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Portsmouth, NH Real Estate News

By Judy Tuscano, NH Real Estate Professional
(Prudential Verani Realty)
      We took a Sunday drive up the coast of New Hampshire and stopped in at the Pumpkin Patch to check out what they had to offer.     The signs indicated fresh homemade pies, baked goods, fall decorations, gourds of differing sizes and shapes and of course pumpkins. These are not just your usual pumpkins though - these pumpkins are grown and shipped to New Hampshire from the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. The proceeds from the sale of the pumpkins are split between the Portsmouth First United Methodist Church and the Navajo Indians. There are pumpkins of all sizes and shapes so bring the kids down to the Pumpkin Patch on 129 Miller Ave in Portsmouth, NH to choose one for each member of your family. I'm told that because the pumpkins are grown in  the dry New Mexico climate they last lo...
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By Ann Cummings, Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent
(RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine)
Portsmouth NH Real Estate Market Update  - September 2008 Real estate is always one of the topics of conversation wherever we go, because who isn't interested in real estate and how markets are doing!  Someone is always looking to buy a home, sell a home, or they know someone thinking about buying or selling real estate of some sort. Home sellers and home buyers in Portsmouth NH are no different, and I get asked about the New Hampshire real estate market all the time.  I love real estate, and helping people buy and sell homes and condos, so I never tire of real estate conversations!   Here is how the real estate market here in Portsmouth did for the month of September 2008: We currently have 82 homes listed for sale through the Multiple Listing System (MLS), with the average asking pric...
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By Sharon Tara, Retired New Hampshire Home Stager
(Sharon Tara Transformations)
Over the years I have made my share of Halloween costumes and many of them have been pretty creative.There are plenty of great costumes available at the stores, but if you really want to make some memories, try making your own or making costumes for your kids.  It can be so much fun!  Animal costumes are always popular and youcan get a simple pattern that will enable you to make many different animals. Depending on the shape of the ears, type oftail and choice of fabric, one pattern can go along way. Years ago I created these costumes for mychildren to be The Three Bears, using mydaughter's Cabbage Patch Kid as Baby Bear.    The same pattern was used to make Bo Peep's lamb.   I was so happy with this half girl/half boy costume I made my daughter, that I decidedto make an adult version: ...
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By Ann Cummings, Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent
(RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine)
Thinking about selling your home or condo in Portsmouth NH?   If so, this is a great season to help enhance the beauty of your home!  Fall colors and scents are glorious here in New Hampshire and Maine.  Embrace them and put them to use to help showcase your condo or home to potential Portsmouth homebuyers.  Fall here in the Seacoast is just gorgeous, and these tips will help you incorporate that beauty into your Portsmouth NH home to help potential buyers see that beauty as well! Some of these tips are common sense, and some add a really nice welcoming feeling to potential buyers and their agents, and they all offer homeowners easy things to think about doing if their home is for sale. --   "Curb Appeal" - never forget to think about those all-important 'first impressions'.  With the g...
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By Ann Cummings, Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent
(RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine)
                             Portsmouth NH - Early Morning Views From the Sidewalks Around TownPortsmouth New Hampshire is such an awesome town to live in, and to visit as well.  We have all kinds of things to do here for everyone and we're a beautiful port city full of history.  Portsmouth was settled in 1623 after all, so it would be natural to have living history all around us here, and we do. Our neighborhoods are full of beautiful homes, both old and new, many with wonderful welcoming porches, and sidewalks to take you wherever you want.  Beautiful old trees line many of our streets, friendly greetings from residents, bright and colorful gardens everywhere you look - a fabulous place to call home. This morning I decided to go for an early morning walk.  The air was crisp and dry, t...
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By Sue Melhorn, Licensed in NH, ME and FL!
(The Bean Group)
Check this out...Save $1000 on Your Next Home Purchase! With rates dipping recently, housing prices low plus a $1,000 credit at closing, I can't think of a better reason to start looking for a new home or investment property.  If you have interest, let me know.  Or, if you know of someone who could use our services and a $1,000 credit, please pass this along.  Carol and I love referrals!! Now let's take look at what is going on in the market locally... 26 homes sold in Portsmouth in August: - 11 single family homes, and - 15 condos.  Year-to-date, 189 homes have sold in Portsmouth, NH: -85 single family homes -98 condos, and -  6 mobile homes In addition, 7 Portsmouth homes went pending with active contracts in August. For more real estate information, check out my website www.SeacoastH...
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Dryer fires account for over $9,000 in damage to residential buildings annually. For every 1,000 residential dryer fires, there are an average of 33 injuries and 1.2 deaths. Dryer fires peak during the winter months of November through March and occur most commonly between the hours of noon and nine in the evening. Failure to properly maintain dryer vents is the leading cause of dryer fires. Other causes of dryer fires include improper venting material, storage of combustible material near the dryer and mechanical or electrical problems.    To ensure safety in the home and to prevent clothes dryer fires, consumers should take the following actions:    •·         Keep a working fire extinguisher, designed for use in the laundry area •·         Test smoke detectors periodically, replacing...
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By Shannon Aldrich, NH & Maine Real Estate Seacoast
(Keller Williams Coastal Realty)
Whist! Whist? What is Whist? Whist is a card game. Every Wednesday night at 6:30pm at the Moose Hall in Portsmouth they have a Whist Card Party. It is set up in a round robin fashion. You buy into the game for a whopping $2. After every hand you move down one seat and play with new partners. After 10 hands everyone breaks for snacks. Some of the best brownies around, I am telling you! Everyone brings a small treat to share and coffee/water is provided. Then we play another ten hands. At the end of the night the winner is the one with the most tricks. Tricks? Yup. Here is a basic overview of the game. Derived from a older game called Ruff and Honours it was widely played in the 18th and 19th centuries. Similar in play to bridge but it moves faster. The classic game is a plain trick game ...
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By Sue Melhorn, Licensed in NH, ME and FL!
(The Bean Group)
Although, the housing market has slowed, Housing Predictor, an independent real estate market forecaster says that the next 12 months will be the best time to invest in the U.S. housing market.  I know what you're thinking...just another real estate agent telling me to get into the market.  BUT, veteran real estate investors know that when it looks bad, that is the time to pull the trigger and buy real estate to have the highest probability of making top profits.  With this said I'm hoping you can do me a favor...if you hear of someone who might like to take advantage of this market, would you give me a call or send me an email?  I'd be happy to follow up and take great care of any of your friends or family interested in taking advantage of this market. Now let's take look at what is go...
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Clothes dryers with venting problems are a leading cause of house fires costing millions of dollars annually    Concord, NH--Clothes dryers are a wonderful invention, but they do require maintenance to assure safety in homes.  The National Fire Prevention Administration reports over 15,000 fires annually, costing millions of dollars, many injuries and loss of lives.  Consumers in New Hampshire have been emailing DVW to thank them for their advice and safety tips offered on their website.   Dryer Vent Wizard advises proper maintenance and installation; dryer vents should be as short as possible and contain few bends and turn which can inhibit venting and cause lint to build up and clog the vent.  Dryer Vent Wizard does not advise use of sheet metal screws when attaching multiple sections...
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By Sue Melhorn, Licensed in NH, ME and FL!
(The Bean Group)
Summer is here!  And, this is always a busy time for real estate because who really wants to move when snow is falling right?!  Let's see how the Portsmouth real estate market has fared over the last month:  33 homes sold in Portsmouth in June: - 19 single family homes, - 13 condos, and -   1 mobile home.  Year-to-date, 134 homes have sold in Portsmouth, NH: -60 single family homes -70 condos, and -  4 mobile homes In addition, 16 Portsmouth homes went pending with active contracts in June. I have also listed a couple of properties you might be interested in this month.  Just click on the links below for more information. **22 Muirfield Drive in Stratham, NH--a stunning 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath colonial priced at $649,900. **287 Austin Street in Portsmouth, NH--a charming English "cottage" h...
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By Shannon Aldrich, NH & Maine Real Estate Seacoast
(Keller Williams Coastal Realty)
Living on the Seacoast one of the best things to do is be a tourist in your own backyard. Walking is one of my all time favorite activities. I am blessed to have lived in downtown Portsmouth for 20 years. Portsmouth is the ultimate walking town on the Seacoast. From my current home I can walk to the office, church, the library, dozens of restaurants, 2 theaters, Prescott Park, Hannaford's Supermarket and 2 pharmacies. There is never a dull moment living in Portsmouth. On any given nght you can find live music, dancing, buskers on the street, fishing off the piers, darts, pool, movies, book groups and more. My all time favorite walk is, of course the Downtown Loop. Coming in on State Street by the John Paul Jones House and the Rockingham Hotel go all the way down to the end - to the righ...
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By Shannon Aldrich, NH & Maine Real Estate Seacoast
(Keller Williams Coastal Realty)
Well, let's take a look at the numbers to see what has been happening in Portsmouth for single family and condominium sales: 2008 Q2 Total Sales 74 - Average Sale Price $351,409 - DOM 121 2007 Q2 Total Sales 106 - Average Sale Price $336,922 - DOM 133 The obvious is not as many homes sold this year compared to last year. Our total units sold is down 30.18% but lo and behold our sales price is up by 4.19% and days on market have reduced by 12 days or 9%. 2008 January 1-June 30 Total Sales 143 - Average Sale Price $337,129 - DOM 120 2007 January 1-June 30 Total Sales 167 - Average Sale Price $330,577 - DOM 122 So, overall Portsmouth is not doing badly at all. Our total units sold is down by 15% but our home values are holding steady and even rising by 1.9%. Now is a great time to invest i...
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By Sue Melhorn, Licensed in NH, ME and FL!
(The Bean Group)
An important thing to keep in mind when it comes to real estate is that each and every town is different.  Depending on where you are in the country, one town can be thriving and the next town over can be in a slump.  This can also be true for large cities-certain sections of a city can be desirable...others not so much.  Please keep this in mind when you listen to the news.  Reporters are often giving you statewide or national market data and your home town is not the "national market".  With that said, let's see what's been going on in the Portsmouth real estate market. 14 homes sold in Portsmouth in May: -9 single family homes, and -5 condos.  Year-to-date, 101 homes have sold in Portsmouth, NH: -41 single family homes -57 condos, and -3 mobile homes In addition, 11 Portsmouth homes ...
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By Ann Cummings, Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent
(RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine)
Portsmouth New Hampshire - Saturday June 14th Fun and Celebration! Do some shopping and then some celebrating - this Saturday in Portsmouth NH, you get the opportunity to do a little shopping on your way into one of Portsmouth's largest, and longest-running celebrations.  Saturday June 14th - mark your calendars!  All day long - what a day full of fun you'll have!Who doesn't love a great multi-family yard sale??  Check this one out at:520 Sagamore Avenue in Portsmouth NH - 8:00am to 12 noonLoads of fun stuff:  15 year Playboy Magazine collection, antique wooden trunks, artwork,  collectibles, great variety of books, household goods, electric stove, loads of baskets, and more......  Stop by on your way into the fabulous Portsmouth celebration of Market Square Day!  This is the 31st year ...
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By Ann Cummings, Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent
(RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine)
Living here in Portsmouth NH is really terrific!  We live along the beautiful 17 mile coast of the Atlantic Oceen, we have bodies of water all around us, our great highways can get us into Boston or Portland Maine in under an hour, the mountains are a quick drive away, and we have all kinds of things to do right here in the "Port City" of Portsmouth! One of the things that the local residents and visitors alike love is our park along the waterfront - Prescott Park.  The flowers and plants here are simply beyond description, and must be seen in person to fully appreciate just how beautiful they are.  What a gorgeous place to while away the time with friends and family, or simply for some time by yourself among wonderful surroundings. Another part of Prescott Park is the outdoor theater ...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
I love the town of Portsmouth NH and our whole seacoast area for that matter. Fellow Active Rain blogging diva Ann Cummings lives and works in Portsmouth which is just the most coolest town. I am so jealous! How cool is Portsmouth? Check this out... The second annual Portsmouth NH Cocktail Competition will be held tomorrow June 1 2008...yes that's right a Cocktail Competition! It's supposed to be a gorgeous day tomorrow and what better way to end it then by walking around Portsmouth and casting your vote in the Cocktail Competition. Head over to the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside at 250 Market Street at 5:00 pm to start the competition. You can buy tickets on line for $20 or $30 at the door. The competing restaurants will try their utmost best to get your vote. The bartenders are compet...
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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 How's the real estate market in Portsmouth NH?  I run into plenty of people who are always interested in knowing how the real estate market is in Portsmouth NH.  Many of them read in the papers and hear on the national news that the market stinks, it's lousy market, blah, blah..... Real estate is so very local, and I always make sure to let people I talk to know that.  Here in my areas in the Seacoast towns of New Hampshire and southern Maine, we've picked up dramatically in the last 4-6 weeks, with loads of appointments, lots of buyers deciding this really is a great time to buy, and sellers wanting to sell who are really tuned into today's market and are realistic in their pricing expectations. So, how's the real estate market doing i...
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By Sue Melhorn, Licensed in NH, ME and FL!
(The Bean Group)
The latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) claims that existing-home sales are projected to trend up in 2008.  I definitely see that happening here in the Seacoast.  In fact, Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for NAR was quoted recently saying, "The improvement in the Northeast reaffirms a trend apparent for some months now that shows signs of recovery, noteworthy because that was the first region to slump." Yes, he said did say improvement in the Northeast! Let's check out what's been going on in Portsmouth, NH. 36 homes sold in Portsmouth in April -14 single family homes, and -22 condos.  Year-to-date, 87 homes have sold in Portsmouth, NH: -33 single family homes -51 condos, and -3 mobile homes In addition, 7 Portsmouth homes went pending with active contracts in Ap...
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By Ann Cummings, Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent
(RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine)
Portsmouth New Hampshire Condos For SalePortsmouth New Hampshire Condo Buyers - have we got some great condo choices for you if you're looking to buy now! This is a terrific time to be a buyer, actually the best time in many years due to the lower interest rates, lower prices than we've seen in a number of years, and the variety of choices available.  All of that combined with this super Seacoast location - come on out and start shopping for your new condo today!!   Here in Portsmouth NH, we currently have 87 condos for sale, and they range in price from $126,500 to $1,250,000.  And our condos vary greatly, from condos in condo complexes to condos and townhomes in converted historic buildings to luxury penthouses in the heart of downtown Portsmouth. The links below will show you a sampl...
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