"This Place Is LAME.....Can we come back!"

Six Gun City in Jefferson NH is an old park with a silly theme and a miss match of rides. 

The boys walked through the entire park in about 5 minutes.  They were not very impressed.  But after riding a few rides and playing about a dozen games of Laser Tag things turned around.

 There are also go-carts, laser tag, and a mini Roller Coaster.

The water park slides were great.  Even on a Spring day, no-one complained about getting wet.

But what would Six Gun City be without a gun fight!

The boys were deputized and then of course all volunteered!

Just A Little Something To Enjoy.

SPRING IS HERE

THE GRASS HAS RIS'

I WONDER WHERE THE FISHIES IS!

We are getting ready for the Summer up here in Bartlett.  One sure sign of the season is the stocking of the Ellis River here beside our office.

So grab your fly rod and come on up. 

Don't forget your fishing license. www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fishing.htm

Oh by the way if you have some extra time and money maybe we can show you a nice condo while you're here!

www.Black-Bear-Realty.com

More notes from Florida.

This year we cut our annual trip down to three weeks.  Along with some outstanding beach time, we had some side trips.

Of course, we had to do Disney!  It was three days in the "Happiest Place on Earth!"

Animal Kingdom was really great!

A White Mountain Tradition...    APRIL VACATION IN FLORIDA!

After a great winter of skiing, XC and snowshoeing, locals in the White Mountains head south for the month of April to bake in the warm sun of the Florida coast.

We have been spending every April since the boys were born, on Casey Key on the Gulf Coast, just South of Sarasota.  The island is very small and by April most of the seasonal owners have already headed back to their homes in the North.  So, we have the island's beaches almost all to ourselves.

We try and swim 2-3 times everyday and this year it was perfect swimming weather everyday but one.  Warm water, & blue skies.

On the one cloudy day we headed to Mote Marine Aquarium. 

Spring Is Here!

The Grass Has Ris'

I Wonder Where The BUYERS Is?

While the weather has been wonderfully mild this Spring.  The Buyers are still very leery of taking advantage of the low prices and low interest rates.  Sales in March continue to accelerate, but are running about one property a day, half of a normal March.  www.Black-Bear-Realty.com had a very strong 1st quarter with over 2 million in sales.

The government's $8,000 credit for first time home buyers has not been a big driver in the white mountains since we are dependent on second home buyers.  But, as more and more 1st time home buyers realize what a great bargain they are being offered it will get more homes under contract.  Many will find it is cheaper to buy now than to rent, a good sign of the market bottom.

So get out and enjoy the Spring.  The slow March sales are just "Water Under The Bridge!"

And now for something completly different....

Ever wonder where the words we use everyday in real estate come from?

Mortgage- When an impoverished heir (eldest son of a noble) wished to borrow money, he would sign a pledge to pay when his father died and he came into his estate. mort = death, and gage is of Gothic origin relating to the word pledge.
Economy- via Latin from Greek oikonomia = management of a household (oikos = house, and nomia = control.
Offer- from Latin offerre = to present in sacrifice.
Finance- From Late Latin financia from finare, to pay a fine, and finis, a settled payment.
Location- From Latin locus, meaning place: hence location.
Bungalow- From Hindi bangla = Bengali, house built in the style of Bengal (Bangladesh).
Architect- from Greek arckhitekton = chief builder; arkhi = chief, and tekton = carpenter, builder.
Mansion- Comes from the French word maison = house. A mansion was originally a place that held soldiers overnight during their marches.
Room- From German raum as in lebensraum, a space to live in.
Landscape- Dutch landshap = region, countryside; hence ‘picture of countryside.'
Contract- Con is from Latin meaning ‘together'. Also from Latin, tract = to draw. So contract = draw together.
Attorney- From Old French atorner, which means ‘to turn to'.
Term- From Latin terminat = to end, and terminus = boundary. Term is a period (that comes to an end). Over time, term grew to mean the limiting conditions, as in the terms of an agreement.
Neighbor- In the old days, the man next door was a farmer: neighbor, from neahgebur, nigh boor. Boor was a farmer.
Acre- From Latin ager, meaning fertile country or field.
Garrison - From Old French guerite = watch tower, which often meant just
windows on the top story of a building. From guerison, we have the English version
garrison.
Porch- From Latin porticus. Porta = gate. The word veranda comes from Portuguese varanda = porch, gallery.
Roof- From Old English hrof, Germanic khrof.
Application- Comes from Latin application, meaning ‘the act of bringing things together'.
Glitch- From the German word glitschen, meaning ‘to slip'.
Value - From Latin valere, to have worth; via French valoir, past participle valu, value, comes English value.
 
This information compiled for you by Randy Guida, of Residential Mortgage Services
603.662.6702 cell, 603.356.7937 fax, rguida@rmsmortgage.com

Randy is a great guy for mortgages and like eveyone here at www.Black-Bear-Realty.com has plenty of time on his hand to serve you better!

(Source: The Dictionary of Word Origins by Joseph P. Shipley and Success with Words from Reader's Digest)

New Hampshire Foreclosures Lower Than National Numbers.

Home foreclosures are less than one percent of all owned homes in New Hampshire, but they often are, a much larger fraction of all sales in a town, particularly when there are so few transactions. 

The result is that in a slow market with a high percentage of distressed sales, the median home price can show a substantial drop.  But, home not in foreclosure may still be demanding fair prices.

This distorts the perception of home values. Potential buyers want to discount every property, while Sellers not in foreclosure are holding out for higher prices. 

When the number of foreclosures starts to decline, which it must do fairly soon, then home prices will at stabilize and lenders will feel more comfortable writing mortgages. 

Contact the team at www.Black-Bear-Realty.com for more insight on New Hampshire real estate for sale.

ESSC SKI DAY! & St Patrick's Day!

The best time of year and the best day with the kids!

45 - 55 Degees in the middle of March!  "Who Could Ask For Anything More!"

I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

        I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.

        I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

        I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most
        peaceful feelings in the world.

        I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.

        I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

        I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to
        help him in some other way.

                I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when
        I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

        I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the
        end, the faster it goes.

        I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

        I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class..

                I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated
        and loved.

        I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

        I 've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that
        person continue to hurt you.

        I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds.

        I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself
        with people smarter than I am.

        I've learned... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

        I've learned..... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

        I've learned... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

        I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.

        I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

        I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time.

        I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow
        he may have to eat them..

        I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

        I've learned..... That when your newly born child holds your little finger in his
        little fist, that you're in love for life.

        I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the
        happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

        I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.