Are you looking to buy your first home? Here are some essential things that you should know!
Get Your Finances in Order
- Get preapproved for a mortgage
- Make your own home buying budget
- Maintain your credit
- Save for a down payment and closing costs
- Budget for repairs
- Speak with a lender and understand your different loan options
Find a Real Estate Agent
- Reach out to multiple offices to find the right fit for your needs
- Agents will be there to help you every step of the home buying process
Make Your Home Buying Wish List
- Include your must haves, nice to haves, and nonnegotiables
- Don't fall in love with a house - determine what home would be the best for your needs now and in the future
Don't Make Big Changes
- Finance big ticket items
- Switch jobs
- Close credit cards
"A qualified buyer’s representative can guide you through all the steps to purchase your first home, including assistance programs in your area. They’ll help you ask all the right questions, consider all your options, and point out the pros and cons of any house you are considering." (NAR.com)
Contact us for more useful tips if you are thinking of buying! For the best selling, buying, or renting experience, call "The Best Team in Town" at 603-526-4116!
Sources:
https://homebuying.realtor/content/5-essential-things-every-first-time-homebuyer-should-do
https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/first-time-home-buyer-tips
https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/articles/fast-tips-for-first-time-home-buyers
Are you looking for events to go to this week? There are a lot of fun local events to check out! To stay updated about recent events check out the community calendar on our website!
AUGUST 15th |
Corbin Animal Farm
Starts at: 7pm
LSPA Center for Lake Studies
Mary Knonenwetter will present the history and legacy of "Corbin's Animal Garden."
"In the late 1800s, the banking, railroad, and real estate mogul Austin Corbin returned to his hometown in Newport, New Hampshire. He built a grand estate and bought out his neighbors’ farms to create an 22,000 acre wildlife game preserve stocked with boar, bison, bighorn sheep, antelope, elk, Chinese pheasant, and other imported animals. The grounds eventually became a prestigious private hunting park and hosted illustrious guests including Theodore Roosevelt, the Prince of Wales, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Joe Dimaggio, Rudyard Kipling, and Augustus Saint Gaudens. This illustrated slideshow features archival images and a discussion of the complicated history and legacy of New Hampshire’s own American Gilded Age robber baron. The talk will also highlight the important legacy of the role the Corbin family and park naturalist Ernest Baynes played in the saving of the American bison from extinction. In partnership with the Sunapee Historical Society. Supported by NH Humanities."
For more information, visit: LSPA
Source: Sunapee Happenings email
AUGUST 16th |
Friday Nights at The Livery
Starts at: 7:30pm
The Livery in Sunapee Harbor
Featured performer: Ari Hest
Tickets: $20/person
"Ari is a grammy nominated singer/songwriter who began his career as an independent artist in 2001. He built a loyal following touring the college circuit extensively between 2000 and 2003, after which he released two albums on Columbia Records, Someone To Tell (2004) and The Break-In (2007) all the while touring both in the U.S. and abroad with artists such as Martin Sexton, Suzanne Vega, and Ani Difranco."
For more information, visit: The Livery
Source: The Livery website
AUGUST 17th |
Cars & Coffee
Starts at: 9am
Ice House Museum, New London
"Attention all car (and coffee) enthusiasts... Bring your favorite vehicle, old or new. All are welcome. Enjoy car camaraderie and explore the museum's collections."
For more information, visit: Ice House Museum
Source: Ice House Museum
202 Village Road, Wilmot, NH 03287 | Reduced: $27,500; Now Offered at $635,000 | MLS# 5006464
A 5-minute walk from Tannery Pond, this thoughtfully updated, 4-bedroom, 4-bath expanded cape is rich in character and charm and offers over 3,100 sq. ft. of living space. The variety and number of rooms will meet many needs: a first-floor primary bedroom, with a large walk-through closet and private bath; kitchen with a sitting area warmed by a propane fireplace; an adjacent dining room; a movie/family room, two offices removed from the general busyness of the house; 3 more bedrooms; 3 baths; and a workout room. Discoverable throughout the home are some special spaces: a charming coffee nook as well as a carpeted crawlspace between two upstairs bedrooms offers endless possibilities for imaginative play. The yard adds another dimension of enjoyment. With a patio, a natural stone fire pit, and hot tub, there is great space for relaxation, games, and enjoying family and friends. The location, minutes to both New London and Andover, and nearby Mt. Kearsarge, will appeal to many. See for yourself! www.202villagerd.com
For More Information Contact:
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Marilyn Kidder
W (603) 526-4116
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21 Hilltop Place, New London, NH 03257 | Offered at $377,000 | MLS# 4998795
Sunny and bright one floor living. A particularly nice layout with good privacy, as the bedrooms are at opposite ends of the unit from each other. The living room is spacious and well-ventilated. Here, the propane fireplace and dining area, along with sliding glass doors to the outdoor patio, create a great gathering space. The kitchen is updated (2014) with a casual eating area, attractive cupboards and workspace, plus a bonus separate pantry. If one would like, the third bedroom could make a perfect study/office. The backyard stone patio is surrounded with attractive landscaping and quite private. There is a screened option for the patio (now in the garage) which would need to be assembled by the Hilltop crew. This home is located quite near the entrance/exit to Newport Road, close to Hannaford's, the Post Office, and additional shopping and services.
For More Information Contact:
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Marilyn Kidder
W (603) 526-4116
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In March, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reached a settlement agreement with a nationwide class of home sellers that filed antitrust lawsuits against NAR and some brokerage firms. As I understand it, the lawsuit alleged there was a lack of transparency in commission rates and that commissions were fixed as the MLS required all listing brokers to communicate an offer of compensation. NAR denies any wrongdoing and reached an agreement to end this litigation.
Without getting into the nitty gritty of it all, the end result required two changes in the way real estate is practiced. First, offers of buyer agent compensation can no longer be shown in the MLS. Second, agents working with buyers must have a written agreement outlining the duties and expectations of each party and how the buyer agent is getting paid for their services. Prior to this, only 18 states required written buyer agreements – NH being one.
The impacts? Buyers need to sign an agreement with their agent before touring properties (already required in NH for many years) and sellers may or may not offer concessions to pay the buyers agents. Buyers could potentially include seller concessions in their offer to pay their agent or pay their agent directly. For sellers, expect to pay your listing agents similar overall rates as before. There is also a likelihood that, in order to cover their cost to their buyer agent, buyers will propose concessions from the seller. Not offering compensation to buyer agents could reduce your pool of buyers. The industry is in a time of adjustment, but we all remain committed to protecting the interests of buyers and sellers.
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Donna ForestM: 603-731-5151donna@donnaforest.com Follow her on Facebook |
Are you looking for events to go to this week? There are a lot of fun local events to check out! To stay updated about recent events check out the community calendar on our website!
AUGUST 1st |
Source: Sunapee Happenings email
AUGUST 1st - 3rd |
For more information, visit: LSRCC
Source: Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce Website
AUGUST 2nd |
Dragonfly Walk
2pm-4pm
Esther Currier Wildlife Management Area
242 Elkins Road, New London
"Join LSPA and ASLPT on a family friendly Dragonfly Walk at Esther Currier Wildlife Management Area (a.k.a. Low Plain) in New London. Andy and Carrie Deegan will teach participants about dragonfly and damselfly biology and their preferred habitats, how to capture and release dragonflies safely, and some tips for identifying common species. Bring a water bottle and wear comfortable clothing and shoes you don't mind getting wet if you'd like to try netting dragons! Rain date August 9th."
For more information, visit: LSPA
Source: Sunapee Happenings email
Friday Nights at The Livery
Starts at: 7:30pm
The Livery in Sunapee Harbor
Featured performer: Rhythm Future Quartet
Tickets: $20/person
"The acoustic jazz ensemble, Rhythm Future Quartet has a straightforward agenda: to keep the spirit of Gypsy jazz alive and expanding in today’s musical universe. The virtuosic foursome, named for a Django Reinhardt tune, offers up a newly minted sound, influenced by the classic Hot Club of France, yet wholly contemporary. Founded by violinist Jason Anick, the quartet performs dynamic and lyrical arrangements of both Gypsy jazz standards and original compositions that draw upon diverse international rhythms and musical idioms. With Max O’Rourke, Henry Acker, and Greg Loughman rounding out the quartet, Rhythm Future is dedicated to expanding the boundaries of a vital musical genre."
For more information, visit: The Livery
Source: The Livery website
AUGUST 3rd - 11th |
91st Annual Craftsmen's Fair
Open Daily: 10am - 5pm
Mount Sunapee Resort, Newbury, NH
" The Annual Craftsmen’s Fair began in 1933 and runs for nine days each year, featuring the juried work of hundreds of members with sales booths, interactive demonstrations, and curated exhibitions attracting over 20,000 visitors annually. This video from 2021 captures the essence of the Fair, and provides a sense of the wide range of creative experiences you can expect to find each year."
"Youth aged 16 and under receive free admission. Parking is always free.
NO PETS allowed on the Fairgrounds. NO LEASHED DOGS. No pets may be left in cars."
For more information or to buy tickets, visit: League of NH Craftsmen
Source: Sunapee Happenings email
AUGUST 5th |
For more information, visit: Sunapee Historical Society
Source: Sunapee Happenings email
202 Village Road, Wilmot, NH 03287 | Offered at $662,500 | MLS# 5006464
Perfect for hosting gatherings. Experience unparalleled comfort and luxury in this exquisite home, featuring an inviting electric fireplace and a charming coffee nook. Upstairs you will discover two spacious bedrooms connected by a delightful, carpeted crawlspace, that offers endless possibilities. This cozy nook is perfect for storage or can transform into a child’s dream playroom, sparking imaginative adventures and endless fun. In the colder months, the hot tub becomes a serene retreat. Imagine stepping out of your newly renovated walk-through closet into the crisp fall air, only to immerse yourself in the soothing warmth of the hot tub. Step outside your front door and discover the local three-mile loop, an ideal path for your refreshing morning walk or invigorating run. This home is a short walk to the local beach, Tannery Pond, a fantastic spot for swimming, kayaking & fishing. Only a short drive west you will discover New London, a vibrant area that offers the perfect blend of small-town charm and big-city amenities including top-notch healthcare, dining options, a hardware store, and even a local ice cream shop. Then venture east to Andover, home to the renowned Proctor Academy. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the proximity to Mt. Kearsarge, a gem rated among the “New Hampshire 52 with a view”. Less than a two-mile hike to the summit rewards you with breathtaking, panoramic views of New Hampshire’s stunning landscape. This home and location offer a wide range of features.
For More Information Contact:
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Marilyn Kidder
W (603) 526-4116
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