What great views and easy access to Lake Sunapee! Parking on site, clubhouse with bath, lockers and picnic area. Sandy swimming area, great for the kids. Maximum boat length 16 ft. Yearly Association fee is approximately $1,000+/-. Offered at $59,000.
Sharon LaVigne, Listing Agent, 603-526-4116
Teamwork from the Team that works – Coldwell Banker Milestone Real Estate.
Two houses on one lot! Each cottage has 2 bedrooms and a full bath, a kitchen/dining/living room, and a screened porch. The two share the 175' of Highland Lake frontage with deck and dock. There's even a small, sandy beach for the kids. A tranquil spot to listen to the calling of the loons. Offered at $320,000. Call for your viewing today! 603-526-4116. Visit www.2LakefrontCottages.com
Stacey Viandier, Listing Agent
Energy efficient and immaculate 2-3 bedroom home on 17 acres with views of Ragged Mountain and your own private, spring-fed swim pond. Warm woods throughout, beamed ceilings, and pine walls add special character. Heated 40' x 40' shop/garage with 10' ceilings, 4 additional attached sheds for all your toys. Enjoy the outdoors with the open fields, woods, and pond or hop on the nearby Northern Rail Trail for hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Offered at $249,900. Visit www.31FlagholeRd.com for more information and photos.
Donna Forest, Listing Agent, 603-526-4116
Nature lovers take notice! 7 acres with 320 ft. of direct waterfront. McDaniels Marsh is a 609 acre Wildlife Management Area consisting of bogs, wetlands, deep water wetlands and forest. One of the area's most scenic spots to view the large diversity of wildlife. This is a restricted area for building, but engineering has been done and approvals granted. Offered at $79,000.
Jane Snow, Listing Agent, 603-526-4116
This home is right out of a magazine! Recent quality upgrades make this property not only comfortable for family, but the flow pattern is perfect for entertaining. Four bedrooms and many other finished areas afford relaxed and memorable experiences. The back yard is professionally landscaped and has a heated, in-ground, saltwater pool, stamped concrete patio, and even a hockey rink complete with drainage system! Offered at $749,500. Visit www.NHCustomColonial.com for more photos and details.
The National Association of Home Builders recently published a nationwide survey of buyers providing an inside look at what buyers want or don’t want in a home. While geared towards the building industry, it is useful for sellers to be aware of what buyers are looking for when they are shopping for a home. Of particular note, the survey found that buyers are much more price-sensitive now. Here’s a sampling what the survey found:
- The top most desired feature is energy efficiency (energy star-rated appliances, windows, etc)
- High end amenities are more important than available living space (e.g., French doors, double sink in kitchen, tub and separate shower in master bath)
- More than half surveyed prefer a 2-car garage
- Open kitchen and family room design is still popular
- Organization & storage is important – laundry rooms, linen closets, garage storage, etc.
- They want technology – from wireless security systems to whole house electronic controls
- Most buyers did not want laminate countertops or 2-story great rooms
In short, the lack of certain features in a house can impact its desirability from a buyer’s perspective. If you want to work with a REALTOR® who is in the know on current trends, then give me a call! 603-526-4116; www.donnaforest.com
This compact ranch offers an open concept floor plan lending itself a sense of spaciousness. The corner woodstove provides special warmth on those cold, winter days. Central A/C is a big plus for those who don't like heat and humidity in the summer months. Many updates have been done including some replacement windows, gutters, new flooring in the kitchen, living room and bath. Partially finished basement provides extra living and storage space. Have your friends over for BBQs and relax on the large deck that wraps around the house. Offered at $159,000. See www.RanchInNH.com for more photos and details.
Donna Forest, Listing Broker, 603-526-4116
In my 19 years of selling real estate, there are a few common maintenance items that frequently come up as points of contention during a home inspection. You can save time, added stress, and possibly avoid renegotiating your selling price by addressing them BEFORE your property goes on the market.
- Service your furnace. If it’s been a few years since your last service, have it done and keep a record on hand to prove it.
- Pump your septic tank. Septic tanks should be pumped every few years as it is.
- Clean and seal your chimney and make sure it is in good repair. Poor flashing around the chimney can be an issue so check that as well.
- Test your drinking water and include testing for radon, uranium and arsenic. Better to deal with these issues up front. If you have a dug well, it is very important to have a water test – dug wells are highly susceptible to coliform bacteria.
- Touch up any flaking paint. Not only does this help with curb appeal, but also if a buyer uses an FHA loan, there cannot be ANY peeling paint either inside or out.
If you are looking for more ideas on how to expedite the sale of your house, visit my website at www.DonnaForest.com and click on Real Estate Tips.
I’m happy to share with you the Summary of New London Sales for 2012. I’m particularly happy because, as I look back at my letter of last February, I see that my predictions came true! At last, the cliché of “over the hump” is totally appropriate! After 5+ years, I feel confident in saying that the worst is behind us, and that is very clearly reflected in the performance of the New London real estate market this year. Sales were up in all categories of property in the number of transactions, dollar volume, and average price.
Numbers of residential sales were up about 27%; dollar volume up about 34%; and the average selling price up about 5%+. You can see the significant increase in the number of sales in the $300,000-$399,999 range. This is a good indicator that 2013 will likely see more sales in the $400,000+ range. Even land sales showed decent improvement; this has been a very sluggish part of the market for quite some time. The same has been the case of the commercial market, but a number of sales occurred there as well. With a 36% increase in the number of condominiums sold, what were large inventories in that sector have come down significantly. I expect that we will see continued improvement here as well.
In looking at some of the numbers, you will see that the total dollar volume increased by $20,000,000+. About $11.5M of that total can be accounted for by an increase in lakefront sales (from about $8.1M in 2011, to $19.6M in 2012). In the 2012 total, there was one sale for $4.5M, one for $3.75M, and one for $2M. The average selling price of the 13 transactions (just residential waterfront) was about $1.5M. Condominiums account for another $3.4M; residential sales, about $4.5M. It’s just interesting to see how the increase was spread around.
Our continued hard work and consistency of attentive customer service yielded great successes for our sellers and buyers and an extremely productive year for Coldwell Banker Milestone, considerably out-performing the market overall. I believe that, with an improving and more stable economy, the easing of uncertainty, a stock market showing confidence, and the hint of some upward movement in interest rates, sideline-sitting buyers will be motivated to make a commitment. Advice to sellers will continue to be, “Price it to the market and good things will happen!” While we don’t want this market to take off like a rocket (we all know the results of that), a slow and steady pace of continued improvement will be most welcome. As always, we appreciate your referrals and you can be sure that our Team will deliver extraordinary care, service, and results! Thanks!
Marilyn R. Kidder, Broker/Owner, 603-526-4116
Ask Not Only What a Fuel Efficient Vehicle Can Do For the Environment, But Ask What It Can Do For Your Wallet Are you thinking of buying a car with your tax refund? February is a popular time of year to buy a vehicle with the majority of NH dealerships promoting specials in honor of Presidents’ Day. Purchasing a car is an important investment. With gasoline prices well above $3 a gallon, buying a fuel efficient vehicle makes sense. Fuel efficient cars use less gas, reduce the amount of emissions produced by your vehicle, and release fewer pollutants into the air. Have you ever thought of purchasing an electric or hybrid-electric car? Many hybrid-electric vehicles already travel NH roads. Plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles are starting to be purchased and leased in our state. Hybrid-electric vehicles run on gasoline and electricity (from a large battery), allowing for increased fuel economy - over 50 mpg in some cases. Plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles get over 50 mpg; an electric motor powers the vehicle for the first 15 miles of travel before engaging the gasoline motor. The pure electric vehicle uses no gas at all. These vehicles can be charged via household electricity. The federal government currently offers incentives in the form of tax credits for the purchase of plug-in hybrid-electric and pure electric vehicles. A tax credit of $2,500 is allowed on a Toyota Prius Plug-in; $7,500 for electric vehicles like the new Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt. Vehicle owners can also receive a tax credit of up to 30 percent off the cost of an electric charging device for their home. Fuel efficient vehicles come in all makes and models. There are over 130 models from which to choose, from small cars to SUVs - each with combined miles per gallon (mpg) of 30 or better. These vehicles are listed on DES’ Granite State Clean Cars program website, along with a list of participating dealers (visit: http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/air/tsb/tps/gsccp/index.htm). If you need a bigger rig, such as a truck, van or larger SUV the US Department of Energy’s fueleconomy.gov website lists “2013 Most and Least Efficient Vehicles.” This can steer you to a smart, fuel efficient choice in all types of vehicles. This website also has a feature that allows you to compare two or more vehicles. No matter what you choose for your ride, it’s bound to be more fuel efficient than the vehicle your parents purchased at your age. Since the 1970’s, the EPA has worked with other organizations to establish fuel economy standards which has resulted in cleaner, more fuel efficient vehicles. Purchasing these vehicles can save you money, reduce our country’s dependence on petroleum, and reduce air pollution from transportation. To find more ways to reduce your gas consumption, visit DOE’s Techniques for Drivers to Conserve Fuel webpage: www.afdc.energy.gov/conserve/behavior_techniques.html. For more information on petroleum reduction in New Hampshire, visit DES’s Granite State Clean Cities Coalition web page: http://www.granitestatecleancities.nh.gov/. Source: GREENWorks, the February publication of the NH Department of Environmental Services, Concord, NH