Archive for the 'Madison NH real estate' Category

CNN real estate news released an article today stating that vacation and investment home sales increased 64.5% from 2010 to 2011. The change is attributed in part to the fact that in a number of second home markets, the price of buying is equal to or less than the price of renting on a frequent basis. This undoubtedly applies to real estate here in North Conway, Bartlett, Jackson, and Madison.

284 Kearsarge Road North Conway village

Are you a frequent visitor to the White Mountains? Do you stay in hotels, rent a condo or have a membership in a ski club? Are you spending money on eating and drinking in restaurants and hauling ski, hiking, climbing and other gear back and forth between here and home? If you  have answered yes to any of those questions, you might want to consider a change in the way you vacation in Mt Washington Valley.

With prices and interest rates at incredibly low levels, there is a great selection of homes and condos available here, even if your budget is not tremendous. What’s more, instead of throwing your money away on a hotel, paying a mortgage on your own home or condo will lead you to owning an asset. In the short term, the interest (small though it is) is deductible on your taxes.

If you have considered making the transition from weekend hotel guest to Valley resident, we invite you to contact us. We look forward to helping you change the way you stay in Mt Washington Valley!

Why should you get pre-approved for financing before you start looking for a home, condo or parcel of land in North Conway, Conway, Bartlett, Jackson or Madison, NH?

• Getting pre-approved allows you to shop for a home realistically. Buyers who are pre-approved know how much they can spend which saves time and energy by preventing them from looking at homes outside their price range.
• Getting pre-approved means starting your real estate search with an education. During the pre-approval process, your lender will explain how down payments, taxes, association fees and other expenses related to a property affect the amount you can pay each month on a mortgage.
• Getting pre-approved puts you in a better position to lock in a favorable interest rate. If your lender has your financial information in advance it will be easier to lock in when rates are at their lowest.
• Getting pre-approved makes you more desirable to a seller. If a seller sees that you have already done the work of talking to a lender, they will know that you are serious about making a purchase.
• Finally, getting pre-approved will give you peace of mind. Knowing that you are ready to buy and having a budget means that all you need to do now is find a home!

Pinkham Real Estate has been helping buyers get pre-approved and find homes for over 40 years now. No matter what your price range or where you live, we can help you find a lender who is responsive and helpful. If you are thinking of buying, contact us to talk about starting your home search today!

As licensed real estate professionals we provide much more than the service of helping you find your ideal home. Realtors® are experienced in arranging fair deals. We can assist in negotiating an offer, acting as a mediator to head off potential conflicts between you and the seller, and draw up a legally binding contract. We are members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and must abide by a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice enforced by the NAR. A professional Realtor® is your best resource when buying a home.
·    As knowledgeable Realtors® we can save you endless amounts of time, money and frustration. We will discuss your motivation to buy, and we will also discuss any time constraints you might have, your financial situation and any future plans.

·    As knowledgeable Realtors® we know the housing market inside and out and can help you avoid the “wild goose chase.” We have access to the Multiple Listing Service, which is exclusive to Realtors®.

·    As knowledgeable Realtors® we know the best lenders in the area and can help you understand the importance of being pre-approved for a mortgage. We have broad and current knowledge of the financing options to home buyers-and there are many of them. At your request, we can assist you in evaluating mortgage options and obtaining financing at the most attractive prevailing rates and terms.

·    As knowledgeable Realtors® we are an excellent source for both general and specific information about the community such as schools, churches, shopping and transportation-plus tips on home inspections and pricing.

·    As knowledgeable Realtosr® we are experienced at presenting your offer to the listing agent and can help you through the process of negotiating the best terms, including price. We can bring objectivity to the buying transaction, and we can point out the advantages and the disadvantages of a particular property.

If you are looking for a property to buy or a rental, contact us at Pinkham Real Estate today. Our team is eager to help you in your homesearch!

Why use an agent when you can sell your own house? With the information available at your fingertips the added expense may seem a waste. Why not do it yourself? For that matter why not represent yourself in court? You know you are innocent. Why not perform your own yearly check up? Why pay a doctor? That lump is barely noticeable. (more…)

On Being Prepared for Lowball Offers…

You’ve decided you’re ready to list your home for sale. You find a REALTOR® you trust, and together you set what you both feel is a fair and realistic list price. After a few showings you get an offer on your home. When your REALTOR® presents the offer to you, you’re stunned and disappointed to see that it’s 20% below your list price. (more…)

Valentine’s Day is only 2 weeks away, and flowers and chocolates are nice, but what gift really says, “I love you”?

The answer of course is a home or condo in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. So this year, why not treat your Valentine to something they can enjoy not just for a day or for a week but for many years to come? Here are our recommendations for a happy Valentine’s day: (more…)

Alright, this is truly ridiculous. It just occurred to me that most Granite State residents proudly display their “Live Free or Die” license plates but don’t know the origin of the fiery state motto. Well I’m not proud of my ignorance, and I set off to enlighten myself—and potentially you, the reader. Okay, here’s the scoop: “Live Free or Die” was first uttered by John Stark, perhaps New Hampshire’s most famous Revolutionary War figure. It was actually just a piece of a toast he had written for a reunion of the Battle Of Bennington soldiers (Stark was unable to attend due to poor to health) in 1809. The toast was written as follows: “Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils”. The motto made its debut on non- commercial license plates in 1971 and remains on plates today. Okay, that concludes today’s history lesson. Now some more fun facts: (more…)

Ben enjoyed his home buying experience with Pinkham so much he decided to join the team!
Mount Washington Valley has been Ben’s home for 30 years.  A Kennett High School and University of New Hampshire alum, his prior work experience is in the banking and hospitality sectors.  Ben comes to real estate with a strong “customer first” sensibility and dedication to service.  He is excited to provide prospective clients with a unique blend of New England hospitality and local knowledge.
Outside the office, Ben, and his wife Tara (who teaches at John Fuller Elementary School in North Conway) stay busy keeping up (or trying to) with their twin boys’ academic and athletic pursuits.  Although officially retired from his 15 year softball career, Ben stays active with golf, hiking, snowshoeing, and coaching his sons.
Here at Pinkham Real Estate, Ben will specialize in residential listing and sales and will manage Pinkham’s long term and seasonal rental division. If you are interested in renting or have a property you’d like to rent, you can find Ben at 800-322-6921 x15 or ben@pinkhamrealestate.com.

We are very excited to welcome Ben to our team!

The short, cold days of winter are upon us once again. While those who live here may relish the falling of snow and warmth of a fire during wintertime, the season does present challenges for sellers. Yet winter home sales can and do happen. Here are some tips for getting your home or condo sold during the winter.

1) Turn on the lights. With daylight waning before 4 PM these days, you can’t count on a sunny day to make your home look bright. Make sure all of the light bulbs in your home are working and all of the lights are on (even in closets) before a showing. It may be a little extra electricity, but buyers view well-lit homes much more favorably than dark ones.

2) Make sure driveways and walkways are clear. Talk about a bad first impression! If a potential buyer slips and trips walking into the house it’s unlikely they will want to see the positive features of the exterior of the home or walk through the elements to a detached garage.

3) Clean entryways and (for condos) common areas. Make use of coat racks, boot trays, and hooks to keep winter clothing organized. In condos, cleaning the entry way will give the appearance of a well-run association.

4) Keep wood burning stoves and fireplaces neat and tidy. Everyone loves to sit and watch a warm fire. However where there’s fire, there’s ash, sawdust and dirt. Emphasize the romantic side of burning wood by keeping the area around the wood stove dirt and ash free and by making sure the fire is burning brightly when the buyers come through for a showing.

5) Clean and deodorize. Cooking  and pet smells have nowhere to go during the cold months when we keep our doors and windows closed. Unless they are the smells of freshly baked cookies, it is unlikely they will contribute positively to a showing.

6) Show buyers what the house looks like in fairer weather. Leave a photo album or some other type of display showing the home and landscaping in the summer and fall months.

Homes and condos can and do sell during the winter months, and if you are currently trying to sell, hopefully this advice will help. For a free market analysis, please contact us here at Pinkham Real Estate. We are happy to chat with you and will work hard to sell your home. Think snow!