A run on the high-end homes is a direct result of the removal of stagnant or unsecured assets from other accounts. Many of my Active Rain Bothers and sisters would agree that the vacation home market suffers the most when people aren't comfortable spending large sums of discretionary dollars. I seems the reverse is true in my neighborhood, sure not everyone runs out and buys vacation homes when the financial markets are volatile. But the ones that are ,have been buying the cream of the crop and why not they have the expendable cash to put down. Many are trying to lower account balance's to the point were their money is FDIC insured ($100,000 / account holder- per bank). Many have decided spending money of a vacation home means spending time with family. Why stress about your up & down p... 09/28/2008

  800,000 Acres in New Hampshire and western Maine With 6 million visitors Annually: Backpack, camp picnic, and drive through beautiful scenic by-ways     The Kancamagus , Mountain Streams & 41 -4,000+ foot peaks        Winter - Spring - Summer - &-Fall The area offer 1,200 miles of hiking trails - 400 miles of snowmobile trails 160 miles of the Appalachian trail, Major ski areas serving nearly a million skiers /year.     Mount Washington is the highest peak north of the Smokey Mountains and east of the Mississippi, and Tuckerman Ravine can be skied until July.    Protecting and ensuring the quality of water resources is a forest priority * 12,000 acres of wetlands * 4,750 miles of streams * 67 lakes  The Flume is part of the State park system in New Hampshire as is the Cannon Mountain ... 09/23/2008

The great thing about living in a resort town is:Visitors are here to have fun. Sometimes they become so caught up in the vacation life style it occurs to them "wouldn't it be great to live like this year-round?" I have walk-in customers every week that come in and say: We have vacationed in the White Mountains for years and would love to move here" Steve can you "tell us how to do that". Sure find something you love to do here and remake your lifestyle to fit that income. Unless you have enough money stocked away not to have to work any more, you will have to work hard at being happy with less income than you are used to. If your job allows you to tele-commute that is the solution, if you work at a business where your presence is required you have a problem. You see we get to live in b... 09/21/2008

The Stock Market sucks, returns on FDIC insured accounts are abysmal, and taking a vacation is expensive. Have I just described your baby-boomer life's issues. I have a simple solution with the perfect timing for your 5-10-20 year retirement plan. Many of my clients are purchasing Vacation homes, where they love to recreate and can see themselves living after retirement. The soft market presents great opportunities For retirement property planning. Buy now while prices are down and rent until you can move into your mountain home full-time. There are two options in a resort town, rent your place short term and be able to vacation 14 days a year while still making periodic maintenance visits or have a yearly lease which relieves you of the utilities and gives you a fixed monthly income. B... 09/17/2008

September 5th: Artist Rosemary Conroy will be displaying her Wildlife paintings. Rosemary is a freelance-writer, naturalist and Award Winning Artist, and her art will be on display for the entire month of September. Rosemary Conroy will be at the Lincoln Art Gallery from 5pm to 8pm in person to talk about her work and her art please stop by to see her beautiful paintings(refreshments will be served). Rosemary has been featured on; New Hampshire Chronicle, was named as one of the states "renaissance Women" and was also named the "New Hampshire Environmental Educator of the year". Rosemary is a juried member of the N.H.Arts association, the N.H. Chapter of Women's Caucus for the Arts, and the Oil Painters of America. Please visit her web site : www.studiobuteo.com , call the art Gallery f... 09/05/2008

 Loon Mountain Ski Resort , Lincoln New Hampshire at the South Mountain Development, ski slope side custom homes. With any question there are two sides of the coin, yes the market has slowed - But people still want what they want and in time they will find away to accommodate their wishes. To this end many real estate buyers have chosen to purchase land in a location that can't be duplicated in the future, once that is wrapped up building becomes the focus. We have stayed the custom builders course for 35 years, and one principal that has allowed us to stay busy no matter the times is. Use the price of materials that your customers will actually choose from. Now that may sound simple but we hear time and again that competing builders are low balling the flooring cabinets, and other key ... 08/30/2008

So you would like to experience some breath taking scenery, but not work too hard to see it. Have I got a state park for you.There is a little climbing involved but nothing strenuous, more of a stroll with hills than a full on hike. You'll see beautiful water falls, pass through a covered bridge, move along the board walk into the deep caverns of the Flume, and learn a little New Hampshire History.                              The thing that amazes me every day is what spectacular views, hikes, and attractions visitors and locals alike can get to in less than a mile from Interstate Rte 93. National parks, skiing and family favorite attractions are all available in Lincoln NH. Come see the White Mountains and enjoy the comfort and convenience of our small town with Big things to offer. L... 08/23/2008

 Loon Mountain view From a Lincoln NH Condo The New England Ski Pass: Loon Mountain (NH) Sugarloaf & Sunday River (both in Maine) are being offer for the first time on one pass. If you love to Ski in New England but want the choice of a few (of the Best ski )Mountains this is your pass. Here at Loon We have added one of the Steepest pitched trails in all of New England (Rip Saw) and now under the leadership of Boyne Mountain Management, we have added 20 new fan guns, and 50 new tower guns. If you thought Loon could cover the trails with snow in a hurry before you haven't  seen nothing yet. The Maine Connection is the Boyne Mountain Management team, Which runs ten other ski resorts in the U.S. and Canada. I am guessing there will be some additional multi-mountain passes to cover the whol... 08/16/2008

 August 30-31 ; Labor Day weekend, Family fun Festival, In addition to all Loons regular activities there will be a family Bar-B-Q, family games and live entertainment.  September 19-23 2008 / 33rd. Annual New Hampshire Highland Games, A celebration of Scottish Culture, featuring Live piping competitions, Sheep dog trials,athletic events, whiskey tastings, Scottish fare, and evening dinners and dances.  October (Oktober) 11-12th Oktoberfest weekend, enjoy the traditional German Fare, and some liquid refreshments, while viewing the fall foliage at it's most spectacular. For more Summer /Fall/ Winter/ and Spring/ activities,  Come to the White Mountains..we have a saying here: We're Gravities Playground.                                    08/16/2008

My top ten list of things that vacationers and local residents  love about Lincoln New Hampshire.  Loon Mountain Resort, Ski area, gondola rides, caves, events, four season recreation area, hotel and spa, cross country skiing, horse back riding, climbing wall and more.  The Flume state park water falls, cover bridge, hiking,  board walks through the caverns and great mountain views, a Lincoln Land Mark.  Papermill Theatre, the North Country Center for the Arts, Live musicals, children's plays and cultural events for over 25 years, a favorite summer time event. The Kancamagus Scenic Highway, a nationally recognized federal park, with the highest elevation roads (open all year) in the East, needless to say great mountain views and swimming areas.  Clark's Trading Post, an 80 year traditio... 08/08/2008

 Black Diamond trail:Rip Saw There are places on the new trail with elevation changes so radical, it's been difficult to find the right equipment to complete the new slope. Last ski season saw the grand opening of the South Mountain slopes: Boom Run and Cruiser, plus the high speed detachable Quad chair lift (The Pemi Express), this year the Rip Saw trail will be added to the mix, for some new and even more steep terrain. The glades trails (woods skiing) will be improved by the access created by Rip Saw, and two additional lifts are on the horizon. The South Peak Resort (new Slope side homes and condos):  Are getting closer to not only ski home access (which they have already) but also ski to the lifts access which is currently in the works. I know ski season is still a few months away ... 08/04/2008

Now is the best time to buy Real Estate in the United States- Why the Experts Agree!!  In an interview six months ago, Warren Buffet (Financial Expert) was asked how he would determine when real estate had hit it's bottom. Mr. Buffet Suggested looking back at the prior year, that now was the time to buy, and in fact added he was buying now!.  A few months ago , American Express Publication had conducted it annual Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America. The survey revealed that 77% of the wealthiest people in the country believe real estate presented a real opportunity now, and many of the respondent said they plan to buy this year. A Wall Street Journal interview with Cyril Moulle-Berteaux, Managing partner of NY hedge fund traxis partners LP, suggests that "the Housing market is bot... 07/31/2008

 Summertime fun!                                                Deer Park Resort in North Woodstock, NH is a great place to have your next family vacation!  Swim in the resort lake, or inside year-round. At the Deer Park Reort there is also, tennis courts, basketball, racquetball, exercise rooms, fish in the Pemi river. Skiing is 5 minutes away in Lincoln at Loon Mountain. For a change you could also travel to Cannon Mountain, Bretton Woods or Waterville Valley.  More photos can be found here:  Deer Park Resort - North Woodstock, NH - Loon Mountain - Lincoln, NH 07/30/2008

The Garden Party, A benefit for the North Country Center for the Arts & Papermill Theatre.   August 3rd, 2008 at 5 pm. Your colorful hostesses Kathleen O'Connor & Dolores Reed, have once again opened their eclectic home to visitors. Entertainment will be provided by the Papermill Theatre Company, Fine food and curious cocktails will be provided by the Woodstock Inn, Station & Brewery. Your $50.00 donation will be entirely devoted to the Playhouse and their costs of putting on quality live stage performances. A live auction will be happening during the event, featuring exotic trips, local merchants wares, and lift passes to Loon Mountain as some of the items the party goers will be able to bid on. The ever popular 50/50 raffle will be on going throughout the evening, with live music and... 07/30/2008

Front of the house, with just a glimpse of the South Mountain Ski Slopes in the back ground (upper right hand corner of the picture). This was a modular home we built a few years ago, with an over sized garage to accommodate a furnace room with outside access to keep workers from going through the house. Much of the main level features birch flooring, the kitchen has matching birch cabinets, the main level offers a master bedroom / bath combination with a total of 4 bedrooms and 3 & 1/2 baths. We used a unique vinyl siding that looks like cedar shakes but if you touch it you will realize this is a maintenance free surface.   Hows this for a back yard?, There is a little over a quarter of an acre of landscaped yard, with nice flowering plants and manicured grass- but this is the view th... 07/27/2008

 An expired listing came to get his keys back. I Asked so what are you going to do now? The seller said I'm going with a bigger name with national exposure, I never burn a bridge so I said good Luck! By the way are you still convinced that you will get the asking price you have had on it for 6 months (even though the stats I have been showing you all along, are 20% lower?). The seller said yes I will be listing it at that same price... that I NEED TO SELL IT FOR, well then like I said good luck. Big Box or black hole? I have an offer in with a national name, for a client-buyer, it has been 5 days. There was a counter from the seller on day one, and my buyer reached back with more money to make their offer better. The listing office told me they would convey it as soon as the agent I sho... 07/26/2008

The Macfarlan Group a Texas real Estate investment partnership is being represented on the East Coast at the South Mountain Resort (Development) at Loon Mountain Lincoln NH. I guess even this far from Texas Bigger is always better. Several of the homes currently under construction have eclipses 2 million dollars. The feature that these custom show places have in common, is slope side access, with Ski to your back door designs and year round recreational activities so close you can touch it .   The patch of grass separating the new home you see in the back ground is a new ski trail coming off the Boom Run Slopes at, Loon's South Mountain. This is the front of the same home pictured above, the small peaked roof you see above the garage is a mud room and bridge out the back door so you can... 07/23/2008

 South Peak Resort, recorded the highest prices land sale this year at $550,000 for a slope side ski to your door location, and the Highest price home sale this year at $875,000. The home pictured above is listed for $979,900 is new construction at 4,000 square feet and is finished in an Adirondack style in side and out. Over all homes and condos- sales fell from the (January - June of 2007) period / With 67 sales  to this years first half statistics (January 1st- June 30th 2008) with just 39 sales (sale were off 40%). The good news was the average price Was up 27% and for the homes & condos sold the Average square footage was up 20%. The Ski resort properties that are selling are the higher end properties consisting of larger floor plans and better quality locations. The lower end of t... 07/20/2008

 The Lodge at Lincoln Station 1 & 2 Bedroom condos The Lodge offers one stop recreation, in-door pool, game room , saunas, great- room with fire place and WiFi, plus shuttle service from your front door small condos from $4,800 plus utilities for  November 2008 until May 2009's Ski Season.  Jack O'Lantern Resort 3 bedroom & Loft duplex Great bang for the buck a little further from the ski slopes but only $7,000 for the season, and offering indoor club facilities, large living space,4 sleeping areas, and a fireplace, features gas heat, and the golf side condos are great for the cross country ski enthusiast, snowmobiling access on site so bring your machine and ride the trails throughout the White Mountains.  The Links at South Mountain 3 bedroom 3 bath This building Offers a 3 level town... 07/08/2008

 This New Musical comedy, inspired and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley, tell the fictional story of a guitar-playing roustabout who brings romance, rebellion and rock'n'roll into the life of a small town girl. This show is in the style of Grease and Footloose and promises to be a crowd pleaser (not recommended for children under 8 years old) Opening Night July 2nd 2008  An affectionate revue of the close-harmony guy group that reached the height of their popularity in the 1950's. En route to pick up their custom- made plaid Tuxedos, the "Plaids" are slammed broadside and killed instantly. It is at this moment when their careers and lives ended, and that is where the story of Forever Plaid begins. See Schedule on line or call box office  Based upon the 1997 movie of the same name, t... 07/02/2008