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Portsmouth, NH Real Estate News

By Jim Lee, REALTOR, CRS, ABR, Buying or Selling? Ann & Jim are the local experts
(RE/MAX Shoreline)
Navigating the world of real estate can be daunting, especially with the industry-specific jargon used by professionals. Whether you are looking to buy or sell a home, understanding common real estate terms is essential. As your dedicated real estate experts, we’re here to break down the most important terms you’ll encounter, ensuring you’re well-prepared for the journey ahead.  For Home Sellers 1. Listing Agreement: This is a contract between you, the homeowners, and a real estate agent (like us), authorizing the agent to represent you and sell your home. Let’s discuss how we can represent your interests.2. Asking Price: The initial price you set when your home is put on the market. It’s crucial to set a competitive asking price that reflects the current market conditions. We can provi...
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By Sharon Tara, Retired New Hampshire Home Stager
(Sharon Tara Transformations)
Today's sellers are very familiar with the terms declutter and depersonalize. They know what needs to be done to prepare their house for sale. What most sellers don't know is how to actually do what needs to be done.  What is considered "clutter" and what is decorative? What exactly is "personal" and should be removed? What colors are neutral and what colors are too vanilla? What furniture works best to showcase each room? What is "dated" and how do you update?   When confronted with the generalized tasks of "decluttering, updating, and cleaning" an entire house, many sellers become overwhelmed.  Years of accumulation can seem impossible to manage.   What sellers need is someone to come in and not just tell them what needs to be done, but exactly how to do it.  People need guidance, dir...
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By Fred Doleac, Real Estate in a Virtual World
(Fred Doleac - Bean Group)
Portsmouth New Hampshire Real Estate Virtual Visit Portsmouth, New Hampshire is a historic city on the state's Atlantic Ocean coast. A popular summer tourist destination, Portsmouth offers a multitude of shops, restaurants, art galleries, cultural attractions, parks, beaches and historic sites for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. Portsmouth is centrally located within an hour's drive of Boston, the state capital in Concord, the cities of Nashua and Manchester, the southern coast of Maine and the scenic Lakes Region. Additionally, the snowy peaks of the White Mountains and the idyllic fishing villages of Cape Cod are just a short drive away. First explored in about 1603, Portsmouth was settled in 1630 as Piscataqua and soon renamed Strawberry Banke because of the abundant w...
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By Sue Melhorn, Licensed in NH, ME and FL!
(The Bean Group)
Although the real estate market was tough in 2008 as you will see below, 264 homes sold in Portsmouth.  People still have to move and homes still do sell regardless of the market.  With that said, here is A Little Perspective on the Real Estate Market: •  More than 1000 banks closed in 1930 (three years before the FDIC was created) BUT Only 14 banks have been taken over in 2008, •  There are 76 million households in the US that own their home--24 million of these homes are owned free and clear, •  There are 52 million homes with mortgages in the US;  97.2% of these are not in foreclosure AND 93.8% of these homes are current on their payments. Unfortunately... •  Over 20% of people with a mortgage owe more than their home is worth •  40% of all homes in foreclosure are non-owner occupied...
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
Virtual Tours: The next best thing to being thereImagine how much more you could fit into your workday if your clients already had a Virtual Walk-Thru and have already mentally moved in: => More than 84 percent of prospective home buyers start their search on the Internet=> 79% of Internet consumers choose their agent online=> Internet consumers view half as many homes in person before buying as a traditional buyer=> Internet buyers are younger, wealthier and buy more expensive homes=> Multiple photos / slide shows / virtual tours highest rated online real estate feature=> Perceived value of homes with Virtual Tours is 12% higher than listings without virtual tours or photography Patricia Aulson  www.patricia4realestate.com  Portsmouth NH Real Estate Hampton NH Real Estate              ...
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
The housing market is in trouble. But some experts say that it will start turning around in 2010. So while you are waiting for it to recover, you might want to reconsider putting off that kitchen redo or landscaping job. "Any changes you make on your house now should increase your home value later." Well now you are wondering which project will bring the most bang for your buck right? Take a look at this list starting with the upgrades that will most likely recoup your investment and then enjoy the new kitchen.   ~ Painting always provides dramatic results with little investment."Yellow is an optimistic color that gives people joy. Remember the front door is the focal point of the house so don't paint it purple!" ~Adding siding is a good upgrade especially the fiber-cement siding, Easy ...
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By Sharon Tara, Retired New Hampshire Home Stager
(Sharon Tara Transformations)
I'm not a miracle worker, I just play one on TV. Ok, so I'm not on TV and I certainly don't consider myself a miracle worker, but I have been called one.  I've also been called the "widow maker" and, as far as I know, I am not responsible for anyone's death.I'm a professional home stager in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  I assist people in preparing their homes for sale.  Now, New Hampshire isn't exactly the hub of home staging. For many people here, staging is no more than a TV show on HG-TV.  Making a living at home staging on the Seacoast...well, that may take a little while.  That's ok, because it is just a matter of time before staging becomes the real estate standard and besides, I really love what I do.  For now, the ones who understand the benefits of staging have the competitive e...
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
This is a great time for the first time home buyer. The federal government has offered up a $75000 tax credit for those that are eligible. Check out the following if interested in this credit signed into law in July '08 to help the falling housing market:   *  Applies to home purchases made after April 8, 2008 and before July 1, 2009 *  Is equal to the lower of 10% of the purchase price of the home or $7,500 for most taxpayers ($3,750 for  married people filing separate filers) *  Reduces a taxpayer's tax bill or increases  their refund. *  Is phased out based on modified adjusted gross income. *  It is fully refundable, which means the credit will be paid out to eligible taxpayer. *  It can be claimed on the '08 tax return even if the home is not purchased until '09   Eligible taxpayer...
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By Ann Cummings, Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent
(RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine)
 Portsmouth New Hampshire Real Estate Market Update - December 2008 The real estate market in Portsmouth had ups and downs in 2008.  Demand was there, inventory was there in some parts of the market and in other parts it was very lean.  Some areas in town have a pent-up demand, such as the Little Harbor area, and others have an over-supply of homes or condos on the market. Real estate in Portsmouth NH and the surrounding area is always a topic of interest for most people in this area.  As the real estate market goes, so goes most other things, it seems.  So, how did Portsmouth NH homes and condos fare in December?  Check out the numbers below: Portsmouth NH Homes - December 2008 Market Recap: 49 homes are currently for sale in PortsmouthAsking prices range from $163,900 to $1,595,000Ave...
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By Sharon Tara, Retired New Hampshire Home Stager
(Sharon Tara Transformations)
The weather gods have hit us pretty hard here in New Hampshire and it is only the beginning of January.  We still have  the whole winter season ahead of us and that means lots of snow.   When it is cold and snowy outside, there is something comforting in a bowl of soup.  What goes better with snow than soup?  Ok, hot chocolate does, but my recipe is for soup.This soup is fast and very easy to make and, depending on your ingredients, can be very healthy for you.  Turkey Meatball Soup1 large onion (cut how you prefer)olive oil5 stalks celery  (cut into large slices)5 carrots   (cut into large slices)48 oz Chicken Broth 1 small can tomatoes (I use diced)1 lb. ground turkey (or beef)Frozen corn 1/2 bag fresh spinach or 1 box frozen spinachOreganoMacaroni or rice  (1 - 2 Cups cooked)Begin by...
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By Sharon Tara, Retired New Hampshire Home Stager
(Sharon Tara Transformations)
I was passing by the patio door early one morning and noticed a cardinal in a tree outside.  It had snowed all night and the snow was still falling.  The bright red bird was so beautiful against the white background.  I got my camera and took a couple of shots before he flew away.   While making my breakfast, I looked out the window, hoping to catch another glimpse of the cardinal.  There was a blue jay at the feeder and three mourning doves resting on a branch above.   I became so obsessed with photographing the birds that I couldn't leave the kitchen area. Have you ever found yourself so caught up in the idea of capturing a picture of something that you lost all reason and became hostage to it?I lost the day, the whole day. I remained a hostage of the birds for the rest of the day.  I...
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By Shannon Aldrich, NH & Maine Real Estate Seacoast
(Keller Williams Coastal Realty)
There is "gutter talk" and then there is "gutter talk"! Let's talk about the gutters on your home - the how and whys of keeping them clean. After a heavy rainstorm or long winter some homeowners may discover that their gutters are not doing their job due to being filled to the brink with dead leaves,  dead bugs and pine needles. Maybe you looked up to find they were barely attached to the house anymore or dangerous icicles were growing from the seams! Or in the worse cases you look up to find trees growing out of the gutters! You as the homeowner have to help your gutters do their job by keeping them clean out of debris. Could be it is time to get up on the ladder to clean them out or maybe it is time to replace them all together. When looking for new gutters there is some science invol...
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By Fred Doleac, Real Estate in a Virtual World
(Fred Doleac - Bean Group)
PORTSMOUTH, NH FORECLOSED REAL ESTATE Would you like to receive Portsmouth, NH real estate foreclosure (bank-owned) listings and short sale opportunities?  If you are serious about buying a home at a great value, our local RE/MAX real estate professionals at RE/MAX Country Properties will contact you and provide: * A list of existing real estate foreclosure (bank-owned) and short sale listings(home pictured) in Portsmouth, NH and other communities you select. * Email alerts on NEW foreclosure (bank-owned) and short sale listings in the New Hampshire MLS. * Address and mapping information so that you may drive by the listings and assess the locations.   PORTSMOUTH NEW LISTING ALERTS - BE THE FIRST TO KNOW - THE BEST DEALS SELL QUICKLY!  Just tell us what towns you are interested in and s...
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By Fred Doleac, Real Estate in a Virtual World
(Fred Doleac - Bean Group)
Portsmouth NH Real Estate Portsmouth, New Hampshire is a historic city on the state's Atlantic Ocean coast. A popular summer tourist destination, Portsmouth offers a multitude of shops, restaurants, art galleries, cultural attractions, parks, beaches and historic sites for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. Portsmouth is centrally located within an hour's drive of Boston, the state capital in Concord, the cities of Nashua and Manchester, the southern coast of Maine and the scenic Lakes Region. Additionally, the snowy peaks of the White Mountains and the idyllic fishing villages of Cape Cod are just a short drive away. First explored in about 1603, Portsmouth was settled in 1630 as Piscataqua and soon renamed Strawberry Banke because of the abundant wild strawberries growing ...
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By Tina Gleisner, Home Tips for Women
(Home Tips for Women)
Hopefully everyone who lost power, or worse is still without power, found a warm place to stay last night. We’re also fortunate that temperatures are rising and most areas of Massachusetts and Southern NH did not go below freezing last night. Unfortunately more than 800,000 customers were still without power as reported by CNN last night. The freezing rain came Thursday night and Friday, knocking down trees which took out all sorts of lines. We couldn’t even call customers to cancel Friday jobs as almost noone had working phones. Here are some photos I took in Portsmouth yesterday showing some of the tree damage, and contrasting Christmas lights. The challenge to getting repairs completed: First the trees have to be removed and only then … Utility utility companies start reconnecting do...
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By Tina Gleisner, Home Tips for Women
(Home Tips for Women)
One of the great ways to get ideas for decorating your home is visiting other homes in your area. Several years ago my wonderful Victorian home in Portsmouth, NH was part of the Holiday Home Tour. Jennifer Myers, my decorator/staging friend and I had a wonderful time decorating the house … and then we visited all the other houses the day of the tour. This year’s Holiday Home Tour is Sunday, December 14th from 1 to 5pm. There are 8 beautiful homes on the self-guided tour that benefits Portsmouth Educational Partnership, a non-profit supporting after school enrichment programs. They’ve got a really exciting range of homes on this year’s tour:   An 1817 Federal Townhome in the Strawberry Banke area A Middle Street, turn-of-the-century Shingle-style style home built in 1902 Two New Englande...
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By Ann Cummings, Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent
(RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine)
Portsmouth New Hampshire Real Estate Market Update - November 2008 Everyone, it seems, is always interested in how the local Portsmouth real estate market is doing, even if they aren't in the market, either buying or selling homes or condos.  How the real estate market is doing seems to have great impact on many other aspects of local economies, and we all care about that. Someone is always looking to buy or sell real estate, and/or they know someone who is thinking about buying or selling real estate.  I get asked about real estate and the local real estate market all the time.   I love helping people achieve their real estate goals, so I never tire of these conversations! So, how did the real estate market for homes in Portsmouth NH do for the month of November 2008? Currently, we hav...
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By Sue Melhorn, Licensed in NH, ME and FL!
(The Bean Group)
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist noted in October that, "A trend away from subprime mortgages to FHA loans, which often carry much lower interest rates, is a positive development for consumers and the house market going forward.  Still, it will take some time for the change to yield a measurably higher closed sales volume in the aftermath of the subprime collapse.  In the near term, we expect home sales to remain fairly stable."  As real estate markets are local, here's what happened in the Portsmouth market in October:    19 homes sold in Portsmouth in October: -   5 single family homes, and - 12 condos, and -   2 mobile homes.   Year-to-date, 236 homes have sold in Portsmouth, NH: -107 single family homes -120 condos, and -    9 mobile homes  In addition, 18 Portsmouth homes are pend...
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By Ann Cummings, Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent
(RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine)
Portsmouth NH homes are getting ready for all the ghosts and goblins and tricks and treats coming up over the next few days!  All over town, I see homes festively decorated for the Halloween fun.                           Halloween is upon us, and with that comes all kinds of ghostly fun around the Portsmouth New Hampshire Seacoast area.  Parades, parties, gatherings, and most importantly, all that fun trick-or-treating. Portsmouth NH homeowners - get your porches and yards ready for all those fun costumed trick-or-treaters to come calling!  Here are the times for local area trick-or-treating: Portsmouth           Thursday, Oct 30, 5:30pm to 8:00pm Greenland             Thursday, Oct 30, 6:00pm to 8:00pm Hampton               Friday, Oct 31, 5:30pm to 8:00pm Exeter                   Thu...
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By Ann Cummings, Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent
(RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine)
Real Estate Market Update for Portsmouth New Hampshire Condos - September 2008 Real estate is local, VERY local!  The condo market in Portsmouth NH can be very different than the condo market in Hampton or Exeter or Dover, etc.  Make sure, when making assessments about your local real estate market, that you talk to an agent who really knows your market and can provide you with accurate detailed information. Real estate is always one of the topics of conversation wherever we go, and who isn't interested in real estate and how markets are doing!  There's always someone looking to buy a home, sell a home, or they know someone thinking about buying or selling real estate of some sort. Homebuyers and home sellers in Portsmouth NH are no different, and I get asked about the New Hampshire rea...
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By Sue Melhorn, Licensed in NH, ME and FL!
(The Bean Group)
As you may guess, I receive many requests from friends and associates for referrals to professional trades and services - everything from painters to attorneys.  Because I've received these requests, and because I operate my own business by referral, I have compiled a Business Referral Directory that lists the finest individuals and companies serving our community.  You can check out this new directory anytime on my website, www.SeacoastHomesForYou.com.  I hope you enjoy this directory and if you or someone you know would like to be a part of it, please give me a call or drop me an email. Now let's take look at what is going on in the market locally... 28 homes sold in Portsmouth in September: - 17 single family homes, and - 10 condos, and -   1 mobile home.  Year-to-date, 217 homes hav...
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