Winnipesaukee Forum

Winnipesaukee Forum - Blogs https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php Dedicated to Lake Winnipesaukee and the Lakes Region of New Hampshire en Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:34:35 GMT vBulletin 60 https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg Winnipesaukee Forum - Blogs https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php Parade Craze https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=478 Fri, 04 Oct 2019 19:01:31 GMT *Parade Craze* *There were 800 single family residential homes listed as of October 1, 2019 in the fourteen Lakes Region communities (https://lakesregionhome.com/town-searches/) covered by this real estate market report.* Those are the towns in Belknap County plus the lakeside communities of... Parade Craze

There were 800 single family residential homes listed as of October 1, 2019 in the fourteen Lakes Region communities covered by this real estate market report. Those are the towns in Belknap County plus the lakeside communities of Moultonborough, Tuftonboro, and Wolfeboro. The average asking price was $632,047 and the median price point was $349,900. This inventory level represents about a 6.6-month supply of homes on the market.

The annual Lakes Region Parade of Homes is fast approaching. This self-guided tour is run by the Lakes Region Builders and Remodelers Association, which is a non-profit, professional trade association and part of the National Association of Home Builders. The Parade of Homes features only the very best builders in the Lakes Region and showcases their finest work during a three-day tour on Columbus Day Weekend, October 12, 13, and 14th. This year there are eleven newly constructed or remodeled properties on the Parade of Homes tour that can provide you with lots of ideas and inspiration for your next home or project.

The cost to go on the tour is only $20 per person with children free. Tickets for the Parade of Homes can be purchased at the first house you visit or through the Parade Craze app which you can download at the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You’ll be able to view photos and information about the builders and their homes. There is also a map and Google directions to each property, so you won’t get lost.

You can learn more about the Parade of Homes by going to the Lakes Region Builders and Remodelers website at www.lakesregionbuilders.com. And, if you happen to be looking for a contractor, home product supplier, architect, plumber, interior designer, or just about anything else to do with a home you can find a qualified member right there to do your work or supply you with what you need. Why there’s even a real estate agent or two to help you find a new home if you want! The complete list of association members is located under the “Visitor” tab at the top of the page.

You should also check out the National Association of Home Builders’ website (www. nahb.org) if you are thinking of buying a home and even if you already own one. Click on the “Consumer” tab at the top of the page and it will take you to a wealth of information. Here you will find a menu that includes; Home Buying 101, Home Maintenance and Repair, Remodeling Your Home, and Find a Home Remodeler.

Here you can find a home buying guide, advice on financing your first home and information about closing on a property. There are articles about the tax benefits of owning a home, the benefits of owning a newly built home, as well as articles about log homes, timber frame and panelized homes. There are tips on remodeling, painting, home maintenance and how to find a qualified contractor to do your remodeling job. It’s a great resource so check it out!

So, come check out the Parade of Homes on Columbus Day weekend. You’ll be glad you did!

Data compiled using the NEREN MlS system. ]]> Roy Sanborn https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=478 The Winni Waterfront Report – August 2019 https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=477 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 13:58:11 GMT *The Winni Waterfront Report – August 2019* *There were fourteen waterfront sales on Lake Winnipesaukee (https://lakesregionhome.com/lake-winnipesaukee-homes/) in August 2019. The average sales price came in at $1,380,464 and the median price point was $947,000.* *Image:... The Winni Waterfront Report – August 2019

There were fourteen waterfront sales on Lake Winnipesaukee in August 2019. The average sales price came in at $1,380,464 and the median price point was $947,000.

It is not surprising that another Rattlesnake Island property in Alton led the way as the entry level sale of the month! Do you think the turnover out there is because of all the rattlesnakes? Nah, it’s just that there are a lot of properties, so you are bound to have some turnover. 182 Rattlesnake Island is a 996 square foot, three-bedroom cottage built in 1990. The open concept main level has new hardwood floors, natural woodwork, hardwood flooring, a cathedral ceiling, and wood stove. The second level has two bedrooms, one of which has a private deck, and the third level has a sleeping loft. There is a huge front deck, plus another down by the water to enjoy the views from. The cottage sits on a .76-acre lot with 152’ of frontage. It was listed at $395,000 and sold for $380,000 after 59 days on the market.

The median price point representative this month is at 70 Terrace Hill Road in Gilford. This 1,449 square foot shingle style year-round home was built in 1939 and has that charming old lake cottage feel with knotty pine walls and hardwood floors. The main level features a vaulted ceiling great room with a gas fireplace and stunning broad views of the lake, an eat in kitchen, two bedrooms, and a fantastic screened porch. Upstairs is an additional bedroom and there also is a one-bedroom guest cottage for the in-laws! The home sits on a .54-acre lot with a rolling lawn, 100’ of frontage, a water side deck, sandy beach, and dock with breakwater. It took only five days to find a buyer at the asking price of $969,000. Someone thought it was just perfect!

The highest sale on the lake was a newly constructed Adirondack home at 124 Cattle Landing Road in Meredith. It has 6,504 square feet of luxurious living space, with five bedrooms including the first-floor master suite, five and a half baths, a gourmet kitchen, great room with cathedral ceiling and fieldstone fireplace, a wrap around porch, and a three-car garage. It sits on a one-acre lot with 184’ of sugar sand beach and beautiful southeasterly views. It was listed at $3.995 million and sold for $3.8 million.

There were two sales on Lake Winnisquam in August. The home at 565B Laconia Rd in Tilton that was listed at $849,000 sold for $810,000 after 44 days on the market. This unique 2,000 square foot home was built in 1990 and was constructed right on the water over an existing boat house, so you literally park your boat in the basement! The home is in mint condition and has three bedrooms, three baths, an open concept living/dining area with hardwood floors, a second level deck with a screened porch underneath, and great views up the lake.

The home sits on a 1.07-acre lot with 140’ of frontage, a sandy beach, additional dock, and lakeside patio. The other sale was at 85 Tucker Shore Rd in Belmont. This 2,598 square foot colonial style home was built in 1996 but has been totally renovated. There are four bedrooms, four bathrooms, an open concept main level with tile and hardwood flooring, and an eat in kitchen with stainless steel appliances. The house sits on a level .32-acre lot with 140’ of sandy frontage and has a new 50’ dock. It was listed at $879,000 and sold for $825,000 after 35 days on the market.

Data compiled using the NEREN MLS system ]]> Roy Sanborn https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=477 The Porch Sitters on the Parade of Homes https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=476 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 13:42:58 GMT *The Porch Sitters on the Parade of Homes* *There were 829 single family residential homes on the market as of September 1, 2019 in the fourteen great Lakes Region communities (https://lakesregionhome.com/town-searches/) covered by this report.* The average asking price came in at $626,549 and... The Porch Sitters on the Parade of Homes

There were 829 single family residential homes on the market as of September 1, 2019 in the fourteen great Lakes Region communities covered by this report. The average asking price came in at $626,549 and the median asking price was $349,900. Our current inventory level represents almost a seven-month supply of homes on the market.

The Lakes Region Professional Porch Sitters Chapter 603 gathered this past weekend on Gordy Blaisdell’s porch to celebrate Labor Day and the fact that we all might be able to navigate down Main Street in Meredith in a much more reasonable timeframe in the coming weeks. Gordy used to be a real estate agent and then a home inspector and then he smartened up and is a taxi driver now. Dirk Davenport, Bubba Gunter, Travis D. Coletrain, Little Stevie Prestone, John “Leadbellie” Goode, and Rollie Rollins were in attendance as well as Gordy’s neighbor Jimbo and a couple of mutual friends Bob and Chris. As this was a holiday affair, the spouses were there to keep things from getting out of hand. They, however, did not succeed.

“Ahhh!” said Rollie, “Things are gonna slow down a little now! Real estate has been crazy and the traffic around here has been nuts.”

“You got that right.” responded Little Stevie Prestone. “But pretty soon the leaf peepers will be back and things will be really messed up for a weekend or two.”

“Yup, and Jimbo and Bob will be still up every weekend. Even though they are from south of the border you gotta consider them honorary rednecks by now!” exclaimed Gordy.

“The annual Lakes Region Parade of Homes is coming right up in October and that will generate a little traffic, too” I said as Gordo passed out some Porch Crawler beverages to those wiling to try his unique recipe.

“I love parades! Where is it? Main Street in Meredith?? What do they do, put houses on trailers like a float and drag ‘em down the street?” asked Dirk.

“No, you idiot.” says Bubba. “They have houses that you go look at all around the Lakes Region. It is a self-guided tour of great new properties and renovation projects by some of the Lakes Region best builders.”

“That’s right.” I said. “The tour is put on every year by the Lakes Region Builders and Remodelers’ Association which is part of the National Homes Builders’ Association. This year there are eleven homes on the tour, which is Columbus Day weekend on October 12, 13, and 14th.”

“I bet you can see some pretty neat homes and get some ideas for your own home.” Said Bob.

“It could get expensive, though.” chuckled Leadbellie. “I had to put a new bathroom in my house last year ‘cause my dearest fell in love with one she saw on the tour.”

“This is a really a cool deal!” said Rollie. “The parade is way better than watching HGTV. You get to see real houses, with real people, and get a firsthand look at the newest building materials and products in person. How great is that!”

“So, how’s this work?” asked Travis. “How do you know where to go? Is there a map or something?”

“It is even better than that.” I said. “There is a Parade Craze App that you can download from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. It has pictures of all the houses, info about the builders, and directions to get you to all the homes. Of course, there are paper maps available in case you don’t have a Smart Phone.” I said. “And, you can start anywhere, at any house, and go where and when you want. The cost to go on the tour is just $20 per person with children under 18 free. “

“That sounds like a pretty good deal.” said Bob. “You get three days’ worth of entertainment and see some cool houses. How do you get tickets for this parade??”

“It says here on the app that you can get tickets here on-line or at the first house you go to. You will also receive a comprehensive Parade Guidebook.” said Chris who was looking at his barely-smart phone.

“What about food?” asked Travis. Travis is always thinking about food. “Hey, are we gonna cook these burgers tonight or not?”

“Well there are plenty of great restaurants along the parade route…you won’t go hungry and it wouldn’t surprise me to find some food and snacks along the way at some of the homes.” I said.

“I ain’t going hungry!” replied Travis. “Get the grill going. I want some of that potato salad, too! I’ll have time to work of the extra pounds before the parade next month.”

“Calm down and have another Porch Crawler, Travis!” said Gordy.

Data compiled using the NEREN MLS System.

he NEREN MLS System. ]]> Roy Sanborn https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=476 The Winni Waterfront Report July 2019 https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=474 Fri, 23 Aug 2019 17:27:31 GMT *The Winni Waterfront Report July 2019* *There were thirteen waterfront homes sold on Winnipesaukee (https://lakesregionhome.com/the-newest-lake-winnipesaukee-waterfront-listings/) in July 2019*. The average sales price was $1,401,084 and the median price point came in at $1,175,000. ... The Winni Waterfront Report July 2019

There were thirteen waterfront homes sold on Winnipesaukee in July 2019. The average sales price was $1,401,084 and the median price point came in at $1,175,000.

The entry level sale was at 3 Mark Island in Gilford. This classic log cabin was built in 1980 and has 576 square feet of living space, two bedrooms, a three-quarter bath, and an open concept living/dining/kitchen area with wide pine floors and log walls. Outside is a deck and storage shed that could be used as a bunk house. This getaway sits on a narrow .48 level lot with shore-front on either side, so you get sunset views looking one way and channel views the other. This property was listed at $419,500 and sold for $388,500 after 58 days on the market.

The median price point sale was at 33 Grassy Point Road in Moultonborough. This home is a 1950’s vintage, 2,144 square foot cape style home with three bedrooms, and two and a half baths. The home sits on a nice gently sloping, westerly facing .67-acre lot with an expansive lawn area, 150’ of frontage and a large permanent deep-water dock. There’s also a gazebo and a three-car garage for the toys. This property was listed at $1,373,000, was reduced to $1,225,000, and sold for $1,175,000 after 154 days on the market.

The highest sale for the month was at 48 Little Road in Meredith. This 8,402 square foot Nantucket style contemporary was built in 2015 and has all the bells and whistles you’d expect including an elevator. There are six bedrooms (with first and second floor master suites) plus a nanny apartment and seven bathrooms. The top of the line kitchen boasts Sub Zero and Wolf appliances, custom cabinetry, granite countertops, coffered ceilings, and hardwood floors that extend into the formal dining and great room areas. There is a wonderful screened porch with grilling station that leads out to a sundeck overlooking the lake. The lower level is all about fun with a bar area, family room, and exercise room. This home is located on a very private 2.5-acre lot in prestigious Advent Cove. It has 260’ of shorefront, long range lake views, deep water frontage, waterside deck, gracious lawn area, dock, and a two-bay boathouse. There is a three-car attached garage plus a one car under garage for all the waterfront essentials. This home was listed in September 2016 at $4.9 million and again in September 2017 at $4.7 million and was on for a total of 784 days. This year it was listed at $4.175 million and went under agreement in just eight days at $4,031,250.

Dutile Shore Rd There were five sales on Winnisquam in July, which is pretty darned good! It brings the total for the year to eleven sales. The lowest price sale was at 50 Nancy Drive in Belmont at $262,000. This is a 768 square foot, 1968 vintage three-bedroom, one bath ranch style home on the back pond. Over by the Winnisquam Bridge at 15 Dutile Shore Rd a 2,724 square foot, four-bedroom, four bath home built on 1994 on a .14-acre lot with 100’ of frontage sold for $576,000. The property at 30 Sunset Drive in Belmont consists of three homes, two on the water plus one that sits back a bit from the lake. It has a total of nine bedrooms, tons of parking, two two-car garages, 141’ of frontage and two 40’ docks! It sold for $590,000. Up in Meredith the property at 97 Collins Brook Rd also found a new owner. This property consists of a 1939 vintage, three-bedroom main home, a two-bedroom guest cottage,

Shore Drive and a two-car garage on a nicely landscaped, level half acre lot with 100’ of frontage with a sandy beach. It sold for $729,000. The highest sale of the month was at 494 Shore Drive inLaconia. This single owner contemporary ranch home was built in 1995 and offers 2,404 square feet of open concept living space with three bedrooms, three baths, a finished walkout lower level, and a two-car garage. The home sits on a three-quarter acre lot with 120’ of frontage, a water side deck, sandy beach dock, and sunset views of the lake. This home sold for $925,000.

Data Compiled Uisng the NEREN MLS system

]]> Roy Sanborn https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=474 Cracked Up - The Lakes Region Real Estate Market Report https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=473 Fri, 09 Aug 2019 19:09:22 GMT *Cracked Up* *There were 802 single family residential homes on the market as of August 1 2019 in the fourteen Lakes Region (https://www.lakesregion.org/) communities (https://lakesregionhome.com/area-info/town-search/) covered by this report.* The average asking price was $638,105 and the... Cracked Up

There were 802 single family residential homes on the market as of August 1 2019 in the fourteen Lakes Region communities covered by this report. The average asking price was $638,105 and the median asking price was $365,500. Last August there were 863 with an average asking price of $712,535 and the median price point was $372,000. Our current inventory level represents about a six-and-a-half-month supply of homes on the market.

The Lakes Region Professional Porch Sitters Chapter 603 gathered this past week on my porch for yet another highly informative discussion on real estate issues. Dirk Davenport, Bubba Gunter, Travis D. Coletrain, Little Stevie Prestone, Ainsley Grantham, John “Leadbellie” Goode, and Rollie Rollins were in attendance.

After we were all seated on the porch I asked if anyone had any unusual real estate problems this week. Travis said he had some buyers that were interested in buying a really nice property but they were scared that there were some huge structural problems with the house because there were some shrink cracks in the sheet rock in the great room and they were freaking out over them! He said, “The buyer yells, ‘Well, those are pretty darn good cracks, don’t you think? There are some major problems with this home. It must be settling. And the concrete floor in the garage is cracking, too!’ The guy went totally off the reservation about cracks.”

Ainsley pipes in, needling Travis, “So did you explain that not all pretty good cracks are really bad cracks? You know, not all cracks are a big deal?”

“I know,” replied Travis, “but this guy wouldn’t listen.”

“That’s too bad,” said Little Stevie, “Lots of buyers don’t understand that just about every home has sheet rock or plaster cracking that is just a normal part of the building materials drying out and shrinking and normal settling of the house. You often see shrink cracks starting at the corners of doors and windows and running out at forty-five degree angles. You don’t want to pass up an otherwise nice property over a few shrink cracks…they are easily fixed.”

“Yup, that’s why in new home construction builders will come back and fix cracks in walls because they know things are gonna settle.” added Bubba , “If the home was built during a very wet, damp time of year, the lumber can absorb a lot of moisture. When things dry out and the home is warmed up that moisture comes out of the wood and the wood shrinks…and cracks magically appear.”

I excused myself to go get these crack agents some Porch Crawler beverages and came back with a tray of assorted crackers, Cracker Barrel Cheese spread, and I even found a large box of Cracker Jacks. Everyone was impressed.

“It’s the same thing with concrete. The only guarantee you can get with concrete is that it will crack!” stated Leadbellie. “Concrete is poured wet and when it dries out it shrinks. As a result, you are gonna get some cracking. That’s why many contractors will put shrink joints in concrete floors to control where the cracks are and make them straight so it job looks nicer. “

“And, you are going to have some settlement under the house so you could get the same kind of forty-five-degree cracking in concrete walls at the windows. You often will get some vertical cracks the entire height of the foundation. As long as the cracks aren’t huge they can be sealed to prevent any water from coming in. There are professional companies that do this kind of work. If the wall is pushed in on one side of the crack more than the other or there is a horizontal crack there could have been a problem when they were back-filling the foundation. The contractor could have hit the foundation and cracked it or used the wrong material against the foundation. That’s why you have home inspections.” added Dirk.

“Absolutely,” I added. “you want a professional to look at it and make certain there are no structural issues that caused the cracking. Cosmetic fixes are easy, but you don’t want to get into any structural repairs as it could get very expensive.”
“So, the long and the short of this is that you can have a pretty good crack that’s nothing, you can have a pretty good crack that is a bad crack, but you can’t have a bad crack that is a good crack?” asked Rollie.

“That’s right,” replied Ainsley, “Sometimes, things are not all they are cracked up to be…”

Data compiled using the NEREN MLS system. ]]> Roy Sanborn https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=473 The June 2019 Winni Waterfront Sales Report https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=472 Thu, 18 Jul 2019 17:34:21 GMT *The June Winni Waterfront Sales Report* *Here’s this month’s edition of the Winni Waterfront Report…**There were seventeen Winnipesaukee (https://lakesregionhome.com/lake-winnipesaukee-homes/newest-lake-winnipesaukee-waterfront-homes/) waterfront properties sold in June 2019.* The average... The June Winni Waterfront Sales Report

Here’s this month’s edition of the Winni Waterfront Report…There were seventeen Winnipesaukee waterfront properties sold in June 2019. The average sales price came in at $1,268,647 and the median price point stood at $1,117,000. That brings the total number of sales for the first half of this year to sixty-four at an average price of $1,498,796 and a median price of $1,062,000. That total is up a bit from the first half of 2019 when we had fifty-three sales at an average of $1,192,533.

The entry level sale for the month was at 11 Chase Island in Tuftonboro. This home is a 725 square foot chalet/A-Frame that was built in 1973. It has an open concept living and dining area, a galley kitchen, two bedrooms, and a loft sleeping area. It was billed as needing some “TLC.” There’s a large deck to sit on and enjoy the westerly views and sunsets. The cottage sits on a half-acre lot with 100’ of frontage with a seasonal dock and boat lift. The property was listed at $349,000 and went under agreement at $325,000 in just five days.

The median price point sale was at 69 Sawmill Brook Road in Alton. This 2005 vintage contemporary home has 1,875 square feet of like new living space. It has an open concept main level with a chef’s kitchen featuring stainless appliances including a Wolfe Range, granite countertops, breakfast bar, and bamboo flooring that extends throughout the first floor. The great room has a floor to ceiling wall of windows to bring in the great westerly views and sunsets and a field stone gas fireplace for chilly winter evenings. The large master suite with its own private balcony along with two guest bedrooms are on the second and third levels. For outside entertaining there is a wonderful screened in porch, large patios, and a stone walkway leading down to 100 feet of sandy bottom shore front and a u-shaped dock. There are attached and detached two car garages so there is plenty of room for all the toys. This property was listed at $1,099,000 and went under agreement above the asking price at $1,117,000 in just eight days.

The highest sale for the month was at 116 and 142 Hopewell Road in Alton. This property is an 18,547 square foot, twenty-five room, seven-bedroom, thirteen-bath estate on seven acres of land with 861’ of frontage. Also sold with the waterfront home is a post and beam barn with a 41’ x 77’ great room, two-bedroom suites, living room and kitchen. This property is the remaining half of the Bahre family compound and it goes without saying that the home and grounds are impeccable and of the highest possible quality. The home has four-bedroom suites, eight fireplaces, a gym, movie theater, paneled library, and a secret hidden room to hide your gold in. Outside is an infinity pool with a waterfall, a swim in grotto with a hot tub and bath, an amphitheater, tennis courts, sandy beaches and a two-bay stone boathouse. This home was listed originally in 2014 for a cool $24 million and went through several price reductions. It was relisted this March at $7.9 million and sold for $5.3 million.

Over on Winnisquam there were two sales in June. The property at 2 Mohawk Island and the mainland access lot at 873 Laconia Road found a new owner. The 1.2-acre island property has a charming 1920’s vintage five-bedroom cottage. It has been updated with all the modern amenities yet retains the feeling of the original lake cottage with its natural woodwork, wood ceilings, the requisite screened porch, and fireplace with a wood stove insert. This property was listed last year at $549,000, reduced this year to $499,000, and sold for $475,000. This is a beautiful place to get away from it all!

The other sale on Winnisquam was at 35 Lower Smith Road in Sanbornton. This 2,726 square foot, four-bedroom, three bath home was built in 1900 and retained many original features such as built ins and natural woodwork. It has a new roof, furnace, electrical panel, and dock. It sits on a level half acre lot with 90’ of sandy bottom frontage and broad views. The property was originally listed at $925,000, was reduced to $749,000 and sold for $751,000 after 169 days on the market.

Data compiled using the NEREN MLS system

]]> Roy Sanborn https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=472 Pick a Porch- The Lakes Region Real Estate Market Report https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=471 Mon, 08 Jul 2019 21:35:57 GMT *Pick-a-Porch* *Image: https://lakesregionhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Fotolia_50523781_XS.jpg * *There were 763 single family homes for sale as of June 1, 2019 in the Lakes Region (https://lakesregionhome.com/area-info/town-search/) communities covered by this report.* The... Pick-a-Porch

There were 763 single family homes for sale as of June 1, 2019 in the Lakes Region communities covered by this report. The average asking price was $637,473 and the median price point was $349,900. This inventory level represents about a four-and-a-half-month supply of homes on the market.

The Lakes Region Professional Porch Sitters Chapter 603 gathered this week to celebrate the beginning of the premium porch sitting season which obviously begins on July 4th. In attendance were Dirk Davenport, Bubba Gunter, Travis D. Coletrain, Little Stevie Prestone, Ainsley Grantham, John “Leadbellie” Goode, and me.

We met at the Town Docks Restaurant in Meredith on their upper deck. It affords a great view of Meredith Bay and the sun was shining (for a change.) We all settled in to watch the coming and goings of boats, ordered some lunch, and porch crawler beverages.

I had let everyone know that the purpose of today’s meeting was to talk about some of the available porches that were currently on the market in the Lakes Region. More often then not, newer homes are being constructed with just a back deck rather than a covered or enclosed porch. The Professional Porch Sitters manual refers to decks as “Poor Boy” porches. That’s because they are less expensive than a porch with a roof. While a deck is nice, they aren’t very nice when the weather turns nasty or cold. Part of our charter is to promote and encourage the general population to use real porches. Many world problems have been solved on a porch…not so many on a deck.

I did a search on the MLS to find some porches that we could discuss and hopefully find new sitters to purchase them in order to grow our membership.

In the $100,000 to $200,000 price range the home that stood out to me was a really cute red gingerbread home with white shutters at 185 Pleasant Street in Laconia. It was built in 1845 and has four bedrooms, one and a half baths, a first-floor laundry, and a bonus room over the garage. More importantly, it has a cute wrap around porch with ornate scroll-work at the top of the columns. It is the perfect entry level home for a would-be porch sitter and has a lot of upside potential. It is offered at $180,000.

“And,” I said, “The listing agent says that there is a historical significance to this home! Jimmy Carter actually stayed here during his 1976 Presidential campaign! That’s pretty cool.”

“Do you think he might have actually sat out on the porch eating peanuts?” asked Dirk.
“Naw,” replied Leadbellie “But if he had let Billy on the campaign trail with him, Billy would have been out there drinking that famous Billy Beer and telling stories. I liked Billy a lot! He sure did cause Jimmy a lot of fits.”

In the $200,000 to $300,000 price range the listing at 15 Ridgewood Drive in Gilmanton has a great three season porch. The porch has tongue and groove pine boards, a vaulted pine ceiling, lots of windows and a skylight. While there is no heat in it, the owners just open the slider and use it year-round. Its perfect for watching TV. As a bonus, the porch is attached to a very well maintained and nicely decorated three bedroom, one and three quarter bath, raised ranch with 1,788 square feet of living space. It has granite countertops, gleaming hardwood floors, a master suite, and a great family room in the basement. It also has beach rights down at the end of the street. You won’t find anything nicer at $239,900.

“That’s a pretty nice neighborhood,” said Bubba “and it is an easy commute to Concord from there.”

“You could probably put a little direct vent stove out there just in case it really cold in the winter, but you probably don’t need it.” added Ainsley.

The $300,000 to $400,000 “porch pick” is at 114 Varney Rd in Gilmanton. This log home not only has a front screened porch with a hammock, but it also has a back “Poor Boy” deck off the master suite that is upgraded with a hot tub. This 2,313 square foot, two bedroom, one and three-quarter bath log home was built in 1997. It has cathedral ceilings, the requisite stone fireplace, a kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, ceramic tile and wide pine floors. This log home has it all…even beach rights across the street on Crystal Lake and a mooring!

“I like log cabins! And speaking of presidents I had a Lincoln Log set when I was a kid.” mumbled Travis as he takes a bite out of his fish sandwich. He is eating all the time you know. “It’s is too bad that the cabin isn’t like really, really old and Abe Lincoln had stayed there. That would make it a really cool porch.”

“Stop thinking and take another bite of your sandwich, Travis!” Bubba replied.

In the over $400,000 category there are probably lots of cool waterfront porches that will cost an arm and a leg, but I like the porch out at 139 Kaulback Road Sanbornton. I said, “The porch on this reproduction farmhouse really will take you back to simpler times and I can just imagine sitting out there rocking away. There’s a great front porch overlooking the yard with nice scroll work and a Robin’s-egg blue bead-board ceiling. On the side is a screened porch for when the bugs are out.”

“It looks like the house is pretty darn nice, too!” added Little Stevie. “This a really great reproduction home with all the modern amenities. It’s got a nice country kitchen with stainless appliances, granite countertops, soft close cabinetry, a farmhouse sink, and look at that vintage wood burning cook stove. How cool is that! It has got four bedrooms, a living room with a fireplace, and a family room, too!”

“What I like is the two-story barn!” piped in Bubba, snickering. “It is huge with fifteen-foot-high ceilings and it has a chain hoist so we can lift up Travis when he falls down. Great place to work on stuff or have some animals especially with the fenced area out back, the run-ins, and almost fifteen acres of land. Seems like a good deal at $439,900.”
“Dirk,” I asked, “do you know why a porch ceiling is painted blue?”

“Because they didn’t have any white paint.” He replied.

“No, no,” said Bubba, “its to keep bugs from landing there ‘cause they think it’s the blue sky.”

“No. you’re both wrong.” I said. “Down South they started painting porch ceilings a light blue…more precisely called ‘Haint blue’…to keep the ‘Haints’ or ghosts away! True story…”

“I bet ol’ Jimmy Carter has a blue porch ceiling down there on his peanut farm!” surmised Leadbellie.

Data compiled using the NEREN MLS system ]]> Roy Sanborn https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=471 The Saga of the Couple Next Door Continues – Lakes Region Real Estate Report Gather https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=469 Sat, 22 Apr 2017 18:13:35 GMT Image: http://distinctivehomesnh.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Image00018-300x225.jpg Listening to the Couple Next Door If you have been following my retelling of the story of Albert and Ethel from the 1958 CBS radio broadcasts of the Couple Next Door in the Lakes Region...

Listening to the Couple Next Door

If you have been following my retelling of the story of Albert and Ethel from the 1958 CBS radio broadcasts of the Couple Next Door in the Lakes Region Real Estate Report, you will remember that they sold their home on their own for what they thought was a lot of money ($27,500.) Now have thirty days to get out. They are looking for an apartment to rent while they build a new home on some land they just purchased with beautiful views and lake frontage. But, they didn’t really consider the fact that there is no road to get to it. This is a story of real estate mishaps gone wild. If you haven’t been following the story, well, you are pretty much caught up!

The Architect

In a following episode, a local architect, Mr. Rogers (no, not that Mr. Rogers!), arrives at their home to start working on a set of house plans for them. Albert wants to make it very clear right from the start that they don’t want too much, just “a nice, simple livable home with modern conveniences that’s all. We can do without the six car garage and swimming pool.”

Mr. Rogers asks them what style of home they had in mind. Ethel says they hadn’t agreed on the final style. She wants a colonial or “English style” and Albert wants a “70’s modern” home. Clearly at odds on this basic style they decide to start on the inside first…

Ethel wants large rooms with “room to breathe” and things like window seats, French doors, cozy nooks, lots of built ins, and “lots and lots” of closets. “Lots and lots” is Ethel’s most favorite expression to use when designing her home. She also wants all the appliances in the kitchen to be built -in so it doesn’t look “too ‘kitcheny,’ you know.”

Albert pipes in that if there is one thing that he wants even if can’t have anything else and that is “my own private den.” Ethel says he also needs a workshop where he can keep his tools and work on things. There are just one or two other little things she would like. You know, like a fireplace in the living room, dining room, master bedroom, the den and even in the kitchen. She shows Mr. Rogers a picture of a kitchen she likes she cut out of a magazine so he can see what she wants.

The Floor Plan

They pull out a floor plan they had drawn. Ethel points out the living room with fireplace and French doors leading to flagstone terrace. She explains she wants old-fashioned bow windows with window seats. Albert shows him where the den is and wants floor to ceiling built-in book cases, with indirect lighting, and paneled walls.

They both keep firing away with their ever-growing list of desires including a big front hall with a suspended winding staircase, closets all over the place, a pantry with “lots and lots” of shelves, a sewing room that would lead out to the gardens, a rumpus room with ping pong table in the basement, beamed ceilings in the living and dining rooms, and a two-car garage with maybe just two little guest rooms above. Ethel shows him the master bedroom with French doors leading to a sleeping porch, the fireplace, “lots and lots” of closets, and bathroom.
Albert chimes in he wants glassed in showers everywhere. Ethel says there is to be a guest room and she also wants a kitchen in there overlooking the lake. Mr. Rogers looks at the plan and asks what this room is and Ethel says that’s “sort-of” her den upstairs. They decide they want a circular drive so people don’t back into each other. They’d also like a little green house outside if that doesn’t cost too much but if it does they can scratch that off the list.

Albert states emphatically he wants only the very best materials to be used in the construction because it will last a lot longer. Mr. Rogers agrees that most people just don’t understand that and object to the cost of using quality building materials which actually saves money in the end.

The Million Dollar Question

Albert then asks Mr. Rogers the million-dollar question “How much will this cost, I know you can’t give an exact amount on the spur I the moment?” Mr. Rogers murmurs, pausing, and ponders a bit, “well, roughly, I didn’t see why you can’t do it very nicely for $175,000.” Things go pretty silent…

After cutting to the commercial break, Ethel says “We’ll just have to get another architect, that’s what we’ll do.” Albert says Mr. Rogers is the best one in town! She laments, “Why should it cost so much more money to have a stairway that winds rather than one that goes up straight?” Albert says” I feel like a fool, I had no idea things cost so much.” “Well, we’ve never done any building, Dear, not a thing.”

Ethel moans “and I still don’t see why it costs so much…I got the ideas out of a magazine, here look at this ‘We built our lovely home for only $24,000’ and look at it, it is just done. I got all my ideas out of things like this.” Albert says.” Well, the trouble with us is we took an idea from this and one from that and never added them together!” They decide that they could still have a nice house but that they’d have to cut back a little and maybe do additions a little later…but they still have to have four bedrooms and “lots and lots” of closets. Does any of this sound remotely familiar?

The March Real Estate Sales Report

There were 84 residential homes sales in March in the twelve Lakes Region communities covered by this report. The average sales price came in at $293,022 and the media price point was $205,000. That brings the total number of sales for the year thus far to 205 compared to 201 homes sold in the first three months of 2016. That’s “lots and lots” of homes… but we need more new listings to keep up the pace!

Lakes Region Real Estate Market Report compiled using the NEREN MLS system ]]> Roy Sanborn https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=469 Winni Waterfront Report March 2017 https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=468 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 14:20:28 GMT *Winni Waterfront Report March 2017* The Winni Waterfront Report. There were just five waterfront sales on Lake Winnipesaukee (http://distinctivehomesnh.com/popular-searches/lake-winnipesaukee-homes/) in March, 2017 at an average price of $1,389,800 and a median price point of $1,450,000.... Winni Waterfront Report March 2017

The Winni Waterfront Report.
There were just five waterfront sales on Lake Winnipesaukee in March, 2017 at an average price of $1,389,800 and a median price point of $1,450,000. That brings the total for the first quarter of 2017 to 15 sales at an average price of $1,545,173 with a median price point of $1.5 million. That’s a far cry from the 25 sales posted in the first quarter of this 2016. The average sale price for the first quarter last year was $1,046,300 and the median price point was $825,000. Just seven of the those 25 sales in 2016 were over the million dollar mark while twelve of the fifteen sales so far this year exceeded $1 million and three of those were over $2 million. So, the expensive properties seem to be moving!

Winni Waterfront Report

Entry Level?

The lowest price sale last month was a property at 64 Prescott Ave in Laconia. This 1950’s vintage, 2,500 square foot home has four bedrooms, two baths, a waterside family room with fireplace and lots of glass to view the lake, an eat in kitchen, and a dining area. The house sits on a level .13 acre lot with fourteen feet of frontage and a u-shaped dock. What more do you really need to get on the water? This property was originally listed at $499,000, was reduced to $459,000, and sold for $400,000 after 283 days on the market.

The Median Sale

The mid-priced sale last month was at 33 Cummings Cove Road in Meredith. This eleven room, four bedroom, three and a half bath Adirondack style home was custom built in 1999 and has all the bells and whistles you’d likely want.
It has a wide open floor plan, hardwood floors, a living room with towering floor to ceiling fireplace, a bright kitchen with granite countertops, stainless appliances, center island with gas cook top, and a first floor master suite with its own fireplace and office area. The finished lower level contains a family room and fourth bedroom. It opens out into a level .77 acre lot with large lawn and 87’ of southerly facing frontage with a 40’ dock and sandy beach. Of course, there are ample decks and a screened porch to sit and look out over the domain! This property just sold in 2015 for $1.3 million but was listed again this year at $1.475 million and sold for $1.45 million after just five days on the market.

The Big One!

Winni Waterfront Report

The highest sale last month was at 82 Iroquois Lane in Moultonborough and I can see why it was. This stunning and tasteful cedar shake Adirondack waterfront is done the way they are supposed to be! It has a great open floor plan with natural woodwork, wainscoting, wood ceilings with exposed beams, two beautiful field stone fireplaces, and lots of glass to bring in the lake views. It has 4,568 square feet of space with five bedrooms, and five and a half baths.
The stunning eat in kitchen with stainless and granite flows easily into a dining area and the great room. This is the perfect entertaining space. There’s a first floor master suite with access to the wrap around deck. On the second level are four en-suites along with a home theater room and loft area. The home sits on a very secluded 1.87 acre lot with gorgeous landscaping, walkways, patios, and 164’ of sandy frontage with a U-Shaped dock. This property was listed at $2.4 million and sold in 80 days for 2.3 million. I wonder if they’d let me stay down in the shed by the water?
Winnisquam

There were no sales on Winnisquam in March. None, nada! So, if you have a place over there and want to sell, I am sure I could have it arranged to happen pretty quickly! There’s not a lot on the market so it is a great time to get top dollar!

Winni Waterfront Report ]]> Roy Sanborn https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=468 Winni Waterfront Report - February 2017 https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=467 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 19:16:11 GMT *Winni Waterfront Report - February 2017* *There were just three sales on Lake Winnipesaukee in February, 2017 but all were over the million-dollar mark.* The average sales price came in at $1,525,533 with a median price point of $1,250,000. In February of 2016, there were six sales at an... Winni Waterfront Report - February 2017

There were just three sales on Lake Winnipesaukee in February, 2017 but all were over the million-dollar mark. The average sales price came in at $1,525,533 with a median price point of $1,250,000. In February of 2016, there were six sales at an average price of $1,102,833 with a median of $813,500. I suspect the wonderful winter and low inventory levels are contributing to our low production so far…

The lowest price sale was at 375 Fox Hollow in Moultonborough. This property consists of a private, level five-acre parcel with 407 feet of frontage offering wide lake and mountain views and docking for six boats. It was marketed as a place to build your dream home but it already has a fantastic 2,160 square foot post and beam guest house built in 2003. This home has high end finishes, an open concept main level, a chef’s kitchen with stainless appliances, granite counters, exposed beams, natural woodwork, wood floors, and a huge master suite and guest bedroom upstairs. I think I could live there just fine and apparently, someone else could, too! It was listed at $1,199,000 and was only on the market 25 days before going under agreement at $1.065 million. Nice!

The median priced sale this month was at 20 Sachem Cove Road in Meredith. This home was also constructed in 2003 and has 3,828 square feet of living space, four bedrooms, four baths, and has that true lake home feel! The bright, open concept main level features lots of glass to bring in the views, a large kitchen with tile floors and granite counter tops, dining and living room area with a gas fireplace and hardwood floors, a guest room, a great enclosed porch finished in classis bead board, and a large trex deck overlooking the yard and lake. The finished lower level has a family room with a bar and opens out to the beautifully landscaped yard with 100’ of frontage, a newly installed perch beach, and 46’ dock. There are three lots of record (two across the street) totaling 2.62 acres. This home was listed at $1.299 million and was on the market for 41 days before going under agreement at $1.25 million.

The highest sale for the month was on Governors Island in Gilford at 554 Edgewater Drive. This 2011 high quality construction has 5,299 square feet of space, five bedrooms including the first-floor master suite, four and a half baths, an upscale chef’s kitchen with granite and stainless, a soaring great room with fireplace, formal dining with its own fireplace, and a den. Upstairs there are two guest suites, finished bonus room, and loft area. The walk out lower level has a media room, large game room, and a guest suite. The professionally landscaped .67 acre lot has 153’ of frontage and a u-shaped dock. This property was first listed in July 0f 2013 for $2.95 million, relisted in October of 2015 for $2.795 million, reduced to $2.495 million and sold for $2.262 million. The total time on the marker was 1,179 days.

There were two sales on Winnisquam in February. One is an unusual property at 21 Walnut Street in Belmont that I thought was really pretty neat. This custom built, 1992 vintage, post and beam home has 1,536 square feet, three bedrooms, and two and a half baths and sits on a 12.7 acre parcel of land with 10 acres in current use. The house is located among tall pines back a little way from the water but has two owned lakefront areas; one with a 32 foot dock and the other with a private beach. This property was first listed in May of 2015 for $549,900, was reduced to $465,000, and sold for $499,900 after 531 days on the market.

The other Winnisquam sale was in Laconia at 190 Eastman Shore Road. This is a 1,432 square foot, two bedroom, two bath ranch home that was built in 1969 but was nicely maintained with many upgrades and improvements through the years. The home features custom kitchen cabinets and woodwork throughout, a large living room with a wood fireplace, and an oversize one car garage. More importantly, it is on a .9 acre lot with 150’ of sandy frontage and fabulous sunset views. The right side of the lake! This home appears to have been brought on the market to a buyer in waiting as the Days on Market reads “0”! It was listed at $549,900 and sold for $529,900. A good deal!

Data compiled using the NEREN MLS system ]]> Roy Sanborn https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=467 The Winni Waterfront Report January 2017 https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=466 Sat, 18 Feb 2017 19:35:38 GMT *The Winni Waterfront Report January 2017* *There were seven sales on Lake Winnipesaukee (http://www.lakesregionhome.com/lake-winnipesaukee/) in January, 2017 and all but one were over the $1 million mark, The average sales price came in at $1,664,571 and the median price point was ... The Winni Waterfront Report January 2017

There were seven sales on Lake Winnipesaukee in January, 2017 and all but one were over the $1 million mark, The average sales price came in at $1,664,571 and the median price point was $1,500,000.

The entry level sale this month was a little higher than usual at $825,000 because it was a mainland sale rather than the usual island property that garners this honor. This property was at 48 Lucerne Ave in the Weirs in Laconia. It is, or was, a 1921 vintage, six room, three bedroom cottage on a 1.2 acre lot with 190 feet of frontage and an existing u-shaped dock. From what I could see driving by, I believe the cottage is gone now and I expect that something more substantial will take its place. The property was originally listed at $899,000 and was on the market 220 days. It is assessed at $468,400.

The median price sale representative is located at 426 Gov. Wentworth Highway in Tuftonboro. This property consists of a 1973 vintage open concept four bedroom home plus three rental cottages , a grandfathered boathouse, and a large garage/barn structure on 5.91 acres of land with 355’ of southwesterly facing sandy frontage. Not too shabby! This property was first listed back in 2013 at $2.5 million, relisted at $1.9 million, reduced to $1.65 million, and sold for $1.5 million after some 1,245 days on the market. The property has been subdivided into two separate lots so I expect we’ll see some new structures being built there as well. The property is assessed at $1,579,100.

The highest sale for the month was at 150 Smith Point in Alton. This was another multi-structure property called Camp Fisher. It consisted of a fabulously charming old style lake house built in 1912 with the most wonderful porch you’ll ever see, four seasonal cottages totaling 17 bedrooms, and a two bay boat house on 6 acres with 700’ of frontage. This is the way Winnipesaukee used to be! It was originally listed at $3.999 million, was reduced to $3.75 million, and sold for $3.25 million after 355 days on the market.

There was one sale on Winnisquam at 9 Bear Point in Meredith. This 1960’s vintage, five room, three bedroom home has a fireplace, a great screened porch and sits on a level half acre lot with 100’ of frontage looking southerly down the lake. It was listed at $549,000 and sold for $518,800 after just eight days on the market. It is assessed at $472,300.

Data compiled using the NEREN MLS system. ]]> Roy Sanborn https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=466 A Golden Opportunity – The Lakes Region Real Estate Fake News Issue #1 https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=465 Sat, 28 Jan 2017 15:28:44 GMT *A series of lawsuits have been filed in Belknap County (http://www.lakesregionhome.com/) over the disputed ownership of a tool box containing two gold bars with an estimated value of over $1 million.* The cases are expected to be heard sometime early this Spring unless a settlement can be... A series of lawsuits have been filed in Belknap County over the disputed ownership of a tool box containing two gold bars with an estimated value of over $1 million. The cases are expected to be heard sometime early this Spring unless a settlement can be reached. Disclosure of the names of those involved are being withheld for obvious reasons.

The lawsuits stem from the discovery of a tool box during a routine septic inspection at a house in Gilford owned by descendants of Vannie Huggins, a onetime New York gangster, who summered in the Lakes Region in the late fifties and later purchase a home here on the lake. The property was listed last fall by the executor of the estate with a reputable local real estate firm and it quickly went under agreement with a buyer from out of state. The agent did a great job on pricing the property so it did not linger on the market long at all.

The buyer also retained the services of local real estate agent to represent him in the process. The buyer initially wanted to purchase the property without any inspections at all, but the agent (as he had been trained,) convinced the buyer the he should not only do the standard home inspection but also to have the water tested and have a septic system inspection just to be certain there were no hidden issues. The agent also recommended that the buyer request that the seller pay for pumping the tank after the inspection as the system had not been serviced in many, many years.

On the scheduled inspection day, the septic inspector arrived in a pump truck and after finding the septic system in good condition for its age and working just fine he began to empty the tank. While he was back flushing it to remove years of buildup on the bottom of the tank the inspector spotted a tool box laying on the floor of the tank. After struggling to retrieve the extremely heavy box from the tank with a grapple hook he opened it to discover the somewhat discolored, but obvious, gold bars within.

The buyer and the agent were in close proximity (but not too close because of the wonderful fragrance) and could see the inspector’s excitement and surprise. Upon realizing what the contents of the box consisted of, the prospective buyer and agent had a rather heated discussion with the inspector and a short struggle ensued. After a bit of tugging and wrestling, the tool box eventually made its way into the cab of the pump truck. At the same time the executor of the estate was driving into the property and saw the entire melee. The inspector jumped into pump truck and drove off as fast as he could go leaving behind the miscellaneous hoses, tools, and an open hole in the ground.

The septic inspector is claiming ownership of the $1 million in gold but offered that the home owner could have the tool box back and keep his hoses, grapple hook, a shovel, and a pair of deerskin work gloves he left at the site. He states he was paid to remove the contents of the tank and that he performed those duties. The buyer is suing the inspector claiming he was working for him at the time and therefore owned anything found in the tank. He is also suing the inspector for failure to complete the job and for emotional distress. The inspector has stated that he would return the rest of the “****” in the tank but not the gold. The buyer’s agent is filing action to claim a portion of the gold citing he was responsible for the buyer doing the inspection and that the gold would not have been found otherwise. The buyer is counter suing his agent for recommending this inspector to him in the first place. The executor has also filed suit against the inspector and his Seller’s Agent for sitting in the kitchen looking at Facebook on his cell phone while all of this was going on.

While the outcome of these suits (and a separate FBI investigation) are certainly debatable, there is only one thing that is clear. There is a brand new septic pumper running up and down Route 3 and the driver is smiling.

To keep up with the other top news outlets around the country that are producing fake news I felt that it was important to step up my game and produce some of our own local fake news articles as well. The goal here is to impart some real estate wisdom along the way. Please feel free to visit www.lakesregionhome.com to learn more about the Lakes Region real estate market and sign up for our monthly newsletter. Roy Sanborn is a sales associate at Four Seasons Sotheby's International Realty and can be reached at 603-677-7012 ]]> Roy Sanborn https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=465 The 2016 Year End Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam Waterfront Sales Report https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=464 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 15:59:35 GMT **The 2016 Year End Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam Waterfront Sales Report** *We finished the year off on Winnipesaukee (http://www.lakesregionhome.com/lake-winnipesaukee/) with fourteen waterfront sales at an average price of $1,737,750 and a median price point of $1,261,250. That is... The 2016 Year End Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam Waterfront Sales Report

We finished the year off on Winnipesaukee with fourteen waterfront sales at an average price of $1,737,750 and a median price point of $1,261,250. That is less than the nineteen transactions posted last December, but it was enough to keep us on track for a little better year overall than 2015.

There was a total of 182 transactions in 2016 on the big lake compared to 175 last year. The average sales price came in at $1,103,002 and the median price point was $804,000. The total sales volume for the year was up slightly to $200,746,463 compared to $191,728,075 in 2015 and $138,311,217 in 2014. The highest three sales for the year were all in Wolfeboro; 7 Hopewell Shores ($4.95 million), 428 and 430 Sewall Road ($6.375 million) and 45 Umbrella Point ($7 million).

As you can see by the price breakdown chart the slight increase in total sales can be attributed to more sales under the million dollars mark with other price ranges staying the same and a slight drop in the $2-3million range.

Moultonborough was the hottest town on the lake and posted the biggest gain in total sales from 38 in 2015 to 51 in 2016 and sales in Tuftonboro doubled from 9 to 18. With the lowest tax rates on the lake this certainly is not surprising!

Winnisquam finished off the year with just two sales in December, but it was a banner year overall! On a lake where fifteen to twenty sales is the norm there were 32 this year with a slight bump up in the average sales price showing that Winni’s little sister is the up and coming place to be!

Data was compiled using the NEREN MLS system.

]]> Roy Sanborn https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=464 A New Market? https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=463 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 15:45:16 GMT *A New Market?* *So here it is, 2017! A new year, a new beginning, and maybe the start of a new kind of housing market in the Lakes Region. (http://www.lakesregionhome.com/area-info/town-insights/) * Perhaps. Why? Well, there were only 587 single-family homes available in the 12 Lakes Region... A New Market?

So here it is, 2017! A new year, a new beginning, and maybe the start of a new kind of housing market in the Lakes Region. Perhaps. Why? Well, there were only 587 single-family homes available in the 12 Lakes Region communities covered by this report as of Jan. 1. The average asking price was $730,679 and the median price point was $289,900. These homes have been on the market for an average of 188 days. The current inventory level represents just a five-and-a-half-month supply of homes on the market. Could we be headed into a seller’s market??

Inventory levels on the market as of Jan. 1 have been declining pretty steadily over the past five years. On Jan. 1, 2012, there were 943 homes on the market, 857 in 2013, 749 in 2014, 761 in 2015, 731 in 2016, and now only 587. And, with steady improvement in sales the inventory levels have dropped from a 14.5-month supply in 2012, to 11.3 months in 2013, to 10 months in 2014, 9.2 months in 2015, 7.9 months in 2016, and now 5.5 months. So we have had a 38 percent drop in total available listings on the market compared to 2012 but a 62 percent decrease in inventory levels because of more sales.

This is pretty astounding when you think about it! It may just be that finding that perfect home is going to get a lot, lot harder. This could be especially true for homes under $100,000 where there are 53 percent fewer homes available this Jan. 1 compared to the level available on Jan. 1, 2012. There are 52 percent fewer homes on the market between $100,000 and $200,000, 29 percent fewer between $200,000 and $300,000, 24 percent fewer between $300,000 and $400,000 and 31 percent fewer over the $400,000 mark.

Generally speaking, a healthy, or neutral, real estate market is when you have a three to six month supply of property for sale in your area. This is the first time we have been this low in a long, long time. I think we are a bit away from a true seller’s market where you have less than a three-month supply of homes, but, we have been inching in that direction. We generally see a bump up in the inventory level over the next few months as the spring market approaches so it will be interesting to see we continue the trend downward or how much it goes back up.

So what does this all mean? It really means that it truly is a good time to sell your home if you are considering it. Inventory is definitely down and good quality homes are scarce. So if you’ve got a hankering to move on to points south where it is warm or to a new residence in the Lakes Region or elsewhere, this is a perfect time to dip your toes into the real estate market and see what you can do!

Data compiled using the NEREN MLS system. ]]> Roy Sanborn https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=463 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for the Housing Market https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=462 Sat, 31 Dec 2016 15:33:22 GMT *Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for the Housing Market* *There were 104 single family residential home sales in November 1016 in the twelve Lakes Region (http://www.lakesregionhome.com/) communities (http://www.lakesregionhome.com/area-info/town-insights/) covered by this report.* The... Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for the Housing Market

There were 104 single family residential home sales in November 1016 in the twelve Lakes Region communities covered by this report. The average sales price came in at $319,840 and the median price point was $205,000. Those numbers are well above last November's 88 transactions at an average of $297,347 and median of $189,950. Pretty exciting!

With 2016 winding down everyone is focusing on the joys of the holiday season and spending time at home with the family and friends. It’s a time of reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the new one. It will be a fun holiday weekend to kick back, relax, and watch classic movies like Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life, and a Christmas Story. And there will be plenty of football to watch! The Patriots, the dreaded Oakland Raiders and my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, all have had good seasons and all are in the hunt to go to the Super Bowl

It also has been a good year for the real estate market and I expect next year to be even better! And so do lots of other people! Even home builders!

Every month since January of 1985 The National Association of Home Builders does a survey of its members to gauge their view of the demand side of the single-family housing market in the US. In December, the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, or HMI, rose 7 points from 63 to 70. The index has not jumped this much in one month in 20 years and it now stands at the highest level since July 2005. This index is a measurement of the home builders’ confidence in the new construction single family home market with 50 being the break point between negative and positive opinion. The index stood at 60 last December and has bounced around that level all year.

According to a recent CNBC article “ ’This notable rise in builder sentiment is largely attributable to a post-election bounce, as builders are hopeful that President-elect Trump will follow through on his pledge to cut burdensome regulations that are harming small businesses and housing affordability,’ said NAHB Chairman Ed Brady, a home builder and developer from Bloomington, Illinois.” Brady also stated that according to an NAHB study regulatory costs affecting home building had increased 29% over the past five years. Whether or not this is a one month bounce or the start of continued confidence only time will tell, but it is clear builders are looking forward to doing business in a less restricted business environment.

A quick whirl around the internet reveals a lot of optimism in general for the 2017 housing market. That’s a pretty nice Christmas present in itself. And while interest rates will no doubt rise a little, that shouldn’t be a deterrent to qualified buyers. Kipplinger predicts that “by the end of 2017, expect the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage to rise to 4.6%, with 15-year fixed rates at 3.8%.” While the millennials might be worried about a bump in the rates, that still ain’t bad. Those of us a bit older remember the 17% interest rate days. We are probably the ones that will be watching Miracle on 34th Street, right?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Data compiled using the NEREN MLS system. ]]> Roy Sanborn https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=462