Portsmouth NH Real Estate Blog

The Portsmouth Book Club - December Pick

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:33:15 -0600

Our December pick for the Portsmouth Book Club is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

Here is a brief synopsis from Barnes and Noble of The Book Thief:

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

Last week we finished and discussed Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut. Our group ranged in opinions from a bit of distaste to overflowing appreciation and joy. Although I was leaning more towards distaste, I did appreciate the satyr and the way Vonnegut just puts it all out there in almost a reckless manner.

The Portsmouth Book Club
Second Tuesday of Each Month
The Rosa, Downtown Portsmouth
7pm

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Hampton Beach NH Penthouse Rental

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:13:52 -0500

Rebecca Skane | Keller Williams Coast Realty | 603.610.8944

22 K Street #301, Hampton, NH

Hampton Beach Penthouse Executive Rental

3BR/3.5BA Condo

$2,500/month

Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	3 full, 1 partial
Sq Footage	1,797
Parking	2 dedicated
Pet Policy	No pets
Deposit	$2,500

DESCRIPTION

The Penthouse unit of the Beach Haven Condominium complex. Enjoy panoramic 180 degree views from double decks, over 1700sf of living space, open floor plan, cathedral ceilings, w/d hookups, three large bedrooms each with their own full baths, four baths total, master bedroom with walk in closet and jacuzzi tub in the master bath, fireplace, gourmet kitchen, stainless steel appliances, water views, elevator, secured access, garage parking for two, large storage unit on the first floor and so much more!

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

- Air conditioning	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- High/Vaulted ceiling	- Walk-in closet	- Tile floor
- Living room	- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator
- Stove/Oven	- Microwave	- Granite countertop
- Stainless steel appliances	- Basement	- Laundry area - inside
- Balcony, Deck, or Patio	- Jacuzzi/Whirlpool	- Cable-ready
- High-speed internet

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking	- Laundry on-site	- Storage space(s)
- Secured entry	- Elevator	- New property (< 5 years)
- Wheelchair access

LEASE TERMS

Year Lease Preferred

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Beach Haven Penthouse	Gourmet Kitchen
Open Concept	Full Deck
Dramatic Windows	Water Views

Contact info:

Rebecca Skane

Keller Williams Coast Realty

603.610.8944

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Oct 6, 2009, 10:00am PDT

Hampton NH Price Improvement and now offering $5k Towards Buyer's Closing Costs!

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:14:41 -0500

Skane Real Estate
By Rebecca Skane
Sellers! Let me get your home in front of thousands daily!
Buyers! Homes are selling fast due to the $8,000 tax credit, get in now!
Call me today and let me show you how I can help.

This SIX bedroom home, close to the beaches
with an in-law apartment, has dropped the price again
and is now offering up to $5,000 towards buyer's closing costs
if an acceptable offer is received!!
Hurry before they change their minds!
603.610.8944

Rebecca Skane | Keller Williams Coast Realty | 603.610.8944

431 Winnacunnet Rd, Hampton, NH

Up to $5k towards Buyer's Closing Costs! Hampton stroll to beach home with enormous in-law apartment for the extended family.

6BR/3BA Single Family House

offered at $369,900

Year Built	1983
Sq Footage	2,767
Bedrooms	6
Bathrooms	3 full, 0 partial
Floors	3
Parking	1 Car garage
Lot Size	.46 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Now offering up to $5k towards buyers closing costs if acceptable offer is received! This is the ideal home for an extended family. The downstairs in-law apartment has a separate ground entrance suitable for a wheelchair. There are six bedrooms and room for the whole family, plus the proximity to the beaches makes this property a wise investment.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Fireplace	- Hardwood floor	- Living room
- Bonus/Rec room	- Office/Den	- Dining room
- Breakfast nook	- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator
- Stove/Oven	- Basement	- Laundry area - inside
- Balcony, Deck, or Patio

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking

- Guest parking

- Wheelchair access

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- In-Law Apartment

- 6 Bedrooms!

- Wonderful Deck

- Less than 1 mile to beaches

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front Exterior	Back Exterior
Eat in Kitchen	Living Room
In-Law Kitchen	In-Law Living Room

Contact info:

Rebecca Skane

Keller Williams Coast Realty

603.610.8944

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Sep 29, 2009, 8:02am PDT

Dover, NH - New Commercial Rental

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:44:41 -0500

Rebecca Skane | Keller Williams Coast Realty | 603.610.8944

14 Chestnut, Dover, NH

Commercial rental! The middle unit in a three unit building, centrally located close to downtown Dover. Good exposure on a highly trafficked road wi

Retail/Commercial

$2,000/month

Sq Footage

2,045

DESCRIPTION

Commercial rental! The middle unit in a three unit building, centrally located close to downtown Dover. Good exposure on a highly trafficked road with successful neighbors. Ample parking in the back for clients and customers. Lease terms completely negotiable. With just over 2,000 SF, lease part of the unit or all, flexible terms and rate. Looking for a build-to-suit? Anything is possible. The possibilities are endless with this unit.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

- Middle Unit

- Ample Parking

- Rent all or portion

- Flexible rent terms

LOCATION FEATURES

- Central Location

- Downtown

- Major Road Frontage

LEASE TERMS

10/sf - 12/sf. 2045 SF available. Rent the entire suite or a portion. Build-to-suit available.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Exterior	Great Location
Ample Parking	Facing Front
Facing Back	Large Space

Contact info:

Rebecca Skane

Keller Williams Coast Realty

603.610.8944

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Sep 21, 2009, 8:28am PDT

Public Open House

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:29:23 -0500

Public open house, this Saturday in Hampton! Send this flyer to any and all who are looking for alternative solutions to an extended family problem. This home is perfect with SIX bedrooms total, over 2,700SF of finished living space, and a full in-law apartment with its own kitchen area, laundry room and fireplace. Close to the schools and beaches too! This home is a gem.

Look What I Found! A Free Virtual Tour Solution

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:59:15 -0500

I recently came across a small problem with my virtual tours. We are able to place a link to a virtual tour on the listing in the MLS system. I created all of my own virtual tours on my real estate website and created separate links for these tours. But what I didn't realize is that the virtual tour link must not have any branding or link to your website. Well, it is ON my website, so I had a small problem. I was notified by my MLS regarding this issue.

Here is an example of one of my virtual tours I made using javascript:

http://www.newhampshirereal-estate.com/901-ocean-blvd-hampton-virtual-tour

Doing some research I found lots of virtual tour websites you can open accounts with which offer non-branding. But, you also have to pay.

NAH. There has got to be a free solution out there!

Enter Wix.Com. No, I am not affiliated. This is just such a cool site! And it is free.

This site creates great flash (cool!) websites, free! Just make a new website for each property. Create an account and you can create individual slide show tours. Use the blank template for each property. It will be a wix.com url and there will be wix ads on the bottom, but no real estate branding so it works. I am having so much fun with it!.

Here is my first Wix photo tour (click on the image). It is still a work in progress....

Thankful Thursdays - Hero Laid to Rest Today

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:29:32 -0500

I am thankful and honored to be the granddaughter to Detective Sergeant John F. Denley. Papa passed away last Saturday. He was laid to rest today in Melrose, MA. I was so proud at his funeral today and I wanted to share with you all just how proud I was, and the honor bestowed upon him and our family by the Melrose Police.

Papa served his country his entire life. He served in the Navy during WWII as a naval amphibian. After the war, he joined the Melrose Police Force where he served for 30 years, eventually making the rank of Detective Sergeant. After retiring (which he could never truly do), he served as a US Marshall for almost ten more years.

After mass this morning, our funeral procession took us from St. Mary's to Wyoming Cemetery. Along the way, policemen were lined along the route saluting Papa in his final journey. My heart swelled with pride and my eyes filled with tears.

At the cemetary the Navy was present along with many Melrose police officers. He was given full military benefits as the Navy representatives played the traditional Taps and showed great care with the flag folding ceremony.

But this is what got me. This is what made me cry with tears of pride and sorrow for my own loss. Before the priest committed the body to the ground, the police car doors were opened and the intercom was turned on. From the police station, we heard this solemn broadcast:

"This is an all call. All units.

Paging....

Paging Detective Sergeant John F. Denley.

Paging....

Paging Detective Sergeant John F. Denley.

Last Call.

Paging Detective Sergeant John F. Denley.

Job well done."

There wasn't one dry eye at the site. We found out later that this broadcast was heard in all cars all over town (at least, we were told this). I have never felt so proud, my heart still feels swollen and my eyes are still soggy.

I am going to miss Papa. He was the most loving grandfather, and Irish gem with the most beautiful sparkling blue eyes. He was so kind and gentle and he loved his family. I am going to miss spending time with him, but I know he is at rest now and happy. He is with his sweetheart once again.

I am thankful he was my Papa.

I am thankful to the Melrose Police Department for their honors.

I am thankful to the US Navy for their honors.

And I am thankful for all of the people who turned out to salute him on his way back home. Thank you so much.

Hampton NH Price Reduced by 15k! Oversized Extended Family Cape with In-law

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:43:27 -0500

Rebecca Skane | Keller Williams Coast Realty | 603.610.8944

431 Winnacunnet Rd, Hampton, NH

Hampton stroll to beach home with enormous in-law apartment for the
extended family.

6BR/3BA Single Family House

offered at $374,900

Year Built	1983
Sq Footage	2,767
Bedrooms	6
Bathrooms	3 full, 0 partial
Floors	3
Parking	1 Car garage
Lot Size	.46 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

This is the ideal home for an extended family. The downstairs in-law apartment has a separate ground entrance suitable for a wheelchair. There are six bedrooms and room for the whole family, plus the proximity to the beaches makes this property a wise investment.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Fireplace	- Hardwood floor	- Living room
- Bonus/Rec room	- Office/Den	- Dining room
- Breakfast nook	- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator
- Stove/Oven	- Basement	- Laundry area - inside
- Balcony, Deck, or Patio

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking

- Guest parking

- Wheelchair access

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- In-Law Apartment

- 6 Bedrooms!

- Wonderful Deck

- Less than 1 mile to beaches

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front Exterior	Back Exterior
Eat in Kitchen	Living Room
In-Law Kitchen	In-Law Living Room

Contact info:

Rebecca Skane

Keller Williams Coast Realty

603.610.8944

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 17, 2009, 8:57am PDT

The Last Facebook Account

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:29:37 -0500

I think I may be the last person in the free world to have a Facebook Account!

Rebecca Skane

Create Your Badge

Hampton, NH Just Reduced by 40K!! Two Multifamilies in Hampton Beach!

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:48:17 -0500

Rebecca Skane | Keller Williams Coastal Realty | 603.610.8944

2 Boston Ave, Hampton, NH

Two building corner lot, five units, year round with ocean views
and roof top deck.

9+BR/2.5BA Multi-Family, 5 units

offered at $699,000

Year Built	1910
Sq Footage	3,133
Bedrooms	10
Bathrooms	2 full, 4 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2
Lot Size	.08 acres
HOA/Maint	$373 per month

DESCRIPTION

A once in a lifetime chance to own a piece of the "Island" in Hampton Beach. This property has been in the family for generations and has been owner occupied for the last 24 years. The income potential yields over a 7.5% cap rate using a generous expense number. POTENTIAL TO OWN ENTIRE BLOCK ON RIVER AVE. The lot behind this lot on River extends across the rest of the block. The owner will consider selling his lot to the investor who purchases 8 Boston. You could own the entire block on the coveted "island" area of Hampton Beach!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Fireplace	- Walk-in closet	- Hardwood floor
- Tile floor	- Family room	- Living room
- Bonus/Rec room	- Office/Den	- Dining room
- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven
- Attic	- Basement	- Washer
- Dryer	- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio
- Jacuzzi/Whirlpool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Laundry on-site

- Storage space(s)

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Roof Top Deck

- Ocean Views

- Corner Lot

- Two building compound (five units!)

- Two Fireplaces

- Year Round

- Family owned for generations

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Exterior	Roof Top Deck
Ocean views from deck	More Views
Living Room Main House	Unit Dining Room

Contact info:

Rebecca Skane

Keller Williams Coastal Realty

603.610.8944

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 11, 2009, 9:36am PDT

Portsmouth NH Sales Look Pretty Good

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:46:30 -0500

I just took a quick peek at the current Portsmouth real estate market on NNEREN. According to the stats, there are about 65 homes for sale in Portsmouth. And 25 other homes which are either contingent or pending!

It looks like Portsmouth, NH will be having a good few months coming up. And I bet it will only get better and better, with more and more people taking advantage of the tax credit before it ends. This was one economic stimulus action which has been very helpful.

Looking to sell your home? I am always available to help you sell a home in Portsmouth NH and in the surrounding areas. Just visit my website or contact me!

Investment Properties

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:09:22 -0500

A number of people are now looking for investment properties, mostly multi-families and duplexes. I have a number of buyers who are currently looking for these types of properties. A few years ago, these were hot properties. After the recent real estate decline, these types of properties weren't as hot anymore, and prices tumbled. Now that the prices are becoming more stable, the multi and duplex properties seem to be making a comeback. I suddenly have several buyers in the market! Have one to sell? Call me!

Aside from multis, I also have a number of buyers looking for NH and ME Mobile Home Parks For Sale, but only a few sellers. In a down market, mobile home parks thrive. I never realized how incredibly lucrative these types of properties are. I'm thinking I should start one of my own!

FSBOs in Seacoast NH

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:18:51 -0500

According to NAR®, less than 10% of all FSBOs are successful, why? There are too many reasons to count.

1. You can't get listed on the MLS without a Realtor. Sure, you can pay for an entry only listing, but a true Realtor® will list you for free, you only pay when your home sells.

2. Realtors®, who have the majority of the buyers, will not show FSBO homes, or will advise against buying them.

3. FSBOs may not understand the current market conditions.

4. Unscrupulous buyers target FSBOs with deliriously low offers and effective sales pitches.

5. FSBOs may not understand the real estate sales process, may not hire the right contractors, may not use the correct forms, may not know how to identify inappropriate sale contingencies, and often run into legal problems.

6. FSBOs do not generally have the time or the know-how to effectively market a home.

and on, and on, and on!

Visit my website and download your free NH FSBO guide.

The Most Common Home Styles in New Hampshire

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:40:31 -0500

The three most common home styles in New Hampshire are: The Cape, The Colonial and the Ranch. I was curious to know just how common they were as compared to the multitude of other home styles, so I went about it by looking at all of the homes sold in the past year in New Hampshire, and I made a chart.

Homes Sold in NH July 29, 2008 - July 29, 2009 (excluding condos and mobiles)

10,037 Homes Sold

You can see how the ranch (raised ranches, split level and single levels), Colonials (antiques and neo-colonials), and Capes heavily outweigh the rest of the styles. But don't go thinking that just because you have Gambrel, that it may not sell as well. The reason why more ranches, colonials and capes have sold rather than other styles is simply because there are way more of them! Also, some people may list one home under two or more different home types. This chart gives you a rough idea about how how common a certain house type is, not necessarily how one style out-performs another.

But I was a little surprised about the steep drop off from the Cape to the Contemporary and going forward. And according to NNEREN, unless I did my search wrong, not one Tudor style was sold in the past year! Perhaps I am only surprised because I grew up in a Tudor. I was also surprised with the New Englander numbers, but perhaps they are only more common in the larger cities and towns.

You would think with the housing boom of the 90's and early 00's that there would be more contemporary homes. Especially at the rate those builders were going at. They are my favorites, and a contemporary home in Portsmouth NH can be hard to cme by, but they do exist. Most of the new homes built them were the new-colonials, beautiful and romantic reproductions of the original colonials in New England (many of which are still standing!).

I hope you found this latest chart as intriguing as I did. Click the card below to visit me.

Barrington NH Commercial Corner Lot Price Improvement

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:12:34 -0500

AGAIN! Another $5K reduction. Seller is Motivated!

Rebecca Skane | Keller Williams Coast Realty | rskane@kw.com | 603.610.8944

Rt-125 and Commerce Way, Barrington, NH

Commercial Corner Lot on Busy Intersection

1.93 acres Vacant Land

offered at $119,900

Lot Size

1.93 acres

DESCRIPTION

Looking for a commercial lot on a busy road, hopefully even a corner lot, for a great price? Well look no further. This 1.93 acre plot of land is located on the busy intersection of RT-125 and Commerce Way in Barrington. The property is just on the other side of the Commerce Way Business Park and so you get all of the traffic from these extremely successful businesses, but no park fees! Exposure on two sides. There is a new driveway easement on the back side of the property and the driveway will be completed at the neighbor's expense shortly, which means you will have driveway access completed for you.

see additional photos below

LOCATION FEATURES

• Corner Lot

• Busy Intersection

• Estimated 18,000 Cars per Day

• Driveway to be completed at neighbor's expense

• Adjacent to busy Commerce Way Business Park

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Corner Lot	Next to Business Park
View from across 125	Wooded lot
High traffic Area	Partially Cleared

Contact info:

Rebecca Skane

Keller Williams Coast Realty

rskane@kw.com

603.610.8944

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 28, 2009, 12:04pm PDT

Portsmouth NH - The Grand Portsmouth Contemporary - New Listing!

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:39:26 -0500

Rebecca Skane | Keller Williams Coast Realty | 603.610.8944

7 Shaw Rd, Portsmouth, NH

Grand Portsmouth Contemporary

3BR/2.5BA Single Family House

offered at $749,900

Year Built	2005
Sq Footage	4,035
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 2 partial
Floors	4
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	14,374 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

The Grand Portsmouth Contemporary with four finished floors, over 4,000 SF of living space and water views of the Sagamore Creek. Built in 2005, this executive home features a contemporary kitchen with state of the art Wolf/Sub-Zero stainless steel appliances, a media room with an automatic drop down wide screen and high def projector, a master bedroom with full bath complete with double vessel sinks, whirlpool tub and separate dressing room, a finished basement, wrap around porch, underground parking for two with direct entry, second floor laundry, and finished third floor bonus room.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

• Central A/C	• Fireplace	• High/Vaulted ceiling
• Walk-in closet	• Hardwood floor	• Tile floor
• Living room	• Bonus/Rec room	• Dining room
• Dishwasher	• Refrigerator	• Stove/Oven
• Microwave	• Granite countertop	• Stainless steel appliances
• Attic	• Basement	• Washer
• Dryer	• Laundry area - inside	• Balcony, Deck, or Patio
• Jacuzzi/Whirlpool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

• Garage parking	• Covered parking	• Laundry on-site
• Storage space(s)

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

• Water Views of The Sagamore

• Wrap Around Perma Deck

• Sub-Zero/Wolf SS Appliances

• Master Bedroom with Bath, Jacuzzi, Changing Room

• Vessel Sinks

• Second Floor Laundry

• Media Room, Wide Screen, High Def Projector

• Finished Basement and Attic

• Over 4,000 SF Living Space

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Exterior	Kitchen
Dining Room	Media Room
Living Room	Water Views

Contact info:

Rebecca Skane

Keller Williams Coast Realty

603.610.8944

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 27, 2009, 7:23am PDT

Wordless Wednesday - July 4th - Greenland, NH - His Eyes Match the Sky

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:12:32 -0500

Rochester, NH Beautiful Townhouse - New Listing!

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:00:15 -0500

Rebecca Skane | Keller Williams Coast Realty | 603.610.8944

34 Springfield Estates, Rochester, NH

Luxury Townhome Without The Luxury Pricetag

2BR/1.5BA Townhouse

offered at $159,900

Year Built	1986
Sq Footage	1,233
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Uncovered spaces
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$250 per month

DESCRIPTION

Don't miss this opportunity! Imagine a luxury townhouse without the luxury pricetag. This unit is located in Springfield Estates, one of Rochester's more premiere and sought after condominium associations. The unit is in the back of the building, facing the landscaped yard and trees and not the road. The interior has new parquet hardwood floors and berber carpets throughout. The downstairs boasts an open concept living space and upstairs contains two oversized bedrooms with oversized windows, the master complete with a large walk-in closet. Washer and dryer on the first floor comes included with the sale. Hurry!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

• Walk-in closet	• Hardwood floor	• Living room
• Dining room	• Dishwasher	• Refrigerator
• Stove/Oven	• Microwave	• Washer
• Dryer	• Laundry area - inside	• Balcony, Deck, or Patio

COMMUNITY FEATURES

• Guest parking

• Laundry on-site

• Swimming pool(s)

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

• Two Floors

• Facing Landscaped Back Yard

• Next to the Pool

• Many Recent Updates

• New Electric Awning

• New Flooring Throughout

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Exterior	New Parquet Hardwoods
Living Room	Kitchen
Master	Bedroom 2

Contact info:

Rebecca Skane

Keller Williams Coast Realty

603.610.8944

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 20, 2009, 9:51am PDT

Portsmouth Book Club August - Murder on the Orient Express

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:58:06 -0500

The Portsmouth Book Club met last Tuesday, the 14th, to discuss, Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and Oliver Relin at McMenemy's Irish Restaurant and Pub. What a fantastic book! The book was an auto-biography of sorts of Mr. Mortenson, written by journalist Oliver Relin. The book details Mr. Mortenson's trials and tribulations during his campaign in Pakistan and Afghanistan building schools for girls. If Mr. Mortenson had written this book himself, I would have thought, "Oh, sure. Nice Ego." And if this had been a fictitious novel, it would have been terrible, because you would NEVER believe the authenticity of the main character, it would have been too unbelievable. The truth is, the book is written from an unbiased point of view, and brings together quotes from the myriad of people who have known and worked with Mr. Mortenson on his project. All together it reveals a sort of super-human. A man who is probably the lest materialistic person in America, and one who cares so much about others, leaving him to sacrifice almost everything he had for a cause, love and passion. I mean, seriously, this man is my hero. They should make a Marvel super-hero comic about this man. Read the book, you will feel the same way. Mr. Mortenson should win the Nobel.

For our book club next month, we picked, Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie. This should be a great summer read. As always, our meeting will be held at:

McMenemy's Irish Pub and Restaurant

177 State St Portsmouth, NH 03801 603-436-4747

7pm Tuesday August 11th, 2009

I also have to take the time to say that McMenemy's is back on the map! After the bar and restaurant switched owners, I can't say enough about it. The fish and chips are incredible. Everyone who ordered them last Tuesday were wild about them. I had the clam chowder for the first time. Okay, I grew up in New England. I LOVE clam chowder and I know a good chowder when I have one. I am going to go out on a limb and say that McMenemy's had the BEST clam chowder I have ever had. If you don't come for book club, go out to dinner at this place. You will be so surprised. Tracey, the owner, will treat you right.

Here is a synopsis of Murder on the Orient Express: (from Barnes and Noble)

"Murder on the Orient Express. En route to Paris, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot has booked winter passage on the fabled Orient Express. Among the curious assortment of fellow passengers, one wealthy American holds a unique distinction: He has been found dead of multiple stab wounds in the night compartment of the Calais coach. By dawn, thirteen travelers, each bearing a secret, will find themselves suspect in the most ingenious crime Poirot has ever solved.

Agatha Christie is nearly synonymous with upper-class British mysteries, for good reason. She set the standard for the genre in over 60 novels and dozens of short stories, also creating two classic detectives: the fastidious Belgian, Hercule Poirot, and English spinster Jane Marple. No one could match Christie's knack for weaving clues into her stories, then turning the whole thing inside out -- shocking her readers every time."

Time to Turn off the Non Members Comments - SPAM ALERT

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:57:03 -0500

I just started to receive spam posts on my comments, all with hyperlinked text. Pretty easy to identify, they had absolutely no relevancy to the actual posts. I read that some other people have started to get the spam as well. Someone must have created some auto-post spam software for ActiveRain blogs.

If you are getting them, just go into your settings, and turn off the selection for "allow Non Member Comments". It is a shame that we have to do this now, but it is easier than having to report and delete the spam posts each and every time.

Portsmouth NH Bow Street Fair This Weekend

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:53:07 -0500

The Bow Street Fair will be this weekend in Portsmouth, July 18th and 19th, a beautiful Arts and crafts celebration benefiting the Seacoast Repertory Theatre. You can have your own booth set up for $200 (visit the Bow Street Fair link for the application), but if you are like me you will be just as thrilled to take your family on a stroll through the booths and the people.

This is a great way to support the arts in our community, and enjoy the weekend as well!

Waterfront Homes in Portsmouth NH

Fannie and Freddie Move to 125%! , The 40% Rule , The Echo Boom is Coming

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:26:12 -0500

This is a recent post I came across, and I wanted to share it with all.

Via Daniel Seider (Big Trees Real Estate):

When 40% is not 40%

Mercifully, the first half of the year is over. We are still officially in recession, but there are signs that the economy has bottomed. Last week's employment report reminds us that we are not rebounding as of yet. We need to keep the numbers in perspective. For example, during the first half of the year, the S&P 500 rallied close to 40% from the low hit earlier this year. All told, the S&P 500 dropped almost 60% from the all-time high reached nearly two years ago. This does not mean that the stock market is close to "recovery." In rounded numbers, 60% of 1500 represents a drop of 900 points. An increase of 40% from 640 is only 260 points. This means we have a long way to go.

Expect the same recovery "mathematics" for housing prices. We would not be surprised if the recovery causes housing prices to move up 15% or so from their ultimate lows. However, a move upward of 15% would not come close to the 25% drop we have experienced. Keep in mind that even if prices are down 25%, they are still up 70% from 1985. Of course, these are not inflation adjusted numbers. The point is, we all need to keep statistics in perspective. Losing 400,000 plus jobs in a month represents horrific numbers. But they are much improved from the 741,000 jobs we lost in January. If there is any good news regarding these numbers, it is the fact that rates and oil prices are lower than they were two weeks ago. We can't emphasize enough times that keeping rates low will facilitate the recovery.

The Markets

Rates moved lower in response to weak economic reports in the past week. Freddie Mac announced that 30-year fixed rates averaged 5.32%, down from 5.42% the week before. A year ago 30-year fixed rates were at 6.35%. "Mixed economic reports on the state of the housing market helped hold rates fairly flat this week," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. "Lower rates are helping to support the housing market," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.

Home values fell at a monthly rate of 0.6 percent in April, representing the smallest decrease since June 2008, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller® 20-city composite index. In addition, home prices rose in eight of the cities in April."

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have received the green light from their regulator to refi underwater homeowners with loan-to value ratios as high as 125%. The special refi plan that Obama administration officials unveiled in February limited the option to loans with LTV ratios of 80% to 105%. But the 105% LTV limit would not offer any relief for borrowers who have seen the values of their home erode by 15% to 30%. "The higher LTV will allow more homeowners to strengthen their finances by taking advantage of lower rates," Federal Housing Finance Agency director James Lockhart said. Fannie Mae said it would accept delivery of the higher LTV loans starting Sept. 1. A Freddie Mac spokesman said it would start accepting the loans "now." The GSE financing program is only available to borrowers with loans that are owned or guaranteed by Fannie and Freddie. They also have to be current on their payments.

According to an annual state of the nation's housing from Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, once the U.S. emerges from recession, strong demographic trends will restore health to the housing market. The key is echo boomers, the 75 million Americans born between 1979 and 1995. "There will be 5 million more echo boomers than there were boomers when they first started swelling housing markets," said Eric Belsky, executive director of the Joint Center. As a result, household growth during the next 10 years should range between 12.5 million and 14.8 million, according to the report. All those new households mean demand for many new housing units. "This is a powerful, powerful underpinning of future demand," said Belsky. Source: CNN/Money

Housing confidence is up amid increasing evidence that the market is turning around. The Adversity Index from MSNBC.com and Moody's Economy.com reported signs of a turnaround in 33 of the nation's metro areas. While that's less than 10 percent of all metro areas, it's still significant, says economist Andrew Gledhill of Economy.com. Source: MSNBC

Sales of existing homes showed another gain in May, benefiting from favorable affordability conditions and a first-time buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors ®. May's increase was the first back-to-back monthly gain since September 2005.

" Total housing inventory at the end of May fell 3.5 percent to 3.80 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 9.6-month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 10.1-month supply in April. Source: National Association of Realtors®

The Federal Reserve kept its key rate near zero at their last meeting, and said in a statement that although the U.S. economy remains weak, there are signs of a recovery. The central bank said that the pace of the nation's economic decline is slowing and that household spending is showing signs of stabilizing. Even though this was the first official statement from Fed policymakers to hint at signs of stabilization in the economy, Keith Hembre, chief economist at First American Funds, said Chairman Ben Bernanke and other Fed members have been suggesting signs of improvement in individual speeches in recent months. Source: CNN/Money

If you would like to discuss the dynamics of what is happening in the market or would like information and real estate opportunities in the Bear Valley, Arnold, Murphy's, Angels Camp and Copperopolis area please email me at Daniel@BigTreesRealty.com or go to www.BigTreesRealty.com call me at 1 209 795-4218 By clicking here you can search like a Realtor.

Portsmouth NH Market Report - June 2009

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:43:10 -0500

Residential - Single Family Homes

I have not done a market report in a while because of the season, I have been very busy. In my last reports, I had been combining single family homes, condos and mobiles and in hindsight, I should not have been lumping them together since the prices on each particular type of property vary too much. Going forward, I will focus on single family homes as an economic indicator.

PORTSMOUTH

This first graph shows an intense monthly flux in the average sale price for a home in Portsmouth. The average price increased nearly $100k from May to June. And the good news is that the difference is much less from the same time last year.

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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

In all of Rockingham County we see a very similar graph position as in Portsmouth. We see a rise from the month before, and not far away from this time last year. The big difference is that the prices are still higher in Portsmouth as compared to the rest of Rockingham, as expected.

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Units Sold - Portsmouth

There were 17 homes sold in Portsmouth in June, up only one from last month, and only three away from this time last year. Not bad. You would think (after watching your daily dose of unhealthy news on CNN) that perhaps only one or two homes are being sold - state wide - but the truth is that homes are still being sold. People are still buying, just as they have been. But prices are much lower, thanks to our over abundance of foreclosures and short sales!

Please visit my site to see the full NH Market Report for June 2009

Seacoast Most Expensive and Least Expensive

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:51:35 -0500

Have you ever wondered? I made a few lists which will be automatically updated on a daily basis. These lists are the most expensive and least expensive of Seacoast NH, only the coastal towns themselves: Seabrook, Hampton, North Hampton, Rye, New Castle and Portsmouth.

The Most Expensive Homes in Seacoast NH - Valued at $2.5MM or higher.

The Most Expensive Condos in Seacoast NH - Valued at $800k or higher.

The Least Expensive Homes in Seacoast NH - Valued at $100k or lower.

The Least Expensive Condos in Seacoast NH - valued at $90k or lower.

Enjoy!

Luxury Homes in Hampton NH

Hampton Beach NH Executive Beach Rental Price Improvement!

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:29:34 -0500

Rental price improved!
From $3,500 per month to $3,000 Per Month!

Rebecca Skane | Keller Williams Coast Realty | 603.610.8944

901 Ocean Blvd, Hampton, NH

Unbelievable ocean front home in Hampton for rent with a long term lease at a great price.

4BR/2.5BA Single Family House

$3,000/month

Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Sq Footage	2,268
Parking	2 dedicated
Pet Policy	Cats, Small dogs (< 25lbs), Dogs (any)
Deposit	$3,000

DESCRIPTION

You can have the weekly price for this stately ocean front home and pay only monthly for a long term contract. Enjoy ocean views all year round from this three level New Englander. A full patio on the second floor extends from the master bedroom where you can sit and enjoy your own private sunrises over the Atlantic. Another large patio in the back is perfect for grilling and entertaining your summer guests. This is an exclusive retreat only listed by Rebecca Skane.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

• Air conditioning	• Central heat	• Fireplace
• High/Vaulted ceiling	• Hardwood floor	• Tile floor
• Living room	• Bonus/Rec room	• Loft layout
• Dining room	• Breakfast nook	• Dishwasher
• Refrigerator	• Stove/Oven	• Microwave
• Basement	• Washer	• Dryer
• Laundry area - inside	• Balcony, Deck, or Patio	• Yard
• Cable-ready

COMMUNITY FEATURES

• Laundry on-site

• Storage space(s)

LEASE TERMS

One year contract preferred and favored, will consider 6 month contract at higher lease rate.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Stately New Englander	Direct Ocean Views
Relax and Enjoy	Living Room
Large Back Porch	Large 3rd Fl Loft

Contact info:

Rebecca Skane

Keller Williams Coast Realty

603.610.8944

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 6, 2009, 11:22am PDT