NH Lakefront Real Estate Trends

Choosing a Lakefront home in NH l What to look for in a lakefront property

 

Time to build memories with a lake home of your own!

Time to build memories with a lake home of your own!

 

Maple Sugaring season has just past and signs of spring are upon us.  Every year the lakefront real estate market takes some twists and turns and this year is no different.  The Lakes Region including Sunapee and Mount Washington Valley has 429 homes available right now.  Prices range from $174,000 to $13,000,000.  Typically the most active early buyers are those looking for a home priced under $800,000 and there are a ton of buyers looking in this price range. They have a variety of homes to look at on the 200 plus lakes in the area.  Most of the quality homes in this price range are on smaller lakes, those lakes with 1000 acres or less.  Pricing for a nice home on Sunapee, Squam, Winnipesaukee starts at $1,000,000 plus. Surprisingly homes in the $1,000,000 price range on these 3 lakes are typically seasonal camps but the location on the lake may be what you are looking for. If you really want a nice home you need to jump up over $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 price point.

In choosing a lake home step back.  I was with a buyer last week and they insisted they needed to be on a 4000 acre lake. I inquired why and they really did not have an answer.  If you have family coming up to enjoy the lake with you they are going to want to be out in the water. Look for a home with a sandy beach, or sandy bottom swimming or with older swimmers you can swim off the dock. What is your family situation?  Boating, if you're going to get out on the lake to enjoy waterskiing and tubing not everyone can be in the boat to enjoy watching the fun. You may want a camp where you can sit on shore and watch all the fun from the comfort of your deck chair. Dad and Mom did you see me?? So choose a location that meets your families expectations. Quiet waterfront with no noise or the fun and activities that children bring? So if your goal is to enjoy the lake with family and friends a 100 acre lake with a sandy beach and view of the lake is all you may need.

Let's change the scenario. You are a retired couple entertaining friends or using the home as a business retreat.  Yes you want to take a dip in the lake but off the dock works just fine, are you really going to water ski? What you might want is taking boating adventures, heading out on the lake for a mid day ice cream or dinner cruised to one of the local ports. The only lakes to support this activity are the larger lakes. Squam and Sunapee have limited shopping and restaurant access, Winnipesaukee is endless with Meredith, Gilford, Alton, Wolfeboro, Center Harbor, Tuftonboro, and Moultonborough access ports.

So what do you really need in a lake home?  My list starts with a ( sandy beach or sandy bottom or dock swimming ) ( docking and possible mooring for your boat ) ( view or extended open water view is great - add mountain view - add sunset ) ( level yard - room to park 4-5 cars ) ( crystal clear water )  ( privacy or community )  ( other variables, access to ski areas - snowmobile trails - fishing, warm water or cold water - distance to shop - distance to social activities )  Take the list above and highlight what is important to you and call us to find a home.  This home may be on 150 acre Lake Winona or 3000 acre Lake Wentworth.

As you noted above we really don't talk much about the house.  Buy the lake and the location on the lake! You can change the home but not the lake.  If your heart is set on gorgeous sunsets don't settle for a cove location on a large lake in the shade, that sunset location is out there maybe on a 250 acre lake.

For additional information on lake homes in NH call Lady of the Lake Realty at 1-888-737-5550 or e-mail at info@nhlakesrealty.com   or visit our website to view lake homes in New Hampshire at www.nhlakesrealty.com  

Contact us today to find your dream home in New Hampshire!!

Reason's your home is not selling, price - condition - location??

 

lake Winnipesaukee real estate

Are you the Eagle or Prey

Your home has  been on the market for months and you can't understand why . Your agent has shown the home at least once a week and all the reports he is showing that the home is being viewed online tons of times. What is the problem?? Well to start with did you notice the water stain in the kitchen ceiling or the lovely harvest gold stove and refrigerator combination you bought new in the 70's. If you did not notice them that is the first thing the buyers noticed, not to mention some clutter in the yard plus you  have so much furniture you can barely squeeze through each room.

What you see as comforts, working appliances, plenty of furniture for guests  and  that patch in the ceiling that solved a leak 5 years ago, the buyer see's deferred maintenance and lack of pride in ownership.

So what can you do without breaking the bank and move this home? Have your realtor stop by and make some notes on what should be done or have an expert in the field give you a hand (staging ).

Start with some planning. ( get rid of  stuff )

Walk around the exterior of  your home, detail each rooms inventory and don't forget the basement and garage.

1. Clean out the garage and organize the basement. Get some bins or boxes and label them for future reference.

2. Kitchen, you could buy some new appliances but at least make sure the cabinets are well organized, the refrigerator is clean and you don't have piles of stuff.

3. Mow the lawn, trim the bushes and plant a few flowers.

Every buyer that comes out with me to see a lakefront home tells me they are handy and would love a fixer upper. Sorry to say they do not want to fix anything........... The only way to make up for this is to lower the price.

Match the marketing plan to the home.

The days of open houses and newspapers are almost gone. It is all about social media and a web presence.  Everyone has a website, look for websites online to find out if your agents website is listed. If you are selling a lake home, type in the lake or location and see what comes up. The tech savy agents sites will be on the first page, do a couple of keyword searches to get a clear view of the results.  Social Media, just because you see all the icons on the website doesn't mean they are using them. Click on the blog to see when the last post was, most you will find will be outdated articles 6 weeks to 6 months old. Look for an agent who knows the value of the Internet and how to work it. Be sure you're not getting a real estate agent that just puts your house on the MLS and then sits back to wait for other agents to come to them. Discuss with your agent a plan that matches your home.  Make sure the agent uses some top notch photography, if you see them with a cell phone you are already headed in the wrong direction. Photography sells homes!  Review the write up that goes with the listing. Does that write up describe your home.  Executive home with gorgeous sunsets, open water mountain view and a child friendly sandy beach with a deep water dock, or does it read dock, westerly exposure, beach and views.  Sell the benefits not the features.

When to list your home?

Number one rule!  Don't list it until the home is ready and you are willing to let buyers in!  I can't tell you how many times I see a great new listing come on and I have buyers coming up on a Saturday to see lake homes and I call the agent only to hear back that the owner is not ready to show the home! My buyers matches the home and you don't want to show it to him?  Don't list it until ready. Second if you have a tenant in the home get some agreement with them in writing on when you can show the home or if your selling your vacation home and have it in the rental pool, make arrangements with the vacationers to get buyers in, not everyone can see the home on a Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm show time between renters. Why list it if you are going to waste time and energy if it will be impossible to see the home.  A common saying in real estate is "If you can't show it, you can't sell it." The fresh new listing gets all the attention, don't loose the momentum before it gets going.

Your not the buyer - stage the home for the seller

I was showing this lovely home on Lovell Lake to my buyers, on the walls of the home were all the children's and grandchildren's photos and trophies on the mantel.  My buyers comment was they did not feel right buying this home as all those memories would be lost. Remove all the family photo's and trophies including the deer, duck and moose mounts.  Move some of your stuff out of the house and paint the rooms a neutral color so the buyer is able to let their imagination run and so they are able to see themselves living in the home.

Your house looks like it's run down

Remember that water stain? Home buyers will notice it and even though the roof is brand new, not fixing the damage will make them still believe there is a problem. Paint rooms or at least touch them up and carpets need a good cleaning too.  You don't want a potential buyer to be turned off because they think they will have to replace it.

You're pricing the home too high

Depending on the situation, if a buyer needs a home to live in they will aggressively shop until they find a home that works for them. If your home is over priced they will looked at it but avoid making an offer as not to insult you.  Second home buyers will wait you out.  You fixed up the home and it is staged properly and it has been on the market for 90 days?? Location and price, are you priced to high for the location the home is in. You may have a ton of money into remodeling unfortunately you may have the best home in the area and the rest of the homes are dragging you down.  You may have to adjust your price if you want to sell. Today's buyers are well educated, they are using all the online resources to value your home. Your job is the sizzle.  It may be the price or the amenities the home has to offer.  Sell Sizzle.

 

 

For additional information on buying or selling a home call your lakefront specialists.  Four Seasons | Sotheby's International Realty at 1-888-737-5550 or e-mail at info@nhlakesrealty.com or visit our website to view lake homes in New Hampshire at www.nhlakesrealty.com or www.lakeorskirealestate.com.

Contact us today to find or sell home in New Hampshire!!