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Now that the snow has arrived, there are tons of ways to get outside and enjoy it.  One of the most satisfying is to hit the trails at one of our nearby cross-country centers.  The information below is from the web site and directory of the Cross-Country Ski Areas Association.  The most local areas are listed alphabetically.

1/Dartmouth Cross Country Ski Center has two facilities: one based out of the DOC House on Occom Pond, which provides equipment rentals for skiing and other activities; the other is at Oak Hill, located two miles north of Hanover, where group and private cross-country ski instruction and rentals are offered.

Area Facts

Trail Passes

Other Amenities

• Snowshoeing
• Lessons
• Ski Rentals
• Snowshoe Rentals
• Ice Skating

2/Dexter's Inn Trails by Norsk 258 Stagecoach Rd Sunapee NH 03782 Main phone: 603-763-5571  Snow conditions and lodging: 800-232-5571 dexters@tds.netwww.dextersnh.com Opened for skiing in 06-07 to enthusiastic reviews. Trail system, originated in 1948, has been completely renovated & updated. Over 20 groomed Km and a loop for leashed dogs. Trails are unique, winding their way through forests & fields. A must-try for ski tourers! Classical parallel track skiing only. No skate skiing. The Inn offers comfortable accommodations, a cozy warming room with fireplace, food service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Full operation on weekends & holidays. The best way to see what we've done is to visit our website. Trails and ski services: Ski rentals; ski lessons PSIA; changing room; wax room; pulk sled rental; 35km snowshoe trails; snowshoe trails are shared with skiers; snowshoe rentals; 1km dog trails

Pine Hill Ski Club, Inc. is a community-based ski organization located in New London. The parking facility is located three miles from the Lake Sunapee Country Club at Mountain Road off Shaker Street. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by adult. Rentals available at Village Sports, New London, NH 603-526-4948 Area Facts

Trail Passes

Other Amenities

• Snowshoeing
• Lessons
• Ski Rentals
• Snowshoe Rentals
• Dogs permitted on some trails.  See pinehillskiclub.com for details.

Michele Lerner, author of Homebuying: Tough Times, First Time, Any Time, offers reasons why real estate is likely to improve in 2011.  Here are five reasons she thinks consumers should consider a home purchase this year: ▪ Mortgage rates will stay low.  Even with rates climbing — maybe to as high as 6 percent by 2012 — they are still well below where they have been historically. ▪ Tax cuts could help. Extending the tax cuts could encourage a more rapid recovery for the economy. ▪ Americans want to be home owners.  A recent Fannie Mae survey showed that Americans still believe a home is a safe and desirable investment. ▪ Builders are about to begin building. Home builders have been sitting on the sidelines.  This year, they think pent-up demand will create an appetite for new homes. ▪ Homes are shrinking.  Homes are getting smaller, which has made them more affordable. Source: Investopedia, Michele Lerner (12/24/2010)

Friday, January 14th will be the opening hike for a series of Friday winter walkabout hikes on the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway.  On the 14th, starting in Springfield, NH, at Baptist Pond, the walk will go past Snow Bound Farm and Star Lake Farm to NH 114.  Distance 4.1 miles.  Time c. 3 hours.  An easy walk or snowshoe.  This is SRK Greenway Section #4 in the SRKG Trail Guide. This starter hike/walk is followed on 21st January with a moderate, woodsy hike in Newbury from Chalk Pond to Newbury and its Lake Sunapee Harbor.  Subsequent Fridays will get longer and more difficult. The idea is to hike sections of the SRK Greenway every Friday through March 18th, although not necessarily in section sequence. IF INTERESTED: Reply to geecubed@yahoo.com for info on time and place. Lee Carvalho of Andover and Gerry Gold of New London are co-leaders for the time being.  There are 10 Fridays and do not plan to complete all 14 sections this winter. It’s been a few years since a planned Winter Walkabout of the Greenway’s 14 sections was last announced.  Aside from the exceptionally impressive certificate awarded to hikers who complete the circuit in winter, the trails and hills and valleys (and road walks) have special beauty and vistas in winter. These Friday hikes are open to Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Coalition “friends and family” looking to begin or complete the SRK Greenway in winter, or just looking for winter hiking partners.  Feel free to forward to other likely hikers. For more details on the trail sections and the SRK Greenway look at www.srkg.com and the "SRKG Trail Guide" (sold in Warner Bookends and in New London at Village Sports and Morgan Hill Books).  For this season’s SRKGC schedule of weekend hikes click on http://www.srkg.com/winter_schedule_2011.htm.

This was the gist of the headline in “Closing the Deal”, a weekly feature column by Christopher Thompson, which appeared in the New Hampshire Sunday News of December 26, 2010. Here are some highlights of his article.

In looking at the tax challenges of our neighboring states, Thompson found that Maine has an 8.5% income tax (the 7^th highest in the country). Massachusetts has a 5.3% income tax and Vermont, one of 8.95%.

The 2010 Census results show that New Hampshire is the fastest growing state in New England at 6.5%, with the next closest being Connecticut, at 4.9%. He queries if the lack

of an income tax is driving people to New Hampshire over the other New England states. While that may or may not be so, his primary point was how lucky we are to live in New Hampshire…particularly if we “work, sell or have businesses” here. Among other pluses: we have the 9^th highest per-capita personal income in the country, and we are one of only 5 states in the country to have no sales tax. As Thompson concludes, “…we live in a state which provides one of the best climates for businesses and their employees,” and that’s something to be thankful for!

The good news from NAR was that Pending home sales rose again in November, with “…the broad trend over the past five months indicating a gradual recovery into 2011….” The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator, rose 3.5 percent to 92.2; this number is based on contracts signed in November.  The data is based on contracts and not closings, which usually occur within one or two months of a signed contract. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said historically high housing affordability is boosting sales activity. “In addition to exceptional affordability conditions, steady improvements in the economy are helping bring buyers into the market,” he said. “But further gains are needed to reach normal levels of sales activity.” In the Northeast, the PHSI  increased 1.8 percent to 72.6 in November but is still somewhat below November 2009.  The West was the only part of the country which actually showed a small increase above the same time period last year. “If we add 2 million jobs as expected in 2011, and mortgage rates rise only moderately, we should see existing-home sales rise to a higher, sustainable volume,” Yun said. “Credit remains tight, but if lenders return to more normal, safe underwriting standards for creditworthy buyers, there would be a bigger boost to the housing market and spillover benefits for the broader economy.” The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is forecast to rise gradually to 5.3 percent around the end of 2011; at the same time, unemployment should drop to 9.2 percent. “All the indicator trends are pointing to a gradual housing recovery,” Yun said. “Home price prospects will vary depending largely upon local job market conditions. The national median home price, however, is expected to remain stable even with a continuing flow of distressed properties coming onto the market, as long as there is a steady demand of financially healthy home buyers.” “As we gradually work off the excess housing inventory, supply levels will eventually come more in-line with historic averages, and could allow home prices to rise modestly in the range of 2 to 3 percent in 2012,” Yun said. The National Association of REALTORS®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

This diamond in the rough has its own private, permanent dock directly across the street on Lake Sunapee.  Area of nice homes and a ten minute drive to Mt.Sunapee Ski Resort.  Price reduced to $269,900.  Visit www.110LakeAve.com for more photos and details.

Donna Forest, Listing Agent

According to the December 2010 Economic Outlook released by Fannie Mae’s Economic & Mortgage Market Analysis Group, improvements in consumer spending & confidence, increased demand for goods & services, and falling unemployment claims are all positive factors pointing to a housing recovery going into 2011. Fannie Mae’s Chief Economist Doug Duncan says, “We expect modest increases in home sales, despite recent interest rate rises, due in part to modest additional declines in home prices, and we expect people to take advantage of affordability as their employment and income outlook brightens.”

While total home & condo sales in *9 area towns for 2010 were about the same as in 2009, with a slight decrease in the median selling price, Springfield, Wilmot and Bradford all saw increases in their sales numbers – encouraging news for our market area!

Sold Listings Median Selling Price  Ave. Days on Market

2010 261 $236,500 175

2009 257 $245,000 158

*Andover, Bradford, New London, Newbury, Springfield, Sunapee, Sutton, Wilmot, Warner

Donna Forest, ABR

Broker Associate

The month of November saw home sales resuming a growth trend since bottoming in July, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.  Existing-home sales rose 5.6%, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.68 million in November from 4.43 million in October. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, is hopeful for 2011. “Continuing gains in home sales are encouraging, and the positive impact of steady job creation will more than trump some negative impact from a modest rise in mortgage interest rates, which remain historically favorable,” he said. Yun added that home buyers are responding to improved affordability conditions.  “The relationship recently between mortgage interest rates, home prices and family income has been the most favorable on record for buying a home since we started measuring in 1970,” he said. “Therefore, the market is recovering and we should trend up to a healthy, sustainable level in 2011.” The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $170,600 in November, up 0.4% from November 2009.  Total housing inventory at the end of November fell 4.0% to 3.71 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 9.5-month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 10.5-month supply in October. NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I., said good buying opportunities will continue. “Traditionally there are far fewer buyers competing for properties at this time of the year, so serious buyers have a lot of opportunities during the winter months,” he said. “Buyers will enjoy favorable affordability conditions into the new year, although mortgage rates are expected to gradually rise as 2011 progresses.”  “In the short term, mortgage interest rates should hover just above recent record lows, while home prices have generally stabilized following declines from 2007 through 2009,” Yun said. “Although mortgage interest rates have ticked up in recent weeks, overall conditions remain extremely favorable for buyers who can obtain credit.” Regionally, existing-home sales in the Northeast rose 2.7% to an annual pace of 770,000 in November but are 33.0% below the cyclical peak in November 2009 (this peak was caused by buyers trying to beat the deadline for the federal buyer credits). The median price in the Northeast was $242,500, which is 9.2% higher than a year ago. This article is based on one which appeared in RISMEDIA, December 23, 2010; the data source is the National Association of Realtors.  For more information, visit www.realtor.org.

Heating water can account for up to 25% of your household energy costs, but there are some inexpensive things you can do to help increase efficiency and your bills.  Wrap your heater in a blanket Your water heater needs help to stay warm, especially if it's in an unheated space. A fiberglass insulating blanket can cut heat loss by 25% to 40% and save 4% to 9% on an average water-heating bill.  Insulating blankets are cheap, usually less than $30 at the home center, and it's easy to install one yourself. Follow the included directions, and take care not to block the thermostat on an electric water heater or the air inlet, exhaust, or top of the tank on a gas unit. Note:  If your water heater is fairly new, check the manufacturer's recommendations first. Many newer units already have insulating foam built in; on these models, an after-market jacket could block a critical component. Install low-flow fixtures One of the surest ways to cut hot water costs is to use less of it.  By installing low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators, which cost as little as $10 to $20 each, you can cut hot water consumption by 25% to 60%. Turn down the temperature Many water heaters come from the factory with the temperature set needlessly high. For every 10 degrees you turn it down, you'll save another 3% to 5% on your bill. If the thermostat on your water heater doesn't have a numbered gauge, put it midway between the "low" and "medium" marks. Wait a day, then measure the temperature at the tap with a standard cooking thermometer. Keep adjusting this way until you hit your target temperature. Drain the sediment Tanks naturally build up sediment, which reduces the unit's efficiency and makes it more expensive to operate  Draining the tank is relatively easy. Turn off the water and power to the unit (set the burner on a gas unit to "pilot"). Then connect a garden hose to the spigot at the base of the tank. With the other end of the hose at a lower spot outside the house where discharging hot water poses no danger, carefully lift the pressure-relief valve at the top of the tank and turn on the spigot; water should begin to flow. While most manufacturers recommend draining the tank once or twice a year, you don't have to drain it completely; in fact, the Department of Energy (http://www.energy.gov) recommends draining less water more often-just a quart every three months. Insulate exposed hot-water pipes Wrapping hot-water pipes with insulation reduces standby losses. Water arrives at the tap 2 to 4 degrees warmer, which means you won't have to stand around as long waiting for it to heat up, thus saving water, energy, and money. While this isn't an expensive job to do yourself-six-foot-long, self-sealing sleeves easily slip over pipes and cost about $2.50 each-it could take some effort, depending on where your hot water pipes are. Exposed pipes in the basement are an easy target, but if pipes are in a hard-to-reach crawl space or inside walls, it might not be worth the trouble. Based on an article by Joe Bousquin, from HouseLogic.com originally published: August 28, 2009.  Visit HouseLogic.com for many more helpful articles.