As we were preparing our annual Spring events and “things to do” list, we thought we would change it up a bit. To better fit in with this new world of social distancing that has entered our lives over the past month, our team pulled together the following list of resources and ideas to help fill our days with fun, learning and laughter (with a little healthy exercise mixed in).

We wanted to share our list in hopes that it brings others a little enjoyment as well. We’ll be updating and adding to it over the next few weeks, so if you have any suggestions, leave a comment, send us an email or DM us on Facebook!

Entertainment
Art Exhibits
Staying Active
Online Cooking Resources
Virtual Field Trips
Get Lost in a Book or Podcast
Hang out with Friends…via Video
Activities for Kids

 

Entertainment

Enjoy local performances online - Concord, NH Local Music Scene
Live Virtual Concerts - Update Daily from NPR
Watch Broadway at Home
Free Streaming Nightly Opera
 

Art Exhibits

The following museums and galleries are offering online exhibits and virtual tours so you can enjoy the collections from your home!

• British Museum in London
• Guggenheim Museum, New York
• J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
• Musée d’Orsay, Paris
• Museu de Arte, São Paulo
• National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
• National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul
• Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
• The Louvre, Paris
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
• Uffizi Gallery, Italy
• Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

 

Staying Active

Staying active on an ordinary day can be challenging, never mind when your entire schedule is disrupted. Here’s a list of business that are trying to make it a little easier to fit in a workout at home.

Planet Fitness
Check out their live stream fitness classes (available at 7:00 PM ET) or visit their YouTube channel for on demand workout sessions.

YMCA
The YMCA is offering on-demand classes from yoga to boot camp to weightlifting.

CrossFit
Get a great workout in using everyday house hold items. No special equipment needed.

Orange Theory Fitness
New 30-minute workouts added each day! No special equipment needed.

Tone It Up
Normally a subscription based service, Tone It Up has made their App FREE for the next month!! (ending 4/22/20)

Lululemon
This athletic clothing company has created a great online community with free classes from yoga to meditation and bodyweight workouts.

Peloton
Although it is a subscription service, Peloton is offering 90-days of free live and on-demand classes.

Zwift
Monthly subscription service will provide access to some pretty cool virtual biking and running routes. The best part is you participate with others from all over the world! Virtual races and group rides and runs also available.

 

Online Cooking Resources

• Bon Appetite Cooking Videos
• BBC Basic Food Techniques
• Top Chef University
• Texas A&M Quick Healthy Cooking Videos
• Food & Wine list of Chefs offering online cooking demos
• Binging with Babish Cooking Videos

Need food inspiration? Checkout this NPR article: Cooking Through the Coronavirus with Chef Amanda Freitag
 

Virtual Field Trips

• Boston Children’s Museum
• Yellowstone National Park
• Explore the Surface of Mars
• The Great Wall of China
• Pompei
• Ellis Island

Check out the live animal cams at these Zoos and Aquariums:

Live Animal Cams at the San Diego Zoo, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta, Houston Zoo, Georgia Aquarium, Smithsonian National Zoo, Reid Park Zoo, Ouwehand Zoo

 

Get Lost in a Book or Podcast

NPR’s Book Concierge
Not sure what to read next? Check out NPR’s Book Concierge to skim through reviews and suggestions. If you have a Goodreads account (also free) you can save books you want to read to your account! Prefer to listen instead of read? NPR also has a great podcast library!

National Emergency Library
A collection of books that supports emergency remote teaching, research activities, independent scholarship, and intellectual stimulation while universities, schools, training centers, and libraries are closed

Audible
Audible is a subscription service but they offer a free 30-day membership to try out and they have a large selection of children’s books available for streaming.

Local Library
Although most have closed their physical locations, many have audiobooks and magazines that can be borrowed. If you are located in New Hampshire, visit NH Downloadable Books Consortium to find your local library online.

 

Local Food Delivery & Other Services

Check out our list of local restaurants and other business who are providing alternative dining and shopping solutions.

 

Hang out with Friends…via Video

Thanks to many tech and social companies offering free video calls, you can keep those plans you had with friends and meet up online! Here are a few video/chat platforms that make game night possible:

• Zoom
• Google Hangouts
• Facebook Messenger
• Skype 
• Facetime (Apple devices) 

 

Activities for Kids

• PBS Learning Media
• Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems, Kennedy Center Education, Artist-in-Residence
• Scholastic Learn From Home
• eBird a project of TheCornellLab
• ABCmouse.com
  Subscription service with a 30-day free trial
• Prodigy
  Free, curriculum aligned math platform
• GoNoodle
• Art for Kids hub

 

 

 

We recognize that the past several weeks have been uneasy for many, and there’s plenty of uncertainty coming in the days ahead. However, if it’s one thing we have always believed in, it’s providing as much data as we can to help our clients make the best decisions based on the best information.

Historically we have published monthly updates on our local real estate market. With the recent economic ups and downs, we will be posting weekly market updates to help you keep your finger on the pulse of local home sales data. Below you'll find a side-by-side comparison for March 15 through March 24 for both 2019 and 2020. We'll continue to post similar content as the weeks go on, but if you'd like to see data for other timeframes, give us a shout and we can run that as well.

2019 - March 15 to March 24 vs  2020 March 15 to March 24

2020
Highest sale: 50 Middlebrook Rd., Sunapee - $775,000
Lowest sale: 404 Sanborn Hill Rd., Springfield - $97,125

2019
Highest Sale: 118 Rowell Hill Rd., Sutton - $645,000
Lowest Sale: 2 Clark St., Newport - $38,500

 

If you have any questions regarding the home sales data, or if you would like additional information on a specific town or neighborhood, call/email/text any one of our team members! 

Covid-19 has definitely made a quick adjustment in all of our day-to-day activities. While we await answers and updates, we thought it might be helpful to compile a list of local businesses that are providing alternative solutions to help meet the needs of our community members during these uncertain times.

Below is a list of local restaurants, grocery stores, farm stands and others. Understanding that things are changing daily, we also provided links to their websites and Facebook pages, as well as phone numbers, so you can have the most up-to-date information. If you have a Facebook account, we'll keep a watch on updates from our local businesses and share them on our Lake Sunapee Region Facebook page. If you follow these posts, please help us spread the word by sharing any information that you find beneficial to others.

As always, please know we are here to support our friends, family and clients in any way that we can! Do not hesitate to reach out with questions you may have (real estate related or other!).

Best,
Dan, Christina, Josh, Lori & Brandy

Supermarket Alternatives  Spring Ledge Farm 603-526-6253 37 Main St, New London https://www.springledgefarm.com/  Warner Public Market 603-456-2602 19 E Main St, Warner https://www.warnerpublicmarket.com/ Yankee Farmer Market 603-456-2833 360 Route 103 E, Warner  https://www.facebook.com/yankeefarmersmarket  Sweet Beet Market 603-938-5323 11 West Main St, Bradford  https://www.facebook.com/SweetBeetMarket/  Kearsarge Cooperative Grocer 603-526-6650 52 Newport Rd, New London http://concordfoodcoop.coop/contact/  Rum Brook Market  603-863-5471 249 Route 10, Grantham  https://www.facebook.com/RumbrookMarket/

Pickup & Delivery  Blue Loon Bakery 603-526-2892 12 Lovering Lane, New London https://www.blueloonbakery.com/  https://www.facebook.com/blueloonbakery/ The Kitchen  603-977-0128 46 Main St, Andover  https://www.thekitchenandover.com/ https://www.facebook.com/thekitchenandover/ grounds (603) 526-6010 374 Main Street, New London www.facebook.com/374mainst/ The Anchorage  603-763-3334 71 Main St, Sunapee  https://www.anchoragesunapee.com/  https://www.facebook.com/anchorageatsunapee/  The Appleseed Restaurant  603-938-2100 63 High St, Bradford  http://appleseedrestaurant.com/ https://www.facebook.com/appleseedrestaurant/

Pickup  The Flying Goose 603-526-6899 40 Andover Rd, New London https://www.flyinggoose.com/  The Refinery  603-977-0194 4 Mill Rd, Andover https://www.refinerynh.com/  Millstone at 74 Main  603-526-4201 74 Newport Rd, New London http://www.74mainrestaurant.com/  The Local 603-456-6066 2 East Main St, Warner http://www.thelocalwarner.com/  https://www.facebook.com/TheLocalWarner/  Bubba's Bar & Grill 603-763-3290 976 Route 103, Newbury https://bubbasbarandgrille.com/ https://www.facebook.com/bubbasbarandgrille/ Little Brother Burger Company 603-877-0196  420 Main St, New London https://www.facebook.com/littlebrotherburgercompany Pizza Chef of New London 603-526-9201 394 Main St, New London https://www.facebook.com/Pizza-Chef-of-New-London-152876558182978/ The Coach House Restaurant (CLOSED as of 3/22 until further notice) 603-526-2791 353 Main St, New London  https://www.thenewlondoninn.com/health-updates-takeout-menu-now-available/ Marzelli Deli  603-763-2222 889 Route 103, Newbury http://www.marzellideli.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Marzelli-Deli-126244054063/ Salt Hill Pub Shanty  1407 Route 103, Newbury 603-763-2667 https://www.salthillpub.com/locations/  https://www.facebook.com/SalthillPubShanty/ Wildwood Smoke House 603-763-1178 45 Main St, Sunapee http://www.wildwoodsmokehousesunapee.com/menu https://www.facebook.com/WildwoodSmokehouseNH Aurora Bakery 603-454-8368 29 Main Street, Newport, NH www.rti-aurora.org www.facebook.com/aurorabakerycafenh/ Oak & Grain 603-873-4833 853 Pleasant Street, New London, NH https://innatpleasantlake.com/new-london-nh-restaurant.html www.facebook.com/oakandgrainrestaurant/

Pets & More! Unleashed New London  Online ordering and delivery! 603-526-2088 https://unleashednh.com/ https://www.facebook.com/unleashednewlondon/  Clarke's Hardware Online ordering and pick-up 603-526-2800 www.clarkeshardware.com www.facebook.com/clarkeshardware/   Morgan Hill Bookstore Curbside pick-up 603-525-5850 www.morganhillbookstore.com www.facebook.com/pg/MorganHillBookstore/

Senior Shopping Hours @ Market Basket Special message from Market Basket: Beginning Monday March 23, 2020, all Market Basket stores will be open every day from 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Our senior shopping hours program WILL continue each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30 AM to 7:00 AM where the stores will be open ONLY to serve customers 60 and older. 30 Route 103, Warner https://www.facebook.com/marketbasket/

 

Total home sales for the Lake Sunapee Region totaled 40 for the month of February bringing cumulative sales to 80 for the year. The median sales price was $235,000, only a $500 difference from the median list price of $234,500. Home sales are up slightly from February 2019 where we saw 38 sales with a median sold price of $214,000. Out of the 16 towns included in this data, Wilmot, NH saw the highest number of sales with six homes sold. Below you’ll find the list of home sales broken down by town.

If you have any questions regarding February home sales data, or if you would like additional information on a specific town or neighborhood, call/email/text any one of our team members!

February Homes Sales by Town

Bradford, NH
$50,000 - 60 Blaisdell Lake Road
$199,000  -  856 West Road

Grantham, NH
$287,500  -   30 Hummingbird Hill
$330,000  -  17 Forest Road
$500,000  -  146 Chester Road

Lempster, NH
$220,000  -  137 Cutler Road

New London, NH
$385,000  -  443 Mountain Road
$495,500  -  14 Highland Ridge
$600,000  -  240 Woodland Trace
$3,650,000  -  81 Lighthouse View Road

Newbury, NH
$126,500  -  27 Fortune Lane  
$200,000  -  94 Route 103
$210,000  -  25 Hilltop Drive
$240,000  -  193 Route 103 Route
$265,000  -  267 Old Post Road

Newport, NH
$25,000  -  146  Laurel Street
$60,000  -  47 Beech Street
$88,500  -  21 William Street

Springfield, NH
$173,900  -  723 Main Street   
$198,900  -  22 Glenwood Drive

Sunapee, NH
$155,000  -  477 Edgemont Road
$637,000  -  44 Harbor Hill Road
$1,037,500  -  640 Edgemont Road

Sutton, NH
$175,000  -  676 Old Main Street
$315,000  -  91 Chalk Pond Road
$373,400  -  428 Shaker Road
$900,000  -  125 Summit Road

Warner, NH
$45,000  -  43 Melvin Mills Road  
$262,100  -  114 Route 103E
$349,000  -  32 NH Route 127

Washington, NH
$111,500  -  148 Halfmoon Pond Road
$198,000  -  27 Adams Drive

Wilmot, NH
$185,000  -  27 Kearsarge Valley Road
$212,000  -  355 N Wilmot Road
$230,000  -  82 Village Road
$330,000  -  246 Stearns Road
$435,000  -  59 Shindagan Road
$570,000  -  104 Old Winslow Road

In February there were no home sales in Andover, Croydon, Goshen and Unity

This January, home sales in the Lake Sunapee Region totaled 40! That’s 16 more sales compared to January 2019, and a record high since we began collecting homes sales data in 2005. The median sales price did slip down from $259,875 in 2019 to $242,000, and the average days on market clocked in at 92. Grantham saw the most home sales with seven homes sold. The chart below shows historical home sales going back to 2005 and Individual home sales, are broken down by town. If you have questions, or are interested in data for individual New Hampshire towns, including land and investment property information, feel free to call/email/text any one of our team members!

 

January Home Sales by Town

Andover, NH
$164,900  -  828 Franklin Highway    
$285,000  -  50 Maple Street

Bradford, NH
$207,500  -  11 Ring Hill Road
$298,800   -  45 Maple View Drive

Croydon, NH
$146,000  -  0 Kemp Road

Goshen, NH
$110,000  -  1695 Brook Road
$340,000  -  590 Center Road

Grantham, NH
$175,000  -  15 Barn Owl Overlook    
$234,500  -  37 Walton Heath Drive
$240,000  -  26 Summit Drive
$280,000  -  89 Stocker Pond Road    
$332,000     12 Knob Hill
$350,000     25 Longwood Drive
$580,000     6 Allens Drive

New London, NH
$350,000  -  30 Chestnut Lane
$415,000  -  158 Summit View Road
$912,500  -  75 Bartons ROW

Newbury, NH
$200,000  -  42 Fowler Mill Road
$210,000  -  251 BAKER HILL Road
$552,000  -  51 Hearthstone Road
$1,400,000  -  21 Lakewood Manor Road

Newport, NH
$110,000  -  157 Maple Street
$155,000  -  58 Summer Street
$169,125  -  166 Pine Street
$190,000  -  31 Oak Street

Springfield, NH
$170,000  -  2527 Route 4A Route
$323,750  -  191 Four Corners Road

Sunapee, NH
$159,900  -  265 Prospect Hill Road
$200,000  -  26 Brook Road
$750,000  -  747 Jobs Creek Road
$1,962,000  -  40 Birch Point Road

Sutton, NH
$275,000  -  1733 Route 114

Warner, NH
$193,000  -  555 Schoodac Street

Washington, NH
$90,000  -  36 Snow Road
$190,000  -  150 Madison Drive
$215,000  -  564 Dole School House Road

Wilmot, NH
$245,000     573 NH 11 Route
$320,000     54 Cascade Road
$350,000     396 N Wilmot Road
$405,000     21 Quaker Path

There were no sales in Lempster or Unity for January 2020.

Data Source: New England Real Estate Network, February 26, 2020. Subject to errors and omissions.

The days are starting to stay lighter longer but there is still plenty of winter ahead of us. Whether you’re a snow sport lover or are just trying to stay warm and survive the season, make the most out of February and March by enjoying New London, Sunapee and the surrounding scenic towns. Here’s a winter “things to do” activity list, broken down into four categories, that will keep you busy well into spring!

Things to Do – Entertainment

Things to Do – On the Mountain

Things to Do - Inside Activities

Things to Do – Outside Activities

 

Things to Do - Entertainment

Live Music at the Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille
New London, NH
February 27 - Chris Smither
March 5 – David Mallett
March 22 – The Small Glories
April 1 & 2 – David Francey    
Check out the Flying Goose’s website for show times and additional events

Live Music at the Anchorage at Sunapee Harbor
Enjoy food and beverages while listening to live entertainment!
February 21 – Frogz Band
February 22 – Sum X4
February 28 – Rust & Ruin
February 29 Mo’Combo
March 6 – Club Soda
March 7 – Anjo $ Diamond Special
March 20 -  Tim Brick
March 21 – Frogz Band
Check out the Anchorage’s website for show times and additional events

Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon
The Center of Eastman, Grantham, NH

February 23 - JOSA Ensemble
Bill Wightman with Tim Gilmore, Matt Langley, Richard Gardzine, and others
March 8 - Amanda Carr
March 22 - Shawnn Monteiro
April 5 - Cercie Miller & Dominique Eade

All shows are from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. For additional details check out the JOSA 2019 - 2020 Calendar.

March 14
The Logger & The Fiddler’s Music & Comedy Show
Newport Opera House
Featuring Actor/Comedian Rusty DeWee and Vermont-born fiddle player, Patrick Ross
8:00 PM

March 28
Beatlemania Again
Claremont Opera House
Beatlemania Again features Broadway cast members as well as former members of the Hall & Oates Band! This incredible show has performed to rave reviews nationwide.
8:00 – 10:30 pm

 

Things to Do - On The Mountain

From live music and pipe jams to pond skimming and slush cups. Between Mount Sunapee Ski Resort and Ragged Mountain Resort in Danbury, there is no shortage of things to do on the mountain!

March 7
Cable Junction Live at Ragged Mountain
Ragged Mountain Resort
3:00 PM
Go to event info

March 14
Not Another Banked Slalom
One-on-one boardercross race, double-elimination tournament
Ragged Mountain Resort
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Go to event info

March 17
Ladies Day Eztravaganza
Live music, food, demos and more
Mount Sunapee Resort
8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Go to event info

March 20
Bode Bonanza
Here’s your chance to race against 6-time Olympic Medalist and 8-time world champion, Bode Miller!
Mount Sunapee Resort
8:00 am Race Registration
Go to event info

March 22
Back In The Day Old School Pipe Jam
A hand-shaped, old school inspired, mini pipe snowboard event with retro attire encouraged! All are welcome to participate and the overall winner will take home a 20/21 seasons pass to Ragged!
Ragged Mountain Resort
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Go to event info

March 29
Bump N Jump
A Freestyle ski contest that encourages you to bust out your old-school tricks!
Ragged Mountain Resort
10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Go to event info

April 4
22nd Annual Slush Cup
For just $10, see if you have what it takes to ski or board across a 90’ man-made pond! This event is equally as fun for both participants and spectators!
Mount Sunapee Resort
11:00 am
Go to event info

April 4
Pond Skim
Celebrate the end of the season and see if you can go the distance! Music and swag make this event fun for all!
Ragged Mountain Resort
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Go to event info

 

Things to Do - Inside Activities

Cooking Classes with Chef Leary at the Inn at Pleasant Lake
New London, NH

February 23 - Knife Skills and Quick Vegetarian Dishes
3:00 pm

March 29 - Korean Food with Local Farm Ingredients
3:00 pm

For more events and happenings at the Inn at Pleasant Lake, check out their events calendar.

 

Take a Class at The Creation Place
New London, NH

February 28 - Pottery Painting Class Stamping Technique
6:00 – 8:30 pm

March 1 - Kids’ Canvas Painting Class
Multiple times

March 6 - Ladies Night! Have it Your Way!
6:00 – 10:00 pm

Visit The Creation Place’s website to view all events.

 

Sharpen Your Baking Skills at Blue Loon Bakery

February 24 - Challah Bread Class
5:00 - 7:30 pm

March 23 - Cream Puffs & Eclairs
5:00 - 7:30 pm

To reserve your spot, or to check out other classes Blue Loon Bakery is hosting, visit their website.

 

Think SPRING at Spring Ledge Farm

March 7 - Spring Bulb Arrangement Workshop
10:30 am - 12:00 pm

March 13 & 14 - Succulent Workshop
(see link below for times)

March 21 - Spring Inside!
11:00 am - 1:00 PM

For more information on Spring Ledge Farm events, check out their Facebook page.
 

Things to Do – Outside Activities

February 23
Wildlife Tracking Snowshoe with Susan Morse
Hay Forest Reservation, Newbury, NH
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Get event info

March 7th
4th Annual Winterfest
Inn at Pleasant Lake, New London, NH
11:30 am – 4:30 pm
Get event info

March 23
NH Maple Sugar Weekend at Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum
Complementary maple tastings, live demos, snowshoeing and more!
Warner, NH
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Get event info

 

Winter Hikes
With so many scenic trails to choose from, the Sunapee-Kearsarge region has winter hikes for all ability levels. Here are a few favorites:

Mount Kearsarge
Set in both Wilmot and Warner NH, Kearsarge offers some of the region’s most spectacular 360 degree views. Visitors to the mountain mostly visit during the warmer months, which is what makes hiking Kearsarge so spectacular in the winter. Plus, you’ll gain some extra mileage, due to both access roads being closed.

Hike Mount Kearsarge from Wilmot
Hike Mount Kearsarge from Warner

The Sunset Hill Trail – Hays Forest Reservation
With over four miles of available trails and sweeping views of Lake Sunapee and Mount Sunapee that become even better in the winter, this is a hike not to miss. There are two access points (one off of 103B across from The Fells and off of Chalk Pond Road in Newbury). Check out the map here.

The Trails at the Fells Historic Estate and Gardens
Even when the gardens are covered in snow, The Fells offers great nature trails that are perfect for scenic winter walks. If you’re not a member, there is a small fee to enjoy the grounds. Money collected from visitors helps to continue the preservation of this very special historic estate for all to enjoy. Check out The Fells website for additional trail info.
 

Not only are we local enthusiasts who love where we live, but we're also in the business of helping others enjoy the area just as much as we do. As Realtors in the Lake Sunapee Region, our profession allows us to guide our clients through their home buying and selling journey as well as serve as their local tour guide and go-to resource for all things Kearsarge-Lake Sunapee Region related. Question? Call/email/text any one of our awesome team members, we’re here to help!

In 2019 home sales on Lake Sunapee increased 57% when compared to 2018 home sales. During 2019, 22 lakefront homes sold in 2019 compared to 14 in 2018. Out of those 22 lakefront homes, the median sales price was $1,400,000, with the highest priced lakefront house selling at $5,700,00 and the lowest at $525,000.

When looking at lakefront home sales by town, there were 12 properties sold in Newbury, 9 in Sunapee and 1 in New London. When combining all lakefront home sales on Lake Sunapee, a grand total of 3,472 feet of waterfront (or .66 miles) was sold.

 

 

Waterfront Property Appreciation

Taking a look at historical home sale trends on Lake Sunapee, we ran the cost per foot of waterfront sold. Since 2016 the per foot cost of waterfront property on the lake has appreciated from $6,547.47 per foot to $11,429.07. 2018 did see a higher cost per foot coming in at $12,009.47, but fewer lakefront home sales.  

 

 

If we go all the way back to 2003 (when we started collecting this data), and compare the median sales price per lakefront home sold, you’ll see a steady appreciation of value. In 2003, 8 lakefront homes sold, and the median sales price was $562,500. Check out the chart below to see how waterfront properties on Lake Sunapee have appreciated over the years, as well as days on market and total Lake Sunapee home sale trends by town.

 

 

If you are looking to buy a lakefront property in New Hampshire, or are interested in knowing the value of your waterfront home in today’s market,  call, email or text a member of our real estate team today!

Interested in learning more about the best New Hampshire lakes in the Sunapee Region? We are happy to provide a local perspective on each of the beautiful lakes and ponds that make our area so special. 

 

From skiing and riding to festive events and family fun activities, New London and the surrounding area towns that make up the Lake Sunapee Region transform into a winter playground for all ages. If you’re looking for things to do from December through February, here are a few local event recommendations!

December 26th – 31st, 2019
Gallery of Trees
Inn at Pleasant Lake
1:00 pm – 7:00 pm each day

3rd Annual Gallery of Trees! Come tour the trees and vote for your favorite. All donations will go to the New Hampshire Food Bank to help feed hungry families this holiday season. All the votes for the winning tree will participate in a raffle - the winner will get brunch for 2 at Oak & Grain!
 

December 28th, 2019
Ben Fuller Music
The Anchorage in Sunapee Harbor
9:00 pm – 12:00 am

Visit the Ben Fuller for a night filled with acoustic originals and some country music.

 

January 26th
Ice Day at Muster Field Farm Museum
Muster Field Farm and Kezar Lake
9:00 am start time

Ice Day at Muster Field Farm Museum! Gather the family, bundle up and share a New England tradition.

 

February 7th
Dinner with Jack Frost – New London Recreation
Colby-Sawyer College (inside & outside of Wheeler Hall), New London, NH
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Come join this progressive dinner featuring many local restaurants all in one place! This event will take place at Colby-Sawyer College inside and outside of Wheeler Hall. Tickets sell out in advance so be sure to purchase early!
Tickets on sale at www.nlrec.com or call 526-6401.

 

February 12th – 16th
Newport Winter Carnival
Newport, NH

Newport’s 104th Annual Winter Carnival on the town common and throughout the town. Many fun activities including the Queen’s Pageant, parade, winter activities and fireworks. Fun time for adults and kids.

 

February 16th
Blue Mountain Sled Dog Race 2020
Blue Mountain Snowdusters, Grantham, NH

Third annual sled dog race!
 

 

It’s no surprise that the 2019 housing market is another one for the books. Following a strong 2018 where we saw a record-breaking median sales price of $282,500 in New Hampshire, 2019 is showing equally notable stats coming in with a median sales price of $300,000, year-to-date as of November. Of course, December sales will impact that number, but it prompted us to take a deeper dive into historical homes sales data. Since we’ll soon be celebrating the beginning of a new decade, we wanted to dust off the numbers going back to 2000. Here’s what we found…

Since 2000, the median sales price has increased by 63% for the State. Looking at our local market, the median sales price for the Sunapee Region* has increased by 57%. Another remarkable data point to note is the Days on Market (DOM) which have dropped from 100 in 2000 to 61 DOM in 2018 for New Hampshire, and 110 to 50 DOM for the Sunapee Region. Locally we are seeing the DOM for 2019 hover around 39 and the median sales price at $250,000**.

The number of single-family properties sold are continuing to hold steady with 2018 transactions (644 transactions from Jan 1 – Dec 10), which is higher than pre-recession sales in 2005, both locally and for New Hampshire. In 2018 there were 655 transactions compared to 573 in 2015 and 613 in 2005. In 2010 when we were in the midst of the recession, single family home sales came in at 388 for the year.  Single-family home sales for the State followed a similar pattern with 17,525 transactions in 2018, 16,159 in 2015, 10,525 in 2010 and 16,264 in 2005.

The graphs below display median sales price data and DOM for both New Hampshire and our local market looking back to the year 2000. If you’re curious about data specific to a certain town, please feel free to reach out and we would be happy to send you town reports! As always, if you have questions regarding your local real estate market, we are available to provide additional information—feel free to call, text or email any of us on the O’Halloran Group Team.

 

 

 

* The Sunapee Region data set includes residential, single-family homes sales from the following 16 towns: Andover, Bradford, Croydon, Grantham, Goshen, Lempster, Newbury, New London, Newport, Springfield, Sunapee, Sutton, Unity, Warner, Washington, Wilmot.

** Data pulled for the following time period: January 1, 2019 - December 10, 2019.

In reviewing property sales for the past 8 months (January through August 2019) and comparing that data to the past couple of years, we are seeing shorter median days on market (39 days) and a median sales price for the region that is almost $8,000 higher than the past couple years. On the surface, this sounds great–higher prices, shorter time on the market, sign me up!

If you dig deeper, we see that pricing more aggressively is key for this last quarter of 2019. Looking at the charts below, there is a $60,000 difference in the median price between available inventory and what is currently under contract. A similar differential is reflected in the average and median days on the market for the pending inventory. This shows that accurately priced homes are selling, while properties that push the sales price boundaries are seeing a much higher days-on market average.

In the spring/early summer we were able to counsel our sellers and drive a higher listing price. Now we are seeing buyers hold back, pause and not jump right away if the price is too high. With rates still at historic lows, and inventory levels down, there is high buyer demand—however, sellers should keep in mind that the key to selling your home in today’s market is knowing the accurate value of your property and pricing it accordingly. Sellers entering the market with a smart pricing strategy, paired with an expert marketing campaign can still have an excellent experience.

Buyers, so where does this leave you? It is still a seller’s market, but as covered above, things are slowing turning in your favor. Here are a few key things to consider when buying a home or investment property:

1) Hire a buyer’s agent to help guide you through the process and structure your offer for the highest chance of success. Real Estate is highly localized, and an experienced realtor will be able to provide the data you need to make an informed decision and give you confidence in the decision you are making.

2) Put your cards on the table. Worst case the seller says, “no” best case, you get the house!

3) Remember, if you are buying a home for a “home” not a flip or investment property, the long-term value of today’s rates is remarkable. Here’s a quick example to show how rates can impact the carrying cost of purchasing a home:

On a $250,000 loan at today’s rate of 3.75% versus rates back in 2007 at 6% it equates to a $55,301 savings over the course of 10 years!

• Total interest at 3.75% 10yrs on a 30yr mortgage = $84,824.37**
• Total interest at 6% 10yrs in on a 30yr mortgage = $140,125.54**

**Interest rate information sourced from bankrate.com on September 20, 2019. Always consult your lender for the most up-to-date rate information.