When I’m asked how the market is these days, my typical response is “we need more houses to sell!” As of 12/15, for example, there were only 6 homes for sale in New London and 6 in Sunapee. There are fewer homes for sale in the U.S. today than ever recorded in data going back nearly 40 years. Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors, stated that we are simply facing a major housing shortage. The lack of homes to sell has pushed prices up everywhere. The median selling price through November in New Hampshire is $334,000, up 11.3% compared to 2019. It's basic economics — a lack of supply pushes up prices, whether you're talking about toilet paper or houses. Sellers will continue to reap the benefits as prices are predicted to increase around 5.7% for 2021.
Why the shortage? Homeowners are staying longer in their homes (13 years on average). Also, after the 2008 housing crash, many smaller builders went out of business. Those small companies built a lot of homes. Most recently, the price of materials more than doubled during the pandemic (though prices have been dropping) and wildfires in the western US caused supply shortages. "Builders cite a lack of lots and decreased availability of building materials as headwinds that will limit production," says Robert Dietz, chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders. Bottom line, if you’re thinking of selling, no need to wait for spring. Buyer demand is still strong!
Contact me to list your home today: 603-526-4116; www.DonnaForest.com; Donna @DonnaForest.com
This article was originally posted on www.bhgre.com/bhgrelife
Recently, being out and about has been more challenging. It’s time to adapt and host smaller outdoor gatherings. Just because it has gotten colder doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the great outdoors. Below are tips on how to make your backyard cozy and inviting this winter. There are also several delicious recipes that will warm up your soul.
How to prepare your backyard for an outdoor gathering
- Place lanterns, lamps and string lights to add sparkle. This is an easy way to improve the ambiance any time of the year.
- Fill a basket with blankets and pillows so everyone can get nice and toasty. You can also look into portable outdoor heaters or fire pits to keep your toes warm.
- Invest in electric warming blankets! They are great for those chilly winter nights and will keep you snug as a bug.
- Try out these holiday outdoor décor ideas for a beautiful and cozy winter.
- Make a magical winter landscape with 10 winter garden delight ideas.
- Spruce up your furniture. If you don’t want to buy new outdoor furniture, simply update what you have. Take an old side table or stump and place a blanket over it. Try using a warm pattern to make it look inviting.
- Add drama or privacy. If you have a covered patio, consider using outdoor fabric to hang as drapes. They can boost privacy and keep the wind or cold chill out.
- Build a fire pit so you can have a nice and toasty winter. You will need gravel, a shovel, concrete landscaping stones, a metal fire pit ring, masonry adhesive, and a rubber mallet. Before you start building, check the recreational fire codes in your area to make sure it’s allowed. You’ll want to build your fire pit at least 10-12 feet from any building structures, trees or fences. The first step is to pick the perfect spot and outline with spray paint where you want it to be. Grab your shovel and dig out the circle about 7 inches deep. Then pour the gravel into the hole until it’s level with the ground, which allows for proper drainage. If you’re using a metal ring place it in the center before you start placing your stones around the edge of the gravel circle. Use your rubber mallet to make them all level. Stagger the placement of the second row. When placing the second ring of stones use the adhesive on the bottom of each or if you prefer you can use cement to adhere the stones together. Repeat again for a third row. After its dry, grab some outdoor pillows and place them around the fire pit.
- Here are several fabulous outdoor fireplace designs or check out another great way to create your own fire pit.
Great drinks to serve at an outdoor party
- Warm up with these winter drink recipes.
- A perfect drink to serve during winter is the classic Hot Toddy. All you need is ¾ cup of warm water, 1 ½ ounce of whiskey, 3 teaspoons of honey, 3 teaspoons of lemon juice, and top it all off with a cinnamon stick and lemon wedge. You can also substitute the whiskey for rum or brandy.
- The seasonal spice blend of cinnamon, allspice, and cloves make this hot spiced cider recipe perfect for drinking in the great outdoors.
- Soothe your soul with these 16 to-die-for hot chocolate recipes. You and your friends can curl up with a hot mug of cocoa under the stars.
- Easy to make and delicious to drink. Try stirring up these 15 dazzling winter cocktails with your favorite seasonal flavors–perfect for any snowy-weather soiree.
Warm up with these tasty appetizers, dishes, and sweets
- These rustic winter vegetable tarts are savory and combine bacon, goat cheese, and squash for a warm appetizer.
- If you really want to have a cozy and comfy evening, go with the phenomenal combination of tomato soup and gooey grilled cheese. For an easy way to serve this outside, put the tomato bisque or soup in coffee mugs so it’s easy to serve and easy to consume.
- Check out this winter pear salad filled with pears, orange, kale, kumquats and more.
- Grow and serve your own varieties of winter squash and the good news is every type is edible.
- It’s not a winter gathering without mouthwatering s’mores. If you’re looking for a step up from the usual s’mores try incorporating granny smith apples. After you toast marshmallows until golden and add the chocolate, include a few slivers of granny smith apples. Then before you sandwich all the goodies together between graham crackers drizzle caramel over the apples. Here are 17 delicious ways to dress up a classic s’mores for ooey-gooey sweet snacks.
Not all remodeling projects deliver the same bang for the buck when it comes to resale. If you are planning to sell soon and think that renovations will increase the value of your home, then some research might be in order. Studies suggest that most renovation projects do increase the price of a house; however, the increase is typically less than the cost of the project. The 2020 Cost vs. Value Report shows a homeowner will generally experience a return of 60% to 75% on the dollar at resale. Some of the more cost effective improvements are minor kitchen upgrades (recoups 74% of cost), garage door replacement (recoups 99%), and window replacements (recoups 75%). Keep in mind the cost recouped can be affected by the quality of finish and even the type of neighborhood and local conditions.
One of the biggest advantages remodeling has is the fact it increases the appeal of your home to buyers. A gleaming state of the art kitchen with granite countertops and bathrooms with tile and glass can sell a house more quickly. Given the nature of this market, buyers are definitely willing to pay more for an updated, move-in ready home. Feel free to contact me for more advice on prepping your home for sale! 603-526-4116; www.DonnaForest.com; Donna @DonnaForest.com
There are a number of myths about how real estate actually works. These misbeliefs can hurt your chances of selling at the right price and in a timely manner. Below are a few common misconceptions.
1. Overpricing leads to higher offers. Quite the opposite is true. Overpriced homes sit on the market longer and end up with lower offers. They become stale listings and buyers wonder what is wrong with them.
2. Spring is the best time to sell. Typically spring & summer are known as the selling seasons. However, any time can be best depending on the market. Given the lack of homes for sale, sellers are still seeing multiple offers and quick sales - we expect this to continue through the winter.
3. If you get an offer right away then the house was underpriced. A correctly priced home will receive offers right away. After all, isn’t the goal to sell the house and not have it sit on the market for weeks on end? Buyers are online constantly looking and are ready to jump when something comes on that fits their needs.
4. Homes don’t need to be prepped for sale. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Most buyers want move-in condition homes. Houses that are decluttered, cleaned, and staged sell faster and for more money.
5. Good marketing includes open houses. The reality is only 6% of buyers find their home through an open house.
Contact me for more professional advice on the right way to sell your house. 603-526-4116; www.DonnaForest.com; Donna @DonnaForest.com
There’s a lot to love about Thanksgiving dinner. With many of us placing an increased emphasis on healthy eating, though, it can be difficult to prepare a holiday meal that meets our dietary criteria. Fortunately, there are plenty of Thanksgiving dinner ideas that easily convert your favorites to healthier versions.
Vegetable Sides are Foundational
Thanksgiving is inherently based around a variety of vegetable dishes, from green bean casserole to butternut squash to corn. It’s very possible to tweak many of these recipes so that they are healthier. Removing some of the butter, cream and cheese that many of these sides call for is a great first step. Food like sweet potatoes with brown sugar, too, can be changed to require less sweetener.
Give a roasted carrot and fennel dish a try for some healthy fall color in your meal. You’ll need to halve the fennel, trim the carrots of their greens and cook both with olive oil, salt and pepper on a baking sheet. You can add lime juice, cilantro, scallions and even feta or pistachios to taste.
If you’re a fan of green bean casserole but want to lighten it up, you can make a green bean salad instead. Adding a delicious Dijon vinaigrette provides the perfect degree of tanginess. Cherry tomatoes, walnuts and feta are nice toppers for this dish.
Lighten Starches and Meat
Looking for a healthy twist to your favorite sweet potato casserole? This one calls for making a peach and oat streusel to top the dish. Best of all, leftovers of this tasty side can grace your table at breakfast, dinner or even as a late-night dessert.
The star of the Thanksgiving meal, of course, is the turkey. While you can’t do much to change the bird itself, you can alter how it’s prepared. Avoid dark meat and skin if you are trying to lower your fat and calorie intake. Additionally, you could hold off on rubbing the bird with oil or butter before it is cooked.
Change your stuffing recipe to be a bit lighter. This homemade one calls for whole grain bread and copious herbs to compensate for less fat. It’s a delicious addition to your meal.
Lighten up Desserts
Desserts are one of the best parts of Thanksgiving, so it wouldn’t do to go without them entirely. However, you can put a twist on many popular holiday treats to make them fit your diet.
For instance, consider a single-crust pie instead of a double-crust pie. Fruit pies may have fewer calories than cream pies, depending on how much sugar is added. Some pies, like apple, actually don’t need sugar at all if you use sweet apples and enough cinnamon.
An alternative to pie is a baked apple or baked pear dish. This can be made in the form of a galette, tart or with freestanding fruit. These baked apples are stuffed with oats and have a streusel-type taste.
Top your treats with low-fat ice cream or whipped cream, and sample a small serving of each dessert, rather than having more than one normal serving. You can also set aside certain desserts that you would like to try and plan to have them the next day (perhaps for breakfast, if you can’t wait much longer).
Change How You Eat
You can also make changes to how you eat on Thanksgiving. Fill your plate most of the way with vegetable side dishes, followed by heartier parts of the meal like stuffing and turkey.
If you’ll be having appetizers before your meal, indulge in a little bit of everything, but don’t treat the pre-dinner course like a meal all its own. It’s easy to fill up on snacks and then feel like you’re still obligated to have a large dinner simply because it’s a holiday.
Limit how many drinks you have, whether you’re sipping soda or chardonnay. These can cause you to feel full quickly, but they contain a large number of essentially empty calories. If you’ll have a non-water beverage with your Thanksgiving meal, it’s best to drink it slowly through the course of the meal.
Eat your food more slowly, and enjoy the time you have with family and friends. Savoring the meal you have labored over can be extremely satisfying, and it may also help you to feel full more quickly.
Finally, be sure to save room for dessert. Thanksgiving desserts are some of the best of the year, and you’ll want to pace yourself throughout the day so you can indulge in something truly worthwhile.
First published at https://www.bhgre.com/bhgrelife/traditional-thanksgiving-dinner-ideas-with-a-healthy-twist-bhgre-season-of-sharing/
With the national housing inventory down 39% since last year, the high buyer demand and low inventory means the housing market will continue to be strong through the end of the year and into 2021. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors says “it will be one of the best winter sales years ever.” He also said “home sales continue to amaze, and there are plenty of buyers in the pipeline ready to enter the market…Further gains in sales are likely for the remainder of the year, with mortgage rates hovering around 3% and with continued job recovery.”
Like the rest of the nation, NH is experiencing strong buyer demand and not enough homes to sell. The median selling price thru September was $329,500, up 9.8% from 2019. The average days on market was 52 days, although it seems like most houses in our area tend to go under contract in a week! Bottom line, many economists feel the housing market will continue its momentum through the winter. Contact me if you are interested in taking advantage of this current sellers’ market!
603-526-4116; www.DonnaForest.com; Donna @DonnaForest.com
On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it.
~Jules Renard
If you are looking for your piece of heaven, then this might be the one! Only 10 minutes to skiing at Mt. Sunapee and an easy drive to almost anything, this country casual antique farmhouse sits on 9 acres of rolling field and woods, which means moonlit winter sledding parties are a must! The large deck beckons you out for morning coffee or evening cocktails so you can sit and absorb the wonderful mountain views. You’ll be enchanted by the warm wood floors, light and bright rooms, and the inviting den wrapped in windows and topped off with skylights. Curl up in the cathedral ceiling living room offering a classic brick fireplace with woodstove insert. Your personal retreat awaits as the spacious primary bedroom and bath encompasses the whole second floor. Additional features include a 2-car garage and a picturesque weathered barn standing proudly in the field. Numerous energy efficiency improvements have been made.
Donna Forest, Listing Broker, 603-526-4116
Teamwork from the Team that works –Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate - The Milestone Team
Are you dreaming ... of leaving city life behind? Of working from home and bringing in additional income?
Well then, don't miss this opportunity! This incredible, meticulously updated property, situated in the heart of the Sunapee Region, offers many possibilities: live in the attached apartment and "Air BnB" the main house OR operate as a charming bed & breakfast for destination weddings and skiers at nearby Mt. Sunapee OR live in the mainhouse and rent out the in-law apartment (currently $2,500/month in rental income!). You are only limited by your dreams. This home as it all! Make your dreams a reality with this unique property. Come experience for yourself what it means to "love where you live"!
Click here for more information.
Anne Marie Appel, Listing Agent, 603-526-4116
Teamwork from the Team that works – BHG Milestone Real Estate.
Here are some common misconceptions when purchasing a home.
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We can find a loan AFTER we find a house.
- The first step in the home buying process is to get pre-qualified so you know how much you can afford. A letter from the lender should be submitted with any offer.
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We get a better price if we work directly with the listing agent.
- By definition, listing agents represent the sellers’ interests. Not yours. A buyer’s agent’s duty is to help you through the whole transaction.
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Zillow’s “Zestimates” are an accurate estimate of market value.
- Zillow uses an automated system to compute values of homes. It can’t take into account many other factors such as superior workmanship, recent upgrades or even major structural issues.
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The lower we offer the more the seller will come off their asking price.
- In this very competitive market, low offers will most likely be ignored or rejected by sellers. Buyers are competing with other buyers for homes. Properties are selling at or over their asking price in most cases.
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You need a 20% down payment.
- There are many loan programs available with financing up to 90-95%. If you qualify for an FHA loan, you only need 3.5%.
As an accredited buyer’s representative, I can help you successfully navigate the home-buying process. If you want to achieve your home ownership goals, give me a call. 603-526-4116; www.DonnaForest.com; Donna @DonnaForest.com
Purchasing a home is one of the largest financial investments you’ll probably make. It also can be a very emotional one as well. Here are some tips to help take the stress out.
- Work with a Realtor that not only is knowledgeable but also is comfortable fit with your personality.
- Don’t look for perfection. Every house has tradeoffs; focus on the most important features.
- Get pre-approved for a mortgage before you start looking.
- Don’t nickel & dime when it comes to negotiations. Yes, negotiating is part of the process but over-negotiating can kill the deal.
- Keep in mind that there is no “right” time to buy. Second-guessing interest rates or trying to time the market is next to impossible.
- Don’t ask for too many opinions. Some input from friends or family can be helpful. Too much – it’s confusing. Listen to the advice of your Realtor.
Give me a call if you are looking for a knowledgeable Realtor to help guide you through the home buying process! 603-526-4116; www.DonnaForest.com; Donna @DonnaForest.com
Teamwork from the Team that works –Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate - The Milestone Team