Arsenic is sometimes found in the ground water in the Lakes Region. It is always a good idea to have a mineral water test as a contingency when purchasing a property, even if you are purchasing Lakes Region new construction and a water test has already been done for a "C.O." (otherwise known as a Certificate of Occupancy). For the Certificate of Occupancy for most NH Lakes Region new concstruction, builders are required only to test for bacteria, not minerals. Feel free to contact me for information on companies that can mitigate arsenic. Just email me at Nicole@NicoleWatkins.com. Health Information Summaries on arsenic can be found on State and Federal websites. Visit the New Hampshire website at: http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/ehp/ard-ehp-1.htm.

Moultonborough NH homes are nestled by NH's wooded roads and also punctuate Moultonborough's extensive shoreline on Lake Winnipesaukee. (Winnipesaukee shoreline makes Moultonborough the second most shored town in NH (second only to Rye Beach).

 

With Spring here, there is so much to enjoy in our beautiful area. Whether you live here or just visit, odds are you haven't taken advantage of much the Moultonborough area has to offer. If you do live here try experiencing the area as if you were visiting. Why not take the time to do a local activity that you've always wanted to do?

Ample recreational opportunities abound in this NH Lakes Region township. In winter, enjoy snowmobiling with the Moultonborough Snowmobile Club or skiing at Attitash, Wild Cat , Loon Nountain, Waterville Valley, or Gunstock Mountain...all within an hour of many Moultonborough homes. (Waterville Valley has world-class cross-country ski trails). If you don't want to drive the 30 plus minutes to a ski resort, for cross-country skiiting or snowshoeing, there is conservation landopen to the public in Moultonborough and Center Harbor. Why not go for a hike? Moultonborough's Red Hill is right off Route 25.

Fine dining is always nearby at Canoe A Restaurant and Tavern , The Woodshed, The Coe House, and The Corner House Inn. Try Lemon Grass Restaurant and Sake Bar for delicious organic cuisine. Lagos and The Common Man Restaurants are all within minutes. Church Landing in nearby Meredith NH has not only a popular restaurant, but a fantastic Spa (the Cascade Spa).

 

In summer Enjoy sailing water-skiing and seadoo riding on Lake Winnipesaukee, Squam Lake and Lake Kanasatka. For kayaking enthusiasts, Lees Pond and Wakondah Pond offer quiet waters. Center Harbor and Moultonborough have reciprocity with their town beaches, making both Squam Lake's and Winipesaukee's beautiful public beaches available to Moultonborough NH residents. Moultonborough Marinas include Quayside, Harrilla Landing, and Ambrose Cove Marina. Moultonborough's DaSilva Motor Sports has Seadoos and Skimobiles. The nearby Meredith Marina carries the popular Sea Ray and Doral boats).

 

Other entertainment opportunities include The Mt. Washington Cruise Line, which docks in summer in nearby Center-Harbor Bay. The friendly Center Harbor Fire Department floods a spot in the Center Harbor Park in the winter for skating. The warmth of our locale is seen in other events such as the Halloween Party at the Center Harbor fire station. In summer, the Center Harbor bandstand has concerts on Friday evenings in summer. Keep Sake Quilting's gorgeous fabrics and great values are popular internationally as are Emily Dolls.

The Lakes Region Symphony performs nearby and The New Hampshire Music Festival headquarters is in Center Harbor. The Winnipesaukee Players, Plymouth College Theatres, and the little Holderness Theatre are all minutes from Moultonborough. Walter's Basin will feature a dinner theatre presentation of Ernest Thompshon's play "The Constituent" this March. The Holderness School in Plymouth also presents plays and Art Exhibitions. In March the Holderness School has its "Artward Bound" program and features thought provoking presentations, which are the March projects of students, and some Holderness Alumnni. This March Jay Mead, a Holderness graduate worked with students to present a shadow show on the effects of climate change and what we can all do reverse the effects of global warming and create a sustainable future. With 48% of Greenhouses gases said to be caused by man made buildings, there is much that can be done towards Green Building. According to the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of New Hampshire's Green Building at a Glance pamphlet, green building "is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use energy, water, and materials, and reducing building impacts on human health and the environment."

 

The topic of green building brings us back to real estate. Real Estate: Moultonborough real estate is diverse. From starter homes to estate properties, from ranch homes to colonial style homes, Moultonborough NH property encompasses it all. Very good values are available right now. The large inventory has motivated some sellers to reduce their prices to beat the competition. Condos range from $200,000 -$1,200,000. Popular Moultonborough area builders of exquisite lakefront new construction include Flanders Enterprises, Cargill Blake, Lakeside Builders, Skiffington Homes, Fenton Varney and others. ( Email Nicole@Nicolewatkins.com for more information on area builders). Moultonborough has septic designers and surveyors who are highly respected statewide such as Dolan Associates and Associated Surveryors and Chip Bollinger and Dave Ames Septic Designers. Watermark Marine Construction and Matt Woods can lend their expertise to getting your dock permits. There is no better time to get your toes wet in the real estate market than the spring. Look for the best values before most of the Buyers are out in the warmer weather. Contact Nicole@NicoleWatkins.com to start your real estate search or call me at (603) 707-7575.

 

Lake Winnipesaukee Waterfront real estate trends from 01/01/2009-06/28/2009 versus 01/01/2008-06/28/2008

In the first 6 months of 2009, between 01/01/2009-06/28/2009, there have been 28 Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront residential sales. (Not bad for predominantly second home statistics in a down economy).

The median selling price for these Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront homes, in the above- referenced time period, was $760,500. The average selling price was $856,990. The average number of days on market was 128.

During this same time period in 2008, there were 31 Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront home sales. The median selling price during this time period in 2008 was $1,460,000. The average selling price was $1,447,672. The average number of days on market was 148. *

The number of days on maket are slightly fewer this year. The median and average selling prices are down significantly in the first half of 2009 versus 2008, but, in my opinion, that is partly because the number of Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront properties on the market this year, which have less square footage, and which are on canals or narrow waterfrontage, and which are both listed and assessed at under $1,000,000 is a far greater number than last year.

We obviously don't know the statistcs for the second half of 2009 yet. Let's take a look at the second half of 2008 and see if we can predict anything for the second half of 2009. From 06/29/2008 to 12/31/2008 there were 46 (forty-six) Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront residential home sales. The average number of days on market for the second half of 2008 was 230. The average selling price during this time period was $1,040,457.

The median selling price was $786,000. The median selling price for the second half of 2008, therefore is almost exacly the same as the first half of 2009.

With recent high end activity greatly increased in June 2009, my prediction is that the median selling price for the second half of 2009 will be higher than 2008. I also predict that the number of Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront sales over $3,000,000, will be approximately the same as the number of sales over $3,000,000 in 2007 and 2008. (There were a total 5 (five) Lake Winnipesaukee Waterfront home sales over $3,000,000, in both 2007 and 2008.)

(*Based on information from the Northern New England Real Estate Network, for the all of the Winnipesaukee-shored towns ( Alton, Meredith, Center harbor, Moultonborough, Wolfeboro, Tuftonboro, Laconia, and Gilford ) for the above-referenced time period. This information includes residential homes with owned waterfrontage, NOT condos or land Please note that days on market will not be accurate if a property listing has been listed with more than one real estate agency or if the property was off the market for 30 days or more.)

There are currently, as of March 6, 2008, a total of 10 Center-Harbor residential and waterfront real estate listings on the market. The median asking price is $494,000. The average asking price is $946,080. These current listings include a Squam Lake water-view estate property on Center Harbor Neck Road, a Squam Lake waterfront property on High Haith Road and a Winnipesaukee waterfront home on Dew Point Road in downtown Center Harbor. The average number of days on market is 89. No homes have sold in the last thirty days in Center harbor. One (1) home, Dew point Road was listed.*

(*Based on information from the Northern New England Real Estate Network, for the town of Center Harbor. This information includes Residential properties only, NOT condos or land.)

There are currently 21 Meredith Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront homes on the Northern New England Real Estate Network. The average asking price for these Meredith Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront homes is $1,657,943.

There are ninety-six (96) residential Meredith real estate listings on the market as of March 6, 2008. These ninety six (96) Meredith homes have a median asking price of $444,450 and an average asking price of $774,647. The average number of days on market is 229.

Six (6) Meredith NH homes sold in the past thirty days (since February 6, 2008). The average selling price was $442,083. The median selling price was $250,000. The average number of days on market was 168.

Twelve (12) Meredith homes were listed in the past thirty (30) days with a median asking price of $365,450 and an average asking price of $564,106. The average number of days on market so far for these home is eighteen 18.

Two Meredith NH Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront plots of land have sold since January 1, 2008. These are on Meredith Neck Road and Powers Road. The average selling price was $922,500.

Meredith NH residential home sales saw a decrease in number of sales from 2006 to 2007 but an increase in average sales price from 2006 to 2007.

Seventeen (17) Moultonborough listings are new to the market as of the past thirty (30) days. (Since February 6, 2008). The average asking price is $1,007,682. The median asking price is $549,000. The average number of days on market is fifteen. Five (5) Moultonborough, New Hampshire homes sold in the past thiry (30) days.

(*Based on information from the Northern New England Real Estate Network, for the town of Moultonborough for 2006 and 2007 through November 19th of 2007. This information includes residential properties only, NOT condos or land).