Take a look at this mostly level, wooded, 6.1 acre lot in wonderful Wilmot. Peaceful, well-established neighborhood. Walk to nearby Pleasant Lake and the lovely village of Elkins. Minutes to New London shops. Convenient to Route 11, I-89 and Route 4A for an easy commute to Concord or the Upper Valley. Mount Sunapee skiing and Mount Kearsarge hiking - a fifteen minute drive away! Live here and play here! Offered at $89,000.
Anne Marie Appel, Listing Agent, 603-526-4116
- Get you finances in order before even going to look at homes. Make sure you have anough for a down payment and closing costs.
- Talk to a lender and get pre-qualified for a loan.
- Decide when you can actually move. When is your lease up?
- Realize there is no perfect home. There will be trade-offs to every property.
- Don't be tempted to spend more than you can afford. Remember, there will be recurring costs like insurance, taxes, utilities and maintenance.
- Understand the fine print and ask questions. It's important to understand what you are signing to avoid problems down the road.
- Hire a REALTOR® to be your Buyer's Agent. They can guide you through the whole process and provide invaluable advice.
Buying your first home is an exciting experience and should be fun. Give me a call if you are looking for an experienced REALTOR® and Accredited Buyers' Representative to help you through the process. 603-526-4116, Donna@DonnaForest.com, www.DonnaForest.com
Known for service, trusted for results – Coldwell Banker Milestone Real Estate.
Create a lifetime of lakeside memories. This quaint, seasonal cottage is located on 75 feet of prime Lake Sunapee frontage. Plenty of room for your power boat and water toys in the recently rebuilt boathouse. Water depths around the L-shaped dock are shallow enough for youngsters to enjoy, but deep enough to do "cannon balls". A level yard is perfect for croquet, badminton or fireside stories with friends in the evening. The property also includes a deeded share to Snow Beach Association in Chandler Cove. Minutes to Mt. Sunapee State Park's recreational offerings. This lakeside property is ready to enjoy! For more photos and details, visit www.NHLakefrontLiving.com. Offered at $995,000
Emily Campbell, Listing Agent, 603-526-4116
Don’t think of your microscopic yard as a curse. So what if it’s technically a small concrete slab that baaarely accommodates a half-sized Weber grill? Or if your flagstone patio is just big enough for you, a lounge chair, and a good book? Your tiny outdoor spot is actually an opportunity to get creative. To live large with a small footprint, try these functional tweaks to make your minuscule outdoor space feel like a palatial retreat. 1. Divide the Space Wait, what? That’s right. Even if your square footage is relatively small, dividing your outdoor space into two areas can actually make it seem bigger. “Creating a space within a space makes it seem larger because it gives you a separate experience,” says Joy Diaz, chief marketing officer at Land Care Inc. Diaz recommends a small wood pergola, which you can purchase at home improvement stores or even build yourself without too much effort. You can also use walls to divide the space. We’re not talking about bulky concrete barriers here — try using short trellises, arbors, or vine-covered wooden fences to separate your loungers from your patio table. “It says, ‘I’m in one place, that’s another place, and if there’s room for two places it must be big,’” says J. Scott Williams, a landscape architect at YardApes in New Milford, Conn. As an added bonus, walls prevent visitors from walking in a straight line from one end of the patio to another, instead creating a winding path that makes your small space feel expansive. 2. Plant a Privacy Screen A peaceful space always feels roomier than one crowded with noise and other distractions — like the pressure to strike up an awkward conversation every time you lock eyes with the nice lady next door. Keep your evening soirées and morning coffee blissfully secluded with a few cleverly positioned plants. There are a few ways to achieve this goal. Along the very edges of your space, plant a tall, wide bush, like the purple smoke bush, a fantastic, easy-to-care-for container plant that can grow six or seven feet every year. Just be sure to keep on top of trimmings to keep it from overgrowing your patio — you want it growing up, not out — but as long as you do so, it makes an excellent privacy screen. “A larger plant in a small space is dramatic,” says Williams. You can also privatize your patio without sacrificing any square footage with the oldest trick in the book: Install some climbing vines on a trellis to clearly tell your neighbors, “This is my special space.” 3. Add a Water Feature A dramatic focal point can really add some intrigue to a mini yard. And a water feature, like a bubbling birdbath or wall fountain, can do just the trick. Williams suggests choosing an element with a black bottom, which will create a darker surface that reflects sky and trees, making your outdoor space feel bigger. Just make sure your water feature doesn’t overwhelm your porch — you can skip the long, vanishing edge-style pool. “I wouldn’t put a longer element in a small space, which might make it look smaller,” Williams said. “Add a smaller water element into a small space, and make it seem larger.” 4. Use Vertical Space Distract from your lack of horizontal yardage by really maximizing your outdoor space’s most abundant dimension: vertical space. Use your walls, fence, or railings as extra space by adding vines or a living wall filled with flowers, herbs, and other eye-catching greenery. For a simple change, prop an attractive ladder — think barnyard chic, maybe? — against the wall and use its rungs as shelving for plants or other decor. The internet is bursting with other vertical planter and shelving ideas, too, using everything from pallets to chicken wire. “It draws the eye up and outwards, and gives it a green and completely different look,” says Diaz. “It can change the atmosphere of the area. You’ve walked into a different experience from your home — it’s a psychological and emotional change.” 5. Expand Space with a Mirror “Mirrors really make space feel more expansive,” Williams says. On a small porch, place a tall mirror on the ground behind a portico or a patch of greenway, which “makes it look like a doorway into another garden.” You don’t need to go huge on the mirror to have a huge impact. Even hanging a normal-sized mirror, like one you might find over a dresser, can make a tiny space feel much larger. But whichever you choose, make sure to weatherproof your mirror first using a mirror edge sealer (you’ll also want to add sealant to the frame, especially if it’s made from wood) to prevent moisture damage — unless you like the weathered look, that is. Small spaces don’t have to be limiting. With a little bit of creativity — and perhaps a reflective surface or two — there’s no reason you can’t feel like you’re living in your very own Versailles. By: is a writer and editor with a focus on home improvement and design. Previously, she worked as a web editor for "House Beautiful," "ELLE Decor," and "Veranda." Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from Houselogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Don't miss this freshly painted Colonial in Newbury. Nice location, near Baker Hill Golf Course. 3+ bedrooms, 2.5 baths, large family room and attached two car garage. Sip your morning coffee on the wraparound deck and listen to the birds. Offered at $259,000.
Emily Campbell, Listing Agent, 603-526-4116
If views and privacy are on the top of your list, then look no further! This well-maintained post and beam cape is set amidst 20 acres of natural beauty with impressive mountain views and a home anyone would be proud to call their own. This location was too special to build the ordinary. Rustic and refined elements come together to create a feeling of peace and tranquility. Wood beams frame cathedral ceilings, yellow pine floors glow, and the back is all oriented to the views. Cooking is a delight in this updated kitchen with cherry cabinets, soapstone countertops, and stainless steel appliances. Made for casual entertaining with its open concept floor plan, large outdoor decks, and a fun-size pool room. It is the perfect blend of privacy and convenience - a long private driveway puts you worlds away yet you are minutes to New London amenities or I-89 access. Offered at $549,000. For more photos and details, visit www.ViewHomeNH.com.
Donna Forest, Listing Broker, 603-526-4116
Teamwork from the Team that works – Coldwell Banker Milestone Real Estate.
Yes, it is true, housing inventory is tighter than normal. It's not REALTORS just trying to get your business. While many houses have moved off the market quickly, this doesn't mean every house is snatched up as soon as it is for sale. Overpriced and unprepared homes still sit on the market. If you want to sell, you need to get your home in order. When you put your house on the market you are entering a price war and a beauty contest. The ideal way to compete is to offer your house in the best condition at the best price. Visualize this - a buyer looks at 6 homes similarly priced. Three aredated and tired in appearance, two are somewhat updated but still need work, and the sixth one is immaculate and renovated. Guess which one will attract the buyer?! As a seller, you need to assess what improvements/repairs are needed. Your agent can help determine what projects will have the most value to buyers. And you can help determine what projects will have the most value to buyers. And you should get the work done prior to putting the house on the market. The old adage is true, "You never get a second chance to make a good first impression." Having your home in top notch condition and properly priced will help position you for a successful and timely sale. Contact me for a free Home Enhancement Guide and more practical advice on prepping a house! 603-526-4116, Donna@DonnaForest.com, www.DonnaForest.com.
Planting one tree isn’t a huge effort. You’ll be helping our planet, too. Plus, once the tree is established, it’s about as low maintenance as a landscape can get — and the difference it can make to your yard lasts for decades. The key is to choose a tree that adds interest to your landscape in the form of color, shape, and texture.
There are a ton of trees to choose from, but to play it safe, try a Japanese maple. Many are suitable for most any climate. They all offer color, form, and texture that can liven any landscape.
Related: 11 Trees You Should Never Plant in Your Yard
2. Tap Into the Colorful Punch Mulch Can Make
Mulch is one of the easiest ways to add both color and texture to the entire yard. “Next to a green lawn, coffee bean-colored mulch is a great contrast,” says Paul Fraynd, owner of Sun Valley Landscaping in Omaha, Neb.
If a dark roast isn’t your preference, there’s a a multitude of mulch colors that can spice up your bland landscape. Red, black, gold, cedar-toned — you choose.
For something truly unique, try pine cones. They introduce a knotty texture that breaks up the monotony of flat lawns and box-like shrubs.
The point is that mulch is easy: Choose a cool color and texture, then dump it, spread it, and forget it.
“Keep it away from wood or siding, though,” warns Fraynd. “It can rot the wood and may attract insects.”
3. Get Edge-y
Look along your walkways and garden beds. If your lawn just seems to morph into your shrubbery or threatens to take over your front walk, some unique edging could perk up your yard. No pruning, cutting, or watering required.
Define a walkway with some personal or found items, says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Association of Landscape Professionals.
“Colored hockey sticks can line a path or wine bottles planted neck down in the soil,” just make sure you do the entire path. “Two or three wine bottles lining a path might look like leftovers from last night’s party,” she says.
If you want to keep it all in the plant world, low-maintenance ground covers are an excellent choice for edging, she adds. Try lily of the valley, vinca, lamb’s ears, and pachysandra. Some of these add color, others texture, she says.
4. Create a Focal Point That’s All About You
Your own passions and pleasures are great inspiration to add color and texture to your landscape. Try creating a focal point with something that brings back a happy memory, says Henriksen, like your old toy truck, tricycle, or wagon. Turn it into a colorful planter.
This charming cottage needs extensive renovations, but could be a gem when restored back to its original splendor! Many original features intact, but requires a major overhaul. Priced accordingly and well below assessed value. Location can't be beat - dead-end road with the Vernondale Store and Kezar Lake a stone's throw from your enormous wraparound porch. Light-filled with a great floor plan. Something to be proud of when you're finished! Offered at $105,000. For more photos and details, visit http://tour.circlepix.com/home/L7AETT
Anne Marie Appel, Listing Agent, 603-526-4116
Teamwork from the Team that works – Coldwell Banker Milestone Real Estate.
Lately this is a sentiment many of us have about the real estate market as it seems to have come alive these last few months! This opitmism is backed up by figures just released by the NH REALTORS® as NH home sales saw its most February sales since February 2002, up 27%. Cumulative sales for this January and February increased 25% compared to January and February 2015. While only a 2 month comparison, it certainly is positive news. The median sales price statewide saw no change from last year, however prices may start creeping up if our low inventory persists. Right now it seems we may have more buyers than we have houses to sell! For example, currently New London has 40 homes for sale and last year there were a total of 60 homes sold. This may change as sellers usually start entering the market in April and May, the beginning of our "true" selling season. However, all things considered, there is good cause to be optimistic about the real estate market being alive in 2016! If you've been on the fence about selling, this may be the right time to list. Contact me for realistic and professional advice on getting your house sold. 603-526-4116, Donna@DonnaForest.com, www.DonnaForest.com