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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)
Several months ago many New Hampshire sellers took their houses off the market or let their listings expire, intending to relist in the Spring. Spring is fast approaching.If you are one of those sellers whose first attempt at finding a buyer was a failure, you may want to consider a different approach this time. As Dr. Phil would say, "you need to do an autopsy of your past experience" in order to avoid the same negative outcome.  Before you list your house, take a good hard look at what you did the first time and what you need to do differently this time in order to achieve a more successful result.   Evaluate your Realtor's performance and determine whether you should relist with them or find a new Realtor.This is tricky...Sellers tend to blame poor results on the Realtor, when they a...
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
Yet another snowy day in the "Live Free Or Die State" of NH today.It's snowing quite hard as I write this blog and I've just listened to the weather channel with storm warnings for 8 inches of snow today and tonight into tomorrow. Yikes!!  The kids have missed so many school days they will be going to school this summer into July to make up for the days lost.  I would never have made it beyond a week, if that, as a pioneer. I hate winter and here I am a native New Eng lander....However, according to the calendar there is 20 days until SPRING (what a happy word) and 7 more days until we set the clocks ahead for day light savings!! OMG....I can't wait for spring- what a happy word. Mentally I guess I can deal with it better than I did in November or December that's for sure. I will NEVER ...
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
Stopping Trigger Leads You're about to enter into one of the biggest transactions of your life, and the last thing you need is a loan rep calling you and offering up phony interest rates. Deal with a trusted professional, not some telemarketer. Don't ever buy anything over the phone. Here are three ways to stop trigger lead harassment:   Put your name and phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. You can register your cell phone number as well. Do this at least a month before you apply for a loan because it takes 31 days to become effective. Make a note to re-register every five years because the order expires at the end of five years.   To prevent mortgage lenders from sending you direct mail, you will need to register with the Direct Mail Association. Whether you register onl...
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
When it comes to mistakes on your credit report it is imperative that you the consumer fix them, You can fix them yourself or pay someone to do it, but it needs to corrected if the information is incorrect. With that one free credit report a year, check everything on there as see that it is accurate, relating to you Check names, SS #, dates, look for mysterious accounts, and Reason codes.  Don't leave inaccuracies on the report and DON"T close out any credit cards. Being proactive is the key to good credit. You should get the rating you deserve.  CHECK YOUR CREDIT TODAY!   Portsmouth 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 )
Color can change how you feel about a house and has an instantaneous effect I've heard.  Have any of you gone into a house and been turned off immediately? I was in a great house the other day but the color scheme just turned off my buyer and myself! Yikes...not all of  L o v e purple and red for a bedroom...right! Well that was the end of that house in a hurray. Some people just don't get it .  A natural, soft livable color will do lots to help your house sell and sell quickly. If you are market your home you'd be wise to change the purple and red rooms to soft yellow or beige. Pick a color scheme to complement your home. You'll be glad you did. For more worthwhile real estate tips and help marketing your home go to www.patricia4realestate.com to search the entire MLS system at your co...
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
Five retrofit buyers love.   1.  Tile a backsplash 2.  Undercounter Lighting 3.  Paint the Upper Cabinets in the Kitchen (change the color, go for a different look) 4.  Glass panels to some of the cabinets 5.  Change the hardware or reface cabinet doors.   Spring is a great time to clean house and spruce up the house. You might want to consider doing some of the above to brighten your house for spring. You might want to check on real estate properties in NH ME & MA so go to www.patricia4realestate.com to search the entire MLS system anytime.  Call Patricia direct at (603) 844-1465. I look forward to hearing from you anytime!  
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
~ Your medical records are going to go ~ "ONLINE" ~   I just heard this on television. What about our privacy?  Yest this will be more efficent being electronic and computerized but this might mean that anyone coule have access to our medical issure.  I do thin this will have to be dealt with the right way in order to work correctly. Like anything new, the world continues to change and we have to change with it.  What next?     Portsmouth NH Real Estate   www.patricia4realestate.com   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 "Live Free Or Die State" of New Hampshire is a wonderful place to be anytime of year. This year especially has been trying, very cold and snowy and we experienced a sever ice storm that left thousands without power.  With that said, I still love NH. I love the different seasons, one never gets bored. It's always a pleasure to welcome in the "new season."  The Atlantic ocean is very near where I live and when you go to the beach and look out at the great expanse it's incredible how huge it is. Boston is only a hour's drive, what a fun city to visit, lots to do there for all ages. Less than an hour to the mountains if you like to ski....hey NH has it all.  If your ever in NH give me a call. I'll show you around. www.patricia4realestate.com to search the entire MLS at your fingertips. ...
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By Tina Gleisner, Home Tips for Women
(Home Tips for Women)
We started 4 Walls 1 Roof more than 2 years ago, and we've participated in more than 20 events since our first home show in March of 2007. We've started a tradition of Open Houses, or you can think of them as mini Home Shows as 4 Walls member businesses all provide services and/or products related to ... Creating * Maintaining * Enhancing the Home                             We're inviting all HOMEOWNERS and others interested in anything home, to join us this coming Friday, February 13, 2009 for our 2nd Annual Open House. Here are the details: Why: We had more than 150 people join us last time, and we had a blast! When: Friday, February 13, 2009 ... 4 to 8pm Where: B&C Floor Store, 145 Mirona Rd in Portsmouth NH Owners Carol and Brett joined 4 Walls in 2008 Who: YOU and lots of people y...
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By Sharon Tara, Retired New Hampshire Home Stager
(Sharon Tara Transformations)
If you're looking for advice on how to prepare your house for sale, you don't have to look very long.  Home staging advice is on HGTV and all over the Internet.  There certainly isn't a shortage of information on the subject. The problem is that generalized terms like "update" and "depersonalize" aren't specific enough.  And of course...No checklist for preparing a home for sale would be complete without including the term "declutter."  It has to be the most frequently used term in real estate preparation today. Knowing you need to declutter is only helpful if you know how to declutter.Uncertainty can leave you feeling overwhelmed with the task ahead. The problem, as I see it:  your definition, your agent's definition, and my definition of "declutter" are probably all the same: to remov...
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
Top 5 Preferences for Kitchen, Bathroom, and More According to the National Association of Home Builders’ Consumer Preferences survey, these are the features most in demand among today’s buyers. Top 5 Kitchen Features 1. Walk in pantry: 86 percent 2. Island work area: 80 percent 3. Special use storage (custom made for appliances): 66 percent 4. Built-in microwave: 72 percent 5. Drinking water filtration: 69 percent Top 5 Bathroom Features 1. Linen closet: 89 percent 2. Exhaust fan: 88 percent 3. Separate shower enclosure: 79 percent 4. Water temperature control: 79 percent 5. Whirlpool tub: 66 percent Top 5 Specialty Areas 1. Laundry room: 92 percent 2. Dining room: 81 percent 3. Home office: 71 percent 4. Den/library: 63 percent 5. Sun room: 53 percent Top 5 Decorative Features 1. Ceil...
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
Seacoast Board of Realtors Meeting brings good news.... PORTSMOUTH NH— The Seacoast area along with the rest of the state is somewhat of an anomaly when it comes to the current national housing market, area demographer Peter Francese told a crowd that gathered Wednesday during the Seacoast Board of Realtors "State of the Seacoast" news conference.Because of a lower-than-average unemployment rate both in the Seacoast and at the state level, and the fact that federal interest rates have dropped to a historic low, Francese said the daily headlines about the faltering real estate market don't necessarily apply to Granite Staters."When economic recovery starts, when recovery starts in the housing market, New Hampshire is in the very best position of any state in this region and in most of th...
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
I saw this and thought I'd put it out there for people to read. This morning, ABC’s Good Morning America ran a story on buyers who are swooping in to view and snatch up bargains amid record-low home values.  This Michigan listing on Zillow, featured on the show, has attracted nearly 14,000 page views already today in the few hours since the story aired. Anecdotally, we’re also hearing from some agents that Open Houses are attracting visitor numbers they haven’t seen in months. But the most compelling evidence to us that buyers are watching… lurking… comes in the form of our January site traffic measured by Omniture, seen in the chart below.  After a record-breaking December, Zillow’s January traffic hit an all-time high — 7.5 million unique visitors — a number up 30 percent over Decembe...
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
Good News ~ “The amendment approved Wednesday, which must still be approved by the House of Representatives, could begin to address their concerns. It was offered by Sen. Johnny Isakson, a conservative Republican from Georgia, and Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, a former Democrat turned independent.   "It is time to fix America's problem, not throw money at the symptoms," Isakson said.   The amendment would expand for one year an existing $7,500 tax credit for first-time home buyers to all purchasers of principal residences. And it would boost the credit as high as $15,000, or 10 percent of the home price, whichever is less.” With this amendment  the housing market across the country will see an uptick along with   Portsmouth NH Real Estate  If you are looking for property in invite ...
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
be leary of these "FREE CREDIT REPORT SCAMS" that are out there on the internet.  They'll tell you it's free and that if you don't want it with a 10 day period you can cancel out of it.  The catch is that when you go to do this it doesn't work. They purposely make it difficult to opt out by difficulty within the system. This way they have you and can charge your credit card monthly. Watch you invoice carefully when it comes in each month as well and see if that's the case.  These things catch you unaware . So be on the lookout and don't give out your credit card on line unless you are very surce it's a reputible company.   Search the entire MLS free aE  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 )
Curb appeal is so important. Good interior photos are a big factor to those looking on line, the outside is crucial.  Take a good long look at the outside of your home and ask yourself if it is visually appealing. If it's over grown with bushes, and trees this can be fixed by someone who knows what  are doing. Trimming can be so helpful and make the house appear larger to the eye.  Remember to keep the front of the house  clar of debris, toys, lawn machinery, trash cans and the like as well.  Then there's the trim house itself, the trim often needs painting as do the stairs at times, If there are any missing shutters, replace them as well. Remember like the inside, you are trying to paint a picture for the person who is looking and thinking about viewing your home. I liken this to a "fi...
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
                                                          When something has the quality of being of uniform throughout in it's composition or structure or has the quality of being similar or comparable in kind or nature we call it homogenoeous. Land has some of this quality. Land is indestructable and immobile. Parcels of land share some of this homogenous quality. But when land has a lack of uniformity, when it is considered unlike other parcels of land, dissimilar so to speak, there is another term which describes land of this nature. What is the term that describes this lack of uniformity ? Please take your time. The answer is posted below the wildlife photo. A. Non homogeneity Real estate is said to be nonhomogenous because no two parcels of real estate are consisdered to be exact...
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
  February is a wonderful month to get away from the cold New England weather and most children have a school vacation. If you are planning a vacation remember to safe-guard your home. There are many different things you can do to dissuade intrudors. First, if you are close with any of your neighbors, let them know when you'll be gone. Most neighbors will keep an eye out for you. Notify your newspaper and letter carrier so papers & mail are not piled in front of your house. Check all of your outside lights and make sure they are working properly, then set some on a timer. Inside your home, lights can also be set on a timer so it looks like someone is home. If you have a house alarm, test it to make sure it is working properly and notify your alarm company along with your local police to...
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By Patricia Aulson, Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes
(BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate )
We are truly blessed here in America.  Each day there is something to be thankful for unlike other countries around the world. While the economy is bad, we still have our freedom.  Today the sun is shining, I'm still able to do for myself and can stand on my own two feet without the help of others.There is food in the cabinets, I can see the beautiful smile on my daughter's face today and hug her tenderly. Sing a song, watch the birds at the feeder. There is much to be happy about. Play with your cat or dog. Read a good book...don't give up!  I love the saying,  "when the going gets tough, the tough get going!"  Get going and find around you the blessings , they are there you just need to be open to them.  God Bless.....   Portsmouth NH Real Estate   www.patricia4realestate.com   Hampto...
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By Sharon Tara, Retired New Hampshire Home Stager
(Sharon Tara Transformations)
Preparing your home for sale? You are not alone, many New Hampshire Seacoast homeowners are hoping to find a buyer, and your house has plenty of competition on the market.  To guarantee you make the best impression on buyers, I suggest you keep in mind that "sensory" appeal is just as important as "curb" appeal. SIGHTThe visual appearance of a house prompts potential buyers more than any other factor.Once homeowners step inside, they decide almost immediately whether or not they want to buy. It is essential that their first impression be a positive one. The entryway should be spotless, clutter free and welcome them with a feeling of home.Clean or freshly painted walls and spotlessly clean or brand new carpeting are a must. Hardwood floors must be in excellent condition. Floor tile shoul...
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