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Nicole Watkins

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Lakes Region NH Local Experts - Meet the Experts

An Introduction to Jen McCall of Harbor One Mortgage

A high level expertise as well as a high level of personal attention to clients are valuable attributes I rely on in my circle of local professionals. As a real estate agent, I rely on people in connected fields to help my clients realize their New Hampshire real estate purchases.

I first worked with Jen McCall over 13 years ago when she ran the marketing for a real estate company where I was a real estate agent.  She has been a reliable source for some of my real estate clients seeking mortgages. Her attention to detail and genuine interest in her client's specific needs and wants help them find mortgages that are most suitable for them.

ABOUT JEN

  1. Experience matters! Jen has 13+ years of experience in the mortgage business.  She has seen countless regulation and guideline changes, and is well-equipped to guide her customers through the process using her experience to anticipate and avoid complications and snags along the way.
  2. There is no “one-size-fits-all” loan. Her absolute favorite part of her job is presenting various loan options to her customers and helping them to decide which is the right fit for them.
  3. Her personal yardstick for success is the satisfaction of her customers.  There’s nothing more satisfying to her than a customer who looks back on the process as quick and easy!
  4. Applying online or via her mobile app is quick and easy. Electronic communication is increasingly more common, and Jen has the tools to make it a snap from start to finish. However, she recognizes that everyone has a preference when it comes to communicating throughout the process, and she will utilize the methods you choose to communicate and keep you informed.
  5. “Bankers hours” are a thing of the past. She makes herself available to her customers both HOW they prefer and when.

When I asked Jen to highlight some points about Harbor One Mortgage she offered the following information.

ABOUT HARBORONE

  1. We are a direct lender with headquarters here in NH, but are owned by HarborOne Bank in MA. We are not a broker – which means we are the originator, underwriter, and lender. No middle man!
  2. We are a customer-first lender with a focus on making the mortgage process easier while delivering outstanding customer service.
  3. We offer loans for every need – from first-time buyers to jumbo loans and everything in between. We even offer portfolio loan options to accommodate certain unique properties or borrower profiles.
  4. We offer free pre-approvals. Especially in a market where inventory is low, and multiple offers are common, having a formal lender approval in-hand can be the difference between yours and a competing offer. Going beyond just a simple pre-qualification before you begin shopping for your next home can allow for a quicker closing, and provides peace of mind for both you and the sellers. There is absolutely no cost or obligation!
  5. Contact us for more information on mortgages or other real estate questions.

Additional Real Estate Related Information Available on my website www.NicoleWatkins.com

Not quite ready to ask specific questions or talk to a mortgage broker?

Are you still trying to get a frame of reference on the Lakes Region Real Estate Market?

An Outline of the New Hampshire Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act, with ISA Master Arborist, Tim Berquist

 

Tim Bergquist,  an ISA Master Arborist and an ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist is a guest blogger and local expert.  His expertise with the Shoreland Protection Act is applied in his business practice.  In the below paragraphs, Berquist gives a basic outline of the New Hampshire Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act, commonly referred to as the Shoreland Protection Act.

Berquist has a bachelors in environmental forest biology and over 28 years of experience in all aspects of arboriculture. He enjoys helping to educate those interested in regulations that protect our state's shorelands, one our most fragile and beautiful natural resources.

Meredith NH sunrise along Veasey Shore

The shoreland protection act was put in place in 1991 to establish the minimum standards for the use and development of land adjacent to the state’s public water bodies.

There were many changes applied over the following 20 years with the most recent changes occurring in 2011.

  • The shoreland buffer is the 250 feet adjacent to the state’s shoreline of the sea, large ponds, lakes, and large rivers.
  • It is measured from the reference line, a point near the shoreline from which the setback is determined.

The shoreland buffer includes (2) more restricted buffers, the natural woodland and waterfront buffer,

  • The waterfront buffer is the first 50’ along the shore,
  • The woodland buffer extends from the shore to 150’ and includes the waterfront buffer.

The woodland buffers purpose is to protect the quality of public waters by:

·         Minimizing erosion

·         Preventing siltation and turbidity

·         Stabilizing soils

·         Preventing excess nutrients and chemical pollution

·         Maintaining natural water temperatures and a healthy tree canopy and understory

·         Preserving fish and wildlife habitat and the overall natural condition of the protected shoreland

Loon near senter cove

It requires that on a given lot that 25% of the area from 50 feet to 150 feet shall be maintained as a natural woodland.

Tuftonboro NH natural shoreline

The waterfront buffer is highly restricted; it was put in place to protect the quality of public waters. It does, however, still allow homeowner discretion with regard to the following:

  • Access
  • Safety
  • View-scape maintenance
  • Lot design

Meredith NH Shoreline with lovely lawn leading to 2 decks and rocky shoreline

This discretion comes with prohibitions and limitations including:

  • The use and application of pesticides and fertilizers within the buffer, the setback can be extended to include the entire shoreland buffer in areas located near the water supply
  • The removal of rocks, stumps, trees and woody vegetation
  • Limitations on the pruning of trees and shrubs
  • The maintenance of the minimum quantity of points required by the act for each shoreline segment

As measured along the shoreline, the segments are 25’ wide parcels that extend inland to the 50’ setback.  They begin at the northerly or easterly boundary.

Each segment requires 25 points of vegetation, this vegetation can consist of tree, sapling, shrub and ground cover, but does not include a mowed lawn.

The points are determined by the diameter of the tree at 4.5 feet or the caliper of a tree measured at the height on nursery standards. A one inch diameter minimum is set for trees, ground cover and shrubs are measured by square feet.

Vegetation shall not be removed from any segment which fails to meet the minimum scoring but owners are encouraged to plant non-invasive vegetation to increase point scores.

This can aid in allowing future removal of vegetation as may become necessary while still meeting the point requirements.

Dead, diseased or unsafe trees or saplings shall not be included in scoring. 

Wolfeboro NH Shoreline

They can be removed even if the points fall below the minimum quantity if they pose a hazard to structures or have the potential to cause personal injury. I recommend consulting with a qualified arborist if you have a concern but are unsure how to proceed.

Normal trimming, pruning and thinning of branches necessary to maintain the health of the planted areas as well as to protect structures, maintain clearances and provide views is permitted as long as it does not endanger the health of the plant.

Meredith NH trees and shoreline

I recommend you include qualified professionals, contractors and consultants in any plan designs that you would like to implement within your shoreland property.

There are many limitations put in place by the shoreland protection act, all of which were put in place to preserve our beautiful shoreland and watershed.

 

cheetah boat ride

Feel free to continue to browse my site for valuable information about New Hampshire Lakes Region real estate and related topics.

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