If you’re planning to sell your home in Portsmouth or anywhere along the New Hampshire Seacoast, there’s still good news: it remains a seller’s market. But there’s a shift underway that sellers need to pay attention to. While demand for homes is still strong, the pace of price growth has moderated compared to the last few years. Homes are staying on the market a bit longer, and we’re seeing more price reductions than we did just a year ago. There is also more competition. The number of single-family homes and condos on the NH Seacoast is up 47.5% from just one year ago.

What does that mean for you as a seller? Simply put: pricing your home correctly from the start has never been more important.

The Market Has Evolved

Local inventory is on the rise, which gives buyers more options — and that means they can afford to be choosier. In this environment, if your home isn’t priced in line with other similar properties, buyers will move on without a second glance.

Gone are the days of setting an aspirational price and expecting bidding wars. Today, pricing is not just a number — it’s a strategy. And a sharp pricing strategy is key to selling quickly and for the best possible price.

Overpricing Comes at a Cost

Many sellers fall into the trap of pricing based on outdated market conditions or comparing their home to a neighbor’s sale that happened under entirely different circumstances. When a home sits on the market too long, sellers often face three difficult options:

• Lower the price: A price cut can help renew interest, but it may also raise buyer skepticism about why the home hasn’t sold.
• Take the home off the market: Pressing pause delays your next move — whether that’s upsizing, downsizing, or relocating.
• Rent the property: While renting may seem like a fallback, it often brings more complications than sellers expect.

These scenarios can often be avoided — if you start with the right pricing strategy guided by a local expert. We want your yard sign to have a “SOLD” sign on it instead of cobwebs.

Local Expertise Matters More Than Ever

While national data shows an uptick in price reductions, the picture is different in the Northeast. According to Realtor.com, only 13% of listings in our region saw price cuts in June, compared to 23% in parts of the South and West. That underscores why working with local, “boots on the ground” agents is critical. Real estate is hyper-local — and what’s true in other parts of the country may not apply to your zip code or even your neighborhood.

As experienced, full-time Realtors with RE/MAX Shoreline, Jim Lee and Ann Cummings bring deep knowledge of the Portsmouth and Seacoast markets. They live and work right here, and they understand what buyers are looking for and how to price strategically for the current climate.

How Jim and Ann Help You Price to Sell

A skilled real estate agent doesn’t guess — they study local trends, evaluate comparable sales, analyze active inventory, and align your goals with buyer behavior. Sometimes, the best strategy is to price right at current market value. In other cases, pricing slightly below can generate more interest and multiple offers, often pushing the final sale price higher.

Jim Lee and Ann Cummings don’t just bring pricing advice — they bring insight, experience, and a proven track record in helping sellers succeed, even in a shifting market.

Bottom Line

In today’s evolving Seacoast market, the right pricing strategy is your strongest asset. Overpricing can cost you time, money, and momentum. With expert guidance from Jim Lee and Ann Cummings at RE/MAX Shoreline, you can navigate the local market with confidence — and achieve the results you’re looking for.

 Reach out today at 603.436.1221 to start planning your move, or visit www.NewHampshireMaineRealEstate.com for the latest listings, local insights, and updates on market conditions across the New Hampshire Seacoast and Southern Maine.

Ann Cummings & Jim Lee, REALTORS, Certified Residential Specialists (CRS), Homesellers. Graduate, REALTOR Institute (GRI)