This one floor living home offers a lifestyle choice without the sacrifices of a tiny house. Compact, move-in ready and offers many of the same advantages of a tiny house with a bit more space! Live with less clutter and spend less time cleaning. You still have space for privacy, an ample sized kitchen, a one car garage, and yes, a full basement for storing things you just can't part with. If you want to live big by living small, give this one a serious look! For more photos and details, visit www.RanchinNH.com. Offered at $178,000.
Donna Forest, Listing Broker, 603-526-4116
Teamwork from the Team that works –Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate - The Milestone Team
The answer is “yes”. It is both depending on the property you are trying to buy or sell. I know, the news is full of stories on the shortage of inventory, high demand, and rising prices. The truth is the type of market you face is dependent on the price point and condition. In general, our area does not have enough listings in the price range for the bulk of buyers who are buying. Home prices have reached unaffordable levels for many 1st time buyers. And the downsizing baby boomers have specific needs (newer, 1st floor master, near town amenities, mostly under $400k) for which there is pretty low inventory.
Overall, sales are about the same as 2016 in New London, Sunapee, & Newbury, mainly due to lack of desirable inventory. New London is actually down from last year YTD, thru Oct. With a median price of $342,000 in these 3 towns combined and an average days on market of 127 days, it can be confusing to understand what type of market is in play.
Bottom line, buyers trying to find a move-in ready home under $300k are in a sellers’ market. Sellers with homes that don’t fit the desired condition and price for the bulk of buyers are in a buyers’ market. Whether buying or selling, contact me if you want to know what you are facing!
Figures are based on information from the Northern New England Real Estate Network, Inc. for the period 1/1/16 thru 10/31/16 and 1/1/17 thru 10/31/17.
Donna Forest 603-526-4116, www.DonnaForest.com, Donna@DonnaForest.com
Don't miss Mt. Sunapee's annual ski swap held in the Sunapee Lodge November 18 from 9-noon. New and used skis, boots, snowboards, poles, skates, cross country, clothing and more! Local shops will also have equipment at great prices as well. This is the largest ski swap in the region and is organized and run by the Mt. Sunapee Area Ski Club.
If you have an item you would like to sell, you can drop them off in the Spruce Lodge at the mountain on Friday, November 17 between 12pm-7pm. They will accept equipment in good condition, skis with approved bindings, skates, snowboards, clean winter clothing, etc. No straight skis.
If you would like to expedite your drop-off of equipment to be sold, you can download, print, and fill-out the Sale Item Sheet beforehand and bring it with you when you drop off your items.
If your item is sold, you will receive 75% of the sale. The other 25% of the sale is donated to the Mount Sunapee Area Ski Club's Junior Programs. You can pick-up your unsold equipment and any sale money between 2:00pm - 3:00pm the Saturday of the swap. Any unclaimed money or equipment will be donated to local programs. www.mtsunapee.com
Price reduced on this New London raised ranch on 2.2 acres. Was $247,700, now $238,500! Three bedrooms, 2 baths, new carpeting, new wall oven and cook top. You'll love walks through this neighborhood or enjoy sitting back and relaxing on the huge wraparound deck. Great location for commuting north or south. Make your appointment today!
Anne Marie Appel, Listing Agent, 603-526-4116
Teamwork from the Team that works –Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate - The Milestone Team
If you are thinking about selling and wondering if it would be better to wait until spring, here are few reasons why it may make sense to list now:
- There are fewer homes for sale which means less competition for your property.
- There may not be as many buyers out looking but those who are house hunting are serious buyers.
- Prices are expected to appreciate 5% over the next year (CoreLogic). If you are moving to a higher priced home, it could cost more if you wait.
- The process will be quicker as lenders and appraisers are not swamped this time of year.
If you feel it’s time to move on with your life then it may not be worth waiting for the spring market. With proper pricing and enhancing your home for maximum effect, a house will sell regardless of the month. Give me a call to get the Better Homes & Gardens The Milestone Team advantage any time of year. Donna Forest 603-526-4116, www.DonnaForest.com, Donna@DonnaForest.com
I recently spent 2 days at a class put on by the Real Estate Business Institute to become a certified negotiation expert and thought it would be good to share some points made during this time. Some might just surprise you!
- Negotiations are really between the two agents and not the buyers & sellers. While the goal is for each to get the best possible outcome based on their clients’ needs and wants, the reality is that it is the two agents who are communicating with each who make it happen. How well the agents negotiate with each other can make or break it for their clients.
- In any negotiation, you need to know if the market conditions are with or against you. For example, if you are a buyer in a sellers’ market, the market may push you to make decisions quickly.
- If a deal gets “deadlocked”, sometimes taking a time-out is helpful to allow everyone to re-group and re-assess their wants and needs.
- There are always at least 2 negotiation points in a sale – the first with the offer and the 2nd after the home inspections.
- The best negotiator will focus on the fix and not the fight.
Contact me if you’d like to have a skilled negotiator working on your side to help achieve your “yes”! Donna Forest 603-526-4116, www.DonnaForest.com, Donna@DonnaForest.com.
Incredibly private, 4+ bedroom, 4.5 bath free-standing condominium has so much to offer! Hardwood floors, spacious eat-in kitchen, many custom built-ins, screened porch and plenty of living space. The second level has two ensuite bedrooms and reading loft. The finished lower level includes a family room, office, bunk room, laundry, cedar closet and excellent storage space. Attached, two car garage. Monthly assessment iincludes trash, snow removal, water and lawn maintenance. Offered at $570,000. For more information, visit http://tour.circlepix.com/home/M5KGNM/42-The-Seasons-42-New-London-NH-4648203
Emily Campbell, Listing Agent, 603-526-4116
"Nature is not a place to visit. It is home." (Gary Snyder - Poet) Once you see this impressive timber frame, you will immediately feel at home along with a deep sense of peacefulness. Set on the Blackwater River with its own island, it is the perfect spot for paddling, swimming, bird watching, or just relaxing. Designed for easy living, the post and beam construction artfully frames every room, from the kick-your-shoes-off-and-stay living room to the expansive kitchen, to every bedroom - all of which have their own tile and glass block bathrooms. No detail is overlooked - large mudroom, boat storage under the garage, a practical laundry room, whole house air conditioning, and an ERV system. Warm woods, cathedral ceiling, skylights, and an abundance of windows all combine to create this captivating home. For more information, visit www.NHRiverfront.com. Offered at $439,900.
Donna Forest, Listing Broker, 603-526-4116
Don’t Be Surprised By….
Next to price, most buyers focus on the location and appearance of the property. Below are some lesser known factors to consider when house hunting.
- Private Roads – if the house is located on a private road, find out if there is a road maintenance agreement with the other owners. Lenders may require one before they issue a mortgage.
- Flood Zone - Looking at waterfront? Flood insurance could be required if the structure is located in the flood zone.
- Lead Paint – Homes built prior to 1978 could contain lead paint and the paint flakes or dust can present a health hazard. Even if the paint is in great condition, keep in mind any renovations by a contractor that would disturb areas with lead paint may cost more as they have to be certified and follow specific safety practices.
- Age of Systems – Even if it is well maintained, systems don’t last forever. Well pumps, furnaces, water heaters, and even septic systems have a life span. Knowing the age of these systems will help prepare for future expenses and may factor into your offer price.
Avoid costly surprises on your home purchase by working with me as your Accredited Buyer’s Representative! 603-526-4116, www.DonnaForest.com, Donna@DonnaForest.com
Teamwork from the Team that works –Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate - The Milestone Team
People often assume that the kitchen or living room is at the heart of the home, but when you see these ideas to help corral the chaos in your mudroom, you might decide that the area just inside your front door is the true command center of your house. If you don’t have a dedicated room or hallway carved out for a purpose-built mudroom, don’t despair: a few hooks, storage baskets and designated shoe racks can make all the difference in a house where multiple family members use—and abuse—the front hallway as a dumping ground. Good mudroom design can be just what you need to corral clutter and get an entryway you—and potential home buyers—absolutely love.
Establish a mudroom zone
Even homes with grand entries sometimes find themselves challenged by the lack of front- or back-door space to store daily necessities. A few options can help. A slim drawer underneath a bench offers a spot to stash seasonal items. With no room for traditional shoe storage solutions, boots and other footwear sit close by; place them in a tray to catch loose moisture and dirt. A tray makes it easy to clean up melted snow or mud that comes in on boots; simply take the entire tray outside to dump accumulated dirt or snow, then replace.
Use baskets for outdoor items
It makes sense to have some items close at hand for out-of-house comings and goings. A shelf above coat storage in this mudroom has space for containers with various items such as sunscreen, bandages and more. Keep similar items, such as bug spray, together and label the containers (adhesive or tied-on tags work well). You might also consider assigning a basket to each member of your family, then letting them use it however they like to corral their personal clutter
Tuck shoes out of the way
Although it’s handy to have all mudroom storage together, sometimes a dedicated shoe-storage solution just isn’t feasible. Instead, carve out nooks and crannies where you can. A small recessed area offers a just-right spot for multiple shoe shelves.
Sliding shelves are a useful tool in mudrooms, too, helping to streamline access to items. Choose heavy-duty, easy-to-clean surfaces in a mudroom, particularly for the floor, that rely on color and texture to mask any messes or daily dirt. And don’t forget to put a tray under a shoe rack to catch the debris from several rows of shoes above.
Use extra storage for essentials
Some mudrooms are hidden and expansive enough to store more than just coats and shoes. For peculiarly shaped items that may not easily stay grouped—toilet paper, for example—use decorative baskets (lidded or not) to keep them in order.
Source: www.bhgre.com/bhgrelife