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Oh, Lonesome Me – Lakes Region Waterfront Report- October 2011

Sunday, November 13th, 2011

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…)

September Lakes Region Waterfront Report

Friday, October 14th, 2011

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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August 2011 Waterfront Sales

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

August was a great month for sales on Lake Winnipesaukee.

There were:

Eighteen waterfront sales at an average price of $827,589.

• They sold at an average of 97% of their assessed value

• They sold at an average of 91% of the asking price.

• The highest sale was $1.669 million.

• There were 6 sales over $1 million.

Last August there were 14 sales on the big lake, but the average sales price was bit higher at $1.1 million. Six of those sales were over the $1 million mark as well but a $3.1 million boosted the average sales price. Anyway, it is good to see waterfronts selling well given the lackluster sales for the rest of the Lakes Region Market.

The least expensive sale was at  300 Cow Island  in Tuftonboro. Cow Island is sometimes called Guernsey Island as it was once used to quarantine cows brought from Europe (so the story goes). This property was a 1954 vintage, four bedroom cottage that was in great shape and had been owned by the same family since those cows were still there. The fully furnished cottage has been completely updated and has a new wrap-a-round deck. There’s also a separate furnished guest cottage and a workshop. There are two lots of record with 150’ of frontage, a large U shaped dock, and stunning views. This property was on the market for 837 days starting at $450,000 and had been reduce to $349,900. It may have been on the market a while, but it only took 7 days to close the deal after the happy new owner came ashore to look. The sales price was $329,000 which is just under the tax assessed value of $335,100.

The most expensive sale on the lake was at 76 West Point Road in Moultonborough. This 3,826 square foot, like-new Adirondack home was built in 2002 . It has four bedrooms, four baths, a great room with the requisite floor to ceiling stone fireplace, lots of wood, and a wall of glass for viewing the lake. There are master suites on the first and second floors and the lower level walkout has two bedrooms, a huge family room, and a pub where you can watch the ballgames. The detached three car garage has a finished second floor that can serve as additional guest space or an office. The home sits on a 1.5 acre lot with 200’ of frontage, a dock, and sensational sunset views. This home was listed at $1.769 million and sold for $1.668 million after only 113 days on the market. The town’s tax assessment value is $1.63 million.

Three homes changed hands on Winnisquam last month at an average sales price of $685,891. In August 2010, there were two sales at an average of $723,125. The largest sale on Winnisquam last month was at 98 Swain Road in Meredith. This 3,549 square foot, three bedroom, four bath home in Waldron Bay has an open floor plan with a custom kitchen, beautiful great room with cathedral ceilings and stone fireplace, lower level family room, first floor master with a gas fireplace and private deck, and an enclosed porch overlooking the lake. There are great lake views from every room. This home sits on a nicely landscaped .88 acre lot with 193 feet of frontage that has a sandy entry and dock. This home was listed in 2009 for $1.17 million, relisted this year at $999,950, and sold for $935,000 after just 36 days on the market. The property is currently assessed for $788,500.

Once again, there were no sales on Squam last month which is a little discouraging. There have only been five sales on Golden Pond so far this year. There are currently 24 properties available on Squam that have been on the market an average of 294 days. Maybe, someone has to make another movie up there…

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Great Home, Great Neighborhood, Great Beach!

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

55 Shore Drive,  Laconia, NH

MLS# 4086612 

Offered at only $269,000

If you are looking for a stylish, move in ready home with a bright and open floor plan in a fabulous neighborhood, than you need look no further!

This home has great curb appeal and shows pride in ownership throughout. The center of this home is a beautiful living room with a wood burning fireplace, soaring ceilings, lots of windows, and brand new laminate flooring. The adjacent dining area opens onto a large front porch with  pleasant views of Lake Winnisquam. The eat in kitchen is well appointed and has plenty of counter and storage space. This four bedroom home has a large second floor master plus two more guest rooms and an en-suite on the lower level. There is a large family room and a craft room also on the lower level providing room for everyone to do their own thing.

The home sits on a well landscaped,  level, third acre lot in one of Laconia’s most desirable neighborhoods and has access to one of the nicest beaches on Winnisquam just a short walk down the street!

Come check out this property soon!

   
   
   

 

Property Features

  • Beds: 4
  • Total Baths: 3
  • 3/4 Baths: 2
  • # Of Rooms: 8
  • Living Room: 21 x 15.5
  • Dining Room: 11 x 12
  • Family Room: 20.75 x 13
  • Half Baths: 1
  • Kitchen: 11.5 x 12.5
  • Year Built: 1954
  • Master Bedroom: 15.75 x 18.75
  • Living Area: 2560 SF
  • Bedroom 2: 11 x 9
  • Bedroom 3: 19.5 x 21
  • Bedroom 4: 16 x 11
  • Other Room: 13 xs 6
  • BASEMENT: Daylight, Finished, Interior Stairs, Walk Out
  • CONSTRUCTION: Existing, Wood Frame
  • DRIVEWAY: Paved
  • ELECTRIC: 200 Amp, Circuit Breaker(s)
  • EXTERIOR: Vinyl
  • FLOORS: Carpet, Laminate, Tile
  • FOUNDATION: Concrete
  • GARAGE/PARKING: Attached, Auto Open, Direct Entry, 2 car
  • HEAT FUEL: Oil
  • HEATING/COOLING: Baseboard, Hot Water, In Floor
  • Taxes: $5,800 for 2010
  • Lot Size (Acreage): 0.3 Acres
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Like New Laconia Cape with Winnisquam Beach Rights

Saturday, August 6th, 2011

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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Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam, & Squam Lake 2011 1st Q Sales Report

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

Despite the relentless winter, there were six waterfront sales on Lake Winnipesaukee in March of 2010 at an average price of $986,667. There were two sales in excess of $1 million. Last March there were seven sales at an average of $1.1 million with the average price bolstered by a $4.25 million sale in Wolfeboro. The tally for the first quarter of this year stands at 17 sales which is equal to the first quarter of last year although the average sales price is down from $1.9 million to $857,471. There were only three sales over $1 million this year so far compared to eight for the first quarter of last year.

The least expensive property sold on the big lake was in Meredith at 7 Stonedam Island Road. This was a bank owned contemporary built in 2005. It has 2,880 square feet of living space, three bedrooms, three baths, and a great room with cathedral ceilings and lots of glass looking out at Sally’s Gut (I am not referring to former owner’s wife—that’s part of the lake). The home sits on a .48 acre lot with 143’ of frontage. The property was offered at $664,900 and quickly went under agreement in 31 days for $670,000. The current tax assessment on the property was an even $1 million leading me to believe that the new buyer must have been dancing around the closing table.

Over in Alton, at 42 Tranquility Lane, a nice 4,400 square foot Adirondack home built in 1997 also found a new owner. This home was constructed utilizing vintage materials from an old mill and summer camps. It features five bedrooms including a first floor master, four baths, cathedral and wood beam ceilings, additional living space and kitchen on the lower level, great views down the broads, and wonderful sunsets from the huge porches. The home sits on a manicured .60 acre lot with 147’ of shorefront with a breakwater and dock. This property was originally listed in July of 2008 for $1.777 million, relisted in 2010 at $1.499 million, reduced to $1.299 million, and finally sold for $1.075 million. The current tax assessed value was $1.317 million.

The highest sale of the month was at 88 Powers Road in Meredith. This turn of the century lodge style home was built in 1900 and sits literally on the water’s edge.  Ah, what you could do back then! This rather small and cozy, 8,100 square foot home has eight bedrooms, five baths, exposed wood beams and cathedral ceilings, massive stone fireplaces, a great wrap-around porch, and wonderful lake views. The 3.6 acre lot has 200 feet of frontage, manicured lawns, and a nice sandy beach. There’s also a five car garage for your “flivers” and a two bay boathouse to keep the woody in. Now this 110 year old home is pretty remarkable, but it only took the last 10 years of its grand life to find that elusive new buyer. It was originally listed (at least according to the MLS) way back in 2000 at a cool $6 million. It has been listed continually every year since at different price points as high as $6.7 million in 2007. The most recent listing price was $2.495 million which enticed a buyer to make a deal at $1.83 million. The current tax value on the property is currently $2,349,101 which makes me think of Real Estate 101; if the seller had the home priced correctly to start with, it might not have taken a full decade to sell it.

Over on Winnisquam there were two waterfront sales in March bringing the total number so far this year to a total of four. There was just one sale on Winnisquam in the first quarter of 2010 so we are already doing four time better! One of the homes that sold was a classic, cozy three bedroom cottage with a knotty pine interior at 57 Collins Brook Road in Meredith. It sits on a .49 acre lot with 132’ of frontage across from the Loon Sanctuary. It had all the important amenities one would want including a bathroom, outside shower, dock, a boat house, and a shed with a beer fridge! It was listed for $425,000, reduced to $409,900 and sold for $365,000 which is over the $282,900 tax assessment. It must have been the beer fridge? The other sale on Winnisquam was at 24 Bayview Drive in Belmont. This totally renovated ranch style home with a full finished walk out basement has 2,068 square feet of space, three bedrooms, two baths, cathedral ceilings, hardwood floors, fireplace, an eat in kitchen, dock, and 112 feet of shorefront. It was listed at $549,000 and sold for $530,000 with a current tax assessed value of $419,400.

A quick look at happenings up on Squam Lake for the first quarter revealed just two sales which is two more than the start to last year! The sale of significance was at 30 Laurence Road in Holderness which is known as the L.J. Webster Estate. This outstanding example of historical architecture and luxury has 7,353 square feet of living space, sixteen rooms, six bedrooms, and six baths. This impeccable home sits on a private 20 acre parcel surrounded by pristine pastures and woodlands. It has 200 feet of shorefront on Squam and views of the lake and mountains from every room in the house. This is the epitome of a luxury home from another era. This property was originally offered at $4.3 million, was reduced to $3.9 million, and sold for $3.045 million. It sounds like a place you could really get used to…

 

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One Smoking Hot Deal

Sunday, March 13th, 2011

No, not this one,

This one!

Price just reduced $10,000

Brand new, high quality ranch

With Winnisquam Beach Rights

79 Sarah Circle, Laconia, NH

MLS #4029780 – Now Offered at $299,000

Virtual Tour

This brand new three bedroom, open concept ranch features gleaming hardwood floors, a large kitchen with beautiful bisque cabinetry, center island, and a large pantry closet, a great room with cathedral ceilings and gas fireplace, spacious master suite with large walk-in closet, huge first floor laundry room, a three car garage plus beach rights to Winnisquam at the Lakewood Association beach on Shore Drive! Out back you’ll find a 12′ x 15′ trex deck to complement the low maintenance vinyl exterior. The huge basement could be the perfect space to finish off as your family room as it has nine foot ceilings and is plumbed for a bath. The home also features a high efficiency Slant/Fin Eutectic hot water boiler and hot water superstore! The builder is also including a $5,000 allowance for the appliances of your choice.

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Lake Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam Waterfront Sales Report – January 2011

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

It’s the time of year when there is actually a lot of activity on Lake Winnipesaukee. The Town of Meredith just hosted another highly successfully Pond Hockey Classic with 152 teams playing on 14 rinks out on the bay. Snow machines are whizzing by and bobhouses are sprouting up all over the lake as ice fisherman claim their favorite fishing spot for the 32nd annual Rotary Fishing Derby this weekend. Waterfront home sales activity was also pretty good in January as five happy new owners also claimed their favorite spots on the lake. The average sales price was $1.17 million and the average time on market was 243 days (not including properties that were listed previously). Four out of the five sales were under the $1 million mark (still a shade more expensive than a really, really nice bobhouse). Last January there were just six sales on the big lake at an average price of $1.45 million, so we are really not off to a bad start this year.

The least expensive sale on the lake was at 126 Castle Shores Road in Moultonborough. This three bedroom, one bath ranch with 1,344 square feet of living space sits right on the water’s edge offering a true lake home feel. The home has a classic knotty pine interior, two living rooms, a screened porch, deck, a detached garage for the toys, deep water docking, and sits on a .33 acre lot with 100 feet of sandy bottom frontage. This home was originally offered at $629,000, was reduced to $539,900, and sold for $485,000 after 178 days on the market. This property is currently assessed for $633,900 so I would say that this lucky buyer got a pretty good deal. What do you think?

Another happy fisherman, I mean buyer, closed on a property in Wolfeboro at 18 North Keewaydin Shore. This cute 1954 vintage, 1,200 square foot, two bedroom cottage has hardwood floors, a knotty pine interior, fireplace, the requisite deck, and has a detached two car garage with storage above. It sits on 1.55 acres (two lots of record) with 71 feet of level frontage and an “L” shaped crib dock. It’s the perfect spot to enjoys some great sunsets…when it warms up that is. This property took 230 days to secure a buyer as it was initially listed at $905,000, reduced to $850,000, and sold for $765,000 which is just under the tax assessment of $783,400.

The largest sale of the month was at 104 Veasey Shores in Meredith. This beautiful 4,900 square foot four bedroom, seven bath, Adirondack home was built in 1997. It features a gourmet kitchen and pantry, living room with cathedral ceilings and stone wood burning fireplace (one of three), a master suite with its own screened porch, game room, two car garage, and a newly completed guesthouse. The home sits on a 2.4 acre point of land looking out at the Beaver Islands with 300 feet of frontage, a two bay boat house, and spectacular 180 degree views. The grounds feature lots of patios, walking paths, extensive plantings, and even a small pond. This fabulous property didn’t sell overnight though…it took 822 nights. The property was originally listed for $4.495 million way back on September 26, 2007, It was dropped to $3.995 million, then to $3.499 million, and finally sold at $3.2 million. The current assessment stands at $2,438,000.

There was only one sale on Lake Winnisquam last month, but that was one more than last January! Located at 372 Leighton Ave North in Laconia, this 1,584 square foot home was built in 2007 and has three bedrooms, two baths, a high end kitchen with granite countertops, a master suite with a private deck, and a full basement. It sits on a half acre lot with 100 feet of frontage and sunset views. Unfortunately, the previous owner didn’t get to enjoy them for long. The bank foreclosed on this waterfront retreat, listed it for $454,900, reduced it to $429,900, and sold it for $399,000 which is well below the $691,700 assessed value!

Even with snow up to their eyeballs, buyers are out looking for waterfront homes and they are dead serious about finding a place for this summer season. So if you’d like to sell this year, you might want to think about getting your property on the market. It’s a good time to go fishing, not only for bass, but for buyers…

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Lake Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam 2010 Year End Waterfront Sales Report

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

December 2010 turned out to be a very strong month for waterfront sales on Winnipesaukee with nine waterfront properties exchanging hands compared to just four last December. The average sales price came in at $1,306,044 which is up just slightly compared to $1,288,750 last December. All nine sales were mainland properties which really isn’t surprising as it is a bit difficult looking at island properties this time of year. The great news is that in 2010 Winnipesaukee waterfront sales were up 26% over 2009. There were 96 waterfront homes sold this year at an average price of $1,257,584 that took an  average of 237 days on market to find a buyer. In 2009, there were 76 waterfronts sold at an average price of $1,178,566 and 205 days on the market. So, all in all, even in a down economy it seems pretty evident that interest in owning a home on the big lake is still very strong. There are some great deals on the lake right now and savvy buyers can recognize it. These buyers believe that investing their money in lakefront property is not only a sound idea, but that they will get the added benefit of being able to enjoy the money they have invested. Try getting some enjoyment out of your mutual funds…

The least expensive property that sold in December on the big lake was at 469 Weirs Boulevard in Laconia. While this three bedroom home is located across the Boulevard from Paugus Bay, it does have a waterfront lot on the water with 96 feet of frontage, three docks, and a deck with its very own Tiki hut. This 1,540 square foot home has an eat in kitchen with hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances, a nice living room with views of the lake, a grand master suite on the upper level, a finished basement, and a one car garage under. This home was originally listed at $425,000, was reduced to $375,000, and sold after 306 days on the market at $299,900 which is 81% of the current tax assessed value of $371,600. That’s a great deal with instant equity!

Down in West Alton at  52 Woodlands Road a new 4,000 square foot, four bedroom, five bath Adirondack home also has some happy new owners. This beautiful, energy star rated home constructed by local builder Jason Drouin features two master bedroom suites plus two additional suites, a gourmet kitchen (of course) with all the bells and whistles, a wet bar and fieldstone fireplace in the living room, a nice screened porch and southerly views. The home sits on a level .32 acre lot with 103 feet of shoreline and a U shaped dock. There is an addition 17 acre parcel across the street that has a detached two car garage and 30’ x 35’ accessory building for storing all the toys. This property was originally listed at $1,995,000, was reduced to $1.75 million, and sold for $1.65 million after 538 days on the market.

The largest sale in December was at 49 McLeod Road in Alton. This property is a spectacular 23 acre family compound with three lots of record, a circa 1914 year round main home and four charming vintage cottages with a total of eleven bedrooms and 5,000 square feet of living space. The property has a private, tranquil setting with its own pond, 650 feet of shoreline, a sandy beach, covered boat dock, and long range views with beautiful sunsets. It was originally offered at $4.1 million, was reduced to $3.95 million, and sold after 471 days on the market for $3.5 million. The property is currently assessed for $1,918,516.

Over on little sister Winnisquam, there was only one sale in December at 101 Collins Brook Road in Meredith. This is a five room, two bedroom cottage built in 1938 that sits on a .65 peninsula lot near the north end of the lake. From the 472 feet of frontage you can look into the loon sanctuary making it a very nice spot on the lake. The property needs an overhaul but the call of the loons must have captivated the buyer. It was originally listed at $429,000, was reduced to $389,000, and sold for $340,000 after 221 days on the market. The current property assessment is $364,4000.

Sales were up for the year on Winnisquam if only marginally, but that’s still welcome news considering the economy. There were sixteen sales at an average price of $583,182 in 2010 compared to fourteen in 2009 at an average sales price of $496,536. That is right on par with the average number of sales on the lake over the past seven years. Winnisquam will continue to be an affordable and desirable alternative to Winnipesaukee for those looking for little more of a quiet lake experience.

Currently there are over 175 waterfront listings in Winnipesaukee ranging from $264,900 for a cottage on Bear Island to over $10 million for a couple of small estates on Governor’s Island. So if you are lucky enough to be in the market for a waterfront home, there’s bound to be something somewhere in between that will fit your lifestyle and pocketbook. There are currently nine properties on Winnisquam priced from $275,000 to just under $1 million and of course there are many more homes on the other smaller lakes in the area at even more affordable price points.  2011 just could be the year to make your dreams come true in the Lakes Region…

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Lake Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam Waterfront Sales Report – October 2010

Saturday, November 13th, 2010

 The number of waterfront sales on Lake Winnipesaukee continued to improve over last year with eleven sales in October at an average sale price of $1.464 million compared to seven last October at an average price of $1.856 million. The total number of sales this year on the big lake stands at 77 with an average price of $1.214 million compared to 64 for the same period last year at an average of $1.36 million. Total sales are up about 20% over last year and the average price is up 17%. Not too bad for being in a bad market!

The least expensive sale on the lake was actually a bank owned island property on Paugus Park in Laconia. This is a post and beam, 1,200 square foot, three bedroom home built in 2005 and is the only home on this tiny .14 acre island. The buyer doesn’t have to worry about neighbors, but the home is solar powered so he might be watching the weather some. This home was originally listed at $299,900, was reduced to $199,900 and sold for $189,500. Considering the current town tax assessment of $436,400, I would say this new owner should be very happy all by himself out there on his island!

The second highest sale for the month was at 65 Spindle Point in Meredith. This home is a 5,699 square foot, twelve room, three bedroom post and beam contemporary built in 2004. The home features an open living area, high cathedral ceilings and stone wood burning fireplace (one of four in the home) in the great room, the requisite master suite, a family room in the walk out basement, radiant in-floor heat, beautiful hardwood floors, screened porch, and even an elevator. The home sits on a wonderfully landscaped 1.39 acre lot with 170 feet of frontage on Meredith Bay and a deep water U-shaped dock. The property was listed at $2.925 million and sold for $2.6 million which was well above the assessed value of $2.055 million. This is a beautiful home in a great location!

The highest sale honors for the month of October go to the spectacular property at 59 Little Road in Meredith. This extraordinary home has 12,933 square feet of living space, 20 rooms, five bedrooms (including a first floor master suite), seven total baths, and a five car garage! This home obviously has all the high end features imaginable including beautiful wood and stone work, massive fireplaces, a gourmet kitchen, soaring great room, an in-law apartment, wine cellar, exercise room, an outdoor kitchen, and multiple decks and patios. This home sits on a 4.31 acre lot that provides total privacy and 830 feet of frontage with great views. This property was originally listed at $8.9 million, was reduced to $6.999 million and sold for $6.839 million after 419 days on the market. The town has it assessed at a$4.466 million. I wonder if these folks are looking to adopt?

There was not a lot of activity on Winnisquam in October this year, or last, as there was only one sale in each month. There have been 13 sales on the lake so far this year at an average price of $583,327 compared to 12 with at an average price of $485,375 for the same period last year. The sale this year was at 212 Black Brook Road in Meredith. This home is a very nicely done 2,200 square foot, eight room, three bedroom, contemporary sitting on a .67 acre lot with 100 feet of frontage. The home features an open concept living area with a large great room with cathedral ceilings, floor to ceiling fieldstone fireplace, a gourmet kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, radiant in-floor heat, a screened porch, and a great deck with broad views of the lake. The home was listed at $975,000 and sold for $814,000 with a current tax assessment of $594,400.

Right now there are over 250 properties available on Lake Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam with prices starting in the $200-300,000 range for island properties. It is a great time to buy your own spot on either of these fantastic lakes!

Click Here for the latest listings on Lake Winnipesaukee!!

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