In the New London/Lake Sunapee area real estate market, or any market for that matter, overpricing a home in a buyer’s market is definitely not a good strategy for selling. Today’s buyers are very cautious about overpaying, are more discerning and are less likely to accept defects found on inspections. With the abundance of properties on the market and price reductions seen on a daily basis, buyers are taking longer to buy and are pickier about what they buy. Sellers should not aggressively price their house in anticipation of buyers making offers. Most buyers won’t waste their time offering on a listing over-priced for the market – especially when there are other choices. In fact, other agents will use your over-priced listing to help them sell the well-priced listings. In this changing market, sellers are no longer in the driver’s seat. Comparable sales from even a few months ago may not be applicable for today’s market. For best results, rely on your realtor for a realistic price assessment. [caption id="attachment_52" align="aligncenter" width="117" caption="Donna Forest, ABR"]
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Another non-profit organization manned entirely by volunteers which adds greatly to the richness of the New London Area’s offerings is The New London Outing Club (NLOC). The NLOC was founded in 1947, when a group of community members started to look for someplace for local residents to ski which would also be a draw for visitors in the winter. Eventually, a true, and much loved, ski area, King Ridge, grew out of this effort. In the years since, the Outing Club has expanded into many areas of outdoor (and, now, indoor) recreation for both young and old alike.
Facilities include Woodward Park (for tennis, baseball, horseshoes, bocce & soccer-to name a few-and just plain fun); Knights Hill Nature Park, a wonderful nearby area of trails and programs about the world around us-like star-gazing; and, the latest addition, The Outing Club Indoor Center which provides a year-round indoor facility for the community for activities from knitting to “Old School” games nights for adults. The area is very fortunate to have this incredible resource.
The New London/Lake Sunapee area has much to offer both residents and visitors, among which are dozens of stimulating and intriguing, mostly non-profit, organizations dedicated to a wide variety of interests. One of these is the New London Historical Society. As you will see if you visit their web site, the NLHS is an entirely volunteer organization which was founded in 1954. Their one-building site has dramatically expanded over the years to include many buildings moved there from around the area. Their mission is to preserve and present the history of New London which they do through a very wide variety of programs and presentations throughout the year, from hearth-side baking to Model “T” snowmobiles, and a lot in between. The NLHS also offers great ways to get involved, including helping the Tuesday Work Group do lots of odd-job projects around the campus, learning how to be a docent, helping with the newsletter, baking for an event, helping with acquisitions, etc. Check it out! We’re very lucky to have such a great organization both preserving our local history, as well as keeping us in touch with it. Marilyn Kidder 10/30/09
Although home appreciation has leveled off in some markets, sellers can still get good prices for their homes. The sale may take a bit longer, but a little creativity can help sellers move homes without having to drop the price. The professionals at Coldwell Banker Milestone Real Estate offer the following suggestions for sellers who want to speed the process: Price Your Home According to the Current Market. Just because a house comparable to yours sold for a very high price last year does not mean you will be able to realize the same price when selling your home now. Work with a full-service real estate professional to determine the appropriate, competitive listing price for your home. Remember that in this market, your sales associate will encourage a list price in accordance with others currently on the market, rather than those previously sold. Be Thankful for Appreciation. While price appreciation has slowed, it is important to look realistically at the financial gains you have made over the years you have owned your home. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, over the last six years the median sales price of a single-family existing home in the U.S. appreciated 7.6 percent annually. Make Your Home More Marketable. When a buyer sees your house for the first time, a critical first impression is made. If applicable, maximize curb appeal by trimming trees and planting flowers. A fresh exterior coat of paint might also prove valuable. Consider neutral colors for interior walls and carpets. Dark colors on walls, along with unnecessary clutter, make rooms look smaller. Conduct a Full Home Inspection. If repairs are required, it is a good idea to go ahead and fix the problems. Potential buyers will cast an extremely critical eye over your home and, in a situation when more houses are available on the market, they may take a pass on a home that needs too many repairs. Be sure to have the home inspection report available for prospective buyers itemizing all of the repairs that have been made and the associated cost for each. Offer a “Seller’s Contribution.” A seller can sweeten the deal by offering assistance to the buyer in ways that do not require lowering the asking price. These tactics can help your home to stand out from the crowd. For example: Offer to buy down the interest rate on the buyer’s mortgage or to pay a portion of the closing costs. Cover the buyer’s mortgage payments for up to the first six months. Depending upon the size of the mortgage, the buyer can save several thousand dollars and the seller still gets the original asking price for the home. It is generally more financially advantageous to do this than dropping the asking price by $30-, $20- or even just $10,000. Many condos and houses across the country belong to homeowners’ associations that require annual dues. Paying the first year’s fees could be a big incentive to a buyer nearing the limit of his or her liquid assets. Don’t Worry. Properly priced homes that stand out from the competition are selling and demand for homes is still at historical highs.
What would Granny do? Rediscover the joy of green and cheap solutions!1. Line Dry Your Sheets and Towels Indulge yourself by sleeping each night on pillowcases and sheets freshened by sun and breeze, both of which naturally disinfect and lift stains. You'll also save energy, since automatic dryers use 6 percent of household electricity. 2. Get a Rain Barrel Buy a fab-looking rain barrel from a garden store, such as a space-saving model that 'pops up,' or simply use something old. You'll reduce the amount of storm water that runs off your property and into overburdened sewers, causing erosion and spreading pesticides, oil and other toxins. Use the water for plants and save on your water bills. 3. Reinvent the Root Cellar You don't have to live with a dirt-floor cellar to take advantage of stocking up on fresh vegetables and fruits during harvest (when prices are cheap). All you need is a cool, dark place that won't freeze; it could be under a stairwell, or in a corner of a basement, garage or shed. Pack clean, dry produce -- such as carrots, beets, potatoes and winter squash -- in boxes surrounded by sawdust, sand or straw. You want good air circulation and relatively high humidity (earthen floors work well, or put out trays of water or damp cloths). Remove spoiled items immediately and keep apples separate, since they promote ripening. 4. Supplement Your Heat with a Wood Pellet Stove Pellet stoves are vastly more efficient than traditional fireplaces or woodstoves, and produce very little smoke and ash. They are easy to install in many settings, and don't require a masonry chimney. They use a little electricity (to run fans and controls), and slowly burn wood pellets that are made out of recycled, compressed sawdust that would otherwise be thrown out by mills. 5. Rediscover Borax and Baking Soda People have been cleaning and bathing with mild, naturally occurring baking soda since ancient Egypt. It is great for scouring and deodorizing many surfaces, from tile to toys and hands. Borax is an element that forms crystals in arid regions. It makes a good cleaning agent, disinfectant, mold killer and stain remover, from the laundry room to the bathroom. Both substances are cheap and readily available. 6. Repel Moths with Aromatic Herbs To protect your fabrics, use cedar shavings and blocks or cheesecloth bags filled with cloves, rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves or other herbs. Your favorite sweaters, not to mention your drawers and closets, will smell fresh and clean. You'll avoid mothballs, which contain a pesticide the EPA links to cataracts, liver and neurological damage. 7. Use Vintage Dish Towels Avoid paper towels, and have fun finding and collecting vintage and funky dish towels from garage and estate sales, auctions and online. You can even get different sets for the seasons and holidays. You'll add a splash of color (and a conversation piece) to your kitchen and table. (www.TheGreenGuide.com)
A year after the financial collapse of 2008, the housing market is very different than it was before the foreclosure crisis. Here are seven bits of wisdom from economists and financial planners for anyone contemplating a home purchase today:
- Old-fashioned basics are more important than ever. The safest way to purchase a home is to put down 20 percent on a fixed-rate, 30-year (or less) mortgage.
- Don’t become overconfident about income growth. Even though buyers in their 20s and 30s will likely see their incomes grow more quickly than previous generations, it is important to act sensibly when borrowing.
- Anyone contemplating adding children to the family should calculate whether they could live on one income because having both halves of a couple work may turn out to be impractical.
- Include a maintenance budget. Even new homes need upkeep and repairs.
- Buyers who can’t afford their dream home now should opt for a starter home where they can save money each month for what they really want.
- Consider a property that can be expanded and improved down the road when money is available.
- No two buyers are the same, but they should all feel confident with the load they enter into, no matter the size of the mortgage.
Source: The New York Times, Ron Lieber (09/12/2009) and NAR Realtor® Magazine
Living in a small town like Springfield has its benefits. We may have to travel a few minutes farther for work and groceries, but Springfield has a great sense of community! The town events throughout the year put on through the recreation department and the library bring us all together. Last July, the town held their first Old Home Day celebration since around 1969. With fewer people traveling for vacations, more people are finding fun things to do locally. There was a huge turn out! Events included: a craft fair, where many local people sold their handcrafted jewelry and crafts; a kids’ fishing derby, sponsored by the Lake Kolelemook Protective Association, was held at the town beach; a dunk tank where everyone had a chance to dunk members of the local fire department was a lot of fun; a parade; a bouncy house for the little kids, plus activities going on at the town hall and the historical society. The event was funded almost entirely by local donations, and the feed back was that they hope to have this event every year! Through the winter months, the town plans to have movie nights, free of charge, where families can enjoy a night out without going too far. The town library is another great place to find activities for children and families. They hold story times and gift sales during the holidays-a great place for kids to purchase a gift for parents, grandparents and siblings. In the past, through the summer, they have done fun craft activities with kids, such as making placemats from nature, and tie-dye tee shirts. Through the summer months, people meet down at the town beach, where kids can play with friends and enjoy the wonderful beach area and docks provided by the town. They can also go to the skate park in the center of town or basketball court for a friendly game of hoops. So, Springfield may be small in population but it’s big on community! There is always something going on, whether it’s on the rec field, in the town hall, or at the beach…Springfield residents are always getting together for friendship and fun!
Just the other day, I again realized what an incredible place the New London/Lake Sunapee area is to live. Even in the dregs of the ugliest month of the year (November), you can find something new to do. Two friends invited me to go hiking on one of the Greenway trails. It had been a long time since we had caught up with each other, but I really had things I should be doing. Anyway, I decided to go. I tried to back out at the last minute because it was cloudy, and I will sometimes find any excuse to cancel. After all, I'm not a hiker. At 9:30 we were parking the car off of Route 114 in Springfield. It took us 15 minutes to drive from the projected end of the hike to the start, so now I was very leery. I wasn't sure we would make it back before dark. Thank goodness my good friend was prepared for all disasters. She even had mole skin for my blisters. It took us 1 hour to find the fourth trail marker. We had been out for an entire hour and I could still see the car through the trees! This wasn't a good sign. We decided it was safe to go on since there are several bail outs along the way. An hour into the hike--I was with good friends having great conversation, catching up on their families and telling funny stories in the most beautiful area I had seen in a long time. Open fields, views of Little Sunapee, Lake Sunapee, distant mountains and most of all, deep woods, with no sound but the leaves rustling under our feet and our voices. Every once in a while an animal would warn its friends of our arrival. We heard a fox. We saw a hawk take off from just a few yards away. A pheasant almost scared me to death when it took off just feet from us. We didn't make it the entire 8 miles, but we were only short by 3. We bailed out at Twin Lake Villa by taking the Kidder Brook trail down. We called my friend’s husband and he picked us up and drove us to the car. It was a very memorable day. The hike was 5 hours long. We were all smiling. Sharon LaVigne, GRI
The Best Team in the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Area…
Not the Biggest, Simply the Best!
We can skillfully and effectively meet all your real estate needs: whether you are buying, selling or renting-either for vacation or year-round living. Our team offers professional, experienced, knowledgeable, & conscientious service. Buyers and Sellers consistently rank our performance as top-notch! We get the job done by communicating well, responding quickly, and staying in touch! We follow through with all the details which insures that your buying or selling experience will be as smooth, easy and enjoyable as possible! We know the area and our market and provide a great resource to our clients before and after the sale. With our entire team working for you, your real estate experience will surpass all expectations! Get in touch! We’d love to make you our next success story! ABOUT: Established: 1987. Team: Marilyn Kidder, Broker/Owner; Judy Merrill, Office Manager; Cheryl LaPrade, Concierge &; Jessica Davis, Information Manager; Pam Bowen, Saturday Receptionist; Rental Manager & Sales Associate: Joan Wallen; Sales/Broker Associates: Sara Ellis, Chris Murray McKee, Sharon LaVigne, Emily Campbell, Jane Snow, Stacey Platte-Viandier, and Donna Forest. Location/Mail: 224 Main Street/PO Box 67, New London, NH 03257 Area served: New London, Wilmot, Sutton, Springfield, Newbury, Bradford, Warner, Andover, Sunapee, Grantham, Eastman, and many of the contiguous surrounding communities. Contact: 1-800-838-1500, Fax: 603-526-2723; info@cbmilestone.com; http://wwwcbmilestone.com http://www.coldwellbankerteamnh.com/; http://www.coldwellbanker.com/. Also, become a Fan of Coldwell Banker Milestone on Facebook! Or view our area listings at Coldwell Banker on Location on YouTube.
STATE PARKS IN THE DARTMOUTH-LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
Our area is fortunate to have 8 State Parks within easy distance. The Sculptured Rocks Natural Area, consisting of 272 acres, features a narrow canyon carved into curious shapes by the Cockermouth River on its way to Newfound Lake. Gardner Memorial Wayside Park is part of Gile State Forest, which spans 6,675 acres and does offer some mountain bikeas well as hiking trails. There is a scenic picnic area with picnic tables, and it’s also a popular place for hiking. Mt.Sunapee State Park is a major recreation area for winter alpine skiing, plus a wonderful place for hiking, picnicking, and camping, as well as swimming, boating, and fishing on Lake Sunapee from the Mt. Sunapee State Park Beach. Once of the “lesser known gems” is Pillsbury State Park where a great variety of wildlife share the bounty of its heavy woodlands and ponds and wetlands. There is a hiking trail network which actually connects Mt. Monadnock with Mt. Sunapee (51 miles), as well as mountain biking trails. Also available are canoeing, fishing and picnicking. Rollins State Park in Warner is on the south slope of Mt. Kearsarge. Drive 3.5 miles to the picnic area and enjoy the fantastic views or hike the ½ mile trail to the summit. Wadleigh State Beach offers swimming on lovely Kezar Lake in Sutton. It’s a great place for family outings. Winslow State Park is located on the northwest slope of Mt. Kearsarge in Wilmot. There is a fantastic plateau for picnicking and admiring the views, or take the 1 mile foot trail to the summit or try the longer loop trail.
For more information on any of these wonderful facilities, visit the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation at:
http://www.nhparks.state.nh.us/state-parks/by-region/dartmouth-sunapee-region.aspx
11/19/09-WP