic lake home has two full and two half baths, a living room with lots of wood, soaring ceilings and the requisite stone fireplace, a den, large kitchen, and great views of the lake. The 1.7 acre lot is level, has a sandy beach, and a permanent covered dock. The question here is whether it will be used as is or if it will make way for a newer, larger home. This home was originally listed at $2.395 million, was reduced to $1.495 million and sold for $1.15 million. It is currently assessed for $1.56 million.

The largest sale for the month was in Wolfeboro at 3 Wyanoke Gate Lane. This 3,600 square foot, open concept, contemporary was built in 1980 and features ten rooms, four bedrooms, three and a half baths, a chef’s kitchen with granite counter-tops, separate dining area, cathedral ceilings and stone fireplace, and views of the lake from almost every room. Outside there is a grand patio and a cabana over the boat house that are perfect for waterside entertaining. This home is located on a well landscaped 1.38 acre lot with 200 feet of frontage on Winter Harbor. It also has access to a private association beach and tennis courts just down the nature trail. This great property was listed at $1.775 million, subsequently reduced in steps down to $1.295 million and sold for $1.188 million after 648 days on the market. This property is currently on the Wolfeboro tax roles at a value of $1.542 million. Sounds like the new owner got a good deal…

Without trying to sound bleak, if you average the last two sales above, it took an average price reduction of $933,500 and 661 days to sell them. For all the waterfronts that sold for over a $1 million in the first nine months of 2011, the average sales price was  $346,000 less than the original asking price and they took 268 days on market to sell.

It just goes to show how long it takes to sell a property that is not priced correctly.

Over on little sister Lake Winnisquam, there were no sales last month and only one last September. I hate getting skunked. But for the first three quarters of this year there have been a total of 17 sales that sold at an average price of $508,254 after an average 99 days on the market. For the same period in 2010 there were 12 properties sold at an average price of $564,104 with an average 135 days on market.

Up on Squam there was just one sale in September and that was at 35 Grapevine Cove in Holderness. This 1974 vintage contemporary was completely and tastefully remodeled in 2003 and has a nice open floor plan. It has 1,536 square feet of lake loving space, three bedrooms, two baths, hardwood floors, stone fireplace, great kitchen with stainless steel appliances, and sliders that lead out to a large deck overlooking Golden Pond. This home sits on a level .32 acre lot with 90 feet of frontage with a sandy beach and permanent dock. This great waterfront retreat was listed at $849,000 and sold for $800,000 after only 102 days on the market. This property is currently assessed at $670,860. For the year to date there have been six sales on Squam with an average price of $1.11 million compared to just two for the same period last year. It’s great to be three times better than last year, right?

So through nine months, the total number of waterfront homes sold in the Lakes Region are up slightly from last year while prices seem to have fallen slightly. Many of the successful sales are coming after long periods of time on the market and usually after some price reductions to bring them down to a point that buyers are able to see true value and potential upside in their purchase.

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