2018 was another tight year in the New Hampshire real estate market. Real estate on Lake Winnipesaukee and in New Hampshire's Lakes Region continues to be in high demand, pricing out many and making it difficult for locals to "move up". Yet as the state of New Hampshire, and the entire country, age, the Lakes Region has benefited from its reputation as an idyllic place to live. Many families who vacationed in or owned Lakes Region property are looking to acquire Lakes Region real estate for themselves, either as retirement homes, second homes, or investment properties that allow them to continue the wonderful tradition of lake living, even if only seasonally. Because of this, home prices have continued to rise, time on the market for lakefront homes has decreased, and it's solidly still a seller's market.

People continue to be attracted to real estate in New Hampshire's Lakes Region; demand has increased from all types of buyers, including first time buyers, homeowners looking for more space, luxury home buyers, second home buyers, retirees, and investors. Demand for new construction is high. The Lakes Region certainly benefits from being one of the first vacation markets in the country, and especially in New England, and people with close ties to this area have continued to invest in it, along with an influx of others from the Northeast United States. Waterfront property for sale in New Hampshire and in the Lakes Region has continued to experience high demand, resulting in increased prices and making it a great time to sell. Lakeside towns like Alton, Meredith, Moultonborough, and Wolfeboro, remain very popular. Some buyers have benefited from tax breaks, both federal and local, and the uniqueness of buying a lake home in New Hampshire continues to attract many. Overall, the Lakes Region of New Hampshire has continued to remain both a popular vacation destination and a desirable place to buy a home in New Hampshire.

Below is a collection of data points and real estate trends for New Hampshire's Lakes Region that are useful for both buying and selling a home in the Lakes Region. If you're interested in buying real estate in New Hampshire or learning more about the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, you can also click on the links below to browse available and recently sold Lakes Region real estate.

• View recently listed Lake Winnipesaukee real estate. 
• View recently sold Lakes Region real estate.
• Search all Lake Winnipesaukee property for sale.

Contact Nicole Watkins to learn more about Lake Winnipesaukee real estate and the Lakes Region, or if you're interesting in buying or selling a lake home in New Hampshire.

2018 Real Estate Trends

2018 saw a continuation of many of the recent Lakes Region real estate trends, including increasingly limited inventory and demographic changes putting pressure on the New Hampshire real estate market. Trends included:

• Since 2012, the median sale price for a single family home in New Hampshire has risen every year, the number of sales (total units) has risen every year except one and the average days on market for New Hampshire homes has fallen every year. It now takes only half as long to sell the average house as it did six years ago. While these are statewide trends and the Lakes Region isn't seeing them to the same degree, Lake Winnipesaukee and Lakes Region homes for sale have also continued to increase in price and decrease in time spent on the market. Total units has varied, with some years seeing growth and others seeing decreases in inventory.
• In Belknap County, one of the two counties that Lake Winnipesaukee calls home, total units sold decreased in 2018 (vs. 2017) - according to the New Hampshire Association of Realtors (NHAR), units sold were down 6.2%
• Alternatively, the median price of homes sold in Belknap County was up 9.2% and days on market decreased by 16%.
• Carroll County trends were similar to those of Belknap County, with total units sold declining 5.6%. The median sales price increased 6.7% and days on market decreased 12%.
• Real estate in New Hampshire's Lakes Region is continuing to boom, experiencing high demand across all property types, especially Lakes Region real estate under $750,000 and waterfront homes for sale on Lake Winnipesaukee and in the greater Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Several factors such as low interest rates, high quality of life, and low gas prices have made the Lakes Region even more appealing to many, from first time buyers to retirees to families and investors looking to buy a second home.

View more sales stats from Lake Winnipesaukee towns in 2018 here.